Scott started soccer on Saturday. He played last year but it was indoor, so a bit different. Here they have everyone sign up and then the coaches get to choose who they want on their team from the list. So most coaches keep the same players every year, sometimes switching out the not-so-good players for better ones to get the optimal team. Let me just tell you how bad I felt like protesting. I think that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard, because of course if you are a no-name or a new kid, you won't get on a team. I was soooo heart broken when they called to tell me he wasn't on a team, but then a week later we got a call from his new coach- a dad who's daughter didn't get on a team so he decided to take up the kids left on the list. I want to hug him!

 Scott was just as excited as I was, and he even tried sleeping in his shin guards the night before  :)  Saturday it was only 32 degrees at practice and he smiled through the entire thing and couldn't stop talking about how much he loved soccer on the way home.

Ari- still just standing around, no walking :)

I just love overalls on babies :) So cute.

Ari really is the most stubborn child (I never thought I'd say that after Scott and Hailey, but it's true), especially when it comes to eating! I've told the stories before, but here's another. I've been putting the baby food from the jar into a seperate bowl (to show her that it's okay if it doesn't come from the jar) and doing okay with that, but the other night she refused to eat what was in the bowl because she didn't believe it was her traditional jar baby food, so she just kept her mouth clamped shut. I went and got a jar from the pantry and pretended to pour the contents into the bowl, and she opened her mouth wide. The exact same thing she refused before. Ugh...

I just love this tiny little curl Ari has

 Scott's school has a kids night at Texas Roadhouse once a month. Some kids favorite place is McDonalds or Wendys, but Scott's is Texas Roadhouse, so you can imagine the begging that goes along each month. Finally we gave in and went. When we reached the door Scott leaned his head back and screamed, "I LOVE school night at Texas Roadhouse!" He was pumped. Anyway they had face painting, peanut crushing contests, playdough, hulahooping....each table in the corner had a fun game to play and they do it every Tuesday for kids night (although the schools take turns for their night). So all the while the kids played with the workers in charge, Kevin and I got to peacefully eat our steaks. It was awesome :) Best part- the kids meals are free if they read 3 books. What a night.

 Hailey got her face painted and picked a kite from the treasure box. She was in heaven

 Future Missionary right here...

I thought we were past this stage with Hailey, apparently not (Oh and by the way this was the next morning, so some of it rubbed off in her sleep. Kevin checked on her before we went to bed and of course thought it was hilarious)

Good thing I cleaned this up (Thank you Magic Eraser!) before he got home from work or he might not of thought it was so funny

3 little monkeys jumping on our bed

We got a babysitter this afternoon and when I took her home she was telling me what a great brother Scott is. She said she just sat and watched him in "aw" and wished her brother and her were that way....so sweet

Scott on Valentine's Day

He was more excited about Valentines then Christmas for some reason. He was just so excited to pass out the cards he made his classmates

It happened...Our picky little eater discovered chocolate

Hailey has the biggest imagination and today she put on an entire puppet show with Scott, so I decided to grab them and show them what kind of shows my family put on when I was growing up. They excitedly joined in and had a blast. It was hard for me not to laugh while I was videoing them...maybe it's just because I'm their mom- but I think it's hilarious :)

Untitled from Nicole on Vimeo.

Arianna's First Birthday

Happy 1st Birthday Arianna!

She didn't know what to think of the candle and the singing

She stuck her fingers in the frosting and then pushed the cupcake away... no suprise there

everyone enjoying their cupcake- except for the birthday girl

after forcing a spoonful of strawberry icecream in her mouth she decided that it was good :)

Time for presents!

She was more interested in the boxes...

We got her 1st baby doll and a rocking horse. It was so sweet to see her loving on the baby. She was holding her fingers and looking at them and giggling...so cute

It didn't take her long to figure out how to rock herself

Grandpa and Grandma B got her this cute coupe car. She is going to love having her own ride this spring while Scott and Hailey ride their bikes. She loves being pushed around in things

My sister Candice got her this little blow up castle with balls in it and oh my- what fun to watch! Ari got mad when Scott and Hailey got in, so I think it's going to have to be her own little place

She did this for at least 30 minutes...throw the ball out and go get it

put the ball back in and go get it- so cute!

Arianna Turns 1

Look who turned 1 today! Our sweet little Arianna

19 pounds 6 ounces

and 29 1/2 inches long

Arianna is just a sweetie pie and she's a lot more cautious and sensitive than the other two. Not once have we had to tell her to get away from the fireplace because she just stays away on her own. We never had to say no about taking ornaments off the tree or eating things that she shouldn't. I told her "no" one time when she tried to unplug the carbon monoxide detector and that was it... she just knows her boundaries and she listens very well.

She IS the youngest though, so when she wants something and doesn't get it she WILL throw a big fit and cry. Scott and Hailey always give her what she wants, which is very sweet of them. She loves to smile and laugh and is very very ticklish

She likes to flirt, but that's as far as it goes. She smiles and blushes and waves at everybody, but if they try to hold her or come closer to her she will let them know they won't be picking her up. She won't be held by anyone but Mom, Dad, Scott, Hailey and Grandparents. She loves her Daddy and is so excited when he comes home. Even at this age, she hears his voice and goes booking down the hall to greet him.

She is a VERY picky eater! She will only eat the very runny baby purees, applesauce, yogurt, club crackers and chocolate chip cookies. No cheerios, no puffs, no bread crumbs, not even a brownie or anything else. We've tried to puree our food, but it must come from the baby food jar. I've even tried pureeing our food and putting it in a clean baby jar while she's not looking and nope- you can't trick her.

Her favorite things are her paci, blankie and her little polka dotted puppy and usually it's all three of them together.

She is just an angel, and we are so blessed to have her in our family! We just love her to pieces

Snowstorm

Scott has been thoroughly enjoying his entire week of no school because of the enormous amounts of snow we've been getting...see the window

It looks like a big blur of snow, but it's the coolest snow fort from here to Alaska thanks to their awesome Dad



8 Year Anniversary

8 Years today I married this handsome guy!

Happy Anniversary to us!

(and to celebrate we get to cozy up in the house possibly all week as all schools and businesses are closed with the biggest storm Missouri has had in a century)