Brayden's 4 year pics. and Ellie and Danielle's 18 months pics.

I can't believe how big the kids are getting! They each have their own little personality, they are all so sassy, sometimes I want to scream and other times I just have to laugh. Where did they get all this sass...??? I know I am going to be very sorry for all of the eye rolling I used to do... Kent broke me of that habit pretty quickly though.... hopefully the kids won't pick it up. :)

Great-Grandma is 84!

Kent's Grandma turned 84 on Sunday! We had a small gathering at our house, Uncle Kelly and Auntie Sarah are in Florida with the kids, so it was a low key affair. You guys were missed! Brayden drew a picture on G-ma's card of him being angry. I felt like a really good mom, yet again, because that was the morning I didn't think we would make it out of the grocery store alive. ALL the kids were so naughty, I'm pretty sure B knew I was angry most of that morning! Lucky Great-G-ma got a pic. of an angry Brayden!

My pics. aren't uploading, I will post them later.

Singing in the rain

YAY! It finally rained here. Brayden has been waiting for weeks and weeks for a jaunt in the rain. He got a Toys-r-us gift card for his B-day and out of all the toys he chose a spiderman umbrella. Don't ask me why, but he thinks it is the coolest thing ever. He has been wanting to use it forever. Kent and I keep telling him it's not a toy, it's only for the rain. (Because he tends to swing it around and I am afraid he is going to poke someone's eye out, I know I sound like such a mom). :( Anyway..... we woke up Sunday morning and it was raining!! Kent had a football game so I put all the kids in their rain gear and we headed out. Brayden was seriously jumping and singing/screaming he was so excited. We played in the driveway for a while, then ventured out for a walk. It was so cute, B and I jumped in the puddles while the girls watched dumbfounded from the wagon. It was a successful traipse in the rain!

Thank goodness for Date Nights!

YAY! Kent and I got to go out on Saturday. Thanks for baby-sitting Shelbi! I think it was the last time we'll be able to take the motorcycle out, it was raining when we woke up this morning, and I think Fall has arrived! We went for a little ride then went and saw "Burn After Reading." We weren't too impressed, I would not recommend going to the theatre for this one. Although, Brad Pitt did have a funny role in it. After that we took our time strolling the mall and going out to eat and enjoying our dinner leisurely at the same time! It was great.

I realized that this blog has been all about the kids, so here is what is going on in our lives:

Kent: Has been enjoying riding his motorcycle to work everyday (I am wondering if he is taking a LONG way home on some nights). He got to have a guys night out TWICE in the last week. First at a poker party with some friends, then he went out with his group of friends from high school for dinner the other night. AND he helped Bryan with his basement (IDK what they worked on), AND he is playing flag football on Sundays with a work team. No wonder I have been going insane lately, he tells me he never gets to go out. PUULLEEAASSE!

Christy: I have been rather busy lately too, which has been nice. Last week I got to go to a Bunco party (which makes me sound so old), but it was a blast! I have to say, it's a fun game, and there's no strategy involved, so you can sit and chat with adults for hours! Our next one is going to be a Halloween Bunco party with costumes, do you think Kent will join me for this one??? Anyone want to be my date? :) So far I have had to go solo the last two times.

Also, I had my book club on Monday night, which was so fun at Julie's. She is so crafty, she had prizes for us, if we did certain things related to the book we read. Which was, "The Next Thing on My List." I did get a prize, but I'm not going to tell you what I had to do, (Kent thought I was nuts). I loved the book and we had a great discussion, one of my goals is to complete a triathlon next Spring. Does anyone want to train with me, and does anyone have a bike I can borrow? Mine won't cut it.

I also filled in for a friend's outdoor soccer team, but I pulled a muscle AGAIN, so I have to sit this weekend out. I tell ya, once you're old with an injury it keeps re-occurring, what a bummer!

Lastly, tap is back on! Last year I joined my mother-in-law in tap class with her friends. It is one of the funnest hours of my week. As most of you know, we put on a show in June dancing to "Bad to the Bone." I do have it on video and it is quite entertaining, chair props and all. This year we have new songs and some quick routines, I will keep you posted for the showtime in Spring. :) Some of the ladies don't want to perform again, but I say, why are we doing this then? My friend, Leigh, is joining us this year, I am so excited!

That's more than a tid-bit on our lives.... our next big adventure is our cruise in 7 days! I am going with my boys, and Auntie Kalin is watching the girls for us! We love you for that, and lots of other reasons too. :)

Is this time-out or a jumping party?

