Family Picture

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

A family picture worth being proud of. It's nice to have a decent family picture for once, this is at our church all decked out for the Holidays.

Christmas was a success in our household until Bean came up to me and said "Santa didn't bring me everything I asked for" Uh oh, Santa brought what he thought she would like the most and I know she loves what she got from Santa, a cradle and high chair for her babies. She loves playing with her brothers toys too! The biggest hit of all the presents this year was Buddy's Vacuum cleaner. That all he has been talking about since we asked him what he wanted from Santa for Christmas.

Happy Holidays

So by the calender it's been about a month since I have logged in and actually posted something. Don't get me wrong life still goes on and there were probably a dozen things I could have blogged about. But with 3 little ones and the feeling of no time to do anything, much less catch up and find the time to type something out....

Here we are into the Holiday Season. Christmas is just 2 day from now, am I ready, not quite. I have a bit more shopping to do and hope to do that tomorrow. Normally this doesn't happen to me, I am down to the wire this year and things just haven't gone smoothly to get all the shopping done. Oh well it will all happen and if it doesn't the kids won't even know. It's great to have little kids. I know it won't last for ever though. Usually by this time my Christmas letter is sent and being received by the recipients already. Not this year, as with other things I just have not had the time, I've thought about it on several occasions and just not been able to sit down and do the typing. Pictures are finally taken of Buddy and Bubba for their yearly photos, only 5 months later than planned but life with an infant is hectic, especially since I went back to work a week after he was born and all summer we have meetings and events to attend. And summer to enjoy.

Some major accomplishments have occurred in our household this past month. We traveled to Papa and Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. You know you plan and write a list and hope you don't forget anything. Well this year we left Buddy's dear beloved binkie at home. Not on purpose, it just happened. I dreaded the night we arrived, but to my surprise Buddy did very well actually and we are now binkie free!!! Also Buddy is now for the most part day potty trained, we are having poop issues, but I remember the same with Bean. I never thought I would see the day when diapers would finally be a thing of the past for Buddy. I see the end in site!!! Not getting to overly excited . . . yet, we still have our days.

Bean is still enjoying preschool, she had her last class of the year on Monday. They had a Christmas party and she brought home a cute puzzle from her classmate. She had her first Holiday Concert on Dec 4th, were they sang with the K thru 3rd graders. Mom dropped the ball that night and sent her to the concert with a t-shirt on (yes I should know better, as I had concert after concert when in school). I felt awful, but not much I could do at the point I realized. Believe you me, it won't happen again!!! She did excellent at the concert. Last Sunday the 21st was her first Christmas program with the church Sunday School and also did great.

Bubba had his 6 month appointment on Nov 17th and is doing well. He weighed in at 18.1 pounds, he is starting to wear 12 month clothes. He is also able to sit on his own for short periods of time and loves to stand with help and loves to screech and babble.

We've had plenty of snow and forecast show more to come, Welcome to winter in the Midwest!! Even though it isn't quite the New Year, I have a resolution and that is to be a better blogger and at least keep it up to date every week. Wish me luck!!

The Toilet Paper Caper

I think all families go through this with at least one of their children. So far we have had 2 for 2. Bean did it once or twice, basically unrolling the roll on to the floor which I think is the norm. Well in our family Little Buddy likes to "think out side the box" so to speak.

I found his rendition of unrolling the toilet paper in the toilet of our upstairs bathroom one night when he was sick and cough so bad he was puking. Imagine my surprise when I found a heap of paper that practically soaked up all the water in the toilet. I was none to please, add in the fact it was midnight, yeah that made my night. I did let him know in a some what soft manner that the only toilet paper that goes in the toilet should be the stuff you already used, not a whole brand new roll.

Okay so you think that solved the problem, then you obviously don't know my boy.... Fast forward oh about a week, Buddy was a little to quiet and had disappeared from sight. Most parents know that this combination usually spells disaster. Where do I find him, in the downstairs bathroom standing before a toilet full of unrolled the toilet paper. To say the least I was perturbed. How do you explain to a 2 year old that do this sort of thing is wasteful. All I can say that was good about it was he didn't actually flush the toilet.

