Adventures in Apple Picking

This weekend we drove up to see Nonny and Poppy AND go apple picking. This is something we've done four the last four years and the kids love it more every year! Of course my favorite part is taking pics of the kids and seeing how much they have grown since the last year. Kinsey REALLY enjoyed it the most and wanted to get as many apples as she could. (Even if they were rotten on the ground). This week will be filled with making applesauce, apple cookies, apple bread and apple pie apples. Nonny was so nice and made us a fresh apple pie when we got home from picking...which all three of them enjoyed:)

A Dear Friend

We used to see Ms. Elaine all the time because she worked with me at the old preschool. Now that we are elsewhere, we don't have that privilege so we have to make 'visit dates' with her. Today she came over and spent a couple hours hanging out, tickling, singing, and chatting. We love her SO much and the kids can't wait to see her next week when she comes for 4 hours to watch them while Brian and I are gone. (Cailey even asked me to leave now so Elaine could watch her today...of course I didn't though). Glad to know they love her and feel so comfortable with her while we're out:). We are very thankful for her...yeah Ms. Elaine!

One Word- RANDOM!

So the other morning Braden came downstairs and sat at the island while Brian was getting his breakfast ready. All of the sudden he did this face and said, "look what I can do." Coming from Braden it was pretty hilarious...especially at 6:00 in the morning. He is SUCH a sweet boy! I was so proud that Brian thought to take a picture!

Too cute to not post:)

What's the best way to eat spaghetti? Well if you ask Kinsey she'll tell you topless is always the most fun! This way you can get it all over yourself..the chair..the floor..and the table and clean up is easy:). She was SO cute to watch at dinner for some reason. It's not the first time she's had spaghetti but for some reason we were all tickled by watching her take a HUGE forkful and shovel it in, only to see half of it come back out.

Joy Ride

Sam (a friend in the cul de sac) was driving his car around and asked Cailey if she wanted a ride. I let her and told them they HAD to stay in the circle...lots of letting go on my part because it was while I was cooking and couldn't see them the whole time. Interestingly enough, Cailey was the one who wasn't comfortable with it. She asked him to take her home after a few minutes because I wasn't watching and she didn't want anyone to take her. She said she didn't think I'd hear her if she screamed....I don't think I'll do that again until she's 12!:)

Hard at Work

Cailey is having a blast in school and really enjoys it. Her permanent teacher is back from maternity leave next week and we are excited to meet her! Cailey brings homework to do every Monday and we read the other days. Before she gets too big (you know how fast they grow) I wanted to get her picture of actually enjoying the homework. Sometimes when she's tired, she does complain about it (already) but for the most part she enjoys it and it's pretty basic so there is no struggling. I am so proud of her and can already see growth in fine motor skills and she has learned almost all of her dolch (aka sight) words for the year.

Braden Squared

After a morning of teaching two classes I came home with Braden and Kinsey and we had a blast drawing on the driveway with chalk, singing, and reading books. Braden (who is normally reserved) was SO excited because his friend, Braeden was back in town and we met them for lunch today. I was also happy to see Marsie (his mom)...but seriously, many of you would have been SHOCKED to see how excited Braden was. As soon as he saw him through the window he was jumping up and down. It was a cute moment:).

Potty Time?

When I potty trained Cailey and Braden they didn't show any of the typical 'readiness' signs that people talk about...I just knew it was time. Since I am working so much and Kinsey doesn't turn two until October I really wanted to wait until then to potty train her. Well lately little miss thing seems to be telling us that she's ready. She still has a very limited vocabulary (which doesn't include potty or any potty words) so I really don't know how she would be able to tell us. Everytime she does ANYTHING in her diaper she gets undressed, takes the diaper off and leaves it on the floor. Yes...it has been messy at times but I don't know what to do. She walks around with no diaper or pants on until we catch her...good thing there haven't been any accidents so far! She likes sitting on the potty and using it....now if we could just get her to tell us:). I still think I'll wait until the end of October before we say no more diapers so hopefully she'll learn those important words by then:).

Playdates for All!

pretty princesses....Kinsey joined them
but I couldn't get a great pic

Silly Cailey...Rebecca and Braden got along great!

