A kid again?

Yesterday we met my sister-in-law, Sarah, at McDonalds for lunch. The kids are big enough to play there now and with the 24 degree weather they have lots of energy to burn. We had a nice lunch and then after an hour and a half of playing it was time to go. We rounded up most of them (there's six total). We were all standing at the bottom of the play structure yelling at Danielle to come down. She sat up there and stared at us, and we all thought she was confused on how to get down. We sent both boys, Keegan and Brayden up to help her. They coaxed, tugged and pulled, but she wouldn't come down. At this point I was sweating with all of my winter clothes on, and getting more frustrated by the second. I took off my shoes and climbed up! What fun! (not so much) It's always nice to feel like a huge giant as you're trying to squeeze through the levels. I finally reached the top and Danielle took off in the opposite direction. She thought it was a fun game! She knew exactly what she was doing the whole time! I had to chase after her on my knees, which hurts! I finally caught up to her and shoved her down the slide and I sailed down behind her. She was laughing the whole way! I tell you this girl is the sneakiest, most stubborn thing I have had to deal with in a long time! What are the next few years going to bring?

Things are a changin'......

The girls "Last Supper"

Taa Daa, they have officially been moved to the big kid table, they are thrilled to finally be part of the family dining experience! We finally took the high chair and booster out of the kitchen and braved it through a dinner with the girls on the carpet! (The carpet is already so trashed, what difference will a few more spills make)?

Danielle is so proud! She smiled through the whole dinner!

YAY! (Brayden was at cousin Keegan's house, so it was a small gathering).

AND......... we got at least a four foot addition to our kitchen! How crazy is it not to have to move two chairs every time you want to open the fridge or a cupboard?? Things are getting easier?!?
Notice the garbage can is STILL on the counter. When will the girls not be so enamored with it, that they won't feel they have to touch it and lick it? Also, I was trying to change the bag last week and it fell off the counter, now the can is not only bent, but the lid is broken off! Why do garbage cans cost so much? We aren't buying one until the kids are 10, that's what I say about everything nowadays.

AND... Dad hung up a coat rack! I am more than thrilled! The girls' room is constantly trashed with coats, hats, and mittens thrown on the floor or chair (mostly by me). Now things will be a little more organized!

They are just as excited as me! Now, I just have to convince Kent to put two more holes in the wall so Brayden can have one in his room. Does anyone else experience this? It is almost a guarantee that Kent and I will get irritated/frustrated when we are hanging something in the house. Kent is one of the most patient people I have ever met, but if a project involves putting holes in the wall........not so happy. I can understand that, but it's not like I ask all the time. I just want the kids to be able to be organized and hang up their dang coats! Is that too much to ask? (Take note, the girls won't be able to hang up their coats until they're 10, because Kent didn't want to hang it too low and then have to move it later). At that point I just asked him to put it where ever he thought was best. :) And I thanked him for all of his help.

YAY for organization, thanks Megs, you inspired me with your playroom! We also went out and bought a stack able drawer storage thing for all of the play food, (96 pieces) and pots and pans for their kitchen. I am so happy!

Happy Anniversary!

On Saturday my Mom and the kids and I went out to my Grandparent's in Coeur d' Alene to celebrate their 61st anniversary!
Cousin Eliette came with us!

Danielle eating cake naked!

Ellie getting it in as fast as she can.

Ellie, Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, Auntie Jan, Eliette, my Mom, Danielle, and Brayden

My Mom and Aunties got them a digital photo frame, now they can see all of our beautiful faces all day long!

Ellie and Danielle hanging out at home. Danielle got a hold of the key board and for some reason I can't upload the other pics. I wanted. Guess I'll try a new post. Gotta love busy hands!

Problems anyone?

I have to write about this so I don't forget it. The kids and I were getting out of the car tonight to go into the store. I had Dani in the stroller and was putting Ellie in. Brayden said, "Don't worry mom, I'll be standing right here if you have any problems. If you have some problems I can help you solve them."

