The Blakemore Family

Cuties in Blue

2012-01-29T20:38:00.000-05:00

Ready for church:

Getting 3 kids to smile and look at the camera is similar to herding cats.

Daddy's Helper

2012-01-29T20:36:00.000-05:00

Jon was building some shelves outside, and Michael really loved hanging out with his Daddy.

Measuring and marking

Michael practiced hitting the nail head with the hammer.

Thankfully, Daddy didn't show him how to use the power tools.

Cutie Baby/Toddler

2012-01-29T20:33:00.001-05:00

David is quickly losing his baby-ness and turning into a full-fledged toddler. He is 18 months now, and he's beginning to talk. A lot.

But he still loves his bear and snuggles with Mommy, so I'm okay with him growing a little.

David found the prime seat in the house for Sesame Street the other day. He has good balance.

He's been sleeping great since his tubes. He even has a tooth cutting through, but that hasn't bothered him much. I think he was just so used to having pain that this is no biggie.

Daddy Plays the Guitar

2012-01-29T20:26:00.000-05:00

Daddy brought out his guitar tonight, and we enjoyed singing some songs while he played.

My 3 guys

The kids loved it. We will have to do that again soon.

Post-Tubes David

2012-01-24T11:05:00.000-05:00

David's tube insertion went well yesterday, though he was a little confused and feisty when he woke up from the anesthesia. Thankfully, the Recovery nurse let us go home pretty quickly, and I discovered that David really just wanted his bed (he was pretty unhappy to get up so early and to not have breakfast).

David came home and slept for a couple hours, then he was up and ready to play.

David has been running and giggling and playing all day today, and he acts like he's feeling better than he has for a LONG time. I'm so glad this boy is back to his fun-lovin', delightful self!

WARNING: Nasty medical info below!!

The ENT doc said that his ears were just filled with a thick sludgy mixture of infected mucus and pus. The tubes were easily inserted, he cleaned his ears out really well, and we're now instilling an antibiotic & steroid solution into his ears until they are completely healed. (BTW, the drops make him giggle hysterically. It's adorable).

Ice, Ice Baby

2012-01-24T10:55:00.000-05:00

Michael had a 2hr delay yesterday due to the sleet and ice that fell over night. We haven't had any weather-related school delays or closures yet, and he was pretty excited to stay home and play for a while.

When I grow up...

2012-01-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

Kate currently wants to be a Mommy and a Bus Driver when she grows up.

I think, however, that she might be destined to follow in the medical footsteps of the ladies in her family. She has a nurse mommy and 2 nurse grandmothers, so we will see. Here she is "reading" her current favorite book Gray's Anatomy. Yes, I censor this for her little eyes, but she really likes looking at the pictures of bones and cells and such.

She loves learning her letters, shapes, and numbers, and it getting very good at using the computer. Her penmanship is sometimes more legible than her big brothers, and she's quickly learning to put words together. I think she will be reading in a couple months.

Tubes in the AM

2012-01-22T17:14:00.000-05:00

Thanks for all your kind notes and emails regarding this cutie:

David will have tubes inserted in the morning, and we're praying that it goes smoothly and simply, as it's supposed to go. David is presently battling yet another ear infection, so hopefully this will alleviate the pain and frustration he has been experiencing with his ears.

Movie Night Gone Wrong

2012-01-22T17:11:00.000-05:00

On Friday night, I decided we would have movie night. I usually pick G movies, but this time, I decided to try a PG movie from the Narnia series- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

David went to bed shortly after we started it, and Kate began her hysterics the first time Lucy stepped through the wardrobe. She said that it was SO scary that there was snow on the other side of the wardrobe, and that she KNEW that something scary would happen. She absolutely flipped at the first mention of the white witch. So she went to bed shortly afterward. Jon proceeded to fall asleep and remain so for 2hrs of the 2hr 23min movie, so Michael and I enjoyed some Mom/Son time together. Michael thought that the movie was the MOST awesome EVER! He loved the battle scenes, and he was so excited that the good guys won. He scared me a little bit when he showed me just how similarly his OCD runs to mine. When the 4 kids were sitting on their thrones near the end of the movie, they were situated with the 2 boys on the left and the 2 girls on the right. Michael had me stop the movie so he could show me that it would look "more better" if they had arranged the seats with the 2 boys in the center and the 2 girls on the outside. And I totally understood what he was saying because I thought the same thing...

Sick Girls

2012-01-22T16:53:00.000-05:00

Kate is sick, and so am I. I have a sore throat with fever and chills, and Kate has had fever and vomiting since last night. I left work after just 4 hours last night to get some rest, and I slept all night and most of the day today. Kate has been resting a lot, and we were able to bring her fever down with some Tylenol. All this, plus David will be getting tubes tomorrow.

Have I mentioned that January is one of my least favorite months?

'P' Week

2012-01-19T18:12:00.000-05:00

Michael had P week in kindergarten, and here's his paper. He had to make up his own sentences, and here's what he came up with:

Pink is fun.

Piranhas have teeth.

Pumpkins are orange.

PetSmart is a store.

Meet Pennsylvania

2012-01-19T18:09:00.000-05:00

Kate had her "kids" in pretend high chairs.

The one with the pink bow is Kate's current favorite. She's named her Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania (who I call Penny) comes along with us where ever we go. She's a nice, quiet baby, even if she does require her own snacks and drinks.

Play-Doh, How I Hate You!

2012-01-16T15:42:00.000-05:00

Surely I'm not the only Mom who hates Play-Doh?

Not that I don't let them play with it on occasion, but it's with reservation.

It always seems to end up crumbled into every crevice and surface within about 100 feet.

But the kids love it, and end up making stringy beards out of it, so I oblige. Look at Michael's eyes smiling- totally worth the labor-intensive efforts to reclaim my kitchen afterward (but if you come for dinner in the next week or so, don't be surprised if you find small, dried Play-doh crumbs in your food, stuck to your sock, or ground into the rug).

