Family Fun...

Cheese!

2011-07-24T05:04:00.001-07:00

Anytime you point a camera at Matthew, he smiles & says "cheeeeeeeeese"!

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Natural science museum

2011-07-24T05:02:00.001-07:00

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Lemonade for a dog!

2011-07-08T19:46:00.001-07:00

Ellie decide last night that she is going to raise $100 to buy a dog. I have no idea why she thinks $100 is enough for a lahsa-poo or a chihuahua, but I think I agreed to her plan without realizing that she may actually be able to get the money! Today, she & her friends and Kevin had a lemonade stand (with powdered doughnuts & candy from the 4th of July parade as well) & raked in $27.45! Everyone agreed to let Ellie keep all the money to put toward her dog fund! She made the agreement a prerequisite for anyone who wanted to participate! So, combined with the $6.13 she has in her Hello Kitty bank, she is 1/3 of the way to her goal! Tomorrow, she plans to improve her sales totals by adding brownies to the sale!

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Rangers game

2011-07-05T21:18:00.001-07:00

Chris's boss was kind enough to let us use tickets to his box for the Rangers game. We invited a couple of families to join us.

Don't they look handsome?!?

Matthew striking his man pose! He's serious about baseball!

Kevin and his girlfriend violet! He says they are going to get married because Violet told him so! When she got to the game, she came and sat next to him. He looked at her, gave her a shy little smile, looked back to the game and didn't say anything. but I could see a little sparkle in his eye. They are sweet friends!

By about 9:30, all the boys were playing games on their parents' phones. It was a little sad, but it was late, so that made it ok. At least they weren't crying having a terrible time since it was so far past their bedtimes.

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Kids sleeping

2011-07-05T20:52:00.001-07:00

So sweet

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Speedzone

2011-06-22T07:40:00.001-07:00

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The brothers

2011-06-22T07:26:00.001-07:00

Kevin & Matthew have become good little friends!

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Kevin the techie!

2011-06-22T07:22:00.001-07:00

Kevin has started to really love his leapster & Granny's iPad! He sat in this chair while I got my teeth cleaned & played his leapster the entire time! It is fun to see that he's found something that he really loves.

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Summer swimming!

2011-06-22T07:15:00.001-07:00

We've had lots of fun swimming this summer!

He is so cute! He even smiles for the camera!

Kevin & Violet are best buddies! They are so cute together!

Swimming at granny's! Matthew really enjoyed the baby pool!

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Zoo

2011-06-05T14:21:00.001-07:00

We went to the zoo earlier this week. It was hot, but we didn't notice it! We visited the indoor exhibits and the water area.

Matthew loved the ice cream sandwich!

Zoo

2011-06-05T14:18:00.001-07:00

Zoo

2011-06-04T19:53:00.001-07:00

Zoo

2011-06-04T19:51:00.001-07:00

Zoo

2011-06-04T19:50:00.001-07:00

Fishing Derby

2011-06-04T19:44:00.001-07:00

We didn't catch anything this year, but we got there with only a few minutes left in the derby! I guess the fish were full!

Ellie participated in the hula hoop contest. She thought that was fun!

Fishing Derby

2011-06-04T19:35:00.003-07:00

Fishing Derby

2011-06-04T19:35:00.001-07:00

Another pic from the Drive in theater

2011-06-04T07:59:00.001-07:00

Drive In theater!

2011-06-04T07:58:00.001-07:00

We went to see Kung Fu Panda 2 at the drive in last night. The kids loved it, and the coke was really good! That's more than I can say for the movie! Matthew finally fell asleep around 10:15 in the stroller! The kids slept in this morning until 9:45! Unheard of! But we all needed the rest!

Fishing at Caruth Park on Mother's Day

2011-05-24T16:08:00.001-07:00

Fishing at Cedar Hill State Park

2011-05-24T16:04:00.001-07:00

2011-05-24T06:20:00.001-07:00

2011-05-23T12:38:00.001-07:00

Cute Video of Matthew

2011-02-05T20:32:00.000-08:00

This is a sweet video of Matthew using his new head nod to 'answer' some questions. It starts to get a little boring (only to those who are NOT his mom) in the middle, but if you can keep watching until the end, you'll hear him say "Ellie" and see him wave bye!

This is a video of Kevin feeding Matthew. When I am paying attention, I notice that Kevin is trying so hard to make sure he is noticed in the family. He soaks up attention and beams with joy when we notice the love he shows to Matthew and when we enjoy the silliness of his humor.

Just a funny moment in the snow... Ellie gets cold, Kevin has the flu and Matthew just smiles!

May 2010

2010-10-22T19:59:00.000-07:00

Kevin fell asleep while watching Dora!

Matthew meets Lucas Schwarte!

Chris brought Ellie to his friend Bill Hall's wedding! She had a great time and loved the dancing and the cake, of course!

Poor King Matthew. It's only the beginning of being dressed up by your older sister!

The kids help me cut cookies. Kevin is naked and covered in sidewalk chalk. It's a very sanitary day in the kitchen!

March 2010

2010-09-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

April 2010

2010-09-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

February 2010

2010-09-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

Catching up!!! I'm a little sad that my little baby is crawling and babbling "momma" now... It's always fun to see them learn and grow, but aren't they cute as little newborns?!?!

She's going to LOVE this pic when she gets older!

A few quotes from Kevin...

2010-07-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

At the doctor's office a month ago, I was trying to find out if both of K's ears were hurting...

Me: Kevin, does this ear hurt, too? (pointing to the left ear because I already knew the right ear hurt)

Kevin: Um, no.... Ummmm.... This ear hurts two (pointing to the RIGHT), and this ear hurts four (pointing to the LEFT).

He was totally clueless how cute that was! He was being sincere!

********
Me: What was your favorite part about today?

Kevin: Going to the "HURRAY" with Daddy and Ellie.

Me: What did you do at the hurray?

Kevin: The people on the firetruck threw candy, Ellie and me picked it up and put the candy in our bags. Then the firetruck went away. That's what we did at the HURRAY.

In case you didn't catch on - the HURRAY was actually the PARADE!!

Matthew Two Weeks

2010-03-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

Matthew is 2 weeks old in these pics. I wanted to take some sleeping baby pictures, but he wouldnt sleep. oh well. here is the best i was able to get.

February Snow!!

2010-03-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

Day 2

Day 1

Here are some pics of our second snow this year. This winter brought lots of special weather for us!! It rarely snows here, so 3 snow storms in one year is a big surprise! It might have been 4 snow storms! After a while, you lose count!

