She's saying "no, no, no!" She hears it a lot lately.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Cleaning is futile.
She did this literally right after I washed the front of the dishwasher.
She's saying "no, no, no!" She hears it a lot lately.
She's saying "no, no, no!" She hears it a lot lately.
Lizzie's 8th Birthday celebration(s)
Last weekend we held Lizzie's party at the Little Gym (cuz she won one in a drawing over the summer--hooray!). I loved it. The workers did everything. It was the first time we had ever had a party like that and while, the "free" party actually ended up costing what we normally spend (what with charges for extra kids, pizza, cake, and party favors), it was well worth it. 
We gave party hula hoops for party favors and as we handed them out two different moms told me that they almost gave Liz one for a birthday present. Andrew's really excited about getting his picture taken. You can tell because he's giving me the figga. He says it's the Russian version of sticking out your tongue. It just better not be their way of flipping someone off.
At the gym the kids started with a warm up song. The workers really wore these kids out. 
I was surprised Liz had enough energy to participate since she had pretty much come straight to her party from her friend Catherine's swimming party. 
Poor Lainey was tired and a little overwhelmed by all the big kids, many of whom wanted to hug and help her. She was pretty much glued to Andrew's side.
We had a pretty good turnout. Liz invited kids from church, school, her Brownie troop, and the neighborhood. She only invited one boy and he was a good sport about it.
The kids got to try out the different gym equipment (even Ellie, in the background with helpers).
It's funny that a month ago Liz wanted to change her party from Little Gym to a movie in our basement. 
I'm glad I didn't let her because she loved the gym (and because we would never be able to pay for the gym party outright).
I'm so glad Alaina was able to participate and have fun as well.
We got to request some activities/games. Having never been to a Little Gym party I just went with what they suggested. "Slap the Cheese" was a big hit. It consisted of the kids running full speed at this upheld mat and knocking it over/falling on top of it.
Then, more time on the gym equipment.
The second activity was an inflatable, bouncing, thing.
The kids got to ride on it as it inflated.
Then, they ran down it, two by two.
Or just one at a time.
This one looked like a lot of fun. I kind of wish I could have tried it.
Happily, even though Alaina was afraid to "ride" on it as it inflated, she took her turn running and jumping.
Afterwards the kids got to "ride" it down as it deflated. Naturally there was a mad dash for a spot.
And the kids loved their deflation "ride."
That air walk/run thing was the end of the gym. The kids formed a train and chanted a happy birthday song to Liz as they chugga chugged into the party room.
The party room was great. We didn't have to do any set up. All I did was carry in a box of cake pops and hula hoops (as soon as the workers saw the latter they asked if they could attached balloons to them--yes, please).
I love that Lizzie joined in singing Happy Birthay to herself.
The cake pops were delicious and less messy than cupcakes (plus the kids ate the whole thing instead of just the tops like with cupcakes), but we could only fit three of Lizzie's eight candles on them. Liz didn't seem to mind.
We opened Lizzie's presents at home. As with other years we didn't give her one and she didn't seem to notice (thanks to the pile from the party goers). 
The next morning (on her actual birthday) we made German pancakes as per Lizzie's request.
Check out that dress. It's another from my childhood. Liz loved it and wore it to church. Andrew said she looked like a pioneer.
After church we did an official family birthday cake.
We gave party hula hoops for party favors and as we handed them out two different moms told me that they almost gave Liz one for a birthday present. Andrew's really excited about getting his picture taken. You can tell because he's giving me the figga. He says it's the Russian version of sticking out your tongue. It just better not be their way of flipping someone off.
At the gym the kids started with a warm up song. The workers really wore these kids out. 
I was surprised Liz had enough energy to participate since she had pretty much come straight to her party from her friend Catherine's swimming party. 
Poor Lainey was tired and a little overwhelmed by all the big kids, many of whom wanted to hug and help her. She was pretty much glued to Andrew's side.
