My sister's triplets with Santa!

It doesn't get any cuter than that!

Our First Snow of the Winter

She fell over and couldn't get up. It was so funny.

Here are a couple pictures of the kids this afternoon. We only got about 3 inches of snow, but of course Jake was thrilled because it was the first snow of the Winter and he got out of school two hours early. This is Ashley's first real snow experience. She loved being outside if I was holding her and we were watching Jake play. She wasn't too sure when I put her down.  I think she was a little scared, and she certainly didn't like it when she sat in it....as you can see:-)

Biden Christmas Party

We had the Christmas party at the VP residence this afternoon. It was as hectic as I imagined it would be with the age Ashley is, but so worth it. Unfortunately I didn't get hardly any good pictures b/c Ashley wanted me to hold her the whole time. It was very crowded and hot and she was a little overwhelmed. We got our family picture taken first. They took a couple pictures of Biden talking to Jake first and then a really cute one of Biden holding Ashley that I think will be awesome. Biden actually wanted to hold Ashley in our family picture, but she of course wanted me....shoot! After the pictures, the Biden's mingled with all of us and so I got an additional picture of VP Biden and Jake. Biden really seemed to take a liking to Jake. He kept saying what a handsome and good boy he was. He kept say, "Come here, man!" He wanted to know what Jake liked best about school....and yes.....he said recess!!!! :-) I don't think Jake got the whole magnitude of it of course, but I'm so glad I have this picture of them to explain to Jake one day. When I get our official family pictures, I will post them.

Silly Ashley

Here is a picture of a typical "Ashley" thing. She LOVES to drape herself with things. It can include necklaces, Jake's sports medals, clothes, string, pretty much anything that she can put around her neck. So....yesterday when I was trying to get ready, she was in my bottom drawer with my sports bras....and this is how she came out......one sports medal and 4 sports bras later. She wasn't too happy then b/c she couldn't figure out how to get them all off!

White House Christmas Tour

The first tree on the tour right when we came in the back entrance of the White House.

This first hallway had a bunch of these wreaths all made out of different kinds of fruits and vegetables. It was so cool.

This was one of the displays more geared towards children, of course including the "first dog."

This was the Vermeil Room with a musical theme. The table was set with Clinton and Reagan china.

I just couldn't get over the ornate chandeliers.

In the middle of these two trees was a beautiful manger scene.

This is the Green room. All of the wreaths and trees in this room were made of recycled newspaper and magazines. It was unbelievable.

A close up of one of the smaller recycled trees.

This is the official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room. Michelle Obama had 150 students from  D.C. schools make the decorations for the tree this year.

Jake in front of the tree.

This was a gingerbread house of the White House! It's a tradition dating back to the 1960's. This particular one was made of gingerbread and white chocolate and weighed over 350 pounds. It took 4 weeks to complete and this particular replica featured the interior of the White House too. It was amazing

A close up of the gingerbread White House.

This was the entrance hall foyer. The crystalized brances were beautiful. This is where presidents greet many heads of state. Oversized urns were filled with white flowers made of recycled ribbons.

This was a tree right by the entrace to the White House.

The official presidential seal.

The entrace to the White House from the outside.

The White House at night. So stunning and lit up.

We took Jake last night to the White House for a special Christmas tour. It was open to Vice President's Secret Service agents and White House staff. (The agents for Obama have their own Christmas party at the White House later.) It was beautiful. There were more Christmas trees than I could count. Every room had a different tree or trees with a specific theme. The wreaths and other Christmas decorations were so ornate and gorgeous. I loved it..... Jake was into it for a little bit, but was bummed out that he didn't get to meet Obama. I'm so glad that we took him though b/c it's one of those special moments that he will appreciate later. Next weekend our family will go to our anual Christmas party at the VP residence with the Bidens, and that is the one he really likes b/c we get our family picture taken, he gets to shake Biden's hand, and he gets to eat fancy cookies:-)

Thanksgiving



How do girls instinctively know how to hold a purse? I've never shown her!



