twenty twelve

So many blessings this year including the birth of Baby Henley, my dad's successful surgery & treatments, loved ones, health, jobs, food, travel, the royal wedding(s), and insulation in our walls. You heard it here first, our house is warm this winter!

Guess who we found wandering around, crying in the neighbors' backyard because she thought we left for the party without her? She nearly gave me a heart attack when I looked out the window and saw her outside all alone. Note to self: lock the doors.

Per our annual tradition we celebrated with Hos & McIntyres this year and some new friends with twin toddler boys. Do the math: 8 kids under 5 + 8 adults over 30 = party. Party as in come at 4:00, enjoy gourmet crab mac, have "midnight" at 8:30, kiss your mom, leave by 9:00. Just like in college.

Kenna babysits while Jake & I slam Jell-O shots

Andy named his wine venture after my baby!

Rockin' "This Old Man" in kid's karaoke

Jumping to the beat

Baby Graham makes it to "midnight", Hen sleeps.

Happy New Year!

FAQs answered

Q: How DO you find the time to curl your hair every day?
A: Ogilvie home perm

Now you know! It's hard to keep up with the fan mail but now I can start 2012 fresh.

sink or swing

Christmas Fashion Show

Brace yourself, Christmas dead ahead!

We are trying to focus on gratitude this Christmas, teaching our girls (and reminding ourselves) how fun it is do something special for someone else. To this end, Nori keeps blabbing what we got people because she is excited to give. "Daddy, we got you a shirt! It's a shirt!! " or "I'm going to tell sister about the bird puppets I buyed her ". Tonight we are having our little family Christmas followed by a long weekend in Winona. We plan to go to church, although Central Lutheran always worries me because there is a giant 500lb cross hanging over the pastor's head suspended only by thin wires, and I can't help but fear it is going to come crashing down during the Norwegian verse of Silent Night. They always do a Norwegian verse for the 'wegians in their 'wegian sweaters. Pray for me that I control my chocolate covered pretzel eating and that the babies sleep well in different beds.

Stay tuned for a recap of highlights from 2012 and a FAQ post. What, no one ever asks me questions ever, let alone frequently? Well, now is your chance! Otherwise, I will just make them up, sign your name, and I answer them in a way that makes me look awesome.

p.s.
major thanks to Grandma & Grandpa for babysitting this week while our nanny cruises the islands on vacation.

Baby Henny's 1st Christmas!

Jingle Bells!

Not board certified

Never take medical advice from Norelle. Her pal Lo Lo had a hangnail on her toe and Nori instructed her to "pick it".  Lo's toe is now infected. Nori also loves to pick other peoples' nails and scabs, especially her sister who is unable to stop her. She is super fast too, before you have a chance to protest your almost healed scab is gone and you are now bleeding. In other non-medial news, we had to go get her ear re-pierced at Claire's. The original earring back got "crunked' as Jake said which translates into turned sideways. I tried to fix it, but I didn't know my own strength as I pulled the whole earring out and there was absolutely no path for it go back in! Normally your earring holes are scarred open so there is path, but hers was like, all tissue-y and sticky. Luckily, she was a trooper when we went back. She is working really hard on not having the "Gimmies" when we go to a store although she recently bought a gift for a friend and said  "I feel really greedy about that".

Cute as she wants to be

This baby had her 6 month check up! She weighs 16lbs 4 oz and is 25.75 inches longs. She is right in the middle of pack in terms of percentages. Henny is as happy as can be even with two more new teeth. We even bought her a new baby toothbrush. I mean I didn't get get my first toothbrush until I was 9. She loves to eat, especially blueberry yogurt, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Trying to turn her orange in time for the New Year. We love her so much!

Let the festivities begin! Today we celebrate Christmas at my Dad's. Grandma & Grandpa will be here this week as well to babysit (nanny is on vacay) and of course, next week we head to Winona for Christmas. Viva la holidays!