We love horses!

The kids have had an awesome time at their first horse camps this summer! We have found a new love for all of them!





Shelley

Home Depot Fun!

We finally made it to a Home Depot kids building workshop! The kids had fun making their lawn mower pencil holders!


Shelley

My little monsters.

Getting ready for Monsters Inc. 3D!



Shelley

Ice skating 101.

2011 is the year we decided to try Ice Skating!

Our fun loving group of friends went ice skating in January. It turned out to be "plastic skating" (instead of ice it was a plastic floor that mimics ice), which was news to all of us, but the kids had a blast anyway. Actually, I think the plastic ice was a bit easier for the kids to learn on. It was a great night!




A few weeks later our kids got to try their new found skills out on some real ice in Kansas City! It was fun, but definitely harder! I put my ice skates on and took each of the kids out for a turn. They had fun, and really did pretty good for novices! I was super proud of them!

I'm excited that we introduced our kids to ice skating this year! Great memories were made!

In the meantime...

Yes, I am way behind and have a lot of catching up to do here on my little blog! I have some posts almost done though! I promise!

In the meantime though, I'd like to interrupt the bloggy silence with a snippet from today...

There are moments that are perfect in my otherwise hectic life. I need to remember those moments in the harder times. Like this morning...

It's day 1 of 9 of Spring Break. It started out rough, but smoothed out after the first hour. It is an incredibly beautiful day, sunny, 60 degrees. Annie is still asleep, (it's 10:45!) bless that girl! Austin and I played outside for awhile, then I sat and watched him play. Ellie is enjoying her own quiet time. Hanging out in her room, watching tv, crafting who knows what...

My children are wonderful. I adore each of them so, so much. They are each so unique, so perfectly made by God. This morning is a perfect example of their uniqueness.

Ellie is growing up. She enjoys being in charge of herself. She wants to be helpful and is always asking me what she can do to help me around the house. Awesome! She is extremely creative, and amazes me with some of the things she comes up with. She'll craft things for hours, and loves making things for people. She's been spending more and more time in her room, with the door locked. (like this morning) I think it's good for her, my girl who gets overwhelmed, and I think it's helped her be a lot calmer lately.

Annie is still my little girl. She needs more downtime than the other two kids. She loves to sleep in, and when she gets up, she'll stay in her room and play quietly for a long time. She's a lot of fun too though, and when she is ready, she is a great playmate for her brother. She is sweet and smart and sensitive.

Austin is my wild and crazy, full of life and energy boy. Our backyard was made for him. If he hasn't climbed something yet, don't worry, he will soon. Yesterday he figured out how to scale the outside of the play/swing set. Mercy. He has the most active imagination I have ever seen. He loves to "talk" with his cars and trucks. He is gradually getting a bit calmer and more manageable, and he absolutely adores positive attention from his sisters.

And right now he is dismantling the hall closet, so I'd better go...

;-)

School is in Session!

Well despite my oldest daughter's resistance...School has Begun! :)

Wanna know a secret? I'm am THRILLED!

Ha!

Oh how I crack myself up. No seriously, I am one happy Mama right now. And if you know me, and my little family, then you are not surprised one bit. I understand that not all mama's feel the way I do. I've spoken to a few friends who loathe the start of school. They are sad to send their babies away all day, and they lament over how much they will miss them. When I have a conversation with friends like this, I smile understandingly, nod my head, and agree that the transition will be hard. But inside I'm thinking... Are you NUTS?! School starting means I get my sanity back! How many minutes are left until I drop them all off??

So yeah, there's a little Truth for you today from my little blog! I adore my kiddos, but at least two out of my three are high maintenance people! And after having some alone time, I am a much calmer mother, so I LIKE it when they are in school! I know many of my friends who's children aren't as high maintenance as mine, and I also know that God makes us each with our own personalities, so I really don't mind when a friend feels differently about this subject than I do. I just don't quite get it! :)

Now for the first days update:


Ellie did not want to go back to school, and now, one week later, she still does not want to go to school. :) Don't worry too much about her though, she IS making friends, she DOES like her teacher, and so far she is having a good year. She just doesn't want to admit it!


