Library Day

The kids have been reading a lot since school has been out so I figured we could take a walk to the library and get some new reading material. The summer reading program starts next Monday so we'll be back. I got 4 big chapter books for the older kids and I to read together. About a month ago or so GG was telling me how sad she was that I don't read to her anymore. I read to the little two but the two big kids can read for themselves. I started thinking about it and decided that if she is asking to spend that kind of time with me I am going to jump at it because there is going to come a day when she isn't going to want me reading to her. We started reading the first book, Because of Winne~Dixie today after quiet time. After the first chapter they all asked for more so I read the second and they didn't want me to stop again, well Red did but the other two wanted to keep going. They talked Red into one more chapter! And guess what they didn't want to stop AGAIN. Though we promised Red only one more chapter so we stopped and I told them we could read some more before bed tonight, they were happy all around. Now they are watching the movie we got from the library...Little Orphan Annie as they call it! I got J and I Mall Cop for tonight or tomorrow to watch. Our library is the best about getting new releases and then we don't have to pay to watch them! That is pretty much it from us.

Love this WEATHER!

We have had a blast the last few days with the weather being so beautiful! We have gone on bike rides to the park and library and have played on our swing set in the yard. Here are some pictures of the kids enjoying the swings. GG was with daddy spending father/daughter time together.

Here is *the* 3 year old picture of Red...I took about 10 and this was our favorite!

Isn't he a handsome little man?!

Monday!

The kids started VBS at school today which was kind of weird to have them gone. But J and I took advantage of it and went to look at more cars. We found a great deal on a new car from 06 but they didn't want to budge on the price so we walked. We plan on going to look some more tomorrow while the kids are at VBS. They both had a blast and can't wait to go back tomorrow!

Yesterday was a super fun day. After church Amy came over and she took GG and Red swimming. I really didn't feel like going and Monkey didn't either. I ended up taking Monkey on a mother/son date. We went to get an ice cream cone and then to the library. While at the library I picked out some movies. We got home about 5 minutes before Amy and the other two did and then we had a picnic dinner in the living room and watched one of the movies I got from the library.

I can't believe my baby ticker is under 40 now! I am getting so close I can't wait to hold this baby girl. I find out Wednesday if she has flipped for me :)

Lovin' Christmas Break

The kids and I have been keeping busy doing some fun stuff! After the weekends activities I thought it would settle down a bit but it didn't really happen. Tuesday Amy came over and we walked to the Library and were there for about 2 hours then we walked back home. We had homemade pizza and popcorn for dinner and the kids watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that we checked out. While they were occupied I finished wrapping their presents and Amy kept me company...she mainly just laughed at me while I wrapped.

Today was real busy we changed our shopping day to Wednesday so that is what we did this morning. After lunch I got the kids ready and we met Amy at the pool to swim. After swimming we grabbed a bite at BK then headed home around 6:15...by 6:45 both Monkey and Red were sleeping in the van. I carried them both into the house and only Red stayed asleep. But Monkey took off his coat and shoes and went right back to sleep. I was glad because cat naps are the worst late at night.

Tomorrow the plan is to make cookies and Jesus' Birthday cake. Of course, Amy is planning on coming over for the fun and also my friend Monica is hopefully going to join us, she has the day off. I think the kids are having so much fun they won't want to go back to school!!!!

Yay it's Friday

Today was extremely busy for some reason. The kids had their sports classes but that was the only thing on the schedule. This evening we took a walk over to the old Dominic's parking lot and walked around looking at the cool vintage/old cars. Then we went to a park that had a band playing. Now we are finally home and I am burnt out. Oh yea, I signed the kids up for the summer reading program through the library. For every 2 1/2 hours you read they get a prize up to 10 hours. The first prize is sandwiches from Panera Bread. So we have been reading more in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series. I love it too because I know GG is really listening because she tries to guess what will happen next in the story and she has gone it right a few times. Very cool to see her do that just from listening to the story! Well time to get the little ones tucked in because they have their jammies on...

Family Fun day at the ZOO!!!

