Ellery Singing

Ellery is a funny girl and I can't remember if I wrote this story? We listen to Christmas Music year round.

Ellery: "I don't need any help, PLEASE!" While we are singing Away in a Manger in the car

onto the next song of We Three Kings

Ellery: "You can help me with this one is you want."

Hysterical, she views my singing in the car with her as help not as a duo. She is a one girl show! In her defense, I really can't carry a tune! She also really does enjoy music and singing. She sings songs she knows and if she forgets she just makes something up. I never caught Mason singing songs off the radio, but Ellery listens to Rob's music and has started singing some Kesha. I think it is time to switch from hip hop listening in this house. Nothing like hearing a 3 year old sing "Wake up in the morning.........Tick Tock Don't stop........on and on she goes!

Mrs. Farley

I have been a bit disappointed in school this year with having 24 kids in a kindergarten class, but I haven't been disappointed in his teacher Mrs. Farley. All the things you wish for your kid in school=Mrs. Farley. I still enjoy going to the school every week and volunteering in his class. I am in charge of teaching 6 kids for 45 minutes in a station. Talk about pressure, but I really do enjoy it. This week I was early and I got to watch Mason talk about what he would buy if he had $100 in front of the class. His response shocked me, but appropriate. We don't have any Mario games, but his friend next door does. So if Mason had $100. He would buy Mario Cart so he could drive FAST! He is also reading like a champ. So fun to watch him sound out words he doesn't know and also read his phonetic spelling! I can't believe how much he has grown up over the year!

68 Degree's in January

January=Cold

That is why I didn't look at the weather prior to dressing my children in the morning. Mother Nature made me look like an "outstanding" mother today. I dressed my kiddos in turtle necks, the day ended with no wind and 68 degrees. People were wearing shorts while mine were covered from neck to toe!

They are also into making silly faces. It is our agreement in snapping photos. They have to do a serious one for me and then I will take a silly face photo if everyone cooperates for the serious one with pretty smiles. Sure Ellery's pretty smiles sometimes creeps me out, but I keep that thought to myself. It is what she does with her teeth. It looks all sweet, but then her teeth are perched up on her lips and then I think of a rabbit, which should bring sweet thoughts, but this rabbit for some reason isn't very nice!

Bryson is loving bubbles! He loves attempting to blow them, chase them, and pop them. Our bubble blower is on the fritz, but has been a great investment for us. I bought it for Mason's 1st birthday party and it has brought a lot of fun bubble popping days. I hear they have a new one that can produce 50,000 bubbles in a minute. I hear Toys-R-Us calling my name tomorrow!

Pudding

I am going to rat myself out! I had kept my kids away from pudding for quite some time, I don't have any particular reason for this other than I hate cleaning it off of them! They had no idea that they were missing out on yummy stuff! I think you can feel my pain after reviewing these photos.

Lowes Build and Grow

I am still impressed by Lowe's Build and Grows. The kids love them, and for the most part I tolerate the toys they bring home! I am also impressed by the kids skills at using a hammer and following directions. I think they actually read and look at them because they correct me on when we should be using a long or a short nail!

Sleep Over with Grandma Ellen

The kids had their first sleep over at Grandma Ellen's. Bryson stayed at home with me while the others went off for the night! We all had dinner together at Grandma Ellen's and then the evening fun started. Rumor has it that they didn't get to bed until after 9pm, but had fun watching movies and playing. We did make these sweet Valentine's for Grandma Ellen,. We wanted to butter her up so we can do this again!

Bryson 18 Months

Oh this little man is my true snuggler. He would snuggle with me all day long and somedays I find myself not getting anything done, but holding this sweet boy in my arms. He is my constant companion and the greatest acessory. He will just snuggle up into my shoulder, it is a feeling I hope to never forget! He is becoming a bit possessive. It is a competition on who gets to sit in my lap between him and Ellery. He cries and throws a fit when she wins. Which brings us to his unpleasant side. He isn't the best communicator so he either taps for what he wants or cries. He is starting to say mama and dada more, but he now has an annoying habit I have somehow rewarded because he will come up and tap me on the leg rather than talk to me to get my attention. He will keep tapping until I acknowledge him or give him my hand so he can point or take me to what he wants. I guess having a house full of people who are talkers isn't helping his situation. He does say a few words like cat, ball, mama, dada, sister and has I want that down pat (love the play on words wit the pat), but he prefers his morris code method of tapping me on the leg.

