Off to a rocky start…

So our hopes that 2012 would be a better year were quickly dashed when we all got sick. We spent New Years weekend with Amelia, Eliza and Adrienne enduring a nasty stomach bug. This was followed by a few days of 4 girls and 2 parents with head colds, which turned into Amelia with an ear infection and pneumonia, Eliza with an ear infection, Adrienne with a double ear infection and Jacqueline and a double ear infection and an awful rash. At this rate we might as well move into the pediatricians’ office.

But we are now all on the mend and hoping that things are looking up. Here are some pics of our crazy start to 2012!

December to Remember!

It was our first holiday season as a family of 6 and it was a fun one! Amelia and Eliza are still loving school and the holidays brought lots of cute crafts coming home. Adrienne entered her twenties – twenty months that is and has the attitude to match. Jacqueline is getting bigger and more active every day. We loaded (and I mean overloaded) our minivan and headed down to Brooklyn for Christmas. It was great to catch up with family and friends. Probably the best part was taking Amelia and Eliza to the Big Apple Circus. I used to go every year and it is a fun tradition to pass on!

Thankful

I know Thanksgiving was last week, but there is always time to be thankful. Despite the fact that this has been a tough year, I am thankful to have 4 healthy children,  a loving husband, a warm home and wonderful family and friends. My girls drive me completely insane, but also constantly amaze me. I am also thankful for all of the struggles we have faced this year because it has only made us stronger.

My beautiful Eliza and Amelia having fun!

Daddy and all of his girls reading.

My 4 lovelies!

Amelia and Eliza’s big day!

I officially have 2 3-year olds! Amelia and Eliza now think that all birthdays require 2-week long celebrations because they had a party when we were camping out in Chatham, NY after the storm, then a mini-cake at home on their actual birthday followed by a party with fabulous friends. It is seriously the Hanukah version of birthday celebrations. Anyway, I only have a minute to update the blog since all 4 girls are napping after a dramatic day of Adrienne dislocating her elbow, but here are some recent pics of my cuties!

Amelia and Eliza and their friend Alexa and Giana enjoying cake!

Adrienne's favorite part of the party was the food!

Amelia's butterfly face!

Eliza's turn to get a butterfly

Daddy and his baby girl Jacqueline post-party

More daddy daughter time

Miss Jacqueline!

Worst Month EVER

That is officially what we are naming October 2011. As you read, the month started with Jacqueline’s surgery, then Jer started his job in NJ which turned out to be a total nightmare. He returned to CT only to have us hit with a freak October storm. We all drove for 5 hours through the storm to Jer’s parents’ house in NY, where we ended up staying for 12 days until power returned to our place. We are now back at home throwing out hundreds of dollars in food.

To say that we are stressed and exhausted is an understatement. But tomorrow Amelia and Eliza turn 3 and we are focused on enjoying the good things in life and moving forward. I will try to post pics soon of the crazy damage and my adorable girlies!

Tough little Jacqueline

As many of you know, Jacqueline has had a tough couple weeks. On Saturday, October 8 (our 5 year anniversary ) J had a low grade fever and a small bump on her tushy. Jump to Sunday night and she and I are in the CCMC ER and she is being admitted and prepped for surgery the next morning. She came through it all like a champ, but it has been a stressful time. Of course all of this happens during Jer’s last week at CIGNA and as we are trying to get our house ready for sale. Well thanks to the help of family and friends and lots of caffeine we have gotten it all done. Jeramey is now working in NJ and I am a single mom here in CT until we get our house sold (let’s all pray for sooner rather than later). Despite all of the chaos my girls still make me smile everyday!

Adrienne introducing Jacqueline to puffies

"What do you mean I am 6 months old already?"

Eliza saying "CHEESE!"

Happy Amelia!

Eliza and Amelia LOVE their baby Jacqueline

Couldn't get all 4 to look at the camera, but this sums up their personalities!

Looks like…

We are going to have to find a new name for our blog! For those that haven’t heard through the grapevine, Jeramey accepted a wonderful job in New Jersey and our family is going to be moving (again). As native New Yorkers, Jer and I have a deep bias against New Jersey (sorry Jersey friends), so are primarily house hunting in Rockland County, New York. So keep your fingers crossed that we sell our house soon and can all be under one roof. Until then, Jer will be down in NJ 4 days a week and I will be learning what it is like to be a single mom – I am thinking chocolate and a big glass of wine are going to be my best friends.

The girls haven’t really picked up on the impending changes yet despite the fact that 1/2 of our belongings left in 2 PODS this morning. Here are some recent pics of my beautiful girls.

Miss Jacqueline is 5 months old!

Apparently Eliza, Adrienne and Amelia declared it hat day!

Happy Eliza hiding under the table

Seriously blonde Adrienne under the table

Jacqueline is OBSESSED with her jumperoo!

Where does the time go?

I can remember being a little kid and thinking that a week was FOREVER, but now I feel like I blinked and missed the last 5 years of my life! Jer and I are closing in on our 5-year wedding anniversary, Amelia and Eliza started preschool today, Adrienne is running and climbing and Jacqueline is starting on solid food. How did this all happen so quickly? Here are some pics of my big girls, who are all getting bigger by the moment!

Adrienne "the mechanic" working on Jacqueline's Exersaucer

Jacqueline trying rice cereal - she is the first of our kids to actually eat that crap

Eliza and Amelia being silly before their first day of school

Mommy and her big girls heading to the first day of preschool!

Ring around the Rose-y

Jacqueline is becoming quite a big girl quickly. She seems desperate to play with her big sisters and they are happy to entertain. Here are a couple pics of her trying out the Exersaucer for the first time and her loving big sisters making a Ring Around the Rose-y.

Big Miss J having fun!

Oooh fun stuff

Ring around the Rose-y

And I can’t forget to wish my Sadie dog a happy 4th birthday. She takes to the humiliation that toddlers offer pretty well.

Poor Sadie

Summer Lovin’

As an only child, I have little understanding of the sibling relationship. My girls certainly have moments where they irk (read beat) each other, but overall it is so much fun to see how much they love each other.

Eliza and Amelia - yes Eliza still fits in the baby Bumbo seat

Jacqueline trying out the Bumbo for the 1st time!

Youngest and oldest!

Sisterly love!