Pumpkin Patch

We started taking Julianna to a pumpkin patch her very first fall (pictures here).  It was kind of like our last hurrah before winter lockdown...haha.  We went back last year (pictures here), and we went again this year.  My back was really bothering me that weekend, but I was determined to go, so I popped a few of my "make my back feel better" pills and took a nap in the car on the way there...lol...I seriously fell asleep during the 10 minute drive from my parents to the farm.  Stupid pills.

Julianna had a blast this year and the weather was gorgeous!  86 degrees that day!  And there were 2 extra kiddos to take pictures of :o)

Butterflies & Cereal

Yesterday, Julianna & I went to a botanical garden & butterfly house.  She had so much fun.

She walked around the butterfly house with their brochure and would look at it and then look around, just like a little scientist looking for a specific species.

Emma & Ellie got to experience butterflies right on their heads.

The kids all loved going on the short trail walk afterwards.

Then yesterday evening, Will got his first taste of rice cereal.  I put off starting cereal longer than I did with Julianna by about a month or so, and I'm glad I did!  He was much less messy than she was.  The cereal actually all stayed in his mouth!

I don't think he really liked it though...haha!

Big sister Julianna of course had to help and she did wonderful!

Fairs & Mohawks

Yesterday, we took Julianna to the county fair (it was free admissions before noon!). 

We thought she would love all the animals.  We were wrong.  She could have cared less about any of the animals.  Correction...she could have cared less about any of the live animals.  She LOVED the carousel horses.  Haha!  I knew we wouldn't be able to get away with not letting her ride the horsies.  She loved riding all of the other rides just as much. 

She had even more fun once her cousins got there and Ian rode with her.

Will didn't go with us, instead he enjoyed the AC with his Grandma K & cousin Mia (it was so stinkin' hot yesterday).  On a completely unrelated note (hey, it's my blog I can jump topics whenever I want), Will seems to only be growing hair on the very top of his head.  We laugh and call it his military haircut.  But the other night he told me...remember we have great conversations...he wanted to look a little more rock.  I obliged and this was the result...

He was totally rockin' a baby mohawk!  The funniest part was that I did this while it was wet and it stayed that way overnight and all day the next day!

Blankets & Jammy Pants

I watched my sister's kids today while she had an appointment & let me say this is the one (& only) time I am thankful for Yo Gabba Gabba.  It got the 3 oldest kiddos all to sit down and they were absolutely silent for 24 minutes!  Ian & Ellie both have blankets they love.  They carry them everywhere.  Julianna never really became attached to a blanket, or really anything.  So, what does she insist on holding during Yo Gabba Gabba?  Her "jammy pants".  Yes, those are her pajama shorts.

Goin' Wild

My sister & I were tipped off to a free wild animal show this weekend in our hometown (thanks to her MIL!) and we decided to take the kids this afternoon. It wasn't anything fancy or extravagant, but it certainly entertained 2 toddlers & a pre-schooler.

Julianna & Ellie checking out the tiger.

The sleeping kangaroo was so cute.

Julianna loved watching the monkeys run around.

After I took the picture of the monkey, I realized there were signs all over the place about buying pictures of the animals. Oops. Anyone that knows me, knows I don't have the most inconspicuous camera (I take my Canon Rebel XT everywhere). So I quickly put it away and didn't take anymore pictures. The sad thing about putting my camera away was that I missed getting pictures of Julianna & Ian riding the ponies (Julianna's first time ever!).

It took up less than an hour of the day, but Julianna was still talking about it when she went to bed 4 hours later, so I would definitely call it a win.

Red, White & Green Cousins

Erin and I had another one of our "dress the kids alike and take pictures" sessions yesterday. This time all our girls had dresses that were meant to go together, but not completely match and the boys wore solid colored shirts. They didn't turn out quite like we wanted (we wanted outside pics, but the weather had other plans & it's hard to take pictures with 2 toddlers, 2 babies & a preschooler), but I still think they are adorable...how could they not be with such adorable kids as the subjects!

