Our Little

8 months ago today we were looking at this new precious beauty...



 

 

...and now she is growing up before our eyes. 

 

 

Violet wakes up each day with a HUGE smile on her face.  Whether it's me, Andy, Ava, or Isaiah that goes into her room first...she's so excited to see us.  She's a mover...this kid is cruising all over the place, explores every little nook and cranny, and attempts to put anything into her mouth.  I love how her little mind is like sponge taking in so many new things.  It's hard to tell what her favorite toy is because she's happy playing with anything.  She loves stories...especially lift the flap books. 

 

Miss Violet really doesn't care for baby food anymore.  She does still enjoy a good bowl of Gerber oatmeal...plain or with fruit...but as far as being fed from a spoon...she's really not into fruits and vegetables from the jars now.  She prefers what I might call "real food."  She loves strawberries, pears, peaches, green beans, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cooked egg yolks, multi grain bread, and shredded cheese.  She's had small pieces of finely chopped ham and turkey and likes that too...not sure if I'm supposed to give her white fish yet but she had a few pieces of tilapia the other night and loved that too.  She still likes yogurt melts, puffs, Mums, and crunchies...any type of finger food makes her happy!



She takes 2 naps per day for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours each.  She's ready to crash at 7:15 and sleeps until 6:45 or 7:00.  Lately she's been waking up once to have a bottle and then goes back to sleep.  Since she's been a baby she's been a rock star at putting herself to sleep...5 minutes of getting comfy and then she's out. 

Our little Vee Vee has 6 teeth...seriously...this is WAY more than her big bro and sis had at that age.  She has four on the top and 2 on the bottom.  She likes when we brush her teeth.  We're trying to establish that habit early so morning and night we use water to scrub those pearly whites.  She smiles the whole time. 

 

Miss Violet you are such a peach.  You are so precious to us and we love you to pieces.  All the things you do amaze us.  You crawl like you're in a race trying to get somewhere as fast as you can.  I swear any day now you will start cruising the furniture...you've taken a few steps while holding on to the couch.  It's only a matter of time before those little legs are running all over the place.  We love everything about you and are so lucky to be your Mommy and Daddy.  

 

Love you Vee Vee!

 

*******Elf on the Shelf*******

Christmas Tree the elf has come back again this year to watch the kids and report back to Santa each night.  Each morning is a mystery for the kids...they love trying to find him around the house.  He's always up to something!  This morning we found him by a candle roasting marshmallows.

Tuesday morning he was hanging out in a bowl of marshmallows and was eating some off of one of Barbie's forks.

Monday morning we found this message on top of the toy box.  Christmas Tree the elf was peeking into the M&M bag. 

 

 

On Sunday, December 1st, the kids found Christmas Tree under one of our trees.  He had been playing with some blocks and spelled out the word, "Hello."  He wrote a note to the kids and we read the story about him again.  This is so much fun!!!

 

My Three Happy's:

1) Great Grandma Richardson made a "Richardson stocking" for Violet.  I love this picture of them together!!

 

2) Fresh Christmas trees...I absolutely love, love, love the smell of fresh evergreens!  I have them all over the house.  Our real tree is in our family room, a piece of real garland is going across the dining room table with some candles, and pieces of evergreen branches are in buckets throughout the house.  They add so much color too!

3) Peppermint cocoa...I never thought I'd like that, but after trying it in our Keurig I love it!

 

My Favorite Thing:

**My warm, cozy bed...man is it cold outside tonight!

Happy Happy Birthday to Our Ava

Seven years ago...I remember like it was yesterday.  I thought my water had broke during the lunch hour at school and I was panicked!  Andy took me to the hospital...they did some tests and sent us home.  We stopped at B-Bops for a cheeseburger and fries...and then about 4 hours later we rushed back to the hospital for what seemed like the LONGEST labor in the world. 

 

When the doctor put Ava in my arms for the first time I remember staring at her and thinking..."Is she really mine?"  She was a little fussy that first night and wouldn't settle down.  I remember listening to her lullaby CD...the same one she still listens to at night...holding her close, and just singing softly in her little ear.  She drifted off to sleep.  I still treasure the times when I read to Ava at night and I watch her little eyes close and she's off to dreamland.  Seven years...seven years...I was warned how fast time would go.  People kept telling me...she'll be grown up before you know it. 