We had a city record of 12.5 inches in a 24-hour period! We were without power for almost 24 hours. Chris was out of town and missed most of the fun! Our neighbors across the street had power, so they invited us an egg breakfast with some other neighbors. I don't like being without power, so I was a little scared at night! I ended up with all 3 kids in bed with me because their flashlight went out in their bedroom, and they woke up screaming!!!

Matthew was only 2 weeks old, so I was focused on keeping him warm!

Kevin as a Tiger

2010-03-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Matthew was 10 days old, and I was feeding him in my room. Kevin was in my bathroom being a little too quiet. When I asked him what he was doing, he said, "I'm playing." I was suspicious, so I went in to see what he was up to. He had used my mascara to "be a tiger." Very cute. I told him we needed to wash it off and went back to my room to get the camera. When I came back, he had climbed on the counter and started cleaning up already!

Ellie Holds Matthew (Feb)

2010-03-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

Matthew is 9 days old in this photo. Ellie loves holding him. When we have visitors, she wants to hold him to show off her big sister skills!

Matthew - One Week

2010-02-13T20:54:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to take pics of him asleep, but he didn't cooperate! Oh well!

At 10 days old, I brought him to the doctor, and he weighed 8lbs, 9oz and was 21 inches long. His hair looks reddish in these pics, but it is actually brown!

At 2 weeks and 2 days, he is still a good sleeper and rarely cries at all. I'm hoping that he keeps this temperament!

Just pictures...

2010-02-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

Isn't she cute?!!?

Kevin brings toys to Matthew

Matthew Christopher is here!

2010-02-08T08:10:00.000-08:00

Matthew Christopher

January 29 4:36am

21 inches long, 8lbs 5oz

We arrived at the hospital at 8pm on January 28, and I was dilated to 4cm and 100% effaced. Progress was slow from there... Around 2am, the nurse informed me that I was 6cm, and Matthew was posterior. So, I tried some new positions (cat/cow and the pretzel). By about 4:20am, I was only 8cm dilated and had reverted to 50% effaced due to swelling of my cervix. But, I really felt like I needed to push. The nurse and the doctor both agreed that during a contraction, I was dilated to 10, but after the contraction, my cervix would revert back to 8cm. Since I didnt have an epidural or any other pain medication, I couldn't fight the urge to push very long. The doctor was really concerned that my cervix might tear, which would lead to a lot bleeding and pain during repair. Anyway, I pushed with the contractions, and Matthew was born very quickly after. I was fortunate that everything remained in tact, and there was nothing to repair!! I guess your body knows when it's ready!

We didnt know that Matthew was a boy until he was born. I really don't think it was worth the wait!! His gender was an afterthought for both of us. We were just excited that he was born healthy! If there is a fourth for us, I think we'll find out early just as we did with Ellie and Kevin!

January 2010

2010-02-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

Really fun activity that actually tastes yummy! We called it an octopus rather than a squid, and the kids had fun making dinner! http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/squid-dogs-825771/

For my 31st birthday, we went to a mexican resturant. Ellie picked out her outfit just for

my birthday. She chose all blue because it is my favorite color. Isn't she sweet?!?!

We had a cooking party for Ellie's birthday. The kids made their own pizzas, decorated cupcakes, and made volcanoes. The volcanoes were really fun and easy. http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/buildavolcano.htm

December 2009

2010-02-07T13:57:00.000-08:00

For Ellie's 5th birthday, we went to Gattiland for pizza and games. We played lots of board games and card games throughout the day and ate Rocky Road ice cream with chocolate frosted chocolate cake. Yum!

Kevin knows that drinking coke is against the rules for him. He always tries to sneak a drink, though! This can is empty, but it's a funny series of pics!

Ellie helped me make cinnamon rolls on Christmas Eve.

We had a Christmas craft party for Ellie and invited about 8 of her friends.

We had two great snow times in December! This is the first one...

November 2009

2010-02-06T19:50:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving, we went to a tree farm and cut down our own tree. We drank hot apple cider, hot chocolate and played hide-and-seek in the trees.

31 weeks

Ellie helped me make our very first Christmas wreath!

Kevin got "chalked" by Ellie!

New Baby 27.5 weeks

2009-11-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

I took my wings off for the photo, but I forgot that I also had on antennas on my head and bee stripes on my shirt!! Nobody ever said pregnancy makes you smarter!!

Everything is still going great so far with the pregnancy, but I do have some pretty yucky carpal tunnel syndrome this time around. I didn't have it with the others, but as they say, "each pregnancy is unique"! My fingers even go numb when I drive!!!

Halloween

2009-11-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

Kevin counting to "tirteen" in someone's yard.

Ellie made this costume for Chris (macaroni and cheese), and she was so proud of it! He got lots of compliments on it throughout the night and was a great sport about it!

I actually forgot about the silly antennas on my head until I got home that night and looked in the mirror. I thought about all the people I talked too, while looking so silly, and am thankful that they at least pretended to take me seriously!

Ellie, dressed as a candy corn, loved trick-or-treating, as usual. Kevin caught on quickly and wouldnt let us skip a house! Toward the end, he decided to stand in everyone's lawn and count to "tirteen"... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 12, 11. A little bit out of order but still cute!

After trick-or-treating, we went to a neighbor's house to watch a backyard movie. Kevin wasnt interested in the movie, but he loved eating all the candy - especially the suckers! Ellie loved both the movie and the candy.

Pumpkins and the Texas State Fair - October

2009-11-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

In early October, we went to the state fair! Kevin rode his first "fast" ride, and he loved it! Ellie loved feeding all the animals in the children's barnyard. We all enjoyed a yummy funnel cake, and Chris was brave enough to try a fried snickers bar - yuck!

Ellie and I went to see Mary Poppins, but she was bored after just 30 minutes. We stayed for 45 minutes of the 3-hour show!

At the end of the super fun day, Ellie threw an Ellie-style temper tantrum because we wouldn't let her ride in her stroller because she was kicking Kevin from behind in it. I have a funny video of the ride home. Both kids screaming. A perfect ending to a perfect day! Hopefully I'll get around to posting it soon!

Fall Pics

2009-10-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

Aren't they cute?!!? We couldnt get a good one with both of them, but these single shots are cute!

