Sunday, March 25, 2012

Some March 2012 Family Videos

This is from Joel's first ever soccer game.  He scored 4 goals and was so, so happy about it.  He has benefited from watching Caleb's games for 2 seasons and from practicing outside with his big brother and daddy.  I often find that I'm in tears at kids' sporting events.  I remember welling up repeatedly at high school sports when I was a teacher, and I'm worse as a mom.  I was in tears when Joel scored his first one (ridiculous, I know.  I have repeatedly told Bryan that I am not cut out to have an athletic child.  I won't be able to go to their games/competitions and not be a basketcase).  This video is either his 3rd or 4th goal -- I can't remember which.  It was so fun to cheer him on and later in the day cheer on Caleb in his first game of the season.

Anna Pea has warmed up to Cheerios.  And she makes our favorite crinkle-nose-squished-up-face in this video as well as shows off her wave.  Despite her uncooperation in this video, she can say Joel.  I have my doubts that she knows she's saying it or even that she knows her brother's name is Joel, but she does in fact have the ability to make the sound.  Perhaps someday I'll catch that on video too.

Yesterday, one day shy of 9 months old, Anna crawled to the window, pulled up, and watched Bryan outside mowing the lawn.  She banged on the window for about 10 minutes, saying "Dada."   I think she actually means to say Dada -- and understands it.  That brings her word count to three.  In addition to the dubious Joel, she also says "hi," though I sincerely doubt she knows what it means.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Belated Photos from Disney World and Harry Potter World

Caleb got to participate in Hollywood Studios's Jedi Training Academy.  He loved it.  And this was my favorite shot -- airborne!
Waiting in line for Toy Story Mania ride
These army men were incredible. They looked like statues, but if you interacted with them, sometimes they'd respond.  The boys and Bryan could get him to salute.  I, however, could not. 

My boys
On the carousel
Waiting for Mickey's Philharmagic
My mom on the Buzz Lightyear ride.  This is one of my favorite pictures.  :)
Waiting for Muppets 3D
With Mike Wazowski.  (Monster's, Inc is my favorite Disney movie, by the way.)

With another army man

Ready to battle Darth Vader
Bryan scored the highest possible points on the Buzz Lightyear ride.  He was SOOOOOO proud.  And I am proud to be the wife of a Galactic Hero.  :)
Picking out pins for their lanyards

At Harry Potter World -- so cool but also the most stressful thing ever because it was incredibly crowded -- like you can't move crowded.  Once you moved past this point (the entrance to HP World), you couldn't let go of a child's hand because they would be lost in the sea of people.  I don't think I've ever been so crowded before in my life.  I want to go back again in 5 years when it's not so packed.

At Honeydukes -- maybe the only time in HP World when we weren't in the middle of a swarm of people

A popcorn break

With Woody in Downtown Disney's Lego store

Monday, March 19, 2012

Some Seriously Belated Pictures from Christmas (gasp!)


My mom with her grandkids
Children of the Price cousins
Laughter
No more kisses!
My wonderful family
The Price clan (my mom's side of the family) who gathered for Christmas 2011.  We were missing the Williams. :( 
Probably a more accurate picture of what this family is like  :)

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Love Songs to Anna

I caught Joel, unbeknownst to him, spontaneously singing love songs to his baby sister.  Caleb joins in the chorus (or more accurately makes up his own tune) in the middle of it.  A short ways in, Joel realized I was videoing.   I am still amazed at these boys' love for Anna.  I seriously think she's the most adored person to ever live.

Recent Pictures

Caleb loved his first basketball season.
Caleb recited Shel Silverstein's "Pirate Captain Jim" for his school's poetry recital
What a sugar.
3 cuties all coincidentally dressed in green
Anna's preferred sitting position
A couple of weeks ago Bryan went to Ecuador with Operation Christmas Child to deliver OCC boxes.  He had a fabulous, faith-growing time.  Hopefully I can post some of his pictures from his time there.  Bryan came home with these Ecuador soccer jerseys for the boys.
Happy eater
Anna fell asleep like this (sitting up and folded over) after her nighttime sleep was interrupted by 45 minutes in the tiny, downstairs half-bath with all 5 members of her family during the tornado sirens.  Good times were had by all.  :)
After a family walk
Anna found the pacifier that belongs to the beloved Cabbage Patch doll of my childhood.  She tried it out herself and seemed to like it, but it's no Gumdrop paci.
It's been a long time since Bryan made special pancakes for the boys, but this weekend he made Arthur from The Sword and the Stone...
...and Merlin as well
She was on her way back down when I snapped this, but she is pulling up on everything these days.  She does it in her crib and then looks SOOOOO proud when I go in to help her lay back down.  She cracks me up.
Tired of the highchair and adorable even when she cries.
Our little Anna Pea has a clogged tear duct, hence the frequent pictures with tears pouring down her cheeks. (The tear ducts serve as drains for the tears, and with nowhere for the tears to go, they overflow.) Our pediatrician says it is VERY unlikely it will open on its own since it didn't open by the time she was 6 months.  Unfortunately, she will probably need minor surgery to correct it.  Our ped says it's the simplest of procedures, but it does require general anesthesia.  Guess whether or not I'm excited about Anna going under.  I am praying that it opens on its own, though I know that's not a likely outcome.