Christmas 2011!

Making Christmas cookies (December 2011)

Cute, smiley girl (November 2011)

Palm Springs trip (November 2011)

Annual trip to the Picha Pumpkin Patch! (October 2011)

2 Months Old...and smiling! (October 12, 2011)

I was finally able to get a picture of our happy little girl smiling!  This was no small feat.  While she smiles all of the time now, that smile quickly disappears as soon as she sees the big scary camera come out.

Jonas brothers or Kirkpatrick boys...you decide (September 2011)

Music, and especially loud noise, is big in our house.  Alex has had a strong interest in music and musical instruments since he was a baby so over the years we have collected quite an assortment of musical instruments.  The boys have a great time (and their mom thinks they look pretty cute) playing music in their "band" together.

Daddy day Friday...and a black eye! (September 2011)

Every Friday, while Mommy and Anna snuggle at home, Daddy and Tyler take Alex to school and then have some special Daddy/Tyler time.  They head over to a bagel shop in U. Village close to Alex's school and get a big bagel loaded with cream cheese.  It has become a really cute weekly father/son 'tradition'...and I think is especially appreciated by Tyler as our family grows and it's harder to get solo time with mom and dad.

Recently we also had a very important "first" in our family - our first black eye!  I'm not sure how Alex has made it 4 years without one, especially once his little brother got big enough to tackle him (they only weigh about 4 lbs different), but Tyler won this race.  He was playing at his Papa and Nana's house and tried to jump on Papa's back while Papa was giving Alex a horsey-ride, Tyler missed and banged his eye on Papa's shoulder.  I must admit that it's probably a bit of carma since Tyler gave Papa a little shiner a couple of months ago.

Everyone loves to hold the baby (August 2011)

We already fear that Anna will never walk...or crawl...or sit on her own.  It will be tough for her to learn any of those skills when she has everyone fighting over holding her all of the time.  I don't think she's been in the swing, on a blanket on the floor, or outside of someone's arms since she got home.  The boys constantly ask to hold Anna...and then tell mommy to go get the camera and take a picture.  When the boys aren't holding her, mom and dad are fighting over who gets her...we all love to hold and cuddle with our sweet baby girl!

Husky day! (August 2011)

Baby Anna was only 9 days old when she attended her first UW event, Husky day at Husky Stadium!  We'd prefer that she start hitting the Husky circuit younger but this was the first event we could line up for her. The boys had a great time running around the field and meeting coaches, players, and of course, the biggest star of all...Harry the Husky.

Dad and the boys on the 40 yard line. 

Alex & Harry the Husky.

Anna's involvement in Husky day...sleeping.

Alex and his buddy Chris Polk.

Anna's arrival! (August 2011)

The newest addition to our family, Anna Grace Kirkpatrick, FINALLY arrived on August 12, 2011!  Two weeks past her due date and after almost 30 hours in the hospital trying to induce her...apparently she was very happy right where she was.  She was a little banged up after delivery  (an unplanned c-section where they had trouble getting her out) and she spent a few hours in the NICU but is a wonderfully healthy and happy baby girl.  She weighed in at 8 lbs, 2 oz & was 21 inches long.  Funny, we had been a little nervous about having a girl but were completely smitten from the moment we met Anna.  We are so blessed, we can't imagine our family any other way.   

Grandma Tobi was a huge help, staying with Michelle and Anna at the hospital.

Anna meets her big brothers.