scientists

For about the last year and a half we have been taking the boys to the Lowes kid craft twice a month. Sometimes we do the projects there, sometimes we bring them home and do them during the week. Last week they got science kits and we spend a couple of hours doing science experiments. Fun stuff. Messy stuff.

Thomas

Last week I took the kids all the way out to Perris to see Thomas. Logan has never cared much for Thomas but Nixon is absolutely in love with all the trains. My parents joined us and it was a fun day. The first thing we did was ride Thomas. Nixon wanted to actually sit in Thomas not in a train behind Thomas but what can you do. Brynnley was there and happy to be with grandma.

There is a small petting zoo that I took the boys through. Nixon was happy to meet all the goats, pigs, pony, calf, etc.

My shy chicken child Logan on the otherhand was petrified and stuck to only petting the rabbits.....but only after he saw Nixon do it.

There is an imagination center where there are stamps, coloring, and lots of train tables and trains to play with. Kind of a zoo in there but Nixon found a cranky and was thrilled. Cranky is a favorite. He tried to steal Cranky.

A hay maze to play in which perfectly displayed the difference between my boys.

Nixon sat on one end of the maze watching the trains go by.

Logan ran the maze continuously. At least he doesn't knock other kids over anymore. The boys wanted to meet Sir topham hat and so I waited and waited and waited in line for him. When it was our turn Logan was no where to be found (surprise surprise) and Nixon didn't want to go by himself. I don't think he ever looked at the camera he was fascinated by sir topham hat.

I decided this week was the week to get those darn training wheels off Logan's bike. When I told him what he was going to do he told me he didn't want to. He asked me who could ride their bikes and so I listed........Reese, Harrison.......Kasen, Gabriel, and Collin (which is a lie because I don't really know that). But once he heard all those names he took off. He loves the riding, but doesn't love the crash landings.

logan's list

I told Logan to circle some things that he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas. Kyle and I have been cracking up because he circled 5 powered vehicles over $1000 dollars worth. No jeeps allowed, just firetrucks, police cars, and any 4-wheelers. At least he was thoughtful and circled the Thomas ride on and said that Santa should give that to Nixon. Maybe Santa should reconsider and actually give the kid one of these.

8

Time really is going by too fast right now. The girl is already 8 months old.

This little baby of mine is the sweetest thing if I do say so myself. She loves the water, when we shower she just stares at it and reaches out to feel the water spraying her hand.

She sleeps completely folded over.

She is so stinkin chunky. Love it! This is a horrible picture but can you see that fat face of hers. Yum. I made her cry once this month because I was nibbling on her cheek and maybe it was too hard for her.

This next picture makes me laugh everytime I think about it. I didn't take the headband off of her because I didn't want to wake her up. Then about 30 minutes later I heard her talking so I went in to check on her. She was sitting up moving her head from side to side, like who turned the lights out? She was probably so confused that she couldn't see anything. I wish I had it on video.This month she started crawling and pulling herself up to a standing position. So now you can usually find me doing the dishes pantless. She just crawls on over, pulls at my legs to stand up, pulling my pants down in the process and says, "mama" over and over again until I stop what I'm doing and pick her up.

I have to constantly tell the boys that everything has to be picked up or she will choke. The other day I went through all the Legos making sure I had all of them (all 405 little tiny pieces). The boys think it is pretty funny that she is mobile now. They yell out, "here she comes, she's coming to get us" when she starts crawling towards them (don't mind all the toys in the background, it's raining today so every toy seems to be out)

She is senstive. Lately, she likes to blow raspberries while she has food in her mouth. So I tell her no and flick her mouth a little bit and she bursts out on tears. And doesn't stop crying until I pick her up and cuddle her for a bit.

This little girl eats and eats and eats. She nurses every 3-4 hours. She eats her baby food three times a day. She eats every fruit, vege, and meat. Not picky one bit. She eats cheerios, goldfish, chunks of bananas. She eats little pieces of whatever we as a family are eating. She eats asparagus and celery. I can't even get my husband to eat asparagus. She had her first taste of chocolate and looked at me with deep gratitude. If I am holding her and put anything in my mouth she stares at my mouth then at my eyes with a look that makes me feel like I am depriving her of something. If I am chewing gum she starts trying to bite my mouth. She is seriously such a crazy eater. Crazy eating results in crazy pooping (like 4 times a day, blah).

