Mini Golfing

Friday night I told Eric that we were going to be the coolest parents ever.  The kids and I grabbed a pizza and went to Eric's office and sat under a tree to eat until he was done working and could come join us.  Then we went to buy a card for six oil changes for $80.  Isn't that a great deal?  I love a good deal.  That wasn't part of the family fun night.  We surprised the kids and took them mini golfing.  They had never done that before and were so excited.  Especially because Blake has been asking for awhile for Eric to take him to the driving range where they have a little putting green.  Janie liked mini golfing fine but would get bored and start playing with Ty.  But Blake could have kept playing all night.  He wanted to do another 18 holes. 

 

 

 

Where did it go?

 

He found the rocks and created himself another little job.  Dropping them in, taking them out, transfering them from one hole to the next...

 

Don't judge me for Janie's wild hair or Ty's shoelessness.

 

Hole in one dance!

 

Culvers ice cream after

 

We made a fort and stayed with the kids under it until they fell asleep.  It was pretty great.  The kids kept telling us thank you for a fun night.

Cider Mill / Apple Picking

Janie's preschool group went on a little field trip and it was pretty adorable.  We watched how apple cider is made.  Then we got to try some along with some donuts which were delicious.  Then on to the apple orchards for picking.  I bought 6 half bushels of apples to make a ton of applesauce with Keri next weekend and the kids can't wait.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Clothes

 

 

 

 

I haven't taken pictures for awhile.  Maybe it was because Ty didn't really have any clothes.  I didn't find much from when Blake was this age.  So I finally went shopping and come to find all of the clothes are too big for him.  I bought jeans and pants that are 12 to 18 months and they slide right off.  He is a picky little eater so maybe that is why.  He does have a big belly though--kind of huge.  But he has small hips and his legs are white and skinny.

 

Eveyone comments on his hair which is funny because I don't think anything about his hair.  Just a head of hair to me.  But people stop me everywhere and say "Oh look at that hair!" 

 

He isn't talking much but today he did say "Jesus."  And it was cute and I could understand it every time even though someone else might not be able to. 

 

He always has something in each hand and is carrying it around the house.  Only to drop it where it doesn't belong and find two more things to pick up and take somewhere else.

Fall Festival

Preschool

 

 

 

My friends and I are taking turns running a little preschool for these cute kids.  I started it off this week.  It is on Monday and Wednesday mornings for 2 hours.  I will teach for 2 weeks and then we will rotate.  I have really enjoyed it so far.  They mostly want to just play in the basement and it is cute to observe their pretend play with each other.  I have some activities, books, and music time planned and so far so good.  Our theme has been on apples and on Monday they helped me make applesauce.  Janie loves it and is always asking when it is preschool time.  And when Blake gets home he wants to hear all about what we did. 

Ready for Church

 

 

Movie Night

"Horton Hears a Who" and Dairy Queen.  I thought it was a cute movie.  It is so fun to see the kids get so excited for these nights.  I even heard Janie playing "movie night" with her friends today in the basement. 

Scavenger Hunt

Blake made this scavenger hunt this week.

 

 

 

 

Here are the two marshmallows. 

 

Some more of Blake:

 

Last week Blake and Janie had fevers.  Blake woke up in the middle of the night and came out to tell us he didn't feel well.  He was out of it and talking fast and saying funny things.  I asked how he felt and he kept saying "I feel like I have a solid brain.  My brain just feels solid."  We gave him some medicine and he was talking fast.  "Oh it is liquid.  Liquid medicine.  Yummy liquid medicine."  It was weird but funny to see him out of it and his brain just going fast.  I told him that he would feel better soon because it didn't last long for Janie.  Then he said "Janie feels better because she has a middle brain right now?  Some hot and some cold?"

 

After his first full day of school this week we were eating dinner.  Ty was throwing his vegetables off of his tray.  On his own Blake jumped off his chair and started picking up the food and said "I will help mom.  Because when there is a problem I jump right in.  Just like you taught me.  I saw a problem and I'm jumped right in to help."

Mom and Janie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Janie is always asking me if she can take pictures.

 

 

On August 5^th I noticed that Janie was now 3 ½ so I told her.  I think it made her feel like such a big girl.  She kept asking me questions for the first few days like “Mom, now that I’m 3 ½ can I use a knife to cut my food?” 

