Photo Friday-Sports Center

It's great when we go to Papa's house. Everyone gets a little sports conditioning...

And everyone plays baseball in their grandparents' garage, right?

Everyone uses the inside of the garage door as a backstop (complete with cardboard target) while wearing totally inappropriate clothing, right?

We are so normal.

Happy Friday.

And welcome 2011.

New Skillz

There's a lot of things Kate wants to do for herself lately. I just wish they were the same things I want her to do by herself (like find her pjs and clear her place). But I'm usually willing to take the ones that she gives me. A new skill that she decided she was capable of earlier this month was cutting her own apples. So, me being the busy mom I am, I said, "Great! Here you go." and gave her a cutting board, a butter knife and a peeled apple.

Silly me. I assumed she'd cut a few chunks and be done with it. But no. Not Katelyn. Twenty minutes later, this is what I found on the counter.

She'd already consumed about half the apple. This is what was left of the massacre.

Catching Up

Clearly I've been on a vacation from blogging lately. Somehow I just haven't been able to find the time. So we'll start with something easy...Christmas.

Christmas came a bit early this year. The girls' first present actually arrived before Thanksgiving, but it was a couple more weeks before we could put it together. These awesome bunk beds have literally doubled the size of the girls' bedroom. They are super excited about their new beds. But clearly, it hasn't really helped keep the room tidy...Another early present for the girls...tickets to the Nutcracker ballet. Surprisingly, both girls enjoyed it. I wasn't sure since they are so sensitive to anything slightly suspenseful or a tiny bit frightening. Kate did ask me to cover her eyes while she covered her ears when the Nutcracker was fighting the King of the Mice. And other than wishing it was over about 15 minutes before it ended (because she was bored), she thought it was great. Padyn also loved it. When I asked her what her favorite part was, her reply was, "All of it."

Here they are demonstrated what they had seen that afternoon. Oh, and Robbie wanted to get in on the picture, too.

Christmas continued to come early. We let the girls open their present from Uncle Greggie and Aunt Hezzie the day before Christmas Eve. Thanks, guys, for our AWESOME new game!

I skipped a day of photos, but we celebrated with Grandma and Auntie and Bella and Trevor on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day found us at home in the morning opening our presents from each other. Still in our jammies. We were all a bit tired as Katelyn was up coughing most of the night and Robbie was awake every couple hours with, what we figured out a few days later, was hand foot and mouth disease.

Only an hour later, the house was in complete chaos...

Christmas continued...more presents, more houses, more family. Kate and Robbie didn't get to participate in all of it since the were ill. But they didn't mind sitting around watching TV with Daddy while Padyn and I celebrated at Grammie's house.

And after it all...all the presents I mean, the clear winner for Katelyn was the last one she opened at Papa and BonBon's house. Can you tell what it is from the picture?

Even when I tell you it's a unicorn pillow pet, you still might not know what it is. But don't worry. If you come over, it will be the first thing she shows you.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

Definitely Has His Own Drummer

Robbie is really starting to bust a move. Up until last night, he needed music to get in the dancing groove, but now apparently all he needs is a command. This morning, he was swaying his hips so hard to "Little Drummer Boy" that I thought for sure she was going to fall over.

It's worth watching the video until the end, just to hear the exit line for Kate.

Happy Friday.

True Story

Padyn has been bugging me lately about the tooth fairy. When she lost her sixth tooth this weekend, she again asked me about the reality of the tooth fairy's existence. I pushed her question off and told her we would talk about it when Kate was not around.

Today she had her chance. Just she and I were in the car when she said, "Mommy, tell me about the tooth fairy."

Not looking forward to this conversation (it's never fun to shatter your child's views on reality), I asked, "Tell you what?"

"Is the tooth fairy real?"

"What do you think, honey?"

"I think you are the tooth fairy."

"Sometimes I am. Is there anyone else that can be the tooth fairy?"

"Daddy."

"Yes. Sometimes Daddy is the tooth fairy. Anyone else?"

"I don't know."

"Well, every parent is the tooth fairy sometimes."

Thinking we had cleared this up, and one small part of my daughter's childhood existence was now shattered, I as quite surprised by her next question. Wait for it...

"Mommy, how do you get so small?"

Ah. Innocence safe for another day.

More Pictures from Thanksgiving

Here's a few more pictures from Grandma's house...

Playing with snow when there isn't even any on the ground. That's pretty tricky...

Photo Friday-New Shoes

Well, they are almost new shoes. And they are Mommy's. But Robbie clearly thought they belonged to him this morning. We were amazed at how well he could walk around in them.And just for something different...here's the little man having a fit yesterday. Who knows why.
Happy Friday.

Peace

There was a moment today when the girls were playing together without bickering, screaming or tattling. Of course I had to take a picture of this miraculous event.
Yes, those are pajama bottoms that Kate is wearing with her dress. And yes...she did wear them to school. But hey-she wore pants. So you will hear no complaining from me.

What was Robbie doing while his sisters were so nicely working together to solve a work puzzle? Sitting in his new chair, playing with his cars and Little People, of course. Ok, it's Mommy's new chair, but we haven't put the legs on yet, or really decided where it and its sibling chair are going to actually go, but nevermind. It's a new chair, and it's Robbie height, and he loves it. Loves it. You should see how pissed off he gets if anyone else sits in it.I had to include this picture because you have to see how many silly bandz my eldest wore to school today. Her right arm, the one she's writing with. How many is that? Like 30? I don't get it, but I'm sure I felt the same way about jelly bracelets or something when I was her age.