She still wakes up at night. She got a pretty nasty cold and cough that left her hoarse this month and was waking up at least 4 times at night. Now that she is feeling better she wakes up once or twice. She takes naps in her crib, and starts the night out in her crib and then out of laziness she ends up in my bed.

she is still pretty attached to me. She likes her dad for a bit and then she wants me. But it is nearing the time when she is going to be able to stay home with dad without me there.

she is an excellent cuddler. Especially when she is going down for the night.

our family is lucky to have this sweet girl

October

Pumpkin patch visited

The boys chose the things they wanted to do there with the tickets we bought. It got them a train ride.

A motorcycle ride

Some bouncing in a bouncy house and a slide ride.

We carved three pumpkins and it took so long that the boys lost interest.

Logan told me he wanted to be ironman months ago. Nixon decided to be Dash from the Incredibles and so Brynnley became Wonder woman. Originally, I thought of just putting her in black, putting little ears on, painting her face and calling her cat woman. But then my friend sent me a link with a wonder woman costume and so I decided very last minute to sew up a costume.

The kids loved Halloween. They went to too many Halloween parties, where they ate too many sweet treats and candy. The boys were adorable trick or treating. Kyle and I were cracking up the whole time. Nixon fell a couple of times and would always yell, "oh no, my candy." Don't mind the scraped knees and bruises, as long as the candy was ok he was ok.

Happy Halloween

Hope it is WONDERful!!!!

nixon at school

Nixon started home preschool a couple of weeks ago with two of our friends. He loves it. I love the two hours I get once a week (minus the week I teach) to get as many things done as I can with only one child.

7

Sleeps in crib, but still ends up in bed with me.

Really close to crawling....gulp

Says dada

Like fries

Eats solids three times a day. One big bowl of cereal with either sweet potatoes, squash, peaches, apples, pears, peas, berries, or mixed veges.

Loves teething bars

Like avocados

Is hungry for her solids at exactly the same time of day every day.

Can hold her own sippy cup and loves drinking her water. I think if it were up to her she would stop nursing and eat what we all eat.

Wakes up ALOT at night. It's ok with me, I'm not ready to move her out of my room.

Pinches

Has great thighs......

Almost as great as her cheeks

Wants me to hold her all the time. Is fine with other people as long as she can't see or hear me.

Squints up her face when she is really happy.

Takes off every single flower or bow I put on her head.

Likes watching the water come out of the shower head.

Smiles or laughs every time the cat walks by.

this weekend

Last week Logan's soccer game got rained out, so we were extra excited for this game. He is playing for LBYSO and is on the Red Dragons. However, the only red in their uniforms is a red thunder bolt on the shirt. The team mom got them red socks for next game so they will be a little more red. Kyle is coaching because they asked for a volunteer and apparently he was the only one to volunteer. Suddenly, he is called "coach" by eleven little boys. Kinda funny to me. Logan was so excited when he got his uniform that he wore it everyday and I had to keep washing it. So Saturday morning I went to get his uniform and couldn't find the shorts. I tore the house apart and then yelled at my husband to turn the football game off and help me look for the shorts. It worked.....he found them. But because I spent an hour looking for them Nixon didn't get any care prior to the game. So this Red Dragon supporter looked a little shabby.

Brynnley tried desperately to eat the grass the entire game.

When the other team made a goal I felt myself getting anxious and upset, like a crazy soccer mom. My future flashed before my eyes, in which I saw lots and lots of sporting games. I need to keep telling myself that he is only four and it is just a game.

Anyways, 30 minutes is a long game for these little kids. Theyy were sweaty and exhausted but happy as can be. Logan didn't score any goals, we have some pretty amazing 6 year olds on our team

Logan hasn't taken a nap in such a long time. However, after the game he zonked out shin guards and all for 3 hours. Apparently, it's exhausting being a coach too. Not sure why they are sleeping with tulle. Kyle set up the crib. Nixon calls it a bird cage. He never slept in one so he's not sure what it is. The boys aren't supposed to get in it so they have been getting in plenty of trouble.

Brynnly joined us for date night. Lets just say she won't be invited back. And check Nixon out now.

ALOT of hair came off of his head!! I cringed when kyle was cutting nixon's hair even though I agreed to it. Watching all that shiny, blond hair fall to the ground was sad. I actually ran over and picked up some of it. I felt like the witch on tangled. He looks precious though. My friend actually didn't recognize him today, thought I was babysitting someone. Ha.

6

At the beginning of the month B turned 6 months. But she was getting two bottom teeth, received four immunizations that gave her a fever for a few days, and caught a cold so I was occupied taking care of a grumpy baby (and two crazy boys) so there was very little free time for me.