It hasn't stopped the unrolling of the toilet paper, sort of like the wondering around upstairs when he's suppose to be asleep or coming downstairs when he should be in bed. Now we have moved on to dumping out baby soap bottles and shampoo and the latest one is the kid's bubble bath bottle. One day I walked in on him with 2 towels in the tub and he was squeezing the soap out of the bottle I use on Bubba. When I asked him what he was doing, he innocently stated he was washing the towels. Thanks honey, but I do that in the wash machine.

I'm not quite sure where the mischief will end with him. If it ever does, and one can only hope that these sort of things will end soon. But I am sure we will visit some of these with Bubba, I can only hope not so many of them will resurface.

For your viewing Pleasure

This should help with any fixes need by the grandparents. Enjoy!!!

Long over due Halloween Pictures

So here are some long over due pictures of the children. Bean as "Princess Alexa," Little Buddy as "Spiderman" and Bubba as the traditional "Tigger" Aren't they all cute, to bad Bubba wouldn't look at the camera.
Halloween night was not without the drama on our street. I sent daddy out with the 2 older monsters to scare up some candy, figuring Bubba would need me the moment I stepped out the door. So he and I handed out candy to the other children of the town. Much to my surprise in walks a crying princess and coughing super hero and a frustrated dad.

What happened, apparently Bean decided after 3 houses she wanted mommy. What??!?! The girl who has been talking about Trick or Treating for I kid you not at least a month, if not more. Wants mom rather than go out and collect candy. She offs her shoes in a huff and storms to the couch. After a bit of calming down, I decide to try my hand at it. With cell phone in pocket ready to head for home at a moments notice for Bubba, I head out the door to try to salvage the what is suppose to be a fun night for my little Trick or Treaters.

Up to the first house and Bean refuses to come near the door. Okay fine, I explain if you don't want to enjoy the fun of Trick or Treating than we will go home and not go to the party that was going on at the Community Center. After a little more encouragement Bean decides to make the most of it and we have a good time making memories. They were troopers, especially with the cold air that night. But I do have to say, please do not tell a 2, 3, 4 even 5 or 6 year old to help themselves as you hold out your candy dish. They do not know what to do. Ugh!!! Seems like that sort of thing is the norm around here.

It's Tough to Let go

As I am picking up the 3 munchkins, our dcp (daycare provider) informed me that Little Buddy went with out his beloved binkie all day. Now just to clarify for those that don't know he only uses it at nap time and bed time other wise it is put away. Anyway, thinking this is a step in the right direction, we talked about giving it up and being a "Big Boy" Bean also helped try to drive the point home. Letting Buddy know that if he gave it up the 'Binkie Fairy' would bring him a present. The 'Binkie Fairy' obliged Bean when she threw hers away with a DVD.

So the night continues and things are going well and I figure, might as well give it a try what can we lose. Well sleep for one, but sleep is over rated right now. LOL!!

So off to bed we go and Buddy plays his game of up and down the stairs, but doesn't mention the binkie, he didn't even ask for it when I put him to bed. After a few hauls up the stairs, I reinforce the idea of a present if he makes it through the night with out the beloved binkie, he seemed excited about the idea of his reward and for a while I was feeling that this might be the night. We made it about an hour and then he broke down and started crying. But as to not discourage the moment, I told him how proud I was of him and that it was okay to have the binkie and that we would try again another day.

Visitors

Alright, see the little purple strip off to the right and down at the end of my blogger list. Yeah that one. It tells me how many visitors a day I have and if there are any new ones. Yep, you aren't getting on here without me knowing you are checking things out.

SO..... at the bottom of every post is the word comment with a 0 (yes that's a Zero) in front of it. If you click on the word you can leave me a comment. Let me know you are stopping by or something. You don't even have to log in you can go anonymous. But it would be nice if you sign your name if I know you. So let me know you are hear I know I am not the most entertaining, but who said life was always entertaining right. I'll try to liven things up once in awhile to entertain you.....

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Six Month Chunker

Little Squirt now known as Bubba has reached the 6 month mark. Today was his appointment.... He weighs in at 18 lbs 1 oz and is 26.5 inches long. Yep he's a chunker, but such a happy baby. He got 2 shots while at the Doctors office, she says he is doing great.

