Last week the weather changed, and all of a sudden I got the urge to start school. I still have a few more things to do to get ready, ex: type of up the daily and weekly schedule, finalize what extra activity each child will do, (we have so many choices it's hard to to decide: swimming, Gymnastics, ballet, YMCA, Piano. No wonder the choice is hard I want my kids to experience all of this, but I don't want to overload our family schedule), take back to school pictures and prepare an evening for back to school blessing from Papa.
While I was worrying about when to start school, the kids decided it was time.
Last week both girls got up ate breakfast and started in on their workbooks.
All three kids were sprawled out on the floor coloring books and workbooks covered the floor. I hesitated taking a picture since the floor was so messy but now I wish I had captured the moment. It was a fun site to see.
I love sitting back and watching them learn.
On Thursday we decided to participate in a Hike it Baby Tacoma hike, but the kids weren't really ready to be socializing so we left the group and explored on our own, which turned to be way better.
The hike turned into a fashion show runway so we stopped and took pictures
Grace dancing on the runway
Gwenevere's runway debut
Gwenevere lead the way, marching to her own drum while Everett and I stopped to look at every single detail along the way.
Grace was very tired and ready to go home but she hung in there and helped us search for all the animals.
Saturday Gwenevere spent over 2 hours working in her workbook just for fun.
The three kids enjoyed helping Papa assemble a new trailer for our car.
discussing the fact that Papa concentration face looks like he's mad.
The bath tub these days is usually very crowded so when i walked by to see Grace and Everett playing in their own space I had to take a picture. Grace is showing Everett how to use a straw to make spit fly. gross. no wonder he's on the other side of the tub.
This is where my kids hang out while I workout at the church. Gwenevere picked up all the cereal Everett spilt on the floor before I came to pick them up. Awe this makes me happy.
We made rabbit Tacos and Everett had fun tasting the cheese.
Spinning in their new dresses while Papa works on the electrical wiring for the trailer.
Sunday morning
This morning Gwenevere asked Papa if she could eat Sushi for breakfast. So that's what they did.
Practicing with the chopsticks
Her first bit
Papa had to bit it in half for her since it was a large piece of sushi
Everett was eager to get in on the action
but quickly spat it out and wipe his mouth clean. Not what he expected.
Grace stayed clear of the festivities as she listened to music in Everett bedroom until it was safe to come out.
Once the Sushi was gone Grace helped me make waffles, yummy
I love our family and the blessings we have, I need to do a better job sharing my testimony and I'll begin to do so in baby steps. God is Good.
We inherited a gray female bunny a couple of months ago and I told James he could get rid of it since it wasn't a very pretty bunny. James agreed she'd probably go sooner than later but decided to give her a chance. And good thing. She's been the best Mama bunny I've seen. Last night during the windy storm she gave birth to a litter of 9 baby bunnies.
I'm excited to watch them grow.
Friday, August 28, 2015
the night before Grace's birthday, Grace asked me to braid her hair. I love that her hair is getting long enough to braid and I double love that she wants it braided.
Braiding her hair the evening was one of my happy mama moments. It wasn't because she wanted me to do her hair, I was happy just because I was taking time to focus on Grace. It didn't matter that the house was mess or that she was watching tv, just being with her made me happy. And I want to remember the happy moments
Lately the girls have been wanting to use the big bowls for cereal and I've been letting them.
Today when I purred Everett's cereal into a small bowl he was sad "No mama." I wasn't sure why he was sad so I said "it's okay Everett; don't you like the blue bowl?" "more mama" was his reply and he grabbed the box and started to tip it. I grabbed the box from his hand and said "ok, i'll pure more. Tell me when to stop."
I started purring very slowly so that only one or two pieces of cereal came out at a time.
"More mama." and then with his hands raise up high Everett said "Higher Mama."
That's when I lost it. Trying hard not to laugh at the situation I was blown away with how much Everett communicates to us. hahahahhahahaha How do you know about the word higher?
Sence of Style:
Everett is also very vocal when it comes to what he wears. He loves picking out his clothes and isn't afraid to tell us no when we put him in clothes he doesn't like. This morning he told me he wanted the "bone" shirt and then pulled out his lynyrd skynyrd shirt with a picture of a skull bone on it.
Underwear:
Two days this week Everett has stopped what he was doing, came and got me and told me he had to go "poop poo". After pooping in the toilet both times Everett has gotten some chocolate chips and a chance to run around in his Underwear. I love it when he says Underwear. it's so cute.
I find it funny that both mornings Everett poop in the toilet were morning Grace woke up with a wet bed. And I know at least one of those nights she had used the restroom right before falling asleep. oh well, that is the life of a 4 and almost two year old.
Running through the clothes line in is "underwear"
Night Night:
Everett loves his sleep. last week there was an evening I was trying to clean up a little bit more before putting kids to bed it was about 7:30pm and Everett kept yelling "Night night Mama. Night night." I guess when you child is telling you to put them to bed, it's time to put them to bed. thanks Everett for the reminder.
