Happy Birthday Harper!

   This last Thursday was Harper's second birthday.  On her actual birthday we just had a small family celebration.  Yesterday (Saturday) we met Karl, Aimee, and Tyler to go bowling for Harper's birthday.  All the kids had been bowling before, so we knew it was an activity they would enjoy.  We had a great time and the girls were very happy to see their cousin Tyler. Especially Avery who seemed puzzled that Tyler wasn't there on Thursday for Harper's actual birthday.

    Here are some fun Harper factoids:

• She likes to sing and is not shy about doing so in public. When we sing in church she often will direct the music as well.
• One of her favorite movies is Brave, and she asked to watch it on her birthday.
• Harper likes to pray. In fact most nights both Avery and Harper will say our family prayer at the same time. Praying has become very popular in our house quite suddenly.
• She also enjoys dancing.  
• She calls yogurt mogurt.
• She loves to read books.  

   That's our Harper and we love her.  She has got quite the personality, and it will be really interesting to see what she's like when she is even talking more. 

Some nice tiny store bought cakes.

Harper actually ate birthday cake this year unlike last year's disappointing show.

Oh my gosh! Little People Disney Princess Songs Palace!  Are we not the best parents ever?  The girls are still enjoying days later.  

Harper and Daddy putting the castle together.

Sebastian enjoying the castle box.

Avery and Tyler decided to hold hands on their own with no suggestions from anyone else.

Harper getting a little help from Dad.

Tyler was a very enthusiastic bowler.

Avery kept picking the heaviest balls she could find to bowl with.  She is hilarious.

Harper really wanted to eat some wings.  In fact when she was so busy eating she wouldn't bowl her sets.  

Harper dancing with her new best friend Minnie Mouse.   

Baby Number Three

  Well this is kind of self explanatory.  Here's everything we know so far:

Due Date:  June 28, 2013
Gender Reveal Ultrasound:  February 8th

   That pretty much sums it up.  We are excited to be welcoming another member into our family.  The girls don't really get it yet. Avery kind of gets it, but it's nothing important enough for her to bring up on her own to talk about.  I'm sure as I become more visibly pregnant it will make more of an impression then.  Also pretty much everyone we've talked to thinks it's another girl, and that's what the Chinese Gender Chart says so you really can't argue with that can you?

Christmas Catch Up

   For Christmas we went to my sister Nellie and her husband Paul's home in the Sacramento area.  Brad and DeAnna were able to come for the entire time we were there.  Adam and Angie were able to stay until late on Christmas day.  We decided to spend the weekend before Christmas in San Francisco, which was fun.  We took a cable car tour of the city that allowed us to see all the Christmas decorations.  That night Avery and Harper infamously both threw up copious amounts of chocolate milk at dinner.  Everyone was pretty much scarred for life, and I don't think we can order them chocolate milk at a restaurant for a very long time.  The next day it literally poured buckets of rain, so after we all got Dim Sum together we went our separate ways. Basically Daryl, Nellie, and myself took the little girls to a local children museum while the other grown ups and Ashlyn explored the city.  The day we left of course was beautiful and rain free.

   Christmas was of course spent at Paul and Nellie's.  It will probably be the last Christmas Eve that Avery asks to go to bed early, and then is content to wait until about nine o'clock to open presents.  Great times were had by all.  On Christmas day the hot tub got fired up, and Avery was more than happy to join everyone out there.  She even tried to go swimming in the very frigid pool.  We said goodbye to Adam and Angie that night sadly.  Brad and DeAnna were still around to help us celebrate Nellie's birthday a couple days later by getting some sushi.  Avery helped Nellie spin the birthday wheel for Nellie's birthday gift(mints).

    We got home the Saturday after Christmas, and the girls spent many days asking about where baby Reagan was. She must have made quite the impression. In fact, Avery now regularly prays for baby Reagan.  Pretty dang cute.  

Brad and DeAnna at the Bass Pro Shop when we took the little girls to see Santa.

The girls did not want to pose in front of the Christmas tree with me.

Daryl actually did quite a bit of work while we were there; although most of it was not with Avery's flower in his hair.

Daryl, Avery, Paul, Nellie, Reagan, and myself on our trolley tour.  Harper, Ashlyn, Brad and DeAnna were on the other side of the trolley.  

Reagan showing some Christmas spirit.

Avery really enjoyed the tour.

On our tour we stopped at a fancy hotel for a bit, and Avery made herself comfortable.

Eating Dim Sum.  I literally ran with Avery's stroller all the way back to the hotel after we ate because it was raining so hard.

At the children's museum.  The devices on their heads switch what ears they are hearing things in.

Harper and Avery playing with their shadows.

While everyone was watching the Seahawks game the girls kept themselves entertained with the iPad.

Reagan being adorable.

More adorable Reagan.

Harper eating candy from her stocking.

Avery also enjoying the bounties of her stocking.

Adam and DeAnna on Christmas morning Skyping with Mom and Dad.

Avery enjoying the hot tub on Christmas day with Adam and Angie.

Avery helping Nellie spin the wheel on her birthday.

I let my girls eat leftover movie popcorn for breakfast one day.

Avery wearing one of Paul's hats, and tucked in for a viewing of Cinderella I think.

December Catch Up

    As always December got really busy at the end.  First off on December 15th we had a little Christmas party with Daryl's extended family before the majority of us split town for the holidays.  We had Aimee, Karl, and Tyler there of course.  Daryl's cousins Scott and Kyle.  Then Daryl's aunts Debbie and Donna were there with their husbands Kent and Laif respectively.  We kept the tradition of the white elephant gift exchange alive and enjoyed everyone's company.  It was nice to see everyone, like I said, before a lot of us left town for Christmas.

    Then my sister Nellie came into town for work, and brought her five month old baby Reagan with her.  Avery and Harper helped me watch Reagan for three days while Nellie was working, and they loved her.  Every morning when she was still sleeping the first thing Avery would ask about was baby Reagan, and then when she got home from school and Reagan was napping she would once again ask where Reagan was.  Baby Reagan did a lot of napping so watching her with the girls was a breeze.  I guess she loves her Aunt Rachel.

Harper, Daryl, Kyle, Karl, Scott, and Aimee

Harper and Tyler opening Christmas presents.  Tyler was very excited about the Lego Star Wars shirt we gave him.  I don't think I've ever heard a kid so excited to get clothes for Christmas.

Tyler and Harper taking it easy.

Laif, Debbie, Donna, Daryl, and a bit of Kyle

Sebastian inspecting presents.

Everyone watching cartoons, and Harper snacking on a Barbie bike.

Reagan making a funny face after her bath.

Reagan smiling.