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.

Camping - post 2

The kids love piggy back rides, as all kids do. So they employed Rollie as their horsey. Good time was had by all, even when they fell off. (See 2nd picture!!)


My freezy lovin kids!!
Little Buddy and Bean both enjoyed getting to drive the boat. Rollie was a good teacher.

We enjoyed the scenery of the lake and even saw a sail boat. Which Daddy Dear pointed out later that there was a motor on the back of it. Guess they don't trust the wind to much.