Happy Pictures!

I realized the last 2 pictures I posted have been kind of pathetic looking so, here are some happy pictures of us enjoying the sunshine this past Saturday. (and, for those worried, Andrew is feeling 100% better and no one else has caught the bug...yet)

Andrew has taken it upon himself to be the yardman. He spends hours with his dull toddler knife cutting off the branches (leaves).

Sophie no longer walks, she only runs. And falls down. But look at that determination!

Super Strong Ellen

Sophie is finally starting to have fun with Queenie.

Andrew had such fun on the swings. He played and played until the grass became a pile of mud...

Ben had a rough week last week. He busted his lip Friday and was grumpy about it for 2 days. Not that I blame him...

If you have to ask about this picture, lucky you. But, for my records, I must record this so I can remember it when sweet Ellen has her own children. Pablo and I looked out of the kitchen window to see "Potty Princess" Ellen perched upon her "throne" (that is intended for use at the park with a plastic bag attached). When we went to investigate, she had completed her business and was quite proud of herself, hence, the curtsy.
Ellen "reading" to Andrew.

Another one bites the dust

Well, we are 4 for 6 on the stomach flu. I just want the last 2 to get it and get over it so we can move on.

Focus on the Positive

By most standards it has been a pretty terrible week around here. So, instead of going on and on about multiple cases of the stomach flu (including me), terrible wheezing & breathing treatments, or congested noses & coughs, I'll tell you about all the good things this week.

Here is a picture of Ben at the doctor trying to get enough medicine to breathe properly.

1. Sophie had a GREAT day. She has not been demanding, fussy, whiny, etc. for the entire day. This hasn't happened in about 6 months and it was a definite improvement in the attitude and noise level of the house.

2. After recommendations for speech therapy by both the pediatrician and his school screening, he passed the test with flying colors and won't be needing/receiving any speech lessons for the time being.

3. Assuming no one else gets the bug, we are on the mend from the stomach flu! Hooray!!!

4. The kids are all enrolled for school for next year without the headache/stress of the lottery system. Thank you, early enrollment.

5. Queenie is providing lots of entertainment/activity for the kids. Andrew can spend hours running outside with her. Once she is good and tired, Ellen takes over holding/babying her while the dog takes a nap.

6. After the stomach flu attacked on Sunday night, our carpets got a much needed steam clean and are now cleaner than ever! I have been wanting to get them cleaned from all the baby spit up of the past year and now it is done.

My goal for the next week is to take some pictures of the kids that isn't with the camera phone.

TGIF (almost)!!

Lightning Mc"Queenie"

aka Queenie has made her debut at our house and is proving to tough enough to handle the many small hands reaching, grabbing, pulling, and poking her. Ellen is beyond obsessed with her and rarely lets her out of her arms, much less out of sight.

Sophie is working hard to get over her fear of dogs and no longer screams uncontrollably when Queenie is within eyesight. She got very brave this afternoon and took a toy out of Queenie's mouth that she wanted to play with. If someone is holding the puppy, she will come over and laugh at her but if Queenie runs over to her - trouble and loud screaming begin.

We took the kids and the dog to the park to enjoy one of the rare days of nice weather we have had. Andrew, reminding me of his father, had a case of car envy. There were a few boys about his age with their own battery-powered 4 wheelers cruising all over the park. Here he is watching... and watching... and watching. As we were leaving, he made sure to mention that, "I sure would love that toy."

**I must add this bit of the story that I left out - Not only did Andrew not have the cool car, he rode his sister's PINK bicycle with girly accessories to the park because his has a flat tire. Talk about a pink bunny suit moment. No wonder his expression is so gloomy!

Sophie got adventurous on the play equipment.

And then she got stuck.

The cutest baby in the world thought it was so funny to play with sticks. It made me crazy watching him wave the stick around. Because, "it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye!"
Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum

A Quick Review

We are so happy to finally see some warm, sunny weather. We spent the afternoon outside soaking in the warmth and releasing some of the ever increasing energy these kids have. Lots of fun stories to share but my brain is in overdrive trying to keep up so I want share them now. Which means, probably never because a new batch of craziness will be here by then. :)

Here is a long overdue photo of the kids hunting over Christmas. Andrew pretended to be a deer hunter all afternoon. He climbed to the top of the playset with his toy fishing rod (a.k.a. - his gun). He told Ellen to be the "spotter" and then gave us many warnings to cover our ears before he gave to POW. Wow, am I proud or what?

