Feel the love

Here are some things we love:

The kids. How they love each other. When they snuggle and hug. The zoo. 

Rachel barefoot in skits. Doing balance beam climbing on every curb and ledge we can find. Church playground. Bright colors of summer. 

Goodbye hugs for daddy before he leaves for work. Giving him hug after hug after hug and then furiously waving bye bye. 

Date night. Conversation and laughter. 10 year anniversary next month. Bardo on 21st. 

Cass: co-worker, babysitter, friend and playmate for the kids. She gave us freshly-picked asparagus while JB was in India (I gobbled that right up), homemade cookies and fresh strawberry jam. She loves my kids and is such a good friend. 

Pony tails. Pig tails. Blonde hair blowing in the wind. 

Alexis. We were so sad when liz moved but Alexis is awesome and the kids love her. Rachel adores hugging her and J even gave her a hug last week too, which is HUGE! 

Being outside, Soccer. Long shorts and tall socks. Friends from school. Running. Being outside. Farmer tans. Birds. Breezes. 

Deep squat. Pig tails. Blonde hair, Head Tilt. 

Best friends. School. Ms Becca. Holiday crafts. Icing. 

Siblings. Buddies. Smiles. Laughter. Kindness. Protective big brother. Adoring little sister. 

This girl. Into everything, none of it being toys. 

Family days. Skinny Dip fro yo. Zoo afternoons. Time together.

Daddy. Porch swing. Cool afternoons. Sunshine. These two together. 

VA Beach and Grandparents

Hi, from our fun-loving, wacky daughter and our talkative 4yo boy.
Aunt Dwyn and Uncle Kenny stopped through VA beach on their tour of the east coast and we had a blast visiting with them! It took rachel about 5 minutes to warm up and then she and Aunt Dwyn were best buddies, snuggling and laughing the whole time. 

Beth hosted a lovely Easter lunch which we pushed back to dinner time so JB could make it this year! Good conversation, good food and party hats :)

J and Grandad were in charge of the trifle and they did an excellent job of layering, smoothing and perfecting the dessert. Jackson also got an A+ in spoon-licking when they were finished. Doesn't he look so handsome in the button-up shirt? Yes...that was an epic battle between the two of us on Easter morning. We struggle to get him to wear anything except "soft shorts" and ratty t-shirts. 

sneaky card face

The long day ended with Rachel running around, diaper sagging in her bloomers and tights, both of the kids binging on chocolate and apple pie. Doesn't she look like the copper tone baby? 

We went to Busch Gardens with BB and Grandad on the first day of the season! It was slightly chilly but we had a blast. The FestHaus, normally a great place to cool down felt more like a ski lodge where everyone went to warm up. We all had a blast on the bumper cars and both of them loved Land of the Dragons. We pretty much go to BG to play at the play ground and drink beer. Worth the drive. And there were about 100 people total in the park. It was amazing. 

Time at BB and Grandad's is so fun that sometimes Rachel just can't handle it anymore and she goes face down in the tupperware to rest ;) 

Christmas 2015

It's the most wonderful time of the year, even when, or maybe especially when, it's 75 degrees Christmas week! We've all had various intensities and durations of cold symptoms over the past 2 weeks and have enjoyed spending some restful time around the house, at the park and playing outside in this gorgeous weather!

Rachel continues to be the happiest toddler on the block, although she does know how to cry and whine to manipulate us. She's our super social kid, with words for:

All Done, more please, giraffe, I did! Jackson, dog, cat, shoe/sock (same word), bath, snack, mommy (finally!). She loves to figure things out and is very pleased with herself (lots of clapping and a face like the picture below) when she gets it! She and I took a walk in the rain yesterday and she decided it was a good time to figure out how to put the straw back into the lid. She got it and exclaimed, "I Did!"

 This little nugget has 12 teeth (4 molars at one time...poor girl) and is working on her 4 k9 teeth any day now. She loves to talk on the phone, wrestle her brother, eat, put on clothes and take baths. She also loves to pull her diaper down and scratch her bum...we're trying to teach her that it's not lady-like. She has these super sweet curls in the back that I hope last forever! 

 Jackson is all about the world of imagination. He LOVES to take all of his toys (and rachels too) and create a scenario for them. His current favorites are still Rescue Bots and Ninja Turtles, but he'll use various accessories in his scene, like old glow-bracelets, a pulse and my little ponies. He enjoyed the excitement of Christmas, wrapping gifts for others, knowing that there might be some gifts for him. This year he actually seems to process some of the Christmas story more than just the details of who, what and where. We are hoping that the true message of Christmas can sink into his heart and mind amidst the fun and joyful experience of decorating, gifting and spending time with family and friends during the season. 

 We had a few gifts for Jackson but realized they were quite boring and Jonathan made the excellent purchase of 2 Nerf guns. The Byrne household has a rule of Safety First (see all of our previous pictures with dogs and helmets) so the rules are no deliberate head shots, and all participants must be wearing eye protection. These little darts go fast and far and they have really enjoyed themselves. 

