Out To Eat

One of the things I was really adamant about when we started our family was that I did not want to give up our "out to eat" experiences!  Eric and I eat at home during the week, usually.  But for the past year or so, every Friday for lunch, we take the whole family to Fujiyama to eat some Japanese.  We have learned some of the chef's names as well as the owner.  Most of them know Eve's name as well :)  We look like a miserable crew to sit with ... and I am sure that when people see us walking in a restaurant, they cringe.  But we do it anyway.  This kids love it, and so do we.   

Some of Eve's favorite things about Fujiyama is getting to throw an egg in the chef's hat, the fish pond out front, the little fire she can blow out like a candle, picking the cherries out of mom's cherry coke, eating croutons dipped in white sauce, and finishing off her mom and dad's soup (mushrooms and all).  

M&M Blizzards

DQ is a weakness for the Lairsey's.  We LOVE blizzards.  I vary it up a bit when I order (nothing fancy ... I just switch from mint oreo to reese's cup to butterfinger).  Eric gets the same thing everytime, and now that is Eve's favorite too!  

A M&M Blizzard with very, very light chocolate syrup...

 

Our Asphalt Driveway...

...is great for many things!  Our original idea for it (or I should say Eric's original idea for it) was to make a good sized area for a nice basketball goal/court.  It is used for that a good bit by some neighborhood boys, the Garrard boys, and occasionally Eric will get the chance to invite some guys over to play.  The driveway also serves as a GREAT place for the kids to play with their bikes/trikes, bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

 patiently waiting on a sister to push him

 he LOVES this

 Eve's depiction of Rapunzel

 My anniversary message to Eric

 Drawing eyelashes on the princesses

My Baby Is ONE!

We've made it!  Since Coleman will be our last child, I feel like we're officially OUT OF THE BABY STAGE!  YAY!  No more 3-hour stretches at night, no more bottles, no more formula, no more gas drops, no more bouncy seats and swings!  BUT ... sentimentally, this also means no more smooshy face snuggles, no more babies that will fall asleep anywhere at any time, and no more baby talk!!  I have loved the baby stages for all of my kids, but am also REALLY looking forward to watching and enjoying them growing up!  First days of school, trips to the zoo and the library, getting rid of cribs and diapers ... all of these things are exciting milestones we are looking forward to.

Here is a picture of my handsome, smiley, chunky 1-year old!!!  

Our Firetruck/Dalmatian Birthday Party with most of Coleman's favorite people:

Our mini-celebration on his actual birthday...

He really did NOT like the boots or hat ... but i thought it made for a cute picture :)

     

The Same Look ...

When people meet us for the first time, they often tell us that our children look EXACTLY alike.  We hear comments about Coleman and Ellie looking more like twins than Clara and Ellie.  We hear that Coleman's face is identical to Eve's baby pictures.  We hear that Eve is a mini-me to her momma.  I love that we have strong genes!  Personally, I am terrible at telling who looks like who ... BUT when I saw these two pictures, it made me smile!  Clara looks the least like the others, but in this comparison, she fits right in!  What do you think??  Do you see the same "look"??

Understanding the Jibberish ...

Some of Clara's favorite things to say ...

*ebe.  time out.  (Eve needs to go to time out)

*get it.  (I want to hold what I'm pointing at)

*moo - bee.  (I dont want to go to bed!  Instead, I'd like to watch whatever is on tv)

*no jacket! (I HATE JACKETS, and I will scream and try to pull it off if you make me wear it!)

*no boot!  (I HATE BOOTSI  instead, I'd like to wear my pink sparkly shoes that rub blisters on my feet)

*baf (I love to take a bath)

*daddy turch (let's go see daddy at church)

*OK (this is her answer to EVERYTHING you ask her to do when she is wanting to be compliant--which has been more often :))

*Ms. Ash-ee and Ms. Donna, or Ms. Mere-da and Mrs. Less-ee (her teachers in school)

*sick, kiss, hug (someone is sick and I want to give them a kiss and a hug to make them feel better)
*no teech (dont touch that)
*Ellie, soap.  Man Man, soap.  Ebe, soap.  Momma, soap.  (Everyone needs soap in their mouth when I get it in mine)
*eeeeehhhh?? (like an old man, grunting, asking you to repeat yourself ... Clara says this after everything you say that she doesn't understand or if she doesn't want to do it)
*is gucky!  (i am a terrible eater and i am not even going to taste what is on my plate)

Some of Ellie's favorite things to say ... 

*old - ew (I want to hold you, and I will hold on to your leg until you pick me up)

*ma'am ma'am, while pointing that finger (No ma'am, Clara!  You have to obey!)

*pin-tail (I want to wear a pony tail like Clara, but when you give me one, I'm going to take it out so it looks like I have a mohawk)

*teef (I want to suck all the toothpaste off the toothbrush)

*bye bye, shoes on (mom is getting dressed, that must mean she is about to leave, I want my shoes on so I can go with her)

*dacket up (zip my jacket all the way up so i can put my hands in the pockets)
*bye, day (bye, mom!  have a good day!)
*Eh-ya (Clara's name.  I love hearing Ellie call "eh-ya!" and then from around the corner, you hear "what?")
*soutside (please let me out of this house!)



Some things only a mom can understand!
I love these girls!!!  

i love you to heaven ...

For a long time now, when Eve is expressing how much she loves anyone, she just clasps her hands behind her back and says, "i love you THIS much" meaning she is stretching her arms back as far as they can go.  Sometimes, to make us laugh, she'd say, "I love mommy this GREAT BIG MUCH (arms clasped behind her back), and I love daddy this little bitty much (pinching her fingers together to almost touching)."  Well, we have graduated.  "I love you to heaven" is our new family phrase.  To go along with it, she blows a kiss as she's walking away and you are supposed to grab it from the air and put it in your heart...and she'll know if you don't do it!!!

An Exciting Year Ahead ...

There are LOTS of reasons I am looking forward to 2013!!  But, selfishly, the biggest ones all deal with my excitement of not being pregnant this year :)  I am REALLY looking forward to making memories with the four precious gifts God has already blessed me with....without a pregnant bump, sore and achy muscles, twice-a-day shots in the belly, twice-a-month dr appts, and newborn sleepless nights!!

My List of Exciting Things in 2013:

*Youth Group Ski Trip in Feb!

*My man's 40th bday bash 

(I am NOT good at throwing parties, but I am super excited about this one in March!!!!!)

*Spending some alone time with my hubby 

(we are planning a trip to Philly for a youth pastors conference/get-away in April)

*Family Beach Trip in May

*Youth Camp (precious time with the teenage girls God has given me) in June

*Disney World in July

*Eve starts Kindergarten in August!!

*I have two family friends that are bringing home adopted children in 2013 

and I can hardly wait to share in that with them!!

*Coleman will take his first steps and the twins will be potty-trained 

(which means only ONE KID IN DIAPERS ... hallelujah!)

When I think about the fun that is to come in 2013, I get excited!  Excited about the things I see God doing in my personal life...the ways He is calling me to a new place, to realize my full potential as a mom and as a youth pastors wife and as a teacher.  I am looking forward to the new friendships that will be created over the next 12 months with girls at church, the new bonds that will be made between me and the youth girls, the romance that will grow deeper between me and the one God chose for me.  I know life cant be all "roses and rainbows", but I am choosing to focus on the great, the positive, the happy things that will happen in 2013!  I believe it can be the best year I've ever lived.  It can be the best year in my marriage, the best year for my church, the best year for my friendships.  Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of living another year, another day.  I pray I will live it with my heart completely surrendered to your plan for my life.  

Happy New Year!!!