Evie is FOUR!

We really should have planned these kids' birthdays better. Freddy, Annie and Evie all have birthdays right in a row!

 

Evie turned four years old last week!

 

 

Evie is a fun four year old. She is sweet and spunky. Evie loves Shopkins and watching "little videos." Little videos are these creepy videos on You Tube where people (usually adults) film themselves playing with kids' toys. She is obsessed. She loves Minnie Mouse and My Little Pony and playing with stickers. She's doing well in preschool, even though she hasn't worked up much more enthusiasm for it. :) She loves to play with her friends Charlotte and Betty Lou at school. They play family and she likes to be the mom, of course.

 

She is taking swim lessons, and she's a hilarious swimmer. I wouldn't say swimming comes naturally to her, but she tries so very hard. So hard, in fact, that her whole body twists from side to side and she barely manages to move forward. Her instructor is working on it :)

 

She loves Freddy, antagonizes Kate and tries to boss around Annie.

 

We love that Evie is so funny, so strong willed and so cuddly.

 

Happy Birthday Evie, we can't wait to see what you do next!

 

 



Annie is 8!!

 

 

This awesome kid is 8 years old. Halfway to driving. How terrifying :)

 

For her birthday this year, we went to SkyZone, a trampoline park. Annie invited two friends from school, and she had a lot of fun. Sadly, no pictures of that. Matt and I took six kids, including a 10-day-old, to a trampoline park in Michigan in the winter on a Saturday afternoon. Suffice it to say, it was busy! Annie had fun, though, so it was worth it for the birthday girl.

 

At eight years old, Annie is awesome. She loves Shopkins and her kitty and 101 Dalmatians and art. She's trying to collect 101 little Dalmatian figurines. (Matt and I are not that excited about that collection!). She plays basketball, softball and lacrosse. She's a very energetic and positive teammate. She loves to read and write little books. She will knock out an entire book in one day. She just moved into her own room, while Kate and Evie moved in together. She loves it. She can stay up a little later reading, and her room is now perfectly organized to her liking. She is a helpful and patient big sister. I don't know what I would do without her. She does so much for us, and she rarely complains. She's a great friend and gets along with everyone.

 

We love Annie for so many reasons. She is smart, kind, friendly and fun. We are so proud of her, and we don't know how she is eight already!

 

 

 



Freddy's First Few Days

Grandpa Ralls, GG and Pa

GG and Pa - 90 years old and meeting their 11th great grandchild.

Pretty amazing.

Callista sent him these adorable, hilarious tie stickers. So get ready for monthly photos!

A common sight. Personal space for Freddy does not exist right now.



Freddy

 

 

 

 

John Frederick Ralls

January 14, 2015

6:06 am

8 lbs, 5 oz

21.25 inches

 

We are calling him Freddy (or just Fred if you're Evie), and he's doing great! It's pretty strange to have a little boy around here. I often refer to him as a "her" in my head :) But he really is a boy; I made sure to ask right after he was born!

 

He arrived right on his due date, just like Evie. How funny to have two due date babies is a row! His labor was the most painful, but also the shortest and the easiest so I'll take it! He started crying as soon as he was born and peed on Matt about two minutes later. A perfect start to life, I think. Once I stopped drinking coffee, he has been a pretty easygoing little guy. He sleeps well and only gets a little fussy in the evenings.

 

He tolerates his sisters' adoration fairly well. They are always hugging and kissing him, especially Kate. She can't get enough of him. Annie showed him off to her class last week, and she was super proud and sweet. Evie loves him, too. Every morning she comes in and says, "How's Fred?" This morning, he was still sleeping when they were getting ready for school and Evie was worried I forgot about him. She made sure to check on him herself!

 

 

Just born

Kate

Anne

Evie. She had a rough start. She was overwhelmed by the whole hospital scene at first. She started crying and clinging to Matt. She wouldn't come near me. After a little bit, she warmed up!

Grandpa Jeff

Baby Freddy

 

Another little monkey!