First look at #3!

Here's a shot of #3 with his/her arm up!  Jim and I were able to hold strong and not find out the sex- it was very tempting though.  I'm so looking forward to the end when Jim (hopefully- if he doesn't pass out) announces that it's a boy or a girl!

Sledding!

We went sledding today at good old Union Hill.  The kids had a great time.

Lucia was fearless! I about had a heart attack watching her go down the hill on her own!

Jim was a trooper hiking up and down the hill with the kids.

Towards the end, Lucia got the hang of walking up the hill and carrying her own sled!

Year 4 was Awesome!

What a great 4th year Ethan had.  He enjoyed a lot firsts: First day of preschool, meeting new cousins Freida and Susannah for the first time, learning how to swim, and watching the fireworks for the first time!  There were many trips to the beach and Nonna's pool this summer.   Ethan enjoyed going to Meijer Gardens throughout the year, going to Chicago a few times to visit cousins, dressing up as Iron Man for Halloween, and meeting Santa.  He also started his second year of preschool this fall and is loving it!  We have so much fun with this guy!  He definitely has some big adventures coming up during year 5- One will be going to Italy with Nonna to visit Uncle James, Aunt Chiara, Norah, Luca, and Susannah in March, and the second will be meeting his new brother or sister in June!
We love you Ethan!!!

Happy 5th Birthday Ethan!

Ethan turned 5 years old this weekend!  We had his birthday party today, he had a ton of fun!  On the day of his birthday, he came into our bedroom and the first thing he said to me was:"I'm 5 today and I feel like I'm bigger."  It was pretty cute!

We did a Super Hero theme.  Aunt Sunny made these awesome cupcakes (Uncle Nick claims he helped too)!  Thanks Aunt Sunny- these turned out great.  (Note-to-self: Whenever Sunny offers to make cupcakes for an event, take her up on it- she's much more creative than you!!)  

The kids decorated their own Super Hero masks (I got the idea from Pinterest I think). 

Emily decorating her mask. 

Grandma Sue helping Lucia decorate her mask. 

Addy decorating her mask. 

Aunt Cecca and Lucia making funny faces at each other. 

Why so serious Ava?  

Ethan trying on his Super Hero mask. 

Oma and Freida enjoying a moment.
Overall, Ethan had a great 5th Birthday.  Thank you to Oma and Grandpa for helping us set up and prepare food.  Thank you to Sunny for the awesome cupcakes.  And thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate Ethan's Birthday!  

1st Trip to MG for 2013

Last weekend the kids and I joined Oma and Grandpa for a stroll around Meijer Gardens.  It was a beautiful day out!

The Hair Cut

Well, here's Ethan's handiwork.  I'm not sure why Lucia's not wearing  a shirt in these pictures- I think she had spilled milk all over herself during lunch.  Anyway- notice her lovely bangs now?  Ethan was going for something more cutting edge (ha!)- who needs straight bangs, when you can have these?  Needless to say I was pretty upset when I saw this.  After spending time in the naughty spot- Ethan would come up to me and ask "are you still mad at me?"  I would tell him yes, that I was going to be made for a little while.  "Will you still be mad at me tomorrow?"  The next morning, one of the first things he asked me was if Lucia's hair had grown back yet.  

She's still pretty cute though!

Christmas 2012

I can't believe Christmas has already come and gone!  What a whirlwind it was this year.  Here are some pictures from Christmas morning.  Ethan was pretty excited about his stocking stuffers!

Lucia sort of understood what was going on with the gifts.  In most of the pictures I have of her, she looks a bit confused.  

Ethan was very excited to receive a Bat Cave from Santa!

Oma and Grandpa gave him these awesome spy goggles!  They are not so awesome at 6:30am when you are woken up by two piercing blue lights coming from the goggles!

Lucia and Ethan listening to Grandma Sue read a story.  

Aunt Kerri with Ethan and Lucia on Christmas Day.  

Ethan's Christmas Program

Ethan's preschool put on a little Christmas program a few weeks before Christmas.  Here's Lucia and Grandma Sue waiting for the program to start.  

Ethan smiled really big once he spotted us in the audience.  What a cutie!

The preschoolers each had a little speaking part, Ethan's was "XYZ, Jesus loves you and Jesus loves me."  He did a very good job.