Snow days

It snowed on Saturday, for the first (and hopefully, only) time this winter. Katie said it snowed for her because she had been praying for it. We bundled the kids up and took them outside. Marcus and Addy were so excited!

Sunday we didn't have church (yes, it was barely an inch on the ground but we had 8:30 am church so the roads were still frozen), so we headed back outside.

I think I can handle Charlotte winter's.

Humor me

"Mama, Mama" (very whiny voice)

"Mama, Mama (same voice)

"What Marcus?"

"Nana" (which means food)

I give him bite of my chili, and two seconds later...

"Mama, Mama"

"What Marcus?

"Nana"

He repeats this until MY food is gone, no I am not a mean mom, I had just fed him--and he had eaten a lot. This is just my new life--I can't eat.

I know I don't have much to complain about; I have 3 cute, healthy children, who all came relatively easily to our family, my husband has a job (yes, we count the deferment as a blessing bc of the work hours, as long as he starts at the big firm next Oct), I have a job that allows me to be home with the kids and we are all happy, BUT...humor me while I complain a little bit.

The twins have turned into little tornadoes, spinning around the house and driving me crazy! I have to keep the bathroom doors shut because Marcus likes to play with 'water', and Addy likes to unroll toilet paper. They keep each other up during nap time. When they drink out of their bottles and sippy cups they drink for a minute or two and then turn them upside down and sprinkle everything in reach. Addy refuses to try anything new--and won't touch veggies. When we head to the playroom Marcus plops down in front of the TV and cries until I turn it on (who do you think he gets that addiction from). If they have already watched their show for the day then I have to deal with a little fit. Addy refuses to go down the stairs by herself and Marcus insists on going down on his bottom (I caught him by his foot last night as he tripped-up and started tumbling face first down). I usually end up having to carry them both up and down the stairs. If I bring them into the bathroom with me while I try to get dressed, they get into everything--I usually spend the next 20 mins looking for one of my makeup brushes. Now, I know what you are all saying "our kids do/did this too"--but this is times 2! The other day I was greeted by this...

Marcus had gotten their lotion open and had been eating it (notice the hands as well), while I was trying to respond to a work email.

When one child is sitting on my lap the other starts crying and tries to push the first off. A few days ago I was laying on the floor, Katie laid on my chest, Addy came running over and pushes Katie a little so they are both laying on my chest, Marcus looks up from his truck and starts screaming, he barrels over and dives into the tiny spot where my neck is. We all had to get up bc no one could breath. Ok I am done complaining because it is actually really cute how much they love me and just want my attention. They are little terrors but I wouldn't trade them for anything!

Mini Family Reunion

My sister Jenn and her youngest, Sam, flew in last weekend and we all got together. Jenn arrived Friday night so Flossie drove down and Sarah came over; us four older girls reminisced while the kids played. (My sisters were trying to pressure me as they all had an infant--boy-- with them--but I will not be swayed, I can handle being the odd one out.)

The next day my parents and other siblings came down and we somehow all ended up at Costco--I don't have any pictures but I'm sure you can imagine how fun it was for all the people who hand out samples to see our little crowd headed their way.

Sat evening we all went to dinner...

I think the pictures say it all.

The grand finale of 2009...

2009 ended with a bang!
Christmas Eve and Christmas morning were so much fun this year. Watching Katie's excitement brought back all the old memories of not being able to sleep on Christmas Eve (or waking up at 4 am sneaking downstairs and opening all my presents and then re-wrapping them and going back upstairs to wait for permission to be awake).

Christmas morning
We couldn't get a good shot of all three of them, Marcus has started moving toward the camera when we take pictures of him

The big moment this year was giving Katie and Addy this doll house that Mark built for them. They love it!
We left it half furnished so that Katie, Addy and I can make/buy things together. Santa brought some dolls--they weren't Barbies but Katie quickly forgot that when she saw the babies that came with them.

There were way to many gifts under the tree, Marcus and Addy didn't want to open all of theirs, they just want to stop and play.

Thanks Grandma!

Mark's parents, brother and sister flew in Christmas day, just in time for dinner--yep I made it all by myself (Katie did help, and I think Mark pulled the turkey out and made the salad!).

Mark's grandparents flew in the next day. We had a full house but it was lots of fun!
I know I said last year that it was our last "Christmas break", but thanks to the economy and Mark's job getting pushed back we had one more Christmas break (we do hope this is our last one for a while though), Mark took off work until January 4th, and his family was here until New Years Day.
Addy with Great-grandma

Addy with Great-grandpa and Katie with Grandpa

Grammy and Addy

Uncle Mike gave this tutu to Katie, but Addison and Marcus were a little obsessed with it

Christmas outfits

4 generations of Sanofsky's

And some more random shots of the crazy kids!

Uncle Mike

getting outside

What an end to a wonderful year!

Merry Christmas

As I reflect on this past year, I remember all the wonderful blessings that we have received; we sold our house in Pittsburgh, Mark graduated from law school and passed the bar, we finalized Marcus and Addison's adoption and they were sealed to our family forever, we moved closer to my family in NC and Katie started (and loves) pre-school. We are doing well and are happy.

We are so very grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and enjoy this season where we can celebrate His birth and reflect on the life that He led. It has been so much fun to read the Christmas story in our home and teach our children that Christmas is more then just Santa (although we enjoy him too.) We hope that all can feel His love and peace this holiday Season.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's from the Sanofsky Family!

The Christmas tree

Since Mark and I have been married we have debated 'the real tree' vs 'the fake tree' for Christmas--luckily we have never really had to worry about it because we have never spent a holiday season at our home. Until now we have always put up our 3 ft fake tree at the beginning of Dec and then gone on our way when school got out to his parents house (with a fake tree) or my parents location (with a real tree).
Somewhere along the way, we stopped discussing it and Mark somehow won (that doesn't happen very often) and ordered a fake tree from Home Depot on Black Friday. Well 4 days later we get an email saying that our order is canceled due to the tree being out of stock. We were annoyed but somewhat understood that it had been a great deal and it was a crazy day. After talking to customer service they agreed to give us 15% off of our next tree. A few days later we order another tree online (after checking the stores and not loving what we saw), Mark had them check to make sure it was in stock...4 days later our order is canceled due to the tree not being in stock! This time they offer us 10% off (no not a total of 25% just 10%), Mark gets upset and the call ends badly. Meanwhile I am annoyed that it is mid-December and that we don't have our tree up AND that Sarah got a free real tree up at my parent's house during Thanksgiving. We are not sure what to do.
A couple hours later a manager calls Mark and says he is sorry for our trouble and that he put a gift card for $150 in the mail for us to go to the store and buy a tree. The store is pretty much cleaned out but they did have an unlit tree with pine cones and berries on it (it took me an hour to cut them all off) that I liked so we bought it along with some lights (all for free!!!), and brought it home.

And here it is...


Merry Christmas Home Depot

Cousins

My brother, Tripp, was in town last week with his family so we had a little gathering, and invited Sarah and family and my cousin Ashley and her two kids (both of her kids are just a couple months younger then Katie and the twins.)

Katie holding Will, Addy, Marcus, Jake, Miller, Bennet and Talia

It was a crazy time with 2-3 year olds; 2-2 year olds; 3- 1 year olds and an infant, but we had lots of fun!

Katie and her baby obsession continues with Sarah's little Will. The crazy little girl told me today that she wants a new baby next Christmas--I think she might just have to settle for a puppy.