We had a pretty good turnout. Liz invited kids from church, school, her Brownie troop, and the neighborhood. She only invited one boy and he was a good sport about it.
The kids got to try out the different gym equipment (even Ellie, in the background with helpers).
It's funny that a month ago Liz wanted to change her party from Little Gym to a movie in our basement. 
I'm glad I didn't let her because she loved the gym (and because we would never be able to pay for the gym party outright).
I'm so glad Alaina was able to participate and have fun as well.
We got to request some activities/games. Having never been to a Little Gym party I just went with what they suggested. "Slap the Cheese" was a big hit. It consisted of the kids running full speed at this upheld mat and knocking it over/falling on top of it.
Then, more time on the gym equipment.
The second activity was an inflatable, bouncing, thing.
The kids got to ride on it as it inflated.
Then, they ran down it, two by two.
Or just one at a time.
This one looked like a lot of fun. I kind of wish I could have tried it.
Happily, even though Alaina was afraid to "ride" on it as it inflated, she took her turn running and jumping.
Afterwards the kids got to "ride" it down as it deflated. Naturally there was a mad dash for a spot.
And the kids loved their deflation "ride."
That air walk/run thing was the end of the gym. The kids formed a train and chanted a happy birthday song to Liz as they chugga chugged into the party room.
The party room was great. We didn't have to do any set up. All I did was carry in a box of cake pops and hula hoops (as soon as the workers saw the latter they asked if they could attached balloons to them--yes, please).
I love that Lizzie joined in singing Happy Birthay to herself.
The cake pops were delicious and less messy than cupcakes (plus the kids ate the whole thing instead of just the tops like with cupcakes), but we could only fit three of Lizzie's eight candles on them. Liz didn't seem to mind.
We opened Lizzie's presents at home. As with other years we didn't give her one and she didn't seem to notice (thanks to the pile from the party goers). 
The next morning (on her actual birthday) we made German pancakes as per Lizzie's request.
Check out that dress. It's another from my childhood. Liz loved it and wore it to church. Andrew said she looked like a pioneer.
After church we did an official family birthday cake.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Alaina update
I was about to do Lizzie's update and then I realized that I hadn't done Alaina's. Poor middle child. So anyway, here's the stats: height 10% (but I forgot the actual inches), weight 30 lbs, 44%. At her last appointment the doctor referred to her as a "peanut" (cuz she's tiny) so much that Lainey asked me to draw pictures of peanuts.
She's still a bug magnet. I think I'll have to dip her in insect repellent next year to keep her limbs welt free. What makes it worse is that she scratches her bites till they bleed and form scabs. Ugh. One time when I went to get her from her "nap" there was blood smeared on the wall above her bed. She had laid on her back and kicked the wall in protest (nap time is a real challenge now). The kicking opened up one of her wounds and, well, it was gross.
She loves to sit on our feet when we walk around. She also like tickles, wrestling, and dancing. Always, she loves dancing, but lately she wants to dance to "princess music" (classical or Disney princesses singing) and insists on wearing a skirt which she pronounces "kirt" (and means dress or skirt). She also likes to wear "bows," which usually means flowers, in her hair.
She is still crazy loud, especially for such a little person. In the van, we have moved her carseat to the back corner seat, a.k.a. as far as she can possibly be from the driver, because of the noise. Still, her noise is usually sweet natured. She is constantly singing during our drives (and now Ellie tries to accompany her). Also, since she is little and loud and spunky and likes to chant while clapping (stuff like, "go mommy, go!") we joke that she should be a cheerleader someday.
Alaina loves Joy School. Alaina gets really excited about it and often cries that she has to wait for an hour after we drop Liz off to be dropped off herself. Cutest thing about it? She insists on bringing a back pack with her (almost always empty). She also loves going to nursery at church.
She loves oranges. Other favorite foods: bread, scrambled eggs, "gummy gummies" (fruit snacks), pizza, mac 'n cheese, and chippies (chips). Other favorites: puffy skirts, her mini travel pillow, and a blow-up Barney doll. Grrrr. I was about to consign Lizzie's old Barney toy (tucked away in storage until just last week), but Lainey discovered it and became very attached even though she had never seen his show before.