We had a sweatpants kind of Thanksgiving. It was just the kids and I. Bob was out of town, and so Jake and I had fondue, watched a movie and had a sleep-over in my bed....his favorite. We had started decorating for Christmas the day before and did more of it on Thanksgiving. As you can see, our tree is only 1/2 decorated. After ONE day of redirecting Ashley away from the tree and her throwing/shattering two balls thinking they were real balls.....it was time to move the decorations up before I pulled my hair out. There is one picture from a few days ago, but the rest are from Thanksgiving, including the cute video of Ashley's belly laugh:-)

Video of Ashley Walking

Ashley is walking a little more everyday. This video was taken about 5 days ago. She is one crazy baby. She has to go one hundred miles an hour about everything. She is something else. There isn't a calm bone in her body. The only time she is still is when she is fast asleep. She is busier than ANY boy I've ever seen. It is exhausting! On another note, I finally figured out how to rotate the videos so hopefully you won't be viewing anymore sideways:-)

Few Recent Pics

Sorry it's been so long since I posted anything. I was in California seeing David and Urshie and my new nephew Finn....who is a doll by the way. I got my fill of that awesome newborn smell:-) Since I've been back we have been sick with every germ on the planet....so that's why there have been no posts!

 This is a picture of Ashley a couple weeks ago before church in an adorable outfit from Grandma Mar, and then the other is a video of Ashley pushing around her shopping cart with her baby in it. I just now realized that the video is sideways. Have a mentioned I hate my camera. It only uploads correctly if I just point and shoot. I can't move the camera different angles or this is what happens! Ugh. Hope you don't get a crick in your neck looking at it. I can't figure out how to fix it. Since this video she has started taking steps and will walk, as long as she isn't in a hurry. When she's in a big rush, she just drops to her knees and takes off crawling. She's walking fairly good though.  I will try to tape that soon.

Recent Pictures of My Sweet Nephew Finn

Here are a couple one month pictures of Finn. We had a scare with him at birth as well, that he had cranial issues as many of you know. He had a few specialists look at him and they said he is fine, as you can see:-) My family has been praying up a storm for all these babies in our family! He is so cute!!!! I am actually going out to LA next Thursday to see him...and David and Urshie too of course.

My Three Nephews Are Here!

This is David, one of the identical twins.

This is Matthew, the other identical twin.

This is Charles. Kim said he does look different than the other two. He is the only one with dark hair.

My sister had her babies yesterday, November 3rd at around 2:45AM. Even though she had a C-section, she is hoping to leave the hospital tomorrow because she isn't getting any rest. Since the babies were only 30 weeks old, they will be in the NICU for quite awhile. They all have aready lost their intubation tubes which is great, but today started having typical preemie problems, like keeping their blood pressure up etc. Here is a picture of each of them, although you can't see much because they are so hooked up and they have the black blinders on so that they don't get eye damage. We are still in prayer that they will hang in there and grow quickly so that they can come home!

Halloween Fun!

Ashley was crying and way over it. She was a bit dramatic hanging her head.

Thank the good Lord for Cheerios!

Jake just looks a little too sweet to pull off a vampire:-)

The kids and I had a fun, but exhausting day! Bob is out of town unfortunately.  Jake and I carved the pumpkin while Ashley was napping today since we hadn't gotten to it all week. Then all the neighbors started our Halloween get-together at 4:00 for a chili party. Then we started trick-or-treating about 6:30. (Trying to get two kids ready to go by myself was a task!) The neighborhood kids have gotten together to trick-or-treat for the past 5 years or so and they LOVE it!

Jake wanted to be a vampire this year. This is his first year wanting to be something scary and it was fun. Ashley was a ladybug. She was not feeling the best from her cold and just being plain exhausted, so I didn't get any upright photos of her in her costume. She really didn't want much to do with it at all, but she was fine once we got outside with some Cheerios. :-) It was a chilly night and windy, but she was a trooper! She is one tough cookie from being carted around since she was born.