Thursday visit w Kingston

Thursday evening after work Cheyenne came by with Kingston to play for a little while. Life has been so busy lately that we haven't been able to get them together as often as we used to. They were of course thrilled to see each other! The three kids read books, sang and chatted together for hours. It's funny how they change so fast. Ethan and Kingston used to be inseparable but the last couple of visits it has been more Paige and Kingston. Cheyenne and I think it's because he only has brothers at home so he is interested in Paigey. He follows her around and she actually plays and talks to him. Thanks Cheyenne for making the trip over. It was really nice to see you guys!


Books, books, books!


He wants to do whatever she does.
She stood at the window, he stood at the window.
She put her knees on the window seal so he did...


Uh oh! He fell off the window seal. Guess Aunt Lisa should have been paying attention instead of taking pictures. Sorry little man.


Daddy got home just in time for baths but the kids had to get in one more book! :)

Friday with old friends

Friday after work I picked the kids up early and Becky came over with Emily and Katie to visit. Just to refresh your memory, I used to work with Becky at Titan for years. I work for her mother and have for over 7 years. We used to be really good friends but through the years we have just gotten busy. Emily and Katie were flower girls in our wedding almost 5 years ago.


Katie, Emily, me & Erin. Katie getting her lipstick for the wedding.


Erin, me & Emily at our reception. Dallas and Emily- 2004.

We all look so young then now check out our flower girls now.
(Scanned pics, not wonderful but you get the gist.)

Emily's 2008-2009 school picture.


Katie's 2008-2009 school picture. Don't they look like sisters almost twins!!!

I called Becky last week and ask if they would like to come over Friday evening. She said they would for sure and it was set. The girls are so much older and more mature now that it still shocks Dallas and I. For the first 15 minutes the girls really didn't understand how to play with the kids. They have both always been very good with babies and little kids. The only problem is that they want to hold the babies and now the "babies" are more than half their size. Ethan and Paige were a little stand offish for a while since they did not wish to be picked up or hugged.

All it took was a game of chase to break the ice. Ethan started running saying, "I go, I go!" I told Emily and Katie to chase him and get him. It was on from that moment on. They played everything from chase to the ball pit and slide. They climbed together on the car bed and chased bubbles. The kids all had an excellent time playing together.

The most amazing thing was the adult time! Becky, Dallas and I got to enjoy a drink and visit for hours because Emily had it under control. We sat at the kitchen table catching up while the kids ran around playing. By the end of the evening, Emily had Paige on her hip! It was bed time and Paige didn't want her medicine so she buried her head in Emily's chest as she held her. Oh it was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. Paige was giving her kisses and loving every minute of it!

I can't tell you how wonderful it was to visit with them! It will definitely not be long before we invite them over again! Emily and Katie wanted to come back Sunday. Becky said they were in tears about how much they missed the twins. Too bad I was having so much fun I only took one picture. Thanks Becky for bringing the bunch over to visit!


Everyone had worked up an appetite!

2 year well check

Last Tuesday we had our 2 year well check appointment with our pediatrician. I had three pages of things to talk about and I knew it would be a long one. We brought a bag of books and snacks. Dallas even stopped on his way and purchased a new animal book to keep them busy. The appointment went really well. Both of the kids are developing right on track if not ahead in some areas. They are both in the 90th percentile. Ethan weighed 32 lbs 6oz, Paige weighed 30 lbs 4 oz and they were both 35 1/2 inches tall.

Developmentally they are also doing very well. They are talking in sentences Ethan more than Paige. Ethan tries harder than Paige. The doctor said that they have a very good vocabulary for their age. She thinks that their obsession with books is probably why they know so many words. I still think they should be talking better but I have to remember they are only two. They tend to act and look so much older that I forget they are still just toddlers. She said that us enrolling them in daycare with older children was the best thing we could have done for them.

Ethan's favorite phrase this week is, "Shew Wee, Stink"! Paige's favorite words are "Yes" and "Bubbas" aka bubbles. She says it with such passion. It cracks me up. We have always said shew we when we change their poopy diapers but Ethan has us beat. He crinkles his little nose up and with a disgusted face he pronounces that he is stinky. So funny!

They are already using silverware with every meal. She said that most children don't fully use utensils correctly until they are 3 or 4 years old. Ethan gets very upset if he can't eat something with his fork. He stopped eating peaches and pears for a while until we figured out it was because we were not giving him a fork to eat them with. He also gets extremely frustrated when he can't get something to stay on his fork or spoon. It is honestly really funny. He will chase a bite all over his plate rather than just pick it up. Paige doesn't have the patients for that. She will use her utensils until they get in her way. If she is starving and a bite is being difficult she will simply pick it up and eat it. Inpatient problem solver that's my girl! Stubborn little stinker that's my boy!

