18 Months!

So, I am sorta in love with this kids smile... He's sweet, sneaky, crazy, hilarious, snugly, mischievous, a bit of a pest, and fully lovable at the same time. We never know if he's running towards us for hugs or to pinch, bite, and pull hair... Love him to pieces -- 18 months has come too fast.

                       
 He likes to say "meow" as he drifts to sleep. He says "yeah" when you say something he wants. He just learned how to really say "no" today instead of the "uh-uh", and he's been walking around practicing it... this should be a fun stage... He likes to grab Jake's favorite toys and take off running. He likes to be anywhere/everywhere I am, and enjoys squeezing between me and the kitchen cabinet, then pushing me away from it, so I'll look down and pick him up. He usually wins. He runs laughing hysterically when I chase after him for diapers and jammies. He loves unloading the dishwasher, and is actually learning to put some things where they go. He LOVES to be outside, jumping on the tramp, running on the grass, getting the mail.. anything. He loves throwing. Everything -- we all have bruises to show it... His favorite foods are smoothie pops, pb&j, fruit pouches, mac & cheese, pizza, and man can he pound down a cup of juice. He calls Emma "ME-ma" Jacob "Dee-doe". Messes. Constant Messes. And although he pesters Emma and (mostly) Jake all day long, one of their "happy things" every night is Lucas. he's just that adorable and lovable.

All of my kids have fallen in love with something as a baby. Emma had her two monkeys, Jake had his big dog, and Lucas had his blanket... and has added "Precious" to his "need every time I sleep" list. Oh how I wish it wasn't pink... or named Precious... But this picture, I must say, is precious.

Jan 21, 2016

Body Pillow

Beware. If one decides to lay on the carpet, one will become an instant body pillow. Lucas thinks it's hilarious. He mainly does it to Emma. She'll scoot herself out from under him, and he'll just pop up and lay on her again.

Also, when on the couch, he dive bombs over people in his way to get to the other side. He makes sure to push everyone out of their spots. Any space is his space. 

Jan 17, 2016

Beautiful Ballerina

Emma started ballet in November (I think?), and this was her first recital. She was a bit nervous at first, but after the dress rehearsal she was full of confidence and ready for the show! There are 6 girls in her ballet class, and they did Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty. She did awesome. The video is too large to post, but some of her facial expressions and movements just crack me up -- that pure confidence about how perfect she feels she's doing. So proud of her for getting up in front of all those people, and even more happy that she loved every minute of it. She's one beautiful ballerina!

Jan 16, 2016

Character Counts

At Emma's school, they have what's called "Character Counts at Compass" awards each month for one student in each class who exemplifies the character trait they're working on for that month. They get to have special responsibilities all month and such at school, and an ice-cream treat. The teacher called me a few days in advance, and let me know she was going to be awarded this month, but that it was a surprise. So we dropped her off at the bus stop, and then followed it to her school. Luckily she wasn't very observant, and she was thrilled to see us at her assembly. 

The Character Traits were caring and empathy. Her award read, "On the playground, in the classroom, and everywhere you go we can count on you to think about how your actions and words impact others. You choose to be kind and show you care for your classmates by including all and using nice words." Way to go Emma! 

Then I took the boys to Jake's preschool field trip at the Eagle Library. They had music and story time, and then did a little craft. A librarian then showed the kids around the library. She let them grab a few books, check them out on their own, then drop them in the outside return box to see where they went. They grabbed their books out of there and she let them check them back in on her computer. They loved it. Oh, to see the world through the eyes of children! 

Jan 15, 2016

The Wars

I have learned that while I am in the shower, a lot of items have to be removed from bathroom drawers and put up on the cabinet or else Lucas does what he does best. Occasionally, I forget... He got into my make-up powder and poured it on himself, the carpet, and my clothes... twice.

He's getting quite skilled in the arts of disaster. I kept finding him getting handfuls of fish crackers in the pantry and dropping them, or putting them in different bowls. I kept yelling at the other two to make sure and seal the bag so he couldn't do it anymore. Then, the other day from across the kitchen, I saw him open the bag on his own, and before I could get to him to stop it, he dumped the ENTIRE bag on the floor... Guess I owe the other two an apology. This one loves his messes.

