Sunday, May 22, 2011

More from May...

Wow, no posts for months, and then 4 in one day! I am on a roll!

A couple weeks ago, the kindergarteners at Brynn's school sang a song during the school assembly, and I was able to go and watch. Brynn was really excited in the days leading up to it, but I think she got a little shy when it came down to it. She hid behind the kids in front of her for most of the song. I was still happy I went, because I saw the way she lit up when she saw me sitting in the audience. (That's her in the second row, hiding behind the girl in the black butterfly shirt).



There she is in the pink dress, with alot of her class.

Two of my kids are very picky eaters, and they would rather not eat at all than eat something they don't want/like. One of the things they will usually eat, however, are smoothies. I make them with yogurt, fruit, and even a handful of spinach, and they LOVE them. I recently bought popsicle molds, and we have started freezing smoothies into popsicles. It is a great way to get them to eat something very healthy that tastes like a treat. I gave Eden one the other day, and despite the expression on her face, she liked it. It isn't the cleanest snack (proof below), but I think this summer will include alot of smoothies and smoothie pops!

Another food related thing we like to do in our family is go to breakfast on Saturday mornings. We have a few favorite places we go to, but we have been going to Joe's Farm Grill quite a bit lately. It is an old house that has been converted to a small restaurant. They have picnic tables and huge trees on the grounds where you can eat your meal, so we have been taking advantage of the nice weather we have had lately and eating outside. A couple weeks ago, we were supposed to meet my parents there for breakfast, and we got there really early. I took the kids for a walk at the community garden they have next to the restaurant. It was so fun to look at all the foods growing. The kids let me take a few pictures of them while we were there (some more reluctantly than others).

My sweet freckled little boy:


My "busy" little toddler (ack--I can still call her baby right?)

And my cute, cooperative model:


I must also note, that it is a tradition for some of us that we don't do our hair before we go out to breakfast on Saturdays. ;)

Speaking of gardens, we ate our 1st zucchini from our own little garden last week. I am not very consistent with watering. Frankly, I have no idea what I am doing all together. Most of our zucchini aren't looking so good so that may have been our 1st and last one, but we have alot of tomatoes growing that we are awaiting their ripening. It has been a good experience for me, as well as for Brynn and Collin. They love helping with the garden, and especially checking on how things are growing.

Brynn continues to be a help in the kitchen. We love making muffins, bread, and cookies the most, and the entire family loves helping to consume them!


Finally, I just had to get a quick picture from today. Brynn, our family's event coordinator, put together a jump rope contest for us. She cut out round "paddles" for the judges to write their scores, and set up 3 barstools for the judges to sit. (If this sounds a little familiar, that's because we have been watching alot of Dancing With the Stars around here. Well, Brynn and I have at least.) The picture below shows 2 of the 3 judges (the 3rd had a very short attention span. Well, that and she was removed from the judges seat when she kept trying to stand on it and dance around.) I had just completed my round of jump roping, and as you can guess from my scores (a 10 and a 10,000), I must have impressed the judges with my back wards jumping and then my fancy arm cross jumping. Yes, I was good! Dave would have probably beat my scores, but he was disqualified when he left to use the bathroom. Brynn did well herself, and Collin hopes to make a comeback after he learns how to jump rope.

Swimming Lessons

Collin started taking swimming lessons again 6 weeks ago, and after a rough 1st day, he is loving it! He is doing really well, and is trying to remember to do "big arms" with both of his arms, and to kick up on the surface of the water.

On the weekends, he and Brynn have also been taking semi-private swim lessons with Miss Tarryn. This is Collin's 2nd year with her, and Brynn's 4th year. She's a great teacher, and is so patient with the kids. Yesterday was a big day for them! Brynn finally got over her fears and started taking breaths while swimming. She is doing great! Collin also made big improvements yesterday! They have one more lesson left this summer, but they were so proud as we left yesterday. It is so fun to see when something really "clicks," and they learn something new.






Finally...

Brynn shows off her new smile, minus one of her bottom baby teeth.
You can see the permanent tooth already growing in behind the space.


A few weeks ago, Brynn was complaining of her gums hurting and when I looked in her mouth, I saw that a permanent tooth had started growing in behind the baby tooth. The baby tooth that should have been pushed out by the new tooth wasn't even loose, so the dentist told her to wiggle the tooth loose in the next month or so.

