The Fighter's

The girls were so excited to meet their new baby cousin Jet today! Here are some shots of the girls meeting their new cousin. So sweet!

The girls and I have spent some time over at Rob & Carly's taking care of their dog Lucy while they've been in the hospital. Katelyn absolutely LOVES Lucy. She plays with her non-stop...and Lucy loves every bit of it. From the pics below you'd think they were best friends... And new cousins ware Olivia out...love this sleepy pic;-)

Isn't he precious!

I'm an aunt! Jet James was born to Rob & Carly (7lbs, 9 oz...only one more ounce than all 3 girls) and is as sweet & adorable as can be. I just love him to pieces! Rob & Carly are doing great and will be excellent parents! It's fun to watch them take on their new role. Can't wait for all the fun memories to come...him and Olivia are only 4 months apart. Future buddies:-)

I should be going to bed now but had to write this day down for the memory books.... Today was a great day. Looking for something different to do, the girls and I went to the mall to return a few things, use a gift certificate, walk a bit, ride a merry go round and have a soft pretzel. I let Ava & Kate walk, pushing Olivia in the stroller. It was such a simple trip but so much fun. The girls listened and didn't fight ( hallelujah )...and while they were eating the soft pretzel...Ava said "it's a beautiful day." :-) Next we landed home. Had some lunch and then Ava & Kate headed upstairs to play their new favorite thing..."house". Santa brought them both princess tents for Christmas that we set up in their rooms. Last week I brought up all their dress up clothes, dolls that Grammy got them for Christmas and strollers. Since then they have had a blast pretending that they are on grown up adventures...to the store, basketball games, the library, gymnasti...

I just liked these pics of the girls hanging out with their dad. Especially little Olivia...sitting up in the corner:-) She likes to hang too!

It has been so much fun living in our new house through all the different seasons. Just fun to watch the changes in our yard, and I love looking out the back windows at the different scenery each season has to bring. We got our first big snowstorm today. I ABSOLUTELY love snow...it makes everything so glisteny beautiful. I love to look at it, play in it, shovel it...even drive in it (adventure)! The girls have been enjoying it as well...running around the yard...making snow angels. Here are a few shots of our scenery for the memory books. I love it! And there's one of Ava getting ready to treck out to school in the snow...she added her glasses:-)

Ava & Katelyn have been playing so much more together lately. I LOVE it! Either they venture off to the basement to ride bikes/scooters, set up their little people house or trains, play in their band (Ava on the drums or guitar, Kate on the keyboard or xylophone )...or they go upstairs to dress up like princesses and play "house" with their babies. Santa brought them tents for Christmas...we set one up in each of their rooms...and they love to pretend that the tents are their houses. They visit each others "house" with their babies. My room has become the mall/grocery store (one day they pretended it was the beach). Olivia's room is the library or bouncy place. They pack up their baby's that Grammy gave them for Christmas and head out from their houses with their purses for different days on the town. I love sitting downstairs and listening to their conversations. Priceless. Usually...Ava is in charge...setting their imaginations in motion with Katelyn...

Doug and I took the girls ice skating today. I didn't think they would be able to even walk on the ice skates...but they did fantastic! At first we held onto Ava...then she wanted to hold onto the wall with one hand and one of our hands with her other. Then she decided to let go of the wall and did great...not to mention she was SOOO proud of herself! Also note the helmet in the picture below...our always cautious girl insisted on wearing her bike helmet the whole time. Love it:-) Kate squealed the whole time we ice skated. Doug and I never let go of her, despite her screaming at us..."Let go...I do by myself." She absolutely loved it. I especially loved her tiny size 6 skates:-) Can't wait to do this again...I grew up ice skating and absolutely love it and can't wait to do this more often with my girls!

I made Doug pose for this cheesy picture after he spent the whole day make this beef brisket. My dad and Doug have been passing a smoker back and forth between our two houses, coming up with new things to smoke. Today was Doug's turn...he spent the past week researching brisket recipes, then the whole day today carefully preparing the brisket...and let me tell you...it was worth it. The best brisket I've ever had. Here to my chef boy r' Doug. Isn't he cute?? :-)

Rob & Carly came over for dinner and a low key NYE party. It was so much fun...great food & super company! Here are a few pics.... Us posing like it's prom... Doug making beef tenderloin for dinner...it was SO good. Love it when he cooks! Rob, Carly & the girls! Olivia catching some Z's... Rob feeling the baby kick...coming soon in 2010:-) Rob & Carly...aren't they cute:-) Rob trying to build a mohawk in his hair... Me & my bro. I remember when I was bigger than him! The girls on New Years Day...they thought it would be fun to snuggle in the big red chair and watch a movie on the DVD player:-)

I love my guy and my my 3 girls so, so, so, so much... And Doug enjoying his Christmas present a day early...I'm not so good at hiding big stuff. We got him a recliner so he can kick back and enjoy his sports in "His" chair.