We have started our summer off right and we have also started building the kids strength for our trip to Disney. Wednesday we walked to the Library and back it took us 20 minutes each way. They did a great job. Then yesterday we went to the zoo and walked for over 3 hours. We had a lot of fun seeing the animals Red was just amazed by everything he saw. The only animal that wasn't there was the Elephants because they are working on their exhibit. Here are some pictures from our day.

Update

The garage sale went well and so did the kids lemonade stand...they made $12 :) Today we normally would have gone to playgroup but instead Red and I went on GG field trip to the Library. We walked and it was a really good time. After we got back Red and I went to the office to see grandma and she gave Red a chocolate cookie. He really liked it! After school we went to GG gymnastics class and it was teddy bear day. She thought that was pretty exciting. This evening we met J at a park which is always nice to have a change of pace. We are almost done with the second book in the Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series. GG really loves it and Monkey is interested in it some of the time. Well the two oldest are in bed time to get the baby there too. Then it is mommy relaxation time. I get a bowl of ice cream and sit back and watch some good ol' television!

TGIF

I am so thankful it is FRIDAY. Red and I went back to the library today and had so much fun. He really enjoyed the bubbles at the end. They also pass out little bees for the kids to hold while they do a bee song. Too cute. I am looking forward to leaving in about 20 minutes to go to school for the variety show tonight. It is so fun to watch the different skits, dances, and songs. The best part is J will be with us because it is his first day OFF!

He has a NOSE!

Red has found his nose...and the two holes! The last couple of days he has been sticking his fingers up his nose and then just leaving them in there. It is very gross and yet, so funny at the same time. This morning I woke up to a little finger trying to go in my nose. Not the most pleasant of feelings! Yesterday morning Red and I checked out the Library Baby Story time and it was so much fun. We sang and read books and met new little friends. I think this will definitely be added to our schedule of fun activities. Our small group Bible study went good last night and the dinner (a new recipe) turned out really yummy. I love hanging out with other couples, plus one couple has a 3 week old baby girl. Yeah, I got to hold her. Today when the boys wake up from their naps we are going to the store to buy a baby shower gift and then go to church.

Library Day

After J went to work the kids and I headed to the library. We haven't been there in forever and I told them we would go today. Of course, it was snowing when we went but sunny when we came home. What a crazy day, weather wise. The kids each got to play on the computer. GG really loved the pet shop game and Monkey enjoyed Franklin the Turtle. Red and I picked out some books and a movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I got the second book in the Laura Ingells Wilder series and a book for GG to read. She loved the fact that she could take home a book from the library that she could read herself...great confidence builder. Her reading ability amazes me everyday. Also while at the library we checked out some of there programs and I found out that they have a 6 month to 23 month story time on Friday mornings. I think Red and I are going to attend and we'll see if any of the mommies from our playgroup are interested too. They also have a older kid time on Wednesdays in the early afternoon so I thought that would be perfect for the other two. They have so much fun at the library, which is a wonderful thing. That is about all for now, until next time!