She sometimes picks funky hairstyles, requesting three "piggies" instead of the regular two pigtails. She also likes to have a side pony tail with ribbons that hang down the side of her face. She is scared of dogs. She tells us she has a tummy ache by saying that her belly button hurts.
Lainey usually wants to dance "with a boy." She prefers her dad, but if he's not around she'll "magic, magic" me into a boy. She also likes to "magic, magic" (saying that, while waving arms around) me into random things like an animal, but always changes me back to mama in the end. Speaking of boys, she knows she and Lizzie are girls, but she insists that Ellie's a boy.
In July we finally weaned her of her binki. I'm so glad that's over. Now we just need to toilet train her. So far she's not interested and I can't figure out how to entice her. Maybe daddy will be able to talk her into it. He's by far her favorite. As in, I say I love you and she shouts back, "No! I love daddy!" Once, when I sang, "Mommy loves you" to her, she sang back, "I don't love you. I love Daddy." She seems to have it all worked out that Liz and Ellie can share me and she'll have Drew to herself. Sometimes it's cute and sometimes it actually works to my advantage as when daddy's around she only wants him to help her do anything (change her diaper, read her stories, do her hair, get her food, carry her down the stairs and so on).
She likes to sommer sault through her ladder, or just hang there. She sometimes asks me to read her bedtime stories while she's upside down. Speaking of, bedtime has become absolutely awful. She used to be so, so easy to put to bed and now Andrew and I both dread it. She yells and cries and carries on for almost an hour many nights (but at least she stays in bed). I feel bad for Lizzie because she's just one bunk away for Laines, but somehow Liz manages to fall asleep despite the noise.
Favorite books: a month ago it was Glad Monster, Sad Monster and Go Away Big Green Monster. She wanted us to read them to her nightly and I got so sick of them that I was about to hide them, when Lainey suddently switched to Fancy Nancy (she calls them "Fancy Fancy"). 
She's excerting her independence more and more. She wants to put on her own shoes, buckle her own seatbelt, and dress herself. Of course she also insists on using a "baby spoon" and insists that she's "a little kid/girl" as often as she calls herself "big."
She reminds us of the character, Gilly, from SNL. She hits and pushes her sisters, then smiles and says sorry in a way that is not even remotely believable.
She's still a bug magnet. I think I'll have to dip her in insect repellent next year to keep her limbs welt free. What makes it worse is that she scratches her bites till they bleed and form scabs. Ugh. One time when I went to get her from her "nap" there was blood smeared on the wall above her bed. She had laid on her back and kicked the wall in protest (nap time is a real challenge now). The kicking opened up one of her wounds and, well, it was gross.
She loves to sit on our feet when we walk around. She also like tickles, wrestling, and dancing. Always, she loves dancing, but lately she wants to dance to "princess music" (classical or Disney princesses singing) and insists on wearing a skirt which she pronounces "kirt" (and means dress or skirt). She also likes to wear "bows," which usually means flowers, in her hair.
She is still crazy loud, especially for such a little person. In the van, we have moved her carseat to the back corner seat, a.k.a. as far as she can possibly be from the driver, because of the noise. Still, her noise is usually sweet natured. She is constantly singing during our drives (and now Ellie tries to accompany her). Also, since she is little and loud and spunky and likes to chant while clapping (stuff like, "go mommy, go!") we joke that she should be a cheerleader someday.
Alaina loves Joy School. Alaina gets really excited about it and often cries that she has to wait for an hour after we drop Liz off to be dropped off herself. Cutest thing about it? She insists on bringing a back pack with her (almost always empty). She also loves going to nursery at church.
She loves oranges. Other favorite foods: bread, scrambled eggs, "gummy gummies" (fruit snacks), pizza, mac 'n cheese, and chippies (chips). Other favorites: puffy skirts, her mini travel pillow, and a blow-up Barney doll. Grrrr. I was about to consign Lizzie's old Barney toy (tucked away in storage until just last week), but Lainey discovered it and became very attached even though she had never seen his show before.
