My Big Kindergartener!

It's official! Reese is in Kindergarten! Today was her first official day and the whole family got up and ready and out of the door by 8 o'clock! This is amazing on many levels!

When I went in to wake Reese up and hug and kiss her, she gave the biggest smile and said, "This is the best day of my life!" We came out to the living room and she got dressed and went to give Daddy hugs and kisses. Then she woke up Eden and Eden helped her put her binder in her backpack. Eden told her, "Reesey, I will miss you," to which Reese replied, "I'll miss you, too, Eden."

With lunches and backpacks ready, we loaded up in the van and headed out for A.T. Allen. Daddy got to be the photographer as we filed out and walked to Reese's classroom. The kids held hands for awhile, but Daddy had to carry Jesse since there were lots of cars and trucks passing. I think Jesse was loosing his balance a bit walking with his hands over his ears! Ms. Bailey met us at the door with a big smile and showed Reese where to put her lunchbag. Then she opened her bag and gave Ms. Bailey her folder with her papers and hung her backpack in her little cubby. Then she found the apple with her name on it and placed it on the Attendance Tree. Then she went to her table and got to make patterns out of colored plastic chain links (which is RIGHT up Reese's alley!)

Everyone gave Reese hugs and kisses and we waved goodbye. When we were walking into the house, Eden said that she missed Reese, but as soon as I pointed out that we would play for awhile, have lunch and then as soon as naps were over leave to pick up Reese, she was excited again!

I get a little empty feeling when I think about her not being here. She may only be 5 going on 6, but she is my friend. However, her brain is SO ready for more wrinkles and I know she is going to love learning more at school. We'll just have to have a hugging, kissing, and tickling session when she gets home!

So, Reese will definitely get the red Special Plate for dinner tonight! Three cheers for Reese! Hip, Hip, Hooray! Hip, Hip, Hooray!! Hip, Hip, Hooray!!!

My little Reesey Piecey (3) and Beaders (1) taking a bath.

As soon as I get the cord from Heather Rose for downloading pictures, I'll post our pictures from this morning.

Leila Makenzie Howard was born today

So here are some fotos of the big girl. She was born at 2:41pm at 9.6lbs. and 19.5inches! Doc said that she is healthy and looks really good. Another week longer and we would have possibly had to do a C-section. She would have been alot bigger if we would have waited til the due date. She birthed her really fast.
Suzanna is doing really really well. She says she doesn't even feel like she had a baby. A little tired but feels really good. The girls just adore her. Eden couldn't get enough of her as they each got a turn to hold her. Jesse was just kinda like who's this little person???

Now that everyone is gone and I sit here typing this I can't help but look over at this new little girl that has joined our family. We are so so lucky. She is sound asleep and will be ready for her first bath at 9pm! She has been feeding really well. she latched on as soon as they got her ready to see mom. First feeding was 45mins. Hmmm, guess she really is a Howard, girl can put it down!!
We have also discovered one little characteristic; she has taken after her mother, and felt that she needed to be just like her with a webbed middle toe! She even has it in the same foot as mom. It's really cool! Anyways I need to get back to tending to Zanna. Enjoy!!!

The End

or the Beginning

As you can see Jesse loves to comfort his mom

The day was eventful!

Make 'Em Laugh!

Reese and Eden have a special way of cracking Jesse up. I'm not sure what it is--Chad and I try, but there is something about his sisters that Jesse finds hilarious. Last night after we had strapped Jesse into his high chair and were setting the table, Eden started tossing a toy microphone into an empty laundry basket (you'll notice by the background that it is laundry day at the Howards'!) For some reason, Jesse started laughing every time she'd do this. He has such a sweet and genuine laugh that the rest of us started laughing when he was laughing. I'm telling you, we had so much fun! Keep watching 'till the end--he lets out a great belly laugh. If I could bottle his laugh and sell it as an antidepressant, I'd be rich!

Do As I'm Doing-- The Grandpa Dance

During Family Home Evening Monday night, the kids were especially wiggly after our lesson, so we decided a couple of rounds of "Do As I'm Doing" were needed. For anyone not familiar with that song, someone is the leader and chooses an action that everyone else repeats while they sing:

"Do as I'm doing, follow, follow me! Do as I'm doing, follow, follow,me. I can do it high or low. I can do it fast or slooooww! Do as I'm doing, follow, follow, me. Do as I'm doing, follow, follow, me."