Last Monday the day before our appointment we had a break through with silverware. Switching between spoons and forks. I have had a difficult time getting them to eat certain things lately because they can't get them with their forks such as peas. Then when I would give them the spoon they would eat the peas and then get frustrated with the spoon not working for the meat. For some reason they finally got the concept on Monday. Now Ethan likes to eat one bite with his fork then one bite with his spoon and so on. I am so proud that they understand this concept not to mention it makes meal time easier.

I was worried about the sippy cups being a problem but my doctor assured me not to worry. Daycare is teaching them to drink from tiny paper Dixie cups but we still use sippy cups. As of yesterday they officially took the kids off sippy cups and will be sending them home with us today. WHAT? Are you kidding me! I don't want to stop using sippy cups yet. The daycare said they don't care what we do at home but at school they are ready. Well good for you. Open cups equal mess that I don't have time for yet. The doctor assured me that they would be fine using sippy cups at home until they are at least 3. Thank goodness.

I was also anxious about potty training. I am ready for the diaper cost to be gone but not ready to clean pee and poo up constantly. Our doctor said that we would talk about potty training at their 2 1/2 year well check and to not worry too much now. She said to get little potties and introduce them to it but not to push it yet. Thank goodness again. I talked to the daycare yesterday and told them feel free to start working on potty association. They said they had already introduced them and they would work on getting them comfortable sitting on it. I love daycare!

I honestly think that our kids are doing so well partial because of that daycare. They have worked so hard with our kids to catch them up since we started. Their fine motor skills were behind when we started. They had no boundaries and did not understand structure and instructions. It didn't take them long to get all of that under control. They listen so well now. They also taught me how to talk to the kids better and get more results. A full update on daycare is the next blog to come.

I have to say I left our two year well check very satisfied that we are doing a pretty good job raising our children!

Mother's Day

I had an amazing Mother's Day weekend! Friday evening after we returned from Melissa's house, Dallas and I went out for a while. My mom had come over after work and she put the kids to bed for us. She helped us and cut her drive the next morning to the birthday party in half. We had reservations for PF Chang's at 7:45 pm. We showed up and they had three reservations to seat in front of us. Ugh, whats the point of reservations? Unless we wanted to sit at a small table by the bar. Heck yea! So we were sat immediately and I was happy. Dinner was amazing. They brought me spicy chicken instead of sesame chicken. They left the incorrect order. Dallas was thrilled! Spicy and free! We finished dinner and were supposed to go to a movie but I knew I would be asleep within minutes. Dallas suggested Dave and Busters since we were already in the Highlands. We ended up playing games for a while and had a really good time! Thanks again Mom for babysitting.

Sunday morning I woke up at 7:30am and Dallas was already up with the kids. I had really wanted to take the kids to the zoo but I was so exhausted. I ask D if we were going to the zoo and he said it was kind of rainy. I turned right back around and went back to bed! I didn't wake up again until about 10am. Happy Mother's Day to me! I woke up to my beautiful babies bringing me cards in bed that they picked out and signed with crayons. Aw, how sweet! Then they both left and came back with a balloon that they had picked out. Next thing I know Ethan walks back in with a dozen roses and Paige is carrying a big cookie that they picked out. It was so sweet for Daddy to take them shopping for me. It was definitely a great way to start the day!

Once I actually made it out of bed it was 10:30am and too late to attempt the zoo. Nap time is around 12:30pm and that would not be enough time to go and get back. I was so disappointed. Dallas insisted we could still go later. Ethan was extremely cranky so I decided to put them down early for nap so we could go to the zoo once they got up. Ethan fell right to sleep but Paige played the entire time. I was getting frustrated. Ethan woke up an hour later and she was still not asleep. We decided just to head out to the zoo without Paige napping. It was a chance I was willing to take. I have been dying to take them to the zoo because they are obsessed with animals. They can name many animals in their books and I wanted them to see and associate the animals in the zoo with those in the book. I wanted to go before it was so hot outside we couldn't stand it. We arrived at the zoo at 2pm and headed in to start the journey.


We went to the gorillas/monkeys first. I was holding Paige and she was laying her head on my shoulder. Oh great she is already trying to sleep and we just got here! Luckily by the second monkey she was wide awake. The large gorilla ran right up to her at the window and she just stood there pointing. I was amazed. That giant gorilla kind of scared me but neither one of the kids was scared at all. They were pointing and smiling and I knew that it was going to be a fun experience.