Erin would tickle the kids' feet to get them to smile and laugh.

The boys.

The girls

(I have no idea what Julianna was doing)

My favorite!

Emma Louise

Julianna's newest little cousin arrived yesterday.

Welcome to Emma Louise!

March 5, 2010 @ 3:33pm

7lbs 11 oz

19 3/4 inches

Congratulations Erin & Jason (and big brother Ian & big sister Ellie)!

Belly Shots

My friend Mallory took an awesome picture of her belly with wooden blocks spelling out her baby's name. So my sister and I decided to be copy cats and do the same. Unfortunately, since Joe and I have still NOT decided on a name for Baby K, my blocks just spelled "Baby".

Me & Baby

Erin & Emma

Well, Ian decided he too wanted in on the photo session. So, of course we took his picture too.

Ian's belly

Someday, he'll hate us for this picture...haha!

A Week's Worth of Celebrating!

I wish when I was little my birthday celebrations lasted almost a whole week! Julianna's did this year. It all started on her birthday, last Tuesday, when she got her birthday present from us, her kitchen made by daddy and Grandpa K & her apron and chef's hat made by me.

Little Miss Susie Homemaker in action

So stinkin' cute!

Then on Wednesday, Erin brought Ian & Ellie over to give Julianna her gift. They also brought yummy birthday cupcakes.

Mmmmm

Ellie thoroughly enjoyed her cupcake.

Ian like the rings from on top of the cupcakes the best.

Then yesterday, we had Julianna's birthday dinner with her grandparents. This is when she got her birthday cake. Please excuse the slightly crooked cake...I can never seem to get cakes level! She also got the rest of her birthday presents from family.

I think she may be drooling

She stayed miraculously clean while eating her cake!

Even though we didn't have an actual birthday party for her, I think Julianna loved her week of celebrating just as much!

Our Christmas

Wow, Christmas just flew past this year! Christmas Eve, Julianna and I went to Joe's family's for our Christmas there (sadly, Joe had to work Christmas Eve this year). She had a lot of fun playing with the cousins, and opening her gift and mine. She was so tuckered out, she was asleep before we left there. Thank goodness for her Uncle Daryl who was able to carry her into the house for bed (we had to hitch a ride since I can't lift Julianna into her carseat).

Christmas morning, she slept until almost 8am! (but this morning was up at 6! what gives???) We didn't wrap her table and chairs daddy made her and she immediately went over to it and sat down. Then she saw the gifts under the tree and proceeded to put them all on the table and then sit down to open them. It was too funny!

Getting ready to open her presents.

She definitely had the hang of unwrapping.

Her face lit up when she realized this one was a Veggietales book.

Yay, she liked her felt food!

Daddy...I mean Santa...picked out some cars for her. She loved those too!

I had several "bed rest victims" this Christmas. Those are the people who unfortunately did not get gifts from me since I couldn't go shopping. Joe was one of them. We actually agreed not to get each other gifts...but he didn't listen. I opened a Snuggie. Seriously?? Yes, a Snuggie. I make fun of them all the time and told him he had to wear it first. When I opened it, there was a new phone inside! He was in so much trouble for getting me a gift! But I LOVE it! So I forgave him. :0)

Joe wearing my Snuggie.

Grandma and Grandpa K and Papa Corn and Grandpa S all came over in the morning and brought Julianna a few more things.

She loves her tea set from Grandma & Grandpa K.

The rest of Christmas Day was spent at my parents with aunts, uncles, my parents, my grand parents, and my sister and her family.

Erin painted Ellie's nails for the holidays.

Julianna helping me open a gift.

The kids in PJ's and cowboy hats (from Grandma & Grandpa H)

I love Christmas time and it is even more exciting now that Julianna is getting older! I can't wait for next year!