Goodbye, 2013

2013 was a wonderful year, full of so many sweet memories! Can't wait to see what 2014 brings for our family! I made this little flip slideshow of my Instagram pics from this year. It's so sweet and a little sad to look back over the past year...it makes me smile thinking of all the good times, but it tugs at my heart a little to see how fast my babies are growing up!

New Year's Eve was pretty uneventful at our house. Brian left the day before for the Ski trip in Crested Butte, CO. As always, he drew hearts on the girls hands and they drew pictures on his hands. This is a fun little thing they do every time he goes on a trip.

G-Ma came up and spent New Year's Eve with us at our house, because I wasn't feeling well. The original plan was that we would go to Newcastle, but it just didn't work out that way. We spent the evening at home, just playing and relaxing. I ended 2013 by rocking Jonah to sleep...no better way to do it, if you ask me!

I think Mackenzie drew a whole playground on Brian's hand!

Like Father, Like Daughter! Hahaha!

Jonah looks so cute in his new Mickey Mouse pj's that Grandma Baldwin made him for Christmas!

Goodbye, 2013!

4th Times a Charm...We hope!

Mackenzie had her 4th ear tube surgery two days after Christmas. We originally had surgery scheduled to remove the tube from her left ear, which was not going to come out on its own. Basically, it is still in there but not really functioning. However, when we went for the pre-op a week or so before surgery, Mackenzie's right ear, which didn't have a tube in it, was full of fluid and her hearing in that ear was 3 or 4 times worse than in her left ear. So, her ENT suggested we put another tube in the right ear, and leave the tube in the left ear for now. Not exactly what we were hoping to hear, but we really felt left with little choice. Mack was very nervous about this surgery, but she really did a great job. Grandma Baldwin came and stayed with Jonah and Madison while G-Ma came to the hospital with us. This was Mack's 6th surgery in a matter of 7 years...4 sets of tubes, tonsils removed and tear ducts probed...all fairly minor, but still a big deal to such a little girl! We can only hope and pray that this is the last surgery she will need, and that she will grow out of all these crazy ear issues!

Twinkles was very good moral support!

How sweet is this? Such a good daddy...

This was after she got the "goofy juice," so she was starting to feel a little out of it.

We cuddled up and watched The Rescuers Down Under while we waited for her to go into surgery.

The surgery didn't last long and we were back with her about 30-40 minutes from the time she went in. The recovery nurses said she did great and was awake before she ever came out of the OR. Thankfully she didn't get sick to her stomach this time, which has happened every other time. I love this smile and look of relief on her face, knowing it was over and we were about to go home! She is a worrier, like her Momma. I'm so proud of my brave girl!

She liked her purple "earring."

Ready to go home!

She thought she was pretty big stuff, getting to ride in this big wheelchair!

 

New Blades

The girls were ready to try out their new rollerblades that they got for Christmas! It was a sunny day so off they went! (for about 5 minutes!) I seriously was laughing my head off at them! Like so much that my stomach hurt! Mackenzie was so dramatic...imagine that! It seemed to take forever to get them all ready to go. Madison was cracking me up in her short dress! (It has matching legging's but she didn't want to wear them!) It won't be long and Jonah will have him some roller blades too! Something tells me he will be a little daredevil, like his Daddy! I'm pretty sure we have lots of rollerblading practice coming up in our near future!

This is where the laughing began...I just wanted them to stand together for a picture and they both panicked when Brian tried to let go of them!

Your rollerblades, helmet and pads have to match your outfit, right?!

Madison was ready to take off on her own. I had to make her stand still until it was her turn for Daddy to help her!

I can't even look at these without laughing! Watch the video and you'll see why...

I think she's gonna be a pro!

Madison's turn!

She may not be a pro yet, but she sure looks good!!

hahahahaha!