Annie was THRILLED to start Kindergarten! She is LOVING EVERYTHING! Her only complaint is that it starts too early. :)


Austin started his second year in ECSE preschool, and is going 4 mornings a week! So far he has been a VERY good boy, and this mama is proud!



Now excuse me while I go drink a cup of HOT coffee and enjoy the quiet! Ahhhh....

Things Change.

When Ellie was a toddler, and we were dropping her off in the church nursery, we would have a large bag filled to the brim that went with her. Extra clothes, 10 diapers, a full pack of wipes, extra snacks and drinks...etc. I would clutch the church nursery pager tightly in my hand the entire time she was in her class, and check it several times to make sure it was working.

When Annie was a toddler, and we were dropping her off in the church nursery, we would have a small bag filled to the brim that went with her. Extra clothes, 2 diapers, half a pack of wipes, and one drink. I would hook the pager to my clothes, after I checked it once to make sure it was working.

I think you know where this is going.

We dropped off Austin in the church nursery Sunday, at our NEW church, one we've only been at for two weeks.

Usually I hand the nursery workers a tiny bag with one diaper and a few wipes. This Sunday I forgot to even do that. I took the pager, and promptly forgot all about it.

2 hours later, we went to pick him up..

Austin had a dirty diaper. But I hadn't sent any diapers. Or wipes. It had leaked. He had no extra clothes. They had paged us, but I hadn't even noticed.

Way to make a great impression at the new church! Ha!

I felt so bad! My sweet friend who takes care of all the children's classes was very gracious. They had diapers, wipes, and even extra shorts for him. They didn't mind that we hadn't noticed the page, they were very understanding.

Poor kid. I'm not sure what happened to the "always prepared" parents we used to be. Sometime after Austin was born, that mommy disappeared, and I took her place.

I will never let my kid run around outside in just a diaper. I will never never bribe my kids with candy. I will never let my kids dictate what we watch on TV. I will never not send my own diapers with my child at church...

Yeah. Right.

It's a good thing we're not planning on a fourth child. I mean, who would feed the poor thing?

Moments

They are running...

Ellie just went by...

Annie close behind...

and a few seconds later...

Austin.

They are all three running through the house, laughing, smiling, playing chase.

These are the moments that melt my heart.

Whoops! Moments over!

It's the Simple Things...

You know how sometimes it's the simple pleasures that just make your day.

I went to Kohl's today.

With a 3 year old and a 1 year old.

So fun.

Not.

Anyway, half way through the store, Annie needed to go potty.

Of course.

And the potty...waaaay in the back corner of the store.

Of course.

So we hiked through the store, and fiiiinally made it to the bathroom. I see a sign marked "Family Restroom" and head for that.

I am a Big Fan of the Family Bathroom.

Why?

Well, first, I can usually fit my cart filled with kids through the door. Second, I don't have to deal with anyone trying to crawl under the door of my stall while I'm going potty. Third, they're usually cleaner.

Anyway, I opened the door of the "Family Restroom", and Annie squealed.

It had a little potty!!!

Like the pre-school ones.

Oh, she was just Thrilled!

And...it had one of those little seats for your toddler! (not the potty, the bathroom!) I didn't need it, since my cart fit through the door, and Austin was contained in that, but still! It was there if I needed it!

Oh the Joy that the Kohl's Family Restroom provided for us today!

Like I said, Simple Pleasures.

I wonder what the ENT would say?

I think my children might have a hearing problem.

Why? You ask. Well...here are some examples from today:

This morning I asked Annie if she needed to go potty before we left the house, she acted like she didn't hear me, so I assumed her answer was, No. Then I had to tell her several times to get in the car before she seemed to hear me. Once we were in the car, she immediately pee peed in her car seat, which leads me to the realization that she obviously must have a hearing problem, since she apparently didn't hear me ask her to go potty earlier.

Of course it just couldn't be that she hears and chooses not to listen.

Not my child.

