Christmas Day!

Christmas morning we had the 3rd annual Breakfast at the Plowman's. This time it was a little less stressful getting things ready as we had no "announcement" this time. Hard to believe that last year we told everyone that we were expecting and now Jessica is 4 months old!

Opening gifts

Listening to the Precious Moments Angel

Ainsley showing Gram her Barbie

When everyone left we had Christmas as a family. We opened our stockings, our gifts to each other and gifts from out-of-town family.

Z opening his stocking

Ainsley liking something in particular that she took out of her stocking! It think its a Slinky.

Z and his new ball

Mike in his new jacket

Me opening up some new clothes

Z in his new cowboy hat with his new blocks

Ainsley in her new Tinkerbell Fairy outfit

Jess with her new Taggies book

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you all the best in 2009!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve over at Roger and Terry's. We had a delicious dinner and then the kids opened their stockings and presents.

Just call us the Pilot Family! Here are my Pilot, Roger's Pilot and Liz's Pilot in the driveway!

Jessica in her cute little bowAll the kids' stockings
Z helping Gibby with Christmas Eve dinner

Some of the kids opening stockings!

River of Lights

Last night we bundled up and headed out to the Botanical Gardens for the River of Lights display. We wanted to go last year but something kept happening (I can't remember what exactly) that prevented us from going so we decided to try again this year. Wow, it was crowded and COLD! But, it was beautiful too. I think the kids really liked it for about 30 minutes and then it wasn't so much fun anymore. Jess was the first to break...she started wailing about 20 minutes in and wouldn't stop. I was getting the typical "could you shut that kid up" looks so I wasn't too happy. Z was pretty cold because we forgot his gloves on the dryer. Ains was hungry and we had just eaten before we left! So, needless to say, we didn't stay long and trekked back to the car to feed Jess when Ains decided she needed to pee. Mind you, this is AFTER the kids are all buckled in and ready to go. And there was a big line in the ladies room too! Always an adventure!

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas Eve!

The Hawk...or Falcon?

This is a really bad picture taken through our kitchen window. (If you click on the picture, you can actually see its face.) I think this is a sharp-shinned hawk sitting in our courtyard. It is now 2:22 and it has been in the same spot since about 10:30. Apparently, it caught a bird and still has it in its talons and there are feathers everywhere. I'm wondering how long it plans to stay?

First Cereal Feeding

***************************Disclaimer*************************

I'm in no way wanting to rush Jessica growing older. I don't desire any of my kids to grow up because they are so cute when they're little but, inevitably, they do. I think I am especially weary of Jess growing up since she might be the last little baby we have. Its kind of sad to think of not having little tiny fingers and toes or toothless grins around after this.

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Since Jess is 4 months now she tried cereal for the first time yesterday. Z didn't much care for it when he first tried it. In fact, we were told to skip right to the veggies . Ainsley loved the stuff. As soon as would see the bowl and spoon come out she would go nuts. It was almost as if I couldn't get it mixed fast enough! So, I was interested to see what Jessica would do. She does not care for it either. I think she'll be a little picky like her big brother.

This is the fake "sure mom, this tastes great!" look.

And of course, more ends up on the chin and bib than in the mouth or tummy!

I think Jess is going to be the smallest of the three. At four months Ains weighed 14.7 and Z weighed 16.4...she weighs 12.6. Both Ains and Z were 25 inches in length and Jess is 24. I think Ains will be tall like Mike but hopefully not taller than Z!

O Christmas Tree

Yes, the tree is finally up! It took a lot longer this year because we weren't even sure we were going to put up the tree. After we had the tile done in the kitchen, we turned our dining room back into a dining room and moved the playroom to the other living room. It has been great having a dining room again but there is really no place for a 7.5 foot Christmas tree. I really didn't want the kids to go without a tree this year so I rigged the one we have. Presto Change-O...7.5 feet to 4.5 feet in about 30 minutes! Here is our Christmas tree with only the top 4 layers. Ok, so it's taped in the middle but it works! I guess if you don't put the poles in order, they don't fit together but I was just happy that we could put the tree up in some capacity so the kids could decorate it. The tree has more decorations than the picture shows because I found some other things they could put on the tree that I didn't mind being touched. Or taken away in the yellow construction dress-up hat. We've found out that Z likes to take things and hide them. Those ornaments that look like big lights are really Christmas balls with glitter on them.

