not my girly girl

pushing the lawnmower (not sure how she wrestled it away from Collin)


In her Longhorn gear!!



I do my best to make her girly.. I love that hat!

So, my mother is loving that my sweet little girl is definitely not a prissy little girly girl. My mom was not a girly girl and I was the most girly girl as a child, and my daughter proves to be the opposite. Of course, all she has to model and worship are two boys, so I guess that is to be expected. She can definitely hold her own against the boys and loves to tackle them... she's not afraid to take something away from them and then run like the wind! She says "mine" and "lawnmower" and makes good truck noises. She prefers to play with lawnmowers, weedeaters, trains, trucks.. baby dolls are for the birds!! I'm still putting her in dresses though and attempting bows in her hair.. .

zoo fun!

So, I'm still catching up.. we'll get there eventually... In September , (yes, I realize it's November).. Granny and Pop-pop came to visit for almost 2 weeks.. we had a blast! The boys learned how to throw balls from pop-pop, we went to the zoo and the arboretum, we ate lots of mexican food and just hung out! The boys were so sad when they left. These are pictures from the Ft. Worth zoo, which was so awesome! We will be back alot in the spring and summer.. the highlights were definitely the train ride, stagecoach, and the otters.. I think the boys watched the otters swimming for at least 20 minutes!

birthday girl!

I really didn't need to get her any gifts.. as you can see, so happy to be playing with yes, a tampon..


Does it get any cuter?

Finally some pics of the birthday girl from her big day (which, yes, was 2 months ago)

Hill Country Fun

So I'm taking us way back to August.. which feels like an eternity ago! We took a trip and visited my grandmother in Kerrville and then headed to the O'brien ranch for some fun. The boys were in heaven.. so much room to run around and a blonde harem to take care of them (Claire, Katie, jessi and Jamie). We had a great time. Ate so much good food, saw Jessi and Jamie feed the cows, and ate delicious chocolate chip cookies at Aunt Jojo's.

We're back!

I realize no one is probably reading this anymore since we've been away for so long, but our camera is finally working nicely with the computer again! Yeah! I have lots of catching up to do! I'll try to do at least one a day for a little while.. since these are my only records of what happened with my children!

Costco

Our family is addicted to Costco .. Sean got the ball rolling on this before we had kids, and now continues the boys in the tradition. Yesterday when I got them up from their naps, I asked them if they wanted to go with Daddy to Costco. (they do this often as you will see by Jack's answer)... Jack said "Yes.. I need a sample."

Still no pictures...

Caroline is 1!

She is officially 1 (as of two days ago).. And birthday pictures to come.. still having technical issues, and then, as predicted by me.. we went to one week of school and all got sick, so we've been down for the week. But, on the mend now! We did celebrate her birthday though, with grandparents and Lori, pizza and some cupcakes. She got a shopping cart, a stroller, a purse, an ice cream truck, some outfits, a longhorn cheerleading outfit, and a little cd player. As of right now, the boys are definitely more interested in her gifts than she is! (but, that was part of my plan)!
She is starting to walk, takes about 4 steps at a time, and is very proud.. she practices all the time. I predict that within the next week or so, she will be off and running! Still eating everything in sight and switched to milk like the champ that she is. Nothing phases this child!
She loves to dance and clap her hands. She says some words here and there, but definitely says outside! This is a word used frequently in our house (a.k.a. -- "Boys, go outside!).. so it's not surprising she picked it up..
She "jabbers" all the time though. Still loves her brothers and wants to do anything they do, much to their dismay. She's so tough, they will knock her down and she goes right back for more!
She is the sweetest little baby and I'm sad she's growing up. Caroline fills us with so much joy and just perfectly completed our family! Happy birthday sweetheart!
Love, mommy

technical issues

I realize it's been about six weeks since we posted, but we are having technical issues. Our camera won't load pictures onto our computer right now. And I do realize that nobody actually wants to just read a blog, they want to see pictures of the kiddos.
But, we are all doing great. I survived the summer and the boys started school Monday. They exceeded all my expectations (of course we have to get through tomorrow as well, so we'll see!)
I think they will really love it, once it becomes routine. We had a trip to the hill country which was very fun and got a great new patio, which we LOVE!!
Hopefully we'll fix our issues soon because some sweet little girl I know has a birthday in one week! Can't believe it..

10 months old.. and on the move..

Jack and Mommy having a serious discussion at the table about why we do have to keep the baby...

