Zoinks!

The day after Halloween last year, I found this Daphne costume perfect for Emi, and since I was prego with Brin, I thought how cute to have a scooby baby... the bigs raided their closet for something that was close enough to Velma and Shaggy. Then as a family craft, we painted poster board to resemble the Mystery Machine. Complete!! We were a hit around the neighborhood. The kiddos got through the neighborhood in 45 minutes flat, then we enjoyed some time with our neighbors around a bonfire and mauwing our (their) candy...

School parties

This year either I dropped the ball or none of the room moms at the kids school needed any help with parties because the first year ever I had nothing to bring or do at the Halloween parties. I was able to roam from party to party and just observe. It was kind of nice, but mostly boring! I felt very guilty about my kiddo's costumes this year. As a collective family we look great, but individually my kids look like they are wearing normal street clothes. Cole seemed fine with it, he told me in the beginning of October that he didn't even want a costume this year. And Avery was tickled with her fake glasses that made her look 13 and intelligent!

Avery had perhaps a bit too much fun wrapping her classmate with toilet paper!
Cole trying deperately to unwrap bubble gum with socks on his hands. Each line of kids had to do this and put the gum in their mouthes before passing the socks to the next person. I nearly pulled Cole out of this game after watching a kid mouth all over the socks as he was trying to get the gum in his mouth... Gross!!!!

Avery with friend Alexis... not sure if it was too wise of the teacher to sit them right next to each other, but she will figure it out one of these days!!

And not to be left out, Emi had to throw on her costume this year when Sofi had hers on for preschool... so cute!!

life is a zoo...

I attempted my first successful outing with the 2 babies and Emi last week... We took advantage of one of the last nice days of fall (and my old friend from HS's zoo pass) (and my nice friend Jessi's double stroller) and headed out of Marysville. I will have to say that it went very well and was a much needed day out. Emerson was so well behaved, didn't mind waiting for my friend to arrive, and didn't fuss when it was time to go. She liked seeing the new baby elephant and eating her lunchable... Brin and her friend Reese were awesome zoo goers. They enjoyed the stroller ride and didn't need to come out of the carriers. We parked them in front of the Manatee exhibit and they watched the fish swim by for awhile. I'm sure we will be venturing out more in the spring.

Goooooooalrilla Classic

So like I said, while Brian was making multiple road trips across the great state of Ohio... Cole was completing in a soccer tourney in Cincinnati... Saturday was a complete success, we beat 2 very tough teams. The weather was a bit chilly but the boys beat their tourney jitters and came out strong. Sunday morning the boys continued their winning streak and made it into the championship game. Brian arrived to see the boys suffer a tough loss to a team they had beat on Saturday. Although it was tough to lose, the boys were proud of their playing and took home "finalist" trophies... not second place, but finalist... it's all in the wording I guess.

Marathon Man

Brian ran in his second ever marathon in October... this year he had been training with good friend and coworker, Matt, and enjoyed their long runs. This year the marathon fell on one of the busiest weekend for us. Cole was playing in a soccer tourney in Cincinnati, Emi had her last soccer game here in Marysville and so on... After a lot of juggling and driving, everyone got to their events with spectators. Brian made the greatest sacrifice of all... he drove to Dayton Friday night with Cole to spend the night with my folks, got up at 5am to go to the soccer tourney which as almost an hour away... sat through 2 soccer games and then drove back to Columbus. Got up the next morning at the crack and picked up some coworkers to go to the race. I felt so bad for him that he had no cheering section but his aunt Nance (Annie as we fondly refer to her) showed up and surprised him at the finish line. He also had the Semans cheering him on (thanks Beth for the pics). I just really hate that we weren't there to give him support. So after he finished a MARATHON, he jumped back in the car and drove all the way back to cinci to see Cole in the championship game! Everyone cheered for Bri as he walked up to the fields right at game time!! We are all so proud of you Brian and the sacrifices you make for us. We love you!

Brinley Grace, Pumpkin Face

Here are the shots from Brinley's 6 month photo shoot with Jessi!!

I think they are amazing as always...

At 6 months, Brin is almost sitting up on her own, eating baby cereal and some veggie once a day, and really starting to be content and alert of her surroundings. She is an absolute joy in our family!!

Purple Butterflies

Notice that the ball isn't exactly going into the field of play!! She had to attempt this throw in 4 times before it when over her head and on the field!!

