When life hands you snow, build a snowman

The good news is that on Tuesday morning, I did not have to wake up at 3:45 am as scheduled.  Of course, there's a good chance I was awake at 3:45 am, but I didn't have to venture out of my parent's warm house.  That's because our flight from Chicago to Raleigh was cancelled on Monday night due to snow.  So the good news, besides not having to get out of bed at an ungodly hour, was that the flight was cancelled early and we didn't get to Chicago to find out we were stranded.  I have anxiety just thinking about that.  The bad news, the airline informed me that it couldn't get us to Raleigh until Saturday.  And no compensation was given because the delay was weather related.  45 minutes of holding (after about an hour of being on the phone) and one supervisor later, my great patience and extreme logic was unconvincing to the lady who insisted that her hands were tied.  Apparently when you spend $2,000 on airline tickets, its not reasonable to believe that the airline will be able to get you home within 4 days of the time that you booked.  Crazy me.

I'll put away my violin and say that things could have been much worse! And we ended up on a Friday flight.  The boys have been great sports about spending extra days at Grandma and Grandpa's house and we are making lemonade out of lemons.  Or making a snowman out of a snow storm.

Unfortunately, in the 10 days we've spent in Iowa, Avery has slept terrible 10 of those nights.  (Actually tonight will mark the 10th night but I'm not holding out hope).  It doesn't help that these two creep into my bed each night.

 

This picture is from the middle of last night.  It was too cute to pass up.  They began the night with shirts on, but lost them somewhere along the way.

 

What else have we been up to?

 

Wearing Grandma out.

 

 

 

Playing in the snow with Grandpa.

 

 

Making messes...

 

 

And cleaning up after them.

 

 

Visiting old friends out on the farm.

 

 

 

And working hard being cute.

 

 

 

Iowa, you've been good to us...but we are ready for home! 2015, you've been good to us.... but we are ready for a new year!

 

Christmas in Iowa

 

Its the most wonderful time of the year.  You know, the time of the year when you eat too many cookies, procrastinate to send Christmas cards, and have to pack up your family of 5 to wait in long security lines, crowded planes in order to fly to the middle of the country to visit family.  But despite the non-vacation in Christmas vacation, it is well worth the trouble.

 

We headed out of Chapel Hill last Tuesday en route to Iowa.  This was Avery's first time flying and she took it like a champ.  Even if all goes perfect, flying with three kids is a bit exhausting, but flights were on time, the kids did well, and we made it!

The picture below displays Eric's advanced parenting skills.

 

If the sun is in your eyes, that is a sleeping Eric holding a sleeping baby and two boys in heaven watching Peppa Pig.

 

The boys had lots of great cousin time.  Its always amazing how quickly they buddy up even after not seeing each other in many months. 

 

 

 

Avery met her cousin, Sawyer, born just 10 hours before her!  They had matching snow sleep suits.

 

 

 

Jackson and Reese (nearly 3), were by far the most entertaining to watch.  They were best buddies and could be found walking around the house holding hands, having deep conversations, and taking selfies on Reese's fake phone.

 

 

 

 

 

Reese also loved Avery and wanted to hold her at every opportunity.

 

 

 

The Christmas magic was in full swing on Christmas morning.  Despite Santa's full Christmas Eve schedule, he made a stop in West Des Moines on Christmas morning.  The kids were thrilled, though Jackson was adequately freaked out by the big man who looked like Santa but sounded like Grandpa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I only took one picture opening presents, but its a fitting one of Jackson stripping down to his new soccer jersey, which he wore each subsequent day and is slotted to wear to the airport tomorrow.

 

 

 

We weren't sure if we'd see snow this trip, but Iowa didn't disappoint.  Unfortunately more snow is forecasted tonight and we leave tomorrow at 6 am!  Eric headed back on Christmas evening and my mom has kindly agreed to fly home with me tomorrow.  Let's hope she doesn't regret her decision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would be remiss if I did not mention the day Eric's perfect driving record was tarnished.  It was Christmas Eve and we were taking all the kids to a trampoline park.  Eric was driving myself and all our kids in my mom's car.  It was snowing.  He's from the South.  You can see where this is going.  I offered to drive and my husband graciously declined.  My mom's taillight and a random guys van are worse off for it.  We were pulling into the trampoline park on some unplowed roads and Eric fishtailed into a van.  Avery, of course, was screaming before and after the impact.  Thankfully, we were close enough that we could still jump while Eric dealt with the aftermath.  Most importantly, nobody was hurt and our family now has a story to tease Eric about for many years to come.

 

And to end on a positive note, the best picture of the week.  A lot of Christmas love on one fireplace!

Demember madness.

Holy moly, what happened to December?  My apologies that my blogging has been sporadic lately.  I have many excuses and some of them are good.  1) Three children 2) traveling husband 3) sign- making business 4) three kids.  I have been pleased with Happy Hoot Creations in its early stages and I didn't anticipate the Christmas rush to be quite as busy as it was.  Traffic on my Etsy shop has picked up and I've had about 30 orders, many of them in the last month.  I even sold a sign in which someone requested Duke blue (shhh, don't tell my husband I sold out for a quick buck).  I have wrapped many signs for strangers...and very few presents for the people I know.  I've sold over 100 signs since I started back in July, and while I've enjoyed it thoroughly, I am ready for a slow-down.  I just wish their were more hours in the day. 