She sometimes picks funky hairstyles, requesting three "piggies" instead of the regular two pigtails. She also likes to have a side pony tail with ribbons that hang down the side of her face. She is scared of dogs. She tells us she has a tummy ache by saying that her belly button hurts.
Lainey usually wants to dance "with a boy." She prefers her dad, but if he's not around she'll "magic, magic" me into a boy. She also likes to "magic, magic" (saying that, while waving arms around) me into random things like an animal, but always changes me back to mama in the end. Speaking of boys, she knows she and Lizzie are girls, but she insists that Ellie's a boy.
In July we finally weaned her of her binki. I'm so glad that's over. Now we just need to toilet train her. So far she's not interested and I can't figure out how to entice her. Maybe daddy will be able to talk her into it. He's by far her favorite. As in, I say I love you and she shouts back, "No! I love daddy!" Once, when I sang, "Mommy loves you" to her, she sang back, "I don't love you. I love Daddy." She seems to have it all worked out that Liz and Ellie can share me and she'll have Drew to herself. Sometimes it's cute and sometimes it actually works to my advantage as when daddy's around she only wants him to help her do anything (change her diaper, read her stories, do her hair, get her food, carry her down the stairs and so on).
She likes to sommer sault through her ladder, or just hang there. She sometimes asks me to read her bedtime stories while she's upside down. Speaking of, bedtime has become absolutely awful. She used to be so, so easy to put to bed and now Andrew and I both dread it. She yells and cries and carries on for almost an hour many nights (but at least she stays in bed). I feel bad for Lizzie because she's just one bunk away for Laines, but somehow Liz manages to fall asleep despite the noise.
Favorite books: a month ago it was Glad Monster, Sad Monster and Go Away Big Green Monster. She wanted us to read them to her nightly and I got so sick of them that I was about to hide them, when Lainey suddently switched to Fancy Nancy (she calls them "Fancy Fancy"). 
She's excerting her independence more and more. She wants to put on her own shoes, buckle her own seatbelt, and dress herself. Of course she also insists on using a "baby spoon" and insists that she's "a little kid/girl" as often as she calls herself "big."
She reminds us of the character, Gilly, from SNL. She hits and pushes her sisters, then smiles and says sorry in a way that is not even remotely believable.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
More catching up
More catching up/updates:
I saved a few church dresses from my childhood, dresses that my mother made. Last weekend I pulled them out for Liz to see and she was very excited about them. She asked if she and her playdate, Kayla, could wear them and "pretend to be pioneers." I'm not that old kid! She also wore the dress to church the next day.
At church Elizabeth met with the Bishop for her pre-baptism interview. I went with her because she refused to go alone. Right before we went in, she nervously asked, "Baptism means rebirth, right?" I kept reassuring that the Bishop wouldn't be quizzing her. Still, she seemed proud when he asked her what baptism was and she was ready to answer.
Also on Sunday, Liz was assigned a talk for this coming Sunday (also her birthday). She was upset and wanted to know why this was happening to her. I explained that I had specifically asked the primary president the Sunday before to assign Liz a talk before the ward primary program (which so far Lizzie's refusing to participate in) so that Liz would get some more practice before she had to get up in front of the entire ward. Elizabeth was furious with me. She seemed to feel betrayed. It was all, You did this?!?! And on my birthday?!?! Though to be fair, I didn't expect it to happen on her birthday. We wrote a talk that night and so far I've had her read to us at least once a day. I think she'll do fine if she can just keep her nerves at bay. 
I had 5 inches cut off my hair (and layers added). I had Drew take a "before picture," but later realized that I didn't have a memory card in the camera. When I pointed out my haircut to Liz she said, "It looks exactly the same." Happily Andrew noticed a difference.
