michigan

Please note the date on the seal. Heidi and Mel are not big drinkers and we always find fine vintages when we visit. This usually ends in Scott daring Sarah and I to take a swig.

How boys play. He PLAYED the entire time we were there barely stopping for eating or drinking.

Avery and Unkie zooming cars.

Oh wait, it looks like he took a rest with Jeff. I think they were watching some troll movie.

Meanwhile, the ladies partook in our annual Black Friday shopping tradition. Credit to Heidi for snapping the pic.

Getting some love from Auntie Sarah.

Papa is doing his best to get Vivi to smile. She is, however, much more interested in Daddy's iphone.

I adore how lovingly they are both looking at her.

Playing some Bobby games.

You talkin' to us???

Thanksgiving seems to be a great time for us to travel to Michigan. We had a very low key week and mostly hung out around the house in our jammies insisting that Scott make the runs to Dunkin Donuts.The highlight of the week was attending the UofM vs OSU football game at the Big House. It was the most perfect football Saturday. The weather was fabulous. The game was suspenseful. We won. Scott and I ate at Zingerman's. It was a little sad because Scott and I had to use the GPS. We no longer knew our way around Ann Arbor, a place so meaningful to us, a place we spent so many years.

The kids did great on both flights. Both of them seemed to really enjoying being on vacation and despite one night of No-Sleep Vivi, there were no major hiccups.

I'm sure we will be back next year. 

bath nap

My question to you is, "Why not?"

Yeah, I will admit it. I have always wanted to sleep in the bath tub with my pillows and blankets. I am a little jealous.

annabelle is FOUR!

There was a birthday girl.

 A car to drive.

A piano for composing classical music.

Trains to push. (I'll give you one guess who was playing with the trains moments before Vivi knocked one off the track)

Girlfriends to play with.

An attack of the 50 foot Mady!!!

Feats of strength.

Moments of reflection.

And lifting of Sisters.

(Not to be outdone by my kids)

We had the pleasure of celebrating Annabelle's 4th birthday at the WOW Children's Museum in Lafayette today. It's a little place, but it made for the most perfect birthday party location. The kids were all crazy and running around...even the little ones, who are not so little anymore. Vivi had a pretty bad cold and was pretty whiny which proved especially challenging when we tried to go out to dinner afterward. Yowza. Sorry, Wassermans.

Anyway, it is always such a pleasure watching all of the kids play and chatting with the other parents. It blows my mind that this is the 4th year we have celebrated this incredibly special little girl. Annabelle, all of the Turbows love you so much and take such joy in the young lady you are becoming. 

he is so cool

Avery recently upgraded his Thomas sunglasses to these cool new racing shades. I seriously have to do a double take when I look at pictures of him. Not sure how he got this big. Not sure how he turned into a KID.

holiday card trial

Okay, so I'm not loving these pictures, but I think they're worth remembering. I got all excited about this damask background and now that I've used it a few times, I think it is way too contrasty for kid pictures and it's not wide enough to put it far back from the kids which would make it blur out. Plus, the kids outfits don't got well together but we all know I need some practice with my styling. 


I guess we won't be sending out a holiday card this year. Oh wait, we never send out a holiday card.

bottoms

Scott and I mutually decided that 4 is still young enough to get your cute bottom posted on the blog.

"we're having fun!"

After soaking two towels, I had to move the pouring game from the kitchen to a more appropriate location.

Tea party, anyone?

Avery will pour.

Ahh, Sister! That's icy cold water.

Let me help you.

Who says you have to fill the tub with water to play in it??? Now that it gets dark shortly after lunchtime, I have started to get more creative with my indoor activity roster. Playing in the tub without water has proved quite entertaining for all parties involved.

swim class

Nobody puts Mady in a locker...well, except for Mady.

Really wish there wasn't a person standing behind him.

Whispering secrets before class. (I LOVE this picture)

Blowing bubbles. (And this one too)

Paying very close attention to the teachers.

Ug, swim class is SO boring :)

Floating. The teachers typically let Avery and Annabelle go together on all the skills.

So relaxed.

She took them under water together. Please note how they are holding hands. (These are pretty great as well)

Little girls' turn! (Scott took these pictures and wants full credit)

1...2...

THREE!!!

Ooh, she loves swim class.

Yes, folks it's that time again. Time for swim class. At this point the big kids are pros at the class and have the best time. Their skills are improving and we watched both Annabelle and Avery float unassisted for the first time today! They were both so proud.

Stating that Mady and Vivi like class would be a severe understatement. Both girls are water babies and LOVE class. Neither one minds going under water, both can blow bubbles, kick and paddle. The only big challenge is keeping them distracted from the basket of toys that comes out at the end. They would both make a beeline for them as soon as their cute toes hit the water. Mady really wants to swim by herself and keeps Cathryn very busy as she tries to wriggle free from her Mama's grip. Last week, Vivi wriggled from me, so I just let her drop into the water to show her what happens when she kicks away from me. Nothing traumatizing, but she didn't try it this week...well, not too much.

I am so happy that all of the kids have such a good time because swim class is a lot of work. Swim class for two sets of kids is crazy and requires a lot of parental coordination. It is totally worth it.

***Also, a very Happy 30th Birthday to my sister, Christina, aka, Aunt Streena.***

the milk drinkers

I am feeling especially grateful that my children love each other and play so well together. There were lots of giggles today.

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

I'll give you one guess who took this picture. Not that I really want my face staring back at me on the blog, but I am actually pretty proud of Avery for capturing such a nice shot. I only let him take a few pictures because my camera is a little too heavy for small people. I'll happily let him play with Scott's iphone any day.

***breaking news***

Vivienne went pee pee on the potty last night! She was sitting in the kitchen eating an apple snack (her passion for the fruit almost rivals that of Bobby. I wasn't kidding about the damn pacifier) and she tooted so I asked her if she had poo, she said yes, so I asked if she wanted to go on the potty. One 'uh-huh' later, she was on the throne. After the pee came out, she needed to naked to work on the poo portion.

Isn't this more information about my daughter's bathroom habits than you ever imagined you wanted to know???

Anyway, she was so cute sitting up there trying to go. Avery, for the first time got a little jealous and was climbing all over me with his Bebes clamoring for some attention. So we talked about how he got potty trained and how much of my life I spent sitting on that bathroom floor. Guess it's time to get geared up for round two. 

PS. I used the same headline when Avery went potty for the first time.  

#32

Hey, you guys remember #32 on the 35 Thing About Scott List? It was the one about pony tail tutoring. Yeah, I think we might need to go over it again. High-Side-Front is not a style, Scott, unless it is for an 80s themed party and fishnets and leg warmers are involved. We have the leg warmers. 

bobby

May I introduce you to, Bobby.

As an infant, Vivi could have cared less about pacifiers. However, in the past few weeks there has been a passion awakened for all things pacifier. She calls them Bobby. She can't be without one. She freaks when she sees them. Even when she drinks her bottle, she is clutching Bobby in the other hand.

Yeah, I know. 16 months is probably a little too old to start a pacifier, but we have a flight and trip to Michigan in two weeks and this can only help the situation. It does sort of act like a mute button for the whining. When we get home however, I think we'll institute a 'Bobby in the Crib' only policy. She will not like it.

Scott is trying to get her to call it Bobby Brown.