Playing Catch Up

Here are some of Jacob's favorite things to do!

Cruise around the house in his walker...this was the best invention ever!

 Jump in his jumper...but this is quickly ending now that he is getting more mobile!

Swim!

We took a trip to Billings a couple of weekends ago and stopped in at an indoor water park!  The girls loved it too!

Eat!!

Snuggle...with daddy

Army Crawl

and....CRAWL!! (as of 3 days ago!)

We celebrated Joyce's birthday by having everyone over for dinner.  Here she is with all of her Grandkids! 

I need to get used to Spring not really coming on "the first day of Spring" in Wyoming.  March 21st really is May 21st here.  We have had so much snow and cold weather this winter.  Everyone is ready for Spring. At least the girls love to play outside despite it all!  

Dave and Joyce's dog, Rusty, came sledding with us. :)

Maya had her Spring Program last week.  We made cookies that morning.  I decorated the ones for her classmates.  She decorated the egg shaped ones to share with her grandparents at coffee that day. :)

She did such a great job memorizing her lines and speaking loudly and slowly!  We were very proud of her. She was the Sun.  She is definitely a little sunshine in our lives!

Maya knew every word and every motion to each song.  She's pretty fun to watch!

I registered Maya for Kindergarten on Thursday!  Eek!  We are a little nervous about sending her so young, but all of her teachers have reassured us that she is going to do great and is definitely ready!  She is super excited!

Lots of love!  T

Jacob...9 months old

These were taken at the end of February.  He is getting so big!  Love this boy...

Happy Gotcha Day, Gabs...

Six years ago we brought this beautiful, smart, funny daughter home to be with her forever family.

We've grown a little since then!

Lots of love to you!  Tara

Semi-Retirement :)

These are my new breakfast buddies...

I am loving my part-time work status.  My principal refers to me as the semi-retired teacher (in good fun) and many people have commented on how much happier I appear. (Was I really that bad before?!)  It has been good for ALL of us.  Our mornings are so much less stressful...it was REALLY hard to get all FIVE of us out of the house dressed nicely, fed, packed, and ready for the day by 7:45 each morning.

Maya is loving it.  We play games every morning (our latest favorite is Sorry!) and just spend time together.  She loves that I'm able to take her to school and that I'm able to slow down and do things with her.  I still can't believe that she is going to go to Kindergarten next year.  This was really my last chance to have her with me at home.

Jacob loves it as well.  There's nothing better than extra snuggles from mommy and getting to sleep in a little longer in the morning.  An added bonus is that I only have to pump milk once a day now instead of three!  Score!

Gabi is even reaping some benefits.  I'm able to help out in her classroom and eat lunch with her every Friday now and the sight of her huge smile when I walk in the door makes it all worth it!

I'm also able to keep up with the house chores better.  I can do a load or two of laundry each day instead of doing what seemed like 200 loads each weekend.  I do a little cleaning each day instead of trying to clean the entire house each weekend.  We are able to enjoy our weekends more now instead of trying to play "catch up".

It is also helping with my guilt issues.  On one hand, I feel guilty when I am not with my kids.  On the other hand, I feel guilty when I am not working because I have SO MUCH time invested in my training to become a teacher and I really like my job. (Can you tell I'm Catholic?! Ha!)

So for now, Part-time Mommy/Part-time Teacher seems to be pretty good fit.

Life is Good

Here are some more pics from the last month or so...

We usually get a Bountiful Basket every Saturday and then spend some time prepping veggies and planning meals for the week.  Both girls are getting pretty good at peeling carrots.  Maya thought the Brussels sprouts were sooooo CUTE!  Too bad that didn't mean she would want to eat them.  At least Gabi liked them!  That girl eats anything!

Waiting "patiently" in front of the oven for the Valentine's heart cookies to get done baking. :)

A Maya and Mermaid "selfie" I found on my phone. :)

Gabi is such a good helper!  Jacob loves when she feeds him.

On a hike

We took Gio on a hike and showed him some of our favorite spots!

And last, but not least.....GABI LOST HER FIRST TOOTH!  She pulled it out all by herself and was soooooo excited!  The Tooth Fairy brought her a dollar covered in fairy dust and a tooth receipt. :)  Good stuff.

The new tooth has already started to grow in behind it.

Snow Bunnies

I took the girls up to Meadowlark last Sunday while Joe stayed home with Jacob.  I met my friend, Katie, and her kids up there.  The snow was great and everyone had a blast!

The crew!

Maya and Mommy selfie on the lift

Maya had a breakthrough day.  Her balance is great and she is getting better at making turns.  I'm afraid to turn her loose from the harness because she still needs to work on her strength doing the snowplow.  She is so silly and giggles the whole way down the hill.  Everytime.  It is awesome!

Gabi is in the green coat.  Her buddies are in front and behind her.  The were unstoppable!

Maya was sad because we had to be done and go home

We finally got a chance to try out the snowshoes.  It has either been too cold, not enough snow, or one of the kids has been sick every weekend since Christmas.  There reallly wasn't enough snow around the house to really need them, but it was fun anyways.

Snow Castle :)

Best Wishes from Wild, Wonderful, Wintry Wyoming!

8 Months

I swear this little boy has to be the happiest little guy around.  It seems like he is ALWAYS smiling and wanting cuddles.

He is getting SO big!  He is about to outgrow his 12 month clothes just because he is so long.  I'm excited for his 9 month check-up just to see how long he is.  Maya was a chubby and squatty little one.  Jacob is just long and hefty!  He is sitting up by himself very well now.  He studies things in his hands and is just content to chill out and play with his toys.  He really loves his jumperoo and can kind of push himself in his walker.  Of course his favorite thing to do is cuddle.

My students and I were joking about taking selfies and they were daring me to take one of myself. So, I used the tips they gave me and took some of Jacob and I together.  (I'm sorry but I think it is silly to take a picture of just yourself...maybe I'm just too old school).  Anyways, they turned out pretty cute and even my students thought they were good. :) 

I really want to crawl, but haven't figured out how to move my legs and arms forward.  It shouldn't be too long!

Checking out the cat.  Rocky loves Jacob and uses every chance he gets to cuddle up to him.

I like to roll onto the concrete floor and don't seem to mind one bit that it is so hard.  At least it is warm!  Crazy boy!

Lots of love!  Tara