She's in SEVENth Heaven!

On Friday,

this little girl had her birthday.

Our Janie is now officially SEVEN!
Our new seven year old had been WAITING  AND WAITING and WAITING for her birthday to arrive.
Everyday I'd hear the countdown:
"Mom, only 7 more days till by birthday."
"Mom,  in 6 days it's my birthday!"
"Mom, do you know how many day until my birthday?  Because I Do!"
"Mom,  tomorrow it will be Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday, and then MY BIRTHDAY!"

All day long, morning and night, before school and after school, until FINALLY her big day arrived!

She had her birthday breakfast.  On the menu:  pancakes, bacon, eggs, and chocolate milk.
After only 2 bites it was onto the presents.

She got exactly what she wanted.
A few DS games, Legos, and her 'snorkels'.

Modeling her snorkel gear.
STILL making me laugh!

Big sister Madeline was so sweet this year.  

She got her a singing card ( it sings 'Fabulous' from High School Musical 2-Janie's FAVORITE), candy, and a coupon for either a massage or good for Madeline doing one of Janie's jobs. 

 

The birthday girl didn't want a big party.  All she wanted was to hang out with the family at Trafalga (laser tag is her new favorite) and have a movie night.  (Didn't get any pictures of those activities-trying to live IN the moment!)

Overall, I think she had a fun day and felt special. 

Which is my goal on each of my children's birthdays.  I want them to feel loved and special and so important.

SEVEN YEARS with this cute girl!    

How did we get so lucky?

(February 2005)

(April 2005)

(May 2005)

(with Grandma Sullivan, July 2005)

(Spring 2006)

(October 2006)

(April 2008)

(6th Birthday, February 2011)

Happy Birthday my Janie Girl!

I guess it's time to start another countdown. . . . . only 360 days until your eighth birthday,

just try not to grow up too fast, okay?

Our little lady at 8 months old.

EIGHT months!  (FYI to myself: She'll be nine months in a week!)

Oh!  We can't get enough of our sweet, but serious girl.

A little 8 month update:

• She is SPEAKING!   Three words to be exact: dada, mama, & nana.   In full disclosure I will admit that dada was spoken before mama. 
• CRAWLING!??  umm.... I'm going to go with YES, but this baby has her own unique style:                               crawl, crawl, bum in the air, collapse and repeat.  crawl, crawl, bum in the air, collapse and repeat until you get to your desired destination.
• She has discovered DVD's!  And yes, I am a mother that doesn't feel bad about having my baby watch a half hour of something.  She likes our Dancing Bear video, but she'll sit through ALL 25 minutes of Mickey Mouse Beach Sing-a- Long.  It's heaven-I'm not gonna lie.
• She STANDS!  All the kids (especially Megan) were obsessed with trying to have her stand alone and not holding on to anything.  Poor little thing had no choice, but  learn how to do it.  Her personal best:  about 55 seconds (give or take a few).
• She has a love affair with food.  She LOVES to eat.  I've never had a baby who liked eating so much.  She growls when her food comes and it still cracks me up.
• She is now the proud owner of 4 teeth.  The top 2 just came in.  
• Which means she's starting to look older and more grown up and why can't they just stay little forever?

SNOW-Much Fun!

We actually got some snow this week and a few of my kids COULD NOT WAIT to get outside and play in it! 

Okay, it was more like Chloe couldn't wait, but Janie went with her because she is such a great big sister and does whatever her mom asks.  

(By the way, I ONLY ask because I know that once she get's out there -she's just gonna love it!) 

See!  She's loving  it.   Mother always knows best!

They both had such a great afternoon out there playing!
I may not love the snow, but I cannot deny I loved the hours of entertainment it provided these two little girls.

There were snow angels to make.

There was sister snowball throwing.

Chloe wasn't as evolved as Janie in her snowball fighting effort and it was a little frustrating, 

But Janie saved the day!  She decided to give Chloe a free throw.
I LOVE how Janie's getting ready for the snowball to hit her!

