Spring Break, Part I

Erik was able to schedule his vacation time at the same time as Gabe's Spring Break.  So we tried to make the best of the time off by going on a couple of mini-trips.

The first of our trips was to the Blue Bell ice cream factory.  They offer tours, and better yet, free ice cream at the end!  Here are some pictures:

Ian is really easy when worn.  And also full :)

It was also St. Patricks day.  Here are my two cuties posing just outside of the factory.

A statue of the famous Blue Bell girl & cow

More posing

We weren't allowed to take pictures of the tour itself, but it was short and fairly interesting.

I love that face!

My cute family just before the tour started

 The best & yummiest part!
 

  All of the ice cream flavors were delicious!!

It was a nice little trip (only an hour or so away) and we all had fun!

On the way back we went to IT'Z pizza and Arcade.  We will never go back again.  We had fun, but the food barely passes as food and they always seem to have a problem whenever we present them with a coupon--not worth going without a coupon! The kids enjoy the soda and of course all the games.

Some cute pics of buggy-eyed Ian.

The grossest food money can buy

Nope, we didn't get the ball :(

Gabie and Elisa really enjoy going.  Unfortunately this will be the last time, but we're glad we got to go while we could!

Life With Ian

Ian is just so precious!  He's been a sweet baby since day 1.  We have all enjoyed having him around.  I have hundreds of pictures I could post (I can't get enough of that sweet little face!), but here's some highlights of Ian's first month:

He's got a beautiful doll face!

When he is content, Ian will make this cute noise (turn up volume to hear; there is not much to see)

Ian was born with this patch of white hair.  It is a birth mark--Gabie has one on his chest.  These particular kinds are called "milk cravings"--an old wive's tale that says all birth mark marks come from some maternal craving.  Which is completely false since I don't like milk!  But I think it looks cute on Ian!  He has since lost all that hair in the back so the patch is barely visible as of now

 Ian got the "goopy eye" as I call it, aka clogged tear duct around 3 weeks old.  It lasted until Ian was about 3 months old.  He was a one-eyed pirate for a while. Arrrr!

 That cute grumpy face of his!

 2 week old smiles!  Not the real deal, but just as cute!

 Ian loves his mommy (me!).  We enjoy our snuggles.

 Another cute grumpy face!

 So little!

 Yet another grumpy face!

 Ian didn't like whatever it was here, obviously

 We think Ian looks a lot like Gabe did!

 And kind of like this creepy doll

Elisa can't get enough of Ian.  No, really...she just can't.  It drives me CRAZY.

 He loves his fingers!  He likes pacifiers too, but can't seem to get them to stay in his mouth!

 His umbilical cord stump took forever to fall off.  Ian's was waaay stinkier than any of my other kids'.  I think it was the humidity here that made it stinky and not dry out as much.  I was ever so glad when it did fall off!

He is a good, sweet sleeper!

First Bath!

 Sorry, full-frontal nudie pics, but I don't have the software to black out "the way it be".

Ian was born in January.  His first bath wasn't until February, exact date unknown.  Sorry 3rd child, but the days go by so fast and Momma is so so busy, therefore baths tend to get put on the backburner too frequently!  Even now, with Ian being almost 4 months old, Ian has had fewer baths than I care to admit! But in my defense (at least for the 1st month), Ian's umbilical chord stump didn't dry out as quick as it should have, so I was advised not to give him baths.  So Ian has had lots of head-washings, and isn't that the part that gets dirtiest?!  I mean, someones always gotta be rubbing his head or kissing it. Anyway, obviously Ian didn't care for his bath the first time, but he doesn't seem to mind them anymore.  I think babies are hard to bathe when they can't sit up on their own yet.   Until then, I will struggle to remember to give my poor 3rd child baths more often!  Then its baths in the sink...lots easier than pulling out this awkwardly-shaped tub!  

Elisa enjoyed giving her Ariel dolly a bath after Ian was washed!

Valentine's Day 2015

I love Valentines day, now that I have lots of people (little ones in particular) to love!!  I didn't do much for extended family because having a new baby kinda scrambles my brain and time & energy are in short supply.  I was just happy enough to keep it together enough so that I had something for the kids.  I'm not quite sure if I even got anything for Erik for V-day.  Yeah, I'm lame.  But, Erik still loves me, hence the flowers.

Gabe's kindergarten Valentine's box.  FULL of candy.  I don't remember getting candy on Valentines day when I was his age.  I was content with the cards.

 The kids immediately gobbled up the candy in Gabe's box.

 My pretty little Valentine on valentine's day!  Her dress was last year's style and it just baarrrley fit her!

 My cute little Valentines!

The past couple of years my friend has been doing a Valentine's party for all the kids.  We came prepared with cute outfits and cookies:

 Elisa playing pin-the-something-on-the-something.

 Gabe really enjoys craft projects

 Picture time!  The girls apparently missed the memo.

 All the kids and some fun props

 My silly Gabe.

 The roses were a big hit with the little girls.  I, of course, forgot our Valentines on the counter.  Whoops.

 I did remember to bring the cookies though!  I make these soft frosted sugar cookies every
Valentine's day!

The sugar spread!

 The kids pigging out on Valentin's day candy on the way home from the party

 Ian stylin' in some glasses

 X's and O's from daddy!

 My cute kids

 Kisses for the baby

 The kids got spoiled.  They both got a box of chocolates.  Gabe got a Mario and Luigi soft keychain dolls and Elisa got a pink pony she had been wanting.

 Baby and daddy

3 roses for Eesa and flowers for me

Elisa also had a mini V-day party after her dance class: 

Ian's very first Valentine, from cousin Aaliyah!