Bartholomawesome

A lot has happened between my last post and now.  The month of November was spent on our sick beds.  Stomach flu, ear aches, coughs and fevers seemed to be the norm at our house.  Meanwhile Ryan was on a away rotation and could only be home on the weekends and I took on the lofty goal of potty training Olivia.  I believe I shed a tear or two that month.  

December flew by as it always does.  We threw any kind of schedule out the window with a last minute change of plans and drove out to Utah.  It was so wonderful to see everyone again and to meet the soon to be newest addition to the Bartholomew family, Devan's fiancé Gentry.  She is really great and the kids adore their aunt.  They don't quite realize that she isn't officially their aunt until after the wedding.  We don't correct them.  

On the drive back home we were able to stop in Colorado and spend the night with some friends the Brunins.  It was so much fun to see them again and spend the morning talking and laughing.  Since returning home we have been trying to get back into the swing of things.  A bad bout of bronchitis hit Olivia and Hannah making it hard to really accomplish much.  We are all better again so lets hope the worst of the sickness is done with our family!  

So here is a smattering of pictures all out of order for November and December.

Sick kids at the doctors office.  

Potty training Olivia.  I wish I had had a iPad when training the other kids.  She thought it was awesome.  I let her watch shows while she waited for the pee pee to come.  Then we would get a treat and another capri sun.  She was in heaven t.v. and treats ALL day!

So there was a day when I hadn't heard or seen Olivia for a little while, never a good sign with a two year old.  I felt like I had looked everywhere and I couldn't find her. Starting to get a little panicked I went through the house one more time.  I found her in the basement in this box.  Don't worry she wasn't trapped inside she was just waiting patiently for me to find her.  When I did find her she jumped out and yelled "Surprise!".  Then she wanted to keep playing the game and have me call out for her and then find her in the box.  I didn't think it was such a fun game. I am just glad she hid in a clear box.  I might not have ever found her!

Just me and my beautiful daughter.

I think Jack was playing with my phone and took this picture.

I don't know if there is anyone who loves Hannah more than Jack.

Making volcanos one afternoon.

Someone wasn't watching very closely...  notice the plate FULL of glitter? 

Jack looks a little uncomfortable. Olivia wouldn't even go near Santa.

I left Hannah on Jacks bed once while I was cleaning.  When I came back into the room this is what I found.  He is pretty smitten with her.

Before our trip to Utah Ryan had to do a few repairs on the van just to make sure it would make it there.  This is his real "working on the car face" he didn't know I was taking a picture.

Favorite uncle and favorite niece reunited.

Family picture with Grandma Curtis.

Christmas morning. Few things make me happier than seeing a little boy in cowboy boots!

Playing at Grandmas' school Christmas afternoon.  Kaitlynn got rollerblades for christmas and this was the perfect ice free place to practice.  Since then she has gotten really good on her roller blades.  The blur is Eliot.  As soon as I noticed all the kids sitting with grandma I grabbed the camera but by the time I got there Eliot was ready for more fun.

This would be our Thanksgiving feast.  I didn't want to make a ton of food that our family wouldn't eat.  So I told them they had to help me make one food they did want to eat.  I wanted turkey, Kaitlynn wanted mashed potatoes, Jack wanted pancakes and bacon (I let him have two because you cant have pancakes without bacon), Olivia wanted rolls, and my dear sweet funny husband wanted stir fry with egg rolls.  Oh and I made a salad to go with it all.  Best Thanksgiving Ever!  No one whined about food.  Not the most traditional but we did get to have fortune cookies at the end and thats always fun!

Decorating the room for Christmas.  Pant were optional.

Making Gingerbread houses with Gentry.

Watching all the fun.