Joseph's 2nd Birthday!

It's hard to believe but our Joseph has turned 2.  Joseph is affectionately call Monster in our home because he is one busy and destructive boy.  We love our Joseph to pieces and are so happy that he is in our family.  Joseph is a hefty boy and his current stats are 35 lbs (97%) and 3' tall (84%), so he's one big, cute, chubby boy.  

Joseph loves trains right now.  He can name most everyone on Thomas and he loves to carefully line his trains in a row all over the house (beds, balance beam, table, piano, and sometimes the floor).  He also loves Cars 2 and race cars.  He is very good at getting into everything.  I have purposefully left the felt bottoms off our kitchen chairs so I can hear the chair screeching across the floor to whatever trouble he has planned.  Once I hear the screeching of the chair I make a mad dash from wherever I am.  I can't leave anything on the counter; fruit has bites taken out of it, bread is tried to be butter, and markers end up on everything it shouldn't.  He is very busy, but we still love him dearly!

The cute things that Joseph does are when he says sorry he rubes you affectionately on the head and then he asks for a love (hug), it is very sweet.  He is become a very good talker and is quick to stay thank you and your welcome, usually together.  He usually says "Thank you Mommy, welcome."  when I give him something.  He also know everyones names in the family, he can even say Talmage which is impressive.  He loves to help me cook and clean in the kitchen which is fun and crazy at the same time.  He loves to sing, some of his favorites are Let it Go and Once Their was a Snowman.  He is so cute singing both of these songs.  

I love this little boy so much!  He brings so much joy and excitement to our home.  Happy Birthday Joseph!!!!

Birthday Breakfast

He was so excited to have a candle in his pancake; I love that adorable smile.

I love 2nd birthdays because your child gets how fun a birthday is and revels in being sung to.

We sang to him a couple of times because he said "again."

He got a little exuberant with the candle and touched it, so then he was afraid of it.  

Mommy and Talmage ended up blowing out his candle because he was too afraid to get close.

Birthday clothes.

Checking out his birthday cake.

He loved opening his presents.

A fun Thomas book; he's pointing and naming all of the characters.

His train birthday cake.

Mommy and the Birthday Boy.

The marshmallow was the first to go.  

Adalyn's Preschool Christmas Concert

Adalyn had her preschool Christmas concert and she did AWESOME!  This little girl is a singer and she new all of the words and sang strong and clear.  Her class sang two songs by themselves and then two songs with everyone.  Her songs were I'm going to Wrap Up Myself for Christmas (my favorite; she has really cute hand gestures with this song), Carol of the Angels (a take on Angels We Have Heard on High), It's Christmas, and Apple Red Happiness.  The whole concert was really great and I loved how excited she was to sing.  

Adalyn singing with her class.

We were excited that G and G Jensen could come to the concert; they loved it!

This was the last event they attended before heading home to Utah. 

Proud Mommy with her BEAUTIFUL girl. 

Gingerbread Men

We were so lucky to have my parents come up when Beverly was born!  They helped out so much and my older kids had a blast with them.   My Mom is called Cookie Grandma because she always makes cookies with her grandchildren.  My kids had great plans to make cookies with Cookie Grandma and she didn't disappoint.  They made sugar cookies, lemon squares, and then these gigantic gingerbread men.  Aunt Myrissa sent us the gingerbread man pan and Cookie Grandma put it to good use.  The kids loved how big the gingerbread men were and loved that they each had their own to decorate.  

My parents also had fun playing with the kids, taking them to OMSI, reading them stories, and playing games.  I was very grateful for the wonderful meals they made for our family and for helping me get the kids to their various places.  We loved having Grandma and Grandpa Jensen come and visit!!!

Making their gingerbread men.

Audrey's; she went very classic.

Grandma and Audrey.

Talmage's; he made some awesome boots.

Grandma and Talmage

Adalyn's; she did a little of everything - hat and boots.

Grandma and Adalyn 

Mock Meet

Audrey participated in a mock meet to help her get ready for her upcoming competition season.  I guess you could say in dance terms is like a dress rehearsal.  She did great and had a fun time, so it was a success!  We were excited the Grandma and Grandpa Jensen were in town, so they were able to watch her which was fun.  We look forward to her competition season starting in January.  

Holding her squad sign.

Team Awesome.

Getting her medal.

Beverly Ann Thomas

Beverly Ann Thomas was born December 11th, 2013.  She weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.  She is a beautiful little girl and we are so excited to have her in our family!  I was induced with Beverly which ended up being a blessing because she threw my left pelvis out of place and I was in a TON of pain walking around like a 90 year old lady the two days before she was born.  We went into the hospital at 6:30 a.m., I was hooked up to the pitocin by 8, epidural around 10ish and baby was born at 3:28, so not too shabby.   Everything went very smooth and I pushed two times and she was out.  We are very excited to welcome her into our family!

Waiting for my baby to come; I think this is right before I started to push.

I love the epidural!

Meeting Beverly for the first time!

Snuggling right into Mommy.

Getting her stats.

Older siblings meeting Beverly for the first time; I love their faces of excitement to meet her.  

The gift of a sibling is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your children.

Family picture

Grandma Jensen and Beverly

Beverly is named after my Mom (Beverly); special she could be their to meet her the day she was born.

Counting toes with Grandma.

Big sister Audrey; she was so excited for her to come.

Big sister Adalyn.

Big brother Talmage; he is so sweet with her.

Proud big brother.

Getting ready to come home.

Joseph meeting Beverly for the first time.

He loves to say "baby."

A welcome home card from Audrey; notice Beverly is wearing the elephant dress we brought her home in.

Talmages card :)

Adalyn's welcome home card, so sparkly!

T cuddling with Beverly.

Grandpa Jensen and Beverly

So cute!

I love this dress.

Audrey wanted to make a blanket for Beverly so bad that I gave in.  Here we are sewing together making it.  She sat on my lap and pushed the back button and cut all the strings.  We had a wonderful time picking out the fabric, cutting it out, and sewing together.  We even embroidered a B on it for Beverly.  My Audrey is so sweet and thoughtful!