shall I start again?

Once 2012 ended I though it would be a good time to retire the blog.  It's impossible to find the time to update.  Of course I want to keep going because I don't want to forget anything about my kids at this age.  They have all changed so much since winter.  I've promised to myself that I will update the blog monthly this year and hopefully I can keep it going. 

So..... are you ready to see the kids?

 

Carter

Carter turn 5 years old this spring.  He has grown up so much and is still the best big brother EVER! He is caring to everyone and his pre-k teachers just rave about how sweet he is.  For example, every day one child is picked by the teach to be the "line leader" for the day.  The line leader then gets to pick who will be the "caboose" for the day.  One day Carter was line leader.  The teachers noticed one little boy in the class was never picked to be the caboose and asked Carter is he would pick him.  Without hesitation he picked that little boy as the caboose.  Carter has learned so much from his pre-k class.  Most of all he has learned to be more independent and try to do things on his own.  You can see how proud he is of himself when he accomplishes something new. 

This year Carter tried basketball and baseball.  Dad was the coach of his basketball team.  Carter seemed to really like it.  He loved dribbling and always wanted to shoot the ball.  He was one of the only kids on his team that would make the 8 foot basket so he was a top scorer for the Bulldogs. 

 Carter also started baseball this year.  He is learning about the game (i.e. the different bases and how to throw, catch and hit).  Carter loves to bat and would prefer to be on offense all the time.  T-ball seems to be a little slow paced for his liking. 

Carter loves to play video games on the Wii and his DS.  He loves to play Lego Batman and Lego City Undercover.  He also everything about police cars and police officers.  He says he wants to be a police man, an army guy, a fire man, and a ninja when he grows up.  Carters favorite outside activity is building camp fires and roasting s'mores. 

Carters 5th birthday party was a Star Wars party.  Each child got a light saber and jedi robe.  All the kids went thru jedi training with Obe Wan Knobe (a.k.a. Dad) and even Darth Vador was there.

 

 Ryan

Ryan is a big girl now.  This spring was all about potty training.  It took awhile but she got it.  She loves to wear underwear and loves to dress up everyday.  She insists on wearing a dress and a skirt everyday.  She is also looking forward to starting dance class.  She loves to wear leotards and swimsuits and dance to classical music in the house.  She insists we watch her dance and pulls chairs into the family room for us (the audience) to watch.  Ryan loves Disney princesses and make up.  He favorite movies are Cinderella and Little Mermaid.   Ryan has a great imagination.  She loves to pretend she a kitty named Chomp-Chomps.  Her favorite things to do are paint, color and swing on the swing set.  Ryan is a headstrong 3 year old.  She loves to say no to everything we ask her to do.  She loves to play with her big brother and has lots of fun with the 2 year old girl, Chloie, next door.

 

Ashley

Ashley is a full fledge toddler now.  She is walking and running.  She says hi to everyone and certainly knows the meaning of "no-no".  She the pickiest eater in the family who only chooses to eat fruit, hot dogs and cereal.  Ashley wants to do everything her brother and sister do.  She loves to swing and slide.  She also really loves to play on the ipad.  Ashley loves to go to new places. She really enjoys being out and about.  She is a momma's girl through and through.  Ashley gives the best hugs.  She wraps her arms around your neck and squeezes tight!  Her favorite thing to do is give Carter and the cats kisses.  Ashley is a water baby who loves bath time and swimming her grandparents pool.  Everyone tells us she is a happy, smiley baby.  And usually she it!  She is still our sweet, sweet Dolly!

The kids are finally at an age where they can play together.  It is so fun to see them grow and watch their friendships grow. 

Tis The Season

We are all very excited for the holiday season even if this picture doesn't show it.

 We've been listening and dancing to Christmas music for weeks.  The kids wrote letters to Santa. Ryan has been our main tree decorator. 

The other night we loaded the kids in the van to look at Christmas lights.  After they put on their jammies for the night, each got a "ticket to ride" and a bowl full of goodies to eat on our voyage.  Everyone was excited to look for lights and would shout, "Over here! Look over here" whenever they saw a good display.  Even Ashley got into it with some very enthusiastic "Wows" from her car seat!

We also spent a day at the Children's Museum for Jolly Days.  Carter and Ryan loved sliding down the big indoor slide.  I think Ashely was disappointed she had to sit out.  Her frown while waiting for Carter and Ryan says it all!

Since Thanksgiving we've been watching some of our favorite Christmas movies.  The kids love the Mickey Mouse Christmas movies.  Polar Express is still an all-time family favorite.  Here are the kids enjoying movie night that includes sleeping bags, pjs, pillows, snacks and the Polar Express.

There is still so much fun to come over the next two weeks! We are really only getting started. Carter and Ryan fully understand the "magic" of Christmas and are eagerly waiting for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.  We will have a busy house with holiday parties and out of town guests.  It should be a great time! 

 

All I want or Christmas this year is to watch the kids enjoy the holiday season and make wonderful family memories.  So far my Christmas wish is coming true! 