Snow At Grandma's House!

We got to Grandma and Grandpa's house last night and this morning we were greeted with snow. YEAH! Guess who was out in it before they ate breakfast?Robbie LOVED the white stuff until he put his gloveless hands on the table covered in snow. The wail he let out was enough to shake snow off the trees. Let's just say he didn't stay outside much longer.

It had mostly melted by midday, but it's snowing again now this evening. Tomorrow is promising a high in the 20's, so maybe we'll see it again tomorrow. And if it's not at the house, we'll just drive up the highway about 20 minutes and we'll see it again. So much fun!

Photo Friday-New Haircuts

As promised, both girls got haircuts yesterday. The smaller one's was more dramatic than the bigger one's, but both came out just perfect.

The Before Pictures...
Katelyn, the non-hair doer

Padyn, the shaggy hairdo girl
The After Pictures...

Katelyn-the new 4 year old in the house
Padyn-the mature looking 7 year old

And here are some other fun "during" and "after" pictures...

Kate admiring her new look...

...and enjoying her post-haircut lollipop Padyn getting her hair straightened...she wants me to do this everyday for her.Both girls are very happy with the results. So is Mommy.

Happy Friday!

Letter to a Four and a Half Year Old

Dear Katelyn,

Thank you for deciding that you had other clothes worthy of wearing. I was getting tired of seeing the "snow dress" every day. I'm not sure why anyone wants to wear the same article of clothing four days in a row, but that seems to match your persistent, selective personality. You certainly have made me seek out how to be a better parent. I'm ok with cutting the tags out of your clothes and letting you decide what you wear everyday, but you really do need to wear underwear. I'm sorry. It's just required in this family. You can sleep naked (except for underwear), wear the same dress everyday, and not do anything to your hair, but you 1) do have to wear underwear and 2) change it on a regular basis. I'm sorry there seem to only be 4 pairs you like right now. I'm doing my best to find others that "feel right." If only every pair of underwear went up to your mid-back, as you seem to require it. I'm sorry. Hanes and Fruit of the Loom just don't do granny panties for little girls. I'll keep looking.

And about the hair. You will be undergoing a drastic hairstyle change tomorrow. I'm really really tired of you not putting anything in it, crying when I brush it, and pulling on it while screaming, "It doesn't feel right!" A short bob with bangs will make us both happier, I think.

And while we're at it, I think you might need to seriously think about another pair of shoes for this coming winter. Your pink Crocs will only last so much longer. And eventually you will want to play outside in the cold and rain. You will need shoes that do not have holes. But I just can't even talk to you about socks right now. They seem to be your mortal enemy.

But anyway, thanks for deciding other long sleeves dresses are just as good as your sweater dress. I'm glad I remembered them and pulled them out of their 5T storage box the other day. I'm happy that your happy. Eventually we'll work on socks and sweaters and pants, but for now, I'll take whatever means you aren't screaming like a banshee and having a knock down tantrum every morning.

Love,
Mommy

Verbal Ability

Robbie is a man of few words. Literally. Few. But I thought I'd share them with you anyway...just in case you ever try to have a conversation with him, you'll know what to center it on.

Mommy! (Always said emphatically)-Mommy
Daddy! (see above)-Daddy or Paci
Momma-Mommy
Dadda-Daddy or Padyn or Katelyn
Cah! (see above)-car
BAH! (ditto)-ball
moe-more
ng-anything that he doesn't know how to say but wants to make you get for him, like Daddy's truck, a much loved book, or some tasty morsel on the counter
uh oh-uh oh, dang, didn't mean to drop that, or totally meant to drop that but want you to think it was an accident
bye-bye-always accompanied by waving
BAY-bee-baby
panting like a dog-dog

He makes a lot of noises much of the time, but we have yet to decipher their meaning. He's very good at screaming, but lately it's for joy, not frustration. I'm sure that will change.

This is What a Seven Year Old Looks Like

Happy Birthday, Padyn. Seven years ago today you came into the world, changing it forever. But you've certainly changed our lives for the better. We are so grateful for you...even when you drive us crazy.

We love you, Birthday Girl.

18 Month Semi-Comparison

Today, Robbie had his 18 month check up. Sure, he'll be 19 months old next week, but who's counting? We do what we can around here...
Presently, the little man weighs in at 26 pounds, 7 ounces and 32 inches tall, which puts him in the 60th and 40th percentiles for each. But don't let that fool you. His head? 46 cm. That's right. That's at least 75th percentile. But really...have you met his daddy? We're surprised his head isn't bigger.And while I'm pretty sure Robbie outweighs his bigger sisters at this age, he certainly can't do things that Kate could at this age. Things like this......or this...

Thank you, son, for being such a calm mellow toddler!

(If you want to see and read about other things the girls were doing at this age, you can go here.)

Photo Friday-Photos You Haven't Seen Yet

Daddy leaving for the desert in July

Spider Girl shooting her web

Queen of the haystack

Carving

Haircut Happy Friday!