Let's fill you in on what he is up to these days. He rolls from back to front and front to back with ease. Sits forward when in a reclining position. Constantly grabbing things, namely my hair. Eats 1 or 2 meals of cereal a day. We have tried sweet potatoes, that went okay until he got sick. Is trying desperately to get up and crawl. I call him my inch worm, he will push up with his arms and squirm his back legs, lay down and push up with his legs smashing his face into the bed or floor and scoot a little forward. Quite funny to watch as his butt is up in the air.

He babbles non-stop, mostly when dad and I are trying to go to bed. Man he can screech with the best of them. He has started to say BaBaBa. I try to get him to say MaMa or DaDa, but he just looks at me funny.

No pictures, sorry I will do my best to get some up tomorrow. I know it's not fair to leave you hangin, but it is off to bed now that the little stinker is sleeping, just wanted to update the blog almost a month since my last post.

Random

Monday Bean and Little Buddy went to the Birth to 5 year screening at school. Bean did great!! She only missed a few things, her middle name, the multiples of mouse and foot (think there was one more but for the life of me I can't remember). Little Buddy did well too. I am not sure what it is with him, but he always seems to me at least a little behind (must be second child syndrome in my brain). But he proved me wrong he excelled in all areas, except he doesn't know how to hop or jump. Who'd a thought with big Sis to teach him how. Gives us something to work on.

I have come to realization that Little Buddy likes to play games with me. He was sitting up on the counter helping me make pop corn the other night and our conversation went like this:

him: Mommy what's that
me: pop corn popper
him: oh

him: what's that (referencing the popper)
me: I don't know, what is that?
him: pop corn popper.

We do this everyday with a variety of items around the house, he's smarter than he leads anyone to believe.

As we were headed back to daycare for the remainder of the day, I kept asking Little Buddy to jump with me. And it was so fun to watch him try, one foot comes up but the other one doesn't and he ends up doing an exaggerated step. In due time, the screener wasn't worried because he could do other things in that area, like stand on 1 foot.

We received a thank you note from a couple at church. The lady is actually Bean's Sunday School Teacher. Daddy dear is in the rotation to do the Children's time in church every 3 months or so. Saturday night he asks me if I have any ideas for him to do for the time. Uh no honey.... Next thing I know he has a story "Perky the Orange Pumpkin." It's laid out on the kitchen counter as for us not to forget it in the morning. As I shut off the lights to go to bed that night, I glanced down and was going to read it. I decided against it, I didn't want to spoil it for myself. I am happy I didn't, it was a cute story and I think the children enjoyed it. Anyway Mrs. Wilson thanked hubby for his efforts in the Children's time and said he always does a great job of capturing their attention. I even have members come up to me after the service to thank us for his contribution and that he missed his calling to work with children. The other point of this explanation is that Mrs. Wilson went on to say that we have a beautiful family and Bean is a lovely and polite little girl. Hmm... polite, yeah not so much at home......

Here's the story about Perky:

Perky the Orange Pumpkin

Once upon a time, there was a little orange pumpkin named Perky. One day he looked around in the pumpkin patch and saw that all his friends were orange. He thought he would like to be some other color. So he sat up proud and said, "I’m a pumpkin round and fat, and I can change my color just like that!"

All of a sudden, at the snap of his fingers, he was a green pumpkin. Green as the grass. Perky went to play with the other pumpkins, but what do you think happened? His friends did not see him because he was the same color as the grass. He was disappointed. He didn’t think it was fun to be a green pumpkin. So he said, "I’m a pumpkin round and fat, and I can change my color just like that!"

And then what color was he? He was blue, all over! Blue like the water and blue like the sky. Perky was so proud of his pretty new color that he decided to go for a walk and let everyone admire him.

He came to a little pond of water. But do you know what happened? Perky leaned over to look at himself and kerplop! Splash, he went into the water. Poor little Perky did not know how to swim. He was scared. He called for help. He called so loudly, his friends came rolling over to help him. They looked in the water but they could not see him because he was blue like the water.