Today the girls went to a friends house to play so I decided to take Everett to James' work so I could eat lunch with him. I told Everett it was time to get in the car to go to Papa's work (around 11:45am). Everett looked at me and said "no, night night." Nope he wasn't going to miss out on a nap. not even for Lunch time at Papa's work. Too bad I took him anyway and he fell asleep on the way home from James' work.
Just Everett and Me:
Since the girls were gone today I had a lot of fun hanging out with just Everett. He's a furusious monster and loves to roar and growl at everyone and everything. We played with Playdoh and spent most of the time playing peek a boo monster. He'd hid under the laundry basket while I folded clothes and every few seconds he's pop out from underneath and growl at me. I'd ask surprise, he'd laugh and we'd do it again.
This video was taken a few weeks ago but it shows his little roar. which since then has gotten stronger and louder.
Not so Healthy Everett:
Last week Everett got a mild fever, he was very cranky and demanded cuddling. A neighbor came by a few days before to tell me her child had just been diagnosed with Strep and since she had been playing over at our house she just wanted us to know So when Everett refused to eat I had a hunch he might have gotten strep. Friday morning I decided to take him to the Doctor. I wanted him on Antibiotics before the weekend. The Doctor did a swab and told me he didn't have strep but it was some kind of virus.
After a restless night Everett woke up Saturday morning with a hug swollen glan. Both James and I questioned taking him to an Urgent Care, but since we were told he didn't have strep we decided to wait it out one more day. Lots of ibuprofen was given to help ease his pain. Everett was in a lot of pain. He couldn't move his neck and he wasn't willing to eat. Poor baby.
Sunday morning James went to work, When Everett woke up crying once again because of the pain. I decided I needed to take him to a prompt care. His fever was gone but the swelling was getting bigger.
Our neighbor offered to watch the girls and take them to church for me so I could care for Everett. I know I live in an awesome neighborhood.
So Everett and I went to a Franciscan Prompt Care in Gig Harbor. We cuddled in waiting room for an hour and then finally saw a doctor. Once again the swab came back negative for strep and they told me they would do nothing for his swollen lymph node. To say the least, I was super disappointed. But they did say they would send his swab to the lab for further testing.
Cuddling with Everett at the Franciscan Prompt Care
On Tuesday we got a call from the doctor saying the Lab tests said he had strep, and since his health hadn't improved any since Sunday we decided to get him on antibiotics asap.
Today is one of my favorite days of the year. It's celebrate Grace day. And today we went over the top to celebrate our beautiful little girl.
Prior to Grace's birthday, whenever we went to a store Grace would asked to buy a birthday present. I would tell her no. I didn't think we'd buy her a present this year since we where doing a big birthday party, but she didn't know that and I couldn't tell her. But after several incidents Grace finally broke down and starting crying "but I picked out my present last year." That was it. Of course I wasn't going to turn her down again. So Grace picked out and help wrap her very own birthday present. I'm learning Grace is a lot like James. She doesn't like getting presents, she feels bad when she gets something she doesn't really want. Letting her pick out her birthday presents will probably be what we do every year, it makes her so happy.
The Birthday Morning
Grace woke up to a wet bed and quickly changed into some clean clothes. Then we ate breakfast and open presents. She's been waiting for days to open her presents.
Grandma Jeanie and Grandpa Jim our neighbors brought over a present for Grace. Luck girl
so happy to be reunited with her penguin.
After presents, we did a little dancings and a lot of cleaning to get ready for the day. Then Papa took Grace to run errands and pick out a birthday cake.
Quickly Gwenevere, Everett and I drove to Pump it up and waited with friends for Grace and Papa to arrive.
After Grace picked out a delicious chocolate cake. Papa gave Grace a blindfold to wear. And they drove to pump it up. Grace peeked from her blindfold and saw Papa was taking her to Pump it up. Sneaky girl. But she had no idea her friends where inside waiting.
The surprise was very surprising. Grace ran to me for coverage but after a moment a let her loose and she ran and tackled Gwenevere which turned into a big tackle attack from friends.
Once the surprise was over the kids lined up and had to yell Happy Birthday Grace before they could play. That was Grace's least favorite part of her party. "Next time you tell them they can't yell at me when we go to Pump it Up".
Grace trying to rescue Papa
the birthday gang: Box family, Boyle family, Lider Family. Day Family, Maxfield Family, Baertlein Family and Leavitt Family
Silly face picture
After a very fun hour of playing it was time to eat pizza and cake and open presents.
The whole reason we did a pump it up party was because Grace wanted to sit in the birthday chair. And that is exactly what she did.
She sat
and she sat
and sat. Thoroughly enjoying her throne for the whole 30 minutes she had.
I guess picking out birthday cake with Papa makes him eligible to sit on the throne while they eat their cake.
After the food it was time for birthday presents and birthday hugs.
I'm not sure who's happier. Grace or Logan
Wow, what a fun birthday.
After saying goodbye to all our friends we came home and played with cousins Charlie and Miles, making things with play doh and building with Grace's new legos.
the last present of the day
right before bedtime we took one last picture. YEP she looks like a 4 year old now.
