Flowers...who need them?

I've got 'homework' for my cake decorating class. I've got to practice straight lines, shell and pearl borders and apple blossoms. I think the apple blossoms are going to be my down fall. Actually I think all flowers at this point are over rated. Ok, not really, but oh my goodness what have I gotten myself into.

Off to practice some more......

A new family tradition

We decided to try something new last weekend and went apple picking. We picked a 1/2 bushel of gala and empire apples. Afterwards we played outside, went on a hay wagon ride, ate hot apple donuts and cider slush. It was a beautiful day and such fun.

You know they are feeling better...

It's never easy for me to decide whether or not the kids are well enough to go to school. I like to err on the side of caution and keep them home if I can swing just for a little more down time.

This morning Taryn was quite upset because Kolin and I told her she would be staying home again. Her eyes were all glassy and she had a low end fever. She laid in our bed for quite a while this morning watching a movie and then made her way to the living room to interact with Brennan, Karis and I.

Right after lunch Brennan and Taryn started antagonizing one another and it just didn't stop. This is when I know that the kids are feeling better and there should be no problems going to school the next day.

Of course tomorrow is Saturday, I'm hoping the other 3 don't get sick and this round is over. I was 'nice' enough to pick up Taryn's homework for her. I'm sure she's going to be thrilled. =)

Nothing worse

Than having a 24 flu bug of some sort. I came down with it Tuesday night, felt horrible yesterday and I'm pretty much back to normal today. Kolin got it yesterday afternoon and Taryn got it last night. 3/6 at this point. I'm hoping that Jadyn, Brennan and Karis are in the clear....

Thank goodness my webdesign class is all online based or I'd be in big trouble. Had it been at the college I would have missed it. Now to play catch-up.

Taking some classes

Tomorrow I start an internet course through the local college. I'll be taking a class on web design. Kolin picked me up new web design software and I have no earthly clue as to how to use it. Well, I'm sure I could figure out the basics, but then what? Tomorrow the first lesson will come out. I'm slightly nervous, but I think it'll be a lot of fun. The reviews on the course are great. I can't wait to see what I can do once I learn a few things.

I've also signed up for a cake decorating class. I think it will be a blast! I start Saturday morning and it goes for 5 weeks.I get to learn the basics and a little bit more. Kolin's excited that I'm taking it, but I think he's hoping for a lot of cake scraps more than anything. =)

Does this look like a happy face?

Eval Update

Karis did pretty well until the end when she decided to throw a tantrum that lasted for quite a while. It didn't help matters that once she started, Brennan thought he needed to start as well. I should have made sure he had a playdate lined up....

The OT isgoing to call our developmental therapist and ask a couple of questions to get a better idea of how Karis reacts to different things. I see Karis through 'mommy' eyes and the therapist see Karis through ' therapist' eyes. Of course each of us are going to see different things and probably have a different answer to certain questions.

We should have the results back within the next week or so and see what, if anything needs to be done.

Evaluation Today!

Karis has her OT eval this morning. At this point I think we've gotten through the issues we suspected she had/has. But the eval is set up and the only thing it's costing me in my actual time. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that Karis cooperates.

I'll be back with an update later this afternoon.

Almost 2...Terrible 2's

The terrible 2 tantrums have started and my sweet, cuddly baby girl is leaving us for places I'd rather not explore again. Everything is 'NO' lately. No is no, no is maybe, no is yes, no is give that me, no is don't touch that, no is I'm going to take your cereal and there is nothing you can do about it. I've about had enough of NO.

Tuesday the developmental therapist showed up and we decided to go on a walk. Karis threw the biggest tantrum yet. She wanted to be carried on the short walk. If I went to set her down she would lift her legs up as high as she could get them. If I just set her down she'd throw her head back. If I told her to get up, she's lay down on her stomach and kick her feet while yelling...you guessed it. NO NO NO!

I'm sure the neighbors thought we were the meanest people alive. I'm sure it didn't help that I was laughing almost the entire time because it was just so absurd.

On the other hand our baby girl..I mean BIG girl is 21 months old today. I can't believe she's going to be 2 in just 3 short months.

Real boys wear pink...

Especially if the wiggles are on the shirt and one wears the shirt to bed.

Our own jack-o-lantern

After many many many months Jadyn finally lost her second front tooth.

Little Feet

What a difference 5 months make!

