Holiday recap....really short

We had a great holiday. It is overwhelming to recap it all, because so many things, wonderful things, happened.

We had great times with every member of our immediate families, brothers, sisters, cousins, grandparents. It was so nice to see everyone. We had a great brunch with Santa, a formal dinner out at Aronimink, mass at Saint Norberts (in the front row again), dinner at the Smiths (with a gift exchange thrown in). We woke up Christmas morning to discover that Santa had left tons of gifts under the tree. We tore through them and loved every one. Oba and Grandad, Ryan and Chris then joined us for brunch... and of course, more presents. Mimi, Papa, aunt Colleen, Uncle Dave, and the Arlington O'Reillys came by for an informal dinner. We saw the light show and rode the train. M, M and I went to see the newest Disney Princess movie, The Princess and the Frog. We went to lunch before... at a REAL restaurant, not a kids' restaurant.

We had a fun visit to the Shorts. I love getting together with them, not only because I like Adeline and Elizabeth's parents, but the girls LOVE each other. They don't see each other for months, but when they do they run into each other's arms, hug, and we really do not see them again for hours. That is not to say they aren't up to no good somewhere, but we just don't see them. The Unsers also joined us... so fun to see them after so long.

New years at Aronimink was eventful. B was missing for about 20 minutes. I was really in the panic mode by minute 12. We found her and Chloe up on the second floor in a bathroom up to no good! After that, all was good with face painting, photobooths, balloon making, dancing, eating, drinking (parents not the kids). And to top it off, a count down to 9:00pm, ending in fireworks! Of course I was asleep by 11:00, but woke up a few minutes before midnight and saw the official countdown. Back asleep by 12:01.

As I look back on last year, I feel truly blessed. I mean how lucky am I to have a healthy, relatively happy family. We are safe, well fed, loved, healthy. At night, when the girls are snuggled, and the lights are dimmer, and the fire is roaring, I honestly feel like the luckiest girl around. Thanks 2009. You were great!

I should be flattered

My girls love me. They really, really do. I should be flattered. I should feel blessed, and don't get me wrong, I do, and I am. But really. You are sitting on my lap. You have your head buried into my chest. I am there. There is no need for you to scream at the top of your lungs "mommy". It would be physically impossible for you to get any closer to me. Unless, of course, you somehow climbed back into my uterus. And I know at least one girl who would willingly do that. Gross, I know.

I have threatened to change my name, but they're smart little buggers. They would figure out my new name and scream that.

Seriously, somethimes they are in the kitchen with Sean, and they come upstairs to the bathroom, while I am in the shower, to ask me to get them a drink. Really?

Maybe they don't love me as much as they use me.

Sweet sounds in the morning.

Neither Sean nor I are morning people. A loud moan is often heard in our room when the pitter-patter of feet enters our room at 7:00 am every morning. Why don't kids sleep in?

The other morning we woke not to foot steps (or tugging on the arm, whining, I'm hungry) but to giggles and an elaborate game of make believe coming from downstairs. All three girls had woken up and instead of heading right to our room, they headed downstairs. We could hear them playing so well together. They were very involved in our game, and we were grateful for the extra minutes of sleep.

It is moments like that when I am so happy we had four so close. I just bought a sign that says "Having a sister is like having a best friend around for your whole life." I love it.

Theater goers

The girls have become the little theater goers. They have seen the Nutcracker Suite twice this season and will be seeing Charlotte's Web on stage next weekend. They love dressing up and going to the show. The also love to come home and do their own versions of the shows on our hearth.

B (who doesn't yet get to go to the shows) loves to get in on the action too. Her rendition includes yelling "watch his" and doing some type of dive/jump onto the floor. Quite comical, also quite painful (looking). I am sure we are in for more and more shows as the years go by.

Put it in my baby book please.

Maura is doing better and better at "reading" or spelling, not sure what the technical term is. She is starting to sound out words and spell them. She is always reading words off signs and papers and asking me what they spell. Sometimes she makes up her own words..."Mom, what does rfty spell?" She is disappointed to find out it spells, well, nothing that makes sense. The other day she asked me a series of letters and asked what they spelled. Her last one was B-A-T. She was so excited that it was an ACTUAL word. Her face lit up. She was so proud. And she said, "Mom, don't laugh, but please put this is my baby book." I did not laugh. I did choke a little. Baby book? Who teaches you such things? Why on earth would she ask me to do that? I would totally put it in her baby book... if she had one.

Happy Birthday My Little Kerr-Bear!

Our little Kerri Jean turned one today. I really am in complete denial. I don't want my baby to be one. Well really one is okay, but I don't want her to be 4 or 5 or 6 or...

We were eating dinner last night, and she was sitting in her high chair so sweet and quiet. She got a huge smile on her face anytime you looked over at her. She was quietly watching the girls running laps and screaming around the house. She would occasionally look over to me, smile and clap her hands. I don't want THAT to end. that sweetness. that calmness. that that makes Kerri Jean who she is right now.

I just absolutely adore her in every way. A friend of mine talked about her fourth being her "closer." Her daughter is a little tough and therefore, makes it easy for her to say "I'm done." I think Kerri may be our "closer," but for a completely different reason, she is just so sweet and perfect, you don't want to tempt the fates.

Thanks KJ for being so darn sweet. Thanks for your big gummy smiles (she just got her third tooth last week with 3 more ready to bust through!). Thanks for your claps and your beautiful eyes. Thanks for you chubby cheeks and thighs that match. Please stay as sweet as you are!

I love you!

Please stand up.

No need to ask KJ twice. She stood up today, without holding on to anything for about 10-15 seconds! Papa, Mommy, Daddy and Mimi were all there to see it! Yeah... go Kerri!