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Oh boy, hello 2013!! 

We are happy you're here.  

Lots has been happening here in the chamberlain casa and i have been meaning to write down the little things the the babies are saying, but of course, i haven't. 

like when penny said "everyone else has shiny cars except us.  I don't like gray cars only BLACK!" (what the sass? what 4 year old notices that stuff?  

p.s. to penny my paid for '04 is better than any shiny car i can think of.  haha 

Think it's time for an update?  Well, here goes.  after Christmas we packed up and went to las vegas to see my family and it was SO much fun. 

it's like my favorite update of all time: lots of food, lots of cousins, lots of laughing.  my moms house was stuffed to the gills! kellys family slept on an air mattress in the living room and her baby slept in my parents closet?!  it was a little crazy, but the best kind of crazy, to be sure. 

sophie loves it when the big cousins come so she's got people to hang out with.  Penny and Tess were inseperable, Simon loved and fought with just about everyone and Owen had 3 cousins to play with at all times. at least. 

grandpa took all the kids to chuck e cheese, one of their favorite traditions.  It's the perfect grandpa activity. That and taking everyone to the 99 cents store.  haha. 

  

So teenager! Love this teenager

Soda wall en route to vegas

Twins!

Too bad we don't have one from his perspective.  wait, no that might be the most terrifying angle of me. 

Notice his hiking boots we had just bought that day.  he was breaking them in for Outdoor science School, the 5th grade trip he was going on the first week back to school. 

LES MISERABLES!

Heading to Chuck E Cheese in the back of grandpas truck!!!

Movie NIGHT??

The new years eve cooking squad!   I love it when the guys cook.  Doug was heavily involved, but i don't know where he was when i took this. 

Cute Erin, Simon, Tess and Maya

Dave and a very sleepy Elliot

Simon just getting some red vines. 

Little boys favorite spot!

  

Kelly and a very sleepy Dave and Elliot

Me and Jami REALLY close up

countdown!!

Celebration!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Once all the partying was over, doug and i packed up the car and headed back to LA.  This time there was a twist.  we got to leave Owen, penny and simon in Vegas with grandma and grandpa.  It was an early 40th birthday present for Doug. So, what did we do with our few days alone????? well, we took sophie home with us tuesday (she had a choir camp on friday, kids got back saturday) and cleaned out our house.  our whole house.  we purged and tossed and organized every closet, drawer, cabinet, garage, under the bed, etc.  

It was the best 4 days. 

we were tired because we seriously worked 15 hours a day.  And we ate out every meal.  sushi twice, outback with sophie and her friend, indian with friends, breakfast one morning. 

And we made big piles. one for goodwill and one for the dump.  

and we just piled them as high as we possible could only keeping what fits in our tiny house. 

Criteria for keeping? If it's beautiful, useful or valuable we tried to find a space for it. 

I should have taken more before and afters...it kinda changed our lives. 

p.s. One trip to the dump will turn you into an aggressive recycler! haha and a more thoughtful shopper. for sure!

Just look at that pile?!!

sushi

Closet: after.  

whole load of crap.  except that chair.  love that chair. I hope my friend val takes good care of it. 

Ummm, he found an justin bieber shirt in the garage. i bought it for sophie last year and it was too small.  luckily, it fits doug just fine.

Putting the big kids to work

Letting the big kids play

The dreaded office CLOSET

Gems from that closet! LURVE THIS

LOVE THIS PHOTO 

THIS ONE TOO

and this one with BABY SOPHIE

Simon got a cute haircut from grandma.  He was grandpa BFF

PHEW  all done!!!  This is about 5 minutes after our last task and maybe 5 before my parents showed up with the kids.  

BIG BIG Thank you to GRANDMA and GRANDPA!!! 

xoxo