Hopscotch for Maddie

Our cousin Maddie requested a video. We couldn't think of anything better than one of our favorite games- hopscotch! : ) Now it's your turn Maddie! : )

Edit to add: We had been yelling "Hooray!" in unison each time the girls made it to the end of the hopscotch board. But, my girls decided to leave me hanging and let me sound like a dork yelling hooray all by myself. Ha ha ha ha ; )

The Aquarium

We met up with Kari this past weekend at the Georgia Aquarium. She is finishing one of her many o.t. internships in Atlanta so we trekked over her way. She's an ultimate friend/family member to have along because she's pretty much up for anything, the girls love her, and she doesn't complain or get stressed about anything. Ava and she paired up, Jules and Chad paired up, and I had the fun of watching my kids from afar for a change. It also enabled me to take a tons of photos while running over dozens of aquarium goers with our double stroller. : )

As if the aquarium wasn't enough fun, I decided to drag my crew to Lenox Square Mall. A mall so big it threatens to swallow small countries. I had a glorious time checking out my three favs Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and Crate and Barrel. The trip to the mall was cut short by a certain little girl's screams as Chad, Kari and the girls gagged and handcuffed me away when I suggested we make one last trip around the mall to make sure we hadn't missed anything. ; )

It was pretty much a great weekend!

Random wonderfulness from the past month

Mormor, Grandma, Dicky, Jackie & Kari come for a visit!

Relaxing with Saturday morning cartoons and movies!

Dancing with my stars

Oh Kari. I love you.

They posed like this and then yelled for me to come take a photo! : )

Cookie dough!

Cold weather play...beans in a bucket to measure and pour. So fun and yes, slightly messy.

Valentine's Party with friends!

Crafts and lollipops!

So I had to say I love you in a song...

Here is the latest singer/songwriter creation by Jules. We aren't sure if this is original. But, if it's already a song...we've never heard it. And either way, we think she's pretty darn cute. : )

Don't you cry and say "I will try"

Oh oh oh

You can't get sad if you don't know me
Get happy if you do

Oh oh oh

I will love you sad or mad.

The Motherhood Stream of Consciousness

If I had more room on facebook this is what it would say:

Jennifer is...

-laughing at her oldest who just said, "I can't find my fairy wand. And I WON'T be able to find it for 100 YEARS!"

-grinning at Ava who is asking to read "Fwancy Wancy" (Fancy Nancy).

-taking the plunge and hiring her first high school babysitter for an afternoon on the golf course with Chad. Deep breath.

-needing to get serious about this decorating stuff. I still don't have curtains up. What's up with that?

-missing her Marine Corps wives a lot lately.

-wiping copious amounts of snot off her daughters faces, still.

-hoping (really, really hoping) the restaurant near the new grocery store is a Chipotle.

-loving her neighborhood, all her kids' friends, and the great new people we've met since we've moved here.

-wishes she loved her church. It's just so, so big. Which I've always loved. But, now for some reason doesn't feel right despite the fact I like the pastor a lot.

-so glad Chad's schedule is back to normal. SO!

-reading again...after a ten year hiatus. It's been like water for a man in the desert.

-pretty much hooked on Karen Kingsbury.

-is about to spend way too much money at Gymboree. (Kimberlee, there is a yellow dress that would look WAY cute on Maddie! The little girl who is modeling it could be Maddie's twin or at least little sister. Go look. : )

-making the family cookbook the numero uno priority for this spring. : )

-aching to travel to some exotic, foreign land.

-finding that one silver lining to food allergies is I can give the kids "raw" cookie dough with no worries. : ) Yippee!

-thinking she has some tall kids! Julianna is a string bean who eats all day long these days...while Ava, who has always been a string bean, is turning into a little pork chop.

-willing spring to come early so we can head to the park and play all day long, go to the nursery and plant!

-lovin' the mom's group she ran into at the jump place on Tuesday!

-looking forward to mom coming, visiting with Kari in the ATL, girls weekend in St. Augustine, the Master's and all the other adventures the next few months bring!

A Midwestern Christmas

My wonderful girls

Maddie and Jules, I am just loving their cute little grins

Ava, Maddie, and Jules get the bench warmed up for photos

4 Princesses + 1 Prince = Fun for Everyone!

Maddie explaining all about her little baby Isaiah

This is what Ava did when I said, "Can you go to sleep Ava?" : )

Lane Thomas

Little A loves this bench

Drew

(sigh, I remember when I just started to date Chad. Drew was so little then. Chad and I used to play "Buckin' Bull" with Drew all afternoon. : )


Grandma and Lainey singing with the family

Lovin' on the cousins

Maddie, Jules, and Courtney playing horsie

Play-doh for everyone!

Grandpa and Ava laughing while Chad catches up on local news

Lots of snow!

At the beginning of December we drove to western Missouri to visit Chad's family. The whole family had decided to have Christmas early just so we could be included (due to Chad's work schedule). We were so grateful and loved all the time we had to spend with the immediate and extended family. Each year new cousins are added! We are growing exponentially! : )

Hope you weren't holding your breath for that stuffing recipe...

It's been a busy, busy month for the Mortonos. Full of twists and turns, unexpected challenges and trials, some calm and quiet, and finally...the promise of new beginnings for the new year. I have many blessings to share with you. And in time, I will find the way and words to share about our trials as well. I've prayed about posting for several weeks now. I have waited for some of the dust to settle in order to best articulate my thoughts and to make sure my words are sensitive to all my loved ones.

Below are some photos from the last week of November. The girls had such fun romping around in the leaves. Glorious fall colors! : )