Introducing.....

Matthew Clason Howe

October 15, 2011

9:15pm 7 lbs 1 oz

A bit crazy getting him here - but all is well. A perfect little one.

First Day of PreSchool (again)

So glad he loves school!

A Tough One

Those lips!

When Mom chooses....When the 3-year-old chooses

Siblings

The Birthday Princess

We had a little family dinner/birthday party for Ava where she got to dig into a little personal pink frosted chocolate cake. She was hesitant at first, ate a little, smushed it around really well, and tired of it quickly. She received some lovely gifts and had LOTS of fun with the wrapping paper and her cousins. I would have loved to have done a big outdoor party in the warm sunshine, but alas, it is winter and we live in Utah. January has been bitter cold - endlessly cold - but fun was still had by all, and my baby is one. A really cute one.

Ava Grace - 12 months

She is wild and fun and full of energy - and we wouldn't have it any other way. A few things about her so I don't forget:

• Height: 31 inches - 95% Weight: 24.4 lbs - 91%
• Love love loves to clap on cue and any other time she hears or sees others clapping
• Has four teeth - 2 bottom middle, her right front tooth and right incisor (random)
• First word: Dada - even though I have tried my best to get her to say Mama
• Makes car noises as she pushes Harrison's cars around the house
• Takes 3-6 steps on her own before grabbing onto something or lowering herself slowly to the ground
• Is in LOVE with books - she sits and 'reads' by herself a lot and loves to be a part of reading time with Harrison
• Has destroyed the sides of her crib with her little chompers - black paint flecks were a regular in her neck chubs before the teething coverings went on
• Sleeps with the same blanket every night and likes it up around her face at all times
• HATES cooked carrots - spits them out every time
• LOVES cheese - especially Colby jack
• Plays with her 'kid kitchen' A LOT - she loves opening and closing the compartments and filling them with pretend food
• Is a CRAZY woman in the tub. Splashing and thrashing, climbing and falling best describe tubby time
• Loves to give high-fives and slobbery open mouth kisses
• Follows her brother everywhere
• Crawls faster than the speed of light if she sees an open bathroom door
• Loves to dump out trash cans
• Signs - 'all done' 'milk' 'more' and 'please'
• Sleeps like an angel - stick to her schedule and she is a happy girl
• Loves to empty the kitchen cupboards

What a beautiful and blessed year we have had with this little one. My Ava.

New Year's Eve

We actually went out on a date! Dinner and movie with Heath and Liz while Dave watched the kiddos at the house. It was so fun to be out - and I had high hopes of making it to midnight. But we didn't. In bed and asleep by 11:00pm.

Check out Ava's THREE chompers!

A Howe Christmas

Harrison had his Preschool Christmas Program just a couple of days before Christmas. We were so excited to hear him sing the songs he had been practicing for so long and to be a part of his first 'school program.' We had the camera ready, the video camera rolling - proud parents to be sure. He did smile for about the first two minutes, sang 'I'm a V.I.P. in my family,' and then it went downhill. He frowned, sat in silence, took off his Santa Hat, took off his V.I.P. necklace, picked his nose, and finally left the stage all together to come and stand with us. He said he didn't know any of the words to the songs when I asked him why he didn't sing. And then he sang them all the way home in the car.

We spent Christmas Eve with the Garner Family - which ended with two out of three boys in tears. Harrison gave Jackson something he already had, and Jackson gave Harrison something he already had - all in all an unsuccessful gift exchange between the boys. It was hard not to laugh at how excited they were to give each other gifts and then witness TOTAL disappointment when they were actually opened. But the night was full of great food and even better company - and I am sure the boys have forgotten the botched gift exchange completely.

Christmas really is magical with children. Harrison couldn't have been any cuter during the build up to the big day and on Christmas itself. He couldn't speak when he saw his Thomas Trains and was overjoyed at FINALLY having a "kid kitchen." We spent the morning opening gifts and playing with everything new and exciting. Ava napped, Jordan assembled his new bike and gave Harrison the inaugural ride while I prepared Christmas Dinner. Colleen and Ernie joined us for the afternoon - and the feast was enjoyed by all. A beautiful Christmas.