Luckily, his friend, Timothy Turtle came swimming by. He told Perky to climb on his back. Timothy Turtle gave him a safe ride back to the shore. Perky thanked his friend for helping him. Right there he decided he didn’t want to be blue anymore. So he said, "I’m a pumpkin round and fat, and I can change my color just like that!"

And what color was he then? He was yellow like the sun. He was so proud of his new color. He decided to go back to the pumpkin patch and show his friends. Well, when his friends saw him they laughed and said, "You look silly." How do you think that made Perky feel? He felt embarrassed and sad. He decided to show them and make himself into a better color. So he said, "I’m a pumpkin, round and fat, and I can change my color, just like that!"

And what color was he then? He was red, red like an apple. He began to go back and show his friends, when he saw people coming to pick a special pumpkin to take home. He thought for sure that he would get chosen because he was such a beautiful color red. But the people walked right past him. They looked at all the others and said "This one is nice and round and fat, AND such a beautiful ORANGE color." Many of Perky’s friends found new homes that day. But not Perky.

Perky decided he didn’t want to be a red pumpkin anymore. He decided he didn’t want to be yellow, or blue, or green either. Do you know what he thought? He thought he would just like to be himself, round and fat and a beautiful orange color - maybe he would find a nice home like his friends. So Perky said, "I’m a pumpkin round and fat, and I can change my color just like that!" And what color do you suppose he was now? A beautiful orange!

Just then a family came to the pumpkin patch. The children got out and ran to Perky. "This is the best one we’ve seen all day." Said the little girl. "Can we take him home, please?" Said the little boy. And they scooped Perky up in their arms and took him home. Now Perky was a very happy pumpkin just being himself. Just the way God made him - an orange pumpkin.

The End

This weekend I get to spend some time with my Big Sister. Our annual Scrappin' weekend in Blue Earth is upon us. It's great time for us to get together and do what we love to do in our spare time. This time I leave dear hubby a bachelor at home as the children will be spending time at Grandpa & Grandma's farm. Little Squirt will be with me as always, but what can you do when the little bugger won't take a bottle anymore. Next week we will buckle down and force the issue. This being out of necessity as the day will come when he will no longer be coming to work with mom.

Champion

Okay so I realized this a months ago. My baby boy can burp with the best of them. This boy can let a big one go that daddy said the other night he would claim if he could.

Now on most of these can I say explosions you would think something was coming up with that. (dare I say spooge) But no, those are the silent ones, there are times I don't even know he's spooged all over me until I feel it or some one tells me.

Just had to share the thoughts....

Duck, Duck, Goose

A simple childhood game we probably all remember. Now imagine a 4 year old trying to explain how to play the game to a 2.5 year old and the 2 of them being the only two playing. Yep, Little Squirt found it rather amusing as did I. As the 2 of them went about saying duck, duck, goose and running around their pretend circle it was a cute. The moment didn't last long, but it was fun while it lasted.

It reminds me that yes they do love each other.

More work and No play

I was out of town for 3 days, work related conference, training in Pierre. I came home to a sick husband and a sick 2.5 year old. Needless to say it's been a tiresome weekend and has stretched into the week. Little Buddy ran a fever Friday and Saturday. And on Sunday Bean started to not feel so well. She even had to miss preschool on Monday, she was one sad little girl. Luckily I had the day off on Monday (Native Americans Day or Columbus Day, you choose). So I took care of my brood. Which isn't all that bad, except I don't get much sleep at night because the children are up and down all night when they are sick. I have even reverted to sleeping in our guest bed with them so they and I will get a good nights sleep. But alas I can't do that with a 5 month old needing my attention. So mommy suffers on little sleep to try and get my family back to normal. I think they are all on the mend, until next time at least.

I have been itching to get some scrapbook related things done. I want to make some cards for a fundraiser the FCCLA alumni of our school holds. I would also like to attend, but not sure if it will work out. I haven't promised them these cards, but I thought it would be nice for me and for the person lucky enough to get these. I am also in a swap from a group on an Internet group I am a part of and need to get on those as well, but don't have the right paper. Plan on checking out the store in town and maybe hit big city before I head to Blue Earth for my sister weekend. Good thing these aren't due until Nov 15th, shouldn't take me long once I get the right supplies.