The Zoo - Sept

2009-10-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

My kids love the zoo! We decided to feed the birds this time. Ellie was in heaven! A bird flew on Kevin's shoulder, and he thought it was really funny - for about 15 seconds. Then he started screaming and jumping around! It was really funny to seem him go from laughing to screaming so suddenly!

New Baby 21 weeks - Sept

2009-10-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

I'm so behind on my belly pics, but I do have this one from 6 weeks ago! Maybe a Halloween baby belly shot will be next!

All the complications have cleared up, and the baby seems to be growing as it should! I guess I need to post the ultrasound pics also.

The pregnancy has been very similar to the others except that my hands are falling asleep every night! I feel much more swollen this time. I had to quit wearing my wedding ring near 18 weeks, but I wore it until the end with Ellie and until the last month with Kevin. I've been told that the numbness at night is due to swelling and its impact on the nerves. I guess I really am more swollen than the other pregnancies!

Mischevious Kevin - Sept

2009-10-29T11:35:00.001-07:00

I knew Kevin was getting into the refrigerator, and I knew he had found the ranch dressing. But I didnt know exactly what he had in mind until I found him drinking ranch through a straw!!

Carrot Soup - Sept

2009-10-29T11:24:00.001-07:00

Who knew making carrot soup could be so fun?!?! Ellie had a ball peeling 2lbs of carrots! She didnt enjoy the soup, but I enjoyed the help in making it!

Kevin carefully observed as I pureed the first batch of carrot soup. Then, I went to help Ellie with something and came back to the kitchen to find that Kevin had taken over! He remembered all the steps and even knew how to work the blender! But he didn't like the soup, either!

Ellie Plays Soccer - Sept

2009-10-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Ellie started playing soccer in September, and her favorite thing about soccer is that she gets gatorade and cookies when the games are over! Her team is actually pretty good, mostly because of two girls who actually know what they are doing and understand the goal! After her first two games, she was so exhausted, as pictured above! It was pretty funny! She has either reduced her effort since then or improved her fitness level. She doesn't get near as tired any more!

2009-10-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

Chris and I went to Australia to for a wedding and to visit our friends Sarah and Andrew. Our flight to Sydney got delayed and we missed our connection in LA. So, we were stuck there for almost 24 hours! We have some friends who live there, so we made a day trip out of it! We stayed the night with friends and visited our other friends and their new baby.

We spent a few days in Sydney and a few days in Melbourne. We had a great group of friends and family watching the kids at home. I don't think they missed us at all!!!

All the pics are in reverse order. Oh well! I didn't take any pics of the scenery in Melbourne and the rest of my pics are not very good anyway! I guess I was really on vacation from everything - including photography!

Blue Mountains

The wedding!

Wild cockatoo in the Blue Mountains. There were so many of them, and they tried to eat our snacks and sit on my shoulder!

Wild kangaroo in the Blue Mountains.

Chris learns to surf at Bondi Beach.

Our octopus appetizer.

My crazy friend Sarah!

Sydney

Sydney Opera House

Chris and Andrew did the bridge climb. It seemed scary to me, but Chris said it was fun! Do you see the chain gang of crazy tourists walking up the bridge in the blue suits below? They even walked across the bridge up in mid air. No thanks!

Finger Paints

2009-10-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Ellie and Peyton got into the finger paint without telling me. Sneaky kids! Fortunately, they hadn't made too much of a mess, so we moved the painting to the kitchen and continued the fun!

Ellie's First Day at Her New School - Sept

2009-10-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

Ellie Flower

2009-10-04T18:24:00.000-07:00

I dont remember what this was about really. Ellie just decided to be a flower and acted out her growth - from the ground to a

My New Crown

2009-10-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

Ellie made this beautiful crown for me and told me to wear it every day for protection. I put it on and forgot about it. Then, I went to look at a rug and discussed the rug at length with a woman. I decided not to get it, but when I got home, I looked in the mirror and saw that I had worn this beautiful crown the entire time I was shopping for the rug. Kinda funny.

New Beds

2009-10-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

Ellie decided to make this great new bed out of her sheets. She really wanted to sleep on the floor in her new bed, so I let her. Of course, Kevin saw the amazing bed and wanted one himself. They did sleep the entire night without interuption here on the floor!

Ellie Teaches Kevin about Football

2009-10-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

Ellie decided to teach Kevin a game that she and Chris often play during football season - "Quaterback". I dont remember the rules exactly, but it mostly just involves tackling Ellie with the football onto the couch. And breaking the ottoman and other furniture. Kevin loved it!

My Daddy is SO STRONG...

2009-08-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

because he can carry a WHOLE CHRISTMAS TREE. ALL BY HIMSELF!!

I thought only boys had these contests! I overheard this and other funny things about hair or the lack of it on their daddy's chests in a conversation between Ellie and our neighbor Kate!

A Few Cute Things about Kevin

2009-08-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

I wanted to get these things written down for his baby book...

Kevin thinks that Carter means you've done something wrong. When he gets upset with me or Ellie or anyone else, he says, "Carter NO!" I guess he's heard me say in disappointment, "Kevin Carter..." too many times! When I took him to the dentist, Dr. Roy came in and said, "You must be Kevin J Carter." I think that put the good doc off to a bad start with Kevin. Kevin refused to cooperate and eventually bit him!! This dentist is super calm and relaxing, so it is a little funny remembering it now because Dr. Roy was saying, "Ow, ow, ow..." and shaking his finger! I had to pry Kevin's mouth open! He had a good bite going!

A couple of months ago, I knew Kevin was really capable of saying what was on his mind when I asked him what he wanted me to order him for dinner, "a hamburger or a hot dog." He said, "Pizza." It seems so simple, but it was a big step for him!

He loves to go into the playroom and say, "Happy." He's telling me that he's about to start his CD - the first song is "If you're happy and you know it." He dances and loves to shout "Hurray!", while jumping and throwing his hands over head! Of course, he's always a few seconds late on the hurray! During the "If you're happy and you know it" part, he pokes his fingers into his cheeks and smiles, bobbing his head and raising his shoulders.

Today, Kevin said to me several times, "Tetin happy." It's really cute to hear him express an emotion like that. (Tetin means Kevin)

Baby Makes FIVE!

2009-08-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Baby #3 at 15 weeks and 6 days

Baby #3 at 12 weeks and 5 days

Baby #3 at 9 weeks and 5 days

Baby #3 at 6 weeks and 5 days

We are expecting our 3rd baby in late January. The due date is Jan 26. If you've seen me lately, it's not a surprise because I can't hide it anymore!