Cailey, "Daddy has a playdate to play krispie." Me," Oh really? What do you think they'll do?" Cailey,"Well they go onto a big field and throw the krispie then they go get it. Just like when you throw a ball to a dog and they bring it back." Me, "Oh, so what you're saying is that daddy is playing fetch with his friends today?" Cailey, "Yes, but with a krispie." Anyone figure out what a krispie is? Frisbee...Brian played frisbee golf with some guys from our Sunday school class this morning so I decided to take the kids to my friend Laura's house. She is 8 1/2 months pregnant, has 7 month old twins and a 4 1/2 year old. Lately we have been getting together every week, but she's no longer traveling without Dennis (VERY understandable) so today worked out perfectly. The girls (Cailey and Rebecca) constantly talk about wanting to see each other, but it seems like lately they argue constantly. They are A LOT alike and it's great when they get along, but boy when they disagree it seems to be an all day thing. Hopefully they'll grow out of these normal childhood behaviors and love each other like Laura and I do:). And Laura, when we got home Cailey asked when she could see Rebecca again....oh brother!

Uncle Dennis is home...yay!

Ugh!

So my plan for Thursday was to work in the morning, pick up Cailey, go back to work and teach a class then rush over to Chili's to meet with women in our Sunday school class to plan events for the year. It was the busiest day of my week and I was especially looking forward to getting out for dinner. Well the plans went out the window when I woke up REALLY sick. See, Kinsey was sick a couple days ago (Brian stayed home with her in the am until I came home, then worked late to make up for missed hours). In the morning Brian said his stomach hurt a little, but he would go to work. Well it was BAD and he ended up coming home too...and then Braden got sick. Have you ever been in a house with a sick mommy and daddy? NOT FUN!!! I felt so bad for the girls because we basically ignored them. Cailey became the 'sit in mommy' and helped her sister eat dinner, read her books, and sat with her while watching a movie. Brian and I took turns getting dinner ready, helping Braden, and solving the girls many fights. I am SO glad that the day is over-but can't sleep now, so I thought I'd post our 'woes':). Oh...and to make it worse, Kinsey also passed this terrible sickness onto my boss's family (they usually watch her while I'm teaching). Everyone in their family was really sick all night and day also. We are praying that it's a 24 hour thing (Kinsey was over it in 36 hours). Brian and I both DREAD getting up at six to take Cailey to school, but maybe we'll be healed by then. Please keep our family in your prayers as Cailey told me tonight that she was tired of being the mommy because it's too hard.

Slam Dunk!

The latest thing in our family- basketball gymnastics! Kinsey LOVES when we take the basketball out (and looks really cute holding it) but loves it even more when she gets to hang from the hoop! Braden's pretty strong too and can hold on forever...I can't wait until January when we can finally put this boy in gymnastics! His upper body strength is incredible. Cailey enjoys throwing the ball, NOT hanging on the hoop. She'll shoot an airball and say, "Wow, that was a close one!" It's cute...especially when there's an audience of older kids:)

Macaroni Cheese?

Kinsey was sick last night and this morning, but was feeling better by the afternoon so we decided to go on a walk. Cailey found a magnolia leaf and shared it with Braden-nice huh? Well, she decided she wanted one too...a bigger one in fact so we headed on a hunt for a magnolia tree. We found a big one and Cailey said, "Look-there's the macaroni cheese...I can get a big leaf now." Magnolia tree, macaroni cheese yeah, they sound the same:)

A Day at the Park

"Wheee"

"Look at me mommy!"

Cailey said, "Did I smile good mommy?"
Kinsey said, "Eeee" instead of "cheese":)

focused

The weather was actually fall-like today (imagine that!). I am NOT a fan of hot weather and would love for there to be a dramatic cool off now. After I picked up Cailey from school I decided to take them to a park. The kids had a blast and I was so happy to be able to play with them outside! Once we came home, we decided to go on an 'acorn' walk. Translation: I need about 60 acorns for a lesson plan next week, so let's start looking today. The kids had no idea what the acorns were for, they just had a blast in the wagon and walking. We didn't end up finding ANY acorns...apparently there are no oak trees in our neighborhood! We had fun none the less and the day ended like the last several...with neighbor kids all over the back and front yard. Having Cailey ask kids to play last week was the best thing we could have done because now we are the 'it' house to play at in the evenings:)

Be My Baby

On Sunday evening Braden and Cailey both went to Awana at a nearby church. This is Cailey's third year and Braden's first...he's been looking forward to it all summer. When I got home I realized that maybe for the first time EVER I just had Kinsey. I remember how strange it was the first time to just have Braden at home and how special the time was that I could spend with only him. It felt like she was an only child and I was able to play with her with age appropriate toys, books, etc. Most of the time we end up reading books that are on Cailey's level or playing with toys that are Braden's. Well Kinsey got some much needed baby time with Mommy and Daddy and I am looking forward to a lot more!! (That is until a new baby comes). For now I will cherish this time-even if it's only two hours a week.

Bug Festival

Wow! That's a big bug sand castle!