Looking forward to the weekend at home, hopefully with no sick children and some time to play. Stay tuned for some pictures later today or tomorrow.

Quite

It's very rare that a absolute time of quite enters this house, but it does happen and right now I am enjoying some quite time to read another blog and reflect on things that happen day in and day out in my chaotic life.

Daddy dear went to bed early not feeling well. Sleep well my dear, Bean and Little Buddy were sent to bed early due to sicknesses and down right orneriness tonight. I say orneriness, because well Little Buddy decided to take it upon himself to bite the hand of his baby brother. Poor little Squirt he let out a wail that would break any moms heart. I am not sure what caused this mean act to happen and of course Little Buddy can't or won't express himself as to why he did it. I can only assume it was out of jealousy. After that incident though Little Squirt was very agitated and restless. I turned out the lights to help him wind down for bed which seemed to work.

Today at work was stressful, things didn't come together as I had wished. Two reports with errors I have to scrutinize to figure out what I did wrong and then figure out how to correct them. And people think all I do is send out the water bills.......

I've come to terms that I have lost my patients with my children at times. I need to step back and breath before I make decisions on words and expressions that I use. I know that what I say and do is absorbed by their little heads and I just need to start doing better by them. I feel like I am sure my house feels, filled to the brim with to much stuff and in my case it is clouding up my head and some times my heart. By writing it all down I hope to make a more conscious effort to change things. I know it isn't everyday I am this way, I just need to make it better everyday.

Tomorrow I hope to accomplish several things....

1. Clean the living room, dining room and kitchen of all the clutter.

2. Clean the bathroom

3. Get the laundry done and put away

4. Take some pictures of the kids

5. Work on some projects

We shall see how much I can get done, but anything will be a start. Thanks for listening, I shall leave you with pictures of the cards I made for a swap promised earlier this week.

Blogger Failure

Okay so I have decided I stink at this blogging thing. I can never come up with anything to write about. Although with 3 children around the house, things should just be flowing from my mouth and fingertips... But alas I feel like I am failing my small audience by not blogging about some thing every week or 2 or 3 times a week. I will try to do better and hopefully will get better with time. Time is precious in my house and it takes time to think of a good title as well.

Every week Bean has Show and Tell at Preschool. Today was the day, and being that they are on the letter B. Mr. B to be exact, the show and tell item had to start with "B" Shortly after Little Squirt arrived in our family so did a small gray furry creature. Any guesses to what that is... Yep a bunny. We are proud owners of a Mini Rex named "Mini" I don't think we have a picture of it or I would share. So of course Bean wanted very much to bring Mini to show and tell. So as the good mother that I am I called her teacher and left a message. Of course we brought Mini to show and tell. I came to her class about 10 minutes before the end of the day with bunny and baby brother in tow. Can you guess which was the hit. Lets just say that Mini was a bit overwhelmed with all the children petting and surrounding him/her all at once. Mini was a hit and did well I think.

Happy Friday!!

So it's been a week and I haven't updated. Really there hasn't been much to post about. Bean had 2 days of school this week and daddy said on Monday when he picked her up she talked non-stop about school. They started learning their letters. This week was Mrs. A the astronaut.

I am so happy she likes school so much!!

Little Buddy has been doing better on the sleep issues, at least he doesn't come down the stairs anymore. But some nights he doesn't go to bed until late. We hear him talking to himself and moving around upstairs. Oh well it's better than trying to keep him upstairs, plus I get what I need to get done and then can relax a bit before bed with out constantly having to haul him back upstairs to bed and getting frustrated. I would say I am pleased with the progress.

Little Squirt has been having a rough week during the day, not sure what caused it, but we are working through it. I keep telling him that if he doesn't start behaving he will have to go to daycare sooner. I know, I know he doesn't understand..... But it keeps me and things in perspective.

This weekend Daddy Dear and I are head to Minot, ND for a wedding our Best Man from our wedding is getting married. Bean and Little Buddy will stay with Grandma Sylvia and we will take Little Squirt. It's a long drive and just don't see the point in putting the older two through that drive only to make them sit for a wedding and not get much sleep. They will have lots more fun with Grandma anyway. Hope we can have some pictures to share when we come back.