He loves trying to keep up with the other kids and is starting to run after them to keep up. Sometimes he is graceful, but he finds himself on the floor a lot picking himself up and also running into things. He will keep walking and walk right into items because he is flashing his sweet smile or giggle. He just finds whatever he comes in contact with isn't as sweet. He is also into climbing up onto chairs, tables, and sofas. It isn't uncommon to find him sitting on a chair playing with legos at the lego table, or sitting in the chair in the kitchen going through the drawer looking for a piece of paper and a writing utensil to write on. It also isn't that uncommon to find him ontop of the table if what he prefers is just a bit out of reach. I will just call this resourceful, but it does make my heart skip a few beats.

He remains a great eater and sleeper, a resilient 3rd born.

Skate Daze aka Rat Cage Play

Mason had the day off from school so we went to the playdazium at Skate Daze.

The kids had a great time in what I consider a germ infested rat cage. I do make them strip down at the door when we get home and they always ask me why? I wonder if I was ever aware of germs when I was a kid? I don't think so, I recall picking my nose and sticking the burgers in my pocket because I didn't know where else to put them? Ewwwww

Hair

I think we broke this wig out almost a year ago. I think we got Bryson wearing it last year, but he wanted nothing to do with it this year! Ellery is our dress up queen! She doesn't want to cut her hair, she wants to grow it out like Tangled aka Rapunzel.

Annual Golf Trip

Rob took his annual golf trip to Florida with his brother and nephew. I think this year was a bit warmer than last and everyone had a good time. He did come home a bit tired because they would get up early so they could get two rounds of golf in and possibly some tennis. They did go with the same group of men and did the triathlon again this year. Rob was a returning champ and was paired with a new partner this year. They played golf, tennis, and bowling had some sort of scoring system and I am the proud wife of a two time champion! I think he has a target on his back now. I know they are all trying to figure out how to beat him next year! I feel sorry whoever is his partner next year. It will be a lot of pressure and one might think they could be the weakest link getting paired with Rob since he is a strong and skillful competitor.

Hip Action

We are really into dancing in our underwear in this house. Oh, sorry bad visual I say we, but really mean the kids. Rob and I stay clothed and Rob usually just watches these dance parties. I found out that my kids watch me closer than I thought. I love to shake my hips and so do my kids. They especially love to shake them to the Rio song. It doesn't matter what moves Mason is doing when the samba master comes on he stops everything and moves his hips at a slower pace and very exaggerated. Ellery does it as well, and it makes me grin from ear to ear!
Publish Post

Oh Ellery

What are we going to do with this sweet girl. She is really into head bands these days and even wears them at night.

No Ellery

I need to draw with Mason more, but I really don't enjoy it so I seem to put it off. He doesn't give a lot of detail and I think it is the fact that he doesn't ever see us draw to pick up on those details because if you say add some feet or clothes he will do it, but he doesn't get into the details without prompting. I found this family portrait hysterical. He didn't want to confuse me for Ellery so he specified that this picture had NO ELLERY! I couldn't get the reason out of him, but it gave me a good chuckle!

Hudson's Treat

Hudson is back to his normal self minus the stinky breath!

The kids took the time to color this scrap piece of cardboard. When they were all done they announced they had decorated Hudson's treat. I kid you not, no prompting or coaching on our part, they thought of the dog! It doesn't really warm my heart so much, but I know it warms Rob's that the kids thought of the dog. It might be sad that they think cardboard is a dog treat, but in Hudson's world it is! We didn't have the heart to tell them that most dogs don't think cardboard is a treat like their dog! That dog loves to eat cardboard!