We have spent several nights working on that goal. I would count, "One, Two, Three...Pull that sucker out!" and she would push, pull, and wiggle a little harder. I even saw her attempting to blow the tooth out of her mouth and into the pocket of the tooth fairy pillow. After hours and hours of this, our excitement began to turn to frustration. After a single attempt to help her with the tooth, I was banned from touching her mouth, as was Dave or the dentist or anyone else. Finally on Friday after school, she came to show me that the tooth was loose enough that she could bend it forward, so that it could touch the front of her gums (yeah, pretty gross). I told her that it was really ready to come out, and that with one good pull, it would. I think she was surprised when that is exactly what happened. She was so proud and excited! It has been her favorite topic this weekend! She was also excited to see what the tooth fairy would bring. I don't know if I've ever seen her so eager to go to sleep at night! This is her first tooth to come out, so its been a pretty big deal! Incidentally, Eden is in various stages of getting all 4 of her molars in right now too.

Mother's Day

I had another really nice Mother's Day this year. I loved spending the day relaxing and getting to reflect on the wonderful mothers (my own mom, my mother-in-laws, my grandmas, etc) that I am so fortunate to have in my life. I have so many incredible examples to show me how I want to be with my own kids and the legacy I want to leave them.

The day started with Dave getting up with the kids so I could sleep in--a rare treat! Brynn woke me up excitedly to tell me to come eat the breakfast they had prepared. Dave is really good at making breakfast, and I enjoyed scrambled eggs and strawberry-topped waffles. Yum! Then I was presented with lots of cute handmade cards from the kids. The day before Dave and the kids had given me flowers as well.

We all went to church together (which hasn't happened much lately, since it seems like someone has been home sick most Sundays lately). I love listening to the Mother's Day talks and getting re-inspired to become a better mom. The kids wore their Easter outfits that they hadn't been able to wear on Easter since Brynn was home sick. They looked so cute!

That afternoon, we went to my parents' house with my side of the family. The men made a delicious meal of pork chops, mashed potatoes, veggies, salad, and sauteed mushrooms. While we were there, I got a few pictures of my little kiddos.

As soon as the camera came out, Eden decided she wasn't having any of it. However, as we were trying to get Eden in a more cooperative mood, Brynn and Collin started hugging and being so cute together. They were doing this on their own...too sweet, huh?!






We finally got Eden to sit down for a moment...
LOVE these guys! I don't think anyone could have ever adequately explained just how much a mom can love their kids until I experienced it for myself. They each bring so much happiness to my life!
My beautiful mom with my kids...
Me and my "babies"...
Since the kids were all coordinated in their black, white, and pink, I decided to do the same. Cheesy, I know, but it was my day, so I did it anyway. I got a quick shot of "the girls" (me, Eden, and Brynn) with our pink shoes.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

April in Pictures


We started April off with a fun little surprise for April Fools' Day. I made cupcakes to look like mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, and spaghetti and meatballs. I can't take credit for the idea, since I saw it somewhere online, but it was a big hit with the kids (and Dave too, actually). The "potatoes" were made from white frosting with a yellow Starbust pat of "butter" and caramel sauce "gravy". The carrots were cut up Starburst. the spaghetti was done with frosting and the "sauce" was strawberry jam with a Ferrer Rochet chocolate as a "meatball".

My beautiful oldest daughter:



Brynn has been really interested in watching me sew, so I got her this little kid's sewing machine. We made a few holders for their gogurts and otter pops, but then the machine broke and I couldn't figure out how to fix it. I wouldn't buy it again, but she enjoyed it.


Collin hasn't taken a formal nap in his bed in quite awhile, but he still falls asleep almost daily in the car, while watching TV, sitting straight up on the couch, etc. I think it's adorable!

He is also still quite goofy! He is so much like Dave in so many ways, especially how he will be a total goofball for a laugh!

Then there's Eden (aka Mini). She has a mind of her own, and so does her hair! It grows straight forward, and she refuses to let me put any kind of bow or clip in her hair. I guess a bang trim is in her near future! (And yes, she also got the goofball gene!)


Love the voluntary sibling hugs! (I didn't ask them to do this for the picture. They do hug each other quite a bit. Of course, they also shove each other quite a bit as well. Just keeping it real, folks!)






Easter
Collin was thrilled with the Batman pjs the Easter bunny left. It had a cape that velcroed onto the shirt, so it is the only pajamas he wants to wear unless they are in the laundry basket.


Brynn and Eden both got new swimsuits in their basket. Between that and the sweets they received, they were happy as well.




As you can see, Eden has become quite a climber. We have resorted to keeping the dining chairs and barstools on their sides, because she will be on the tables or counters in a matter of seconds. Apparently, she has no fear of heights like her mother or her grandmother.



Drinking her bottle and playing with her hair.
And I can't believe I am posting this, but here we are fresh out of bed (Collin is usually the last one awake in the mornings).