Well, she's finally on the move.. and in true Caroline fashion, she waited until she could do it right..

one day she wasn't crawling and the next day she was crawling and pulling up beautifully!

I never have to worry about her falling, she's very sturdy and does everything very carefully!

Oh so lucky with her!

Still an amazing eater and is loving more and more real food. I believe she might have eaten at least 2 pieces of pizza the other night!

Now that she is on the go I'm pretty sure that Jack has definitely decided he is not in her fan club. Collin would never lay a hand on her and just quietly moves away when she gets near him. Jack wants to let her know who's boss, says "no baby!" and she usually winds up getting whacked in the head if mommy can't save her first (Jack has spent alot of time in time out lately). I don't blame him though, she just comes in and starts wanting to crawl all over him and take his things. Of course, which brother does she follow around more?? The one who's mean to her... she loves, loves Jack and does not even bat an eyelash when he hits her .. tough cookie!

I do my best to keep them apart these days..

We've pulled the playpen out and she spends alot of her day in there while mom has to get things done. The boys have also decided they like being in there as well (of course they screamed when they were babies!).

Still such a sweet little angel with the best disposition!!

Pool fun!

I have a confession to make that we are pool moochers this summer!!

Fortunately we have very nice friends, neighbors, and grandparents!

We spent the first part of the summer in my friend's pool swimming around and eating lots of snacks. Well, I guess she HAD to go to Canada to see family.. so, our neighbors were very sweet and let us swim around in their pool while they were on vacation. Finally, the best pool came along courtesy of Grammy and Grampy. We head up to their tennis club which has a 1 foot covered baby pool the boys can splash around in and no people! We love it! Only way to spend a hot afternoon. The kids don't need all these fancy waterpark pools, just a simple baby pool will do.

Plus, we feel more at ease when we are at least mooching off of family...

Mid-summer fun!

yummy cupcakes for Daddy's birthday (the boys helped make them!)

Who doesn't love a Costco box??

That's just pure Collin.. (with Caroline's sunglasses on)

Whenever we haven't posted in a few weeks, you can be sure the Scanlans have been brought down by some sort of illness. We all (except baby Caroline) got hit with strep. Thank goodness for antibiotics... I went to the doctor five times in one week!

All better now! Despite that, we have been having a great summer.. swimming, parks, out in the front yard, hanging with the neighbors, eating popsicles, library storytime, just fun stuff..

Here are some pics!

Happy Father's Day!

For those of you that don't know.. super dad lives at our house thank goodness!! I can't tell you how many times I lay my head down on my pillow and just thank God that He brought this wonderful man into my life and now in the lives of our children. They are so blessed to have him as a father and it is always such a wonderful sense of relief to know that he's right there with me in the midst of all the chaos..
I'm sure that Sean remembers the days when poop didn't rule his life and he didn't spend sat. nights giving baths to screaming toddlers. But, he NEVER complains and does everything with such joy and patience, it's amazing to me. (he also keeps me in check most of the time!)
Let's see, the Scanlan dad wakes up at 5 every day, runs, wakes me up so that I can go run (uh, run/walk!)before he heads to work around 7. Works all day, comes home around 6, always ready to go, with energy I don't know where he pulls from! It's such a huge weight off my shoulders when he comes through the door with his booming "hello!" Easily the best part of my day!
He changes so quick like superman out of his work clothes and is ready to do dinner, playtime, walks, play outside, baths, books, after bed clean-up, takes the dogs to the park.. oh yes, and maybe eat some dinner!
And on the weekends, let's see there's mowing, Costco trips, watching the kids while mom helps at church, etc. And a little relaxing!!
He's awesome and amazing and every other great adjective! We are so thankful!
Love, Lindsay, Jack, Collin, and Miss Caroline

9 months old..

I love being in the tub with my big brothers!



Big, standing girl!



Yes, I'm going to dry my hair now..

I really can't believe she is 9 months already. Today when I left the pediatrician we made her 12 month appt. and that just blew my mind.

Here's her little 9 month update.. she was 18 lbs. today and growing taller all the time. She's pretty much outgrown most of the clothes I hoped she'd wear all summer.. so.. uh-oh!

She is still the sweetest little baby girl! And such a girl at that.. she is clapping and waving and dancing. She always dances to the Dora songs (see previous post!).. and I'm pretty sure her first word will be "vamanos", "backpack", or "map!". She's getting close to crawling, but is still very happy and content to sit and play! She actually is trying to pull up alot more than crawl and loves to stand by the couch (see picture!) and play.

