UPDATES...

Ellie trying her hand at pulling the chariot on Daddy's skis.

Holy moly. Haven't been good at the whole blogging thing lately, and have had plenty to blog about. Here goes some updating...as good as I can get it, anyway.

CHRISTMAS

Christmas Eve -- in their jammies

The tree the way Santa left it.

"Santa's" big Christmas project:
homemade Raggedy Anne and Andy.
(Good thing Santa has such talented and awesome helpers!!
Couldn't/wouldn't have done it without Donovan and my mom. Thanks SO much!!)

Ellie and Ronan going through their loot:
they got a big floor drum, dressups and Raggedy Anne and Andy.

RONAN TURNS 2!!!
Ronan turned two a couple of weeks ago. He is growing up so fast it is crazy. Where in the world does the time go? Our little Tanny is such a joy to our family. He is so full of mischief, love, generosity, sweetness, life and goodness. His big sis is definitely his best friend, and he's never sure quite what to do when she's not around. He has been working on counting and saying letters. He recognizes the differences between letters and numbers when he sees them. He is speaking so well -- he speaks in full sentences and has a pretty large vocabulary. He is always so quick to give loves, to verbally express his love and to show his love. He never takes one of anything without waiting for one for his sis and is always super quick to try and do her favors. Ronan is super agile and coordinated. He loves galloping and skipping around the house, running laps, finding things to jump off and climb up. Ronan LOVES making music and singing. He loves playing the piano (and usually plays really pretty melodies), beating on drums, shaking anything he can and boogying. My favorite common phrase heard from him lately: "Ah know, ees!!" ("I know, sis!") which he says any time he has an idea. Pretty cute. He has really been enjoying caring for and nurturing "babies" (any stuffed animal, and most recently his Raggedy Andy) and playing with them. Mostly he is such a sweet little person that tries so hard to do what he thinks is good.

Ronan opening his present from us
(a wooden train) the morning of his birthday.

Blowing out his candles at the family birthday party.

My sad attempt at a homemade, healthier Nemo cake.

ELLIE'S NEW ADVENTURES
Ellie started a new preschool at the beginning of the year. Previously she was attending a little neighborhood preschool, about a 10-15 minute drive away. We found out there was an opening for the preschool at the elementary school in our neighborhood, so we got her signed up. She LOVES it so far and feels like such a big kid going to school where all the big kids go. She also thinks it's pretty cool that we get to walk to school now, instead of drive (and so do I!).

Ellie also started a dance class at the beginning of this year. It's a really cool preschool "combo" class that is essentially foundation for dance. The class focuses on ballet, tumbling, jazz and creative movement. She loves her dance class too. Watching her dance with the other little girls is so fun, and was actually a little emotional for me (not sure why...?). She just looked so grown up; she's growing up so fast.

First day of dance class excitement.

Ellie, Ronan and I are all starting our music class up again this week too, and we can't wait! We sure love music class and Ronan has been asking for it since the last semester ended two months ago!

She continues to thoroughly enjoy reading, trying to sound out words and spell them. Recently she has caught on to addition and subtraction and that is her thing now. She is constantly adding things together -- and she blows me away multiple times a day with her knowledge. She is amazing! I don't sit down with her and formally teach her these things, she asks questions on her own and I just answer and try to explain things. She is such a smart little cookie.

Her other favorite pasttime lately is playing dressup. She and Ronan can play dressup for hours and just totally get caught up in their own little world. I LOVE it! It reminds me so much of my childhood, and the fun I used to have with my siblings.


...AND BABY MAKES FIVE!
So, we were genuinely surprised to find out that we are expecting our third child this coming July. It has been a hard adjustment (for me) already...still trying to come to grips with the reality of having three kids; I never thought we would have three, so the idea is taking some getting used to. Also, I have been experiencing extreme nausea and fatigue with this little tyke -- something I didn't experience at all with Ronan, and only a little with Ellie. I know that ultimately this little baby is part of our family and we won't be able to imagine life without him/her. Ellie is elated beyond comprehension for her little baby and talks multiple times a day about ways she will be able to take care of her baby, about helping mommy push the baby out, etc. It is so sweet, and makes me happy for her that she gets to experience a brand new baby sibling at an older age. Ronan -- well, he is a different story. I guess you could say he is in for a surprise! Any time we ask him if we should have a little baby his reply is, "nooo!" as he throws his head back, closes his eyes and chuckles as if the whole idea is a ridiculous joke! Hmmm...little does he know.