2015!

2015 came in with a bang! Or a little sleep. We totally didn't celebrate it, as I'm getting used to with small kids. We rarely make it to midnight, but we are up many times during the night to make up for it :). New Years was the same for us, we went to bed, but I got to see this little beauty Just after midnight for a snack :).

The kids were SO excited about their trampoline, we couldn't keep them off. It is so funny watching the snow jump up to eye level and the kids fall down because they have no idea where the trampoline actually is.

Puzzle race time! In what has turned out to be an annual event, We had the family puzzle race. I never consider myself a major competitor, but I have a lot of fun! Alex has about 20 minutes of puzzling in him, and I'm known for my lack of drive to finish this particular project. This being said, I'm always game for a competition :).

First time writing her last name! I explained how we use our last name, how special it is because it shows everyone who our family is. She was excited to try writing it, but after watching me write the example, Olivia said 'Mom, do I really have to write this every day forEVER?' She's write, it is a tricky name. I consider myself lucky to be part of the Casqueiro family, hopefully someday she feels the same, and is able to recover from the initial shock :).

We finally had snow old enough and wet enough to make an 'Olaf!' The kids loved their friend, and were very sad the next day when his head had fallen off.

I love these kids. They bring such joy to my life. I'm constantly amazed at what they come up with, and the multitude of ways they have fun. Below we have 'Elephant is like Elsa, and my Anna dress!', Kenzie with her beautiful little face and some of those early smiles, and Carter in his new Oregon State Football Uniform :).

One of the 'benefits' of having 3 kids under 5 is constantly shuffling and organizing of furniture, clothes, toys, and other household items. I say benefit because organization and efficiency happens to be one of my biggest hobbies and passions. This particularly cold morning, I really wanted to organize and get stuff shuffled around in bins. I was a little worried about having all the kids out there (they tend to make things a lot harder ... and more adventurous) but they turned out to be great helpers! They climbed up there onto a high shelf and stayed there for the hour that we were outside :). Kenzie didn't love the cold, and fell right asleep. I got all the too big and too small clothes into their correct bins and even went through a couple bins looking for things to sell in our spring garage sale! A great, productive morning.

I'll admit that a lot of things about having a newborn need privacy. I'm almost constantly feeding her, or bathing (my #1 me-time activity), or doing some resting. This being said, I don't really hide in my room all the time. The kids join me often, but apparently have learned different things about breastpumps. O is positive that I feed Kenzie with my 'tummy' and Carter...well he's just a boy :).

I love when we discover a new chore that kids can do! I refuse to let anyone else fold laundry (it's my area of perfection in housecleaning), but I'm all too happy to share vacuuming responsibilities! O is a great vacuumer, she walks around in random patterns finding all the bits of dirt, etc. We don't get those beautiful lines that I love, but everyone is happy!

'Gapa shoes!!' Carter's reaction when we pulled out the next size up of shoes was priceless. They are about 1/2 inch too big, but he insists on wearing them every time he sees them. This kid has a great relationship with his Grandpa, I'm so glad he has these shoes to feel close when we live far away!

Part of our food storage strategy is buying 6 month supplies of all the canned foods we use. Once every month or so (when I can make it to the store without kids) I stock up on whatever is short. This day I wrote an example for Olivia, and she wrote the date (1/15) on the top of every can :). What a big girl! Carter made a castle with them, and only smashed his toes once and my fingers twice :).

Every time Carter asks to hold Kenzie melts my heart. He spent so much time frightened of her, so as she gets more active and he coaxes those smiles, I can't help but grin at being able to see their relationship growing. I know they will grow to be as close as he and Olivia are.

 Just a few pictures of my little beauty

I try to take pictures of my baby on each 'month birthday'. Kenzie was NOT into her 2 month pictures. It's an awkward age when they can't sit up but don't want to be laying down. She fell down quite a few times. But I love her little expressions, and the eagerness of a certain big sister to solve the problem.

That is the only smile I got. Of course it is for Olivia, who manages to get more smiles that the rest of us combined. She wants to be just like O when she gets big, I'm sure.

I always wish I had gotten the kids dressed first, but it doesn't matter when the pictures turn out this sweet. My little crew loves each other very much.

I really wanted a sweet foot picture, but this was the most still I could get them. Forget the blanket over legs...I just wanted all six feet in the same frame!

January was a very revealing month with finances. We spent $380 on diapers and wipes alone. This is enough to last 3 months (the Huggies were on sale at Costco), but it's still amazing what two kids in diapers will do to your budgeting. We stick to a very frugal budget with a few exceptions, as this is my contribution to our family finances. I figure if I can save the amount that I would be making after daycare, I will never have to go back to work :). It's a good plan for now I guess!

We totally love when family comes to town! This trip was extra special because Olivia had her dance recital, but it is always special when Grandma and Grandpa come! Honestly we see one set or the other of grandparents probably twice a month, so we are quite blessed with close relationships. I feel very lucky that my parents and in-laws come to see us and know us well enough to put up with the crazy that is daily life. We love having them, and picking a fun outing or two each time they come.

Kenzie totally loved sucking on this cucumber. It was her first real food to suck on, but I got rid of the seeds first so there wasn't much there. It looks much more stressful than it was. This same evening we got a great quote from Olivia. 'Carter, eat your vegetables! They help you grow! Cuz if you don't, you will stay the same age you used to be'. It's true. She has obviously learned more from our lessons than we could hope, so now we should just sit back and let her be the parent :)