Not so chatty

I haven't been blogging much lately because I just haven't felt like I had much to say. The kids are all doing well, growing and amazing us everyday as usual! Hopefully I'll start feeling chatty soon but here are some pics to hold you over!

I was trying to get a new picture of Sean for a scrapbook page I'm doing for his teacher.

Sara showing off her latest lego creation Human Pretzel, maybe? Not sure!!

*Iain busted up his lip pretty good this weekend. He was playing first base and he caught a ball with his mouth instead of his glove. I took a picture but he made me promise not to blog it! So you get the Human Pretzel instead.*

Lots of pictures but not words

I'm not feeling very wordy tonight so I'll just leave pictures instead. I'm quite tired! Did I mention that Grey's is back tonight too? ;-)

I love, love this picture!

Mr. Laid back

Just being silly. Sara loves to show her tongue!

Not quite sure what they're doing here, but they were having fun!

When I say 'freeze' this is what she does! I find it hilarious!

Glimpse into their own little personalities

Today Iain T. reminded me that Earth Day in Tuesday. He asked if we can walk to school that day instead of drive, to help the environment. Absolutely Buddy!

Sara loves bugs! Since she was a teeny, tiny tike, she has been fascinated with them. She went through a short phase a few months back, when she was afraid of all creepy crawlies. Luckily she is out of that now. On Friday, I found a disgustingly huge and furry looking spider in our house. Since Sean has been studying spiders in class I thought I'd catch it, so he could bring it to school. I have to say it was very brave of me! (Sara does not get her fondness for arachnids from me!!) We had it in a see-through container. She was carrying it around the house, pushing her nose to the plastic, talking to the little guy...eeck!!! A bit later I asked if she wanted to go out front and look for more bugs. She got a huge smile on her face, leaned over to me and whispered..."elephants". After a little giggle, I asked if she wanted to go out front and look for elephants instead of bugs. She replied, "oh yes!". Silly girl! We did go look, but unfortunately didn't find any!

Friday was Mommy and Me Night at Sean's school. He and I went to school at 6:00pm for dinner, conversation and crafts. It's a very fun evening spent with the kids, one-on-one. The craft we made (well he made while I encouraged) was a picture frame, with a Polaroid of us in it of course!!

Here's our frame

and our picture. I love how he leaned in to snuggle!

Quote of the day

Iain T. and I were talking about when he had the Chicken Pox. He said that all the kids in his class were jealous! They wished they could've stayed home for a week watching tv and playing video games (which he didn't do!!). This was his response to me...

"I didn't tell them this Mom but I wanted to say 'My Mom cares about me alot. She doesn't let me watch tv and play video games all day. She loves me so I have to read and play things other than electronics!' "

He gets it, he gets it! Even though he complains when the tv goes off or when I say no, it helps to know he at least knows I'm doing it for him!

One point for Mom!!!

Park day

After a very challenging day with the kiddos, I'm going to focus on something positive. Something that went well. The park!

Today both boys had baseball. Iain and Sean went to Seany's game while Iain T., Sara and I went to Iain's practice. I wasn't sure how the whole thing would play out. Sara was a bear this afternoon! She went down late for nap and woke up after only an hour. She wasn't at her finest!! An hour and a half at the park possibly interacting with other children did not sound like the best choice for a grumpy two year old. Much to my surprise she did fantastic! She played the entire time with another little girl she met. They played well, shared and ran around laughing together! I was so relieved! She was even feeling a bit daring! This past week she started climbing up all the ladders that lead up to the slides. You know all the different kinds...they have the rounded ones, long straight ones chain ones. She now goes up all of them by herself! She still looks so little to me! Here are a few pics!

Eating her sandwich when we first got there.

Climbing the rope'ish ladder with a boy she met.

She started by crawling across the bridge. By the end she was running and jumping across!

Lovin the swings!

Life with Coco

This week we have a special visitor in our home, Coco the Bear. He is a close relative to Snotty the Wonder Dog that visited us last year. Coco is this years mascot for Sean's preschool class. Like Snotty, Coco gets to visit each of the kids for a week, then they write in a journal about their adventures. On Monday when I picked Sean up, he was so excited that this was his week! The first thing he did was change his new friend into some boy clothes. Did I mention he comes with a backpack of accessories? He's one stylish bear! That afternoon at nap, Sean tucked him in with a blanket and pillow (also found in the backpack). When Sean woke up he went straight to Coco who was now out of his blanket (read: Sara). He was very upset and let me know that Coco wasn't done resting, he was woken up too soon! Oooops, sorry Coco! Since then Coco has been a bit neglected. I'm afraid the novelty wore off very quickly. The sweet bear has sat on a chair in our living room. I actually thought that Sean and Sara would be fighting over him, guess not!

