Paint, Potty, and Pill-bugs

I decided to take on potty training over spring break -- as you can see by Luke's bare legs. I had tried a few months ago, but Luke wanted nothing to do with it. So we spent a few days straight at home, and he decided he was ready. We spent quite a bit of time with paints or crafts trying to keep him over wood floor when I needed to do something and couldn't keep an eye on him for every second. I must be blessed in the potty training area, because all my kids were super easy, and fully trained within a few days. Down side? Turns out Luke has the bladder the size of a pea. We run to the potty a lot, and I know where every bathroom is in every place we go to.

 No more diapers!!!! 

As I was weeding around my raspberry bushes, the kids would come and hold a worm or rolly-polly whenever I would find them. Surprisingly, I found a caterpillar, and they thought it was pretty cool, Emma likes to hold them, Jake will poke it and, when placed in his hand, he'll drop it at it's first movement. Lucas grabs them from us, and puts them back in the dirt and says "Bye wormy!"  A few weeks later, I was weeding again, and Lucas came to me and said he needed a crocodile. I was confused for a bit, until I realized he meant caterpillar. Unfortunately, haven't found any more caterpillars, but he was satisfied with a few rolly-pollys.

 And what would a spring in Idaho be like if there wasn't a bit of snow to keep things interesting...

March 27-30, 2017

More of Spring Break...

Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite Disney movies growing up, and I just HAD to see the new one. It did not disappoint. There were a few cheesy moments when you have real characters saying/doing some of the things that the animated characters did, but it made my inner child so happy to hear all the songs and story again. Loved it.  

This is one of Emma's best friends' Paisley that came with us, and then brought back to our house for more fun. We had a lot of friends over throughout spring break.

 Built a few blanket forts.

Spent quite a bit of time in cars, but it goes quickly when your favorite song -- I can make your hands clap -- comes on.

We found a discounted theater in Nampa, and went with our old neighbor friends, the Hedgpeth's, to SING. The kids loved being able to go to movies and sit with friends. This was Luke's first movie, and he did fairly well for about 45 minutes, until he was tired of eating popcorn and Spree... 

My sister Angela came up for some military testing, and showed us how to make German pancakes.  

Jake's soccer practice started!

Emma lost another tooth!

Sometimes Brad and I send each other funny pictures...

 A rare moment when they were all playing nicely together. It didn't last long, but I promise it happened. 

March 18-24, 2017

WaHooz!

We started our Spring Break off with a trip to Wahooz on a Friday, when all the other schools were still in. We had the whole place almost entirely to ourselves, and stayed for about 8 hours straight! (Me and the older two anyway. Brad and Luke went home after a little bit because there just wasn't a whole lot geared towards a two year old). The kids loved the new attractions like these bumper cars.

They were both (for the first time each) tall enough to drive go karts on the Rookie track!

Jake couldn't get enough. For the first race, Jake was in the front car, and stayed in front the whole race. The second race, Emma wanted a turn to be first. Jake reluctantly agreed, but not without a "I'm going to pass you..." And below is my absolute favorite picture of the day. Jake passing Emma saying, "I told you I was going to pass you!" And check out Emma's angry (all in fun) face! I love it!

Frog hopper.

Their new ropes course. I tried to take both of them up to the higher levels. I eventually got Emma to face her fear and try a couple, and then she was happy to go on the rest. Jake clenched with fear of heights and new things, and wobbly passages, and we pulled him down to the little tykes one, where he thoroughly enjoyed himself. 

We did the dark 4d ride a few times, Ballocity (where they tried to shoot me with ball cannons), mini-golf (where only one or two clubs were thrown in frustration), rock walls, lots of go karts, and bumper cars, twisters, and one of their favorites -- the lazer maze -- avoiding touching lasers as you move across the room to touch certain buttons on the wall. It was a blast, and the 8 hours flew by!

This is Emma trying her hand at selfies while waiting for Jake to finish up on the go karts. She made sure I added the one where the hair was laying on top of her glasses on accident.

March 17, 2017

New Things this Spring

Emma won a "character counts" award in school for Honesty and Trustworthiness. The class votes for a student, but they don't find out who won until the day. She's been trying so hard to win one, and she was thrilled when she saw me sitting in the room and her name was called. Good job Emma!

Because when you're at Grandma and Grandpa's -- chocolate cake is a perfectly healthy breakfast.

Emma was complaining that she was having a hard time seeing the board at school, so I took her in, and sure enough 50/20. We are loving her new glasses! She also started playing the recorder in school. I can usually remember to have her practice her piano, but the recorder mysteriously slips my mind...

Luke figured out how to drive the car, but doesn't really steer. So he just goes forward and backward until something's in his way. He's one happy kid, but definitely knows how to pout. I have yet to get it on film, but it's hilarious. He'll walk up all happy and ask for something, and if you say no, he puts down his head like this (right picture), frowns, and walks off slowly. It's the most sad and pathetic thing ever, and he usually gets his way in the end.

I love that Amber passes her kids' clothes down to me. Luke discovered this robe in one of the boxes, and insisted it be put on. He wouldn't take it off all evening, slept in it all night, and ran around in it the next day until we ventured out of the house. 

March 3-15, 2017

February

Well, the snow finally melted (Hallelujah!!!), and the kids were finally able to drive around in their Christmas present!!! (two months later...) They are loving it!

I try to get to the library about once a week to take advantage of their kid's art, story times, and silly dance days, to get the kids away from the TV's and computer's ya know...  Sometimes it works, others not so much...

They discovered the dress-up box again :)

And then put on a little skit for us. I love their imaginations!

 

Any time Lizzy hears me messing with the washer/dryer, she anxiously waits until I throw a load onto the couch. She jumps on top and starts sniffing and digging around for the dryer sheet. It's her absolute favorite thing ever. And if I wasn't terrified that she'd eat it and end up back at the vet again, I'd let her have it.

Feb 2017