Birthday Preview

This captures our little Ellery in every way! A little birthday preview of our soon to be 4 year old!

Helpful Sister

Bryson no longer needs his sisters help while getting up into a chair. After you watch the video from the helpful sister on our holiday break, you can see why his motivation to do it on his own was moved up on his to do list. I am not sure anyone would enjoy being squeezed like an orange being juiced on attempting to get into a chair?

Painting

We are really into making calendars and crossing the days off as they go by. I should clarify, I have the kids make calendars every month so we practice writing letters and numbers along with filling it in with highlights that happen that month. The kids enjoy it and have no idea that they are practicing or working! We then had the idea to make writing utensil holders because I kept finding pencils and markers all over the upstairs. The down side of having calendars upstairs. Usually no writing utensils are allowed out of the the kitchen area. We made fun holders out of toilet paper rolls with what I call tongue depressors (wooden sticks?) hot glued on. The new rule of the house is if I find a writing utensil upstairs that isn't in the hold it goes away for 2 big sleeps. This method has worked well! We had a few days that no one had a writing utensil to use to cross off the day, tears were shed, but when they got them back they keep them put up!

We then got out the paint and everyone was thrilled. Even Bryson was excited to paint.
I did make the mistake and left the painting area to switch over the laundry while everyone was into their project. I could hear the chatter going on so I got greedy and started a load as well. I came back to a painted blue faced baby! Bryson will carry around small barbie pieces and legos and never eat them or put them close to his mouth, but leave him alone with paint and he eats it? This is one I will never understand, and thank goodness is states it is non toxic, but really what is this kid thinking?

Happy 5.5 Birthday

Oh, the joys of summer birthdays. At school you are encouraged to bring treats for summer birthdays on their half birthday rather than at the end of the school year. I have to say it is a brilliant plan. Nothing too big was taken to school. I secretly wanted to make a cute little craft or token to hand out instead of food, but my 5.5 year old denied me. I like that you can't bring homemade food items to school, but it does take the fun out of baking with your kids! I should have baked something with him anyways, but I didn't make the time, nor did he mind. Fruit snacks were the treat of choice!

Rob did surprise him with a mini cupcake in the morning with a candle and we all sang happy 1/2 birthday to him!

We were able to get a picture of him squeezing the cupcake between his teeth while he smiled! Nice!

We have now opened the can of worms on how old are you? He loves to announce that he is not just 5, but 5.5 when someone asks!

Bryson's First Hair Cut

I think the picture says it all on how our first hair cut was taken. He screamed through the whole process, but we managed to get it trimmed up a little bit, but now he has an awful comb over comparable to Donald Trumps.

I deny it often, but soon I will have to come to grips that I don't have a baby anymore! Rob and I tease that we should start therapy funds for our kids rather than college funds due to the damage we might do in our parenting skills or lack of sometimes. We might have to start me a therapy fund as well or I just might become a hoarder with all the baby and kids items!

Mason 2nd Quarter Report

Per Mrs. Farley:
Mason has made good progress during quarter 2. He has very strong letter, number, and sight word identifications skills. Hes letter-sound knowledge and counting skills are strong as well. He is writing in his journal. He has the knowledge to write a whole story, so I will be encouraging him to do that.
Mason can continue to work on attention to detail when he is drawing and when he is writing. He tends to get in a hurry, he worries about what others are doing, he gets distracted, and sometimes doesn't finish in time. We will work on slowing down and thinking about the task. You can do it, Mason!

We also got a sheet from the specialists this time, the art, music, PE, and Library/media. He is satisfactory in all areas, but is Satisfactory + in music by identifying concepts of high/low, fast/slow, loud/soft. He is also Satisfactory + in library by identifies the role of author and illustrator.

Nothing too shocking! He is our first born super star!

Hudson is under the weather

Poor poor Hudson!

