bath fun...or not so fun!

Ever since Claire has been able to sit up she's been taking baths with the boys. The boys didn't mind and it made my life easier.

Until...

Claire became such a menace!

The boys like to line their toys up on the edge of the tub and all Claire wants to do is knock them down! It drives the boys crazy.

So now when I tell them it's time for a bath they beg for Claire not to take a bath with them. :)

She's trying her hardest to be a pesky little sister!!

astronaut blake

Last week at Blake's school they learned about outer space. We had to make a space helmet and Blake wore it to school on Friday. Does he look a little excited?

Matt spray painted it and Blake did the decorating! Andrew wanted to know why we named Blake NASA. :) Next week they are learning about trains!

Here's what my mischievous child has been up to lately...

Andrew and Blake have bunkbeds in their room. Claire would always try to stand on the bottom, get in trouble and get off. Well, lately she's been testing the limits...instead of just one step she'd go on to the second. Anyway, the other day she was very quiet...I knew she was up to something. I went to see if she was in her room and found her in the boys' room. ON ANDREW'S BED! I nearly freaked! I yelled for Matt to come watch her while I went and got my camera. ;) And now the ladder is hidden in the closet during the day!

Then, somebody left the gate to the basement open and she went down head first. Thankfully she caught her self on the 5th stair. Where was mommy? Sitting on the living room floor folding clothes. She was making a noise so I knew she was stuck, but it took me a sec to figure out where she was. That could have been ugly!!

She's also into wearing her scarf again...but is now adding the boots! The girl is learning she must accessorize!!

She does have some learning to do....she keeps wanting to wear her bother's hat!

Yesterday we spent some time outside! I think it was 60 degrees! I'm sure some of you have been in the 60's for a while..not us!

Anyway, it was nice and the boys were glad they didn't have to wear a jacket!

Blake playing hard with his trains.

Andrew played hard at the sand and water table.

(Yeah, Daddy DID put water in it at one point. What was he thinking???)

I pulled out Andrew's 4wheeler he got for his first birthday, but Claire wouldn't stay on long enough for me to get a picture. She kept trying to push it with her feet and wouldn't keep her finger on the button to make it move long enough.
She tried HARD to get her brothers to drive her on the John Deer...or whatever, it's called...but there were NO takers!
We are supposed to get MORE snow next week or so. We got some a week ago, but it was only an inch and a half. Hopefully we won't get much more than that!! Wishful thinking!!

blake's field trip to the grocery store :)

Today we went with Blake's class to the grocery store. When the permission slip came home I thought...what in the world are we going to do there? I didn't think it would be that much fun, but it actually was!

Andrew was able to go with us because he was out for Kindergarten Roundup! Blake was very excited about that!!

Anyway, we all met at the front of the store and headed over to the bakery. I didn't get a picture because they went behind the counter and in the back to see where all the goodies are made.

Then, we headed to the produce.

The lady in the white shirt was the one who led the tour. The other two ladies in the picture are his teachers.

After that we headed to the meat department.
They also went behind this counter to see how things are made and went inside the freezer.

The kids all got a little scoop of ice cream.

Then they went to check out the juice and milk area...

Blake thought this was really neat.

Then everyone got to scan a few things on the register.

Last but not least, a snack for all...cookies, fruit and a juice box.

The kids had a really fun time....well, Claire had her moments.
Afterwards, we went with some friends from Andrew's class to McDonald's and then had some friends over for a play date. What a day!!! I need a nap! ;)

update

I figure it's time for a little update on the kiddos....

Andrew is doing awesome in school.

He has really taken off in his reading! He's made friends and really come out of his shell this year! We had conferences last week and his teacher had all good things to say about him. He's also such a good big brother!! We are very proud of that boy!!

Blakers is just all boy....

and by all boy I mean he loves cars, trucks, trains, plains, superheroes...you name it! He's constantly playing hard crashing his cars or whatever he has in his hands. He plays hard all day long and is so good at entertaining himself. He adores his big brother and loves his little sister...even when she taunts him!

Claire is growing big!

I took her in for a well visit today. She was in the 62% for weight and 94% for height! She's growing like a weed! She adores her brothers and loves to steal the toys they are playing with and run. :) It makes me laugh, but can drive them crazy! She's getting over an ear infection and I hope this time the meds work! These days she loves books, her dollhouse, babies and puzzles. She also loves anything her brothers are playing. ;)

Here's the crew playing our favorite game....YAHTZEE! Claire doesn't actually play...she usually sits on my lap or tries to steal the dice. I love this game tho because it doesn't last FOREVER!