We hosted Christmas brunch again this year which is working out really well. We get to enjoy both sets of grandparents and the kids can wake up in their own home on Christmas morning, which I always thought was special when I was younger. The kids just ADRORE their grandparents. It's so fun to see Jackson run to be swept up in the arms of a big embrace, and to see Rachel just squeal with excitement when she sees one of them on FaceTime, or better yet, in person! EEK!  We also realize how blessed we are to have 2 local and 2 very close grandparents who love the kids so well and help us a TON. Parenting takes a village...and we're thankful that our village includes both sets of parents!

 I'm a tad biased, but isn't she beautiful? 

 Rachel's fun gift was a tricycle from BB and Grandad. Our neighbor has this one and we picked it out so she and Rachel can be twins :) She is already obsessed with riding this and it's hopefully going to get us out for even more walks around the neighborhood! Jackson is a rockstar big brother and does a great job of pushing her. 

 I happened to find a train table for sale on our Nextdoor Website and we decided to buy it and make it a Christmas present because it seemed like good timing. JB and I secretly rearranged his room while the kids were out on a walk with grandparents. J was somewhat speechless at the time but now really enjoys his new room.

 J thinks that it can't be Christmas unless it snows. I admit that it's weird to have a warm (hot) Christmas, but I really didn't mind the chance to get outside and enjoy some sun and fresh air! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations!

Each year we have attempted to simplify more and more when the holidays roll around. It's been very evident this year as I have had time to enjoy my family (well...mostly the kids since Jonathan is working long hours to make up for the 5 days off at Christmas and New Years). We had a great dinner with our Community Group for Thanksgiving, celebrating our friendships and Jill and Stephen who moved to CA. Jill and I had grown quite close recently and I am so grateful for our short but meaningful friendship. And I'm so very grateful for this group of people who encourage and pray for one another, laugh together and care for each other, tangibly and intangibly. 

Who put this random Halloween picture in here? :) 

Beth did it again and hosted another lovely Thanksgiving dinner for us and the Speasmakers. The group seems to rotate every year based on JB's work schedule, us in Northern Virginia or the Speasmaker kids and grandkids in town or now very far away...sniff. We enjoyed a great dinner and conversation. The kids even cooperated and played/ate well for a period of time so we could all be hands-free of little ones! Matt was tasked with making these cute little place cards which were a hit. 

Rachel is a joy to be around. She is always smiling and up for a new adventure. She loves to bring you a book and then back up until she can plop into your lap. She gives big hugs, high fives and loves to say "tickle tickle" while she tickles her own belly. She still loves when I am in the house but she will snuggle with Jonathan like no one else. She will lay out on his chest, so deeply relaxed for 20 minutes without moving. Her favorite toys are my phone and anything from my purse. Current favorite books are: Brown Bear (slide-and-find) and Where's Spot (lift the flap book). She loves shoes, baths and hats that belong to other people.

I had a chance to practice with the camera in their house, which has good lighting for much of the day. This picture really sums up Jackson's last year...action figures and his imagination. He currently loves Ninja Turtles and Rescue Bots and will take them on great adventures with our Little People Farmhouse, in our garden, in the stroller, or even in an Amazon box. Playing with him is interesting, since he loves to dictate how you should play. "Mom, pretend that your guy says this. And then pretend that he goes here. No mom, your guy can't do that. He has to move like this". So, usually I sit with him and do as I am told and we have lots of quality time together. That is, when he actually wants to play with me. JB and I have taken back seat to his friends and TV if he's not on restriction (which is often, as of late).

We love having JB around for the holidays and lucked out. This year he was on call Wednesday which gave him Thanksgiving off! He magically got 3 holidays off this winter (but is working like crazy for the whole month of December). We're going to try to pack in a bunch of Christmas fun in the 5 days he's off! It will all start with watching Die Hard....yes, it's his choice :) We've already seen Love Actually, the Grinch, Mickey's Christmas and Frosty. 

I love that J still plays like he did when he was 15 months old...sprawled out on the floor, level with his trucks and equipment. He's such a sweet boy with both a tender spirit and a heart for adventure. 

Because of JB's wonky schedule, we decorated for Christmas on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. This is one of the many joys of having a FAKE TREE! We love our $50 Black Friday purchase from Lowes several years ago. Our pre-lit beauty is still going strong about 3 years in and I don't know that we will ever be convinced to get a real tree. Jackson loved decorating this year and continues to move ornaments around the tree (and play with them...and break some of them...)

We also hosted our 7th annual Elf and Cookies night! The group has rotated each year since we all have more kids and they are all old enough to help now, which makes it tricky to find enough space for everyone. This year I pre-baked the cookies and we ate pizza while we watched the first part of the movie. We took an intermission to decorate cookies and then ate while we finished the second half. Happy and with full bellies, the kids were all home by 7:30! 

Grand Illumination Parade in Norfolk 

1st annual Byrne Family Turkey Trot in Larchmont!