Gingivitis in humans is not good and it isn't good in dogs either. Hudson has a server case of it along with some sort of snout infection. We did all the testing to make sure it wasn't cancer. I use the term "we" loosely better say Rob is at the helm of talking care of his first born. He has been drooling and causing rust stained areas on the carpet, sluggish, and looking plain pathetic, just to be clear that is Hudson not Rob. Poor guy isn't eating and I refuse to buy soft dog food because we spent a lot in his treatment. I just add warm water to his kibble and it does the trick! After the amount of money I spent on having him looked over and putting him to sleep to have his teeth cleaned he gets the frugal way to eat food we already have! Good news is he is on the mend, but my pocket book will take some time to recover. We didn't budget this much for the dog! I'll tell the kids someday that part of their inheritance was spent on the dog, but with Rob he just might leave inheritance to the dog?!

Brotherly Love

If this picture doesn't warm your heart I don't know what would! Sweet sweet boys.

Rob is convinced that Mason is a match on him by personality, but I am going to win on mini Mandi personalities. Ellery is a mini me up down, all around, in and out, Bryson is showing signs for Team M as well!

Hand Me Downs

Oh, I can't even blame this one on Rob. The mornings can be a hustle and a bustle around here. I find it more at ease by simply picking out clothes the night before. I am not sure what it is about having everything already out, but it seems to make our mornings a smoother routine!

I didn't pre pick clothes and the picture doesn't do it justice and I am glad you can't see that Bryson has mini ruffles around his wrists! Of course this is a day with planned outings. I left him in his coat when I could. The part I find most hilarious is that Rob noticed. I thought I could sneak it by him, but he was more ontop of his game than I anticipated! I tried to say, this is what you picked out, but he didn't fall for my lies!

Note: The naked baby in the background. Ellery loves to take clothes off of everything. It it can be removed she takes it off! Hmmmmm, what is that about? She is nice to them and gives them a blanket. When I ask why do they need a blanket she says they are cold mom they don't have clothes on, with a duh mom look on her face. Yet when I ask why don't you put clothes on them so they won't be cold I am met with silence and a cold shoulder that had to quickly get back to tending to her cold babies!

Back to the Zoo

We have had such beautiful weather we took another trip to the zoo! I left Bryson behind with a sitter and went around the zoo with NO STROLLER. I kind of felt naked.

Smells

Everytime we passed a feed yard while visiting my dad Ellery would chime out "Bryson pooped" or "Bryson stinks". We grew up with my dad telling us it was the smell of money, Ellery thinks otherwise!

Lauritzen Gardens

Grandma Ellen had read that Lauritzen Gardens was having a beuatiful poinsetta show along with a mini train going all around the indoor garden. We planned to go before Christmas, but Grandma Ellen was really sick and we weren't feeling great either. Even after the holidays it was beautiful and everyone had a great time at least so I hear. Rob was able to spend time with him mom and the kids without me, while I worked on getting a few things accomplished at home with a quiet house! Did you hear those angels singing? I sure did! From the pictures they shared with me and the cute ones of Bryson exploring, no doubt a good time was had by all!

It was so nice out they even went up the stairs by the garden to see the train on exhibit from Union Pacific! HUGE

Funny Faces or Normal Faces.........

This picture is for Uncle Todd and Aunt Jill!

Last Christmas my favorite pic was the funny faces my brother and I made! This one might be my favorite now!

Rockin Out

Uncle Todd and Aunt Jill sent us some cool shirts this year! They make music. We could be the Von Trap family or the Osmond's? Actually we have no hope in the musical talent area, and Ellery shows a very strong interest in music. Let's hope she has talent from some distant relative, because it isn't coming from her parents! Bryson got the microphone while we have guitar, drum, and keyboard shirts. We sound just as great as kids toys that make music and noise, which means we could use some practice and lots of work! It does bring us lots of joy so mission accomplished!

Happy New Year-2012

I am happy to report that I made it to New Years, but we missed the ball drop due to cribbage playing and kinect fun! The kids were tucked away, but that didn't stop them from celebrating before and after!
Resolution: Enjoy every minute with my precious children. I include Rob in that statement! lol That brings me to my other resolution, find happiness and humor in everything! Check Check and Check!