Last night I finished up some cards I am doing for a card swap on a board that I am on, I am happy with how they turned out and can't wait to get to see and use the rest of the groups. See what we do is make so many of our own, and send them into the hostess of the swap and then she swap out ours for others in that particular group and sends them back. So then we have a variety to use and not have to make them all. So if you are a recipient sometime in the near future hope you like them.

I tried posting the pictures, but it didn't work. I'll post my contributions after work.

A Day in the Life of a Preschooler

This evening we went to Bean's school and had a conference with her teacher. It was for all of the preschool parents. She wanted to get us together and let us know what our children were doing during the day. So here's the run down on what Miss Bean does the days she goes...

8:20 am arrive
Free play until everyone is there
Circle time
Gym time
Stations (3 activities they do, rotate through each one, gets them doing things they may not do otherwise)
Lunch
Outside play
Rest time (she said the kids don't want to rest, but she makes them lay their head down on their mat for at least 5 min.)
Free time or circle time
Snack
Outside play
3:30 pick up time

I know I am missing some, but there was a lot of information in the short time we were there.

They go to the Library once a week for a story and then get to pick out books.
They also go to music 15 min every day.

Every week starting next week they will be meeting the letters. These past two weeks were spent: Week 1 on Bugs, Week 2 on Colors.

Their classroom is so cool and has lots of fun things. Little buddy doesn't want to leave when we drop sis off. Wednesday this week he sat down and started trying to put a puzzle together. I keep telling him it will be his turn soon enough. I know he doesn't understand.

There you have it a day for in the life of my Preschooler Bean. My gosh how time flies, I can't believe she is 4, my little girl is growing up!!

Tag along at work

As we all know Little Squirt tags along with me at work for the time being. It's great to have this opportunity to have him here. He lightens up my day when it's been stressful. Here's one of him while we were playing peek-a-boo. What a cutie!!!

Wonders never cease...

So tonight the saga continues, Little Buddy continues to frustrate us. Coming down the stairs nightly not once, but over and over again. We've exhausted the disciplinary tactics. I am needing to install a baby gate he can't get through.

So tonight he came down 3 times, twice I hauled him up and once daddy did. There was fear in his voice when he met daddy at the stairs. Then we heard him again and I think he actually came down, but we ignored him, not really on purpose, but it happened that way. Shortly thereafter...... we heard him go upstairs. I look at my hubby and say "We've been going at this all wrong." But the night is still young. Not sure if we will revisit this one really frustrating parenting adventure or not. But lets all hope that we don't!!

And to answer the Trivia from the yesterday.... Daddy was closer to Little Squirts weight. He weighed in 16 lbs 9 ozs. and for the record measured in at 25.5 inches. He is growing in leaps and bounds.

Cereal already!!!

Never thought I would be feeding my now 4 month old cereal already. How did that happen, I swear Little Squirt is going to surpass everything I am use to in infants. Here he is eating his cereal.




Tomorrow we find out how much this little bugger now weights. My guess is around 18 lbs, Dad guesses 17 lbs 3 ozs. We'll see who is closer.... He is already into 6-9 month clothes, I have to do some shopping for some new stuff, we don't have much in fall clothes of that size. May I remind you that he is only 4 months old.

Bugs of Clay

Wednesday at school Bean made these fun creatures. Bugs made out of clay, not sure what we are going to do with them once they dry. We already have a crate full of pictures and a fridge cover in them. Now I am going to need a box for all the 3D crafts she brings home. Do we have a budding artist?

Fun at the Fair

Last weekend, September 6-7th we went to Grandma Sylvia's to attend the County Fair in her town. We try to get up there every year and the kids always have lots of fun. Here are pictures of fun for the weekend. The ever fun Carousel!!

Little Squirt enjoying a snooze.

Riding motorcycles, at this young age.

They seem so small beside this Big "NEW" Tractor.

In a Skid steer.

And lastly they had a Blast when they got to ride the Ponies!!!

