Cake SMASH!

Duncan is starting to READ! It is so cute, he is doing so great, he gets so flipping frustrated though, for absolutely no reason! He has a sight word list that we are working on and I am sure he will nail them by when he has to. We are really struggling with 'the', 'am' and 'like'. They are the stragglers. I thought he was going to pass them off last night but we needed another day. The goal was Friday so we are on track.

So yea, obviously I totally lived through my half - Wow. That's a lot of miles. I kind of sort of did much better than I thought I would too... but it kicked my trash. I will totally do it again. I need a half where I walk away saying "wow. I kicked butt!" rather than "wow. I got my butt kicked!" Friday we have the Electric Run and it's going to be SUPER fun. Woot! I updated my running blog with a little recap of my race. Mind you, I haven't run since... i need to gather the shoe straps and keep on going!

We had our party for Greyson last Saturday and he was very timid with the cake. He just picked a little at it here and there and then was done. But while he was still there and bored... yes, he finally got into it. Tore that little thing up.

Mom couldn't come because of her knee but Traci and Shane, Jessica, Trina and Steve, Shannon and Traci and Michael and Megan all came for food and cake. I love having my friends bring over sides because meat is easy, they bring the tasty stuff!

Dylan's braces are still slipping at the heel and it's annoying. She wears them to school and then I take them off when she gets home. Poor thing. We have another appointment on the 30th where he will try to get them molded better at the heel and see where we go from there.

I had a bit of a dilemma with Duncan and school where I didn't really want Dylan's aide to pull him from class to take him to my car. I talked to her about it, asking if she can just bring Dylan and I can do the drive around thing for Duncan. She told me this system worked better so basically, no. Whatever. My reasoning is that I don't want him to be different than any of the other kids, I don't want him to stick out because of Dylan. But, well... it's not a big deal in Kindergarten so we have a little while to perfect the plan right? Today the aide (a different one...) brought Dylan out and asked if it was okay if Duncan went in the line with the class. What? I guess the other aide doesn't work there any more, she made it what? 3 weeks? And Duncan's teacher didn't want him missing out on the last minutes of class either. So for the first time today I drove around and picked him up. He thought it was cool. That will be the new plan.

I am getting ready for my first Art Appreciation lesson, it's tomorrow! Megan is coming over to watch the kids while I go and then I am going to buy her lunch. Not a huge gain for making her come over so early but she is happy to help anyway. Thank goodness. We will be talking about shapes... I made a lovely mural out of basic shapes for us to look at and talk about. Then I will be reading "Mouse Shapes" to them and we will be making our own mouse out of basic shapes. Thank you Internet. Thank you thank you thank you! There are all kind of lesson options online, I don't know how moms did it before you could collaborate online! LouAnn apparently did it for her kids classes too, she had a great idea too. Next month we will get into specific artists. Yikes.

Wish me luck tomorrow!

Last night I took Duncan and Ian swimming for Sara's daughter Jane's birthday. We were late but we made it in time to swim at this great rec center. It wasn't very deep and there was a full fledged kids play area. I am so out of the times because this type of swimming area is probably old news to most people but I thought it was awesome. There was a little lazy river type of loop that we kept going through. At one point Ian choked on water and as much as I tried to talk him through it and get him to count he vomited all over me, in the water. Oh yea, that happened. And as bad as it is disgusting for everyone else, if I am going to get vomited on, I choose for it to be in the swimming pool! I. Was. Mortified. What do you do?? The cloudy water cleared super quickly... there was no trace of it. What should I have done? I am at a loss here...

I was so cold I didn't think I was ever going to thaw out. It was feeeeezing outside of the pool area! I guess my bad for not bring clothes to change out of but I wouldn't have wanted to stay to change either! I had the seat heater on on the way home and the heater in the car cranked up. When we got home I undid buckles and zoomed in the house and practically dove into the bath with Asher and Greyson who both thought me "swimming" in the tub with them was the coolest thing ever. Grey has been really nervous in the tub, and he was great with me in there. His being scared of it might just be cured now.

I think this is his "smile for the camera!" face and we were just running with it. 