Pretty Blue-Eyed Girl

2012-01-13T15:52:00.000-05:00

Every now and then, I see one of my kids and catch a glimpse of what they will look like when they are older.

Isn't this sweet girl so beautiful?

What You Have, I Want

2012-01-13T15:50:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned that if I want David to eat something, I just need to pretend it's mine.

Here he is snagging my raw baby carrots and dipping them in roasted red pepper hummus. Seriously. This baby will eat anything that's mine.

Bipolar Weather

2012-01-10T10:07:00.001-05:00

We went from this on Saturday & Sunday:

(don't worry, Michael won't go down the roller coaster until David moves)

Sandals and shorts

Skirts and pony tails

To THIS on Monday:

Yes, that is snow

The kids thought it was GREAT, though it was just a dusting.

Michael was bummed we didn't get a snow day, or even a morning delay.

But, as you can see in the background, we got a nice white layer.

A Spring Day in January

2012-01-07T18:32:00.002-05:00

God must have known that I needed a healthy dose of Vitamin D today. Not only was it up to 68 degrees today, but I got canceled for work due to low census, so I got to stay home and enjoy the outdoors with my family. We pretty much spent all our daylight hours outside today.

We ran and explored.

And we rode bikes.

And jumped on the trampoline.

Even David got a turn alone on the trampoline, though he called it "Bouncy-Bouncy-Bouncy."

They played in the "fort."

And while David napped, the big kids chalked the fort and helped us clean the vehicles (inside and out- our van was NASTY after all those miles over Christmas). In the evening, we cleaned the yard, started a fire and burned some brush.

Today was just what we needed!

Fun with Friends in Ohio

2012-01-06T18:51:00.001-05:00

While we were in Ohio, we were able to visit with our awesome friends, the Seekins. We had so much fun that we didn't get many pictures.

We visited COSI (Center of Science and Industry) in Columbus, and the kids loved it. Here are David and Grace enjoying some water-play in the little guy area. Thankfully, Cynetta had forethought and told me to bring a change of clothes for the kids. Glad she did, since my kids took water-play very seriously.

All These Toys...

2012-01-06T18:42:00.000-05:00

...and David wants to play with a box:

a laundry basket:

and the treadmill.

New years resolution, maybe?

An Organized 2012

2012-01-05T11:19:00.001-05:00

We've always had the kids do chores (not milk-the-cow-at-4-am chores, but more like making their bed, brushing their teeth, picking up toys, etc), and we have various chore charts and character charts. This year, I found these Melissa & Doug Magnetic Responsibility Charts on sale for $10, and I decided to integrate responsibilities and our character charts into one reward system. I'm trying to focus on using positive reinforcement more, and the kids have really responded to it. They get a smiley for each chore they do, plus I liberally give out smileys when I catch them showing kindness or generosity or responsibility or respect or using nice words, etc.

The orange smileys are special (Kate's special ones are pink). They are worth 10 smileys. Michael gets an orange smiley for getting an "awesome" stamp at school, and Kate will earn a smiley for if she goes the whole day without grabbing or bothering her baby brother (something we've been working on for a while!) At the end of the day, we add up smileys, and that's how many minutes they get for computer time the next day.

The system seems to be working, and the kids are really responding well to the positive reinforcements. I find that I'm praising the kids more than just pointing out when they do wrong. We sometimes take smileys away (or other punitive consequences), but in general, this has been a really good way to encourage good behavior.

I also made a menu board so I don't have to answer that dreaded question asked 14,000 times a day, "What's for dinner?!"

I Love Goodwill

2012-01-05T10:44:00.000-05:00

In the fall, we had a Goodwill store open near us. I have been able to find a LOT of really good finds there, especially nice, quality clothing for the older kids. The kids have been growing like weeds, and it is always hard to find inexpensive clothing for them. Kate especially has benefited from 2nd-hand clothing. I've been checking about once a week for a desk and chair for Kate's room. Here's what I found this week while perusing:

A rice cooker. We eat a lot of rice, and this just means I can throw it in and forget about it. Great condition, looks new, manual included.

Price= $3.99

I also found this suitcase that's in really great condition (pardon the bad picture). It's really big, has wheels and a pull, and was only $3.99. Looking forward to using this instead of all the little ones we have been using.

Ride 'Em, Cowboy!

2012-01-04T15:19:00.000-05:00

David loved riding the horsie at Auntie Ann's house.

Christmas 2011, WV

2012-01-04T10:24:00.000-05:00

I forgot my camera on our Christmas journeys, so as I locate pics of our adventures, I will post them.

We started our journeys with a surprise:

I was getting ready to pack our plethora of luggage into the tiny trunk space of our van, and I discovered a former sparrow. Made me think Matthew 10:29 which says that a sparrow doesn't fall to the ground unless the Father wills it. So glad for a God who is in control of every detail. He kept us safe through MANY miles, despite torrential rains on the way home, a strange new van noise, and tires that need to be replaced (and were a little slick in the midst of all that rain through the mountains).

We had fun with the Brown family at my mom's house in WV.

The presents were abundant.

And we had a great time with our loved ones, whom we don't see nearly enough. This is Kate with my mom.

Michael was a little excited...

Kate was too, but she doesn't wear it on her sleeve like Michael does.

Kate and Olivia are two peas in a pod. Artsy activities abounded, as did princess play, and every sort of girlie-ness.

The guys all had a pre-Christmas-dinner nap.

And dinner was enjoyed by all.

David charmed the masses (that's my sister Meredith and my brother Mark).

My sister Hollie and niece Brynn

My kids went a little Wii crazy.

We missed Sunday morning church because Michael threw up a couple times, but it was a quick virus, thankfully!

