Close your eyes

Havanna's in her birthday suit.  I had just gotten her out of the bath, and as motherhood often goes, I got distracted.  I must have gone into the laundry room for more diapers or something.  Then passed through the kitchen.  Somehow I was in the middle of making dinner when I turned around and my still naked child was sitting on the stool in front of the open fridge, just snacking on grapes.  The unfortunate thing is that she usually just chews on the grapes and then spits them out.  So, that's what I thought was on the tile floor.  Chewed up grapes.  Once I realized that these were not grape size objects, I simply sighed and grabbed some cleaner and toilet paper to mop up the mess.  But not before Berlyn ran over to get her picture, too.

It's an issue.

Have I ever mentioned that our little Berlyn is an adamant thumb sucker.  Well, it started with the binkie.  She would hoard them around the house.  She'd have one in her mouth and one in her hand.  I'm actually surprised that she learned to talk as early as she did, because it was a rare occasion to see her mouth binkie-less.  At two, we took the beloved 'wub-a-nub' (the binkies all had tiny stuffed animals sewed to them) away.  Never having sucked her thumb a day in her life, she popped that appendage in her mouth and formed a habit.  At the dinner table, we had to tell her to take out her thumb to take a bite.  If we were talking to her, we had to coax her to take the thumb out to answer us promptly.  Honestly.  She's passionate about what she loves, and she LOVES her thumb.  Finally, at three, we had to do something.  I bought some nail paint called STOP to put on her fingers.  The taste is absolutely horrid.  I've tried it.  To our dismay, Berlyn had no problems letting us coat her nails.  However... she will purposefully sit next to Talullah and suck on HER thumb.  I'm not kidding.  Has anyone else ever heard of a child doing this?  The bright side of the matter, we have full faith that this character trait that God has blessed Berlyn with, DETERMINATION, will benefit her in so many ways when she grows up.  When she puts her mind to something, watch out world.  Until she grows up and can utilize this blessing, we have got to find a way to break this thumb thing.  We've started painting Talullah's nails, too.  Lord have mercy if we decide to give the baby-to-be a binkie...

Hard at work

Nick has been doing some serious work out in the garage.  For the past two weeks, he's spent his after work hours and his days off building two sets of bunkbeds.  As to be expected, his little girls just can't stand that he's out there ALONE.  They felt so bad for him.  I think he was actually pretty excited about the 'quiet' time.  Just a man, some lumber and tools, and talk radio.  I'm not going to say he's taking his time...  but I probably would be.

Christmas with the Downey's.

Talullah and Adelaide ready to eat.

Gillian, Berlyn, and Adelaide.  Possibly the sweetest picture ever.

All of the grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa Downey.

The fam.  We were so happy that Wesley was home from the Army to enjoy the holidays with us!

Just check out Gillian kissing Talullah.  Killing me with cuteness.

Hey, you try carrying four plates for four kids before serving up your own meal.  Tough work.

I have no idea what this is all about.  Brothers.

Our little family :)

Being silly with Aunt Jojo

Grandpa Downey being a goof ball.

Snuggling with my baby.  And Bri.  But she actually watches the football game.  We do not.

Nick playing one the new songs he wrote recently.  I love to hear his music.

A Christmas Miracle

I usually try to post a somewhat equal amount of pictures of my girls on this blog.  Obviously, Berlyn totally outnumbers her sister on this one.  Let me explain.
This year, Talullah has graduated to the next Sunday School class, so the girls are no longer in the same class on Sunday mornings.  At our church Christmas program, Talullah got to stand up with her classmates as each one took a turn saying their letter (spelling out Christmas), along with a fairly long line that they had to memorize.  I wasn't sure Talullah would be up for the task since she tends to be a bit shy.  This little girl proved me wrong!  She practiced her line every single day, reciting it to anyone who would listen.  I wish I had memorized it so I could tell you what she said, but take my word for it.  She was amazing.  She was the very last S, and she walked up boldly and spoke directly into the microphone.  Whew.  I'm getting all teary eyed just remembering it.
Berlyn is typically not quite as timid.  I really didn't worry too much about her joining in with the preschool class singing Away In A Manager.  Wouldn't you know, as soon as I walked her into meet her class for a practice run before the show, my little girl froze up.  She refused to cooperate.  She threw a fit when I tried to put her gown on.  There was no way I could get her to wear the head covering.  She was supposed to play Mary, for crying out loud, and she wouldn't even look at the pretend baby Jesus, let alone hold it.  Jantz took on the role of good dad and rocked the baby while they sang their practice run.  Berlyn stood there scowling, sucking on her pointer finger.  I was trying everything.  I'll give you candy, if you'll please just participate.  Berlyn... dad is here.  Grammy and Grandpa and Nana and Papa came to watch you.  We're going to be proud of you being a good girl up there.  I hate to say I might have thrown a threat or two out there, but what's a mom to do?!  Here's the little girl playing the mother of our sweet baby Jesus... Lord have mercy.
Finally, I told her that I would go up on the stage and stand with her.  I would let her suck her finger as soon as we finished the song.  And she could have a lollipop.  Awful parenting, I know.  Don't get all judgy.  I walked up behind my daughter, and my word, I was in absolute awe.  As soon as we stood in front of 300 plus people and the bright lights were shining in our faces, my darling little girl just came alive.  She looked out into the sea of people with a smile on her beautiful face and sang the song, doing the hand motions as directed.  She waved when she saw daddy taking pictures.  After the song, I had to urge her off stage because she wanted to sit next to the manger with Jesus.
What a diva!  The rest of the night I sat in my pew next to my husband with my mouth agape.  We pulled it off.  How could I have ever doubted my girls?  I am such a proud, blessed mother.