I was going to update last night before I went to bed but I was just too tired. J was off of work Monday through Wednesday. So here is what we did. Monday after Monkey got up from his nap we went to the Library. We haven't been there in a while and the kids really enjoyed the time there. We started out coloring pictures and the next thing I knew Monkey had written his whole name on the page. I was so amazed, because I really haven't worked with him. Just the other day his teacher sent home a page to learn how to write the e, I believe that is the only time I have sat down with him and did letter writing. His fine motor skills have really taken off since the beginning on the school year, I can totally tell when he colors pictures, he tries to stay in the lines now. I guess I should start writing more letters with him since he has the interest. My friend Julie has a little boy about Monkey's age and he is starting to write too. So when they are ready there really is no stopping them. Then we picked out some books and movies and headed home. J and I got the movie Super Size Me. There was one part I thought I was going to throw up but I didn't thank heavens. I guess you could say it motivated us to start working out. So we took "fat pictures" neither one of us are fat but we wanted a before picture to see how we change at the end of 6 weeks. I got 20 minutes of a work out before Red needed me and J got 30 minutes. Tuesday I met my friend Silva at the mall and we walked for a hour and a half. I was not as sore as I thought I would be but I could feel the work that I had done the night before! That afternoon we hung out playing with the kids all day. Then Red and I went to the LLL meeting, came home and worked out again. Yesterday Red and I went to Bible study, got the kids, came home had lunch and then Monkey and I went on a date. We went to Starbucks to get some hot chocolate and a cookie. I let Monkey pay, which he thought was cool. Then we sat down and I took his coat off and explained to him why we should take our coats off inside. As I went to sit down this lady says, "I just want to compliment you on your mothering skills. I like the way you are interacting with your child." I was a little shocked and said thanks. You never know when someone is watching what you do or say. When we got home GG wanted some one on one mommy time so we popped in the movie Ice Princess that we got from the library and snuggled on the couch. It was a cute movie and I got to hold my little girl while I watched it with her. I love my kids so much. Then last night J and I got into a discussion because he said he wanted to go snowboarding at least once on his days off...first we don't have the money for him to go every day off and secondly that is our family time. So basically it came down to I could do things on my own but I always want the kids to be with us. Which is true I like having my kids with me, how else are they going to learn how to act or behave if you keep them locked up with a babysitter???? Don't get me wrong I am all about going out with my hubby on dates which the kids *need* to stay home but other than that I like having them with me. Well tonight the kids have Cubbies and I was going to take Red shopping for J's Christmas presents but I really don't really want to be out in the cold. This morning we dropped the kids off at school and went to 3 different grocery stores and the to get Red's 6 month pictures taken. Yes he is 6 months old TODAY! I can't believe it. Tomorrow GG has her Thanksgiving program at school and so does Monkey at different times (yay) J and I are going to help with that, the kids have costumes it should be really cute, I can't wait. Then at night we have our couples small group Bible study (my dad and Roberta are babysitting, they just got back from CA and have gifts for the kids) and Sunday is Red's baby dedication. And they have next week off of school, a whole week of not getting up at 7am should be restful. Later

What a day we have had today, not in a good way either. It really started with the fact that J and I stayed up way too late last night talking. The talking was good it was just that I am extremely tired today because of staying up so late. This morning we had a Kirby demonstration in the house were they come and show you how their product works and how *good* it cleans. Well the guy wasn't watching what he was doing and vacuumed up my mother's day present that was on the entertainment center, why would you vacuum an entertainment center?? Who knows. But the real question is why wouldn't you look what you are doing especially in someone else's house? Needless to say the company is going to replace my necklace. Then I get the kids ready for their sports class and we go with the directions from the park district. They were wrong and I got lost. Then we get there late to find out that the class was on Tuesday. I swear when I signed them up it was a Thursday class. That was just frustrating on top of everything else that had happened. So the kids and I went to school to visit grandma and then we went to the park and J met us there, he is working tonight. Then our friend Matt came over to get something J is letting him borrow and he moved a big chair for me that I just couldn't do and then he played with the kids for about 30 minutes. That was nice. We ate dinner and I read GG more in her book. Oh yeah we checked out the Little House in the Big Woods book from the library it is the book version of the Little House on the Prairie. She loves reading that book. So after we are done with this book we are going to get the second book, then the third and so on. What a great series! Ok time to get them to bed.

I just amazes me how much time goes by before I get a chance to get on the computer. With the weather so nice the kids and I have spent almost everyday all day outside playing. This last week we went to an away soccer game and they won. It was a really good game, then we went out to eat it was great family fun! On Saturday J had training for the new patrol unit so the kids and I did some fun things. We played with the neighborhood kids and took a walk to the Library (I got burnt) and checked out some books and did the craft. When J got home we grilled then went to Home Depot and got some stuff for J's new project of making a DVD holder for the van. We got GG some seeds to plant as her summer project in the yard. She picked out the princess mix, of course! She was super excited about planting them that after church on Sunday she went right to her room and changed out of her dress, I told her she needed to wear shorts and a shirt when planting. She looked so cute with her gardener gloves on, they have little worms on them! At Home Depot we also looked at the landscaping things like the retaining walls and bushes. We have a couple of things we would like to get done this summer with the lawn. The whole yard needs help so we are taking it one step at a time. In time it will be how we want it...about the time we want to move! Today we played at the park during soccer practice and the other kids at the preschool came out so that Monkey and GG had friends to play with.

