NUTS

After 4 days of being stuck inside due to an ice/snow storm the kids went a little nuts last night

 It was fun playing in the snow and doing a little sledding but then things got crazy

 strange shirt wearing

 more sledding

 And then last night it was naked dancing

We're just glad we can actually leave the house today.  WHEW!

Anna and Baby Doll and lunch with Aunt Barb

These days Anna is all about "Baby Doll".  Baby Doll goes everywhere with us in and out of the car.  She takes very good care of baby.  Always checking that she's okay, kissing her, bouncing her on her knees and giving her good pats.  Here's Anna and Bear out for a nice walk

 Going around the lake with Baby Doll

 Sunglasses are a must!

 Feeding Baby Doll (she likes Chex)

 Anna with two baby dolls and two meows

 Sitting at lunch

 Sharing crackers with Baby Doll

 And....SURPRISE!!  We got to have lunch with Aunt Barb last week!  Super treat for me and the kids.  We haven't seen Aunt Barb and Uncle Jack for about 6 months so the kids were really excited to see Barb and show off some new Christmas toys

We are an Aunt and Uncle!!!!

Baby Brinely Mae Flatau is here!!  She arrived last night at 9:24pm weighing 7 lb. 11 oz.  and 20 inches long.  What a beautiful healthy girl.  Emily and Brinley are doing great (so is Papa Karl)!  We cannot wait to meet this sweet bundle of joy next month!!!  Congrats Emily and Karl!!

Jackson had hopes the baby's name would be Texas so he is slightly disappointed to learn that Brinley was the chosen name but he did say it sounded very pretty.  Anna just keeps looking at the pictures saying "baby doll! Hi baby doll!"  The kids are super excited to finally have a cousin!! 

Missouri friends and family visit

We flew up to Missouri for a quick trip to see great friends and family this past weekend.  Our good friends the Muellers now live in Columbia Missouri and it's been way too long since we last saw them (over 1.5 years).  They now are a family of 5 and we couldn't wait any longer to meet their newest member, baby Iris.  The kids get along wonderfully and I don't think we ever laugh more than when we are with Mark and Sara!  Sadly we didn't get many grown up pictures this time so it's all about the kids.

Backpacks on and ready to fly

 

Anna gets to see her first Meow



Grant, Jackson and Lydia goofing around

 

Finally meeting Baby Iris



Sledding for the first time!




Wheeeeee



Jackson loving on Baby Iris

We also got a great opportunity to see my parents best friends, the Huttons.  Mom and Linda grew up together and it's always so great to see them.  Sadly last time we saw them was when Jackson was 9 weeks old so it's a visit long overdue.  Sara's parents threw us a lovely dinner party where we could all meet.


Getting to visit with Mimi and Dow's best friends (haven't seen them in 4 years). I think in this picture we were shouting "make Mimi jealous" which of course we really don't mean

 

2 Super Heros and 1 princess all having breakfast




Mueller and Manes girls




Mueller and Manes kiddos---not bad for a posed picture

 

Jackson and Grant---2 good buddies


 And before our trip ended we did get to squeeze in another long overdue cousin visit.  My Aunt and Uncle and 3 cousins all live fairly close to St. Louis so luckily several were available to meet us on Sunday afternoon.  The kids really had fun getting to know Isabelle and baby Amelia and it was a great chance for me to catch up with Mowrer family.


Cousin time!  Seeing Isabelle and meeting baby Amelia (with Cousin Darcy)

 

Baby Amelia



A little cousin dancing---Isabelle teaching Jackson and Anna how to tap



kisses




JP, and Cousin Christy with their newest girl Amelia




Cousin Darcy and Uncle Rick

 Thank you Mowrer clan for making the time to meet with us!!  We sure appreciate it and it was so wonderful to see everyone!---just sorry we missed you Erica and Aunt Tina.  Next time we will make the visit much longer!


2 exhausted kids.  They fell asleep on the way home from the airport



We had a great trip and as Jackson says "I wish we lived in Missouri" to be closer to friends and family.  For sure more visits are in our near future!!  Thank you everyone for such a great time

Christmas pics

We had such a great relaxing Christmas with the kids this year.  Here they are on Christmas morning

Anna testing out her new baby doll swing

 

 Santa brought Anna a new doll and it hasn't left her side

 Too much Christmas.  At one point Anna crawled under the tree and rested for a little bit

 Feeding baby

 playing with toys

 Even Bear was worn out!

 New best friends

 This was pretty much Jackson's position all day--crouched behind the castle with Iron man and transformers