The bees and yummy honey 'cones'

Cool blue caterpillars and listening to hissing cockroaches

The two cutest bugs in the whole place:)

Kinsey was in the stroller most of the day
but we let her out to explore the paintings.

Saturdays have become fun family days lately with us going to ice skating lessons and then somewhere fun afterwards. The first week we went to a new park, last week a fundraiser, and this week we took the kids to a bug festival. We didn't know what to expect....but the kids really had fun. There were cockroach races, a flea circus, crafts, bugs for the kids to hold, bugs for the kids to eat (although our kids stuck to honey), and lots of bugs to look at! What great fun-they can't wait until next year.

One is Silver and the Other's Gold

Yesterday we had a great opportunity to meet with a new friend from our Sunday school class. Friday is really my only day off and we've been trying to get together for a while...so I was happy when we were able to meet today. Cailey was in school, so Braden, Kinsey and I met Beth and Jackson at the mall to play and have lunch. (Her older son, Harrison, was in school also). Even though the play area was kinda crazy we still had plenty of time to talk! We laughed about the fact that we feel like we already know each other well because of our blogs:). The kids had fun...and even enjoyed some outside time in the 'cooler' air. We had a great time and can't wait to play again!

Kinsey wanted to be with the boys :)

'THAT' House

So I've always said that I wanted us to have the 'IT' house for kids in the neighborhood to come and hang out at. The other day I had a glimpse of that when Cailey wanted to go out and play. We had been out in the heat all day and I didn't want to go out again, but Cailey wanted to play outside in the front yard. Barbour rule says that you can't play in the front yard by yourself (sorry guys, I'm a bit paranoid). There were lots of kids playing down the street and I told her that if she could find someone to play with at our house then she could play in the driveway or front yard. She walked down the street and asked all the kids if they wanted to come over and play at her house. From the picture you can see that many of them were older than her, so I really expected them to say no, but all of the sudden everyone rode their bikes over and came to play! I was so excited for Cailey and Braden because we don't usually get to play with the neighbor kids due to them not being home because of day care, school, our kids bedtime, etc. They got along SO well and the older ones were really sweet to Braden and Cailey. They had relay races, played hot potato and played with all the yard toys. I brought them drinks and snacks...and overall I think the kids had a blast! Hopefully this will continue and the kids will enjoy hanging out over here (where I can watch everyone:)).

relay races and hot potato

Cailey learned some new and 'interesting' ways to
play on her swing set

Fake Smiles and Tattoos

Cailey was so excited when she came home from school and said she had two exciting things happen today. The first was that she was the line leader again.....and apparently it's the most exciting job you can have in Kindergarten! As a teacher, I know how happy kids are in any grade when they get to be the first person in line. The second thing was much bigger, and a first. At her school the kids have an opportunity to earn 'Eagle Bucks' from adults who are not their own teacher. You get them by behaving in the halls, carpool lines, cafeteria, etc. Once you earn 10 Eagle Bucks you get to buy something with them at the school store. Cailey has been talking about wanting a necklace or maybe a book when she had enough bucks. Well, she got in the car and told me she had earned all 10 bucks and I couldn't wait to see her new treasure. Can you guess what she got? Yep, a good ole tattoo. I thought...why didn't she get a necklace or book (something that lasts longer than bath time). When I asked her about it she said, "Granny, Uncle Matt, Aunt Michelle, and Aunt Laura have tattoos and they said I had to be old to get one. I wanted to get one today instead." (Great role models huh? Love you guys:)) Lord, PLEASE let this child stick to temporary tattoos! Another thing....anybody notice the 'fake smile' she's developed? It's so hard to get her to show me a real smile for the camera now. I almost have to get someone to tickle her for it to be real.

Normalcy

So several friends have made fun of me from time to time saying that I've had it easy with Cailey and Braden because they were not "normal" in the misbehavior category. I must admit, they were both very well behaved toddlers..we had our problems, but NOTHING compared to what we are going through with Kinsey! As the kids get older, it seems like their behavior is getting worse instead of better. Lately our 'easy' boy has changed...and is forming some negative behaviors. His favorite phrase is, "I don't want to." It's becoming more frustrating as the days go on because he's getting more and more adamant about saying it, and just not wanting to do anything. Now...we're not asking him to do anything unusual...even fun things like playing or going somewhere fun have him saying, "I don't want to" followed by throwing a fit and flapping his arms around. I was fed up a couple days ago and MADE him do some fun things...he was smiling and laughing the whole time whenever I ignored his complaints, so I guess I'll have to just ignore the whining, because nothing else is working. He's a great little guy and we love him so much! Hopefully he'll grow out of this VERY soon! If any of you have experienced this I'd love some advice:).