The Brown grandkids- Brynn, David, Erica, Michael, Olivia, Kate

9 Years of Marriage

2012-01-02T12:35:00.000-05:00

On December 28th, Jon and I celebrated 9 wonderful years of marriage.

I love you more than ever, Jon Blakemore. I can't imagine sharing this life with anyone better than you!

My Kitchen "Helper"

2011-12-23T13:30:00.001-05:00

I was in the shower this morning, David was playing in his crib, and the big kids were playing in the play room. They are good about behaving for the 4 second shower I have mastered. (Mommas with small kids are hygiene Ninjas!!) Anyways, Kate, my cookie elf, decided she would surprise me by making pie for us while I was busy.

Luckily, it was just a little cornstarch, and she was even kind enough to try to clean up after herself.

The Shelf Elf Strikes Again

2011-12-23T13:23:00.000-05:00

He has simply one thing to say:

Contrary little thing!!

Learning from Daddy

2011-12-22T22:29:00.000-05:00

Daddy gave Michael a few lessons in how to use his remote-controlled helicopter today.

They both had a ton of fun.

Michael got some practice & is slowly getting the hang of using the remote control.

And when Michael went to bed, Daddy was sure to get some practice playing with the helicopter (for Michael's sake, I'm sure...) I'm pretty sure Daddy described it as "SUPER cool." Boys will be boys, and so will men sometimes.

Present Day

2011-12-22T13:32:00.000-05:00

Today we opened our presents for each other, and I am always reminded how cool this is for kids.

In order to add some adventure to our morning, we did a present scavenger hunt. We played hot/cold to lead them to their hidden presents. The kids thought it was so fun.

Excited about opening their first gift.

Elation!!

That face is for their el-cheapo CD players from Walmart for their rooms. Simple joys.

Michael LOVED that he got a remote controlled helicopter. He's been asking for one since his cousin Nathan got one last year.

Kate thought her music box was SO lovely!!

Veggie Tales

Daddy gets a lot of food gifts (which he was kind enough to share), and a book on Biblical hermeneutics and exegesis.

Michael with his Cubs hat that matches Daddy's hat. Michael said that now he can be a *REAL* Cubs fan. They also each got their very own box of character fruit snacks.

David was just in it for the food. He ate more fruit snacks than I care to remember. What a fun morning of sharing gifts with one another.

Onle Leon

2011-12-21T16:48:00.001-05:00

Michael keeps messing with our Noel candles.

I keep finding new "words."

When 2 vowels go walking, the FIRST one does the talking. The first vowel says it's name and the second one is (silent).

This made me smile. Who is Leon?

Elmo's pessimistic cousin?

My one and onle?

Michael makes us smile every day!

Sporty Kate

2011-12-21T16:43:00.000-05:00

This is what Kate chose to wear on our walk this morning.

Baseball hat, tennis shoes, and a skirt.

She's a cutie!!

Christmas Cookies

2011-12-21T16:40:00.000-05:00

Michael got out of school early today for Christmas break, so we celebrated with cookies.

Kate was my helper (even if she did snag chunks of butter as we were prepping the dough.)

Michael was the prime taster.

Kate enjoyed the fruits of her labor.

And David thinks cookies are GREAT!

Sleep, Sweet Boy

2011-12-19T12:11:00.000-05:00

David's ears have been better for the past couple days, however, we have a new issue.

This little trouble-maker is now anti-sleep. I hypothesize that he spent a full 2.5 months in pain every time he laid down that now he is afraid of his bed. He screams every time I take him near his crib. I've let him cry to sleep, but every night about midnight, he wakes up and will scream until I get him. Then he won't let me put him down. I tried to let him self-sooth, and 45 minutes later, he was still not soothed. In my fatigued state, I've just brought him alongside and snuggled him until morning, but I don't think it's helping him to get over his hatred of his bed. He's always loved his bed up until this ear drama, and now I can't figure out what to do. We all need a little more sleep around here!

Simply Christmas

2011-12-19T12:04:00.001-05:00

This year, I decided to simplify Christmas. I didn't want to blur the meaning of Christmas amid the busy-ness of Christmas. I wanted the kids to have a relaxed Momma who wasn't concerned with the extraction of ornaments and perfect cookies and decked out decorations, but a Mom focused more on Presence over presents. We will still do gifts and cookies and light-tours, but that's not what we're about this year. Quiet, content, , relaxed, together- it's been the best Christmas season so far.

A Christmas where the decorations are for touching and playing with.

A warm, glowing, naked tree

And (gasp!) bagged cookie dough and canned frosting. We're making these for fun and togetherness instead of taste.

Sometimes, simpler is better.

Art & Literacy

2011-12-19T11:51:00.000-05:00

Am I the only mother that hates craft time? All the tiny scraps of paper and the mess and the chaos? It's a sacrifice that I make, though, as the kids love crafts, especially my girl.

She's doing a good job with her letters and numbers, and is starting to put simple, short-vowel words together.

Michael uses his literacy skills to express himself a little more boldly. This is a "No Girls" sign for his room. He couldn't find an 'N', so he turned a 'Z' sideways.

Hollow Legs?

2011-12-19T11:45:00.000-05:00

Michael is about to eat me out of house and home.

Yesterday at Qdoba (where, on Sundays, kids usually eat free), he ate a full-sized adult meal of tacos PLUS a taco kids' meal and applesauce. You can tell by his high energy levels that he burns it all off, since this boy has 2 modes: full-speed ahead and asleep. I can't imagine what the teen years will bring to my grocery budget...

Pyromaniacs

2011-12-15T09:13:00.000-05:00

Jon has been burning some brush in a burn-barrel when he is outside for a little bit, and Michael (hiding behind that tree) loves to help. What is it with boys and fire?