There have been some things that Monkey has done lately that I have wanted to write about...whenever we see a school bus now he says, "A school bus crashed into daddy." J got in an accident involving a school bus. When he wants to know what the "plan" is he holds up one finger at a time and lists what he thinks needs to be done. He got this from me because I give them a list of things that are going to happen (eat dinner, take bath, read books and then bed) and I count them on my fingers so now he does it! The other day when he was eating mac and cheese he took the noodles and placed them on the fork through the whole and called them candles!!! Today his teacher told me that they were getting ready for snack and he was reading a book and she told me he had to put the book away if he wanted snack. He then dropped it on the floor and she looked at him and said "Monkey" in a very motherly way, he looked up at her and said, "I'm just kidding" picked the book up and put it away. He is such a ham! And he is just like his father :) J taught him to say "Welcome to the jungle, we have fun and games!"

Well that is the gist of what has been going on around here! We are starting to get more things ready for our new arrival. If you have tried calling us and didn't get a hold of us we were probably outside and didn't hear the phone!!! We love being outside...

GlamorGirl has her own little nickname for the baby...googly bear! She is such a nut. I found out on Friday that the little boy that she likes will not be at the school next year because he is moving to New York, that makes J happy :) My plan for Friday was to just chill at home but I forgot to send the movies and mortgage bill with J. So the kids and I went out...paid the mortgage, we dropped off the movies, stopped at Target (wanted to see if they had any cute baby outfits), ate at Wendy's and the last place we went was the pet store. We haven't had much success with the fish from Wal-mart so I thought we could try the pet store. We looked at all the puppies, cats, birds, lizards and then the fish. They also got to see turtles and frogs. We got two new gold fish and Monkey named his Ariel and GG named hers Snow White. Monkey's has black on the tips and GG's is white on the tips. I can tell they are so much healthier than the other fish we have gotten. They actually swim around the tank!!! So Petland was the highlight of the night. We got home took care of the fish and the kids went to bed. Saturday we got up and went to the Library as their treat for doing all their jobs. We got books and movies. Monkey loves to play with the toys they have at the library, he's not really interested in the books as much as he is the movies, either! GG's favorite part of going to the library is playing on the computer but the last few times it has been out of order so she has found a new favorite thing to do. They have paraque blocks and pages to make different pictures. She sits and does the pictures with the different color blocks. She has gotten really good at doing it by herself...at first she needed help but not anymore! Another thing she has really started to master is doing puzzles. She will do a 20 to 30 piece puzzle all by herself. She used to get frustrated with them and ask for help, now if you try and help her she gets mad, go figure! Anyways, after the library we watched all of the movies...we got Mary Poppins, Cat in the Hat, and Freaky Friday. It was a lazy night. Today we went to sunday school (I was in the nursery) and then to church. The kids got their lines for the Easter program. GG is the first kid to talk and the teacher told me that they wanted her first because she speaks clear and isn't shy. She is really excited about being in front of the church and has practiced her line all afternoon which is "An Easter Welcome I would bring". The teachers even said that Monkey said his line clearly too. He says, "Jesus died for you and me". After church we went over to g&g A's for yet another yummy lunch. Now we are home for the night. Had a talk with GG today about moving rooms during spring break she doesn't seem to excited about that. I think if she sees the new bed she will be sleeping on it will change her mind?!?! But I just don't know when we will be able to get the new bed. If anything we will leave it the way it is until the baby is about a year old. Not to concerned about sleeping arrangements right now...

So here is our day. We went to Home Depot this morning and got a curtain rod for the living room. It was the last window in the house that didn't have a shade of some sort. The reason it is the last was because it is a bay window and it measures 120 inches long (10 ft) so we have been putting it off because we knew it wasn't going to be cheap. Then we went to Target to get the curtains, J had been pricing them at various places and they had the best selection for the cheapest price. So now we just have to mount the rod and hang the curtains but J is working right now and I'm not about to do that job. We had subway for lunch, we had a coupon! After Monkey's nap I took the kids to the library. It was GG's reward for getting all her happy faces and Monkey's was getting to pick out a movie. Since they both got to go to the library I let GG get a movie too. They both did a great job this week so they deserve 2 treats! When we got home dinner was done in the crock pot, so I put the movie on for the kids and got their plates ready and we ate a picnic dinner in the living room. Monkey choose Wizard of Oz and GG got Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I forgot to mention that J got his permanent shift for the next year and it is midnights. We are both a little bummed about it but he will make it work, the two older kids will be in school for most mornings during the school year and the baby will be the only one home on most days. The nice thing is J will be able to come home during his shift and check on us :) We have decided to buy a laptop so he can have it at work, midnights during the winter are extremely boring. The department also has a program for buying computers so we will hopefully be able to afford one?!?! Well that is about all for now.