Monkeys!


Rhinos.


Paige was really into the little bears.


They liked the zebras too.


Paige didn't know what this was but she pointed anyway. :)

The animals were very cooperative with us. The elephant Paige and I were making eye contact with walked right over to us. He stood right in front of us stretching his trunk out. We stood there for quite a while with the kids looking on very intently.



The hippos were also very interesting. The two giant hippos kept coming right in front of us to chew on the wall and grass. Paige was screaming with delight and kept trying to reach them. Too cute!


The kids really liked the flamingos simply because they were able to get so close to them.


Penguins are always a favorite at any zoo. We happened to be watching Happy Feet himself. All the other penguins were sitting up on the ice embankment relaxing but not this little guy. He was swimming, turning and completely showing off. He kept coming right in front of us and staying there flipping around.
The kids were amazed!

I love penguins!


We tried to hurry and see as many animals as we could because we knew the kids weren't going to last much longer. They had done so well thus far. They would ride in the wagon and get out when we stopped to look at an animal. As soon as we were done they would get back in the wagon. I just can't believe how old they are getting.



They are so into buckling straps.


We are getting tired. Daddy cared more about the snake than anyone.

Only boys care about big lizards.

By the time we got to the petting zoo the kids were almost done. I was so disappointed with the petting zoo. There were only a few goats, some chickens and one baby calf. The animals were not even close to the gates and the employees didn't seem to care. Ethan pet a lazy goat through the fence but it wasn't the experience I had wanted for them. They had more fun washing their hands afterwards and drying them in the dryer. Ethan of course stood under the dryer laughing.


This is NOT a petting zoo experience.


He loved the dryer.

We decided to head back to the front of the zoo but the train wasn't open. So we had to pull the kids and wagon all the way back to the entrance. Then we walked to the back of the parking lot where we were parked. We were exhausted so we packed up and headed home.

The long walk back. Cooling off in the car.

The kids did so well at the zoo! I was so excited that we had finally taken them to see the animals. However I did pay the price for the next three days. Paige had allergies so bad from the trees and cotton wood blowing around that she was up coughing for days. We have her back on singular and she is doing fine now. Apparently Zyrtec is not enough by itself.

I could not have ask for any thing else for Mother's Day. Thank you Dallas for making me feel so special and appreciated! I love you!

*I think we may go to Country Critters Farm this weekend for a true petting zoo experience.

Abby & Jake turn 2

My niece and nephew turned two years old on March 20th. Since their little sister was born earlier that week, the party was postponed until May 9th. I would have done the same thing! They are still young enough not to know the difference. So we headed to my brother's house Saturday morning for Abby and Jake's 2nd birthday party. When we arrived John Mark was just finishing up the back yard preparations and the kids were ready to go play.

Their big gift was a very nice new swing set. It was a well designed piece of equipment. The kids immediately were in love! The stairs were perfect height for the kids and I loved the tall sides of the wave slide. They were safe enough to go over and over by themselves. They all absolutely loved the swing as well!

Down goes Jake with Paigey right behind him.

They have a small bounce house that was of course a huge hit with all the kids.

Go Abby Go! I had to blow up this picture because she is just too cute!

Down she goes...


Paige and Abby having a blast swinging.


Lily Grace, 2 months old. Grandma BB holding our new angel.


I love capturing pure bliss on the face of a child.


My big boy sliding his heart out.

The 'roller coaster' was one of our kids favorite toys! We will definitely have to get one of these asap. We don't have enough toys already, HA!

Weeeeee!

They insisted on carrying it back up the ramp by themselves.


Weeeeee!


Love her tongue out! Daddy even played t-ball with the kids.


Strong man Jake gave Paige a ride. My niece and nephew are monkeys!


So stinking cute!


First round of food... fruit & chex mix... then straight back to playing.


Notice the big kid in the picture. Grandma BB and Ethan.

I love the next set of pictures.



So dramatic :)


By the end all the kids were in the bounce house, but Jake and Paige totally had a moment together.

My boys playing ball. Aw!

They grilled hot dogs for lunch. The kids could barely stop playing long enough to eat. Then back outside they went until time for cupcakes.


Our boys are definetly our sweet eaters!

We ended up not leaving until 2pm! We had such a wonderful time! I could not believe the kids made it that long without a nap. We headed home and the kids were fast asleep in a few minutes. They only slept about 35 minutes on the way home but surprisingly were in very good moods the rest of the day. Dallas and I were exhausted and canceled any plans we had envisitioned earlier that day. Thanks for the great time John Mark and Wendy & happy birthday Jake and Abby!