At 6 months:

18 lbs 3 oz

2 ft 3 inches

Sits up. Sadly, I must admit that her brothers have both knocked her over at least once.

Has two bottom teeth and has biten me a time or two. When I screech and tell her no (with a little flick on her mouth), my happy baby just smiles and laughs.

Reaches for everything.

Eats solids 3 times a day. Rice cereal and applesauce, pears, carrots, sweet potatoes and squash. Time to sneak some greens in.

Eating solids has made other stuff solid. Great.

Still wakes up at night at least once.

Still sleeps in bed with me.

Fell out of my bed today so the crib will be going up soon.

Rocks as though she wants to start moving forward.

Cries if I leave the room. It makes me smile, except when I have something to do.

Carries around a pillowcase still.

Loves her paci.

Is amused by her brothers.

Her only word is mama

When she babbles she sounds like a gremlin.

Fits in some 3-6 months clothes and 6-12

Should probably be in a size 3 diaper all the time, but I have so many size 2s that I only put her in a 3 at nighttime.

I lay her on her back to sleep, but she rolls onto her belly and seems to be more comfortable sleeping that way.

She still wakes up around 6 and fusses until I put her next to me on my pillow. Then she puts her hand on my cheek and falls asleep. I may be tired at that time, but I never get tired of that early morning moment with her.

Love her.

What a difference from last year! Last year, he wouldn't let me take a picture. Last year, he started preschool crying his head off, screaming "mom, don't leave me." This year because everything was familiar to him (minus a change in some kids) he walked right in. I think I need to start talking to him about how he is going to be in a new school next year. Maybe if we talk about it daily for the next year my shy boy will be ready for kindergarten.

Sidenote: He had his 4 year old physical last week. Wouldn't say one word to the NP. Just buried his head in my chest, so shy. Cried when they took his blood pressure and because he kept moving the machine kept rechecking it.

He's always been pretty strong, doesn't cry much. But he got 4 boosters....man alive!! There was screaming, crying, tears streaming down his face. I was wrestling him, while trying to comfort him and had the other two kiddos there. It was rough, so rough that I told the nurse my husband would be bringing him next time for his shots. Apparently he doesn't need anymore until he is 10 (aside from a TB test).

He weighed 39.5 lbs
Height 3 ft 7 inch

Their computer system estimated he would be 6 ft 1inch as an adult. Kyle cried. He wants a really tall kid and 6'1" doesn't cut it.

She's sitting up on her own now! She rolls over and squirms all over. In no time she will be mobile.

super birthday

Whew!!! Throwing a birthday party is a lot of work. It was the first time I threw a "friends" birthday party. I knew it had to be superhero themed. Logan LOVES Ironman. But I decided to make it superheros so that I could make superman capes as party favors. I waited until the last minute to sew the capes (partially because I was waiting for RSVPs). Fortunately, my friend Melissa helped (actually she did it all) me the night before the party. I found myself finished up the superhero masks the morning of the party. The kids decorated their masks during the party and were adorable running around in their masks and capes. We invited 8 of Logan's guy friends. His best friends at the moment are: Harrison, Andrew, Gavin, Gabriel, Kasen, Drake, Thyssen, and Liam.....and his brother of course. I knew a few of the sisters would be joining us so I made a few pink superhero masks.

Brynnley tried one on before the party. Her tongue is super all on its own. They bounced

Miss B joined us for awhile before she passed out. Carrying those supercheeks around is a lot of work.

They beat the candy right out of batman

They recharged

They opened presents. It was a group effort.

Super Harrison

Super Thyssen saying goodbye

Super GabrielKasen

I was so tired after throwing the party that I called Kyle at work and told him I wouldn't be cooking dinner. We went out to dinner where Nixon was complaining of a stomach ache and wouldn't eat anything. Minutes later he threw up.....a ton of tootsie rolls. He then told me that his stomach felt better. Apparently I let him party too hard.

The next day my family came over for a party. Logan thought he was turning 5 because he was having another birthday party. Logan starts soccer soon so he got soccer gear along with an ironman mask and other toys.

This is pretty much how I have seen Logan since Saturday. I have to force him to take off his cleats.

Monday Logan met up with Kyle for his birthday lunch. He thought he was turning 6 because he was having a birthday lunch. He LOVES el pollo loco salads and so he received his birthday wish. Laura the manager also brought him an ice cream sundae and balloon and sang happy birthday to him. As expected, Logan hid behind his dad, shy as can be.