Being 4 Is Great

2011-12-15T09:11:00.000-05:00

Kate is really enjoying being 4. She is learning a lot, and does a great job with her letters and numbers. She has really good dexterity (and she has since she was a baby), and it shows in her penmanship and her coloring. She does a great job dressing herself, and only needs a little help with tough buttons.

What a big girl!

She's also our 2nd Mommy in the house. She loves to help and to take care of the boys. What a blessing this girl is.

David's Ears

2011-12-15T08:54:00.000-05:00

This little guy has had a rough time of it with his ears.

He's been through 6 antibiotics since this ear thing began in October. Some have cleared up the infection, but the fluid in his ears has remained and continues to get re-infected. He's been on Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Zithromax, Zithromax (again), Augmentin ES-600 (a dose so high that the pharmacy wasn't going to fill it until I made them call the doctor personally), and lastly, a Rocephin shot.

We had a recheck yesterday, and the doctor said that the pus in his ear is gone (gross, I know!), but a little fluid remains. Because this is an anatomical problem with his Eustachian tubes unable to drain the fluid, the only real solution to the constant infections will be tubes.

Our consultation appointment with the ENT is January 4th (or sooner if someone cancels), and we will hopefully then set up a time to get tubes inserted. This poor baby screams every time I put him in his bed, which I think is because he associates it with hurting when he lies down. We are all ready for some relief.

CSA Week 24

2011-12-15T08:46:00.000-05:00

This is our last CSA box for the 2011 season.

Cabbage, collard greens, broccoli, 4 turnips, 4 sweet potatoes, 7 white potatoes, 6 tomatoes, 4 appples, 2 squash

I passed along the cabbage and greens, and I'm making a winter vegetable stew with the sweet potatoes, turnips and squash. The white potatoes will either be roasted or mashed as a side dish, and the tomatoes will accompany tacos. The apples will be consumed with lunch, and the broccoli will go on salad.

Jr Constructor

2011-12-11T18:14:00.001-05:00

Michael worked long & hard on this 205 piece Buzz Lightyear Lego Set that he got for his birthday for Grandma. He did a great job!

And he was quite proud of himself.

Pantry Project

2011-12-06T18:47:00.000-05:00

I've been working on (finally) getting my pantry organized, and mentioned that I would post when I am finished, and I think I'm about done with it.

It's finally how I want it, and I think it turned out well.

My inspiration was these can racks that made it SO much easier to know what I have and what I need. I think we're set for a good 2-3 weeks (with the way these boys eat...)

Winter Babies

2011-12-06T18:24:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, we took the opportunity to go look for a Christmas tree.

I know the winter-wear is a little much, since we went to Target and got a pre-lit artificial tree, but in the spirit of Christmas, we stopped by the farmer's market and looked at "real" trees before deciding against the cost.

Sweet Michael

Cutie Kate

Silly David

Ol' Blue Eyes

2011-12-06T18:18:00.000-05:00

This boy has the prettiest blue eyes.

He was completely fascinated with this nativity. He thought the hanging angel was very cool.

Despite keeping his little ears covered, we were back at the pediatrician today with yet another ear infection. He was put on a high-powered antibiotic, and we see the ENT on January 4th for a consultation regarding tubes. Hopefully that will take care of all this ear drama.

First Day to be 6

2011-11-30T22:25:00.001-05:00

Michael had a great day today on his birthday. Yes, he went to school, but he really loves school, and he was glad for all the attention. He was telling EVERYONE within hearing distance (and some without) that it was his birthday. He was yelling it to the road workers down the street as we waited for the bus this morning.

This pose pretty much sums up his day- Sheer excitement.

A boatload of presents

A smile from ear to ear

A day to be king

And to get cool stuff

And even more cool stuff (including a helicopter shirt that I brought for him to open when I got him up this morning. He loved it, and he put it on right away).

Michael picked a strawberry cheesecake as his cake (thank you, Costco!), and he took in little mini red velvet cupcakes to his classmates.

He ate his cheesecake on his "You are special" plate, which gets pulled out on special occasions (when I remember). We had pizza for dinner (Michael's choice), but we ate dessert first. Because it's a birthday, that's why.

Michael also chose to spend some time at Funland where he proceeded to run and run and play and run some more. He was just so excited! Michael said this was his best birthday ever, and I'm sure it will be until next year! Happy birthday, precious boy!

A Portrait of Daddy

2011-11-30T22:10:00.000-05:00

Kate made a portrait of Daddy, but she said he would look better with "rainbow hair."

And he does, doesn't he?

Happy 6th Birthday, Michael

2011-11-30T07:34:00.001-05:00

Happy birthday to my fun-loving, smart, energetic SIX-year-old! I can't believe Michael is 1/3 of the way to an adult! We're so glad that God blessed us with this boy! We love you, Michael Andrew Blakemore!!

(And Yes, I DID male his bed for him this morning!)

Michael's Last Day as a 5-yr-old

2011-11-29T09:44:00.001-05:00

Michael is enjoying his last day as a 5-year-old today.

This morning, he asked me if we could celebrate his last day being 5 by having ME make his bed for him. Good try, buddy! Maybe on your birthday. :-)
(photo by my sister Hollie. More to come! She's so talented!)

Thanksgiving 2011 in Tennessee

2011-11-27T20:48:00.001-05:00

We spent our Thanksgiving this year visiting family in Tennessee. It was a long trip (about 9 hours), but the kids did great!

Tennessee is beautiful! We went to the Pigeon Forge area, and were able to visit and spend time with my 2 older sisters, which was wonderful.

I seemed to have misplaced some pictures from the trip- you know, the pictures of the PEOPLE we went to see, but I did find our aquarium pics.

The kids were not excited about posing, but they did enjoy the underwater creatures.

We got to watch a diver show us up close what each kind of fish was.