Emerson's soccer season came to an end this past weekend... We braved the freezing cold for the last game and the girlies were so cold that they didn't even want to eat thier last game cupcakes... All in all I think Emi had a good time on the team. She enjoyed practice (especially playing duck, duck, goose) and always ran with a smile on her face. She wasn't very aggressive on the field but seemed to know which direction to kick it and the general idea of the game. Unfortunatly none of the butterflies were very aggressive and we were lucky to score one goal per game! But we had fun and that's what matters at this age, right?? The girls had fun but it was painful for everyone else!

Happy 4th Birthday, Emerson

Emerson celebrated her birthday with her first ever friend party... We invited her little friends that she knows from the neighborhood, Cole's friends' sisters and the kiddos I babysit. We had a Halloween themed party complete with skeleton bone hunt, pumpkin craft and spooky cake. It was a lovely day and a fabulous party. Emerson enjoyed being the center of attention which surprised me. She loved opening each and every present and shouting at her sister to bring her more. She relished in everyone singing happy birthday. She handed a goody bag to each and every guest and said "thank you for coming to my birpday party." We love you little peanut.

Day at the Spa

To celebrate Emerson's 4th birthday, the girls heading to the girlie spa today. First on the agenda was getting Emi's ears pierced. We were ushered into the store and directed to the ear pierce place. Then Emi quickly picked out some jewelry (diamond flowers with pink centers) and sat on a "thrown" while the girls marked her ears. She was so brave while they got her ready and before she even had a chance to think about it, they were counting to 3 and it was done. She didn't cry at all, just got a pouty face and a few crocodile tears rolled down her cheeks... I was so proud of her!!

Let me digress... when Avery was 3, her BFF got her ears pierced and I instantly felt the need to get Avery's done... we begged and pleaded with her daddy who continued to say no... finally one Buckeye Saturday when he was perhaps a bit distracted, we asked him again and he didn't say no (although he didn't really say yes either). He was a bit angry when we came home with earrings in her ears and felt like he had been tricked. And now with Emi, he has been coaching her to think that getting your ears pierced would really hurt and that she shouldn't do it, so when I would ask her if she wanted to have earrings like sissy she would always say no (Brian said I couldn't pierce their ears unless THEY wanted to do it). But a week before her birthday, I proposed to Emi to get her ears pierced and get her nails painted for her birthday and she was actually excited about it. I was too! I'm having a hard time feeling the need to keep everything on the same playing field having multiple girls... Ave started dance when she was 3, so should Emi... She had her first American Girl Doll at 2, so should Emi... so I really wanted her to get her ears pierced when she was 3, just like Avery!!

After that, the girls got mini-manis! It was so cute to see them get pampered! They had their hands and arms massaged with sparkly lotion and chose nailpolish and nail art. (Emi chose yellow--really?? yellow?? whatever!!) It was a good day out with the girls!!

Like I really need one more thing to do!!

My friends and I have started a hair bow business, and so far it has been a wonderful endevour... Sure, we haven't actually sold a bow yet, but I'm having fun planning the business and getting our ducks in a row. So far we have made tons of bows, made some cute display cards for them and taken professional pictures of our girls wearing the bows!! We also have a blog, twitter, and email for our business! Pretty official right? We are setting up a display at the dance studio and local craft shows. We are also taking orders via email or if you see me out and about. And if you feel like making me super happy, tell me and others how cute these bows are!! We are currently marketing Halloween bows, Monarchs (Marysville) and Buckeyes but would be glad to make custom colors too!! Check out our site and let me know what you think!

www.twirlygirlies-hairbows.blogspot.com

twirlygirlies@yahoo.com

Twitter: twirlygirlies

Happy Half Birthday

Check out her absolutely adorable bow... more on that to come!!

Playing PSP with bubby!

Brinley is officially over the hill to being one!! Can't hardly believe how quickly the first 6 months have gone (although I can't hardly believe how fast the first 9 years have gone for Cole). She is starting to take to the cereal thing a little better, she seems to like the oatmeal more than rice. I have been working towards a stocked freezer of baby food for when she is ready for that, just added lots and lots of applesauce made from fresh picked apples. She likes to sit in the high chair and watch the rest of us eat like a real member of the family. Her brother and sisters are incredibly wonderful to her. She is getting more on a schedule with deliberate naptimes and feeding times (of coarse we are totally off any such schedule today, and she is upstairs screaming instead of napping, but what do you do??). Only 6 more months and we will be celebrating her birthday!