Cousin time

It was very special to have all the little cousins together at one time, especially with Auntie Melody here at the same time!
She wanted some pictures of her with all the kids, so once we found a time that the babies were both awake, we tried to grab a few. Unfortunately, Joy was not in a picture-taking mood, but oh well.
Enjoy the shots!

Somebody loves somebody.

And I love.that.shot. It's so Albert. He can conquer anything - as long as he has his doggy. :o)

Philip was in a particularly happy and talkative mood, and one of the Aunts captured it. :o)

Play Dough! Albert is just learning how to do this, but I think Hope and Joy helped give him some ideas. :o)

Snuggle bug with his darling Aunt. :o)

Joy-Belle took every chance to hang out with her Daddy.

While Auntie Angie spent her after work hours playing with Hope. :o) I think they had many games of hide and seek in the basement.

Nice smile...Angie!!

Oh that's a nice smile too. :o)

Hey hey - even Joy had a smile.

Another nice smile. Thanks, Ang!

Story time won over the stubborn Joy-Belle.

Saturday morning breakfast before Andrew, Angie, and Melody had to fly home.

There's Angie with the little man. :o)

And Ginny with her pretty Mommy.

The more the merrier!!!

Andrew and Angie got in late Sunday night. They got to see Philip and Joy before work Monday morning, because those two got up very early that particular day. :o)

Matthew and Christy were due in Tuesday evening, and I did a big "Super Tuesday shop" (15% off) to get ready for their arrival.

In all the busyness, Joy kinda did her own thing. :o)

Cousin Albert walked in the door and wasted no time finding toys and playmates. :o)

It was such a delight to watch the children together...

...though the two two-year olds (almost) sure knew how to bug each other!

Good morning!!! :o)

Trying to grab a shot that compared their height. Pretty much the same. Albert might be slightly taller. They were very close to the same weight and same length when they were born and are very close to the same weight now.

Who's that in Philip's bouncer???

Ginny, the adorable. :o)

Kid friendly lunch - pancakes, fruit, and tea. I have discovered it only takes mere seconds more to pour pancakes in heart shapes than in circles, and the kids love it!

Our happy bunch. 

Stoked about her tea.

And of course, they had to colour. :o)

Auntie Melody is here!!!

Upon a happy Wednesday, January 30th to be precise, the children and I went to Moms 'n Tots, and I packed a lunch for us to have at the church after it was finished. Then I loaded them up in the van once more on that snowy day, and headed for the airport with a stop at Costco in between, as Auntie Melody's flight was delayed. 

That was my first time taking three kids to Costco, and it went pretty good. I left the carseat with the door attendant, and packed Philip around the store in the Snugli, while Hope and Joy assumed their positions in the top seats of the cart. Philip was ready to eat just as we were finishing our shopping, and so I fed him in the cafeteria area and gave the girls snacks while I prayed for a friend to appear, as I realized it was going to be very difficult to make a bathroom run with the girls with him not contained in his carseat. God answered, and I spotted a friend coming through the cash just moments after I prayed. Such a sweet blessing from the Lord! :o) 

Once we conquered the snowy parking lot with heavy shopping carts (hurrah for us!) my friend went her way and I headed south to the airport.

The timing was perfect. We did not have to wait at all, and neither did Melody. I called, we pulled up, she walked out, we drove home. Happy story. I sure felt God blessing me that day!

Melody was aching to hold Philip, having not met her newest nephew yet. 

He took to her right away, and had many content and happy hours in her arms during her ten day stay with us.
On the first Friday of her visit we learned that Matthew needed to head up for work right away, and Christy and the children were able to accompany him, as they had nothing in their schedule, and Albert was still under two years old, making it cheaper to fly. Josh and I had been hoping Matthew and Christy would be able to make it up to see us this winter, and were delighted to hear that it would work out. We already were preparing for the arrival of Andrew and Angie on Sunday, who were also travelling for work, so I did some quick thinking and praying, and Melody and I got the house rearranged to accomodate twelve people. :o) Each one had a bed, and I discovered I had exactly the amount of pillows that I would need for each adult to have one. Very cool, I thought. :o)

We soaked up our few quiet days with just Melody. She is so incredibly good with kids!!!

She sat for hours and hours day after day, doing activities with Hope, and holding Philip while Joy pretty much stuck with me and whatever I was working on. :o) Hope has long wanted to work on this big butterfly, but never got more than 50 beads or so into it on previous runs. They worked a good two hours at it, and got a good piece of it done, though it is still not finished. :o)

Joy likes the idea of "beads," but doesn't have the dexterity or patience to do them yet, so Play Dough was a better bet for her that sunny Saturday in the living room. :o)

Mr. Adorable.

Looking at his pretty Auntie. :o)

Joy managed to run around after her nap without her tights on for a while, and quite enjoyed her freedom, as you will see. :o)

Not the position I would pick as comfortable, but it suited her just fine. :o) 

Joy gave Melody a run for her money, and made Melody work for her affection, but Melody did win, a few times anyways. :o)

Making salad together.

That boy loves his blue blanket, and loves to be swaddled when he's ready to settle for sleep. :o) Such a sweet baby, he is.

In which we get ready for more company

Reid and Chloe left on the Sunday.

Monday we began turning the house around for the Langemann company that was arriving on Wednesday and Sunday of that week.

But of course, you must take time to play. Hope had fun with the farm animals and cars and tractors one morning while I was nursing Philip.

And yes, she is having fun with dress up these days.

Joy, my ever-energetic one, shaking her bead necklace around in the little pink stacker piece.

Yup. He's my all-star.

Of laughter and tears.... one moment Joy was doing this nicely with Hope, and the next she was smashing the wall to bits. That was the original idea, but I guess according to Hope it wasn't ready to be broken when Joy broke it, which generated the aforementioned tears. :o)

This is what happens when Mommy doesn't buckle him in. He wiggles. He moves. And Mommy moves him up and buckles him in before he wiggles right out.

But not before taking his picture, and a couple videos. :o)