Lots of fish. I forgot that the aquarium would smell like... well, like fish. I'm not a fan of seafood, but there are some very cool creatures that live in the sea.

This is the view of a sawfish from underneath. Very cool.

Up close and personal with the sharks.

The kids even got to handle some big ol' crabs (though the adults enjoyed it more!)

Michael, the deep sea diver.

Michael also loved hanging out the penguins up close.

They actually all enjoyed the penguins, especially that they got to see them so close.

This is one ugly fish. Maybe she has a good personality??

The most beautiful sea creatures, in my opinion, are the jellies. So graceful.

Once I find the people pics, I will post. We were so glad to spend time with those we love over Thanksgiving. We're thankful for family!!

The Shirt Says It All

2011-11-23T13:06:00.001-05:00

Cutie Pie

Fun with a Box

2011-11-23T13:03:00.001-05:00

The kids have fun every time we get a package in the mail. This box was especially large. It has been a boat, a train, a hideout for Thing 1 and Thing 2, & a canvas for art (just to name a few). Fun times.

(Another post will need to be dedicated to the contents of the box. It's a little OCD heaven for my pantry.)

Michael hard at work.

Kate busy with her project.

Curlie Sue

2011-11-21T17:37:00.001-05:00

I rag-rolled Kate's hair after her bath on Saturday night so she could have curls on Sunday. She was so excited about wearing them to bed (actually, they were clean, odd socks, cuz that's how we roll... ha ha!)

The next morning, after I took the socks out of her hair, she was so upset. She thought that everyone would think she looked silly.

It really did turn out cute.

She was not excited at all.

Daddy told her how pretty her hair was, and that helped, but she really started to like it after we went to church and she got many compliments on her hair.

Monday morning, the curls turned into pretty waves. So easy and so cute. Kate has such thin hair that it took about 8 rolls to do her entire head. We will definitely be doing this again.

Righty and Lefty

2011-11-21T17:35:00.001-05:00

I had to make an official rule that the kids sit with Michael on this side, and Kate on the other. They kept bumping elbows while coloring and getting upset. Now all is well again.

Stylin' Baby

2011-11-21T17:32:00.001-05:00

David is a little mimic. He loves to sport Kate's bows and such.

"How is this one on me?"

Wear it proudly, big guy.

On a less silly note, I ended up taking David back to the doctor again today for yet another ear infection. The last one took 3 antibiotics to clear up the infection, and today we talked about tubes in his ears. If this one is long and drawn out like the last one, we will see the ENT next. I'm ready for this boy to feel better and to sleep well.

CSA Week 23

2011-11-19T13:29:00.001-05:00

Our November box of produce included:

Large bag of spinach, 2 acorn squash, 5 turnips, 5 sweet potatoes, 5 white potatoes, head of cabbage, 5 green apples, head of cauliflower, 7 tomatoes

These Boys

2011-11-19T13:16:00.001-05:00

They bring so much FUN into our lives.

They already have a brotherly bond, and really do enjoy each other.

Michael and David really enjoy racing each other.

David loves to eat just as much as his big brother.

David is SO curious! He loves rearranging furniture, as well as climbing on anything he can find.

David loves to play ball.

And anything that is noisy is just fantastic. He helps me grind my coffee beans in the morning, since it makes a pretty awesome sound.

I miss having Michael here during the day, but it's pretty great having him home when he is here. These boys are SO fun!

Cute Troublemaker

2011-11-16T21:51:00.001-05:00

David has been into things lately. Into EVERYTHING! I honestly have to contain him in his crib when I use the bathroom, or he will get into something since he knows I'm out of sight. Stinker!

But he has this adorable smile that is just darling!

And he still loves to be held by his Mommy, and I love his cuddles. Such a fun stage, even if I have to watch him like a hawk.

Computer Time

2011-11-16T21:47:00.001-05:00

Kate got to begin a little educational computer time when she turned 4.

She is still getting the hang of it, and she's fun to watch, as she's so delicate (except for when she bangs the space bar over and over again!)

Michael is quite the computer wizard. He loves to play on PBS kids.

Cardboard Box + Markers + Imagination =

2011-11-16T21:45:00.001-05:00

JET PACK

My kids just love cardboard boxes.

Michael is getting so creative. I think school is bringing out his imagination a lot more, and it's been fun to watch him work on random projects.

Kate is Sad

2011-11-11T12:30:00.001-05:00

I love this girl. She's so... well, she's girlie!

She came up on the deck after playing on her bike (yes, in a dress) and was weeping bitterly because "all the flowers went away." I tried to explain that they would come back in the spring, but it didn't assuage her devastation that they are no longer here. I just cuddled her and said I know it's sad since flowers are so pretty.

She eventually got over it and went back to riding her bike. In a dress.

I Love My Life

2011-11-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

The kids were burning off some energy before bedtime, and here's a little snippet of the hilarity!

I just love these guys! They bring such fun and joy to my life!

A Proud Mama

2011-11-08T13:26:00.000-05:00

I had my first Parent-Teacher conference today with Michael's kindergarten teacher, and I just couldn't be more proud of this boy!

Now's my time to brag on my first-born, because that's what Moms do! Michael scored exceptionally well on his PALS assessment, which is a standardized measure of literacy skills. He needs to get an 80 on the test in order to enter 1st grade at the end of the year, and he already has scored a 98 (out of 102), just in the first quarter. He is reading far above his grade level, and his math skills were described as "off the charts." I'm all about learning and education, but what I am more proud of is what great marks Michael got for being a good listener, being respectful, working hard, and doing a good job in his schoolwork & relationships to others.
Michael, we're so proud of you for doing your best and for showing kindness and love to others. Let that little light shine, big guy!