An update on the weather...we are supposed to get 5 inches of snow this week. I'm excited. I hope it's the good kind of snow. Did you know there are different types of snow? The blowing kind is NOT the good kind!!

museum and picker :)

Friday we went with some friends to the Omaha Children's Museum . It's in downtown Omaha and about 2 minutes from Daddy's work!!

Blake driving the big firetruck!

Fun ball area. Here are the boys digging while Claire is supervising. That is Andrew's best bud with him. We hit some other areas, but I had all to do to keep up with Claire. The girl was ALL over the place!! They had fun and were worn out!! My kind of place!

On another note, I have to add this picture. Claire has found her nostril and is CONSTANTLY sticking her finger up there!!! Sorry, Claire, you're brothers have some embarrassing pics on this blog too!

c-ya later snow

The weather has been so nice here!

It's been in the upper 50's. After being in the teens... 50's feels WARM!

Today was the first time in months that I was able to walk and get Andrew from school...in SHORTS!

The snow is melting and the boys are a little bummed.

These last couple of days the boys have been out playing in it as much as they can before it's all gone.

I'm pretty sure when Matt's mom bought these front loaders (or whatever they are called) she didn't think the boys would be playing with them in the snow! :)

Snow lover Andrew...

super cool Blake...

and up to no good...Claire-bear!

Claire is not a lover of the snow.

Here she is trying to get the front loader without stepping in the snow...
Why? To sit on it, of course!

Well, the snow will be gone in a few days, but I'm sure we'll get another batch before winter is over. I don't mind, but I'm excited to see what our summer weather will be like!!

snow, snow days and just random stuff...

Well, I was going to blog about our snow from last week and then yesterday we got more! So, just know that we have a lot!

Andrew made a snow angel and could NOT get up!

I was cracking up!!

I should have taken a video of him trying so hard to get up, but I just took a picture and then helped him. ;)

Everyone wants to know how we are doing with the winter here. Honestly, we are enjoying it! The boys really enjoy playing in the snow. I will say that it helps we have the right gear. Also, when it's really bad...I don't get out in it!! We are usually stuck in the house one day and the next day all the main roads will be plowed and life will be back to normal!

Yesterday we had about 8 more inches added to whatever was on the ground.

Andrew has been out of school for two days and will go back tomorrow. It's so funny because he gets SO excited when he has a snow day.

These guys have definitely enjoyed the snow days!!

They've spent their days drawing, playing air hockey, Wii, cars, trains....you name it. They do a great job entertaining each other and that makes for one happy mommy!!

On another note, here is Claire being a menace AGAIN!!

She has started helping me unload the silverware, but she doesn't understand that when it's dirty we don't put it back in the drawer. She's learning tho!

I'm pretty sure she's telling me to leave her alone in this picture!

Not sure what got in her head to sit IN the drawer!
(check out that belly! i think she's ready for her bikini!!) Here's Claire and Andrew after church Sunday.
Blakers didn't have time to pose!!
Claire really didn't either as she wouldn't be still!! I have to add this pic because I love Claire's tights!!

Well, that's it from here!

I don't know how people blog for a living. I've been trying to get this blog up for the past two days!!

this girl...

Don't be fooled by this picture...

this girl is a MESS!

Matt calls her a menace!

She is 14 1/2 months and is into EVERYTHING!

I mean, seriously, WHY must she stand in this basket that nicely holds all the remotes? Why must she dump them ALL out and stand IN the basket? It's not like it's comfortable or makes her taller to see the TV!

She plays IN her toy basket that I have in the living room. She will pull everything out, then sit in it and play. I have pics of this somewhere, but can't find them at the moment. She can't sit by her toy basket and play....she must be IN it!

Yesterday when I was cleaning one room she was in another making a mess. It's a constant thing. If she's in the kitchen she's pulling stuff out of the drawers. If she's in her brothers' room she's pulling books off the shelf or pulling shoes out of the closet. It doesn't matter where she is, she's making a mess!! Yesterday I had to pull the baby jail out so I could actually get some cleaning done!! I know the boys went through this phase too. I just forgot about it. Don't get me wrong, she's a fun loving girl....she just keeps me on my toes!!!

I will blog about the mounds of snow we have in a bit. Andrew just got home from school and snacks are in order!!