What a year it's been!

Happy Birthday sweet baby Briggs...what a wonderful

addition to our family.  One year old on October 8.

Siblings, GG, So Big and More

 Recently, Everleigh spent a weekend at Gma Bunny's.

When she got home, Briggs gave her a warm reception.

 On a recent morning, Andrew and Briggs shared a moment.

 Ethan makes the move to the high chair.

GG and Everleigh make play dough cut-outs.

Later that morning, Andrew and Everleigh

go for a "ride".  Thank goodness for

the lower level at Jesse and Ben's.

Briggs is "so big".

(note:  paint cans double as road

barricades or walls, whichever you prefer.)

Briggs gives Everleigh a push or

Everleigh gives Briggs a ride,

not sure which.

And...finally...lunch with good friends

during a weekend trip to Duluth.

A year later...

Ben and Jesse have been in their house in Eagan

for about a year now.  Here are some before

and after pictures of some of what they have

done in that year...with a little help from their friends.

Old Kitchen

notice the 1969 microwave in the corner

which previous owners were kind enough

to leave behind...and yes, that's butcher

block countertop

New Kitchen

Old living room

New living room

Old main bath

New main bath

Believe it or not, this was Ethan's bedroom (!)

New Ethan's bedroom

Old dining room

It's hard to capture the essence of that flooring!

And the light fixture was not nearly that bright.

New dining room (before new table and chairs arrived)

Granted,  the photos I took were not with a

panoramic camera and from different angles

but you get the idea....

The house went from 1979 to 2012 in one year!

This does not include the change in the

master bedroom, the exterior shutters and paint,

and dismantling the enormous pool and deck out back.

Plus a hundred other small changes throughout....

Sometimes, when you're in the midst of the changes

it's hard to remember how dramatic they have been.

And...they're raising 2 small boys.

Can't wait to see what the next year brings!

I Get By With a Little Help...

Fresh off a couple of days in the hospital for

diverticulitus, mom spent Wednesday with

me taking care of the four little ones.She's got game.

Here she is reading a story to Everleigh and Andrew.

Then as we headed outside while Briggs napped,

she sat with Ethan while Everleigh and Andrew

"cooked" hamburgers and french fries

in his outdoor "kitchen".

 

While Ethan napped, Briggs woke up and got

acquainted with Olive, the black lab.

Then, afternoon nap for Briggs and mom helped

Everleigh dress her Disney Princesses paper dolls.

Thanks for the help, GG!

Once Upon a Time...

...A young couple wanted to have a baby....

And they were very, very lucky and got a

special little girl.

They named her Everleigh Drew.

 Her Daddy loved her very much.

Her mommy loved her very much.

 She was very sweet and good.

So Everyone loved her very much...

Wouldn't you?

Happy Birthday, Everleigh Drew

Insert photo

(Insert photo here)

On a recent morning I took care of Everleigh, almost 3;

Andrew, 2; Briggs, 11 months; Ethan, 5 months all together

by myself for the first time.  It would have been sweet

to capture a picture of the 4 of them together....

But that didn't quite work out.  

The first half hour went great.  Then, the next

45 minutes was tough.  Andrew needed a time out,

Ethan uncharacteristically could not be consoled,

Briggs clawed at my legs, and even Everleigh

looked like she might cry.  oh boy....

 Then Ethan relaxed and fell asleep, 

Briggs went down for his nap, and Andrew,

Everleigh and I went outside to get

some fresh air (with monitors close by).

Ethan got his bottle, Briggs got his bottle

and Andrew & Everleigh got a snack....
and then they all pooped.

So I learned a couple of things....

1.Enlist the older 2 to help with the younger 2.

Ev was great with Ethan; Andrew loves Briggs. 

2.Briggs is content in a high chair for a few minutes

while I calm Ethan. 

3.Keep a pacifier in my pocket, along with kleenex,

phone and an aspirin.
4. Safety first.
5.This, too, shall pass...

6.How lucky am I to get to spend time with these little ones.