I went to Lizzie's back to school night and was surprised that they only have 15 minutes of recess each day. 15 minutes! Doesn't seem like enough time. Otherwise things seem fine. I'm glad the school still has PE and art and music classes and Lizzie's teachers seem nice.
I'm getting more involved in the kid's activities. I've volunteered to be the PTA person in charge after school activities at Lizzie's school, I'm the treat mom for Lizzie's soccer team, I'm taking a carpool shift for Lizzie's Girl Scout troop (last year I was blissfully excempt because I had two napping babies), and next week I'll start teaching my first unit of Joy School for Lainey and her friends. I also offered to assist the troop leader (if I ever get around to doing the on-line training and if I figure out what to do with my little ones during the meetings).
I'm desperate to get my house all put together before company arrives next month (and Joy School moves to my house next week). I'm very worried that it won't happen (or I won't survive the process). So far we've hung pictures, some stars in Ellie's room, and I've almost finishing revamping the children's bedding. I folded their twin top sheets in half and sewed around edges so that they are half the size and fit much easier on the bunk beds. I'm also cutting Lizzie's feather blanket in half so that she and Lainey will both have one and it will fit better on their beds.
After church last Sunday Lainey spent some time dancing on the porch. She had fun on her own, but was really excited when her sisters joined her. Like any siblings my girls have daily fights and daily love fests which I love. I also love that Lizzie can be so helpful with her sisters. Last Sunday, after she was ready and Drew and I were still in bed, Liz got Lainey ready for church (even did Alaina's hair and had her bush her teeth). Nice.
Um, Ellie is topless in the following pictures because I she drooled her bright blue sucker all over her light pink dress at church and I took it off the pre-spray it. 
I had given all the lollipops right before Andrew and I were set apart for our callings so the girlies would keep quiet. It worked. Current callings: Primary Teacher (me) and Sunday School presidency (Drew). Last Sunday I actually got to skip primary because only one of my kids showed up and the primary pres just combined him with another class. It was SO nice to go to Sunday School and Relief Society. I probably paid more attention to those lessons than I used to because it felt like such a treat to be listening to them.
Drew's started up volleyball again and I've joined a couple more book clubs (so that's three total, but I'm not sure I'll stick with all of them). Between our activities and Lizzie's twice-a-week soccer practices our evenings are pretty crazy. Things are about to get a little crazier though because I just signed up Liz for after-school chess club (her decision) and girls basketball (our choice and Liz is very upset about it).
Ellie updates: call's Drew "Da," loves to feed herself yogurt (and rub it in her hair of course), tries to jump and dance with her sisters, say "no" for no and "naeh" for yes (or yeah?), and is really good about getting her face wet. Yesterday I actually had to pull her out of the stream of water so I could start washing her.
Part of our basement flooded during the awful rain storms. As near as I can tell we cleaned up the water appropriately and I almost have the room put back together.
Alaina found a Barney toy that I was in my consigning pile and has become very attached to it. Ugh. She has never even seen an episode of Barney, but she loves that big dumb dinosaur and carries to everywhere with her now. I hate it when the kids find toys or clothes that I'm about to get rid of and they fall in love with the junk all over again. Lizzie did the same thing with a nightgown. Removed the consignment tag, put it on, and cried when I explained that it was too small and we were getting ride of it.
I saved a few church dresses from my childhood, dresses that my mother made. Last weekend I pulled them out for Liz to see and she was very excited about them. She asked if she and her playdate, Kayla, could wear them and "pretend to be pioneers." I'm not that old kid! She also wore the dress to church the next day.
At church Elizabeth met with the Bishop for her pre-baptism interview. I went with her because she refused to go alone. Right before we went in, she nervously asked, "Baptism means rebirth, right?" I kept reassuring that the Bishop wouldn't be quizzing her. Still, she seemed proud when he asked her what baptism was and she was ready to answer.