We've had some complications (subchorionic hematoma, if you're curious), but I'm assuming that it is going away. Hopefully, I'll know for sure in early September! That's why we have had so many ultrasounds.

Ellie will have just turned 5 and Kevin will be 2.5. Ellie is excited, and Kevin is clueless!

Mr. Fixit

2009-08-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Kevin is trying to repair his battery-operated Thomas the Train. He pushed the buttons a few times and said, "battery". He knew the battery must be out. So I changed the battery, but it still didn't work. I told him it must be broken, and we'd have to take it back. He complained long enough that I gave him the screwdriver. He walked around for at least 15 mintues trying to fix it!

Visit from Grandma and Jessica

2009-08-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Ellie and Jessica giving one of their star performances.

Getting ready for the show - making their costumes!

Elle's Grandma and cousin came to visit for 3 days. The girls had a great time. They put on a new "show" for us everyday - complete with wristbands for entry and sign in sheets! We went down to the creek to catch a tadpole and two snails for Jared, Jessica's brother, for his birthday. Unfortunately most of the tadpoles were gone, but we were able to fine one unlucky little guy who ended up in Jared's birthday tank! We had a great time, and Kevin has been asking for Keh-ki-ka all day!

They Start the Night in their Own Beds...

2009-08-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

And inevitably end up something like this! It is really great to see them want to be together. As long as they continue to enjoy it, we will let them share a room!

Kevin Gets into the Yogurt

2009-08-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

I left the kitchen to check my email while the kids ate breakfast. Ellie came running in saying that Kevin had done something very bad! He had smeared yogurt all over the counter, his hair, and his shirt while eating it with his hands!

Ellie Dresses Kevin

2009-08-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

Ellie and Kevin went upstairs one morning for Ellie to get dressed. It had a been a while and I was wondering what was taking so long. Shortly after, Ellie and Kevin came downstairs and Kevin was dressed, too. Ellie said she picked out his clothes and helped him get dressed. But she was quick to point out that Kevin picked out his shoes. I guess she didnt think purple and pink butterfly shoes were a great choice with his dino shirt! She was very proud of herself.

More July Photos

2009-08-13T11:43:00.001-07:00

Chris got free tickets to the Rangers game. He and Ellie sat right behind home plate. I was able to watch them on TV. Ellie looked like she had a blast. Every pitch, I could see her drinking sprite or eating or talking! Chris said the ice cream was free, and Ellie was scared of the crowd cheering! Some things never change. She was the same way 4 years ago when we brought her to a game!

Kevin is so mischevious. I caught him in my bathroom painting his toenails! I have a better pic than this, but my phone is acting up so I can't get to it right now!

Kids collecting tadpoles at the creek during "nature camp"

Ellie and Cole checking out their catch!

Making pet rocks by the creek during "nature camp".

Love the sleeping siblings pics!

There are only 3 or 4 white buffalos in the US (or maybe even the world), and we got to take a picture with one in Santa Fe. I was a little nervous, but Ellie thought it was really fun!

Ellie and Kevin painted some Lizards for the playroom.

This show how exhausted we all were near the end of our Santa Fe trip. Ellie never falls asleep in the car anymore! This is a rare afternoon nap for her!

Ellie was selected to participate in a magic show. I don't even remember the trick, but she was so proud when everyone clapped for her at the end!

Going to work naked?!?!

2009-08-10T09:16:00.001-07:00

In this story, Ellie is using the work "you" as in "you, in general", not me!

While we were waiting outside Blockbuster for Chris to pick out a movie, I showed Ellie a shirt I had just purchased for myself. After a few minutes of silence, Ellie said, "Mommy, I just realized something very bad," in a very distressed voice.

"To buy clothes, you have to have money. Daddy said you get money by going to work, and when your work is all finished your boss gives you money. But if you don't have any money and you get a job to make money, you won't be able to buy panties or shorts or a shirt or shoes. So, you'll have to go to work naked because you won't have any money to buy the clothes you need because you haven't been to work yet. Your boss won't want you to go to work naked. So what will you do? How will you get any money? This is very, very serious."

I just love these kind of conversations with Ellie. She has such a black and white perspective. She is so literal. She's also very logical, and I love to watch her break down a problem! Usually she comes up with creative solutions, but this time, she was just perplexed!

Kevin Turns TWO!!!

2009-08-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

Cupcake #1

Cupcake #2 (He looks like a scary clown!)

Violet, Maddox and Ellie playing piano. Kevin was with them until I came back with the camera! Yes, I know I need to move that mirror, but I haven't figured out where to store it!

Sleeping with his new bear book after a long, fun birthday!

Cute little Kevin turned 2 last week, and he LOVED the cupcakes! I think he had about 5 whole cupcakes, and he sneaked many other bites from unsuspecting friends and family! I couldnt keep him out of the cupcakes. I finally put them on top of the refrigerator, completely out of his reach!

We decided not to have a big party for him, but we did invite a few families over for an afternoon playdate on Thursday (his actual bday). When Chris came home, we went to the park for a dinner picnic and more cupcakes. Ellie picked out a cute cloth boook for Kevin since he always falls asleep holding a book on his chest. At first, he didnt know what to think of it and cried because he only wanted to eat cupcakes - not play with his new bear. But by bedtime, it had become a new favorite. I forgot the camera, but I did get some video!

He has finally shown some interest in trains, and he still really enjoys building with Legos. So, we bought him a train table from craigslist and a table topper for legos that will go on top of the train table when he wants to do legos. He has about 4 Ikea trains and one Thomas train, but his favorite is "domas". He puts it in his shopping cart or his ride-on car and carries it around the house!

His favorite color is blue. He started potty training about 2 weeks ago and did really great for the first week - several consecutive days with no daytime accidents. We gave him M&Ms for a reward, and he always searched for a blue one. He usually picks out two and says "Ellie candy" because we give Ellie a candy after he uses the potty as well. Our sugar monster, Ellie, would lose it if she saw Kevin getting candy all day without her!

But, I think Kevin has tired of the M&Ms, and he really only wants to go #2 on the potty now. Regression. Oh well! He's only 2. We'll figure it out before Kindergarten at least!

Over the last month, he has developed a little bit of attitude, and I would no longer say that he and Ellie never fight! Now that he can say what he is thinking, he feels much more powerful and won't put up with much from Ellie (or anyone else). Maybe it's just the terrible twos!

But he still a sweet little guy, and I think he's just so cute!!!

