Northstar brunch date and modeling the Dowling shirts

A little (much needed) break

My mom is amazing and the only thing i really wanted for my birthday was to be taken out shopping and she did not disappoint. Drew is also amazing for watching all four kids for a few hours so I could escape....new boots I got!

And a pair I didn't but wish I did... But at $130 I figured I could wait for it to go on sale. I don't often have unbuyers remorse but this pair....So cute and so functional!!

I got new perfume and my first of (probably many!!) Bottles of eye serum. Sad but true. Panera afterwards always makes it better. Thanks mom!!

Then back to the daily grind... Yoga with little Lo.... Upward dog...

And downward dog! He tries to crawl this way and it's adorable.

Both. Boys. Mobile.

I am in so much trouble... Well no better time to hunker down at home than in the dead of winter right?

Side note: little a slept in till nearly 10:30 this morning, crawled to the bathroom and puked all over the carpet (because moving one foot onto the tile would have been too easy). Lovely. No fever but also no appetite. She's been lethargic all day and I am ready to have my crazy lady back again.

And little d, you have my heart little boy <3

A couple (non iPhone) snaps from the wedding taken by Cassie

Love this shot. 

Reminded me a bit of this one:

Two super cute and sweet aunties for these kiddos within 3 years. Although I have to be honest and say that six week old little a was pretty ummm not cute! Ok at least not compared to the almost 3 year old version. 

Can't wait to see more of the professional pics from the #vowingDowling wedding! (I guess we are old since hashtags didn't even exist when we got married...)

^^totally staged by yours truly^^

Thanks for the perfect pictures, aunt cass!

Littlest Lo at 8 months

So much has happened to this boy in the week since he turned 8 months!! He is completely crawling all over the place, in every direction. He's significantly happier now that he can move a little.

But not before striking his signature GQ pose.

Off he goes!!

And the pointing. Oh how I love the pointing!! I first noticed it on the flight out to Denver. Nothing cuter!!

Christmas gifts

We have a lot to be thankful for this Christmas... Mostly two weeks of nonstop drew time (even if we did all have to travel together)

A visit with a byu college roommate I haven't seen in 6 years!!

But we had boys within months of each other 

Girls and then another round of boys all around the same age. Fort building, inside out watching and chewing on toys while us mommas got to chat for a few hours!!

Cafe rio. I could have easily eaten the whole thing at lunch but I so badly wanted to savor it for two meals. That pulled pork salad is my everything!!

Family time with these guys:

And finally being able to recover from basically not sleeping for four days.

While I am so grateful to have a new sister in law, I have never been so grateful to be coming home. Home!! It was quite an adventure (NOT a vacation... That won't be the way I describe any trip that includes my children for at least a few years!) but oh it is so so good to be back home.

We got everyone situated and in bed earlyish, then spent a few hours by the light of the full moon working on this together for Christmas morning:

And drew gifted me a kitchenaid!!! That, coupled with my blendtec officially means I am totally an old married lady now ;) couldn't be happier!

D's fav gift from dad: TMNT math game for his leappad!

A got some sweet dolls I convinced one of Anna's super talented former college roommates to represent each family member.

Kevs was just relieved we didn't completely abandon him forever

And the boys were just happy to play in and around everything!

Ok so arguably two of the BEST gifts I received: not having to make a super crazy Delish Christmas dinner (honey lime enchiladas) courtesy of Amy Parker:

And this morning.... While the boys have let me sleep for a TOTAL of 6-7 hours, this is officially the longest time straight that neither one has woken me up ever!!! (I fed them at 2 am FYI, just so no one gets the idea that I actually go to bed that late!!) I was still exhausted at 9am and it was probably just a fluke from DAYS of not sleeping but I'll take it!! 

Christmas was spent at home all day with the exception of jumping the trampoline in the backyard, everyone stayed in pajamas and didn't shower and it was so lazy and wonderful and chill. Fingers crossed we can do the same next year!

Merry Christmas 2015

Photo skills courtesy of Cristin:

Photoshop skills courtesy of uncle Cory....

And since I didn't do Christmas cards this year, the closest thing we will get to a family Christmas photo in 2015:

Merry Christmas!

Littlest Lo is the first twin to cut his first tooth on Christmas Eve!

Which explains why he has been so irritable (more than usual!) the last few days

"Who me?!"

Yup our littlest little, who won't allow anyone to put anything in his mouth, is the first one to cut a tooth!

What a way to end a crazy couple of days.

But still doesn't explain why my darling sweet girl has turned into a full blown terrible two monster in the last few weeks (only 4 months till she's 3, and hopefully it will go away and I'll get my sweet happy girl back right?!)

Regardless, Lan is still terribly content to sit (not crawl) and gnaw on goldfish crackers with his gums. But he is impressed with baby brothers new tooth!! Love that he has the "oh!" Face his big sister had at this age... It's probably my favorite!