Christmas Greetings

I just stamped the last of the Christmas cards and put them in the mail. Nothing like getting them out the week of Christmas. Unfortunately, I missed my own deadline for the Christmas letter. Yikes! Actually, let's call a spade a spade, I'm just happy that our cards with Christmas greetings will arrive in everyone's mailboxes before Christmas :-). Perhaps a few trees were saved along the way also. How's that for looking at the merry and bright side of things?!

So, if I would have made the deadline, here's what a wrap up on 2011 at the Antholz household might have looked like...

This year there have been a lot of firsts for our first born babe, Emerson Jules. She lost her first tooth, started Kindergarten at a new school and turned six this year. She loves school, her new friends and classmates and her teacher Mrs. Penner. She is reading and writing sentences and talking about math equations. She insists on doing her own hair and putting together her own clothes (i.e. this mama is not always responsible for the awesomeness that is “Emme’s style”). She competed on swim team this summer and played on YMCA T-ball and soccer teams. Her dad and sisters would tell you that she definitely fancies herself “Mom 2” and second in command, as she knows the rules and isn’t afraid to follow them (99 percent of the time) or enforce them.

I read recently that “some girls are just born with glitter in their veins.” Our middle little, Miss Sutton Grace, is so that girl! As of November 3, she is officially a four-year-old princess loving, almost-every-day costume wearing, macaroni and cheese and candy loving girly girl who dances, saches and twirls at her own pace and marches to the beat of her own drummer. She played on a league soccer team this summer, loves dance class, tumbling and could take or leave swimming lessons (mostly leave, but swim is one of her mommy and daddy’s non-negotiables). She stays busy playing “school” and “college girls” with her big sister. Yes, you read that correctly—“college girls.” It mostly consists of Sutton doing her “sassy walk.” Seriously?! When asked what the best part of 2011 was she matter-of-factly replied: being a Frog (the name of her preschool class), playing at the park with her family, and Eastyn spitting up on her. Did I mention that she fancies herself a comedian and an entertainer also?!?

The littlest of the littles, Eastyn Kate, turned 1 on 11/11/11. How’s that for a birth date?! Eastyn is busy—busier than I remember the other two girlies being at one! She is into everything, and one of her favorite games is heading to the stairs where she starts to climb slowly… she waits for someone to notice and then takes off up the stairs at lightning speed giggling until she gets caught. She is the “runt” of the family… at one she was in the 75th percentile for height, the 60th percentile for weight and her head was in the 25th percentile. To date, she is the blondest of our blondies. She is easy-going and oh, so happy. Miss Eastyn is not walking yet, however, we’re convinced it’s because she never has the opportunity as her two older sisters (and maybe her mom and dad) are quick to carry her wherever she needs to go.

As for Travis and I, we continue to be blessed to go to work and do what we love with people we respect and admire every day. We work hard, but also play hard. I completed my first half-marathon six short months after Miss Eastyn arrived, which may not seem like such a feat until I tell you that I probably hadn’t used my running shoes (for running anyway) since before Sutton was born! This year we surprised the big girls with a trip to Disney World. I can't imagine that Travis ever envisioned his first trip to Disney World almost completely focused on princess character meals, princess make-overs at Bibbity Bobbity Boutique or waiting in line almost 3 hours for 7 minutes with Rapunzel. The girls, however, wouldn't have done it any other way thus their daddy wouldn't have had it any other way! Eastyn had her own version of Disney World that week, as "an only" for an entire week with Grandma and Papa. We also managed to squeeze in trips home to Kansas and South Dakota as well as a fun, fun weekend with old friends when the Huskers played in Minnesota. Travis was also able to make all of his annual hunting and fishing trips as well as a trip to Wisconsin with Papa for the Huskers first Big Ten away game.

This holiday season and always, we are grateful for family who make it possible for us to continue to do what we love (i.e. grandparents who help with the logistics of managing a house filled with three busy girlies when one of us is traveling for business or for fun), wonderful daycare providers and teachers, amazing friends near and far, good neighbors, good health, happy kiddos and all of the other blessings in our lives.

All best wishes to you and yours for a very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year!

Travis, Amber, Emerson Jules (6), Sutton Grace (4) and Eastyn Kate (1)

Sutty's Big Day!