Lots of Rain Last Week

2009-08-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

Poor Kev. I couldnt find his blue pancho, so he was stuck with Ellie's ladybug raincoat! He didnt seem to mind.

Trying to catch some rain his mouth

Trying to catch some rain in a bowl.

One of our many, many snails!

Last week brought lots of rain our way! We played in the rain, and found so many snails. We put them in one of those big salad boxes and poked holes in the top. Ellie loves to play with them and lets them have races!

Santa Fe

2009-08-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to Santa Fe, NM in mid July. Chris had a conference for work, and the kids and I kept ourselves entertained during the days. The hotel pool was great, and we explored the area a little as well. We really enjoyed the Children's Museum, and took a hike as well. The hike was about 1.5 miles and I had to carry Kevin most of the way at 12,000 feet elevation.

I didn't take many pics because I was too busy trying to keep up with the kids!

We also visited an old ranch from the 1700s that is a working museum today. After driving 45 minutes just to get to the ranch, at first I thought it was going to be a flop when we arrived. It looked boring and not many people were there. But it actually turned out to be lots of fun for Ellie. She...

Got to pet about 10 horses

Ate a snow cone

Made a tortilla

Watched Mexican dancing

Bought a $2 pony from the gift shop

Saw HUGE frogs - bigger than my hand!

Made a Lilly from corn husks

Cleaned wool and watched others spin yarn from it

The trip to Santa Fe was fun but EXHAUSTING!! I was so glad to be home and get some rest!

Ellie's "Nature Camp"

2009-08-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

Our tadpole home

Our first frogs!

Digging for worms

Making snow.

In early July, I held a "nature camp" for Ellie and her friends. The first day we had 7 kids and by the last day, we had about 11. It was busy and fun! The best part by far was taking the kids to a local creek and collecting tadpoles. We spend 2.5 hours there, and no one was ready to leave! There were hundreds of tadpoles and tiny, tiny frogs - about the size of your pinky nail! We kept about 8 tadpoles, and 5 of them have already graduated to become frogs! We have three tadpoles left and one water snail.

Ellie Gets Glases

2009-07-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

In about a week Ellie's glasses will be in! She is slightly nearsighted and slightly farsighted. The doc added some prism to the glasses to see if that will help with her head tilt! She is so excited about the glasses! We'll see how long it lasts!

Fourth of July in Austin

2009-07-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

Tiny Kevin walking up to the main building and the tower!

We went to Austin to visit Greg (chris's brother) and Megan and their kids for the 4th of July! Granny and Grandpa (Pawpaw as Kevin calls him) were there, too. We had so much fun. It was great to be back in such a fun city! We went to Barton Springs and floated the river in San Marcos!! On our way home on Sunday, we stopped by UT. We went back to the building where Chris and I met, strolled through the business school where we spent many, many hours in class and studying, and I sat by the fountain at the South Mall where I loved to study in sun!! I really missed being there and being a student... :-)

Kevin Sleeps in "Big Boy Bed"

2009-07-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

After Ellie and Kevin spent a late afternoon playing "night night" in Kevin's crib, Kevin has become proficient in climbing out of his crib. He had never even attempted to get out of it until he saw how easy Ellie makes it look! It's not really in his personality to challenge the status quo. Now that we can't keep him in his crib for anything, we decided to move him to the trundle bed. He's sleeping great in it, but he's not nearly as cooperative as Ellie who only recently began getting out of bed without permission!!

He runs out of bed and stands at the top of the stairs crying. From the couch, we say, "Kevin go back to bed." He hikes his shoulders and runs back to his bed, only to emerge a few seconds later to repeat the cycle! After about 10 to 15 times, he goes to sleep!

Trip to Lumberton

2009-06-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Ellie and Jared taking care of Alli, whose foot got run over by my sister on the Ranger.

Kevin kept trying to ride on Bitsy's back!

This poor dog got dragged around so much by the kids that it actually enjoyed resting in this doll crib!

The kids and I took a last-minute trip to visit my sister and her kids in Lumberton last week. The kids had a blast swimming in the pond and playing with the dogs and cats!

Father's Day

2009-06-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

water balloon fight

egg race

three-legged race

2-man hula race

tug-a-war

"I love my Dad" arm paint

For Father's Day, we had a "Game Day" with a few other families at a local park. We played tug-a-war, had an egg race and a three-legged race, and of course, had a big water balloon fight! Before the games, we had hamburgers and hot dogs and after the games, we walked over to the pool!

Kevin's True Love

2009-06-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

On our way home from the Galveston trip, Kevin and Ellie played mermaids... They were using them as swords at each other. When Kevin got bored with the game, he began staring at his mermaid saying, "Happy Mermay" Then, he kissed her over and over again!

Trip to Galveston

2009-06-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

We went to Galveston a couple of weeks ago with Chris's parents. It was a great trip! I love the beach! Ellie and I each got stung by a jelly fish, and Kevin just waved bye all day and wandered off in the sand!

May - More pics from the visit to Stanford

2009-06-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

Fishing Derby

2009-06-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we participated in our town's annual fishing derby! We caught one fish - a tiny perch. We had lots of fun and found our neighbors fishing nearby!

The next day, we went to another local park to fish again. This time, the fish were biting like crazy! We just put our line in and would catch one! We caught three fish that day, but we didn't fish very long at all.

I have to admit that it felt a little cruel. One poor catfish that we caught got hooked a little bit in the eye. They were just swimming around and looking for food until we hooked them and left them wounded! But I used to love fishing as a kid, and Ellie really did enjoy it. We'll probably do it again, but I'll be less excited next time.

Sharing the Love!

2009-06-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

Ellie and Kevin are so sweet to each other. It really does amaze me! They rarely fight and love to hug! Both of these pics are just special moments between them that I happened to catch! No coaching from me!

Thanks Granny!

2009-06-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ellie's granny sent her these very cute cupcake decorations! Fortunately, we had some cake mix and icing on the day the gift arrived, so we made them "right away," as Ellie would say! We ate plenty ourselves and gave some away to the neighbors as well!

First Sleepover

2009-06-09T11:58:00.001-07:00

Ellie had her first sleepover last week. Our neighbors lost their electricity for the night and needed a place to sleep! Ellie really looks up to Kate, who is 7 going on 15!!

When we told her she was going to have a sleepover with Kate, Ellie said, "This is going to be the BEST day of MY LIFE!!!" - full of excitement and expression, as you can imagine!