Well, it is a coveted honor to be chosen as the leader, but there's a lot of pressure to choose something super fun to do. Reese chose rolling your hands, then Eden chose spinning in a circle (that's always entertaining to watch and needless to say, Dad and I just watched on that one!) Then Reese got to be the leader again and decided that we should all do the Grandpa Dance! When Chad's parents still lived in NC and we were visiting, Grandpa loved to put on music and have dance parties with the kids. Let me tell you, there would be some serious moves going on! Gary's signature move with the kids, however, is bending a bit, moving your knees back and forth, and crossing your hands back and forth on top. I'm sure Grandpa didn't know how big of an impression his dancing made on the kids, but they love doing the Grandpa Dance! Enjoy!

I Love North Carolina!

As I was loading the kids into the van this morning, I couldn't help but smile and think about how much I love North Carolina. Where else can I enjoy a snow day with the kids and snuggle inside with hot chocolate and then three days later have Carolina blue skies, sunshine, and 60 degree weather? And in a couple of weeks, the Easter lilies will be blooming! I can't wait!

Snow Day!

Yesterday, we were blessed with 2-3 inches of snow for at least half a day (until the sun came out and melted most of it!) In typical Carolina style, school was cancelled and so we took the opportunity to have Mollie and the kids over to play in the snow! Chad let us take two of his bodyboards to use as sleds in the neighborhood common area across the street. This was Jesse's first time in the snow and the first time that Eden will remember. You will see that being out in the cold brought out mixed reactions!

Reese and our neighbor, Kendall, getting ready to take the first run.

Caitlin couldn't wait for the bodyboard and took a roll down the hill.
So the black thing on Eden's head is supposed to be one of those neck warmers that I doubled over to use as an ear warmer (there wasn't enough room under her chin to snap her hat in place.) In this picture, though, I think she looks a little like a Russian soldier-- what do you think?
Little Sabrina is so light, that her body weight just isn't sufficient to pack down the snow when she walks. Instead, it sticks to her boots and after a dozen or so steps, she ended up with platform snow shoes! That is very frustrating for a 3-year old!
No outing in the snow is complete without making a snow angel! And what an angel she is!

Here's Jesse at the bottom of the run (sporting a Long Beach hat in honor of his father.) And if you can't tell from the look on his face, he was slightly less than enthusiastic about it all! Perhaps that's because the last time he was on a bodyboard, it was a sunny California day at the Shore and his Uncle Ryan was pulling him along in the water at a much more leisurely pace and he didn't see his short life pass before his eyes! Plus, he was relaxing in his trunks instead of two layers of clothing and those ridiculous mittens that just weren't cutting it!

Ethan and his friend, Isaac, trying to make it down the hill. I think Isaac starting out pushing and fell on top! They had lots of fun!
These two pictures are to document for our children when they are teenagers, that even though we are "Mom" to them, we are actually also barrels of fun! C'mon-- how often do you see a 7-month pregnant woman sliding down a hill? If you are wondering how I actually got that coat to zip over my belly, don't ask. Even I'm not sure how I did it!
Reese's gloves weren't doing the job, so she went for the big dogs!
Aunt Mollie trying to console the frozen Jesse Pop. If that face doesn't scream pathetic, I don't know what does!
I think it's time we went home and had some hot chocolate and thawed out. There's only so much fun a gal can handle!

Three cheers for Snow Days!

Our January Christmas Play

We decided that since there are so many Guffey grandchildren, that we should start acting out the Christmas story when we get together at Mom and Dad's. We have enough kids for the Holy Family, shepherds, angels, wise men. However, with the way everyone's schedules worked out, the time for the Christmas play Well, I had built the whole thing up with Reese and Eden that not doing the play was just not acceptable.

Uncle Jason was working in Badin, North Carolina a couple of weeks ago and came over for dinner. Reese decided that it would be a great time for us to do the Christmas play! Here are some pictures from our grand production.

Since Uncle Jason was a little too big to play the part of Baby Jesus, he volunteered to be the narrator.
Here is Eden the Angel, fully equipped with Tinkerbell wings, announcing to Reese the Shepherd with a purple bathrobe that Christ is born. Jesse is supposed to be Joseph (we decided that he was too wiggly to be the baby Jesus!) but he's keeping Eden company on the piano bench!
And finally, here is Mary holding baby Jesus with the angel and shepherd coming to worship Him. Joseph is looking a little distracted, but maybe it's the burden of his new responsibility! You may also notice the purple "donkey" passed out beside Mary. My Little Pony isn't used to such hard work!

Overall, I have to say, that I am grateful that the kids understand that the pinnacle of the Christmas season is the celebration of our Savior's birth and that of all the things that they wanted to be sure to get done, it was acting out the Christmas story. They are some special kids!