Also on Sunday, Liz was assigned a talk for this coming Sunday (also her birthday). She was upset and wanted to know why this was happening to her. I explained that I had specifically asked the primary president the Sunday before to assign Liz a talk before the ward primary program (which so far Lizzie's refusing to participate in) so that Liz would get some more practice before she had to get up in front of the entire ward. Elizabeth was furious with me. She seemed to feel betrayed. It was all, You did this?!?! And on my birthday?!?! Though to be fair, I didn't expect it to happen on her birthday. We wrote a talk that night and so far I've had her read to us at least once a day. I think she'll do fine if she can just keep her nerves at bay. I had 5 inches cut off my hair (and layers added). I had Drew take a "before picture," but later realized that I didn't have a memory card in the camera. When I pointed out my haircut to Liz she said, "It looks exactly the same." Happily Andrew noticed a difference.
I went to Lizzie's back to school night and was surprised that they only have 15 minutes of recess each day. 15 minutes! Doesn't seem like enough time. Otherwise things seem fine. I'm glad the school still has PE and art and music classes and Lizzie's teachers seem nice.I'm getting more involved in the kid's activities. I've volunteered to be the PTA person in charge after school activities at Lizzie's school, I'm the treat mom for Lizzie's soccer team, I'm taking a carpool shift for Lizzie's Girl Scout troop (last year I was blissfully excempt because I had two napping babies), and next week I'll start teaching my first unit of Joy School for Lainey and her friends. I also offered to assist the troop leader (if I ever get around to doing the on-line training and if I figure out what to do with my little ones during the meetings).
I'm desperate to get my house all put together before company arrives next month (and Joy School moves to my house next week). I'm very worried that it won't happen (or I won't survive the process). So far we've hung pictures, some stars in Ellie's room, and I've almost finishing revamping the children's bedding. I folded their twin top sheets in half and sewed around edges so that they are half the size and fit much easier on the bunk beds. I'm also cutting Lizzie's feather blanket in half so that she and Lainey will both have one and it will fit better on their beds.
After church last Sunday Lainey spent some time dancing on the porch. She had fun on her own, but was really excited when her sisters joined her. Like any siblings my girls have daily fights and daily love fests which I love. I also love that Lizzie can be so helpful with her sisters. Last Sunday, after she was ready and Drew and I were still in bed, Liz got Lainey ready for church (even did Alaina's hair and had her bush her teeth). Nice.
Um, Ellie is topless in the following pictures because I she drooled her bright blue sucker all over her light pink dress at church and I took it off the pre-spray it. 
I had given all the lollipops right before Andrew and I were set apart for our callings so the girlies would keep quiet. It worked. Current callings: Primary Teacher (me) and Sunday School presidency (Drew). Last Sunday I actually got to skip primary because only one of my kids showed up and the primary pres just combined him with another class. It was SO nice to go to Sunday School and Relief Society. I probably paid more attention to those lessons than I used to because it felt like such a treat to be listening to them.
Drew's started up volleyball again and I've joined a couple more book clubs (so that's three total, but I'm not sure I'll stick with all of them). Between our activities and Lizzie's twice-a-week soccer practices our evenings are pretty crazy. Things are about to get a little crazier though because I just signed up Liz for after-school chess club (her decision) and girls basketball (our choice and Liz is very upset about it).
Ellie updates: call's Drew "Da," loves to feed herself yogurt (and rub it in her hair of course), tries to jump and dance with her sisters, say "no" for no and "naeh" for yes (or yeah?), and is really good about getting her face wet. Yesterday I actually had to pull her out of the stream of water so I could start washing her.
Part of our basement flooded during the awful rain storms. As near as I can tell we cleaned up the water appropriately and I almost have the room put back together.
Alaina found a Barney toy that I was in my consigning pile and has become very attached to it. Ugh. She has never even seen an episode of Barney, but she loves that big dumb dinosaur and carries to everywhere with her now. I hate it when the kids find toys or clothes that I'm about to get rid of and they fall in love with the junk all over again. Lizzie did the same thing with a nightgown. Removed the consignment tag, put it on, and cried when I explained that it was too small and we were getting ride of it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)