Here I think Z is trying to take all the glitter off!

Job well done!

Ainsley's Christmas Ballet Recital

Yesterday was Ainsley's Christmas recital at ballet. Here are a few photos...sorry some are blurry...they were taken through the window or while the class was really moving around.

Ainsley peeking in the classroom

On her toes...she's the one in the black skirt between the teacher and the helper with the striped stockings



Getting into costume...jingle bells around her ankles, waist and neck.


She's the blur right in the middle.

Christmas Cookies

Pictures of the kids decorating Christmas cookies over the weekend. Ok, so maybe Zechariah was eating more than he was decorating...takes after me!

The Nuzzler

Jess in her little hat that came with her new "Nuzzler" to keep out the wind and the cold.

Here she is in her hat and nuzzler the night we went walking around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights.

I'm a Little Tea Pot

Here are small videos of the kids singing "I'm a Little Tea Pot". Pay close attention to how Ainsley sings it because it cracks us up!

Enjoy!

This morning it started snowing while the kids ate breakfast so when they were finished eating, we got bundled up and went out front to catch some snowflakes!

Z was more interested in crunching the leaves. Either that or he was using the leaf to catch the snowflakes.

I thought this one was funny because of the snowflake in the view finder makes it looks like Ains caught a huge one in her mouth!

Z trying with his tongue

The Cage

So since Zechariah has been getting out of his crib all the time, we purchased a tent like net to go over it. When I asked about it at Babies 'R Us, the clerk asked if I was talking about the one to keep cats out of the crib; I told her no, the one to keep the kids in! She thought that was funny.

Zechariah thought it was really cool when it was first set up. He got inside and was jumping around and laughing. Then he must have realized what it was for because he started crying and scratching at it like a caged animal. He also ran into the side while jumping and running around in it. The first night he cried when we left the room and I can't even remember the last time he did that.He has gotten used to it now. We call it his rocket. He tells me to zip it up and then he yells "blast off!" It's a little bit of a pain at night when he has a bad dream or needs some comforting because you have to unzip it and zip it back up, which is not too quiet. Of course, once Ainsley is asleep she could probably sleep through quite a bit.

Happy Thanksgiving

We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and pray that those of you who are traveling arrive safely and that everyone enjoys the day with their families...whatever your traditions are. I myself will be chowing down on some turkey and all the fixings! Mike is baking as we speak...banana bread, pumpkin pie, 2 pecan pies, and a french silk pie. But guess who forgot to get the cool whip?! No worries, I can't be the only one who forgets a key ingredient from the store on this wonderful day.

Hope everyone has a fantastic day and we are very thankful for each and every one of you!

My Little Boy is Growing Up...

and picking out his own lipstick! Yes, this is my son wearing not one, but two different shades of lipstick. Ainsley is always wanting to wear my lipstick so I let her, on occasion. Z often wants to do what she does so we keep some chapstick in the top drawer in our bathroom just for him. Well, he took the liberty of helping himself yesterday while I was feeding Jessica. I guess the idea of wearing lipstick like his sister was just too much to handle so he had to try it out. Of course, I tried really hard not to laugh when I came into our bedroom and saw him with a tube of lipstick in his hand and this goofy grin on his face. I must say, I really like the shade! I had to get a picture so here he is with his cheesy smile! I give him credit for getting most of if around his mouth...usually, when he puts on the chapstick he's putting on clear over to his ears and even on his neck. Reminds me of the time Ains got into my make-up at about the same age except she used my sparkly gold lipgloss on her eyelids! And it had a mint scent to it! Boy, was that hard to clean off her face.

