My sweet sweet niece was born tonight. I feel a little giddy right now, it was just SO fun to see her so fresh to this world, so brand new and tiny and perfect. Gosh, I'm oozing with love already!!! Miss Peyton Jane Gross was born around 9pm tonight, weighing 7lbs 15oz and measuring 19 in (??). No pictures to post, I'm sure her mom will get to that soon and she should be the one to introduce Peyton to the blog world when she wants. But I just couldn't end the day without telling everyone how wonderful it was to meet her tonight. Precious niece of mine, you are already so SO dearly loved.

These pictures are from awhile ago. Macy's 4th birthday party in December to be specific. But I have been meaning to get it down in permanent blog documentation; Macy's very first, truly self-picked, best friend.

Oh she has lots and lots (and LOTS) of friends she loves and adores with all her heart. But they have all been pretty 'directed' if you know what I mean. Cuz really, how much choice is actually involved in becoming friends with all your mom and dad's friends kids? Up until pre-school they were the only ones she'd ever met! :)

Anyway, enter Olivia. We did not know Olivia prior to pre-school. We had never met her parents (although we have now and enjoy them immensely - guess the friend 'directing' goes both ways!) and outside of the girls winding up in the same class, our paths would have never crossed. But Macy and Olivia somehow caught each other's eyes when they started preschool in September and by the time Ryan came home from the class pumpkin patch field trip with Macy in October, he was reporting a clear 'best friend' that Macy held hands with the entire day. Olivia.

Every time I pick Macy up after school we have to wait for Olivia's mom so we can all walk to the parking lot together. And if I'm running late (which NEVER happens, right?) then Olivia and her mom are waiting there patiently for us! The girls simply adore each other and when I volunteered in their class the other day it became clear why. Talk about two peas in a pod. They have the same slightly timid demeanor; it gives way to silliness when they are comfortable, but in the preschool setting, it seems to linger just enough to make them the 'quiet ones' in the class. I was relieved not to see any traces of the 'mean girl' kind of best friend-exclusive stuff going on, i think they just find safety and confidence in each other and it is sweet to watch their little friendship grow.

Not that Macy understands any of my ultra analytical insights, mind you. Nope.

Awhile back I was asking her about her different friends from class (trying to figure out what makes a kid like one four year old over another four year old). After telling me how Hannah C was funny and Ava Rose was nice, I asked her:

"And can you tell me about Olivia, why do you like her so much?"

Her very thoughtful and heartfelt reply:

"Because she's sooo cute. She looks like me! And I looove her name!"

Ah, the important things!





OH, and finally, I should mention that Macy now tells everyone (her teacher, dance class instructor, strangers in the grocery store) about the two babies in my belly. She also tells them what their names are (which is funny since we don't even know WHAT they are yet!) But for the record, according to Macy these babies names are Jack and you guessed it, Olivia.

Macy came home from preschool with an art project of the snow. Dictated on the top was "My favorite season is Winter, because then you get to go to the snow and make snowmen and go sledding and eat white snow."
Funny that she knew this at all, considering the only time we've even been to the snow with her was when she was oh, 4 months I think? And poor Carter we've never even taken. (I hear you all judging me through your screens, I hear it!) As we got further and further into this winter with no trip to the snow in sight (even though we live an hour or so away now!) waves of guilt were rolling in by the truckloads. Especially when both Macy and Carter started asking, almost daily, if TODAY was a day we could go to the snow?! When I realized that next winter we'd have two infants to truck along as well, all of the sudden a spontaneous trip for our little family of four didn't feel so daunting.
So on Valentine's Day we loaded up the car, with last minute joiners - Cita, Papa, McKenna, Ed and Ellie in tow, we trekked up HWY 80 and found snow (and alot of traffic) not too far away. We spent a couple hours of pure snow fun and valentine cupcakes, topped the evening off with dinner at In n Out when we got back down the hill and now; there's one less thing I feel guilty about depriving my children of. (Enter sigh of relief -- HERE)

It really was an easy day after all and we had such a blast, maybe we'll actually go again before the twins are in high school! Maybe. Enjoy the pics!

Not sure exactly what you can tell from this pic without knowing what it shows already... but Carter thought he'd adapt the cover of this book to make it a tad more literal.

When I was reading this book while pregnant with Macy; a nice relaxed pregnant woman in a rocking chair seemed to fairly fit 'What I should probably expect while I was expecting". Now? Oh, now it is much more fitting that I walked in this morning to find the cover of 'what I should be expecting' cut to pieces with jagged scissors. Ah, the irony.

Seriously, I never post videos. THIS is unbelievable, I actually screamed out loud in Bellybou', please watch it, it will make you laugh at least once today!