David at 15 months

2011-11-04T17:49:00.001-04:00

David has his 15 month well-baby check up this week, and he is doing great. His ear infection finally cleared up after 3 antibiotics, and his cuspids finally came through! Sweet sleep for us all! He got 2 shots (varicella and Hib vaccines), and he gave one little fuss of protest then was done.

Here are the big boy's stats:

HEIGHT: 33 1/2 inches (96th percentile)

WEIGHT: 24lbs, 8oz (47th percentile)

HEAD: 48cm (71st percentile)

The Royal Family

2011-11-04T00:19:00.001-04:00

Knight, princess, and dragon, along with the King and Queen. ;-)

Fun and Friends

2011-11-03T08:50:00.001-04:00

What a busy and fun week we have had!

My roommate from college and good friend Jica and her brother Jeriah came to visit this week from California. We really enjoyed visiting and getting caught up, and we were sad to see them go this morning. Come back soon, guys!!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-03T08:47:00.002-04:00

This year for halloween, we went with a royalty theme- a valiant knight, a dainty princess, and a baby dragon.

They all loved their costumes, though David was not thrilled about the hat. He soon forgot about it, which was fortunate.

Rawr!

Precious girl!

Beware! (that sword was quickly confiscated by the queen...)

Michael's First Field Trip

2011-11-03T08:42:00.000-04:00

Michael had his first field trip on Monday, and I was able to go along.

We went to Westmoreland Berry Farm, aka, the Pumpkin Patch.

It was fun to see Michael in his classroom setting for the first 30 minutes. He seems to have procedure down well, and his teacher is very good at what she does. Michael has 18 kids in his class, 1/3 of which (3 of 18) are named Isabelle/a.

I had a small group of 2 (they were divided into groups of 2 or 3 per chaperone), and I understood after a few minutes why I only had 2 kids. The little girl in my group was a hand full. Precious, but exhausting :-)

We visited the petting zoo, fed the goats, then played on the play ground for a little bit while we waited for our hay ride.

We took a tractor hay ride to the pumpkin patch where Grandma Jo told us all about pumpkin varieties and winter squash, as well as a couple fun pumpkin stories.

Mrs. Bond's Kindergarten class (sorry for the shadows. It was BRIGHT!)

We did some apple tasting and story-telling right before lunch, then we headed back on the bus to school. What a fun day!!

Our 2 Weeks of Autumn

2011-10-28T20:39:00.001-04:00

It has been cooler the last 2 weeks, and we're scheduled to head right into winter tomorrow. I can NOT believe they are calling for SNOW on Saturday. It's still October!! Maybe this just means spring will be here early?! I hope so! Anyways, I hope I don't have to navigate nasty roads on my way to and from work tomorrow. I'm not a good snow driver (and neither is anyone else around here).

David-cutie loves to be outside. I believe, however, that he is headed for ear tubes this winter. He is on his THIRD antibiotic this month for his ears, and between his infected ears and his 2 upper cuspid teeth coming in, we're ready for a break.

Michael is becoming quite the big helper. He loves to help with the yard work, and he's pretty good at it. He wants to mow, but I think he needs a few more years before he takes over mowing. He can be the champion leaf-raker for now.

Mug Shots

2011-10-25T20:15:00.003-04:00

We have been enjoying some cool autumn evenings together, and we're trying to soak up that evening light before we lose that evening hour of daylight in 2 weeks.

Michael is doing well in school. We miss him during the day, but he's making friends and learning a lot. His reading is improving, and he is getting better at writing. His favorite subject is recess, and he also enjoys PE, music, and art.

Kate is enjoying her role as top dog during the day time. She keeps busy with art projects, coloring, playing with her doll house, reading books, and annoying her little brother with her overly-loving octopus arms.

David is a feisty but sweet little guy. He recently learned how to climb over the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs, and now he can get full access to the big kids' rooms upstairs. I have to keep a close eye on this one! He's speaking SO many words and is doing well with his communication. Teeth #13 and #14 are currently cutting through. He still loves to snuggle in between playing with trucks and balls.

Happy 4th Birthday, Sweet Kate!

2011-10-22T21:59:00.000-04:00

My little girl turned 4 today.

Kate still has a fever, and she slept in this morning, but she was able to enjoy some of the day after I medicated her to bring down her temperature. Kate wanted to wear her "fancy" dress, since we were having a "fancy" tea party.

Instead of decorating her door (as I usually do), I decorated the sliding glass door with some auto markers.

Presents!!

We brought out the fancy china for Kate's fancy tea party.

Kate got her own special tea cup, which had flowers on it.

Kate even asked Daddy to wear a tie. He's such a good sport.

Daddy got Kate some flowers, which she LOVED!

Singing 'Happy Birthday" to our big girl.

Blowing out candles and wishing for a wonderful year.

We love you, sweet Kate! You are so precious to us!!

Here We Go Again

2011-10-21T10:28:00.002-04:00

This Pretty Princess...

...was up last night with fever and vomiting.

This morning, she spend a good bit of time snuggled up with me in my bed.

She just woke up around 10:30 (VERY unusual for her, as she is my 7:30 early bird), and is feeling better with some Tylenol in her system to bring her fever down. I hope she feels better and can at least enjoy some presents tomorrow (though I had to cancel her tea party. Anyone want 30-40 finger sandwiches?).

We will see how Kate's day goes- her LAST day as a 3-year-old.

CSA Week 22

2011-10-20T09:37:00.001-04:00

Here's what our October CSA box yielded:

1 pumpkin, bunch of collard greens, 2 acorn squash, 3 gourds, 6 sweet potatoes, 4 yellow zucchini, 5 tomatoes, 4 green zucchini, 2 peppers, 7 apples

I love autumn produce, and am especially excited about roasting the sweet potatoes and squash. The pumpkin is on our front porch, and I plan to cook it up to freeze and then roast the seeds. The gourds and acorn squash are currently being used as autumn decor on our table. The rest will become side dishes and salad/sandwich accompaniments. I'm going to try my hand at Paula Deen's collard greens and see how it turns out. The apples will become dessert- fried apples over ice cream! Yum!

