EJ is 4!

Okay, EJ has been 4 for over 2 months now, but it's been a LONG time since I posted (I think this is definitely a blog hiatus record for me).  So, once again, it's time to play catch up.

EJ got to blow out plenty of candles for her birthday:

In Austin, celebrating at Mimi and Pop's.



Breakfast at home on her actual birthday.

Birthday Family Dinner at 3 Margs

Her "friend" birthday party at Monkey Bizness

The birthday girl, ready for her big party!
At 4 - 36 lbs., 41 1/2 in.

EJ continues to grow into an empathetic, big-hearted, sensitive little girl.  She continually keeps us laughing with the things she says.  She is the first to comfort when someone is hurt or feeling sad.  She LOVES her brother and sister, although she also loves to push their buttons.  She's especially good at getting to Hope and can definitely be an ornery little sister! 

She is happiest when things are calm and quiet and clean.  She is fanatical about washing her hands and freaks out if her clothes get wet, yet, she can make a mess in a room quicker than anyone and doesn't care how messy her room is.

She is the night owl of the family and would love to stay up all night and sleep in as late as she can.  Unfortunately for her, that doesn't really work out in our family.  So, she's always forced to go to bed long before she's ready and woken up much earlier than she'd like to be.

Preschool has been wonderful for EJ.  She loves going and seeing her friends on Monday and Wednesday mornings.  She is sounding out words and wants to know how to spell everything.  She loves to write all of our names and is starting to get better at using scissors.  She loves to count and add.  She always wants pencil and paper so she can do her "homework" just like her big sis.

Your great big smile can light up a room and you bring so much happiness to our lives!  Happy 4th Birthday EJ!!!

The Christmas Season (a little late)

Classroom Parties, Christmas Plays, Choir Concerts, School Programs, Baking, Eating, and Baking some more.


Family, Singing, Christmas Light Viewing, Movies, Cookie Decorating, Wrapping, Opening, and Wrapping some more.

Christmas has been wonderful and fun and memory making. We celebrated with family near and far, finishing up our celebrations in Austin at Mimi and Pop's. The trip included a 24 hour stomach bug for EJ (that did not make for a fun plane ride) and a trip to the emergency room for Beck. Hope, Brandon and I stayed healthy and we really enjoyed seeing everyone. We finally got to meet baby Phillipa (and hang out with cousin Ethan), as Jessi and Charlie made the trip to Austin too. We're counting our blessings as we begin 2012!

EJ's preschool Pajama Party and Program

RIght after they sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", guess who showed up!

Hope's school party

Choir Concert #2

Hope and Averi after one of their "Babes in Toyland" performances.

Baking Day #1

Sisters on Christmas Eve!

Our attempt at a family picture

Annual reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"



Santa Came!

Beck's 1st Plane Ride

EJ in between "pukes" on the plane. Poor girl. :(

Beck in the ER

Hope with Mimi and Pop

EJ and Phillipa

Hope ready for a motorcycle ride with Pop!

Hope and Ethan tree climbing

Perfection

We finally got our Christmas Tree today!  After going to visit Santa at the mall, we came home, got the lights strung and hung all of the ornaments.  The sequins, glitter, popsicle sticks, and painted puzzle pieces making up the many homemade ornamets may make our tree seem a little "unsophisticated" to some, but to me it's perfect!  All the way to the star at the tippy top, which Hope made in preschool out of construction paper and a toilet paper roll.

Size Wise

EJ:  "Mom, in our family Beck is the littlest.  I am the medium.  Hope is the medium-est.  You are the medium medium-est and Daddy is the biggest!:

She was so very proud of her revelation!

Halloween Festivities!!

2011 Halloween included pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving (Hope did her own from beginning to end this year!), a carnival at Hope's school (somehow I ended up pictureless at that one), a program and costume parade at EJ's school, and of course, Trick-or-Treating!

PUMPKIN PICKING:



PUMPKIN CARVING:

 TRICK-OR-TREATING

I could NOT get a good picture of everyone together. :0(

 EJ's PROGRAM AND PARADE:

Oh yeah, we also had some dirt eating.  YUMMY!

What a Difference...

Monday:

 High of 80 degrees

Wednesday:

High of 30 degrees

Junior

Hope "bridged" to Junior Girl Scouts a couple of weeks ago.  This will be her 5th year as a Girl Scout and she has grown so much since she was just a little Kindergarten "Daisy"!

 Not the best picture- but just a little 5 year-old on a Daisy field trip

Last time being a "Brownie"

 Crossing the Bridge from Brownie to Junior

Junior Girl Scout!