Then, this afternoon after school, I took the kids for some ice cream. It was a special treat to reward Ellie for having been "caught having good character" at school. I joyfully headed to the DQ with all 3 kids, and called Michelle on my way to see if they could join us. All was well, until Michelle and the girls arrived. The only logical explanation I can fathom for the behavior that then ensued, is that the sugar from the ice cream must have caused their ears to stop working. Repeated attempts at telling them to sit down/be quiet/stop messing with your sister/stop laying on the floor/ ...or we will leave, I'm not even kidding, we WILL leave! ...seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Honestly, I'm concerned.

I mean, my children would never just ignore me.

Right?

However, after we arrived home, and punishment was doled out for the bad behavior at the DQ, their hearing did seem to return.

Hmmm, interesting.

your only newlywed's once. . .

A couple of years ago I heard the phrase. . .

"You're only newlyweds once, but once you have kids, you're parents for the rest of your life."

I don't remember where I heard it, but it stuck with me, probably because I had just had my second baby!

Shortly after I heard this phrase I was with a group of friends, all mommies, at a restaurant. Our waiter was a sweet young man who commented that he was getting married soon. Now, if you want a good tip from a bunch of sentimental mommies, just look young and sweet and mention how much you love your fiancee. . .we melt! My dear, sweet friend Janelle decided to give him another kind of tip, and sweetly started to try and explain to this young man why he should wait to start a family. After several attempts at wording, she blurted out. . .

"Kids can just suck the life right out of you!"

The rest of the mommie's gasped, not because we didn't agree mind you, (we DO live in the reality of motherhood!) but because Janelle is usually very sweet spoken and eloquent and I have never seen her lose her cool with her kids. I spoke up, remembering the phrase I had recently heard and said something like "what she means is. . .You're only a newlywed once. . ." The nice young man then quoted the Bible back to us about "children are a quiver in your heart " or something like that, and then moved on to his next table. I wonder where he is now, and if he has children, and if MAYBE, just MAYBE now he knows what we meant!

I mean, kids are wonderful! I adore mine and I thank God for giving them to me. But Mercy they are a LOT of work! That got me thinking on some of the differences in our lives since we became parents. I already posted on the differences between having 1, 2, and 3 kids, (read that here) I suppose I should have done this post first, but oh well!

BK (before kids) : We would go on weekend getaways at the drop of a hat.

AK (after kids) : We go on about one getaway a year without kids, and one with kids (you can read about that here!)

BK: We drove a small car that was kinda sporty.

AK: We drive a SUV and we are shopping for a Suburban!

BK: When I dropped something in the small sporty car, I reached for it with my hand.

AK: When the kids drop something in the SUV, I reach for it with "The Claw." It's a device that allows me to have "Super Hero Mom Arms" and reach into the depths of the SUV to retrieve lost items, all from the driver's seat!

BK: We would have quiet evenings at home where I didn't hesitate to spend an hour or more cooking something yummy I saw on the Food Network.

AK: Our evenings are punctuated by screams and giggles, and if it can't be cooked in 30 minutes or less, i don't even try!

BK: We would go see a movie at least once a week and I watched whatever I wanted on TV.

AK: "Movie Night" is a special event now, and I watch a lot of "Dora the Explorer" and "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody"- while nursing a baby.

I thought about the bodily changes from BK to AK, but let's just say pregnancy and nursing have taken their toll!

BK: I exercised an hour a day.

AK: I constantly exercise by chasing kids and picking up toys! (and yet i'm not skinny!)

BK: I stayed up late and slept in.

AK: I stay up late and wake up with the kids.

BK: During the night I would dream about my future children.

AK: During the night my children wake me up from my dreams!

BK: It was just me and hubby, and sometimes it was boring.

AK: It's me and hubby + 3, and it's NEVER boring!

BK: I thought I had a great hubby.

AK: I KNOW I have a great hubby!

BK: I got about 3 hugs a day.

AK: I get about 23 hugs a day.