On a more joyous note, Emma and I joined the cool crowd by finally sneaking off to Star Wars. It was spectacular. All the kids at school and on the bus were talking about it, and Brad had already seen it twice, so we had to go see it. She said it was great, but later confided in me that she liked it, but not that much... Give her a couple more years, and she'll be a fan. She comes home from school talking about it, so I'm sure it's still big at school, and having seen it, she probably feels more included. Win, Win.

Jan 9, 2016

Sledding!

Little man has been so frustrated not being able to go outside any time he wants. The temperature high today was like 15 degrees (seriously), but the kids still wanted to go play in the snow. I bundled Luke up to go outside, and as thrilled as he was to be out, he soon realized he couldn't do much with all the padding... and it was cold. So we left him behind...

 And I took the other two sledding in the grassy area down the road -- wonderful activity for New Years Day. 

 As you can see by their faces, they were having a blast! 

 It wasn't too long before all of our fingers were absolutely frozen. So we hurried back home for some hot cocoa and marshmallows to thaw us out. We haven't had much snow this year, but they assured me the next time it snows, we are going sledding! 

Jan 1, 2016

New Years Eve!

We had the New Years special at Tucano's -- and it was delicious! They gave us party favors, a couple specialty meats along with the others, and cheese cake and chocolate cake. Mmmmm.... 

There's a house in our neighborhood that is fully decked out in lights that dance to their own radio station, and it was on a tv show (they lost), but it was totally awesome! We drove over there and let the kids watch it for a while. Amazing. Emma has informed me she jealous of all the lights, and she wants me to get some like that. The bar has been set too high. I bought our first strand of lights this year because Emma has been begging for Christmas lights the last few years. It was pretty sad. Especially compared to this...

Around 9:45, Lucas started melting down, so we took a couple silly selfies with him, and put him to bed.

 The other two convinced me to let them stay up until 10:15. Here's to a wonderful new year with these crazies! Love them!

Dec 31, 2015

Dad's Off Work!

Brad had a whole week off after Christmas, so we had some fun family time! We went to Wa-hooz for some arcade fun, kiddie cove playing, and lazer-tron. It was my fist time ever playing laser tag -- and it was a lot of fun! The kids loved it too!

We also went to Jump time. A couple hours there, and we knew the kids were sure to sleep well that night. Lucas loved the pit, especially when Brad would throw him in! 

We had a lot of "movie nights," eating out, racing on Disney Infinity, and all that good stuff. We love when Brad gets some time off to spend with the family!

Dec 28-29, 2015

The Day After

Our personal Vet office. Emma got a Dr kit for Christmas, and they were giving all the animals a check up in Lucas's play house. Emma looking in their ears, Jake doing some surgery with the scissors, and Lucas giving them snuggles when they were done. Cutest kids ever.

 Emma worked on this Lego hotel any second she could until it was finished. She did all by herself. So Awesome! It is quite the lego set.

Lucas claimed the Dr glasses, and they were adorable!!

    

Dec 26,2015

Christmas 2015

Emma woke up at 6, and luckily, didn't wake us up until 6:30.... we still made them get back in bed until 6:57 when they couldn't stand it any longer. Jake found his little toy fan he's been begging for from Walmart, and Emma her Lego Grand Hotel. Seems a little lop-sided, but they were equally happy. 

 Luke was still sleeping, and there was no way I was waking that sleeping baby yet, so we all played with Jake's new car garage -- it's pretty cool. (Turns out Luke and I play with this a ton more than Jake. At least it's getting played with...) 

Luke discovering the candy in his stocking. He was pretty pleased. 

 Finally, they're letting me rip these presents!! 

This is his Lightning McQueen ride on toy, which once he discovered the buttons, wouldn't finish unwrapping it, or any other toy. He just sat there pushing buttons and dancing :). 

 Once it was finally unwrapped, Brad was trying to get it out of the box and put the wheels on, but Luke kept trying to climb on in in the process. It was pretty funny. Definitely should have put that together earlier... And he gets to ride it! Another toy that the kids like to push him around on; this kids never going to have to do anything by himself!

Bill and Judy were able to come up and have a yummy prime rib with rice pilaf dinner with us -- finished off with some chocolate pie. Always more fun with a little company; we're glad they were able to make it this year!

Jake helped with his Spiderman Legos, and then finished the day with his new movie Planes. Emma made her Lego jet, and then spent the rest of the day working on her hotel -- biggest Lego set I've seen yet. She was so proud of herself doing it all on her own! 

Dec 25, 2015