our story

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

You're Losin' Your Mind!

"You're losin' your mind" seems to be what frequents Ella's mouth when she talks to me. Yes, I admit there were a few incidents where I was asking the kids where Sophie was while I was holding her in fear that I might have lost her. Not to mention how I am now asking the kids where I put my stuff and presenting an award for whoever finds it first (my scarf and another yoga DVD). I definitely ~~could be losin'~~ have lost my mind. It only gets worse with my singing and dancing while on the treadmill. Nevertheless, if I am going to run towards a wall, I’m gonna be dancing doing it! It is even more hilarious when I catch the kids doing the same nutty stuff as I do. It makes me proud. =)

So let’s see what we have going on with the kin folk:

Brock is Mr. Smartypants who loves Spongebob Squarepants but should not be confused with pants with schwarts in them (nuttypants). Seriously, he is loving school and makin’ his parents proud! We had his parent/teacher conference with Mrs. Meints, and all of his teachers want to gobble him up. He is a super-duper reader and mathematician. Way to go, Brock! He has been such a helper around the house and can really tackle any project/chore that I throw at him.

Ella LOVES attention. She likes to be the center of attention around people she knows. She is, however, very shy around people she doesn’t know. Her and Mason talk constantly about getting married, and she will have strawberry juice at the party. Ella and Mason informed me today that they are boyfriend/girlfriend because they are the same size, and Paxton and Sophie are boyfriend/girlfriend because they are the same size, as well. Mason also told Ella that he will love her forever. She said, “If you love me, I will marry you.”

Sophie, Sophie, Sophie. Where to start with her? Probably never wanting her to grow up would be a start. Looking at pictures of Ella when she was Sophie’s age got me pretty sad, but what are you going to do? They grow. They always grow. =(

Sophie is definitely my veggie eater. At this age, the other kids wouldn’t touch their veggies, but Sophie LOVES veggies. Yay, Sophie! We are still in the midst of potty training. Her latest accomplishment would be that whenever she poops, she takes her own diaper off and empties the contents into the toilet. Needless to say, that is how a very thick pair of her undies ended up flushed down the toilet and caused a two-day clog. I have to watch her so carefully because immediately after she poos, she is plotting a poo-diaper removal mission, and if I don’t catch her, poo ends up on the floor, smeared all over the toilet, or all over her hands. *sigh*

Here are some lovely pictures from my phone: =)

Ella's Potty Dance

Devastated because she got chicken pot pie on her undies.
Where are your clothes???

When I asked one of the kids to run inside and get me a pair of pants for Sophie after her accident, they came out with a pair of Brock's shorts. We tried to make them work, but poor Sophie spent the majority of the time running around the backyard like this:

Pretzel Heart

Valentine's Day Breakfast

Daddy and the girls' snowman:

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Day

Why is it that every holiday where candy is exchanged, I feel entitled to raid the kids' stash before they even get a chance? Poor kids. Lucky me. =)

Friday, February 11, 2011

Super-Duper!

"Super-duper!" seems to be a phrase being used quite often in our house. I don't know why I started saying it, but everything is super-duper! Also, in the spirit of the new season of American Idol, I have been singing all day, every day. When we learn something new, I sing about it. The kids think it's fantastic even though I am the most awful singer. =)

Here's what's been going on with us:

Brock Break-Dancing

(aka flailing around on the floor like a fish out of water)

Super Bowl Sunday
What can be better than three pizzas, pizza muffins, breadsticks with sauce, a Greenbay victory, and a new episode of Glee...?

Catching your daughter's vomit in your hands shortly after eating your feast.
Ella started running a fever on Sunday and is just now starting to feel better. She has the most AWFUL gag reflex, so with any little cough, she is likely to vomit. I slept with her on the couch as she coughed and barfed all night. Poor, thing! =(

During the next few days, it was hard to keep her resting. She wanted so much to do what everyone else was doing.

Drawing Hearts

I finally convinced her that she needs to rest.

Sophie had the same thing the week before.

Brock shooting a 22

His first shot was dead center!

Making a picture for Daddy:

It's only fitting that we get a picture of Sophie with her block-o-cheese. If ever left alone, she will get into the fridge, open the cheese container, and help herself to its golden goodness.

She also loves to wear tights. She is very adamant about doing it herself.

Pudding P's

Popcorn P's

Ella's picture that she made in preschool:

In case you can't read the caption, it says, "When it snows, I throw snowballs in my face." That's our Ella!

Puzzle Teamwork

Bath Time

The girls in their turbies:

Did I mention that I still need to get a camera?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

January 2011

In attempts to save all of my pictures and stories for the end of each month, I find myself forgetting about the hilariousness and craziness that I enjoy blogging about on a weekly/biweekly basis. So let's see if I can recollect what happened this month...

Here is Brock's letter to Santa that was published in the town's newspaper. Keep in mind that this was after his introduction to Elfie.

Movie Tent

Some may think it's crazy to let six children drink hot chocolate with open cups in the living room. That's what old carpet is for, right? =)

Sophie eating her banana "monkey style."

Chad's Uncle's Wedding

Brock and Ethan

Ella "dancing" with Sophie

This consisted of her dragging Sophie around on the floor. Ella's idea of dancing is hold hands with her partner and spinning in circles as fast as possible. Needless to say, a few of her partners got a bit nauseous.

Tea Party

They were drinking tea, and I was explaining that the tea smells like cinnamon (chai tea).
Tea Sniffing

SNOW! We took the kids sledding for a few hours after the good snow fall. They loved it! Even Sophie was able to go down the big hill by herself. More, more, more!

Ella making snow angels

This picture is hilarious because Brock and Ella remind me of me and Chad. Ella is such a free spirit, and Brock always looks at her like she's a crazy person.

Ella's preschool went to an animal clinic for a field trip yesterday. The kids got to learn all about animals and even got to see a dog getting neutered and a cat getting declawed. The dog that was getting neutered was a ginormous brindle mastiff, and I was so smitten with him. He reminded me a lot of Maddux (when he was waking up after surgery) and is definitely going to be the next kind of dog we get when that time comes.

Sophie getting her foot wrapped

Wacky Day at School

Team Work

Brock's New Year's Wish

We are finally getting a move on on our house projects. Before we tear into the kitchen, we have some remodeling that needs to be done upstairs before we start the big kitchen/bathroom project. We are excited to finally start improving on some much-needed improvements.

I started my next set of classes, and it is refreshing to have a math class after completing so many art classes. My associate's degree is just within reach (September!), and then it's on to my bachelor's. I have a little over two years left until my school will be complete (for the time being). SOOOOOO excited!

Our camera broke, so it is off to find a new one (hence the many pics taken with my phone). This one didn't last too long (beware: Nikon Coolpix). However, the kids were constantly using it, so that may have lead to its malfunction. =)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

December 2010

Phew! We survived yet another December! Sophie had her birthday as you all know, and we had planned for a birthday party for Sophie and Ella; however, it was canceled because everyone was sick. Ella had her birthday and chose to go to McDonald's (with the playground) for supper. It was that or Chuck E. Cheese, but she was adamant about McDonald's. We took Maddie to dinner with us, and they had so much fun! She had a really good birthday and is so proud to be 4 years old. Her latest "thing" is telling everyone how sweet they are. It's pretty cute to hear. "[Insert Name], you're so sweet." Whenever she tells me that, she usually comes up to me and puts her hands on my cheeks. What a sweetie!

Ella's 4th Birthday:
Birthday Doughnut from Daddy