Tessa is walking!!

Actually she is running, but I have been so delinquent in posting that this clip just shows her taking a few of her first steps. This isn't a great video in that it is fuzzy, but I was running to try and catch her first steps on video. Now she may be running away from you, like when you are trying to change a diaper or if it is time to go inside. However, she is so happy to be able to keep up with the big kids that she is mostly just running - all the time. She is running to go play outside, running to get in the bath, running to keep up with the kids, and sometimes just running around in circles. We love the sound of her pudgy feet padding along the ground! At any rate, she is on the move!

Those sneaky leprechauns.....

Those leprechauns are pretty sneaky. Each year the kids are sure they will catch them, but so for no such luck. Each year they put out their shoes by their doors in hopes of a leprechaun filling their shoes with candy. They also wake up and hurry and rush to look in the mirror because if the leprechaun kisses your cheek then it leaves a shamrock on your cheek (for most of the kids this is a smear of green by the time the morning comes around, but it is evidence of a kiss nonetheless). This year that crazy leprechaun also dyed the milk green. Here is Sammy displaying all the evidence of the busy leprechaun. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Tessa's Birthday!

It was just a year ago that we were anxiously awaiting our little girl. We always knew she was a princess, but she has quickly graduated to the queen of the house. We all seem to be at her beck and call, and we all love it. Of course mom and dad are wrapped around her little fingers, but Emma and Lincoln are a close second. One whimper and they come running. Sam has managed to tune her out a bit more, but is still the protective big brother. She and Sam both love going to the gym with mom, and everyone that watches them comments on how protective Sam is of Tessa. They never have to worry about her being picked on because Sammy is there to save her!

Tessa enjoyed some pink cake and the wrapping paper on the presents. The toys she enjoys now and again, but the paper is always a hit! Her newest discovery -- getting into things: baskets, cabinets, underneath chairs. Her biggest frustration -- not being able to get out of things.

The weather outside is frightful...

It may be frightful outside, but it has been a complete delight to this mom! The kids have been sledding every day, sometimes multiple times a day, and I love it! The kids go sledding in the common area just one house away. We can see them from our kitchen window, and it is just a big enough hill for everyone to have fun, but not too big as to become worrisome. It has been great. There has been far more snow than is typical for Boise, so the kids have had a great time and are often out there until dark. Usually this time of year we can't get the kids to go outside - this year we can't keep them in!

Baptism Day

It was a wonderful crazy weekend! Ted's parents came home from completing their mission in Santiago, Chile, and the next morning Lincoln was baptized and then confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Lincoln had decided that he wanted to wait and have all of his grandparents at his baptism, so we waited a few weeks to make sure that Grandma and Grandpa Wagner were there. We were so fortunate to have so much family there, and it was a great day. Lincoln was beaming from ear to ear - I've said it before and I'll say it again - that toothless grin always melts my heart!

I'm FIVE!!!!

I absolutely am in denial about Sam being five years old. He is growing up WAY too fast! He had a great day, and his only demand was that we have spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. He does his best keeping up with the big boys, but instead of a waveboard he got a skateboard that is just his size (Ted and I are wondering how many broken bones we are going to see from these waveboards/skateboards??) He already has a great time going off of jumps with his bike, and I am sure the skateboard is sure to follow. He also got a Whack-a-mole Tower game - Lots of music, lights, noise, and hitting stuff with a hammer - what isn't fun about that?

It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year......

My favorite Christmas pictures are the early morning, puffy-eyed, bed-head pictures of the kids just before we open presents. The anticipation is almost tangible, and for that brief moment everyone is happy, no sugar has been ingested yet, and no one is disappointed in what they didn't get! I love Christmas morning!

Sam got a dinosaur that moves and sounds real, and he loved it, even though it scared him at first. Lincoln loves his remote control helicopter, and Emma loved her MP3 player. Tessa ate wrapping paper and tossed aside her toys.

The real surprise came, though, when they opened controllers to a Wii. We told them we would never get one. They were all surprised, and we have all had a great time with it! The favorites right now are Lego Star Wars and Wii tennis - Ted still creams us in tennis, but it is still fun anyway.

The hardest person to shop for, however, is Ted. It's not very much fun to give the same thing year after year - more bike shop gift cards. I know they always get used, but I always try to surprise him with something. As he has become more and more serious about biking I have become more and more worried (for no real reason) about his safety. I always worry about some driver not paying attention and....well, you get my point. For this reason I decided that this year I would buy him something to help him see traffic. I bought him one of those small mirrors that you attach to your helmet to help you see what is coming up behind you. As Ted opened the gift he tried to tell me as politely as possible that he appreciated my gesture, but he would rather take his chances than put the mirror on his helmet. So, I guess it is back to gift certificates.