We put the princess tent over the queen-size bed with pink sheets, and the girls were in heaven! They slept in the tent-bed all night!

May - Ellie's End of the Year School Party

2009-06-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

Ellie had her last day of school party in May. As always, Chris was a hit at the playground! All the kids were chasing him and laughing!

Next year, she will be moving to a school that is much closer. So, Kevin and I will no longer spend 2 hours each day driving Ellie to and from school!!

Her teachers, Mrs. Ljames and Ms. Moffet, were great, and Ellie really enjoyed them!

May - For Karen

2009-06-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

Karen, I took this pic just for you after reading Arden's "preschool readiness test" story. Ellie usually doesn't write her name backwards. In fact, this is the first time I've seen her do it! But you can't predict what a preschooler will do - especially when it seems important!

Love this ad!

2009-05-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

Glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way! I think I'm going to hang this above my washer!

Last week, Chris actually had the nerve to say that I only do laundry once every two weeks!!!!!!!!! WHAT?!?!?! Try every few days - with two FULL baskets of laudry! It is funny that we moved to this house 2 months ago with about 10 pairs of work socks for Chris and now he only has 4!! I really do think something is eating his socks!!!

Did I mention that laundry is one of my least favorite things to do? So, I should at least get credit for taking care of it so often - even if it means losing socks!!

May 1 - 16

2009-05-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

We took a trip back to Stanford for the 1-year reunion in the beginning of May. A one-year reunions seems silly, but it is really a lot of fun to see everyone again. We made some really good friends there, so getting to see them again was a treat!

It was a little bit surreal in that it felt like we had never left - all the same people doing all the same things in the same places, easy conversation, comfortable surroundings. I do miss the great friends and beauty of living at Stanford, but I am happy here. Ellie has some great friends, we have room to breathe in our house (I had forgotten how small our place was there!), I'm enjoying our community, and I've made a few great friends here as well.

Ellie picked up right where she left off with her friends! There was a carnival on campus with pony rides, a petting zoo, and treats! Ellie was in heaven! I was off doing something, and I went looking for Ellie to find her petting and holding a GIANT albino snake. It was HUGE! She has no fear when it comes to animals!

We stayed with Chris's brother and his wife in Berkeley. They were so sweet to host us for the weekend! Ellie loves Uncle Tim and Aunt Jodi! Spending time with them is always great for Ellie.

Kevin caught what I like to call "the vomit virus" on our second day there. He puked at the carnival twice and then two times on the drive back to Berkeley and once more in the middle of the night! Fortunately, he was puke-free for the plane ride and none of us caught the bug. Granny was not so fortunate, however. She was in town visiting also and was so kind to offer to watch Kevin so we could go to the reunion dinner that evening. But she caught the bug a few days later. Sorry about that. But we did have a great time at the dinner, so thanks so much for helping out!

"Kevin, don't get into the cake balls." Then, I turned around to do something. He had gotten the stool out of Ellie's room, carried it to the kitchen, climbed up and began eating the cake balls! He's dangerous with those stools!

Ellie gave Kevin a very big bubble hat. It rained all day today, so we took two baths! Kevin has started to copy everything we say, so it was really cute to hear him talking about the "bubbles"! When he was ready to get out of the bath, he kept calling, "Mommy out. Mommy out."

This morning, he also told me that he wanted to play. I said, "Do you want to take a bath." Shaking his head, "No bath, no bath." So, we went downstairs to join Ellie watching Dora. Kevin sat there for 2 seconds and then said, "mmmm want play, mmmmm want play." So, we went to the playroom and built towers with blocks! He's becoming very communicative, even if I'm the only one who can understand him!!

Oh, and I forgot to mention in April's post, that he began saying, "Daddy Low," which used to mean Daddy love. Chris often says, "Daddy loves you," to Kevin. So, we think he was copying this. But because we got so excited when he'd say it, "daddy low" turned into "hey, give me some attention!"

Ellie and Sophia pretending to be baby tigers.

After almost 10 years, I have finally been able to setup my 60-gallon freshwater aquarium! My dad gave me this shortly before he passed away (and I think my mom may have paid for some of it, too. Not sure. I'll have to ask!) I was only 11 or 12, but I maintained it on my own until I was 19. Due to moving every year, it was too much trouble to keep the tank. So, it's been at my mom's house since 1998. I can remember laying in my bed at night and just watching the fish swim around. I loved it!

I sanded and re-stained the aquarium stand last week, and we bought the things required to get the tank started on Mother's Day. I have 20 "starter" fish in there now. They should be there for about a month before the water stabilizes so I can be more sure not to lose any fish. After the month is up, I'll take back these "hardy" fish that are breaking in (or cycling) the water and exchange them for some african cichlids. I'm very excited to have the aquarium back!

The kids LOVE feeding the fish and sticking their fingers through the hole in the lid so the fish can "kiss" them. We made a paper aquarium for Ellie to hang in her play room. Kevin found the real fish food, opened it, and poured all of it out - on top of the paper aquarium! Their minds are just so cute at this age!

So far this week, the neighborhood kids have come by every day to check on the progress and some have offered to give us their fish.

This is a pic of some african cichlids below...

Kevin being silly. He got this bowl out on his own and climbed in with a big smile. Notice the Christmas Elvis Dancing and Singing bear in the background! He still loves that thing!

April

2009-05-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

Supergirl Ellie loves digging for creatures. Worms, snails, and rolly pollies are the most exciting finds! This worm was ready for his photo op as he posed nicely to make a "W".

Everybody loves it when daddy comes home!

The YMCA family night featured hot dogs, cheetos, face paint, a bouncy house and ponies. What more could a kid want?!?! This is Kevin's first pony ride!

We hosted an Easter tea party for Ellie and her friends. It was the cutest party we have ever had. The girls were so adorable. They were all so polite and proper. They acted like they were really doing something very special. I would love to do this party again!

I bought the bonnets and gloves from the dollar bin at Target and decorated the bonnets with flowers. We gave each girl a bonnet and gloves at their place setting, which was defined by a bunny holding an egg with their named spelled on it. Each girl made her own bouquet of flowers and placed them in her own vase. They brought the flowers to the table and we served the snacks and tea. Snacks included cheese crackers shaped like chicks, chocolate bird nests with jelly bean eggs, and pink lemonade.

After the tea party with her friends, Chris decided to have a tea party with Ellie. They each got dressed in their fanciest attire, and Chris snuck around to the front door to surprise Ellie with a flower and to escort her to the table. They were served brocolli, roasted chicken and macaroni and cheese. Berries with homemade whipped cream was their dessert.