Seriously, Z is growing up. He has been able to make it INTO his crib for some time now but this past week while Mike was away, he finally made it OUT. Last night he was "march, march, marching" up the hallway about 30 minutes after we put him and Ains to bed. Then he came out this morning at about 6 saying that he was "ready to get out now". I was hoping not to have to turn his crib into a bed until he was potty trained and needed a reason to have a big boy bed. I wasn't planning on spending the time and energy to potty train him until this summer but now that seems too long to keep him in his crib. Part of me thinks we should just keep him in the crib but the other part of me would rather he wasn't climbing with the potential to hurt himself. Either way we're battling to keep him in the bed or crib anyway, right?!

Well, things are going right along in our household. Jessica is getting more and more active and vocal, I just can't believe how quickly she is changing. She is full of smiles and loves her big bro and sis. Ainsley is entertaining as always. Last night when Mike came home, she was kind of in a weird mood so she was hanging out in her room. Mike was calling the kids to come wash up for dinner and she didn't come so on his way to the bathroom he asked if she would be gracing us with her presence. She got all excited and came running into the kitchen exclaiming, "Mom, did you hear that Dad thinks I have presents?! I don't have any presents...do I get a present?" It was hilarious! They definitely keep us laughing.

Long Week

Mike left for Kansas City and Massachusetts this morning...it's going to be a looooong week for both of us! Thankfully, the kids and I have many distractions such as ballet, school, a play date and BSF to keep us busy. And of course there are always errands to run and the ever popular lunch(es) with my mom! This is the first time Mike has been away since right before Jessica was born so it will be interesting to see how it goes with three kids to myself. There was one night during Jessica's first month that Mike had to work late so I fed the kids and got them ready for bed by myself and it went pretty well. That was mostly what I worried about was the nighttime routine with three. Mike always gives Ains and Z their bath and I give Jessica hers. She goes down a little earlier than they do so I'm ready for their goodnight kisses and prayers. I'm so thankful that Mike takes such an active roll in their lives and in caring for them. And it is so wonderful to have all that help when he gets home from work at night! I'm also very thankful for all the help from family when he is away. The thoughtfulness of a lunch visit, the extra time after ballet, or just the knowledge that I can call if I need anything while Mike is away. Love you guys!

The Things They Say

The other day my mom was over and Ainsley was calling Jessica "sweet pea". As serious as can be, she made sure to tell my mom that is was the pea you eat and not pee pee!

At Whole Foods Ains saw a hanging advertisement with an older lady on it. This is the conversation that followed:
Ains: Hey, that lady is cracking!
Me: Well, she's not really cracking, she's wrinkled from things like age, the sun, things in the air.
Ains: Is your skin cracking yet?
Me: Boy, I hope not but, it will someday and yours will too. That's why we have to take care of our skin.
Ains: You have nice skin, Mommy.

I may have nice skin but my driving doesn't suit her to well...

While out driving the other day, Ains said from her seat all the way in back, "Mom, you're a bad driver". To which I replied, "Thanks, Ains. Someday when you're driving I'll tell you that!"
Ains: You're not coming with me when I drive!
Me: Sorry to tell you but, when you first start driving, I have to come with you!
Then came the look of defeat in the rear view mirror.

Mr. Pumpkin

We were a little late in carving our pumpkin this year but, better late than never. And I guess we're doing better than we did last year when we didn't carve it at all!

Here is Mr. Pumpkin in all his splendor.

The kids really enjoyed pulling out all the seeds. It was pretty funny to see their reaction because I don't think they were expecting it. Especially Z because he was playing in the playroom and didn't want to do anything until he came in and saw Ains with her hand in the pumpkin. Then he dug right in and thought it was the best thing ever. We had a few pumpkin seeds flying around the kitchen by the time we were done.

Dig in!