reading, teeth and big girl bed!!

Tonight before bed Andrew read Claire and Blake a story while I cleaned up the kitchen. I love moments like this!!

Andrew lost his top tooth! It was lose for a WHILE! I didn't think that tooth was ever going to fall out! Andrew was determined that this tooth would fall out during school. If you lose a tooth at school you get a little treasure box to bring it home in. Well, he lost it at school and he was SOO excited! Oh the little things in life....

Miss Claire moved into her big girl bed this weekend....although, she calls it her "big boy bed"...that's what we would tell her the boys were sleeping in. It was spring forward this weekend and maybe that worked in my favor, but she has done great so far. I'm sure when the newness wears off she'll be pushing the limits! ;)
Yesterday we took the training wheels off Andrew's bike. He REALLY wanted to do it last fall, but Matt made him wait until the weather got better. He was SO nervous about falling. We took him up to the church parking lot close by and he took off! He had a few crash landings, but got right back up!! I didn't have the camera...what was I thinking!! I'm sure Matt got something with his phone so if I find one or a video I'll have to post it.

valentine's day

Andrew had to decorate a box for his v-day party. When I saw his teacher that day she asked if we found the idea on Pinterest. HA!! Of course!! When I saw this on Pinterest I KNEW Andrew would definitely want to make one. It took him 3 days. I helped him a little and cut some stuff out on the Cricut for him, but he worked really hard on it and was proud of his work! The boys both made Star Wars valentines. I found them online and just printed them!! I forgot to get a picture of Blake with his and his party was on Monday since he doesn't have school on Tuesdays so he posed with Andrew.

valentine's day

This little cutie helped me me make her Vday cards.

I found the idea on Pinterest. LOVE that site!!

She stuck the hearts on the butterfly and the eyes on the sucker. Her party was yesterday and it really threw me off being nearly a week early. She is like her brothers and loves to craft so I figured we needed to find Valentine's that she could help me make. I figured this easy craft was just her speed.

The boys will be doing theirs this weekend and I'll post pics when we're done!

Feb snow... FINALLY!!

I don't understand how people hate snow. I think it's so pretty!!

We got about 10 inches last weekend. The boys have been anxiously awaiting for some snow so they could go sledding!!

Claire loves the snow. Remember last year...she cried when I put her in it. Not this year, she cries when it's time to go inside! I did put her down in some deep snow and she start yelling, "Oh no! Where'd my boot go, Mommy!!" I had a nice laugh after that!!

She loves to try and make a snow angels like her brothers....although I'm pretty sure she has no clue what she's doing.

Taking a break. Playing in deep snow is a lot of work for a little kid!!

Daddy helped build the boys a wall so they could have a snowball fight.
Andrew trying to peg Matt.
Mister Cool Blake playing hard with his planes. What a stud!!

I forgot to mention in my last post that Jenn Massey flew up to see us the first weekend in December. We had a great visit and enjoyed crafting, shopping, spa time, and SNOW! She was hopping for some snow when she came and we got 8 inches!!! She even got to go sledding!! It was a fun visit and I hated to see her leave!!!

Claire is potty trained!! It took her longer than I thought it would, but she's doing great!! No more pull-ups at school or when she goes to MOPS. She'll tell her teachers when she needs to go. YEA!! I'm so glad to be done with diapers!! Well, we use diapers at night, but that will come.

Well, Snow White and Darth Vader need me downstairs. I'm not sure what Snow White is going to do when Darth starts Kindergarten in the fall. She is going to be SO bored with me!!! Gotta run!

my poor blog

My poor blog has been put on the back burner the past few months!! Let's see if I can give a quick up date...

Halloween...Andrew was an alien, Blake was the Transformer bumblebee and Claire was Snow White. We had some friends come over that went with it. It was a little chilly, but no coats were needed!! Everyone was happy about not having to cover up their costumes!!