All right, so it has been one of those days. I think I spent the majority of my day hauling the girls in and out of time-out. It seems to be really effective! They are turning into monkeys and they think it is ok/fun to crawl onto the counter and destroy everything on top. The other day I was drying my hair and Brayden came in and said, "Mom, Dani has a knife." Sure enough, I walked out to the kitchen and she was sitting criss-cross applesauce with the biggest butcher knife we have in her lap. I felt like the best mom ever! Any suggestions?? I have completely moved the stools away and laid them on the floor, which they now stand on, and crawl in and out of. AND.... they get behind the couch and do some rearranging of the blinds and cords (which is super scary)! I am going to have to build a blockade!

As you can see, time-out has turned into a playing/jumping festival. Any other discipline suggestions other than time-out? I am really trying to refrain from beating them.

Just kidding! :)

What happened to my sweet baby boy?

Today was Brayden's first day of his second year of preschool! We were all very excited. He has a new teacher this year, because Ms. Mary retired. Ms. Jenny's new classroom is amazing! The best part for B is the "playground with a twisty slide." He was a little bit clingy when we first got there, but soon he was comfortable and refusing to wear his name tag. This seemed unusual to me, because he is usually a compliant little guy, especially at school! Last year he told me, "I never make bad choices at school, I am a good boy." Well this may be a different year all together....

When he woke up this morning his insisted on not wearing ANY of his new school clothes. The only "fancy" shirt he would wear was one that is two years old (and a little short). I was told he did a good job in school, thank goodness, but when he walked through the door when he got home he had an attitude! This is new to me.... even Kent noticed. He was rather demanding, which I did not take very well. We had a discussion on "tone of voice" (just like my kids at work). "Just because you say please, doesn't mean you are asking nicely." We'll see if it makes a difference. I hope my sweet baby boy returns tomorrow!

Yakisoba and Mickey D's

Grandma Phillips and all of the cousins!

It has been a rough few weeks..... the girls are cutting multiple molars at once, what a nightmare! Everyone is on quite the emotional roller coaster! I told Kent the other day, "I am so tired of being grumpy, but I don't know what to do about it." I ran into a friend today and she made me feel good by saying, "I am in the same boat. I just told my kids I really am a fun person, but you guys don't ever get to see that." Hopefully things will start to be happier soon!

Last week we took to the kids out to dinner (no small feat). We went to the Hula Hut, which we love. I discovered the kids have the same love for yakisoba noodles that I do. It was hilarious, Danielle attacked them like she hadn't eaten in weeks. They probably ate over half of my dinner. It was nice to have full, happy kids (for at least a few minutes).

We also went to McDonald's last night, but I didn't have my camera with me. It was a small tragedy because it was quite the adventure. Kent and I rode our bikes, with the girls in the trailer behind me, and Brayden on his tandem bike behind Kent....

The other day a SCOPE driver drove by our house while we were out playing and riding bikes. As you know, my kids wear helmets pretty much anytime they're outside. Two WERE actually riding bikes though. Anyway.... each kid got a gift certificate for a free ice cream cone at McD's. Brayden was ecstatic and has been asking to go everyday to get his ice cream. Finally last night we made it.

We rode into the parking lot and B and I went in and got two cones. One for him and one for the girls to share. B went to town on his, and I stuck the cone under the girls' faces. Ellie quickly got the hang of licking it and wasn't about to give it up. She had ice cream all over her face and all the way up and down both arms. I was so sad not to have my camera. She kept saying, "Mine, no, mine, no." Everytime I tried to pry it away and give Dani some. Luckily Dani takes after Kent and doesn't have a sweet tooth. She seemed happy to watch Ellie make a disaster out of it.

The fun doesn't end there.... on the way home K & B were riding in front of us. We went over a bump and I heard a loud snap. I looked up and metal was flying. B was lucky he didn't get wacked in the face. Kent's bolt on his seat broke. (His bike is over 15 years old). After making sure everyone was ok, and we recovered all the parts, I busted up laughing. It's a downfall of mine, I laugh at ALL the inappropritate moments! Kent wasn't too happy and let me know it was NOT funny. He had to ride home the 4 miles standing up the whole time, or experience a pole all the way up his bum. (I have worked so hard for 8 years to try to get the stick out of his bum and loosened up, I was nervous about the trip home and all my efforts going to waste).

Just kidding Kent, I love you! The stick is def. all the way out now! With three kids you just have to laugh, or we would hurt each other.