So today is Sunday...I last updated on Thursday. Hmmm where did the time go? I have to keep this quick because J is cleaning the house and wants my help. So Friday we went to see Liz play her last volleyball game against another team. Tuesday they play their parents, J is playing in the place of their dad. We are going to go watch the game and cheer J on.

Saturday J worked so the kids and I went to the library in the morning. It was fun they had a drop in craft project. It was a spider. So they each made one to bring home. They took turns on the computer and played with the other games. On the walls of the library there is a outdoors scene, there is a tree with a raccoon in it. Monkey wanted to touch the raccoon and I told him it would bite him. He looked at me and said, "Mommy it is a pretend raccoon." Can't get anything by him these days! Then we picked out books and movies. On the way out I realized that they had a leap pad for the kids to use. Next time we go one can be on the computer and the other can do the leap pad. We got home had lunch with J (he came home to eat) and then both kids took naps. But not at the same time! While Monkey slept GG and I worked on her homework. While GG slept Monkey and I played in the toy room together. So that was fun. When J got home we went to the grocery store to pick out some food. Oh and Monkey decided that our cordless phone belonged in the kitchen sink. It fell right into a dish filled with water. We need to go buy a new one now. Ooops! Here is another Monkey story...while we were playing he was pretending to be a doctor and took the tool that you use to look in ears and noses put it up to my ear and said, "No monkey's in there mommy!" It was very funny. Then I remembered that is what the doctor said at their last appointment when she looked in their ears. What a smartie. The other thing that was interesting today was that the door bell rang and when I answered it there was a lady outside asking me if the house was still for sale. Umm...we have lived here for 3 months now. It was off the market about 4 months ago once we made the contract.

Today is Joe and Sue's anniversary! So Happy Anniversary to you two! We went to church this morning and now we are in the process of cleaning the house. Tonight my dad and step-mom are taking the kids out for dinner, at McDonalds with a playland. J and I are going to hopefully go to the department and shoot. We'll see...not really my idea of fun.

Yesterday one of my co-workers brought in doughnuts for me since it will be the last time I work with her. That was very sweet I thought. Today was my last day working with the weekday people. My co-workers brought in bagels and brownies and I got a goodbye present. The present was two awesome picture frames and a bunch of pictures of kids from the Y's Mazing Kids room. Very cute. I also got Monkey's coat that Jen had made him...she made one for GG too! It was kind of sad saying goodbye to those people who I know I will probably never really see again. Unless I go to visit. Then we came home and had lunch. This afternoon we went to the Library. The kids each got their own cards which they thought was super cool. The whole basement of the library is for children. They had a computer for the kids to play on and different activities and games for the kids to do while there. They love going to the library and it is only 2 blocks away so we will be going a lot more now. My neighbor told me that they do a craft day once a week so I need to find out what day that is and take the kids! We checked out Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the movie and about 10 books! GG and I got a special book that we are going to read every night until it is done. It is an older kids book and she loves it! It is about a mouse who dances in the ballet. After the library it was a rush to get the kids fed and off to school for the preschool orientation. They each got to see their classrooms, met their teachers again, and met the kids in their class. Then they made bags with their hand prints on them. I really like the teacher I am working with, she is very organized and on top of things. I think we will work great together! So that made me very happy. On the way to the car we walked by the office and grandma was still there working so we stopped in for a few minutes. Then came home gave the kids baths and put them to bed. And that was our day!!!