Which it never did.  

Nice try Chloe.   I mean just look at the size of that snowball!  

Too bad it wasn't packed down and never made it past your feet, but mom's giving you an A for effort!

And there was exactly one snowman to build.

I had so much fun watching the girls build their snowman.
They looked like they were having such a good time.

Janie built the entire snowman by herself (with a little from Chloe).

Seriously-is this not the cutest snowman ever.  Ears and all!
Oh Snow!  Thanks for the memories!

Twenty12

I'm still trying to figure out how 2011 went by SO QUICKLY!

It was another year of ups and downs and another year to improve and make mistakes, 

but the absolute BEST thing about 2011 was having this sweet girl.

Our year of 2011 was brightened considerably by our new baby girl.
And while I can say with almost absolute certainty that 2012 will not bring us a new baby,
I will say that I'm optimistic for a very bright new year.

What are Lexi's Goals for the New Year?

1. Learn to Crawl
2. Learn to Walk
3. Learn to Say Mama 
4. Sleep in (a girl can dream can't she)

I think she's well on her way to accomplishing Goal Number One.
Don't you think so too?

Scenes from a Christmas

Another Christmas has come and gone.

More memories made to add to the ever growing collection.

I loved that Christmas fell on a Sunday this year.

And I loved that all my children cooperated for a post church Christmas picture.  Even Lexi was good!

Every year when I peruse through the pictures I've just taken of Christmas, I always think- 

"These look exactly like the pictures I took last year!"

This year there was one noticeable difference.

I don't remember seeing this adorable face in any of my previous Christmas pictures.  

So, except for the fact that we've added an extra face to the collage of pictures

and except for the melancholy realization that all my kids look older, 

the pictures taken this year ARE exactly the same as Christmas's past.

Same Christmas Eve Party at my parents.

Food, family, fun and frivolity.  We'll have a huge helping of each please.

The Christmas Eve party ALWAYS consists of:

• A yummy dinner.

• A song or two.

Actually it's more like 50 songs, but singing and Sullivans go hand in hand.  Didn't you know that!

 

• The nativity play is a MUST.

This year we added shepherd wives, a star, a camel, cows, and sheep to the mix-every grandkid needs a part!

I was too busy videoing that these were the only two pictures I took,
but I have to say that my little sheep and angel were the cutest of the bunch!

• The cousin gift exchange.

Excitement and Smiles all around!  Chloe could NOT wait!

• Grandma's Gift.

My mom has 32 grandkids and every year she makes them something unique and just for them.

After the presents have been opened, we all dash out the door to get home.

This year Janie was SO worried we hadn't left grandma's early enough and she knew Santa had already come.
"I don't want to see my presents when I walk in the door!  I want to see them when I wake up!"
It took a lot of reassurance and a glimpse at Uncle Marky's phone (it was tracking Santa) to show her he hadn't made it to our house yet.

At home it's time for everyone to get in their Christmas PJs and smile for the pajama picture we take every year.

And just like the other years, I snap a million pictures.

And the very BEST one is this.

And then it's off to bed so Santa can FINALLY come!

This year our little Chloe did not want to go to bed.  Jared and I tried very unsuccessfully to get her to go to sleep.  

"If you don't go to bed, Santa won't be able to come.  Don't you want your presents from Santa?"

Her response to us (while jumping on the couch I might add).

"Oh, Santa just LOVES little children.  He'll wait until I go to bed and then he'll come back for me!"

And she was right.  Santa does love little children and he did come.

The rest of the day was spent at church and with family.

And in true tradition, I forgot to take pictures of our very lovely Christmas dinner at Jared's brother's home.  

I don't think anyone took any pictures.  But sitting and eating and visiting was a fabulous way to end the day.

And just like that another Christmas had past.

Same pictures, same traditions, same everything.

And I'm already looking forward to next year.