November....Claire turned 2!! We had a small party w/ some close friends. It's crazy to think she's 2 altho sometimes she thinks she's 4. She is such a funny and silly girl! She can carry on a conversation and just really seems to understand a lot. Her doc even made a comment about it at her two year visit. I really don't remember the boys talking and carrying on a conversation as well as she does. Maybe it's a girl thing. :)

For Thanksgiving my parents, Colleen and Logan all came in. It was a good visit and nice not to have to make a turkey!! I watched, but I'm not sure I could do it next year on my own. I'm sure I'll forget all the tips in a year!! ;)

December...gah! December was a busy month that flew by fast! I started doing some computer work for a friend. I enjoy doing it, but pretty much what little free time I had is gone. ;) Then we got bogged down with Christmas parties and Christmas shopping...always makes the month go by fast. We stayed here this Christmas as Matt had to work. It was kind of nice because we just hung out and relaxed. Andrew enjoyed staying in his pajama bottoms a LOT! He is SO my child!

And that brings us to now...We started out the New Year with a sick child! I sure hope that isn't any indication of what this year is going to be like. Claire started with it and it didn't last long, but Andrew can't get rid of it! I'm just hoping once he's done with it it leaves this house!

Blake and Claire go back to school tomorrow!! I'm excited! ;) Andrew doesn't go back until the 10th.

I've kinda been working on potty training Claire. I say kinda because at the beginning of the break we were home in the mornings and she showed some interest. SO, when Andrew got sick we went head on! She's done pretty good. Here lately she's gone on the potty more times than having accidents....so I'd like to think we ARE making progress. I'll keep asking her if she needs to go throughout the day, but she's started to just go to the potty on her own and then will come get me when she goes. She goes to school tomorrow and they are really the ones who thought she might be ready to go since she sees all her friends going at school and asks to go too...altho I don't think she's actually gone at school. Anyway, it's nice that they are helpful and I'll be glad to get a little break from it tomorrow!! We'll see if she sticks with it!

Well, I'll try to go back later and add some pics. I hope to keep up with this blog again and not slack so much. :)

not sure why i try!

Matt has been working a lot of Sunday mornings and we haven't had a family picture in a LONG time. I figured I would try to get one of just the kids this morning. Not sure why. I guess I just wanted to stress myself out... The first picture wasn't too bad. They all were looking at the camera....somehow I missed that Blake messed up his hair!

Since they cooperated so well, I figured I'd try it outside since the background would look a little better.Claire would NOT sit down!
Maybe her tights were too tight! ha!

The other pics Andrew wasn't looking, Blake was all hunched over and Claire was off doing her own thing. Not sure why I try!!

Well, I don't have many pics, but I'm gonna update on things...

The boys are still playing soccer. It's for 2 months and every Saturday they have a game. They have done really well. Blake says his favorite thing about soccer is getting the snack. :) And to think his nickname was snackers when he was little. ha! His last game he was VERY agressive! I'm really surprised at how far he has come. He also scored his first goal!!! Andrew has done really well too. He's pretty agressive too, but he says he doesn't like to get into the "pile" with all the kids. He likes to wait for the ball to come out of the "pile" and then get it. lol

Blake is still doing swim lessons. He'll go until the end of November. He's come a long way and I think he really enjoys it.

Everyone is doing well in school and really enjoying it. I still work with Blake at home too. We do a letter a week and mainly just work on writing the letter properly and some other skills like patterns and such. We usually only do it 3-4 times a week. There are days that he asks me if we can work on the letter. :) I think he just gets bored. I've been worried that Kindergarten will wear him out being such a long day, but I really think he'll enjoy it!

Last but not least...Claire. That girl is SUCH a mess!! I don't even know where to start with her! She has started tattling on her brothers an I love it!! If one of them hurt her she'll come crying to me...I'll ask who did it and she fesses up with either Andrew or Blake. :) She definitely keeps those boys in line!! She is a funny little girl with such a personality!! She definitely keeps me on my toes and wants things HER way!! She's going to miss Blake when he's not around to play with her during the day!!

Well, not sure what else has been going on. I'm watching tv and trying to update...so clearly I'm not paying this too much attention!! Go figure!! Off to fold a mound of clothes!!

big girl!

I know this is a little late, but I HAVE to add this picture of Claire on her first day of school. I've already said this...I think, but she only goes one day a week to a Kid's Day Out. She was SO excited to go to "Blake's school!"

Matt had off that day and we had big plans...that fell through! We were so excited to have some alone time tho. We thought about going to breakfast and then decided that we really needed to do some shopping for the kids. The weather turned a little chilly and Andrew was in need of some warmer clothes. So, we went shopping and hooked the kids up with some clothes!