So last night was J's first night working the midnight shift. The kids were good except for the fact that they stayed up until midnight. But they slept good. I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to keep them quiet while J tried to get some sleep. I took the kids out of the house so he could sleep in peace. We dropped off a bill at the post office and then we went to the library for a while. The kids loved that. I think that is one of their favorite places to go. It is always so hard to get them out of there. Today wasn't too bad though because I told them we were going to go look for a Christmas present for daddy. So we then went to Target. The kids section is right as you walk into the store so I of course stopped there first. Bad idea. I ended up getting GG some stuff for her dance class and a Christmas dress. I got Monkey a shirt to wear for Christmas too. Then I got them a hot wheels car for being good at the library and Target. I also got Monkey a 70 piece train set. I was so happy to find it because I asked the lady who worked there and she said they don't sell them. I think she thought I meant a train for around the Christmas tree. I did say it would be a present for Monkey. Oh well, I found it anyway. We have a few more presents left to get! That is so exciting. J said we can start wrapping the presents tomorrow afternoon!!! We came home around 3 and ate lunch. We ate dinner around 7, so we could eat with J. Then J gave the kids baths, to spend time with them because most of the day he was sleeping and then Monkey took a nap. Now GG is in bed. Monkey is out here with me.

Wow, what a super fun day we've had already and it is only 6pm! We got up this morning and went out. First we stopped at the library, I got three books and about 10 for the kids. The kids played with the toys there again. It is really hard to get them out of the library, which is a great thing. I am glad they like going to the library. I did get a special book for GG and I to read together. It is for mothers and daughters! I'm planning on reading it to her before bed. Then we went to Wal-mart and got Monkey a Halloween costume and GG some pants and a shirt to put under her costume. We also got the kids a pumpkin candy basket they were on sale for 50 cents, along with a few other things we needed. Then we walked to Big Lots, first time I had every been in one, I wasn't that impressed but we didn't really look around. We also went to the Golf Mart, they had little clubs that were GG and Monkey's sizes. I don't think I have ever seen clubs that small. Grandma and Grandpa A. want to get clubs for GG, either a Christmas or Birthday present? I am almost thinking they should get Monkey some too. But not the little ones the same size as GG's, I don't know. They were too cute though. We came home and there was a package at the door. It was a birthday present from Joe and Virginia, thank you, I love it. There was scrapbooking stuff in it :) Which reminds me I need to start doing their books again or I'll get behind again. This afternoon the kids took naps and J and I started to watch a video I got from the library we only got halfway through it. When I started dinner I realized I didn't have all the ingredients I needed so I sent J to the store to get them. What a great hubby. When he came home GG and J finished making the dinner cause I had a sleepy nursing Monkey on my lap. Now I am going to go eat the yummy chili. Oh yeah today GG was wearing my flower girl dress and wanting to wear it for Halloween, she is a little to short for the dress so we told her she could wear it next year if she is tall enough. She calls herself the princess girl when she has it on. The rest of the night we will probably watch ER together and do a lot of reading, the books we got from the library, of course! Tomorrow is Halloween, YAY!

What a fun filled day we had today. Before I start I want to tell a funny story. GG and Monkey were wearing grandma's high heel shoes. GG said, "Look at me. I'm a person." I think she meant adult :) Today before we left the house I was nursing Monkey. GG climbed up next to me with her baby doll and started nursing it. We then had a conversation about why are nursers were up so high. She said she wanted them to be like mine. I told her one day they would be. It was too funny and J just listened to us and laughed. Then we ran errands...the bank, post office, and storage. When we were done instead of going home we decided to go to Old Navy and use the $10 gift card we have had since Christmas! It was awesome most of the kids clothes were on sale. We got Monkey an outfit for next summer each 1.97 and then GG got a hat for 1.99 and we got money back on the card. That was cool. Then we came home and ate lunch. After lunch J and I decided to rearrange our bedroom. The kids watched a movie. I think I like the way the room looks now. We washed the bedding on both beds too. So tonight we will have clean sheets. I love that! After dinner we made crafts completely J's idea! It was a lot of fun. When we were done with that we took the kids to the public library. We got cards and then checked out books. I looked at the different events and activities for families through the library. I might try doing some of them. I will just say that I could write a lot about the library it was REALLY cool. It was huge and had a lot of things in it. The kids really enjoyed picking out movies, books, and playing with the toys there. They had doll houses, train tracks and other fun toys. Monkey liked a riding motorcycle they had. They really had cool things there to make the kids like the library! We are going to be going back there, probably a lot!!! So like I said we had a great family fun filled day.