While we were in California Janie was showing me which was her right and left hand.  I hadn't taught her this, so I asked her who did.  She said, "Nobody...except Jesus."

After we got back from vacation, I told Janie the next morning that she needed to eat healthy cereal.  Detox time.   She cried and threw a fit because she wanted sugar cereal.  I gave her the options and then let her have her fit.  She followed me around the house crying.  I sat on the couch and she came up to me and found Blake’s nerf gun on the floor.  She picked it up and looked me dead in the eye and said “If you don’t give me thugar thereal I’m going to thoot you.”  I had to walk away because I started laughing.  And then she shot me in the bum.

She went through a tough phase this summer.  My dad even asked me where she came from and that he had never seen a kid so defiant.  She had no problem sassing back to my dad.  We struggled to get her to stay in her bed at night.  Lots of fits and time outs.  She didn’t like going to nursery.  But I’m happy to report that she is coming out of it.  I knew more attention would be good for her once Blake went to school.  So far she has become more helpful.  She hasn’t screamed once because no one is here to push her buttons.  She is a fun girl and I'm excited to spend time with just her.

When Blake was her age he would ride his bike around the block (1 mile) or go for walks or run to get his energy out.  Yesterday I asked Janie if she wanted to go for a bike ride and she seemed excited.  Five houses down she told me she was tired and wanted to go back home.  I tried to get her to keep going but she insisted her knee hurt and she couldn’t go anymore.  Today was a beautiful day so I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk and she said “Mmm, no danks.”

Ty - 14 Months

He isn't talking much but he has a lot of tricks.  He is praying in this picture.  He gets so excited to be part of the group and sometimes he even kneels down.  He started walking when he was 13 months.  He could stand up without holding anything to support himself.  He would kneel and get up on his own.  It looked funny and I don't remember the other kids doing that.

My favorite tricks include:  blinking eyes, dog and snake sounds, blowing a kiss, Ty is so big, holding up a finger for 1.  He is starting to follow directions like go get a diaper, put your binky in your bed.

He can say (but doesn't that often):  Da for dad, Da for dog, ma for mom, and ma for more.  Ch for cheese and tsh for teeth.  Mostly grunts and pointing to stuff while saying "dis."'

He is a picky eater!  I have been surprised.  He likes carbs and cheese.  He won't even eat food that all babies love like blueberries or bananas.  I have to trick him and force him to eat pureed vegetables because there is no way he would eat them as finger foods.  Sometimes he gags or throws up.  He throws everything off of his tray. 

He takes 1 to 2 naps a day.  Overall happy kid.  Oh and he loves cookies.

First Day of School

 

 

 

 

 

I cried my eyes out Monday night and since I have been fine sending Blake to school.  His first day was only a half day and parents got to go with.  I was able to see some of the activities he would be doing each week.  I think this helped me calm down a little.  It was fun to watch him participate in music or dancing activities.  At one point he kept grabbing my hand while we were dancing.  Then he would let go as I saw him looking around and noticing that the other kids weren't holding their moms hands.  Then he would forget and grab my hand, and then realize and let go again.  Sad. 

 

I have loved taking him to story time, museums, parks, etc. and watching him experience and learn.  And I realized that he is going to be loving and learning so much that I won't be able to watch him enjoy it.  I will be volunteering though!

 

After the first full day, when I picked him up he had a tired smile on his face and said "Mom" with a voice like it had been a long day.  Today he told me about 3 little boys that he made friends with and how they played tag at recess.  I saw one of these new friends talking with him after school and said "Bye Blake.  I will see you tomorrow ok?"  Blake told me how he hasn't gotten in trouble at all.  No major melt downs at night so far either.  He wakes up at 7am chatty and ready to go for another day.  I'm so glad that he is loving it. 

Labor Day Weekend

 

We went to visit Eric's sister who recently moved to St. Charles, Illinois.  It took us about 2.5 hours to get there.  Not bad!  We went Thursday night to Monday afternoon.  It was so nice to get away.  Eric and I went to the temple on Friday.  These cousins are so great!  They are so sweet to our kids.  Blake cried for two days because he missed them.  While we were there we went biking twice through beautiful trails and along a river.  On the first ride it started pouring rain half way through.  Lightening and thunder came as we hurried home and we were drenched completely.  Great to have family close.