Rockin' in the New Year!

Here's Kendall getting ready to ring in the New Year.

I've officially completed my 2010 mission to post at least once a day for the entire year.  Yes, Troy filled in a few times, but still we reached the goal.  Will I continue to post daily?  I still don't know.  For now, I've got to sign off because I'm off to take pictures at a friend's wedding this evening and I need to be sure I have what I need (and maybe I should shower again, just in case).

Happy New Year!  We wish you many blessings in 2011 and please join us for DECLUTTER 2011!!!

Daddy Shots

Daddy was in charge of the camera tonight as I was working.  He goofed off with the kids for a little while and got them ready to go out to eat.  Earth Fare has a great deal on Thursday nights where kids eat free with one paying adult.  We've never managed to get there before and tried it out tonight.  We are going to have to get a little better at choosing for the kids (and ourselves) in order to really maximize the benefit of such an awesome deal, but the food was good.  The kids were just a tad bit crazy, but that happens when they are not strapped into a high chair or booster seat.  FREEDOM!

Anyway, here are some shots that Daddy took before we left for dinner:

Kendall loves her little bro!

A little blurry, but what a sweet shot!

Sweetness between these two.

Family Fun in Chattanooga (Again)

First of all, I want to post a couple of fun pics from last night.  Tommy brought over gifts for the kids from he and Stephanie and here is what they got...

The Laptopin' Louis Kids

I couldn't resist this one with all of that excitement on her face!

Today we made a quick trip to Chattanooga.  Since we already have family passes to the Creative Discovery Museum and also the Tennessee Aquarium, we decided that we could drive there for the day and try to do as much as possible (while wearing out the kiddos) and then come back in time for naps.  We didn't make it back for naptime, but we DID have lots of fun.  We managed to make it to the Discovery Museum and also the ocean side of the Aquarium.  I think they had lots of fun and so did we.
I'm trying to get the pictures from today posted because we are hoping they might be in bed by 7:30 or 8p and we both plan to follow quickly behind them. 

Oh, and we had to make just ONE stop on the way home.....

I miss Publix as I grew up in South Florida shopping with my mom at Publix.  I miss the cool floors and the yummy food.  Sorry Kroger and Food City, but you just aren't the same to me.

We picked up some food at the deli and had a nice meal in the car before getting back on the road and heading home.  The kids played happily in the car with their new laptops (thanks again Tommy and Stephanie) and were happy to watch "Signing Times" and Sesame Street on the way home.

We are so thankful to have had such a great time as a family today.

Let it Snow!

We had snow on Christmas night and all day on the 26th.  It was the pretty, white, fluffy stuff.  The roads didn't really get too bad and it didn't even completely cover our grass, but it was enough to require the effort to get the kiddos outside in it!
They had so much fun (I think Teddy did too).  It was definitely worth 45 minutes of preparation for about 20 minutes of outdoor entertainment.  Maybe we can make it longer next time.....

She gets his attention.....

And...the pitch.............

And there he goes!

Nightie-night.

Christmas Day Rewind: Harmonicas, Kazoos and Guitars, Oh My!

Emma trying to dig into a gift bag.

Taking it all in.

A Sesame Street potty seat!

Opening a gift just like a boy!

Kendall distributing gifts.

From a favorite DVD "Baby Dance" ..... "Now put your maracas behind your back...."

Clark and Kendall checking out the musical card from Poo Pa.

Kendall with her new monkey blanket.

Emma and her new butterflies blanket along with the new guitar.

Clark's new blanket.  We couldn't get him to pose with it.

The special bread that Kendall and Emma helped Daddy make for dinner.

This girl loves spaghetti!

Clark loves spaghetti too, but chocolate covered bananas are even better.

Christmas morning was fun for everyone.  Poo Pa, Uncle Albert and Uncle Stevie came over and had breakfast with us before we went to work on the presents.  We wanted the kids to be excited about the gifts, but didn't want them to think it was all about the stuff.  Hopefully they will learn that there is more to Christmas then the toys, but we want them to have lots of fun too.
Anyway, back to the day.....
We enjoyed our breakfast and then opened gifts.  The kids really don't understand the concept of presents.  They had gifts at their birthday last January which was SO LONG AGO that things have really changed.  They were definitely more interested in what was inside the gift bags and under all of that wrapping paper.  But it was still "new stuff overload" and eventually we had to move them into the playroom with a couple of new toys and a movie to get them settled down just a little bit.
I have to mention that Uncle Stevie really surprised us with some beautiful blankets for the kids that were handmade by a friend of his.  They are so awesome and Kendall couldn't wait to snuggle up with it and her favorite monkey.  We are SO blessed by this wonderful gift!
They were having so much fun with the new music toys that it was pretty comical.  Daddy bought them harmonicas and kazoos.  I bought them a guitar, bamboo slide whistles, maracas and a toddler electric guitar.  Partridge family LOOK OUT!  The Louis family band is working on a routine.  I think that Clark has found his groove with the slide whistle and the kazoo.  Kendall is great on the electric guitar and the harmonica.  And Emma is a natural with the maracas. 
The kids had spaghetti and bread sticks for dinner.  All three even got to help Daddy roll out the bread sticks before they went in the oven.  It was so precious to watch them "cooking" with Daddy.  And they were very proud of their baked goods when they came out of the oven.  Frozen bananas with Magic Shell (chocolate) were the dessert treat for the day and those were a big hit!
We spent Christmas afternoon and evening with just the five of us, playing with new toys and just hanging out (Mommy and Daddy were recovering from the craziness of the weeks leading up to Christmas).
Our babies are the best Christmas gift ever.  Sometimes it is hard to relax and just enjoy the family because there is always "something" to do.  The holidays are a HUGE reminder that there is always too much to do but the kids just want to have fun and play.  Mommy really needs to work hard to remember to stop and play.
And we have decided that our biggest challenge and most exciting family project is "Declutter 2011".  We have actually gotten a little head start due to the bathroom/closet remodel.  We intend to declutter and simplify in 2011 because we want to spend more time with our family and less time on all of the "stuff" that takes up most of our time right now.  There are so many aspects to the declutter process and I hope to share them with you on my blog this year.  I've considered setting up a separate blog, but haven't quite made the decision to go with that yet.  I'm kind of hoping to just incorporate it here, but we will see.
And some have asked me if I will continue to post once a day in 2011.  Again, we will just have to see.  I feel like I've been able to "document" a lot of normal, everyday events on our blog and hope that I can keep it up.
That's all for my Christmas Day rewind.