Chris's parents came to visit on Easter. It was a fun time. Ellie and Kevin enjoyed playing and silly times with the grandparents! Kevin really wanted to hang out with the other guys in the pic below, but he just couldn't sit still!

We decided to make pizza on Friday night and watch Annie. Ellie loved every part of the night. Annie is the first non-animated movie that Ellie has enjoyed. The funniest part is that she kept calling Annie "him". So, we asked her why she thought Annie was a boy. In a shy voice, she said, "Because he kinda looks like Arden. He kinda has hair like Arden does." Sorry Ardy!

Ellie is laughing here because Kevin is eating butter. Yuck!

Kevin's getting into more trouble here!

Kevin does not enjoy TV. Ellie LOVES TV! She was so enthralled by Dora that she wasn't even phased by Kevin's antics!

Kevin was playing outside when his pants started falling off!

Ellie made this little house for Kevin and her to eat popcorn. She said the hardest part was getting the purple roof (my yoga mat) straight! This is the back of the aquarium stand.

Ellie, Kevin and Sophia playing on a merry-go-round!

My friend, Pam, and I made the headboard to go with this bedframe while Chris was out of town for a few days! It was hard work, but a lot of fun. I also painted 3 white frames to match the headboard and printed some pics I took of Kevin last Easter.

When Chris left for his trip, this room was a mess! The bed was just on a frame and we had no pillows, bedspread or bedskirt. This room is a bedroom, but it has a big built-in desk area, so we use it as a study also. We had boxes everywhere, so it was a nice surprise for Chris to have a nice place to work!

The first day that Kevin has ever skipped a nap completely! He was at Mother's Day Out, and they said that none of the kids slept that day, which was highly unusual! He fell asleep on the way to pick Ellie up from school. I dont remember where his shirt is! Oops!

Ellie's "Show Off" day for ballet. She took ballet and tap (one combined class) from January to April and really enjoyed it. She was so proud during this "performance", and it was really fun to see her. She loves to introduce Chris and me to her friends. I guess I should enjoy this while it lasts!

March

2009-05-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Ellie went to the local children's hospital in March to get checked for scoliosis. The pediatrician noticed that her left shoulder is higher than her right shoulder at her 4 year checkup. The spine doctors noted that she does have uneven shoulders, but the x-rays of her neck and spine show perfect bone structure. Her left shoulder muscle, however, is very tight and this tight muscle is what elevates her shoulder. Her muscle is tight because she slightly tilts her head to the left. She tilts her head to left because her left eye has a weak muscle. The weak muscle inhibits her ability to keep her eyes aligned properly. As an infant, she learned that she can tilt her head to maintain monocular vision (to keep from seeing double). Tilting her head allows the weak eye to remain at the same elevation as the strong eye because the weak eye does not have to elevate as much. Is this reminding you of an old nursery rhyme?

There was an old lady who swallowed a cow. She swallowed the cow to catch the dog.She swallowed the dog, to catch the cat.She swallowed the cat to catch the bird. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,that wiggled and wiggled and tickled inside her.

Ellie's version
There once was a girl who had uneven shoulders. She had uneven shoulders from a tight muscle. She had too tight a muscle from tilting her head. She tilted her head to rest her eyes. She rested her eyes to see only one....

In all seriousness, Ellie does NOT have scoliosis. She does tilt her head, and she can have eye surgery to repair the weak muscle. The surgery has side effects and often over-compensates for the weakness causing "droopy eye". So, we are not going to pursue any kind of surgery at this time. We are supposed to get her vision checked by a pediatric opthomologist twice a year until she is at least six to ensure that she is able to keep her eyes aligned. The spine doctors said that her head tilt should not cause any issues with bone growth, and they expect her bones to continue to develop normally despite the tilt. The condition is called "Brown's Syndrome", and it is not hereditary, just a gene malfunction! Sometimes this condition will spontaneously correct itself around age 6 to 8, but this is very, very rare.

Visit from cousins Grandma and cousins Jessica and Jared. We went to the zoo, did lots of playing, and started preparing for the move!! We put the kids to bed in their own spaces, but they ended up all in the same bed (except for Kevin)!

We bought our first home and moved in March. We painted a few rooms (pink room for Ellie, blue playroom, green kitchen) and planted some flowers in OUR garden (impatients, petunias and marigolds - the marigolds didn't survive!!). Having never owned a home, these were firsts for us! Ellie and Kevin decided to share a room. The pink room is Ellie's room, but she only sleeps in it when her cousins come to visit. At least that's what she says! Since her cousins haven't come to visit, yet, she has never slept in the pink room!

She told me that she likes sharing a room with Kevin because sometimes she gets a little scared at night. But she looks over and sees Kevin in his crib. Then she realizes that if a monster or somethin' comes to get her, Kevin will use "all his strength" and "do the biggest jump he's ever done to jump right out of his crib and save" her. She said that if a monster comes to get Kevin, she will protect him by "climbing right into in his crib" because she "already knows how to do that."

Kevin worked really hard to get Sleeping Beauty's pink shoe just right so that he could slip it on. If you look under his toes in the foot picture, you'll see the little pink shoe. It took several failed attempts before he realized that he's a little too big for barbie-size shoes! He has also tried to sit in the wooden dollhouse chairs!

Ellie and Kevin go through the same routine every day that we go pick Ellie up from school. Ellie comes out of her classroom , tosses her lunchbox on the ground and gives Kevin a big hug. Kevin waits for the hug and gets very excited when he sees her coming! After the hug, Ellie picks up her lunchbox and gives it to Kevin, and then they hold hands all the way through the hallway to the car. They get pretty upset with me if I interfere with their routine! Sometimes the hugs are so big that one of them gets knocked over! They are very sweet with each other!

Ellie Dresses the Family!

2009-02-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

Before Chris came home from work on Friday, Ellie wanted us all to get dressed up for "Daddy". She picked out all our outfits (except Kevin's PJs). Kevin is wearing Ellie's coat and a her Belle panties. I am wearing a polka dotted shirt with a flower skirt. Ellie thought we all looked so good! Do you think she has a future in fashion??

I still crack up every time I look at Kevin in these pictures. It's just hillarious. I don't know why he is standing like such a statue, but it just makes me laugh!!

Ellie loves to get dressed up for Chris when he comes home from work. Very cute!