Sunday School Rally

Today was the Sunday School rally at church. It was all about children and we all really enjoyed ourselves. We've decided to start going to the early morning serivce instead of the later mid morning service. We'll get up early, head to church and have Sunday School. Afterwards we still have a great portion of the day left.

Can you turn this on?

Last week Brennan was coloring and getting frustrated. He finally brought the crayon out to his daddy.

Brennan: Daddy, can you turn this crayon on?
Kolin: Huh?
Brennan: (Making a twisting motion near the top of his crayon) Can you turn my crayon on? It won't work!
Kolin: Why won't it work?
Brennan: It won't work on my paper. Can you turn it on?

It was then that Kolin realized that Brennan was using a white crayon to try and color on a white piece of paper. Obviously a colored piece of paper was in order.

Funny Brennan

Me: I love you all the way to Heaven and back

Brennan: I love you and I love hitting your back. (he then had to pat me on the back)

Another Karis Update

Today was a great day at physical therapy Karis pretty much did everything we wanted her to do or at least tried with little coaxing. No tantrums are always a good thing. The therapist thinks she's doing so well that we are going back to every other week visits. This excites ME in so many ways, I can't even begin to tell you.

The therapist and I also discussed putting Karis on a waiting list for the 2 year old playgroup that they have every Tuesday/Thursday. It's really popular and she wouldn't be put in the playgroup until January, but we figured we might as well get her on the list now and decide definitely later.

If I can get her in the morning class she'll go 9-11am and Brennan will be at preschool from 9-11:30. I just can't imagine having 2 hours twice a week all to myself. It's the little things.......

So sweet

A friend of mine had a baby girl 3 weeks ago. Today was a 'meet and cuddle with Grace' day. I love newborn babies. I love how they smell, squeak, cuddle and just snuggle up to you. It's one of the best feelings ever.

We got together at another friends house and took pictures of Grace outside. We got some great pics of her laying in the grass sleeping. Then she got ticked off at her mommy and tried to pee on her. That part was funny, especially since the baby wasn't mine and I wasn't the one getting peed on. =)

Brennan thought Grace was the sweetest thing ever and wanted to know if we could have a baby. I just pointed at Karis and told him his baby was standing next to me screaming because SHE (how dare we pay attention to someone else) was being ignored. I don't think he was too excited over my answer.

Smile....Please?

It's like jumping through hoops trying to get this little girl to smile. The things I have to do to get half a smile can be downright rediculous.

Room Re-vamp

We re-vamped Brennan's room yesterday. Did a complete overhaul, moved his bed and dresser. He was less than thrilled at his bed being moved. We went through a bunch of toys and decided to get rid of a lot. He's got a lot more room to set up his geo-tracks and play with his cars now.

The girls did a great job cleaning up their own room yesterday. I've got to find the time to go in there and get rid of a lot of stuff that is no longer played with. You know, the items they haven't touched in forever but heaven forbid you actually think about getting rid of it? =)

First day of preschool

You would have thought that I was the one starting preschool today. I couldn't sleep last night. This morning my stomach was in knots and I swore a couple hundred colonies of butterflies had taken over.

We arrived a little early and then the nerves set in for Mr. B. He couldn't figure out what he wanted to do or who he wanted to play with. Then he got this distressed look on his face when he thought I was going to leave. Finally he decided to paint and I was allowed to leave and pick him up later.

I can't believe our little guy is big enough for preschool already.

Gonna be a rockstar

Jadyn came up to Kolin earlier and told him that when she's older and a rockstar that she's going to be super nervous about potentially forgetting the words to all her songs on stage.

Kolin told her that he was sure she'd do fine, but she has a lot of time before she actually has to worry about it.

Tomorrow

Brennan starts preschool bright and early tomorrow morning. I'm so excited and sad all at the same time. I know that once he gets into the routine of going, having fun and learning new things that he'll have a great time. I just can't believe how fast the last 3 1/2 years have flown by.

Fish Fish & More Fish

Today we spent a little while at Kolin's work setting up a new fish tank in his office. It'll take a few weeks to cycle and be ready for fish, but it'll be something fun once it's all ready. We (mainly Kolin) just have to figure out what type of fish he'd like to get.

In other fish news we've got baby fish in our fishtank here at home. The kids love watching the fry get bigger. Soon we'll be able to take them out of the baby net and let them swim freely in the big tank.