In an effort to keep warm at night, Andrew & Ellen are going down memory lane and revisiting their footed pajama days. It is a little odd to see them in those pajamas; they look like overgrown babies! (They are into "funny faces" lately. They think it is absolutely hilarious and want to see their pictures as soon as I take it.)

Andrew loves to play with the babies so much. He just doesn't understand how much bigger he is and forgets to be gentle. Sophie normally starts to cry as soon as he comes her way because she knows she will get knocked down. And poor Andrew keeps telling me, "But I WAS being sweet. I wanted to give her a hug." So, this is a rare moment in time. About 10 seconds later he started to tickle her and talk baby talk to her and she wanted nothing to do with it.

Ellen is very proud of herself for 3 straight days of "potty power". That's right, EVERYTHING is going in the potty. Some of you might be wondering what the motivating factor was since we have been working on this for over a year. Well, we promised her what any responsible parent would - a puppy. That's right, a puppy. I even took her to every puppy store in town letting her get a taste of what could be if she would only poop in the potty. And, it worked. So, if all continues to go well, get ready for some pictures of her "baby puppy". (On a side note, Pablo informed me that he gets up with the babies if they have nighttime issues but he is NOT getting up for a puppy. So, I guess I will be adjusting my nighttime beauty sleep to take care of this wonderful baby puppy when we get her. Is it really worth it to get Ellen out of diapers?)

Here is the Potty Princess showing off her "beautiful boots". (Please disregard her very yellow teeth. When I first looked at this picture, I thought, wow, we need a trip to the dentist. But, on closer inspection, and a jolt of my memory, I remembered that she was eating food with I took this picture. So, don't worry Aunt Jessica, her teeth are still pearly white underneath all that food.)

And, a final picture of Ben enjoying his first chocolate chip cookie. Probably his best day ever!

Food for Thought

I am reading a new book on my Kindle and the author includes some quotes that are very blunt - which I appreciate because it leaves no room for misinterpretation or rationalization.

Here is my favorite from this evening: (She included it in the section where she described her potty training battles - something I can very much relate to.)

As mothers, we have a choice. We can either resent the challenges and
demands that accompany motherhood and persist in our selfishness, or we can draw from God's grace and receive His help to cheerfully lay down our lives for our children.

The next quote, I laughed at because it is so true and very much in-your-face. But, it is also a perspective that most people try to deny.

I have heard of women who pride themselves on being "night people." That means they have trouble getting up in the mornings because they come alive at night. They may stay up to all hours reading, watching television, or pursuing some sort of interest. The next morning they are too tired to get up and care for their family... These women are not "night people." They are lazy and selfish. Who would not rather stay up late to do whatever they pleased and sleep late the next day? Once a young wife begins getting up early to care for her children and husband, she will cease to be a "night person." She will be tired at night and go to bed at a reasonable hour so she will be there to serve her family the next morning.

Just something to ponder...

Me & the babies

Andrew & Ellen left town the day after Christmas to go to the "hunting camp". They came back Wednesday night and left again before the sun came up on Friday morning to go back to the hunting camp. Yes, it is about a 6 hour drive just to get there. But, there is a Buc-ee's on the way and that is their new favorite destination. Apparently, it has everything a 3 year old desires. So, until Sunday, Ben, Sophie, and myself are having a grand time in a very quiet and unusually clean house.

Here are a few pictures of them from this morning. I really shouldn't call them the babies anymore because they are officially toddlers with major attitude and opinions. They are also learning the fine art of sibling fighting. (And they have been taught by true masters of the art, Andrew & Ellen.)

Ben has started jabbering and waving his arms around trying to communicate his thoughts to us. I think I have a pretty good idea at what his jibberish meant this morning so I am taking the liberty of paraphrasing.

"Look what I found!"

"What does she think she's doing?!"

"There are a million toys; go find your own!"

Little Ben is always happiest when he has the remote control.

We have spent a lot of time playing in the mushroom house.

Sweet little Sophie has the appetite of an elephant. She can drink an entire bottle, a full sippy cup of milk, and her food in one sitting. And still want more.

Here she is giving me the skunk eye after I told her she couldn't take Ben's toys away from him.

She loves to play peek-a-boo but doesn't quite understand to cover her eyes. Instead, she puts her hands over her ears and thinks she is invisible. She has a very funny sense of humor and some very humorous expressions.