Kevin on the Computer

2009-02-28T21:15:00.000-08:00

We normally have the computer "caged" off by the baby cage. But today, we left it open on accident, and I found Kevin in the chair like this when I returned to the room!

Kevin Plays in the Sink

2009-02-28T21:09:00.000-08:00

Kevin loves running water. He is short on smiles in these photos because he had greater than 103 fever for 4 days this week!

More than a few times each day, I catch him in the bathroom, on a stool, with the sink turned on! When he sees me doing the dishes, he immediately grabs his red chair and brings it over.

A funny thing about Kevin, though, is that he doesn't like bubbles at all! He has never had a bubble bath until last week. I guess I'm a little bit of a mean mom, but all the bubble bath I have seen contains lots of fragrance (and phthalates), so I don't use it for bathtime. When he was sick earlier this week, I decided that a bubble bath might be fun for him! He cried and tried desperately to get the bubbles off - rubbing and touching his arms and legs! I forgot about this and filled the sink up with bubbles a few days ago for him to play. He again seemed afraid of the bubbles and wanted them OUT of the water!

Chris Reading to Ellie and Kevin

2009-02-28T21:07:00.000-08:00

Kevin has decided that he wants to be part of Ellie's evening story time. He usually only lasts a few minutes before he starts climbing all over everyone and pulling down the blinds! On this night, the story time was in the living room, but as you can see, Kevin has already lost interest!

Ellie and Maddox

2009-02-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

Ellie and Maddox, our neighbor, cuddling for movie time!

Ellie Rides Her Bike

2009-02-28T20:58:00.000-08:00

Ellie loves her bike. She carefully rides it to SMU around and around the fountain! Over and over again! But she remembers the spot where she almost fell, and always carefully gets off her bike and walks her bike over the "dangerous" spot!

She also likes the park her bike with all the other bikes!

Ellie's Faces

2009-01-29T11:47:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love the many faces of a four-year-old. I actually caught one of her favorites on camera. The first photo is the "I'm mad at you face." This time, I was in trouble with Ellie for not listening to her. I was too busy taking pictures for the previous post of Kevin!

If only I had a flower for every time in a day that I say, "It's ok to be mad, but it's not ok to be disrespectful." I'd have a beautiful bouquet!

Kevin's Shoes

2009-01-29T11:17:00.000-08:00

These pictures are all very similar, but I just thought they were so cute! But, notice the sneakers...

Kevin has some Elmo slippers that he loves. They were Ellie's when she was his age, but she hated them. He will wear them all day, though! This morning, when I was getting him dressed (in cousin Mason's old PJs), I asked him if he wanted to wear his Elmo shoes. He said, "No... zsha, zsha, blah, hoo". I asked him again, and he gave a similar response. So, I decided socks would be enough.

Then, he climbed out of my lap, went to his closet and pointed to the shoe shelf, saying, "Blah, hoo, zswah, zooo." (Kevin language for I have something very important to say. You just don't understand me.) So, I picked him up. He pointed at a shoe he never wears. I gave it to him. He looked at it and said some more Kevin babble. So, I took it from him and put it up.

He then pointed at his sneakers and said more babble. So, I gave him his sneakers. He looked at them and said, "Ooooh, shwah boo shwa zo. Oooooh." So, I took them away to test if this is what he wanted. Then, he got very upset.

I gave him both sneakers and went to sit in the glider without saying anything. He walked over, climbed on my lap and gave me his shoes to put on!

I just thought it was a cute story because it shows that he is developing preferences about such things. So cute!

December - Christmas Eve

2009-01-28T13:01:00.000-08:00

Cousins Carly, Pug, Ellie and Kevin in Nessie's crate! They got in there on their own. First Pug (always the leader of the group), then Ellie, then Carly, and finally Kevin!

Ellie and Pug

I am missing some mid December photos, but I'll start from Christmas Eve!

We spent Christmas Eve in The Woodlands. Ellie and her cousins put out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for Rudolph. Ellie received a Groovy Girl to sleep with for her "night night" gift, and Kevin got a santa hat! Dinner was delicious.

Christmas Eve crew - Greg, Megan, Carly, Pug, Liz, Todd, Granny, Grandpa, Chris, Abbey, Ellie and Kevin

"What's that?" asks Ellie's friend, Leah...

2008-12-13T21:40:00.000-08:00

"Oh, that? It's a grilled-cheese-getter."

Said with such confidence and certainty! I mean, what else could it be???

November - Arboretum

2008-12-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

We went to the Arboretum, and Kevin LOVED one little playhouse. He stayed there, pretending to pour and drink over and over again. He was so cute. When he was done pretending to drink, each time he would say "Ahhhhh." He is so cute!

November before Thanksgiving

2008-12-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

Painting on the back deck is something the kids love to do! Kevin does eventually start causing trouble by trying to paint on Ellie's picture. But she loves for him to paint with her, so she only complains a little!

A visit to The Woodlands was really fun, but I didn't take many pictures. Yes, Mom, I will add more once you send me the pictures!

Kevin loved the dog crate, and both of the kids loved the dog! I kept waiting for Ellie to get tired of the dog, but she never did. She really loves animals!

We went to a tree lighting at Market Street, and Christmas festival as well. At the festival, there were ballet and Irsish dancers. Ellie loved watching them dance. She was fascinated!

We also had a tea party with Ellie's two grandmothers, one of her great grandmothers, and of course her mother! She loved the cake and was very cute! She has decided that she wants a tea party for her 4th birthday!

Trial run at Christmas card photos. The lighting was terrible, and I was the only adult around. I was testing out a silly idea for the Christmas card.

Halloween leftovers!

2008-12-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

After Halloween, we had a bucket full of candy! We decided to help Ellie realize that she didn't need all the candy! So, we planned an activity. We had a bowl full of "sometimes" and "anytime" foods. She took each item out of the bowl and placed it on the green paper if it was an "anytime" food (healthy) and on the red paper if it was a "sometimes" food (unhealthy). We talked about how the food on the green paper makes us healthy and strong, and too much of the food on the red paper can make us feel yucky.

Then, we brought out the candy bucket and asked her where it would go. She correctly placed it on the red paper. So, we asked her how she would feel if she ate it all. She said yucky, and then said, "So I shouldn't have all of it, but I could keep just 3 pieces and then I wouldn't feel yucky." We agreed! So, she picked out three pieces and the rest of the candy was tossed - without a struggle!

I doubt this will work again next year, but we'll certainly try!