I did manage to get a few pictures that will go in the journal. I think Coco will be glad to visit a new home next week! Sorry Coco!!!

Getting Coco ready for nap!

A few Sara tidbits

First and foremost, I forgot to mention that Mimi is gone! Completely gone! I had continued to trim it but nothing was working to deter her interest. The nipple was so, so small that we weren't real concerned about the effects on her teeth anymore! It wouldn't even stay in her mouth, it was too short! But she still wanted it every night. Then one day last week she threw it. We were in the car on the way to see Nanny. Sara was going to have a nap there so we brought Mimi along. As I was driving she threw it in the car and I couldn't find it. We decided to seize the opportunity and say Mimi was gone. She does remember throwing it and will tell you that she threw it and now it's gone! (We did end up finding it in a side compartment of the door, but shhhh!, don't tell Sara!) She has officially slept 6 nights without it. The first night was an adjustment, a few night wakings but since then no problems! Yea Sara!!

Another Sara tidbit, she has fallen in love with purses. She wants to be carrying one around at all times. Taking her brothers to school, the store, riding her scooter...she wants a purse!! Today she was climbing a ladder at the park (a high one too) with a black purse over her shoulder. Quite talented indeed! The contents of the purse are also quite impressive. Today we had chapstick (which she ate the entire tube of), sunglasses, Dora blocks, toothpaste, a toothbrush, some coins, a plastic corn on the cob, a random Christmas toy that she uses as a drum stick and a bouncy ball that is lost because it bounced away. She's quite a collector! Silly, silly girl!

Catching up

I guess I've been gone awhile. Not sure where the past week went. Actually I think I do. We had several parties to attend and lots of baseball. We're now settling back in to our routine and making up for lots of lost sleep.

Here are just a few things that have been heard around the house lately...

Tonight I was serving up dinner (turkey burgers) and I asked Sara how many carrots she would like. She answered "four and a half please". I was cracking up!!

Last week I had to make a visit to the DMV to change the name on the title of our car. Sean asked what I was doing there and I explained that I had to change the name on the car. He paused and a few seconds later asked "what are we going to call it now?" Too cute!

Tonight I caught Iain looking in the mirror flexing his muscles. He explained (I didn't ask or say a word) that he had a muscle growing. He flexed all different ways so I could see every angle. Maybe he is still thinking about that football career!

The boys have been having a good time with baseball. They both had games last night, at the same time, on fields that were right next to each other. It was actually very convenient! I walked back and forth between the two fields watching and cheering for both of them.

I don't have many pictures from this week either. I really need to get clicking! Here are some random ones so I don't get in trouble for not posting any!!!

It amazes me how dirty she gets playing outside. Her red and dirty cheeks are so cute!

Iain and Sara being lions. This is on all fours and then the...

...ROAR...

I'm gunna like it here

Today was the day Sean (alright, alright, me too!) has been waiting for.

Kindergarten Roundup!

It's when the incoming Kindergartners get to go to school and spend a bit of time in the classrooms and meet the teachers. The parents go into another building and have a meeting with all the what to expects for the following year. When we did it three years ago for Iain, he was terrified! He didn't know a single person, all new, unfamiliar faces. He cried, I cried...it was so hard. This year was so much different. Sean knows 10 kids that are starting with him. Today was a big reunion for him! He went willingly and happily into the classroom, with a smile even. It's very comforting to us to see how excited he is.

As we were walking to the car, he leaned toward me and said "I'm gunna like it here"!

(I'm tired, tired, tired. So pictures will have to wait until tomorrow.)

New talent

Look what Sara started to do this weekend!

She is so proud of herself and thrilled that she can scooter outside with the boys. They zoom past her back and forth but she is too busy concentrating to notice! (I couldn't even get her to look up for a picture!)She started with her left foot up and her right foot pushing but as of today she has switched. She is doing much better with her left foot down! More balanced and actually a bit more speed! Go Sara!

Oh boy

Seven year olds are funny. They know so much about the world but at the same time are so young.

Conversation I had with Iain yesterday:

Iain: "I want to be a football player when I grow up."

Me: "Okay! You'd be a great football player! You have a long time before you have to chose though. You may even change your mind a few times before you decided what you want to do."

Iain: "A LONG TIME!?!?!" I'm already 7! Soon I'll be 10, it's not that far away, only a few years. Then I'll be 14 and I HAVE to know by then! If I want to be a football player I have to start doing push ups!"

