Thursday, September 30, 2010

Too Smart?

Me: Thomas turn off the water. Thomas you're wasting water!
Thomas: Mom, it's just molecules you know. Water is just molecules.

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!

Who could argue with that logic and this little face?

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Sassy

Our house is FULL of sassy right now! From ALL children! Today my text to Dan looked like this:

"You know what Thomas just said? Try and make me. The nerve!!!! He's currently living out the consequence of those words."

Where do my kids learn stuff like that?! I was livid!

Katie and Molly use their sassy more in the way they say "NO!" and shun other people from their personal space. Those sassy girls! It doesn't help that Katie dislikes wearing diapers, clothes, and shoes, she doesn't like having her hair done, and dislikes her carseat immensely. Sassy little girl!

Molly uses her extremely expressive face for her sassiness. See Evidence #1:

Speech

The boys started speech last week. It's been a long process to get here, but we are finally in speech. The boys ride a fine line between developmentally appropriate and having speech issues. I've had them checked every year since they were three and we are now enrolled in a speech program. The only issue is that it's in the middle of the day in the middle of the work week. That means I drop the boys off in their classroom and then have 30 minutes in a public school to try and occupy the girls. Good times!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Ballet Begins

Today was Joshua's first class of ballet. I dropped the other three kiddos off in daycare so I could concentrate on Joshua and give him my full attention. Of course, after about 15 minutes the daycare came and got me stating that Molly "really has a set of lungs." Awesome. I then got to enjoy the second half of ballet lessons with the girls on my lap (not nearly as much fun). Here are some pictures. He learned a couple poses and moves. It was so darn cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sunday, September 26, 2010

The End of Summer





Our summer days are clearly coming to an end. The beautiful days have nicely coincided with some free time as a family (a rarity!). The weather was beautiful this weekend so we tried to take advantage of every moment. We ate dinner at a park after church and spent all day outside today with the kids riding bikes, playing baseball, and just playing to our hearts contents. Our children are exhausted!!! Here are the last few pictures of summer 2010!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Valleyfest 2010

One of our favorite parades in the area was tonight. Valleyfest! Luckily we met up with some friends and I had extra hands since Dan was late due to volleyball. I overestimated my abilities and figured if nothing else I could handle it on my own...I would've been in trouble! The girls, even though it STARTED half hour past their bedtime, did wonderfully. They danced to the music. Picked wrappers up off the ground. All the fun toddler things to do during a parade. The boys ended up with FOUR bucketfuls of candy. So great! And by that I mean that Dan and I ended up with four bucketfuls of candy! ;)


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Cheese! 17 Months

Can you say cheese?! The girls can! And boy are they loving hamming it up for the camera. Apparently a week ago, they decided to throw my camera in the garbage never to be seen again. This is the only thing we can assume since we have essentially taken the house apart in order to find it. Good times. Now, a week without a camera, and the girls have missed it! We are borrowing a camera for the time being and the girls followed me around tonight saying, "Cheese," and posing for pictures. Adorable! Here are the girls!

Also....17 months has quickly come upon us! Wow! The girls are almost a year and a half old. Amazing how time flies! They are both teething...still. Both are running everywhere and keeping us very much on our toes.

Katie has decided she hates her diaper. This has led to brief stints of time on the potty and several incidents of peeing on the floor. Thank goodness for hardwoods! She hates wearing a diaper, clothes, shoes, or having her hair done. Recently I've discovered that she'll wear the boys old clothes (and likes to dress like them- problem somewhat solved, thankfully I kept some of their old clothes), and if I put a few mini-marshmallows in a cup or jar with a really small opening it'll keep her busy enough while I quickly pull her hair up.

She loves to jump. She is still a mama's girl but is beginning to open up to other people.

She loves to do anything that Thomas and Joshua do and will follow them around driving them crazy.

She'll now give you kisses if you ask (especially, or maybe only, to daddy).


Molly is a ham. That girl is bound to be an actress.

