A funny horsey story

I like this picture of my cute, clean kids ready for bed

We had 3 big dogs for Thanksgiving. At one point they were all at the back door looking in, wondering why we weren't letting them inside

Emerald and Calvin playing horsey. She is saying "neigh" here, lifting her hooves. He has a lasso saying "giddy-up" to his horsey.

Had to add a funny comment that goes with the above photo that Calvin said tonight. At bed time the kids often hop on dad's back for a horse ride. Calvin was riding his horse (aka Daddy) and Skip told him to get off, it was time for bed. Calvin declared, "I just put my penny in (making the appropriate motion of inserting a coin), come on horsey, giddy-up." Cracked us up!

A Thanksgiving tradition--bowling for and with a turkey

Em & Cal getting to bowl for the first time. Yep, they got bumpers.

My little turkey had a good time

Final score--not too bad fo the first time out

We wore Calvin out. He crawled up in my lap and was out in 2 seconds. This NEVER happens. I can count maybe 3 times since he was 6 months old.

There is a Thanksgiving tradition in Skip's family to go bowling on Thanksgiving day. Skip's grandfather was a big bowler, and his mom plays on a league. We were excited that the kids were old enough to start the next generation of bowlers this year. We did miss having Aunt Dolly there this year. Emerald was so excited. She loves to bowl on the Wii at home, so she couldn't wait to try it out for real. Calvin was getting pretty tired by that point and enjoyed himself, but was a little "busy" tired. It was so sweet that after the game he asked to sit in my lap and fell asleep within seconds. I enjoyed some cuddle time with Calvin--something that is pretty rare. Did you know that if you get 3 strikes in a row it is called a turkey? Nobody got one this year, but there were a couple of close calls. We are always trying for a turkey. Daddy and Uncle Jeff were trying to have a bowl-off with cousin Josh at the end. There is just a streak of competition in those boys :)

Happy 1st birthday Josiah!

I missed posting this yesterday, but happy birthday Josiah!! I love my nephew and feel so lucky I am getting to see him grow up. How are you 1 already??

Bath time & Thanksgiving

Emerald is such a good big sister, holding Zach for us during bath time. I've found that it is fairly difficult to bathe a frog (oh the kicks on this boy), when he is slippery, and won't sit up yet.


This is not how you are supposed to treat your cousin!

Attempting to get a back-to-back pic on Thanksgiving day.

Zach's first haircut

The before--it was pretty long

Stopping in the middle to get some lovin' from daddy

The during--he did pretty well

The after--a little spiked with water, but looks much better now

Zach had his first haircut. It was a do-it-yourself at home cut. He did a great job. The top was getting too long for dad to take it any longer. I'll admit, he did look better after.

More Grove Thanksgiving pics

I think the favorite activity of the weekend was collecting acorns and leaves and jumping into the leaves.

The big spread with almost everyone in the shot

Carmen and Dad cleaning up.

Mom loves her babies! She can't ever get enough time holding those babies!

Thanksgiving in Grove

Aunt Carmen with Zachary--he loved trying to pull her glasses

Aunt Gracie and Uncle Ed with Em & Cal

Great-grandma Watkins with Zachary

Uncle Joe showing the kids his magic tricks

We went to Grove, OK to visit with my parents for Thanksgiving. We were lucky and had both my mom's and dad's mother there, and mom's and dad's sisters and their husbands there. Carmen and Joe came in all the way from Florida! We enjoyed too much food and beautiful weather. We love my parents new house and enjoyed our time with everyone.

Happy times in the land of mommyhood

This made my day. I know it's hard to read, but Emerald was scribbling away, and brought me her "present". She drew a picture of me, and wrote MOMMY. This was the first time she's done that all on her own. It brought tears to my eyes.

Hi mom! You keep telling me I'm turning into a busy boy. I just love playing with all these toys.

Calvin was trying to snap

I know this doesn't look like much, but it is a big deal in our world. In the past you've read my posts about being worried for our little man. Seeing him popping up onto all 4's in crawling position is HUGE in our world. He is showing some great strides in strength and we are proud of our little man who continues to make forward progress. Not that I'm trying to rush him into crawling, believe me! But, we are happy that he is trying to do it on his own.

My job is awesome! In many jobs you get to see a completed project. My job can be a little hard at times, b/c there really isn't a completed project. It was nice hearing the other day from my neighbor, who watched the older 2 for me when Zach had a PT appt. She complimented the kids for playing board games well, and for getting along together. The next night we got a great compliment on "how smart" Emerald is from the principal at her school. It is nice to hear that beyond the crazy moments of spilled milk, tantrums, time outs, fat lips, poopy diapers (yes that was just a portion of my day today), that you see other people noticing that you might just be doing something right with these crazy munchkins. I understand that this is a safe place to act crazy. I just want my kids to be respectful and treat others right when we are out in public. My job really is the best job on earth!! I feel so lucky to get to spend so much time with my sweet little kiddos.

Random happenings trying to catch up

Just had to post pics of our sweet sleeping baby boy. I just LOVE how he sleeps with his tiny little hiney up in the air, always. That is his favorite position.

So sweet!

Emerald dug out all the winter stuff the other day and declared that it needed to snow, b/c she was ready! I think it can wait. Not ready to shovel the driveway yet. I had a free pass last winter ;)

This is a good image to help with the next post. A little fuzzy, but you get the picture.

Our superheroes

The kids insisted I take a picture of their "friends"

Emers showing off her cape

Calvin and his side-kick BoBo

Oh that look, it is as much trouble as you can imagine!

The kids were playing "superheroes" the other day. I have some great pics of them, but hate to post them since the blog isn't private. Picture this, down to their skimpies, both wearing only Emerald's boots and their "cape" carrying their side-kicks. They declared they would "save" Zachary. I think I was more worried than relieved for Zach's sake.

Oh and that look from Calvin.......I know!! It describes our day, often. We went to Emerald's school last night for Bingo night. The principal walked over to talk with Emerald (I was impressed she remember Emerald's name) and asked her what her brother's names were. I admitted to the principal that I was hoping she wouldn't learn Calvin's name too well. I love you Calvinator, but some days..............!!!! You really are the definition of a 2 year old boy! Get it out now, b/c in about 7 weeks you are 3 and no longer allowed to be a 2 year old! PS, don't tell me about 3 year olds, already been there, done that and I know that sometimes 3 isn't better than 2, but let me dream, will ya??

Zachary had us back to Children's Mercy

We spent 3 1/2 hours Monday night at CM's Urgent Care clinic. Sunday he started harping like a seal, barking loudly all night. During the day it didn't get any better, and there was some wheezing associated with it. It really worried me. I called the doc, but after a holiday weekend, they just couldn't squeeze us in, they were jam packed full. Both the nurse and the doc recommended we not wait, since it was breathing issues, and sent us to CM. Our sweet little Z man continues to keep us just a little worried, all the time. He has viral croup. He received an oral steriod to help and also got an inhaler. They make this cool contraption with the inhaler called a spacer that is a chamber that holds the albuterol inside and keeps it locked in until the child breathes in the contents thru the face mask. He has been a little better yesterday and today, but we still had to give him his inhaler tonight and there is some slight barking going on every once in a while. Sweet, sweet Z!! I want you to be 100% healthy!!! Thank goodness for good insurance. Have I said that before? Thank goodness for good doctors and a great place to take him when he needs help, too.