She talks alot, again , such a girl! Babbles, babbles, babbles...

Oh, yes, and the thing I notice most now is just how wrapped around her finger she has her daddy! It really just warms my heart when I see how she reacts to him and then how he reacts to her. He gets a much different smile than the rest of us when he comes home! She gives him big eyes and bats those little lashes. So sweet!

The boys are noticing that she now reaches for their toys and are not sure how to feel about that. Collin is good and tells her a quiet no and carefully takes the toy back. Jack says "mine" and then looks at me as if to say "you have about two seconds to get this baby away from my toy before I clock her." And then I rescue her quickly! She still loves them and about jumps out of her skin when they get close to her.

Miss Caroline, you are a little gift from God! Happy 9 months!

I have a new best friend...

She has a cute little black hair bob, she is bilingual, and she sings lots of catchy songs! That's right! Her name is Dora the Explorer... My boys have fallen in love with her, and in turn, so have I... Especially since it keeps them mesmerized for a good 20 minutes at a time!
I don't even mind that her songs run through my head constantly.. I've caught Sean singing them to himself as well!! Dora, I am so glad that you came into my life...

rub-a-dub.. three cuties in a tub

Mom, are you sure about this??



Mom, really, he's going to dump this water on my head...




Yep, he dumped the water on my head..





Havin' fun with the big boys!

I'm sorry, it was me, I dumped the water on her head..

We introduced Caroline to the big kids bath this week! As you will see, she was torn between having the time of her life getting to be next to her big brothers and sheer fear and panic as to what they might do to her... Story of her life I think!

more memorial day

spaghetti dinner at the Scanlans -shirtless and all



Daddy's helpers



playing chase at the Arboretum




Sweet Caroline sleeping through the concert!

A few more pictures of our weekend..

Memorial Day weekend

Picnic at the Arboretum (Sean is missing as he was chasing Collin around for most of the time!)



Jack and Grammy



Driveway fun! (Poor Daddy was trying to assemble a bubble gun)





Jack wants to know - "Where's the pool? It is Memorial Day people!"



Oh, how I love having Sean home for 3 days. It just gives us time to get everything done and feel accomplished and also time to really hang with our kiddos. 3 day weekends should be mandatory!





We have been so busy, it was nice to just hang out for a few days. We played in the yard, washed the dogs, and headed to church. On Monday, we ventured out with Grandma and Grandpa and went to the Arboretum. They had a petting zoo and a concert. We sat on a little hill where you could see White Rock Lake and ate a little picnic. So awesome. The boys had a great time. They were so pumped up about our trip they decided to come home and not nap!





Which made for a very happy, but exhausted mom and dad.





Here's some pics of our weekend!

just some pictures

reading together before naps



Exercauser fun!


snacktime!




Jack praying for his snack.. He says "God.. Amen"

Collin telling me something of great importance

I know that those of you who read this really just want to see pictures of the kiddos, so here they are!

A day of mourning..

Oh, sad day was last Thursday... the boys last day of Mother's Day out.. and home with me for the summer...
But, it's just time for Scanlan camp 2009! Hopefully we've got some fun things planned and my saving grace is Hayley who will help us out all summer!
We have loved parkway Hills Baptist Church. It was the most wonderful place for the boys to start school. I have no doubt that God led us there. They were so patient and loving when our boys took a long time to adjust. Their teachers were amazing and full of love, joy, and PATIENCE.

Triple shower!

Sean has a great group of friends he grew up with and they all have very sweet, fun wives! And there will be a population explosion among us soon! 3 of them are having babies (may, July, and then August). So, we threw a triple shower with our group last weekend. Neil and Jan(Sean's parents) were so wonderful in letting us use their house to throw the shower while they watched the kids at our house. Jan has done an awesome job with her patio and everyone loved hanging out there.

I am not a great cutesy shower planner, but we did play the "baby Olympics" which I highly recommend. We did guys against girls (only those expecting) and they had to put together a playpen, name baby items, swaddle and diaper a baby, etc. Too funny! I believe that the boys called my breastpump part an airhorn!

We can't wait to meet all these new little ones.. we are discussing doing a Destin trip next summer with our group... so let's do a little math.. there will be 9, yes 9, kids 4 and under , along with 10 adults! And LOTS of alcohol!

And the boys graciously offered to interview the nannies for us.. we quickly turned them down as measurements are really not the qualifications we are looking for..

We had such a great time at the shower and are more than excited to meet the new crew!