 

Miss Ava Lynn...you are loving, caring, thoughtful, kind, creative, artistic, and treasure the time you spend with your family.  We love your giggle, your stories, the songs you sing and the dances you do, and how you can love your brother and sister so much.  Your friends think you're wonderful and you do so many things that make us proud.  Every day we are so thankful to have you in our lives and we are blessed beyond words to be your Mommy and Daddy. 

 



Ava waking up this morning..she was so excited to open her gifts!!

Our birthday Bootles!

Isaiah loved watching and helping Ava build this "light-up" Lego candy shop.

Love you more than all the snowflakes in the sky.

Getting ready for her party!!  Here you have it...a 7 year old beauty!

Ava and her Aunt Jody!!

Front and center...ready to open her gifts!  We are so thankful for everyone who could come...Great Grandma and Grandpa Richardson, Grandma and Grandpa Richardson, Grandpa and Grandma Van Slyke, Aunt Julie, Uncle Kevin, Isabelle, Avrey, Aunt Karen, Uncle Alan, Uncle Dave, Aunt Jody, Tim, Uncle Darrell, Rayla, Kirstin, and Bryson.  The house was full of family!

Our Little Clan!

Can I open these yet?

Yes!!

That smile is so precious!

Ready to sing and dig into that cake!

Someone loves his big Sis!

Ava worked this evening on building her Lego Pet Salon.

How pretty is that smile!!

 

 Happy Birthday to our Love!  You are amazing and we are so proud of you!!

My Three Happy's:
1) Starting "Elf on the Shelf" with the kids this morning.  Last year we bought the book and they named him Christmas Tree.  I'll be posting pictures of this little guy and all the things he does soon.
2) Having family over today.  I LOVE entertaining people!
3) Random Acts of Kindness and Family Time..we'll be counting down the days until Christmas by showing others that we care and by spending more quality time together as a family. 

My Favorite Thing:
**Parenthood...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that show!!

Our Six Month Sweetie!

Little Miss Violet is a half year old today! It really doesn't feel like it's been that long since I was watching Ava and Isaiah at this age.  Time has flown by and this little munchkin is growing up. 

She absolutely adores Ava and Isaiah and is entertained and interested in everything they are doing...and she wants to play with and hold whatever it is they have in their hands.  She loves playing with all her toys and funny enough her favorite one now I think is Ava's dancing Dora doll.  She loves watching that thing.  She's also a BIG fan of books.  She loves "helping" me turn the pages and  really enjoys the books that have textures on the pages.  She also likes the different "lift the flap" books that we read to her.  This kid is a nature nut already!  She has always liked the outdoors but now she likes just sitting in the grass and playing with the leaves around her.  Every once in a while she tries to put one in her mouth but for the most part she just likes the feeling of the crunchy brown leaves and blades of grass. 

Violet is always on the go.  Kicking, bouncing, scooting, rolling...she's all about moving to the next fun thing.  I love watching her little bottom and legs scoot to the toy she wants. 

She loves to eat!  She still drinks anywhere from 24-28 ounces a day but eats some oatmeal with fruit at breakfast and a little oatmeal with a veggie for dinner.  There doesn't seem to be a fruit or vegetable that she doesn't like.  By far fresh peaches or pears in her net is her favorite.  When I take the net away from her to clean out the fruit and put new in...she fusses until I give it back.  Whoever invented that device is a genius!  She likes sweet potato and vanilla puffs broken up into pieces.  She is really working on trying to put them in her mouth.  I'm sure she'll be more successful when the puffs are whole pieces and easier to hold.  I'm hoping to try some mashed potatoes for dinner soon...very thin of course.  I can't wait until I can feed her what we eat.  The poor kid watches us take bites and you can tell that she REALLY wants to eat what we have.  That reminds me so much of Isaiah!

My littlest love before bedtime tonight.  Just like her bro and sis...she loves a good pair of cozy footies! 

 

Violet used to barely nap and would scream nonstop from 7-10pm most nights.  I'm guessing she had some form of colic because it just stopped one day.  She goes to bed around 7 and wakes herself up around 6:45 or we wake her up at 7:00 to get her ready for the day.  She used to wake up once in the middle of the night to eat but for the past 3 weeks has slept straight through like a champ.  She takes two naps a day at the sitter's house for about 2-2 1/2 hours each.  But on the weekends...we're lucky if we can get an hour out of her each time...just like Ava!   

