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Monday, April 29, 2019

Updates, 2mo, Lowkey

Update on the kids... as we've been so preoccupied with survival that I hate to miss out on these little nuances that make them them lately.

G:
When he hands you something he says "go"... mimicking "here you go" that we say to him.
Everything is No. He knows what it is and is sassy about it.
He gives hugs and kisses the best in the house at night... real heart and soul in them.
He still likes to wave and say Hi to Ainsley.
He lets E hold his "hand" which is actually his wrist.
He insists on sleeping with his water glass snuggled up to him at night. After we tuck them in, E gets out of bed, hands it to him and he tucks it under his arm, like his Alex.
He is not interested in learning how to put on or take off his shoes right now. Matt is tired of this.
When he is ready to walk away, he will look at you, throw up an arm and say "BYE". Sometimes it's 1 time, sometimes it's 5. It's cute no matter how many times it's said.
The other one that's been melting my heart is "night-night" when he goes to bed... he says it without the t's.

E:
She's practically fullblown threenager and it's EEEEXXXHausting. She will tantrum because she doesn't have a braid in her hair OR because we didn't use the right pony tail holders OR because Grady touched her socks.
She's so chatty. She asks questions, notices her surroundings, and talks nonstop. We are surprised by the words she's using and often how she is using them. She's also applying logic - which is great, but really can be a pain in the butt too.
She's bossy - Those other two don't stand a chance. Reminds G to say please. Gets disappointed in Ainsley that she didn't tell us that she had to use the potty.
She's is very interested in noises right now - motorcycles, cars, the dishwasher... she pays attention to it all.
She's still a hoarder. She now gets bags and puts her things in them to make the hoarding more easier.
She can identify many letters - easily more than half the alphabet, especially if you connect it with something (Grady, Ainsley, Fin, Umbrella, Submarine, Jellyfish, etc)
Every night, I take an entire library of books out of bed, so she doesn't sleep with them.

A:
She's smiling a bit now, especially in the morning.
She's starting to coo and chat.
She thinks it's fun to take morning naps in our bed and then when she wakes up in the best mood.
She's really become alert over the past week, watching her siblings as they loom around her.
She is a horrible daytime napper and often refuses unless she is being held. BUT we do get quite a few hours in at night, so I'm sure that's a give and take there. I'm waking up in order to keep ahead of her, but she's gone through the whole night twice now - making it really easy on her dad.

The week was pretty standard - the weather was up and then down over the weekend, even resulting in snow. We had a few days that we could do some playing outside. We had our first picnic of the year on Friday - something we hope to continue throughout the summer. We went to the capitol and ate on the mall lawn. Past the Sammy's Club run and a run-in with a stomach bug for the kids... we stayed in and hung out.

During mealtime chaos
Milk has been split.
Silverware has been dropped umpteen times.
Food has been declared yucky in various manners - verbal and via sound.
Food has been squashed and not eaten.
There has been many negotiations and bartering.
Dessert has been threatened.
ALR: I'm exhausted. They are really taking it out of me. I think I'm losing my will.
MJR: This tomato looks like an apple.
ALR stares.
MJR: That is where my mindset is now, mush.
ALR looks down at her food and thinks that she has a tomato that looks like a pear. 


Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Outside, Eggs, Baskets

Easter week for us! This week started off a bit different than most. The kids headed up with Matt to Lansford. They stayed with Randy and Michele while Matt attended the Travel Conference. Ainsley and I stayed home - was a bit weird to all be split up. The first night I headed out to the farm and had dinner with Mom and Dad - that was weird too, not having the attention hogs with us while we ate and talked. They came back on Wednesday, just in time for one day at daycare before a 4 day weekend.

The weather has finally turned... enough that we drug out the yard toys and even uncovered Eleanor's playhouse. It's nice to get out into the sun and weather and spread out. It feels like we've been cooped up for too long. The kids ran around and rode on scooters and movers to their heart content all day. The most fun they had though was either running through Matt's raked leaves and yard clippings piles OR stealing leaves and crap from the piles and pilfering them into E's house.

We also full out Eastered it this weekend.

We dyed eggs - which is tougher than you'd think. I was thinking it would be this magical fun of dropping eggs into dye and then explosions of color. No, it's trying to ensure a whole egg actual makes it into a cupfull of dye and out without the dye being exposed full on to the entire dining room. Not all eggs made it through the process.

We visited the Easter bunny. There were no tears in this visit and I only got mildly reprimanded for taking my own pictures - however if they thought I was going to pay $40 for that crazy train, no. way. E didn't want to sit by the bunny but she wanted to see the bunny and G didn't want to sit period and A - well, she was woken from her nap and didn't care.

Then on Easter, the Bunny brought their Easter baskets - we did a little hybrid of our own traditions. The bunny hid the baskets for them to find. Was cute to see them excited about it. E's first look was in the fridge.

We headed out to Denise's for Easter. After lunch, the kids had the egg hunt - which they absolutely loved. I'm not sure what was more cute, E's excitement about the egg hunting OR G running to grab and egg and laughing. Either way... this is proof that they can pick things up in rapid succession... now if only I can harness this speed and excitement (and ability) when it comes to the cleanliness of the living room. After egg hunting, they did kites and bubbles before we took off. It was a beautiful ride home with all the sleeping that happened.