There are many more, but you get the idea!

my children

i would like to write a bit about what each of my children is like right now. it's something that keeps coming to me to do. as much as i'd like to remember every little thing that they do and say, i know i won't, because i'm human. so every now and then i plan to write about who they are, so that in 25 years, when they're raising their own children, i can look back and say, "oh, that reminds me of you. . ."
Ellie, age 5
our first born, is well, a true FIRST BORN! she is strong willed, determined, high spirited, etc. . . her fabulous preschool teacher, Mrs. B is always saying she'll be president someday. Ellie is so smart and incredibly creative. She makes her own books, is learning to sound out words, and starting to learn math, all before kindergarten! you can't keep her from learning. However, with all her determination comes much frustration. She wants to be in control of everything, all the time. when you cross her, she explodes with anger. so, we try not to cross her often, but at the same time, we ARE her parents. she often wishes out loud that she was an adult. i truly believe she will be happier as an adult, she often seems trapped by childhood. She has a very strong personality, and yet she can be so very giving. she loves to give gifts to everyone. little tokens, shells, gum, whatever she can find. she likes to play with her sister, as long as she can dictate how and what they will play. she loves to care for her baby brother, and pretends she's his mommy sometimes. and she's a planner. she already has her next 2 birthdays planned out, knows who she wants to marry, wants to be a vet when she grows up, and is also planning on running a farm with help from the whole family. she loves cats. we're talking hero worship here. she has about 200 stuffed cats, and has been begging us for a new real cat for the last 2 years. we made a deal with her that she can have a kitten when she's 7. Right now Ellie loves to swim, play outside, and chase butterflies. I pray that we will be able to channel her determination into good things, and that her leadership spirit will grow into doing wonderful good someday.

Annie, age 2 1/2
our middle child! Annie Grace's name means "blessed with the grace of God", and she truly seems that to me. she brings me so much joy with her sweet spirit and lovingness. she is starting to really bloom into a beautiful little girl. annie is easy to handle. she loves to play quitely, with others or alone. she is tiny and graceful and sweet, like a little daisy. Annie surprised me the other day with how well she could put puzzles together. She has a quick little mind that is growing leaps and bounds every day. Annie takes gymnastics and absolutely loves it. Her favorite things to do are rolling and swinging on the bars. She has these awesome little muscles in her arms and legs from constantly climbing and swinging on things. She's my little monkey! She makes me laugh with her funny faces and silly dances. She loves Dora, and wants her to come to our house to play. Annie loves family. She is always asking where Daddy, Grammie, Nana, Aunt Michelle, or her cousins are. She loves to love on you and be loved on by you. Kisses, hugs, head rubs and gentle pats are the ways she shows you she loves you. Usually the only time i have any problems with annie is when she's tired. When she's tired, we try to just stay out of her way, because boy can she get cranky! she also can get pretty mad at her sister when she gets to bossy. annie may be sweet, but she's no pushover. I pray that she will always keep her sweetness, and that she will show God's love through her gentle spirit.

Austin, age 8 months
Our baby! What a surprise it was to find out that we were having baby #3! You really should take those birth control pills every day! Oh, but what a blessing we have in our darling baby boy. After two girls, it's been lots of fun to have a little man. I really didn't think i would notice a big difference between him and the girls until toddlerhood. I was wrong! Everything about this baby screams boy! At just a few months old he would grunt instead of coo. Now at 8 months, he loves to bang things and make lots of noise. He's a go-getter. He is just learning to crawl, and wants to be on the floor all the time so he can practice his new skill. When I hold him he lunges for the floor, as if he were saying "just put me down so i can go!" He's a sweet baby, he loves kisses and hugs. He hardly ever fusses. He lights up when his sisters come to play with him. He loves to grab his daddy's hair, on his head and his face! and speaking of daddy, from the moment we laid eyes on him we realized he looked just like him! His legs, his chest, his face, all daddy! he got my blue eyes though, it makes a beautiful combination with his dark hair. Right now Austin's favorite activities are playing in his mega-saucer (loudly i might add), and exploring the floor. just a few minutes ago he was eating a piece of cardstock paper that annie had ripped off a dvd case and left in the floor! We've officially entered the "must scan the floor constantly" phase. Austin's favorite baby foods are bananas and peas, and he hates bottles. My prayer for him is that he will be a Godly man, a good husband, and someday, a good daddy.