Reader Assignments

Hey y'all! You have two assignments:

#1: I know I don't usually write a whole lot on this blog- it's mostly just updates and pictures of what we're doing as a family and the kids. However, I have been reading a blog that "keeps it real" in the world of parenting. I decided to do a guest post about my misadventures in breastfeeding. If you're interested, you can click here. While you're there, check out the rest of the blog. It's great!

#2: I added a new blog to the ones we follow. It's hysterical, and the main reason I got absolutely nothing done during my planning period at school this past Thursday. Click here to start laughing until you cry. You might also go to the "best of" on the sidebar. I recommend "God of Cake" and "Sneaky Hate Spiral".

Super Soccer Stars

Last Sunday, Kristen and I went to the zoo to return some wild animals.

But the zookeepers refused to keep Anna, Sara, Mick, Andrew and Peter.



Andrew had a pretty good time watching the Anna and Sara show.



Here he is with his namesake, a donkey. As soon as the donkey moved, Drew started screaming.



In an attempt to burn off the endless supply of energy that Anna seems to have, we signed her up for soccer with Sara, whose dad is the coach. The first practice was on Wednesday afternoon.



Drew and Peter played while we watched and tried not to laugh.



A bunch of 3 and 4 year olds running amok with balls? CUTE and HILARIOUS!!




I truly think Mike missed his calling in life. He should have been a preschool entertainer.










Saturday morning was the first game. Anna's team wore their red jerseys. She was SO excited.



Until it was time to ACTUALLY play!



So she hung out on the sidelines for a while until Sara said, "Anna, want to play soccer with me?"



Anna decided to play, but only if Mike held her hand as she walked out onto the field.



Once she got going, I think she had a great time!



Peewee soccer is great. No times, no penalties, no goalies, no score keeping. Just fun!



Here is a video of Anna. I think she mainly had fun running around with the kids. Dunno if she understood that she was supposed to KICK the ball. The goal's presence never even phased her.



THANKS COACH MIKE!!

Five

Anna chose the title for this post.
So I asked her, "Anna, to what does that title refer?"
She stuck up 5 fingers and smiled.

Andrew's first taste of jambalaya. He ended up eating almost as much as me!



He has been on Augmentin for a resistant ear infection, so we've been giving him a lot of yogurt. I'm not sure if it's helping or not. I've done LOTS of laundry this week.



Daddy helped Anna build a train track on Sunday morning. He's proclaimed this one "his best ever".



We went to the zoo and rode the train first. Anna insisted on wearing her hat and coat the entire time, though it wasn't that cold outside. She was wearing a pink striped shirt, a blue jumper and purple striped stockings, so I wasn't too upset that she kept all of it covered up. Andrew just hung out.







He really enjoyed the train ride and kept a tight grip on the seat in front of us the entire time.



These tigers were insane! They kept running straight at the glass and scaring the pants off of everyone. Good thing Anna wasn't wearing any...



Daddy took Anna into the petting zoo.



Afterwards, it was bath time! Anna and Drew have recently started taking baths together and they are so cute! We cut the bath short because the Superbowl half time show was coming on.



Anna provided some entertainment for us during half time. I think she performed better than Fergie, and kept telling us that "tonight's gonna be a good night!"



Fabulous!



Shaun snapped this picture of the four of us at the end of the game. We were tired!

Brad, it's your birthday!*

We took a little trip on Sunday afternoon down to NO to see my parents, who were working on their house, and to celebrate Brad's birthday (Anna and Drew's honorary uncle). Robert and Joelle had dinner at their house for everyone. There was King Cake for dessert.



Bradley and Joelle tried to teach Anna how to eat the entire piece of cake, while Anna insisted that eating only the icing was the way to do it!



Of course, I had to demonstrate some of my expertise. Anna still didn't listen. Imagine that!



Icing is especially yummy when it turns your whole mouth different colors!



Drew and Grandma hung out while we ate our cake. He's been sick with a double ear infection and (suspected) RSV. Needless to say, we've had a rough couple of days. Anna also had fever on Friday because she was feeling left out.


*The title of this post refers to a record that Brad got one year when he had his birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. On the record, they sang, "Brad, it's your birthday" about eighty times. We listened to it so much that it is forever etched upon my mind.
One day, it mysteriously disappeared...

Happy New Year!

We played at the Pasquier's this past Saturday. The kids get on so well together!



This is, apparently, a new trick that Anna showed everyone how to do. Obviously, it was a hit.



One day, Andrew. We were hoping he might figure this part out and start crawling, but right now, all he does is kick his legs like he's swimming on the floor.



Peter was impressed with the pandemonium.



Drew just got glasses. He's been crossing his right eye for a long time. Everyone else sees it but me. We took him to see a pediatric opthamologist, who determined that Drew is farsighted enough to need glasses. Hopefully this will correct his vision and get him out of the habit of crossing.



He does pretty well, but is still getting used to them. He is amazingly fast at whipping them off and throwing them across the room. Andrew the stealth slinger.

Christmas

We started off Christmas vacation right! Shaun is the best daddy in the whole wide world. Here he is playing little people with Anna.


After Christmas presents with my parents, we drove to Ft. Walton Beach to spend Christmas eve and Christmas day with Shaun's parents. Here is Anna opening her first gift on Christmas morning.



Sunglasses for Anna!



And Drew!



Daddy helped him open his presents while I took pictures of the mayhem.



Oh boy, a toothbrush!!!!! Seriously, Anna was more excited about this than her new princess two-wheeler (with training wheels).



Here's a teether/stacker, because after sporting fangs for two weeks, Andrew finally got his two front teeth!



We got a wii from my parents and brothers. We have had such a good time with it! Mary Jane beat me when we played "Just Dance for Kids". Who knew she was such a master at dancing to "the Wheels on the Bus"? Anna just watched us in amazement (at our prodigious skill, I think).



Drew also got this racing speedway.



I think Anna's had a better time with it than he has.



You're wondering now, "Does this child ever smile?" Yep, just not for the camera. Shaun thinks his expression was in response to these goofy overalls.



I'm a sucker for overalls. That's why Shaun usually dresses Drew.



This was the best picture we got of the pair of these turkeys.



Anna's Marrain Amy and Mrs. Sieckmann came by for a visit. It was fantastic to see both of them!



Best buddies for 17 years!

All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas! Thanks to family and friends for making it that way!