Smith Family: Has it been a month since our last entry???

Why- yes! It has been over one month since our last blog update. Let's ponder what might have kept us from the computer... 1. Christmas! We had a lovely quiet Christmas here in Colorado Springs. And, for the first time in almost 20 years- there was snow on the ground in Colorado Springs on Christmas day- or so they say... with the amount of snow fall we have seen since we moved here- I think this city experiences snow amnesia from one winter to the next! I am not sure who was more excited about Christmas morning- the parents or the children. Jason and I were so excited to give J.D. his train table and to watch Natalie open presents that we almost woke them up so we could get started. Which in the end- might have been to our advantage- since we opened gifts ALL DAY LONG! Seriously- we opened gifts from 8:30am- 2pm and then from 8pm- 10:30pm (this session was more of mommy just opening the gifts and showing the kids...). I have attached some fun pictures of Christmas... like the kids waiting at the top of the stairs behind the gate, Natalie climbing the presents (yes, we had a small mountain of them), Natalie being fascinated with a very big box... she climbed it, chewed it, etc... all in an effort to get into it!, and so on! What else has been keeping us busy... oh yes... 2. Natalie is SO mobile! We are constantly on 'stair patrol'. I am not sure that I sit down while she is awake. She is on the move!!! I have stopped being able to talk on the phone while she is awake, I can't do much actually while she is awake... she is into everything! And, it is so fun! 3. Natalie is not sleeping through the night. No one really believed me... but I think my parents are now true believers since our last visit... where Natalie decided to fuss for hours on end for several nights!!! So, most of the time, I am decided between taking a nap or updating the blog... today- the blog won! 4. We went to visit Nana and Pap and Mamaw in Cincinnati. Mamaw had her hip replaced.. so I took care of her while my mother took care of the kids. It was a win-win for all involved! Mamaw is a stellar patient- she is recovering so well- everyone is so impressed. And, my mother should start a blog with all the stories she has of the week with the kids. And, I love my kids- yet, I am thoroughly grateful for some much needed time off from being a mommy. Hope you enjoy the pictures from our last month!!! Carrie