Cancun part 2- Selah's 9 month pictures

Cancun part 1

We got back yesterday from Cancun.

it was amaaaaaaaaazing. Luckily I had two little girls that I missed terribly, or I may not have come home.
Everything went very well. Selah was great despite cutting 4 new teeth while we were gone. She didn't sleep well, but I'll take it considering the circumstances.
I'm posting a few of the pictures that I haven't/won't edit. I'll post more later of my edited pics, and also photos from Selah's 9 month photo shoot we did while we were down there.

We left early Monday morning, and our plane landed in Houston. We let Selah crawl around a bit since she had been cooped up in a plane seat. I had to grit my teeth as she crawled around the floor...you know me with germs and all...

 When we got to Cancun I was so thrilled...everything was so green, and so fresh feeling. We hopped in a taxi van and headed to the hotel. We passed a guy with a surf board on top of his car, and then we passed a lady who was nursing her little baby in the front seat of the car as it was driving. 

This is my kind of place- I thought.
Everything so laid back and easy. Loved it from the get-go.

Our hotel was so nice!
The room was like a little apartment.

 Immediately upon arrival, we put on shorts and took a walk in the sand. Selah enjoyed it.

 The water was so blue! I kept thinking if there is this vivid of colors on earth...heaven will be so wonderful.

 The second day at the pool was the time of Selah's life. She laughed so hard at all of the splashes. I think this photo captures her joy quite nicely.

The last day, Selah fell asleep right on Matt's shoulder. So we went to lay on the beach chairs. Matt and Selah took a nap while I read. I enjoyed watching the people walk by and watching their expressions of admiration of a great daddy sleeping with his baby.

Excuse the look of complete exhaustion.
This was on the first night we were there. We ate at a little tiny joint. Food was great.

During the afternoon when Selah napped, we read on our hotel balcony. 

One night, we dressed a little fancier than usual and ate at the hotel's nice restaurant.

 Serenaded by a female mariachi band.

Outside of spending time on the beach, we took a taxi cab farther into the city to do some shopping at a market. We bought a few souvenirs and enjoyed looking around. 

It was a fast 3 days, but a wonderful 3 days. No complaints at all. We are completely blessed to be able to take vacations like this. I am so thankful.

Riding home in the SNOW.... here is a pic of what Selah learned to do while we were gone. She sticks out her tongue now. Silly girl.

more pictures to come!

 Selah loves to look out the front door.

When I opened the door this afternoon to let in some fresh air, she squealed with delight and crawled as fast as she could to go look out.

Don't forget Zona

This morning Corinne must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. She was in a bad mood from the moment she stepped out of her bedroom door. She was mad at the world and there wasn't anything that was changing that.

When i asked her why she was mad, she said she didn't like Audra anymore and she wanted to get rid of her.
Then she added, "and i want to get rid of mom! And I want to get rid of dad! And I want to get rid of Audra! And I want to get rid of Selah!"

And Audie, completely unphased by the whole thing calmly adds, "don't forget zona!"

Christmas

I was really excited and anxious to do a Christmas post...
but then I sat down to upload pictures of our Christmas, and I only had like 5 pictures!

I guess in my mind I thought I had taken more of our morning... at least I meant to.

We woke up and let the girls open their stockings.
Then we took a little break to get dressed and eat breakfast, and then opened the rest of their presents.

 a little sisterly love after some present sharing

 "Dispicable Me" was the top gift this year.

We also spent some time with my aunt and uncle and cousins. (not to mention my favorite ones)
and also time with Matt's fam in KC.
It was a good Christmas this year!

This picture wasn't from Christmas, but wanted to post it anyway. This is the view I have going into the room when Selah wakes from her nap. Super cute.

Princess ShaSaySay

Creepy drawings

The girls go through paper as fast as the folks at Ryan's Steakhouse make it to the dessert bar after dinner.
They draw and draw and draw.
Then write letters and make me cards.
And then they draw some more.

Audie has developed an interesting way to draw people...

Personally, I think that these figures look like they will come off the page and come to life, running after you to take yours. They are though, very cute in their own sort of way. I also like how she distinctly draws straight hair and curly hair.

I love my life. Currently, I am listening to Matt play school with the girls. Audie is playing the teacher, "Miss Spankbottoms", Corinne is the student, "Charlotte", and they are seeing how loud they can yell the alphabet.
I sit back and smile when I see (and hear) life take place like this. I am one blessed mommy.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Card Outtakes

I finished our 2011 Christmas Card this afternoon!

Phew! Feels good to have that out of the way.
We actually had 3 different photo sessions for this years card.
The first one was our fall family picture. However, I decided it wasn't "Christmasy" enough.
Then I had a better, more creative idea.
That fell through due to hungry girls. Forced Smiles and Crankiness were on the lunch menu that day.
So, we went with individual pictures, and I picked the best out of each of those.
Here are a few that I thought were cute, (some cuter than others...) but didn't make the cut.

6 years

We celebrated 6 years of marriage today.

What do two krazy kats like us do on our anniversary?

Drop the girls off at Grandma's.

Have lunch at a new restaurant.

Go ice skating and hold hands like we're 13.

Happy Anniversary, Matt.

I"ve enjoyed every minute of this journey with you.

Good and bad, I'd do it again.

I love you.

Happenings...

Not much going on in this neck of the woods.
(heck, I don't even know what day it is)
We have been a little under the weather since last Friday. No fun, but I think we are on the mend.

Selah is trying her hardest to crawl. She will get up on her hands and knees, but she can't get her hands to move forward to actually crawl. I hope she figures it out soon, cause it is starting to frustrate her. Poor little lamb.

School continues to go well. We have started to move at a quicker pace, as Corinne has seemed to get bored with the reinforcements. Really, she has the concepts down, but I felt like we needed to fulfill all of the curriculum worksheets. Instead, I am picking a choosing to keep things exciting and different. I just make sure she's got it before we fully move on.

That's all for now. The girls are summoning me to build a fort.

Selah is 6 months!

Beware. Super cute baby butt ahead.

Selah is 6 months old today!
About a month ago, I couldn't wrap my head around the fact she would be 6 months, half a year old. Now that it is here, it seems more realistic, but still kinda weird.
I can't get enough of this little baby. I just have to squeeze her all the time.
We snapped a few (okay, more than a few) pics today.
These are my favorites!

A couple days ago, I told Matt I wanted to do the classic naked baby on a rug...

He said no baby butts.
But I did it anyway.

My mom crocheted this blanket for Selah. I love it, so I had to put in in a couple of pictures. Thanks, Ma!

 some of the "everyday expressions"

 ...baby toes

my favorite face

Happy Birthday, Selah!