Tender Warriors!

I have absolutely loved seeing a TENDER side to these WARRIORS with having a baby sister!  I think she's softened each of our hearts already.  Watch out future boyfriends.....  you've got 4 men who must approve of you before you've even got a chance!

Two Weeks With Ava!

I am still pinching myself and waking up wondering if it's really true that I have a baby girl? 

Ava has the BEST big brothers in the entire world  Really, they all adore her and take such good care!  It was really funny because Wyatt was talking about Ava the other night and he paused and said, "What's that baby's name again?"  We laughed hard and then reminded him that his sister's name is Ava Joy.  I think I have most loved the boys flexibility in having a new sibling.  I was so afraid that their world would be rocked and they would 'miss out' on something by having a new baby around that demands a lot of our attention and keeps us confined to home during the winter months......  but there lives have been completely unaffected in many ways--they just keep right on going with their norm! And their hearts are so open and immediately full of love for their new sister (yes, even sometimes forgetting her name!)

Ava is still a great sleeper at night, mostly just waking once. There have a been a couple of nights that she woke twice.  She's super content but her 'fussy' time seems to be in the morning.  It will be interesting when Joe goes back to work trying to get everyone fed, dressed and out the door to drop Wyatt off at K..... Ava might be in the Baby Bjorn!  Otherwise, she's content and happily at ease in the swing or bouncer.  She does love to snuggle and lets us know when she's had enough alone time! :) 

And this captures our 'look' completely!  Been in PJs all day, never combed his hair and I think he actually put in his own hair gel.  Thankfully it's Christmas break and cold outside......  we will get ready again eventually! :)

Christmas, 2013

2012 Christmas the boys decorated the tree in the underwear....

2013 Christmas the boys decorated the tree in camo and warrior paint!  Never a dull moment!  I love it!

The tree got decorated and we didn't have to use fishing line to attach it to the wall this year!  Woo Hoo....We're making strides forward and growing up!   

Superheroes and wresting matches....

Decorating the gingerbread house

We made a visit to Crown Center

And on Christmas day, we spent the morning at home together having breakfast and opening gifts!  I love it that this daddy makes time to focus our hearts on Jesus and the gift He is to the world before opening our Christmas gifts!

Year of the motorcycle!  Motos add a whole new dynamic to being a boy mom!  This moto had been stored over at Wyatt's buddy's house.  Wyatt actually thought that this motorcycle he'd been riding belonged to his buddy Griffin.  He was very pleased on Christmas morning to find out that his daddy had actually bought it for him and his brothers!  Good father-son bonding time, for sure!  I've seen videos but haven't been brave enough to actually watch the boys ride.  I think the only words that would come out of my mouth would be "Be CAREFUL!"  I still cannot believe that my babies warriors are riding a motorcycle at ages 5 and 3.  And riding without training wheels, I must add!  Joe sold me on the moto by telling me it came with training wheels.  Who can get hurt with training wheels, right?  But you have to actually put on the training wheels and USE them to make training wheels effective.   

Good thing this momma read "Wild at Heart" this year which reminded me that every boy needs a battle to fight and an adventure to be had.  It's what make a boy a man! :) 

Reminiscing of days of old (remembering when he traded in his moto for a sparkly engagement ring!.  

Wyatt and Isaac got Micah a choo choo for under the tree.  Micah was SOooooooooo excited!

Micah telling Wyatt "thank you"

After naps, we went over to Auntie B and Uncle Trent's to celebrate together!  The cousins were having so much fun playing together that we could hardly get them upstairs to open gifts.  But when they finally made their way upstairs, they were ecstatic to get Razor scooters.  And Micah got a little motorcycle from Auntie B.  Whew!  He had been telling me in the weeks leading up to Christmas, "B got me a motorcycle!"  Thankfully B came through with the moto and Micah was over the moon excited!!!!!!! :)

Our sweet Ava Joy got lots of snuggle time with Poppy

and GG Sprague

Happy Boy!  He had such a fun day!!!!

There's B!  Finally got a picture of Ava with her precious Auntie B!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!  JOY to the world...........

Once we got home and had the boys tucked in bed, we were standing in the kitchen and Joe says, "I love this!".  I'm perplexed looking at new toys covering our floors, bowls still on the table from breakfast and our entire house looking like the bottom of a toaster and say "Love what?" in a semi-sarcastic tone.  He responds with, "This life. the craziness. the circus."  This is coming from Mr. Type A who only wanted 2 kids and once loved to take naps on Sunday afternoon!  I was a bit nervous that 4 kids was going to stretch him a bit too far and cause some tension.  But he is the one handling it all with so much grace and finding joy in the midst of the chaos! :)  The best.gift.ever!  

Ava Joy at One Week Old!

You are as sweet as pie, Miss Ava!  We love you more than rainbows! ;)  You are a fantastic little sleeper so far.  You are only waking ONCE each night for a feeding then quickly back to slumber.  I feel more rested now than I did while I was pregnant!  Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still pinching myself to be sure I really do have a baby GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!