 

Her two pearly whites make her smile absolutely adorable.  They make her look like such a big girl!  She has funny faces that she makes, silly sounds, and has been saying eeeeeeeeeeeeeee a lot!  Not sure what that means but that letter is her favorite I guess.  One letter of the alphabet down...25 more to go! 

Miss Violet Lynn...Mommy and Daddy cherish you and love every minute we're together. We pray every night for your health, safety, happiness, and for you to grow in your faith.  Happy 6 months!

 

Man, oh man, are we lucky to know Heidi Hicks.  She is the best photographer I've ever seen.  She's still working on getting the editing done before we get our finished CD but I asked her if she would email me a picture so I could post it tonight.  She said she has lots of Violet smiling at the camera that I'll see soon, but she just loved her eyes in this one.  She's stunning...my precious Violet Lynn!

 



I thought I'd throw these pictures in too.  These are the kid's school pictures this year.  They have both grown up so much when you compare pictures from last year.  I keep telling the kids they need to shrink and become little again...they always laugh!

 

 

My Three Happy's:

1) Andy's freshman team is dominating this year!  They won again tonight!  It's crazy to see those boys and think they were my babies that I had in 1st grade years ago!

2) Is it sad that I get just about as excited as the kids do when their book order comes in?  Ava got hers a few weeks ago and Isaiah brought home 15 books that we ordered Thursday!  Our shelves are exploding both downstairs and up...but you really can NEVER have enough books! 

3) The weather is supposed to really drop tonight and be cold and yucky tomorrow.  I think some chili or taco soup is going to be on the menu for dinner tomorrow night.  Ava keeps asking for chili.  She's always been my picky eater...and is getting better...but she's always devours a bowl of chili.  When they were little they both liked eating plain kidney beans straight from the can.  Kinda yucky...but I'm glad they still like them in soups!

 

My Favorite:

**I ordered some new Scentsy warmers for fall and I love the one I have burning called Cozy Fireside!  A woodsy/cinnamon smell....ahhhhhhh!

Two "Spooktacular" Little Writers!

All rightie then...apparently this Mama needs to stop making any promises with regards to blogging because it's just not happening.  Man oh man how I wish I had the time every night to do this but the honest truth is I just can't.  I have to come to the realization that whenever I post will just have to be good enough. 

 

Fall is in the air...that means cooler temperatures (on random days so far...the past two days have been above 85 degrees...crazy)...fall scents, yummy comfort foods, crunchy brown leaves, mums, pumpkins, and can I get a "whoo hoo" for my favorite thing...crafts!  I LOVE doing crafts and projects with the kids...absolutely LOVE it!  I'm lucky that both Ava and Isaiah are happy doing anything that involves cutting, gluing, and making a mess!  I'm sure Miss Violet will join in the fun soon too!

 

Jackson basically lives on the floor during the summer months because it's much cooler.  Lately this guy has been having some quality rest and relaxation on the couch.  Poor Toots...he's so gray in the face...but don't let that fool you!  He's still one big furball that's very active!

This weekend we made a trick-or-treat ghost craft.  I printed out the stuff at home and the kids decorated their little friends.  Love the rolled socks on this character and how the hands hold the trick-or-treat sack.  We were busy doing this from start to finish for about an hour...lots of cutting and coloring!

I love seeing how the kids both start with the same craft, but in the end they turn out to look so different.  Look at that beautiful girl!  I still can't believe she's my baby!

On the back of the ghost is where you can write a story.  Isaiah told me what he wanted to say and he wrote most of it.  I wrote a few words when his "hand was getting tired" but for all the other words I just told him the letter sounds and he wrote the letters.  His says "His name is Cice (pronounced Kicky)!  He likes to go trick or treating.  He likes to bowl.  His favorite food is candy corn.  His friend is Boba Fett Isaiah.  His favorite game is Pop Up Pirate."  Nice job Boo!

Ava did this all by herself but I helped her spell the word character.  "Her name is Boo.  She likes to go trick or treating.  Her favorite character is Mickey Mouse.  Her favorite thing to eat is.......candy."  Super writing Ava Lynn!

