January Updates

It's amazing what a little anti-biotics can do!  After a rough, rough couple weeks with lots of sickness for the Ploegs, it's amazing how much better things can be.  I certainly cannot say they are magically obedient, but they are much happier, much funnier, much sillier, much more fun. 
Lukie is really catching on to this walking thing now, although he still likes to "walk" on his knees.  He is the cutest, chubbiest, rosy-cheekiest little love bug.  Sam and Tyler have new horizons ahead too -- we are hitting the potty training hard (with some real success finally!) AND have just purchased new big boy furniture.  On a side note, I now see why people purchase furniture already assembled ... it's a bear!  But in any event, once we finally get both beds up and running, they can finally move out of their cribs (which I'm pretty sure they love and will be a little sad about... me too...).
The twins are pretty much phasing out of naps these days; maybe once or twice a week they still need one (usually with Kathy our nanny or Gramma Ploeg) but generally not.  They do get a little testy towards the end of the day, but night time goes much smoother without naps.  That said, they sleep from about 830 at night til 800am.  Lukie is down to one nap and usually turns in around 1230 or 100pm and conks out for a couple hours.  I LOVE my Lukie, but it is nice to have a little time to just be with the twins (get out the paint, go outside, etc.) or get something done without a little ankle biter for a few hours! 
Other than that, life continues as normal.  Jack's job is going pretty well, my job is going pretty well, the kids are busy, and we just kinda go on day by day.  :)

Lukie's Walking!

After weeks of Grandpa Ploeg trying to get Lucas to walk, he's finally starting to have some interest.  To be fair, there was a few steps taken at Christmas with the Ploegs, but this is the first video documented walkings from the Lucas.

 

And I find this video of our happy Lucas (finally, after multiple courses of antibiotics) just too cute.  (In case you don't speak baby, he's saying "Hello".)

Christmas 2012: Part III

 

Christmas with the VanderLugt's was at the Raredon's this year.  With 11 grandbabies and and 10 adults, it's simply a lot of people (and specifically, a lot of rambunctious kids) to fit into a house that was built anytime in the 19xx's -- by that I mean a time when wide open spaces in a house was not as prized as it is today.  Thus, the Raredon's open main floor and large, fun basement was perfect this year for the VLugt Christmas.

It's always a little crazy, a little wild, a little loud.  This year, we even got a visit from Santa!  (PS. We own a Santa (and Mrs. Claus) suit so if you ever need to borrow one in the future, let me know!)  Jack got dressed up and snuck around outside the house Ho! Ho! Ho!-ing and it was a hoot.  The kids were giggling, peaking out the windows, smiling, chanting, chasing, and having a great time with Santa. 

For the Ploegs, Ty thought Santa was great and wanted him to come back; Sam wasn't much of a fan.  Win some, lose some.  Overall, it was a wonderful Christmas celebration: great food (bacon wrapped flank steak, ham balls, buffalo chicken dip, pizza, and more sweet treats than we could make a dent in), happy kids, fun memories, and generally healthy kids.  Thankful for another year with family. 

Me & Ashley Joy

The oldest 3 grandbabies: Caleb, Ashley & Will

Happy Lucas, Momma, & Tyler

Kids looking for Santa

Josh & Ty sharing the ukulele (with Lukie looking on)

Christmas 2012: Part I & II

Christmas with the extended Ploegs and Christmas with "just us" Ploegs is in the history books.  And while I love Christmas -- for the blessing of Christ, family, fun and festivities -- I'm ready shut the door on this part of Christmas 2012.  We have been battling sickness as a family since before Thanksgiving and for Christmas this year, Santa brought us 3 ear infections (one each), 3 sinus infections, and at least one (but probably 3) cases of croup for the boys.  Merry Christmas!  Needless to say, they were less than their cute and cuddly, funny and lovable selves. Sure, there were moments of sweetness, moments of joy, moments of fun ... but overall, it could have been better.  I say this, not for sympathy, not to focus on the crummy, but I guess so that 1) I remember that they weren't always healthy (because in general they ARE healthy), 2) I can laugh about it later?  Anyway, here are some outtakes from the festivities:


Christmas 2012 at the Ploegs

Presents!

Daddy & sleepy Lukie

Christmas at home: Lukie and a fun box

Christmas at home: Toolboxes for the Twins!

In other news, 1) antibiotics are amazing and 2) snow!  Sam & Tyler have been talking about snow for weeks (ever since the first dusting of snow) and are so pumped that it has finally arrived. 


Snow Angel Tyler

Snow Angel Sam

Our First Snowman!

Our new sled -- with daddy

My sweet Lucas

Stockings

I finally got around to it ... yes, Lukie is now over a year old but he finally has his own stocking!  Why I decided to make them (after purchasing the ones for me and Jack), I still don't know but it's done! 

Away in a Manger

Sorry grandparents, I did not warn you about the Seymour Christmas program ... it's been a busy week (complete with another double ear infection and croup for Lukie) so we just wanted to keep it simple tonight. 

Here are Seymour's Little Lambs (2-4 year olds)!

In other events this week, we had our well-child visits for all three kids and besides the ears and croup noted above, they are doing pretty well.  Sam is 75% for height, 50% for weight; both Tyler and Lucas were about 95% for both height and weight.  The twins' skin is still an issue and we are planning on retesting allergies in the new year (but NOTHING yet for Lucas).

Birthday Week Bonanza

This week, my babies turned 3 and 1.  It's amazing to look back and 1) think of what we wanted for for so long, 2) remember the amazing-ness of their births 3) think how far we've come since we first became parents.  It's been a wild, crazy ride -- for the last three + years and for even just the last week!

Our week of celebrations started with the VanderLugt's -- we even got to include Levi in our bunch!!

Birthday boys: Tyler, Lucas, Levi, & Samuel

Sam & Ty love the birthday candles!

Lucas getting into his cupcake

Sam, Momma, & Tyler



 We also had multiple celebrations in our home throughout the week, mostly just lighting and blowing out candles on the cupccakes (over and over).

 



And finally, we concluded our birthday week celebration with the Ploeg's over at our house for an evening of pizza, presents, and ping pong.

Lucas enjoys cake and ice cream



Birthday presents!

Grandpa and Tony get in on the ping pong action

It was a fun week of celebrations and we are so thankful for our boys and our family who love our boys and shower us with love and presents!  We are so blessed!