Gymnastics

Not only did we get a new brother this fall, we started gymnastics! Kelly's tiny size and freakish strength & endurance for a 2 year old combined with her love of climbing e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g and being upside down made us think that she would like it.

We were right.

Kelly started in September and found her little bit of heaven on earth at Kehler's Gym. They have amazing equipment, the staff is awesome and the every class has the kids rotating through different "obstacle courses" incorporating different skills and apparatus.

We were so smitten with the place that we signed Shannon up for the next session and now both girls go on Saturday mornings. Shannon and Kelly LOVE the trampolines.

Kelly is a great "spider Kelly" (walking along the parallel bars) and is always the most fearless kid when it comes to flipping on the uneven bars, climbing or jumping into the foam pit.

Shannon enjoys being old enough to be in a class with just kids (no parent helpers) and is really practicing her backwards rolls.

Christmas Tree 2011

We headed out to Linvilla on a sunny Sunday afternoon to chop down our Christmas tree. Hard to believe that we're four years into this family tradition.

Some things were the same:

The day was gorgeous




Kelly loved the little trees


Shannon loved the stumps

It was just as much about the hot chocolate as the tree

One notable difference:

Seamus: One Month

He's big! At 2.5 weeks Seamus weighed in at 11 pounds and as "experienced parents" we don't got back for an official weigh in until 6 weeks. Until then, we'll just measure his cuteness.

Super Cute.

Seamus is a pretty chill guy and doing a good job of being a baby. Eat, sleep, pee, poop, repeat. He is a night owl but once we get him down around midnight, he gives us 3-4 hour stretches at night. Days are filled lots of snoozing, tummy time with his big sisters and man time with Daddy while Mommy gets her early evening nap in. Current nicknames are Boo Boo Chicken, Buddy and Seamo (with Shanno and Kello already in the house, I think this one might stick).

Seamus had his first bottle this week. It was a family affair.

Kelly, my little assistant and lover of all things baby, was sooo excited to give him the bottle. (She has been asking about it daily since he came home from the hospital.) She took over the feeding after the first ounce or so.

Love you, mister!