We finished the four day weekend with my mom who came to help out... it was a full, wonderful weekend.

Getting home Easter night...
ALR: Did you have a good day today?
EER: Yes, it was my Yem n Yem party.
ALR: No, silly - it wasn't an M & M party, it was an Easter Party
EER: Where are we going tomorrow?
ALR: I think we'll stay here.
EER: Where does the Easter bunny live?
ALR: I'm not sure.
EER: With him mom.
ALR: I bet you're right.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Snowman, Smiles, Circus

It's been nice for about a week and when I say "nice" here's what I mean. The snow was almost melted, the wet spots around the yard aren't full on ponds but slight puddles, and light coats are available while gloves and hats are semi-optional. We even have been allowing the kids on the deck with their light jackets but not requiring shoes. Here's the other thing... Lola has finally been able to go outside and has ventured off the deck. In the past week, there's been three "presents" left behind for us. It's going to be a long summer with her.

That was the first part of the week... the last part of the week delivered another blanket of snow to cover everything all over again. It came over night and it was like the melt had never happened. We did get outside to enjoy it a bit and the kids had a blast in the snow... they liked to "throw" snowballs at Matt and I and then made a snowman (complete with carrot nose) with Matt in the front yard. The bunny that's been living under the evergreen bushes should be pretty happy with his new friend! By the end of the day, there was still snow in the yard but there was a good melt started. Here's hoping for a clean yard soon again.

A couple things happened with Ainsley this week... she's starting to smiling and she slept through the night. Now this second one doesn't completely surprise me as the girl was up the entire day before so she probably needed the sleep - lord knows we all did but because I've been sick, I was up half the night coughing - I guess I can't win them all. She's the first of all the kids to sleep through the night. And it was even more unique because all three slept through the night. It helped because the rest of the weekend it was early mornings and little sleep for Matt and I... However I think I'd have rather had the hard night/morning earlier in the weekend so we could recooperate!

Eleanor had a big day on Saturday, Alaina took her to the circus! I heard about the tigers when she came home and there were pics of the elephant ride as well as the pony ride. I think they had a nice afternoon together and it was good that they could spend the time together. We took Grady out for a pineapple ice cream sundae because he wasn't old enough to go to the circus yet... so he got a little some thing special too.
The kids had also had the developmental screener in this weekend. They adore when she stops to "play" with them, she also lives in our neighborhood - so the kids love to wave at her and her pups. She was impressed with Eleanor's verbal and how she strings words and stories together. She commented how she's advanced for her age group and appreciated how she made conversation, asked questions, and responded. She also commented (again) on her strong will and told us that it will be good for her in the long run - I appreciate her cheerleading from the sides as some days that strong will may kill me. Grady did well too - she laughed at how many hugs he gave her and all the sounds that he likes to make - he was great with cars/vehicles and balls - he could have cared less about stacking blocks - which is how it's been from day one - he's more into the demo work of it all but we'll get there. Ainsley had her first screening too and is on track too as she's tracking objects, smiling, noticing her surroundings, and beginning to contemplate making sounds. I'm sad to see E graduate out of the program - it's been good to have a resource for us.

Lola comes up onto deck. MJR and ALR see "it."
ALR moves to block window.

GRR looks out the window: LOLA, LOLA, LOLA
EER looks out to confirm and now both are entranced.
EER: Lola is biting!!
ALR: Yes, Lola is biting, she shouldn't should she.
EER: What is she biting?
MJR: Lola has a mouse. She is bringing it as a thank you gift...
ALR cuts him off.
ALR: Lola is playing with the mouse and she should play with him at the mouse's house.
EER through the window at Lola: You playing?
ALR: Whenever Lola has something in her mouth we NEVER let her in the house.
ALR begins to herd kids away from the window.
EER: Lola, you have a mouse?
GRR: LOLA! LOLA!
ALR: Let's go upstairs
MJR: Aww, man, she's starting to eat it.
ALR: EVERYONE! UPSTAIRS!
EER: Lola has a friend?
GRR: LOLA!!
ALR sighs.

Monday, April 8, 2019

Spring, Godparents

The spring melt is officially on - we can see yard and birds and less and less snow. It's so nice. We have been going for walks and playing a bit at night without getting sopped. Early in the week, Matt took the snow blower and pushed/redistributed the bank in the back more so we could help speed up the process. The kids helped out... or at least that's what they say.
Over the past two weekends, we introduced Ainsley to her godparents. We've asked my cousin, Wes and Kristi and then our close friends Jon and Kim. Both couples were sweet about the ask and Ainsley is awful lucky to have them. I'll start working on the details of the baptism soon so we can get that squared away. I've also started working on E's birthday party.


We went out to the farm on Saturday, to celebrate Alaina's birthday.
By the end of the week, the snow and the weather cooperated and the kids finally had some good outside time! All of us were happy with this! Matt and E even got her birdhouse up into a tree. If the birds have any appreciation for art or know what's good for them, they'll move right in.
All in car.
ARR is wailing.
EER: Sister is not happy.
EER: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star....
After song finishes, over the cries MJR: Oh, that was nice Eleanor
EER: That's Sister's favorite song.