Makes me smile

 Someone needs to figure out how to freeze time.  Ryan has some of the funniest phrases.  She says something every day that makes me laugh out loud.  For example:

• I love how she says glubs for gloves
• If she really wants something she says, "oh please, oh please, oh please!"
• Yesterday Ryan's teacher said Ryan's bottom dipped in the toilet at school yesterday. This little girl's reaction was, "oh dear!"
• While driving in the car Ryan suggested we jump off the overpass of the highway.  When I told her it wasn't a good idea because we could get really hurt, she responded "well, that sounds serious!"
• She'll take a bite of something and say, "that's delicious!"
• If Ryan wants a cup of milk and you say, "how do you ask me nicely?", she says the word nicely instead of please.
• She often says "So Sorry", like when she poops in her diaper.  However if she spills an entire cup of milk on the floor, she says "no troubles!"

The saying is true, little kids DO say the darnedest things!

 
 

 

Ashley turns ONE

Ashley turned 1 year old on Thanksgiving day.  The afternoon will filled with good food (Daddy's first attempt at a Turkey) and family.  The kids were excited from the moment they woke up.

Here's Dolly all dressed up in her 1st Birthday Tee.

 The weather was amazing for late November. So we headed over to the basketball hoop, enjoyed the sunshine and watch brother and sister play basketball.

 After dinner with Nonna, Papa Big, Uncle Todd and Aunt Janice we opened gifts.  Ryan and Carter were very excited to help Ashely.

Then, Ashely got down to business... eating cake! 

 She wasn't thrilled about the idea at first, but after lots of begging and pleading from Mom and Dad, Ashely loved her sugary treat!

Happy Birthday Dolly, We love you so much!

And She's Off

Yep that's right.  Ashley took her first steps this weekend.  We've been working on passing her between Mom and Dad, but she didn't really catch onto the fact that she needs to move her feet until Sunday (11days before her 1st bday).  I'll need to get a photo or video up soon.  Until then you can enjoy this sister halloween picture.

12 Things About Ashley

Ashely is nearing her first birthday and like I did with the other two kids, it's time to write 12 things about her.  She will technically be a toddler in a couple weeks, and this is a way for me to stop and think about how Ashely is now, as a baby.

1. Ashely loves books.  I mean loves, loves books.  I've never seen anything like it.  She will grab a book and drag it to you for you to read.  She says, "this, this, this" or squawks until you take and from her and start reading.  She is so delighted while you're reading.  She giggles, claps her hands and kisses the pages. 
2. Ashley has a unique crawl.  It's more of a one legged scoot.  We assume she doesn't like her knees on the hardwood floor.  I must remember to get video of it before she starts walking!
3. She is a water baby.  Carter and Ryan love water too, but Ashely takes the cake! As a little baby she would happily float in the pool for long periods of time.  She also loves bath time.  She is always crawling to the bathroom just to get a glimpse if the tub.  When it's time to get in she splashes and splashes.
4. She thinks Carter and Ryan are the coolest people ever.  She wants to hug and kiss them all the time.  I think she would get a better response from them if she wouldn't pull their hair every time she is near them.  Carter is very loving to Ashely and just recently they have started to play games together.  We are still crossing our fingers that Ryan warms up to her someday.
5. Her favorite toys are balls.  She like to roll them, throw them, bang them together and try to eat them.
6. Ashley was only on baby food for a couple of weeks and then decided she only wanted table food.  Kind of difficult since she didn't cut teeth until 10 months and now only has 2 at almost 12 months.  She loves cheerios and strawberries the most.
7. She loves to drink from a regular cup.  Her smile just beams when you give her the opportunity to try.
8. She is a bit of a momma's girl
9. She is terrified of being in shopping carts, swings and the little red wagon.
10. Ashely has always been extremely ticklish.
11. As a newborn she had awful diaper rash.  So bad we would use toilet paper and water instead of wipes and dried her with the hair drier.  At 11 months, she is still battling diaper rash.
12. She has always been extremely "talkative", much more then the other kids.  When she was real little she would squeal and hum.  Now she jabbers nonstop. She also does this weird thing with her mouth where she blows air out one corner of her mouth and then the other.  I have tried many times to do it and I can't.  Another thing I must get video one of these days.

Ashley is a sweetheart who has the most sincere smile.  Her chubby cheeks and bright eyes can light up a room.  She is loving and affectionate.  There is no wonder why her name is Dolly.  She is a real baby doll!

 

Halloween Fun!

These cute kids

 look like this all dressed up for Halloween!

 Another costume party at Gymboree with Nonna

 Dr. Ryan, Ashely the Bee and Carter the Pirate had a great time. The photo ops from the shindig are endless!!  Here are just a few.

 

We hit up the local pumpkin patch.  Where we rode a train, feed animals and rode ponies.

 Carter climbed a rock wall, mom got sick on a spinning ride and Cousin Allie watched the pumpkin eating dino.  We all took the hay ride out to pick our pumpkins.

 It was a sunny day, but a bit chilly.

 The gentle bumps and sway of hay ride put some people to sleep.

We carved our pumpkins.  Carter like pulling out the pumpkin guts which he called gummy bears and Ryan cheered Dad on while he carved her Mickey Mouse pumpkin.

 

Poor Ryan had the stomach bug on Halloween so she rested on the couch while Carter and Ashely went trick or treating around the neighborhood with buddy, Dillon Powell. Carter wore his fireman costume from last year and Ashely traded in her bee costume for a much warmer lion costume for the cold night.

 

Cousin Allie got into the Halloween spirit giving out candy as Ariel form Little Mermaid (Ryan's favorite movie)

Yep, we love October in our house.  Halloween is lots of fun!