Little Squirt couldn't ride but had fun anyway.

We all can't wait to go again next year. The fair is so much fun and a great family outing.

Week in Review

Lets see if I can update you on what we have been up to lately.

On Wednesday last week Bean started Preschool. She also went on Friday and when I went to pick her up she couldn't wait to take me to her class and show her the chrysalis that formed during class. That was exciting!! She has loved everyday of Preschool she has gone and Thursday evening this week our conversation went like this.

Bean: "when we wake up in the morning, am I going to school?"
Mom: "no, it's not your Friday"
Bean: " yes I am"
Mom: "no honey, it's the other groups turn"

She did finally figure out that the Tues/Thurs group goes this Friday and she will go next, but I am sure that when she doesn't get to go again we will go through the same thing. Oh well, that all part of learning.

Wednesday last week I also had a council meeting and again this week Wednesday (Budget time)
Daddy dear has been busy at work and also has his many meetings at the beginning of the month. Things should slow down for a while now.

Thursday marked the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Do you remember where you were when the towers fell. I do..... We were getting ready to go to school. My sister was over seas in Paris waiting to get on a plane. Scary, huh? Let all remember those that lost their lives in that attack and those that lost their lives trying to save others. Also remember those left behind.

When the World Stopped Turning

First Day of School

I can't believe my baby is in school already! Bean's first day of Preschool was today. She was so excited, I was too!! It's amazing how time just flies by when you aren't looking. I can still remember the day I told her Dad she was on the way, and the day we brought her home!! It was just like yesterday, but we all know that isn't right. Well because there are 2 more little ones that have since joined the family and 4 years have passed. She is quite the little Lady!!!

Here she is before we left home.

All day I was giddy to see how her day went. No I didn't cry, I think I was just excited for her to go as she was to go. She hardly said goodbye to her brothers and me. But I guess that's better than the alternative right? Her class room is great, they have lots of stations for the kids to play and learn in. Bean got to visit Preschool this past Spring and I will always remember her teacher (the same teacher that she has now) say "She didn't stop smiling the whole day!!" And ever since that day she has talked about going to school.

Bean is very eager to learn and I know she will do well in class. She decided to bring her own lunch today, but we did set her up an account so that she can get school lunches when she wants to as well.

Here she is at school when I picked her up.
Today they learned about Bugs! They have a monarch caterpillar in their class room to hopefully watch change. When we were getting ready to leave she was just a bundle of energy and non stop talking. I think she's going to have a blast learning!!!

Camping - Final Post

Here's Rollie with our only catch of the weekend. We set it free, but after each of the kids got a chance to touch it. As you can see only Lil' Buddy was brave enough, maybe someday Bean will be brave.

Hmm.... I just noticed with all these pictures from our fun camping trip only one had Lil' Squirt in it. Note to self, take pics of the baby. Here are a couple of the little guy on our bed in the camper.
It was a fun camping trip, hope to repeat it again next year. To bad that our second trip this August wasn't as fun, but it was a different experience with the kids in someones cabin.

I seemed to have figured out how to get more pictures on a post, blogger must have had some technical difficulties.

Camping - Post 3

We tried the camping thing again this Labor Day weekend. It was a bust, we left Friday evening and met our friend at his cousin's "cabin" on the Lake. We unloaded the boats at the dock and Rollie pulled ours over behind his. Saturday the guys went out a little bit on the boats, but then the wind came and never stopped. This wasn't just a breeze either. We decided Sat night it wasn't worth staying so Sunday morning we loaded up and left. Oh well at least we got one Great weekend camping. On with those pictures....

Bean, Little Buddy, Little Squirt and I went to the park a couple of times and had a great time on this managery of slides. Lil' Squirt just looked on with mommy, for obvious reasons.

Then Saturday evening while the guys were out on the boat trying to catch something we went wading in the lake. The kids couldn't understand why we just couldn't go swimming. I didn't think it would be safe to put a toddler, a preschooler, an infant and mom all in the lake and think I could keep watch on the older 2. I promised we would go for a swim Sunday mid-morning, but unfortunately the wind came up. Darn wind seems to always spoil the fun, maybe next year.