Science project

The beginning of February was science project time. We worked hard on science projects this year. Noelle REALLY wanted a special award (not just 1st place). She's a little on the competitive side.

Let me back up a little. Halloween 2011 we went to our church's trunk-or-treat/chilli cook-off/halloween party. At the party there was a little costume parade for the kids and then awards were handed out for best costumes. All of the kids got a ribbon, not just the winners. After ribbons were handed out, Noelle came to Ben and said, "Look Dad. I got a participant ribbon." Ben responded, "Cool, Ellie." To which Ellie replied, "No it's not, Dad. It's a participant ribbon. Everyone got one." We had to laugh and Ben says that she is my child. I guess I was a little competitive growing up. Sometimes I still wrestle with slightly competitive feelings, but for the most part I've had to give them up as I no longer have the time or energy. My time and energy now go into making sure I raise my kids to be the best kids ever...err...I mean my time and energy now go into raising good, honest, smart, compassionate kiddos.

Anyway, one morning in the midst of trying to pull Noelle's science project together, Noelle woke up and explained that she had a dream that she didn't finish her science project so she turned it in unfinished and earned a participant ribbon. This was no dream to her. This was a nightmare.

No worries though. We did finish. We got it turned in. She did not win the special award, but she did earn herself a first place ribbon. Great job, Noelle!

chase is 4 months

Chase 4 months old (taken 01/05/12)

you are now 4 months old. we still couldn't adore you more. dad and i are pretty sure the cute, cherubic sprinkles container accidentally got dumped on you when you were made. your babbles, giggles and coos delight our house every day. you still talk like you know exactly what you're saying. i wish i understood your language. you lock everyone in to your conversation. you now not only roll from front to back, but also back to front. you still love your feet and i still love to watch you love them. i love getting to know you and watch you become more you. we love you chunky monkey!

chase with great grandpa poindexter. i just had to include this one because it was such an endearing photo and a great example of how you lock others into conversation. (taken 12/27/11)

chase's blessing

december 30, 2011 chase was blessed. we were able to coordinate having chloe and sophie blessed at the same time so we were able to have lots of family in town including great grandparents! so blessed to have such great family.

my kids didn't exactly cooperate by the time we got to chase so i missed most of chase's blessing but i was so happy that my sister-in-laws cindy and michelle were present to document the whole thing and what a beautiful blessing it was. thank you so much michelle and cindy. THANK YOU!!!

each of my kids have had a handmade blessing outfit from their grandma kelley and here is chase in his. each of the kids also have had a handmade blanket, most of them have been made by me. well this time around, i didn't get to it and when i received chase's blessing outfit in the mail my mom had also sent a blanket that she made. i never even told her that i wasn't going to get to it! mom's always know just what to do!!

he could not keep that tie out of his mouth. he loved it!

afterwards we went out to eat at a yummy chinese buffet.

the next night was new years eve and we partied it up with the all of the family that was in town most of the night. we were suppose to get on the road and come home on new years day, but ben went to put on his jeans and got stung 4 times by a scorpion. he survived. we really probably could have gone home, but ya know we didn't want to take any chances of him having an adverse reaction en route in the middle of no where ;). thanks to all of you family that took the time to come and for those of you who couldn't come you missed out...but thanks for supporting us from afar. we love you all!! (will try to post a pic of the whole group at the blessing later)

Christmas 2011

i know that this is a long overdue post. i am trying to catch up. i am way behind and i have a good reason which you will all see why in a future post. but, first things first...

i love Christmas! Christmas 2011 in the altop house was great!! i was scheduled to work so we sent our letters to santa a couple weeks prior asking him if he could come on the 26th instead. i ended up getting put on call and so we discovered when we got home from church that santa had come. because, even though we asked santa to come a different day, santa knew that i was home. santa knows everything! it was a great surprise for the kids and super fun. i still ended up having to go into work later on in the day, but atleast i got to enjoy all of the christmas festivities with the fam first.

the gift of the year was getting tickets to ride the polar express and staying at the lodge in williams, az. so the day after Christmas, we packed up and headed to williams. i love family trips. this was a smaller, shorter trip but still so much fun with all of the anticipation from the kids! here are some pics from the event.

waiting to board the Polar Express in the jammies of their choosing

arriving at the north pole, looking for santa.

and look who slept almost the whole way.

after our trip to the north pole, we went back to our room, watched movies and ate pizza in bed. the kiddos love staying in a hotel so the whole experience was a treat.

Lost Tooth

jacob lost his first tooth on december 10, 2011. i didn't even know it was loose. ben and i both missed it. i was at work. ben had stepped out of the house. he and noelle got to work on getting the tooth out and they succeeded.

thanksgiving

my sister-in-law, becky, and i discussed how we never get pictures of our get togethers at thanksgiving. guess what. we really didn't do much better this year.

but, believe me, fun was had by all. except for my brother-in-law, scott. there was one moment that wasn't so fun for him. it was this one moment when he got beat by his daughter at texas hold 'em. it was fun for the rest of us though. scott probably wouldn't appreciate me mentioning this publically, but i don't think he reads my blog much. if he catches wind that i did mention this, he will probably give me a hard time for not mentioning the ONE time he won over the weekend. so there you go. i mentioned it. scott, just remember if you choose to give me a hard time that i have more texas hold 'em stories that i can share about to the world through my blog.

we had great food. we played games. we laughed.

we did manage to get one important pic.

yep, we finally met the twins. aren't they cute?! and isn't this pic like too cute for words?! over the thanksgiving weekend these cuties had another cousin, julian, who was born. welcome julian! we can't wait to meet you. we need to get you in the pic with the rest of the 2011 babies real soon.

i love thanksgiving and i love my family. thanks for coming every year Scott family and thanks for coming every other year burley family!

are you really already 3 months?!

guess who's 3 months old!

chase- 3 months old (12/05/11). onesie courtesy of lesley howe. i love that girl! it says, "tiebreaker, boys win!"

you are now rolling from front to back. you are delighting your family daily with giggles and even big belly laughs too. you coo and babble like you're seriously telling me something and i entertain it. you study your hands intently before deciding to taste them. you love to play with your feet and i love watching you play with them.

chase, thank you for letting me love and kiss on your juicy cheeks several times a day. You really have a knack for being cherubic.