Preparations

2011-10-20T09:22:00.004-04:00

Preparations are taking place for a certain little girl to turn 4!

She requested a tea party, but specified that it be an iced tea party. :-) We're going with an autumn theme, and we can not WAIT for Saturday!!

Michael Update

2011-10-18T12:39:00.001-04:00

Michael is well enough today to head back to school.

He even had enough energy to play outside for a bit yesterday.

And he got to help Daddy in the yard, which he LOVES.

So far, the rest of us are healthy (except David's ears, but that's another story), so I am hoping it stays that way.

Not Well

2011-10-15T14:43:00.001-04:00

Michael woke up this morning feeling unusually un-Michael-like: no energy, poor appetite, achy.

He did a lot of snuggling and lying around.

Then he tossed some cookies.

Then he did the most un-Michael-ish thing I know- he fell asleep at 2:30 in the afternoon.

I hope this passes quickly (and doesn't pass along, either).

October Happenings

2011-10-14T22:50:00.003-04:00

We've been staying busy here lately.

This little girl will be FOUR YEARS OLD next week! When did that happen?

Michael is doing his homework here while the kids snack on popcorn. (Yes, he has homework in Kindergarten.) He's doing well in school and adjusting just fine to his class.

Speaking of class, here's Michael's 'E' paper: 1. Elbow is a part of my body. 2. Easter eggs r fun. 3. Exit is a sin (sign). 4. Eggs r good.

David, Little Stinker

2011-10-14T22:43:00.001-04:00

David is a such a fun baby.

A sure-fire way to get him to eat anything is to pretend that it's MY food. He honestly will eat anything I do. Here he is eating my roasted broccoli.

Here he is mid-groove. Any music that comes on instantly turns into a full-out dance party. Fun boy!

What a silly face.

David sure does love to climb. I take my eyes off him for just a minute, and he's standing up (or crawling across the tabletop, like I found him today.) Boys!!

He's growing fast, but I LOVE that he still loves his Mommy and often asks to come "up". David is such a cuddle bug.

Happy Birthday, Jon

2011-10-10T17:13:00.000-04:00

It's my husband's birthday today, and we sure are thankful for him!

In celebration, all the kids piled on top of him

(okay, so we did presents and lots of food, too!)

Happy birthday to my most favorite person in the whole world!!

Family Fun Day

2011-10-10T17:00:00.001-04:00

My work had a Family Fun Day for all associates on Saturday, so we took the kids after Jon finished work around noon.

They had many, many inflatable jump houses and such.

Balloon animals. Michael's is a spider, and Kate's is a flower (though the top bloom part popped).

David started out in the stroller, but quickly decided he wanted to get down and play.

And play they did! We also collected a bunch of pine cones for crafts and decoration.

David eventually wore himself out and took a nap in the Ergo carrier.

Mini golf

Train rides

Face painting

Tattoos

Ice cream

And tons of food- all free! What a fun day!

Busy Boys

2011-10-10T16:57:00.002-04:00

Michael had the day off today for Columbus Day. The boys sure do add lots of energy to this house:

Acrobatics

Rearranging furniture

Martial Arts

Kicking toys around and chasing them.

D is for...

2011-10-10T16:54:00.002-04:00

Michael's 'D' paper is cute, cute, cute:

Clockwise, from the top left: "A dime is money," "Dollars r good," "Dillon is a good friend," A duck lives in the water."

Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center

2011-10-08T09:50:00.002-04:00

Jon and I went on a date last night to see Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center.

I have wanted to see this show since I was in high school, and Jon was kind enough to go with me, even though "the arts" are not his favorite thing.

It was such a good show, and the company was fantastic. Thanks for taking me, Jon!!

Family Visit

2011-10-08T09:50:00.000-04:00

We were happy to have Jon's parents visit for a few days this past week.

Here's grandpa helping Kate to build a better Mousetrap. We enjoyed our time with them, and as always, we hated to see them go.

Smiley But Sad

2011-10-05T16:49:00.001-04:00

Our sweet little guy has been a little out-of-character lately. He's not been sleeping well, has had a poor appetite, and has been extra-clingy. Took him in today for a visit to check his ears, and sure enough, he's got a really nasty ear infection. I'm thankful for antibiotics to help this guy get back to the happy-go-lucky baby that we are used to.

Together, But Not

2011-10-04T23:02:00.003-04:00

I know I've posted lots of reading pictures lately, but the kids really love to read (and to be read to). I love that they love books.

Plus, I wanted to add a picture of Michael, who has been photographed a disproportionate amount to the other 2 since he's at school for 8 hours a day.

Not-So-Little Guy

2011-10-04T23:00:00.001-04:00

David seems to be growing at an accelerated rate. Wasn't he just born!?

He's quite curious (and often down-right mischievous!), and he got himself stuck in the hippo toy.

Life is rough being the baby!

But Daddy makes it all better!

And I couldn't help but include this little scrunch-nosed scowl David has been giving quite frequently. We're working on giving our sweet face instead (though it is pretty darn cute!)

I Love a Good Bargain

2011-10-04T22:55:00.002-04:00

I had been pricing bar stools, since our kids have pretty much decimated the cheap stools we had purchased when we moved in. Since we use these quite heavily, we decided to get some wooden stools. I shopped around, found what I wanted, looked for the best price, and purchased these at Overstock.com. They arrived, and we were in the midst of assembling them when I checked the listing again at Overstock.com only to find them 70% off! So I emailed the company and asked if they would be willing to adjust my price to the sale price, and they did! They gave me almost $100 back! Yay!!! I love a good bargain, and am pretty impressed with Overstock.com's great service!!