After the ghosts were complete we played some Halloween Bingo with candy corn.  We took turns being the person who draws the cards out of the box.  They loved this not to mention the fact that they got to eat the candy corn afterwards.  Miss Violet was asleep through all of this. 

Happy Bingo!

This guy adores his little sis!  He was playing picnic and grocery store with Violet while I was putting dinner in the oven.  What a good helper!  After a few minutes he'd call out "Mommy, Violet's off the blanket now."  That kid is going to be crawling around before we know it!

This morning I had to take a quick picture of my babes!  She is such a lovie!  My little one is going to be 6 months on Friday...6 months.  Yikes!  She needs to stop growing and stay little forever!

 

 

My Three Happy's:

1) We got our family pictures taken by our friend Heidi (Captured By Heidi) on Sunday.  Can't wait to see those...she's so talented!

2) I ordered all my new fall Scentsy bars.  It's time for the house to smell like cinnamon, pumpkins, and pine trees!

3) The Halloween costumes are ordered and will be shipped here any day!  This year you will get to meet Boba Fett (Star Wars guy), Violet (the daughter in the movie The Incredibles), and an adorable ladybug!  That Halloween card is going to be all kinds of cute!

 

My Favorite Thing:

**Reading with  my kids at night!  We love cuddling up under the covers and diving into our favorite books!  It's even more fun now that Ava reads to me and Isaiah is starting to read books with simple and repeated text.  

Two Pearly Whites

Life is slipping by too fast and I'm doing a terrible job of posting and documenting the fun and memorable things that are going on.  So I think I have a solution.  I'm REALLY going to try and post a little bit every day...probably not pictures...but at least a paragraph or two about what went on that day just so I can look back and remember.  Funny things the kids say, "first's for Violet,"...stuff like that.  I'm making no promises but am going to give it my best effort.

 

Miss Violet is happy to announce that two new pearly whites have appeared in her mouth. The  kid has been drooling a ton, was unusually fussy on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and was waking up at random hours of the night.  Saturday morning I saw a little speck of white...her lower white tooth.  By the afternoon one had broke through the gum and the other one was at the surface.  On Sunday morning they were both through and she has been in a much better mood and is back to being herself again.  Lots of cold fruit in her net and toys chilled in the fridge were helpful and soothing to her.  Hopefully I'll get a picture of that adorable toothy smile soon!

 

Our happy Vee Vee looking stylish in her new skinny jeans and shirt.

Love that expression...priceless!

 

 

Ava and I went on a field trip to McFarland Park today.  My class went along with hers so it was nice to spend the morning with her.  The weather was yucky!  We walked around in drizzle and our clothes were soaked by the time we left.  We learned lots about insects and tried to find some...but didn't have a lot of luck. 

 

Me and my Bootles on the bus

Ava heading out to the prairie

 

They were learning about how insects camouflage into their habitats so the kids pretended they were insects and hid in the prairie grass.

I LOVE this kid!  My first born and my baby for life!

Trying to catch some critters.

 

***G-Parents Day in EK***

Two weeks ago Isaiah celebrated Grandparents Day in his EK classroom.  My parents came for the morning and stayed for lunch.  Isaiah loved showing everyone around his classroom and taking them out to recess.

After eating lunch with Isaiah they joined Ava's class for lunch.

Grandpa and Grandma Richardson came to eat lunch too and spent the afternoon with Isaiah.  He was so lucky to have everyone there that day. 

This Friday is Homecoming for Ballard.  In Ava and Isaiah's eyes this means toilet paper on the trees outside our house, the king and queen all dressed up, and lots of Ballard spirit!  One of their favorite parts of the game is when the cheerleaders hold the paper and the players break through it. 

This game was two weeks ago...it's fun to cheer on Daddy's team!

My Boo and me!

Go Bombers!

 

 

My Three Happy's:

1) I brought home NO school work and Andy and I are watching a movie.  It's about time!

2) We were reading in bed and Isaiah was looking at some words that Ava brought home from school. I said, "Try to sound that word out."  He was quiet for a moment and said, "That's cat."  I said, "How did you know that?"  He then said, "I just sounded it out in my head and then said it."  He did a few more and was so proud of himself.  I'm so proud too!

3) Cooler weather...I love jeans and sweatshirts!

 

My Favorite Thing:

*My Dad got me a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks this weekend...now that was GOOD!