Pre Christmas pictures

First of all, the picture at the top is a birthday present I had received from my good friend, Michele Kennard. She had given me a cup warmer.  Yes.  It keep my cup of coffee nice and warm so I'm not throwing my cup in the microwave every fifteen minutes.  Words can not express how much I love this gift.
Next, this is our second year of gingerbread house decorating with out fabulous friends, Brendan and Ashlee Byrd.  The Byrds.  Isn't that adorable?  Love Byrds.  I just can't get enough; they're so sweet.  I digress...
Well, for the second year in a row, we have found that we need some serious pre-planning for future gingerbread house creating.  We are no good.  We use graham cracker walls since I always run out of time to make or buy something better.  Ashlee's frosting tasted spectacular, but wasn't quite gluing our pieces together as needed.  Brendan, the show off, always constructs some multi-story, multi-room house with a theme and gorgeous frosted paint job.  We still love him.  The rest of us just end up with a less-than-sturdy, barely recognizable structure that is likely to end up in the trash less than 24 hours later.  Unless the girls find them first and realize candy was involved.  Next year, I swear we'll get it right.
Side note: isn't Ashlee's festive wear fabulous?  She pulls off a holly covered turtleneck and Christmas earrings like a master.  Sarah Sophia wasn't quite as excited to get dolled up in holiday gear.

Christmas is finally here!!! Well, a day early, but still!

I read about the birth of Jesus from the Bible while Nick played out the scene with our nativity set.

Havanna was pretty excited about her Minnie Mouse phone.

Berlyn got a battery operated bug catcher.  So perfect.

Talullah's new bath towel.  My Little Mermaid.

Havanna is cuddled up in her new Minnie bath towel.

Havanna would have stayed in the cold all night looking at lights with her Papa.

More egg nog, please!

Talullah loving time with her daddy.

What a doll face.

Nana found Talullah a ballerina music box.  She's so proud.

Havanna now has her own baby doll that really sucks on a binkie and bottle.  Kind of weird.

Merry Christmas!  Since Nick had to work Christmas morning, we decided to wake up Christmas Eve and just pretend.  We took our time getting ready and eating breakfast before the girls settled down so I could read them the story of Jesus' birth while Nick played out the parts using our nativity set.  THEN we opened presents!  A small Christmas blessing: the day before, we had gone to Eureka for some last minute shopping. I didn't go 'all out' on present this year (knowing full well that Nana would get the kids absolutely more than they needed already), so I had bought one good present for Talullah.  A bed tent.  I knew she'd love it.  But, I was thinking that it was a little unfair since all three girls share a bed and it would really be a gift for everyone.  The other girls each had one special toy that I knew they would specifically love.  While we were driving on a side road, I saw a pile of toys with a free sign.  I'm not one to stop, but I spotted this stuffed horse with a carrying case.  Talullah has been looking a toy similar to this every time we're near a toy section of a store.  Nick granted my request and turned the car around.  The little horse and carrier was in mint condition.  No spots, no smells.  It looks brand new.  I grabbed in and put it at my feet where Miss T couldn't see and saved it for the big day.  Free.  Picked up from the side of the road the day earlier.  It was her favorite present.  Doesn't that figure?!  When she opened it, she gasped.  "Mom!  This is like the dog ones I wanted, but EVEN BETTER!"  What parent doesn't love hearing that sort of appreciation?

We bought Berlyn a bug house and a batter operated bug catcher.  It's shaped like an ant eater, and the snout sucks bugs right up into a small container.  This couldn't be more perfect for daughter #2.  As soon as she opened the bug house she clutches her chest and says "My own box?!"  Easy to please.  Then, when she learned how to use the bug catcher, she crawled around my living room using it to vacuum the rug.  Here's a happy momma!

Havanna was a pro when it came to unwrapping gifts.  She methodically tore through tape, wrappers, and ribbon to find her surprise inside.  She loved her Minnie Mouse phone and her Winnie the Pooh ride on toy.  She was also pretty darn pleased to just sit and play with the wrappings and ribbons thrown to the floor, but hey.  She's not even two.

Nick liked his Padres sweatshirt I got him, as well as the Padres tickets I bought for a game in San Francisco in June.  I absolutely love my new pajamas and my Victoria's Secret smelly stuffs.  I know it's not all about what presents you receive, but it's so nice when all the gifts we give and get are so perfectly pleasing. There's not a single material item that this family needs, which is proof of how abundantly blessed we have been.