I just turned and said, "You don't know how happy I am to hear that. I have lots of problems, where should we start? Can you solve all types of problems? "

He said, "Sure Mom, what's your first problem?"

My sarcasm was lost on him, but I got a chuckle out of it. A four year old counselor, that's what I'm resorting to! I wanted to start with NONE of my kids listen to me! The girls are almost two, and know EVERYTHING already. :) Brayden thinks whatever is in his mind is the right way to do things.... they are all quite independent nowadays. Isn't it what a mom always wants?

An interview with Brayden

I have seen this interview on a few blogs and I thought it was cute. I tried it with Brayden, I told him he had to help me with my homework. He wasn't too interested at the time.

1. What's your name? Brayden

2. How old are you? 4

3. What's your favorite color? blue and red

4. What's your favorite book? uh, Dora and Thomas

5. What's your favorite song? I don't like songs mom.

6. What's your favorite movie? The new one from X-mas mom. Puppy Power (Dora) and Bob (the builder) mom.

7. What's your favorite TV show? Mom, Super Why and Curious George, you know that.

8. Who's your best friend? Keegan

9. Favorite smell? Nothing mom

10. Favorite candy? All of them, all of the candy flavors!

11. Favorite sound? like an elephant

12. Favorite instrument? a guitar and a drum

13. Favorite thing to do at school? Arts like I made for you, that was arts.

14. Favorite game? All the games I have, I like mom, nothing else, I'm done with this.

15. Favorite food? fruit snacks, and waffles, macaroni and cheese

16. Favorite drink? I like chocolate milk and white milk, but I don't like water.

17. Favorite animal? elephants

18. Favorite things to do? arts stuff

19. Favorite place to go? library and the purple play place (Drop in and play at the mall)

20. Favorite toy? My new dragon toy that I got for X-mas. (Thanks G & G). It used to be my stuffed animals. (mickey mouse)

21. What do you like about Keegan? Playing, nothing else

22. How old is Dad? IDK

23. How old is Mom? IDK, I don't want to guess. Do you know how old you are?

24. What makes you happy? When we do fun things, like going to the library and the purple play place.

25. What do you want to be when you grow up? Nothing mom, just a person.

Great-Grandma's B-day

Great-Grandma's 81st birthday was on Thursday, the 8th. Brayden worked very hard on making her a card and a BEAUTIFUL cake! He copied all these letters from a piece of paper that I wrote on. I couldn't believe it!

It doesn't get any prettier than this.

Great-Grandma and B blowing out the candles. B wanted to take 81 candles to their house, but I convinced him three would be enough.

Cake and Ice cream!

YUMMY!

Dani and Great-Grandpa. It was a very fun morning, the kids even got to eat baloney sandwiches there for lunch. They were thrilled!

Top 10 list for 2008

Lins, here is my list. I am just typing away as I think of the past year, and there is no logical order to any of it (surprise, surprise).

10. Brayden started his second year of pre-school and he can now write his name by himself, and knows alot of his alphabet letters and his numbers!

9. Dani and Ellie are talking and starting to put two words together! AND they usually like each other!

8. My dad had rectal cancer surgery and is now in remission.

7. My brother had open heart surgery and is now recovering and doing amazing.

6. Kent, Brayden and I went on a cruise and got to enjoy quality time with each other. It was an amazing vacation! The girls got to spend time with Auntie Kalin and G & G.

5. I turned 30 and Kent planned an amazing weekend for me that I will never forget.

4. Kym and her boys came and visited us for a long weekend when they were home from Africa.

3. I got quite a few new clients for my speech and language private practice, which I love!

2. The Arctic Blast of 2008, where we got 6 feet of snow and schools were cancelled and we were housebound FOREVER!

1. I started a blog (thanks Kelsey) and now I feel like I know what's going on in my friends' lives. It is such a great way for me to feel connected when I am homesick for the 'couve girls, or anyone else who I can't drive to see within a half an hour!