Everything is dramatic, good or bad. She has the best smile, the best goofy face, and loves to entertain. She throws tantrums like the best of them too! She loves loves loves to be outside.

She just started this great hug where she wraps her arms around your neck and snuggles in and holds on tight. It is the BEST feeling ever! She talks nonstop and always has something to say.

Most of it is gibberish but she tosses in a real word every once in a while to keep you listening. Smart girl!


I should also mention that two of my favorite nearly five year olds are active and busy as well. They are managing to be the best big brothers these girls could ask for. If the girls wake up and I can't get to them right away, the boys will go in and entertain. They read together. They sing together. They yell together. It's adorable...most of the time. I can't wait to see this bond as they get older.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Let the Sports Begin

We knew this time of life would come. We hoped we had more time, but alas, it has come already. The boys have chosen different sports. Thomas chose soccer, Joshua chose ballet. Luckily they are on different times on different days, but I have a feeling it will be a bit crazy for a while.


Today was Thomas' first day of soccer. We were unsure how he'd do since he's registered in the 5-year old bracket (he's soooo close to 5!) and since he's never played organized soccer before. He did amazingly. Followed directions, practiced some skills, and then scored two goals during the game! Woo hoo! So much fun to watch. He said he had fun too which is the best part.


As for the other kids. We're figuring all that out. We realized we can bribe Joshua with the apps on our phones. Now we have to figure out how to bribe the girls for an hour. Slowly but surely, we get the kinks figured out!

Next up? Ballet on Monday!

We Love the Fair

Man, we love the fair! Although this might have been the roughest year for the girls. They aren't quite old enough to do anything, but they are old enough to realize they are missing out entirely.

The kids and I went on Friday and enjoyed a rather crowd-free day and saw the animals and enjoyed the fair atmosphere. We happened to walk by the Tractor Pull and since it was free the boys entered. The boys seemed to have a great time and Thomas won! He didn't win anything, but both boys received a ribbon and were thrilled!

We went again tonight as a family and it was everything we hoped it could be. The girls were finally allowed onto the carousel which made their entire night. Thomas and Joshua entered the Tractor Pull again and THOMAS WON AGAIN! That kid is amazing. He ended by pulling 100 pounds nearly 20 feet. So cool to watch! He even got to have a face-off with Ziggy (the sponsor) and in the end won a gift certificate to Fast Kart and Papa Murphys. Woo hoo! Go Thomas!





We also let the boys do Mutton Bustin'. So fun to watch. Thomas loved it. Joshua said he *might* do it next year. He was pretty traumatized by the mouthful of dirt he recieved. I bet he'll do it next year. Even though Katie and Molly are too young, they've already expressed interest too! :)




Such a great night! So much fun! It's fun to watch their little faces light up with excitement over things big and small. It's those moments that being a parent is so much fun! Hooray for the fair!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A New Year of Preschool

The 2010-2011 school year has begun! We are very happy about it. Well, let's clarify, MOST of us are happy about it. The girls? Not so thrilled. The reunion between all four children is very sweet though.

The front porch picture (First 2009-2010, Then 2010-2011)
At school picture (Last year, then this year)


Annual Picture with daddy (last year then this year)



My awesome tree picture from this year! Love my school boys!




Sunday, September 12, 2010

Picture Post

Molly eating a popsicle...and being cute.
Sometimes lunch looks like this...



The children are just cute.
Daddy was at Guard all weekend. Mommy was sick. Towards the end of Sunday the girls were saying 'dada' over and over and the boys were voicing how much they missed daddy.
Playing at the park...

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Every Finger Has It's Purpose

At the dinner table this week, Dan had to have a discussion about finger usage. Thomas was pointing with his middle finger and Dan was helping him to realize that every finger has a purpose.

The pointing finger. The naughty finger. The ring finger. And the 'one million dollars' finger. And of course, thumbs up/thumbs down.

Monday, September 6, 2010

What Do You Notice First?


Hopefully you notice her blue tongue, not her huge bump on her head.