Who's who?

It's pretty obvious who is who . . . Clarissa is the one always crying. For some reason she just does not like the camera! It must be the flash that really irritates her . . . it also didn't help that we put a hat on her. She goes ballistic when we put hats on her. In fact, last night Keith put on a cute pink hat we got from our good friends The McAden's (which if you'd like to help sponsor them for their mission trip in Russia let me know) and she just started bawling. Keith didn't know what to do and I was yelling at him to hurry up and take the hat off her! Once he took it off she was fine. Hats are just annoying. Hmmm, Joey is the same way. Such a shame - he looks so cute in hats and I really wish he'd wear them.

Joey has really enjoyed having Keith home. He's off his sleeping schedule because when Dad is home he likes to play. Keith has just been working a few hours a day during the holiday's. It's been really nice having him home. Once he starts traveling, again, maybe I can get Joey back on his schedule.

My sister Margaret is planning on going to D.C. in January and is planning a long weekend trip here afterwards! I'm so excited! It'll be really nice to have some family here. I feel so disconnected sometimes and bummed that both Joey and Clarissa don't really know their families back home. Although, Joey did really well with Debbie, my mom, and Terra visiting not too long ago. Ugh . . . I think family should visit more often!

Merry Christmas!

Say Cheese!

Today I took the kids to get their pictures taken. Joey did really well and smiled for most of the pictures. Clarissa thought it was just a waste of her time and didn't smile for any of the pictures. All in all, it went well . . . but I'm in no hurry to do it by myself, again.

We celebrated Ken Robinson's 43rd birthday today. Wow, that's old! Joey really had a blast. He sat next to a really pretty girl named Makaela. He flirted with her so much. It was crazy how much of a flirt he was (and always has been . . . and probably always will be). He ended up rolling his sleeves and showing her his muscles. I have no clue where he learned that - but he did it! Gosh, he's such a flirt.

We bought Clarissa a Santa hat that says, "my first Christmas," and she absolutely detests it! We've found that if she's trying to go to sleep but still needs to eat that we can put the hat on her and she'll get so mad that she'll wake up really well . . . and in a bad mood. Oh . . . my crazy kids.

GO AWAY, SNOW!

As a homeowner . . . I do not like the snow! Joey had his playgroup this morning and we missed it because we were stuck in the driveway. Between the time Keith left for work this morning and the time we left for the group the snowplows had piled all the snow in my driveway. What's that you say??? I know how to use our plow? I can only use it if I can get to it. I guess I learned a valuable lesson today . . . move somewhere nice and sunny. It can't be Amarillo . . . they also have snow. I want something like Florida for winter and TX (w/o the tornadoes) for the summer. Seriously, I'll have to get Keith to move the plow where I can access it easily.

So, the kids and I stuck in the house until Keith gets home. At least it'll be early today, because I've got my 6-week checkup. Yes, that means Clarissa is 6 weeks (yesterday)! Crazy! Anyway, I took Joey out in the snow after I realized that I was defeated. I thought he'd have a lot of fun, but the snow is too high. Every time we stepped into it, we fell. The snow is to Joey's waist - so he cried a lot. Poor guy. Anyone know of a cheap place we can buy off the beach in Florida? At least I got an adorable picture of him.

It's definitely winter

We've had two snow storms in the past week. Keith is going to be frozen solid by the time he finishes plowing the driveway. I'm so thankful we've got a snow plow. Keith taught me how to use it the other day just in case he was out of town while it snowed.

Joey loves the snow . . . but he wasn't able to move at all! He had on his snow bibs and the snow was so deep. We haven't taken him out after our second storm - we'll lose him!

Clarissa was able to go out in the snow, too. I just took her out snuggled up pretty good in the sling for a few minutes - just long enough to get a picture. It's just so cold outside!

My mom has been visiting this last week and we all enjoyed having her home very much! Every time family leaves it really makes you realize exactly how much you miss them. I wish her stay could have been longer. Her trip was pretty laid back. We did a lot of shopping and drank a lot of hot chocolate.

Clarissa had her 1 month checkup and she's getting so big! She's 20 1/4" and 7 lbs. 12 oz. My little girl is packing it on!! She's got the cutest, chubbiest cheeks. She still has her blue eyes and my coloring. Let's keep hoping that her eyes stay that way!

Joey is really enjoying being a big brother and he's now super busy with so many activities. Keith and Joey had their first Dad/Son playgroup this last Saturday and they had a lot of fun. They even made me a Christmas ornament! It's a picture of them and Joey decorated the back of it. So sweet! Keith said that Joey loved on the bunny in the classroom and he was the only one not afraid to feed it . . . speaking of animals that eat . . . Levi just had his yearly checkup and he gained FIVE pounds from last year. I guess Joey is really feeding him pretty well. What a chunk. My mom also mentioned that Elijah looks like he's about to explode.

First of many

We took Clarissa to church for the first time yesterday morning. Luckily, we have a brand new church with a really nice parent's room - so we were able to enjoy the sermon, too. It was so fun having her dressed up and getting to see friends. She was dressed in an outfit that my mom bought her at my shower in Amarillo. We added some white tights and pink boots. She looked absolutely adorable and we were going to take a picture, but she had already messed it by the time we got home to take pictures.

I think Joey really enjoyed being back at church. It's been a while since we had attended. Before I had Clarissa Joey was sick so we didn't go to church and then the next week she was here! Of course, Joey looked handsome in his church clothes like always. He's such a gorgeous boy! Keith and I have truly been blessed with such great-looking kids.

Saturday we went to go visit Santa. It's amazing how scary Santa is to kids. Joey has only had one "good" picture with Santa. He was just a few weeks old and sleeping . . . otherwise, he might have cried then, too. It's really a funny picture, though. We'll be mailing out this picture with our Christmas cards.

Today is snowed. Ugh . . . I'm not ready for winter. It's still snowing. Maybe this afternoon I'll get Joey in his snow bibs and let him go out and play. He got some really nice snow boots for his birthday from the Robinson's - I guess he'll get to try them out earlier than I thought.