happy new year!

we closed out 2013 with lots of fun and quality time together as a family.  i love that my office is closed  over the holidays ever year and i really get to turn that part of my life off for ten days (sadly john still takes care of work obligations which often means catching up on his computer once we've all turned in for the night).  this particular holiday season was a bit more tiring than usual since leanne took a couple of weeks off to visit her family in ireland...not going to lie, we all missed her dearly for many reasons!


while we had a great year, albeit exhausting at times, we look forward to what lies ahead for our family.  the kids are becoming more and more entertaining, especially with how much they are speaking (even cracking jokes) and with how they intentionally express their love by giving lots of hugs and kisses.  they are even starting to sleep in until 7am...an extra 30 min of sleep for us - we'll take what we can get!  and, if all goes well, jacks and liv will be out of diapers and in preschool by the end of 2014, which basically means we can expect tears...from me and john of course!  

we could not pry them away from this holiday window display

kicking off the holiday season with a white elephant party

the kids surprisingly lasted from 6:30-10pm (although it wasn't necessary all smiles)

the group decked out in their best christmas sweaters!

nana susie and papa bob are in town...let's make some latkes!

and who doesn't like fusion cuisine?! guacamole, chips, tofu and peanut sauce

thanks liv and jacks - couldn't have done it without you!

hull family picture

a great holiday meal with the hull side of the family!

oh, aunt cathy, let me make sure that ice cream tastes ok before you plate it

christmas eve dinner with grandma vivi, uncle mike and auntie keet!

enough food for a king (and queen)

whipped cream shots...only with papa bob!

santa made a visit and didn't just leave coal

they are great at assisting in the unwrapping of other people's gifts as well

not giving up

best possible position for opening gifts

so.much.fun.

and now it's time to play!

the family's first mr. and mrs. potato head

'baby jacksie'...that jacks wants absolutely nothing to do with

hey, keep it down in there!  or better yet, bring me a gift!

off to sacramento to see abuelo and abuela

the muffin man (aka 'buelo) brought back some real gems after his gym workout

livi lou preferred the carrot muffin

while mr. j bear wolfed down the pumpkin spice one

nothing like a giant bath tub to keep you lovin' sacramento

these were a toddler magnet, but made for far-too-dangerous throw toys!

ready for the safari

giraffes up ahead!

the fam

the ladies

livi refused to go anywhere near the giraffe so she's hiding in the back somewhere

but for jacks, this may have literally been the highlight of his life so far

best friends

choo-choo time!

jacks waited patiently in line and was all smiles on the train

such a cutie pie

livi was not thrilled to board the train, but...

as predicted, she loved it!

back at home with no grandparents and no leanne, we got good at multi-tasking

working and cooking with monkeys on our backs

had some fun in the tub at home

not sure what's going on here, but it's too cute not to post

sibling love

we decided to switch them to face forward in the car,
so we had to re-adjust all the strap positions (6 car seats!)

of course, they then just wanted to sit in them

little miss blue eyes

he needs another inch (or two) on him!

somebody got a cookie

with lots of free time, we rekindled our love for our local park

their new favorite thing to do is to peek and wave at each other on the big slide

hi!!!!

it's a great upper body workout for me

the big swings

she has always loved the swings and can literally swing for hours

doesn't quite get the balance bike yet

with a little practice, they'll be flying

still loving their burritos

gave the potty a whirl
(the plan is to really start training in the coming weeks)

for some reason, they end up completely naked during potty time

guitar on the potty to listen to bingo...his theme song

a little distracted 

at the discovery museum to celebrate 'noon year's eve'

the dj was spinnin' and jacksie broke out his moves

chasing bubbles

pb&j, cheese and blueberries...a lunch classic

they ate in this nook and watched all the bubbles and kids

an attempt at a family pic

new year's eve at odin's house with a bunch of toddlers

except for a break for cheese and crackers, jacks spent most of the evening at the train table

ready for bed...it's midnight somewhere

happy new year!!