I signed up for a craft fair a few months ago, not realizing how busy I'd be this month.  I had a pretty healthy inventory, aided by the fact that I took about every non-personalized sign off of our walls.  So a successful sale means some empty wall space.  Eric was out of town, so the boys spent some time at Grandma and Pop's house while Avery and I sold some signs.  I got a few bids on her but her price tag was too high.  Her rental price is quite reasonable, however.

 

 

 

I wish there was a customer loyalty program at Home Depot/Lowes because we'd be getting the loyal treatment.

 



 

 

And here are some other random pictures from December.

 

 

 

 

We haven't yet made our trek to Iowa.... that starts tomorrow morning.  But already, this is how I feel:

 

Letters to Avery: 3 months

Dear Avery,

Life is completely nuts right now and you have been tossed into the middle of it and have been made to adjust!  Daddy's in the middle of basketball season, so we don't see him as much as we'd like (but you love him when we do).  December has put the "busy" in mom's painting business, so there have been moments of one hand holding a paint brush and the other hand holding you. Your brothers also demand lots of attention.  I mean, I have to feed them for three meals a day (at least) and I am slave to their other demands, so I don't get to give you as much one-on-one attention as I'd like.  But you're pretty good about rolling with the punches. 

This month, you've really turned into a smiley, happy baby.  Your toothless grins are amazing and getting you to laugh is the best feeling of accomplishment.  You (usually) wake up very happy in the morning... in contrast to some other people in our house (like your parents).  Your brothers love you and Brady is still rubbing your head like you're a Buddha baby.  They are proud of "Avery Kay."

 

Sleeping is still a thing.  Sometimes you do well at it... other times, not so much.  But we've traveled leaps and bounds from where we were two months ago.  You love/need noise being blasted in your ear to fall asleep.  I've listened to Lauren Daigle sing at least 500 times in the last few months and recently, I moved to white noise on YouTube, which you like.  Its truly amazing to watch as an inconsolable baby immediately calms in my arms and the moment the phone goes to your head.  Its like instant relief and your eyes soon get heavy.  If phones cause cancer like some people think, there is no doubt that I have single handedly given it to you.  Nothing makes me more mad (or you more mad) than when you're crying and my phone is buffering.  Its torture.

Avery, thanks for sticking with us through a crazy month.  We love you and can't wait to spend our first Christmas as a family of five.

Love,

Mom

Trinity reunion

As my "push present" (google it if you don't know), Eric coordinated a visit by my college roommates this past weekend.  Annie, Morley, and Molly flew in from Austin, Wichita, and Chicago to reunite in Chapel Hill.  It was so fun to catch up after not seeing them in so long. While we did get some child-free time, Eric still had to work and the gals definitely got their share of the Hoots children.  It was probably a good dose of birth control (though too late for Molly who is due in May).

Avery was glad to provide her some good practice.

 

Morely gave Avery some crazy-eyes.

 

On Saturday night, we hunkered down for an evening of football as the Tar Heels and the Hawkeye played in their respective conference championships.  And both lost.  Annie and I also watched a full YouTube episode of Bob Ross painting.  It was as amazing as the last time I watched one 20 years ago.  I'm convinced if all the world leaders would come together and watch a Bob Ross episode together, peace would prevail.  Seriously, I dare you to watch Bob and not feel totally relaxed.

Morley and Molly left Sunday morning but we had the bonus of hanging out with Annie on Sunday.  She came with the boys and I to the game and it was so nice to have an extra set of hands.  Coming home after a night game and trying to put the kids to bed can be fairly disastrous.  Thankfully, Annie's presence helped my physical and mental state that night.  And she and Jackson took a most incredible selfie.

 

I hope to not wait another decade to reunite with these three!  (And check out the creeper who refuses to be in photos behind me)

 

 

Picture day

When school pictures roll around, some parents spiff their kids up in their Sunday best. In our house, it is like any other day, with Brady in charge of his wardrobe choice.

Hopefully that is obvious.

And not to leave Jackson out, here is his first preschool headshot!

Random cuteness

I haven't accosted you with photos lately, so here are a few from the past few weeks. 

 

Avery is the queen of the half-awake, half-asleep eyes. With the brothers she has, you can't blame her for staying alert, even when she's sleeping.

 

 

 

 

She also likes the side-eye.  And seriously, those lips.

 

 

Who said it was hard to walk in heels?  Jackson nailed it.

 

Avery's first day wearing a dress.  I think she is happy about it.

 

 

Avery's two month checkup in a picture taken by her brother.

 

The boys continue to snuggle nightly.  They both love to be touching another body while sleeping (which I can attest to, as I get accosted when they visit our bed), so they are a good sleeping pair.

 

First game of the season.  Someone is pretty serious.

 

 

 

Jackson's preschool class.  He loves it.  Where did my baby go?

This would be.me blasting Lauren Daigle into Avery's ear. 

 

Brady and Jackson have a new cousin, Arianna, who they got to meet last weekend.  Eric's brother, Dave, and his wife, Claire, had their first baby and she is a doll!  I can't wait to hold her for the first time in the next few days.  Brady and Jackson pretty much nailed it.

 

And I leave you with two videos.  One of Avery's first laugh, which was yesterday.  And the boys playing football before bedtime a few nights ago.  Proof of how good of a big brother Brady is, and how much of a bruiser Jackson is!  These boys can be exhausting but them playing well together more than I can ask for, especially during single parenthood basketball season.  Eric has been gone since Friday and will get home at 4 am Wednesday morning, so we will be happy to have him back!!!