those alligators

Elias is hilarious. Isaiah has never made up words or really mixed up words. So it's super funny to me the things Elias comes up with.

I had turned on the tv to find a show for Elias to watch because he was sick (again). There was show on HGTV, and they were talking about having to take an elevator up to the penthouse they were going to remodel...Anyway...

Elias said, "Mom, you know I'm afraid of alligators, right? Not the kind that bite, but the kind that close and go up. Those kind of alligators, Mom. Those are the ones I don't like. You know that?".

He has always called escalators and elevators alligators. Even when we correct him, he just keeps on calling them alligators. It cracks me up every time.

I should keep a book on my counter called "Elias-isms". Then I can quickly write down the things he says.

there are four...

I'm so behind on updating our life. I have so many posts started, but need edited pictures or less pictures or something.

But I just have to say, sometimes I look at my kids and think to myself, "Holy crap! There are four of them!".

I'm not sure why I'm still surprised.

But I am.

And I love each of them so so much.

Even when they are all crying at once!

this phase...

The phase of life we're in is...interesting.

I have nothing profound to say. No secrets of how to handle 4 at once. I love our chaos. I do. I love it all. I laughed today when Bryan got home from work because I was holding a screaming baby, with my hair falling out of my pony tail, no shower, and I couldn't even remember if I'd brushed my teeth (I know, totally disgusting). I was just proud of myself for remembering to pull meat out of the freezer for dinner! It's the phase of life we're in.

I woke up this morning and hit the ground running. Raelynn is teething and has been crazy temperamental. I mean, the girl throws herself on the floor with kicking and screaming at the word "no" or "just a minute". Holy hannah. Do not get on this girl's bad side. She will scratch your eye balls out...Seriously. She tries to scratch and bite when you don't do what she wants at the exact second she wants it. Terrible two's a bit early, I believe.

Simon woke up totally soaked. I was thinking it was his diapers, but he has woken up soaked multiple times lately. It finally dawned on me that he's a little boy - gotta point that little thing down when you put the diaper on. How did I forget that? Dare I reveal that it took 3 outfits and bedding changes TODAY for me to remember that little trick?

Bryan left a half cup of coffee on the dining table. Raelynn loves coffee. She just jumped up on the chair and started "yumming" it up. Yup, my baby girl was drinking coffee. I usually would take it away right away, but I was feeding Simon and thought, "Whatev. It won't kill her". The next thing I know, she had hopped up on the table, made herself comfortable, dumped the coffee into a water cup, and then accidentally kicked the cup. She was soaked, the table was soaked, and the floor was soaked. Oops.

I've been trying so hard to get out of the house more than once a week. It's difficult because Simon likes to sleep in his bed, so he's pretty much unhappy anytime I take him out. When Elias was like that, it totally stressed me out, and I wouldn't go ANYWHERE. I always stayed in because I figured it was easier than trying to quiet him everywhere we went. Now? Well, I just pass Simon off to whoever is around, and I don't let the fussing stress me out.

Oh this phase of life is CrAZy, I tell ya, pure CraZY.

things you'd only do with your 4th...

Lay him on a pile of laundry because it's closer than his crib...and you have to pee super bad....

Let him use the same pacifier for more than a day without washing it and sanitizing it...

Leave him in the same pj's even after he spit up on them a few too many times...

Let him cry a little longer because that laundry piled to the ceiling needs to get started...

Let him go a few too many days without a bath....

Pop that pacifier in at 3am, hoping it will do instead of a feeding...and it does the job because he's a perfect little boy....

All that because you realize that he will survive.....It only took me 3 kiddos before him to get that figured out!

Now a little disclaimer, this little man is loved on very much...he's just not as clean as the other ones were at his age. ha!

her first hair cut

While we were in Portland, I had Wendy cut Raelynn's hair. Wendy gave Isaiah and Elias their first hair cuts, and I'm pretty sure I'll have her give Simon his, also!

welcoming the new year

It started off with decorating some giant gingerbread men.

It moved to driving a 4 wheeler and pulling a sled with family and friends.

I can't think of a more fun thing to do!

There was a little wrestling (aka attacking poor Aunt Wendy)

Then on to a few rounds of BUNCO.

Then ended the night with some snacks and silly pictures.

Happy 2013!

2 months

This little man....

~ is weighing in at 13 pounds

~ goes to sleep around 10pm and sleeps anywhere between 5am and 7am. Such a blessing to me!

~ celebrated his first Christmas by sleeping most of the day

~ took his first trip to Oregon/Washington

~ had his first bath in the tub

shoemaker christmas

We decorated a whole lot of sugar cookies

We hung out and visited

We ate some fondue

We had a good laugh while watching the Christmas story acted out by the boys and Pops and Grami.
Pops was the angel, and the hit of the play.

We cuddled babies and opened presents.

We immediately started putting legos together.

More stockings, and more presents.

Cute babies with their Grami and Great Grandma Dee