When we went to pick Claire up I went to her door to get her. Her teacher called for her, she came running out, passed me up and yelled "DADDY!!!!!!!!" I'd like to think that she didn't see me, but when I walked up to her she could have cared less. I so felt the love!! Her teacher said she had a great first day tho and that's all that really mattered to me!!

corn girl

I love this picture!! She is such a mess!!

big blakers starts preK!!!

Blake started Pre-K on the 7th of September. He's been READY! I'm sure he gets a little bored now that Andrew is back in school. This year he is going to a new school. Last year he went to a preschool at our church. He enjoyed it and had a lot of friends, but I wanted him to go somewhere different from church. I wanted him to think he was actually in "school."

Claire will be going to his school one day a week. I AM SO EXCITED!! :) She didn't go this day because she had been pretty snotty. Her first actual day will be tomorrow!!

So far Blake has really enjoyed it. He is so excited to tell me about his day when I pick him up. It's funny (well, kind of annoying) but Claire HAS to wear her backpack or "packpack" as she says when we take him and pick him up. You know, it's just ONE more thing I have to deal with in the mornings. *sigh* That girl wears me out!!

big b's

What does Blakers do now that his big bro is back in school all day?...

He plays with Perler Beads!

The boy spent HOURS playing with those beads the other day! He made a lizard, turtle and a dog that day. If you have ever made one of these you know it takes a lot of concentration to work on them and a lot of time! I tried hard to pull him away from it, but he was DETERMINED to get them all done before Andrew got home from school.

He was very proud of his work!

poor blog

Well, I haven't blogged in a while....mainly because we've been sick. Andrew started it and passed it to Claire and Claire passed it on to Blake. Not fun times for this mommy! After 3 weeks it was finally gone! Then Matt's brother and his family came in! We had a fun week with them. His parents came in the end of that week and we had a full house! It was fun tho and I know my kids had a blast playing with their cousins.

They left and three days later Andrew started school!!! I can't believe he's a 1st grader!!

I can't take credit for the sign. Thanks, Megan!! And thanks Matthew for teaching my child this dumb pose!!

Daddy and his boys.

Walking to school. I LOVE being able to walk to school!!

Andrew and his new teacher!

He's very excited because he had a few friends from his class last year.

He's been in school a week and has enjoyed it so far. He was telling Blake today how being a 1st grader is HARD work. :)

This picture reminds me of being a kid. When I was little I used to play under our kitchen table ALL the time. It had a ledge that went from one side of the table to the other and I used to line up my Little People under there and play for hours.

With school right around the corner I figure it's time I start working with Blake ....and Claire. Andrew was sick all last week so I figured why not start since we were couped up in the house!

Dot letter A.
Claire was proud of her work!
Making the A with marshmallows.
Claire worked on stacking them. She was concentrating hard and would get mad when it would fall over!! (temper like her Daddy! ha!)

Can't believe our summer is almost over! It has really gone by too fast! I have to remind myself this is my last year with Blake home. :( CRAZY!!

porch fun

It was a pretty nice day today, so I had the kids eat lunch on the porch. I love when the kids can eat outside. I don't have to sweep under the table!!

Afterwards I took some pics for fun.

Andrew didn't want his picture taken. He was too busy playing his iPod.

Claire was stalking our neighbor who was out playing with his dog.

Claire-bearplaying peek-a-boo!

Not sure what is so funny!!

Blakersplaying hard I'm definitely enjoying these nice summer days. Next week we can see mid 90's so we are soaking up the low 80's while we can!

the big 6!

I can't believe it's been 6 years!!

Oh how my life has changed in those 6 years. I remember when I thought having one child was a lot of work. HA!

I can't believe how much Andrew has grown and matured over these 6 years! It's gone by fast. He's always been a tender hearted little boy who definitely wears his heart on his sleeve. I'm so glad God has blessed us with this spunky little boy and I can't wait to see how he will grow into a young man.

We love you, Andrew!! HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!

blake's camp

This summer I signed Blake up for some special day camps at a preschool. It wasn't at the preschool he went to so I was a little worried he wouldn't enjoy it or would be scared, but he did fine. Here's some pics from each day.

Pirate Day

Dinosaur Day

Toy Story Day
Thomas and Friends Day

He had a lot of fun going on treasure hunts, tracking dinosaur tracks, riding Bullseye, and crashing like trains. I asked him which day was his favorite and he said all of them!! I will definitely be signing him up again next summer!!!