Today we celebrate our middle little… Miss Sutton Grace. The one who bounced into our room at 5:30 a.m. this morning and proclaimed, "Today's my birthday!" The one who requested a “Barbie Princess Charm School” cookie cake for her family party. The one who has a flair for the dramatic. The one who wore four Halloween costumes this year—not one of which was the new costume that she chose when her grandmother so graciously offered to get her whatever costume she wanted for Halloween this year. The one who asks daily when she can start music lessons—any type of music lesson: piano, violin, guitar, etc. The one who when asked what she’d like for dinner, always gives the same answer—macaroni and cheese. The one who, on the eve of her fourth birthday, shared that the best things about being three were: being a Frog, playing at the park with her family and Eastyn spitting up on her :-). The messy one. The one who it seems changes her outfit every time you turn around. The one whose current pretend play of choice with her big sister is school or college girls. The one who loves to "shake her booty." The one who sings and dances her way through most days. The one who literally jumped for joy and squealed with excitement when she unwrapped her Tinkerbelle dress on her birthday. The one who makes us laugh and shake our heads multiple times a day. The one who says "Oh, fine" more often than not with a smile on her face and lets her big sister have her way. The one who, like her daddy, lives by the mantra "Go big or Go home!"

Happy Birthday to our middle little, Sutton Grace. We can't wait to see watch you navigate, help to guide you through and see the "best parts of being four" through your eyes. Love you. Proud of you.

PS - Since our computer where all Sutty's previous birthday pictures are stored was not charged this morning when I started this post, the photo below (first day as a Frog picture) represents one of Sutty's "best of being three-years-old." Sutty's birthday pictures to come!

Counting Down...

It’s likely that most other families are coming down off the Halloween high this week, not this family. We are riding that Halloween high straight into November birthday celebrations! Our first Scorpio babe, Sutton Grace, will officially put another year behind her tomorrow morning.

Sutty is in full count down mode and cannot contain her enthusiasm. The first words out of her mouth this morning, “I’m so excited… tomorrow is my birthday!” She proceeded to (very dramatically) preface EVERYthing that she did this morning with “this is the last time that I will (fill in the blank) as a three-year-old.” This is the last time that I will get dressed in the morning as a three-year-old… This is the last time that I will eat breakfast as a three-year-old… This is the last time that you will brush my hair before school as a three-year-old… Seriously. I could go on, but I think you get the picture

With all that being said, this is the last time that I will write a blog post as the mother of a three-year-old Sutton Grace.

Sutty's last plate of spaghetti as a three-year-old :-)

Too much fun

I happened upon a wonderful photographer when I was looking for someone to take Miss Eastyn's newborn pictures last fall. To say that she is talented and amazing and good with kiddos (or a kiddo i.e. Emme) who don't love to have their pictures taken is an understatement. Not too mention the fact that she simply possesses this "cool" factor.

This is the second time she's shot our girlies, and I definitely hope this isn't the last time. The girls were giggly, silly and even a little giddy. They were for the most part well-behaved. However, the silly did take over every now and again. You know the silly that can make you cringe just a bit as a parent.

I opened up facebook this morning and Miss Sarah Ulrich of Uniquely You Photography endeared herself to me for life. Her post was at the top of my news feed. I love the fact that she saw and captured the "too much fun!"

"There's never such a thing as too much fun! This makes my heart sing. ♥"

Happy Halloween

We've been Halloween-ing since the girls' costume birthday party on October 14, and tonight it will (finally) commence with trick-or-treating!

Sutton wore a different costume to each of our Halloween soirees. She went as Snow White to their costume birthday party, Cinderella to Night at the Boo-seum, and a ballerina in her tutu and tights to Hillcrest's Halloween party. It's anyone's guess what/ who she will decide to dress up as this evening?! I think it is safe to say that Halloween is her favorite holiday. Although it probably should be noted that Sutty NEVER needs a reason to dress up! Emme was a mermaid for the first two parties and then decided to change it up and be Princess Jasmine last night. I'd say it's also anyone's guess which costume she will choose tonight. Miss Eastyn thankfully is big enough for a costume, but not big enough yet for costume changes (although given the track record of the big girls, I know it is only a matter of time). So I can say with absolute certainty that she will be strolling in her pink poodle costume tonight.

It looks to be a beautiful evening for the finale of another successful Halloween holiday. Happy Haunting, friends!

Breakfast of Champions?!

Enough said.

Eastyn Kate

Can't believe this babe will be 1 on 11/11/11--not a golden birthday, but the fact that there is nothing but ones in her age and her birth date should have some sort of special meaning, right?