A Fresh Start!

So today Aaron had the day off and we decided to dig up our garden/weed patch! 18 degrees and we took advantage of it! Thank goodness for the tractor. Aaron's a trooper and did it mostly by himself. I'm not so good at using a shovel but I'm really good at sweeping:) He also went and got a load of bark mulch and filled it all in. I wish I had taken a before picture it looks SOOO much better and hopefully I will be able to stay on top of the weeds?!

On another note Declan had is 1 year check-up today so his stats are 25.5 lbs and 31 inches tall! Basically the 75Th percentile for everything. He's just growing up so fast.

Can you say flashforward?!

Lilah's early birthday present from daddy!

"What???"

He also likes to sit on the chairs not just stand on them.

She can always get him to laugh especially during bathtime!

I guess its about time I posted something again. It seems like its a month in between every post. Well we've been back for one month now and I still think back to my wonderful time away in Mexico. We are planning on going back sometime next year and I can't wait! Since we've been back and even before we left Lilah and Declan seem to have been non-stop sick:( Colds, flu's, ear infection, throat infection, the works. They seem to be 100% now but who knows, just when I think we are all better someone else gets sick. Declan still just has 5 teeth so I know pretty soon here he will begin teething all over again and I'm not looking forward to that. Decs (13 months now) still doesn't want to walk on his own. He prefers to push chairs or toys or walk along walls and furniture. Its all good I just want him to be really good at walking before we go camping in the summer. I remember taking Lilah camping in Sept and she had only started walking in June so that was not so fun for her or me. I give Decs another month and I'm sure he'll be there!?:P He is definitely a climber though. I find him all the time on top of the kids little table or standing on their little chairs as demonstrated in the picture:)

My parents went on their vacation to Mexico on the 6Th of March so Aaron and I watched the store and chickens for them while they were gone. That was a very long week for me because I couldn't leave the house during store hours. And that's the week the kids were really sick=/ It was very nice to have Aaron around a lot that week to help out. Except that the circumstances were not so good. The Friday before my parents left someone rear-ended Aaron on the way to work. So his car is in the shop being fixed and his arm and shoulder were bothering him a bit so that is why he had the week and a half off of work. He's back to work now and we are back to our regular routine around here and its GOOD! We like routine, well I do anyway and my kids really do much better having the routine. I guess thats all for now. Declan's 1 year check up is next week so I will be back to post his weight and height than:)

Mexico Pictures!

Our room and king sized bed!

The Coba lobby at the Gran Bahia Principe were we stayed in the Riviera Maya!

There is Tulum in the background. That's one of the other resorts that's all connected, it was a really big resort.

Some cool guy by the pool;)

A little too much saki?!!!

Colleen and I on Valentine's day heading out for dinner to the seafood restaurant.

The happy vacationers.

Relaxing poolside!

My pretty "wild orange spa" toes that I got done right before we left:) Oh and the beautiful white sandy beach!

Water polo in the pool.

Aaron and Travis getting their groove on;)

The manatees, or man-titties as Travis kept calling them!

Ahhh, iguana in the path!

Lots and lots of hammocks to choose from!

The Xel ha inlet where we snorkeled! So beautiful and so many fish. We also saw a baby sting ray!

These parrots were perched right in the middle of the walkway! So easy to take pictures of.

They literally poured tequila right down your throat!

At the Mexican restaurant "Tequila". Aaron just had to have his fill of Mexican food.

At the beach. Those dark clouds were looming but it was still sunny!

Creepy Mexican!

The mariachi band that played!

Our last night:( We had dinner at the Japanese restaurant and it was the BEST food I had all week! Sooo good and entertaining as well.

Ah, the pool.

Declan's 1st Birthday Party!

Of course the pictures are backwards:(!!! Always happens to me. Anyway this is Lilah and Farrah hugging and dancing which is not normal behavior for them. Colleen told them they won't be seeing each other for a little while because we are going away. So they hugged very tightly:)

Declan and his new drool bandanna! So cute, and I could have used these the past year with all the drool that has escaped his mouth!

Opening a big dump truck from Uncle Tim!

1st cupcake! I think he liked it;0)

We celebrated on Sunday because we'll be in Mexico on Valentine's Day! Too bad Decs was not a happy camper that day. I think he was overwhelmed and extra clingy to his mommy. This is his ducky cake that Auntie Holly made him! She also make cupcakes and cookies. So adorable and tasty. Thanks again Holly:)

So here we are just 11 days away from MEXICO!!!! It feels like we have been waiting and looking forward to it for a long time, and we have been, for a whole year now. I'm pretty sure the kids will do great and won't miss us as much as we'll miss them. We are celebrating Declan's birthday a week early because we won't be here on the 14Th. He is doing so well right now. He's not teething at this moment and he's been sleeping through the night for a little while now:) He has 4 teeth. He still absolutely loves his sister. He actually says her name! He sticks his tongue out of the side of his mouth and says "La La". He can also say "ma ma" but only when he is upset and crying about something. He does say other sorta words too but who knows what they mean yet. His favorite time of the day is bath time. He LOVES splashing and standing up in the tub, both things he is not allowed to do. He's definitely not walking yet, still just crawling everywhere, and walking around furniture.

Lilah is registered for preschool come September! She is so ready for it. I would have liked to put her in last year but it just didn't work out with the whole car situation and me watching the store on Tues and Thurs. She will be going to the Central Heights Church preschool and she got to go there and check it out with me last week. I couldn't get her out of there! She's going to love it as am I! She still loves to change her outfit 50+ times a day. I get pretty frustrated with always having to pick up her clothes, and do up her buttons and ties. Its just a phase I'm sure?! Lilah is still in ballet and is really enjoying it. She loves dancing and twirling. She can go onto the computer on utube and finds princess and barbie songs and dances her little heart out to them:) Her and Declan both love really loud music, hmm, must be a trait they inherited from their daddy!

We sold our VW Golf on Sunday! Mom and I got a van before Christmas, we were just outgrowing the car. Its a 2001 Toyota Sienna and I love it! Aaron also got a newer car, a 2000 BMW. His civic died and was going to need a new engine so he found himself his dream car. Its a good thing I love him so much and just want him to be happy! And at least I get to drive it sometimes too, when I'm without the kids:) Vehicles, you love them and hate them. Thats all for now. I won't be posting until after Mexico but I'm sure I'll have some good pics!

I had to post something, its been too long again!

More Pictures

Of course these are out of order. I can't for the life of me figure out how to download the pics so they end up in order on my blog, anyway this is Lilah with grandpa and Jeanie on christmas day.

Lilah, Auntie Holly and all the presents!

Ready to go for a walk on christmas day. It was beautiful outside!

This is just one of the dress-up dresses Lilah got.

Mama Flo and Auntie Julie christmas morning.