'C' Week in Kindergarten

2011-10-04T22:51:00.001-04:00

Here's Michael's cute 'C' picture from school last week. It also includes the article 'a.'

4 items that Michael enjoys that start with the letter 'C'- a cookie, a cookie monster, a candy corn, and a crayon. Of note, his poor penmanship comes from his father...

Where's David?

2011-09-29T12:35:00.002-04:00

Can you spot the cutie among the toy disaster?

David is REALLY into hiding lately. His favorite thing is to hide in Jon's closet behind his shirts. He loves to jump out and shout, "BOOOOO!"

THERE'S my cutie boy!

Fears and Cuddles

2011-09-29T12:33:00.000-04:00

Kate has been absolutely terrified of storms lately.

We have spent a lot of time cuddling recently, as we've had a ton of rain. She's afraid not only of the thunder, but is terrified of the falling rain itself. Sweet little girl fell asleep as I was cuddling her during the afternoon this week.

She's normally so sweet and happy-go-lucky that it makes me sad when she's so scared.

Book Worm

2011-09-29T12:30:00.001-04:00

Michael has become a much more avid reader lately. He loves that he can read complete stories by himself.

Katie Rembrandt

2011-09-29T12:28:00.002-04:00

This girls LOVES to paint.

She asks me every day to paint. We now have quite the collection of art projects between Kate's art and all Michael's school papers. Any takers?

What a Cutie

2011-09-25T16:16:00.002-04:00

This guy is such a joy!

He's so smiley and cuddly.

And he's so easy-going.

But quite the little ham, too. He makes the most adorable faces to get a smile from people. We love you, Cutie Pie!!

CSA Week 21

2011-09-22T14:57:00.001-04:00

This is our last weekly CSA share of the season, though we will receive one box in October, November, and December.

Big pile of green beans, 6 potatoes, 1 butternut squash, 4 turnips, 4 apples, 2 onions, 2 tomatoes, 4 Asian pears, 6 sweet potatoes

(last) Monday- homemade Chicken noodle soup

(last) Tuesday- Stir fried chicken and rice, corn, salad

(last) Wednesday- spaghetti and marinara sauce

Thursday- grilled chicken, butternut squash soup, buttered green beans, salad

Friday- meatloaf, parsley potatoes, peas, salad

Saturday- leftovers

Sunday- pizza and salad, apple pear crisp

Monday- out with a friend

Tuesday- grilled hot dogs, fruit & veggie sticks

Wednesday-leftovers or sandwiches

Katie Girlie Girl

2011-09-20T22:08:00.001-04:00

I found this dress for Kate at Goodwill, and she insisted on wearing it first thing. Nothing like a new dress to life a girl's spirits.

She has also requested a *real* tea party for her birthday next month. We'll see if I can muster up some girly creativity for that venture.

School Work

2011-09-20T22:05:00.002-04:00

Michael is doing well in Kindergarten. He's reading quite well, and he is doing a very good job with his writing skills. He is, however, still working on developing consistent listening and heeding skills... ;-)

Here's a paper he brought home from 'A' week. He had to choose 4 items that started with the letter A and write the words & draw a picture. Clockwise, from top left- airport (the red part is the hanger and the black is the tarmac, I was informed), an ant, an amtrac (meaning the Amtrak trains- they really are similar to his picture- look here), and ant trap (I guess he needed something to catch that ant above). Cute stuff.

Arts & Crafts

2011-09-19T14:45:00.001-04:00

Invariably, Kate will ask to do something craft-like every morning. I'm not really the crafty type. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that I don't even LIKE crafts. Something about tiny pieces of cut-up paper or ubiquitous glitter or sticky glue surfaces just outright offend my OCD tendencies. However, this girl is artsy, so I oblige.

She especially loves to paint!

That's Daddy's old work t-shirt, which she adores wearing.

She's actually pretty neat about it all, though she occasionally gets a little on her hands.

And sometimes, she drops a paint sponge...

...and someone ELSE find it. And tastes it. Yes, he did.

David's BFF, the Roomba

2011-09-17T10:43:00.002-04:00

Sorry the video is so dark, but I needed to show David's new BFF, the Roomba. He asks for it all day long, and it has been the only thing that he will allow me to put him down for while he is teething and clingy.

Cooler Weather

2011-09-17T10:32:00.000-04:00

We've had much cooler weather this past week. We even pulled out jackets a couple mornings. Fall is coming...

The kids have enjoyed a lot of outside time, especially after Michael gets home from school. He is very high-energy, so we try to get as much as we can out of him before dinner.

During the morning, we spend a good bit of time out on the deck. Kate, my little artist, loves chalk and paint. She also enjoys the swing and slide. David enjoys tasting the chalk.

David has been exploring the falling leaves as well. "Exploring" includes tasting.

He couldn't figure out how his toes turned blue. David is still having trouble sleeping with his molars cutting through. They seem to be much worse at night time, and all he wants is Mommy. I'm hoping they cut through soon!

CSA Week 20

2011-09-17T10:08:00.001-04:00

We are winding down our CSA weeks, and will soon get just one per month until December.

Banana squash, eggplant, butternut squash, 2 green peppers, 4 Asian pears, 4 tomatoes, 4 peaches, 6 apples, 3 pablano peppers, a handful of tiny peppers (anyone able to ID those for me? Serrano, perhaps?), 2 cucumbers

Menu is kinda loose this week, as we are eating mostly fruits and veggies, along with leftovers.

Joy & Pain

2011-09-13T11:01:00.003-04:00

My 3 little energy monsters

Having a great time swinging in the evening after dinner. Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Blakemore for David's bucket swing. He loves it! (PS, those clamps have been replaced with *real* swing fasteners)

David had a rough night teething molars, so this morning, we went outside for some early morning swinging therapy.

It worked like a charm. Hope your teeth feel better, little guy!