Hello 2016-we started with a visit from the Zicks!

Hello 2016!

 The Zicks started our year off on a good note by coming to visit for a couple of days!  Somehow, this is the only picture I have.  We played at Urban Air, watched Ava-Grace dance in competition and just hung out.

 My sister sent me this pic and the next morning Maggie and I drove downtown to buy it for Laney's room.  She went 2 years with not one piece of furniture in her room!  The girl deserved it and was over the moon excited.

 They often choose to sleep together.

 Sweet matching sisters in some new Christmas outfits.

 This is a rare moment-you don't find Pippi sitting still for very long.  She was loving her new mermaid blanket.

 We worked all school year to get Laney writing her name the right way.

 She brought in the new year with some teething.

 KU played OU in a Big Monday game and it was an instant classic.  Seriously!  3 overtimes!  It was so intense!  Of course Cooper stayed up to watch the whole thing.  I couldn't put him to bed during an overtime!

 The morning after-we were pretty pumped!!

 It was also the big kids first day back to school after break.  Good thing Cooper had afternoon Kindergarten-he needed to sleep in.

 We took a bike ride while the big kids went to school

 Lots of time playing with new Christmas toys.  

 This is winter in my house...always a mess!  These projects make Adam cringe.  I gave the girls some beans and bowls to play with while I made dinner and of course they created a disaster.  

Cute little bum and high heels!

The last week of 2015!

We left Wash, MO just in time to get back for our UA employee Christmas party.  

 These kids make me smile and want to poke my eyes out, all at the same time ;).  Actually, they have restored my hope in teenagers.  I am thankful for their commitment to our business.

 We brought in Jalapenos, got them all fleece pullovers, did some fun giveaways and bought/put up a Volleyball net for them to play on employee nights.

The old guy got injured and we all were laughing!

Our holiday crafting!

 We decided to end the last day of 2015 with breakfast at First Watch.  

 I am usually sandwiched between the 2 girls!

I thought he looked so grown up here but now that it's 6 months later...he looks so young to me!

 These were my top 9 pics posted on Instagram in 2015!  I agree-they each hold a special memory.  That Halloween picture may be one of top pictures of all time.  

Still insistent on potty training herself while we were discouraging it...3rd kid.

The girls went to my parents for New Years Eve.  Coop went with us to a neighborhood party and stayed up past midnight partying with his buddies!

2015-you were a good one!

Christmas In Wash, MO

We arrived at Adam's parents' house around midnight, got the kids settled and woke up ready to celebrate with everyone!

Laney got right to beauty work, painting nails and doing makeup.  Her first victim client was Mamaw.

 The first night we were there we celebrated Christmas with a delicious dinner and of course, gifts.  It is mass chaos -12 Grandkids all opening gifts at the same time.  

They all got matching jammies!

 And then had a dance party!

 It rain non-stop!  It was insane.  Main roads/highways were shut down in Washington and St. Louis.

 Laney was put in time out...can you see her?

 There is a closer look...if I remember correctly, she fell asleep here in this little corner.

 Silly girls put themselves in Lulu's kennel.

 Yep, still raining!

 Brody and Piper had many dinner dates...she often was stealing his food.

The Jones' grandkids...minus the 2 big kids, Braeden and Ava-Grace.

It was a fun week full of family-Cooper and Laney have the BEST time with their cousins!

Christmas Day 2015

Christmas Day!!!  Our kids are at the truly magical ages for Christmas.  I was wanting to freeze time this past Christmas!

 This year we opened stockings first (I think ;)).  They always love their stockings!  Coop was looking at a new Royals magazine.

 Laney was pumped about her Doc McStuffins bandaids.

 We left their main gift unwrapped from Santa and wrapped the rest from us (again, I think that was how we did it ;). Really should have taken some notes!  Coop got a bat, glove and World Series Champs hat.  Laney got a Bitty Baby and Pippi got a tent (which has already been trashed due to so much playing and rough housing in it-poor tent couldn't survive).

 This girl was happy as could be eating the M&M's in her stocking.

 Already using her stampable markers!

 He got baseball cards in his stocking-was reading Adam all the facts about each player.  That boy loves him some baseball!

We went to my parents for breakfast and more present opening.  It was chaos...as expected.

 Cousins!

I love this picture and all the people in it!  

 After lunch Adam took the kids to Urban Air for some jump time!  The park was closed so they had the place to themselves, turned on the glow lights and had a blast!!!

 See Laney up there?

 We spent the rest of the day at my Grandma's eating and playing games.  Yes, that's my grandma playing Twister :).

 Laney wanted makeup for Christmas so she capitalized on it  Christmas day.  She painted just about every female's nails.  See above ;).  

 My grandma was a very good sport.

 Cousin Love!  Pippi and Jules (just a week apart in age) watching Curious George on the couch.

 More Twister

We came home from my Grandma's around 6pm.  We were going to Washington in the morning to celebrate Christmas with the Jones.  When we got  home that evening we decided to pack up and head out Christmas night instead...yes, we are crazy.  Our justification was less traffic and our kids would sleep the whole way.  Piper isn't exactly pleasant on car trips so it was totally worth it.   It was a busy day but in the best way!!