I had the hardest time keeping a straight face!! He was so adamant about this. I was able to calm him down a bit and help him realize that he still had a little time to make this life altering decision! ;-) I think he'll hold off on the push ups for a bit!!

Instead of sleeping I can...

Play with Daddy's soccer cones

Do Itsy Bitsy Spider

Play with my new Easter hat

Try to sweet talk Mommy into letting me stay up longer

This all took place within a 5 minute period. She knew it was time for bed. I think she thought if she kept busy I'd forget it was bedtime!

Piggy rides and dvds

Not a lot going on around here. Feeling pretty mellow which is always a good sign for the start of a new week. I'm getting excited for Mexico though, about a month until we leave. I've been hoarding all of my Christmas and birthday money/gift cards waiting to buy some fun things to wear for the trip. better start working on a tan so I don't burn to a crisp when I get there!!! There are some pretty cool websites out there that share comments from others who have been to our resort. (Yes, I know it's not really ours....) Definitely has good tips to remember. Sun, sand and all I can eat/drink...sounds fun already! We have the wedding one day, the only other plans we have is to swim with dolphins. We both still wish we would've done it on our honeymoon (9.5 years later). We've already looked into it for this trip!

I'm feeling a bit anxious about leaving the kiddos for that long though. I know they are in perfect hands and that part is fine. I'm actually wondering how I will do for 6 days without them! Yikes!!

I'll leave you with some pics from yesterday. Nothing too exciting though...

A dvd line! She got them all out (see open drawer behind her) and lined them all up.

Piggy rides from big brother (excuse the diapers in the background)

Sean wanted to try too! As you can tell from Iain's face, he was a bit heavy!

Yesterday

Yesterday was a planned 'no plans' day. I didn't want to go out at all, figured a nice stay in our jammies day was just what we needed. We played blocks, had a tea party and played lots of dress up. Here are a few pics...

This train was a group effort. Sean did most of the train and Sara put each of the little toppers on the sticks.

Our little chef

Not sure what this dance move is called

I love this hat!Then Flash came into the scene! I tried to get a picture of Sean and Sara together but Sara couldn't take her eyes off of Flash.

First she was poking him with her wand,

Then she decided to take a peek! She wanted to see for herself who was under that mask!

Flash in a tiara!

The value of a jelly bean

Today right before I put Sara down for nap, she asked to wear panties. Obviously nap wasn't the best time to start the potty process. I told her she could wear them after nap, she seemed happy with that.As soon as she woke up, her first words to me were "Diego panties please". We put the underwear on her and waited. She didn't want to sit on her potty but she didn't have an accident either. Awhile later she decided it was time to sit! She sat and sat and sat and sat...while holding her bunny purse of course!!

An hour later, yes she sat for an hour, it was time for dinner. I explained that after dinner she could sit again if she wanted to. Well, we had told her that if she went pee we'd give her a jelly bean. (Yes, it's bribery but it worked well for the boys.) When I told her it was time to get up she replied "jelly bean please". I told her that she needed to go pee to get the jelly bean. She looked right at me and peed!!!! Yep, that easy! Iain, the boys and I all started jumping up and down, cheering for her. She had a huge grin on her face!!! Here's the proud little girl!

At dinner, the boys both chose Sara using the potty as their favorite thing of the day. When they each said it, Sara clapped her hands and cheered! We're all very proud!

This one...

• Has a kind, sensitive heart
• Loves nature
• Wants to be a professional football player
• Is growing out his hair
• Has his mother's sweet tooth
• Reads at a 5th grade level
• Has an eye for fashion
• Makes amazing creations with Legos
• Loves to disco dance
• Is 7 going on 17

This one...

• Cuddles like no other I've ever met
• Is very good with computers
• Loves to ride his bike
• Still wakes up with the roosters
• Has an amazing ability to make friends where ever he goes
• Will turn down dessert (crazy huh?)
• Would play video games all day if we let him
• Makes up his own songs almost daily
• Does not like compliments about his hair
• Wants to have a loose tooth

This one...

• Has a smile that melts our hearts
• Loves to get dirty
• Would rather eat out of snack bags than off of a plate
• Cheers when it's time for her brothers to come home from school
• Has a great sense of humor
• Sleeps like a champ
• Is not a morning person
• Will eat anything covered in ranch
• Loves dogs, frogs and worms
• Likes to pick out her own shoes each day

(I took this idea from another blog. I can't take the credit for it!! Thanks Jen05!)