Tired of waiting for his turn. Megan was shoeing Owen away and then I start taking pictures... haha! So I invited Owen over too!

They were picking at first and they they got a bit more aggressive and we had to stop them! (For the record, they are not always little nekked boys, they are just usually playing in the mud and needing a bath! They had just gotten out, and the party was just getting started!

At this point he was just starting to get a little bored.

So he decided to play in it! 

Cheese! (Seriously with the three teeth. So funny.)

Cheese!

Asa looking longingly, he is so cute!

Grey is one *tear*

Ugh yea, so hi, yea... this is me, over here making questionable choices...

Poor Duncan's teacher just keeps sending home sign up sheet for different people that she needs to have come in and volunteer in her class. No one was apparently stepping up to the table! I had told her I have a million kids and she won't be able to get rid of me when the last one was in school but for now just doing things at home will have to work.

But ughhh... the sign up sheets... the guilt... 

So I finally sent her a note to let her know I can probably wrap my head around finding a sitter for just the two little ones to come in and teach once a month. Thinking it would just be a fun little art project that we get to do together. Easy enough right?

Yea no... it's like the Art curriculum. It's a binder full of all kinds of information that I actually have to TEACH and do a little LESSON for! Egads. What was I thinking? What did I get myself in to? It's not very organized as apparently I am supposed to give myself an at-home art lesson and then teach the kids? I did see something about reading "The Three Little Bears" in there somewhere. 

Can't we make paper flowers? Hearts? Snowflakes? No?

And, well... wrap your skull around it Shannon because my first lesson it next Friday. We will be learning how to hold scissors, make shapes and combine shapes to make objects. This is likely the easiest of my lessons as eventually we will be talking about specific artist's styles and creating artwork that demonstrates that style. 

I will keep you posted. 

She also send 40 workbooks home with me that I am supposed to tear the pages out of and reassemble in sheet protectors. Woohoo! Good times! Now this is the volunteer stuff I live for! Not teaching! What was I thinking? 

My darling baby turned one this week and all of a sudden I am having the familiar pangs of baby fever. I kid! I kid! Scared you though didn't I? Not yet... and we are still weighing build versus buy anyway. 

He is so stinking cute I can't even stand it and he just keeps getting more cute and more fun. But time could slow down a little for me, I would like to appreciate this, slowly. We are hoping to have a little cake smashing party for him, expect some fun pictures of that soon!

I took him to his one year well child check and he got four pokes! FOUR! Poor thing got the be the first in family to get the flu shot! I thought Ian was going to be number 2 (proximity to the office, nothing like making him regret wanting to go with me!) but they didn't have the larger doses in yet. Alas, we will haul ourselves BACK to the office for four more shots when the time comes.

As for stats. The peanut weighs 19lbs 11oz. He is just above the 50th percentile for height (see, that glory time of being in the 75th is short lived for my kids!) and for weight he is in the 10th percentile! Skinny! Weight for height is just above the 5th percentile. So funny. Cute little monkey.

I took Asher shopping the other day and Hispanic people are so funny around him and his white hair! They just have all kinds of comments and ask if my other kids have that light hair. I explained that he is the only one that light and these two are my only ones with blue eyes and she went on to say that he looks like an angel! She said he needs WINGS! Have you met him? Haha! Wings, that's so funny. My little ANGEL. Wings... 

Tomorrow I have my first Half and try as I might I cannot keep up a running blog! And now I have an art class to plan for, you understand right? So wish me luck and light rain and I will keep you posted on whether or not I live.

Poised for the camera attack!

He always does this. Always. A lot. It's so super cute. 

Just an afternoon snack at Casa de Monkeys. Why yes, we have cavities, why do you ask?

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This just cracked me up. I am not sure who commented that said they couldn't tell the boys apart but someone can't... I think it's so funny because most of the time I think they look nothing alike. But... here is Duncan and Asher. Looking quite a bit alike.

Duncan

Ian (yellow cotton candy on his forehead...)

Asher

Mason enjoying Dusty. This is what Dusty belongs at my house... Ahhh the memories! Mason was so excited you would have thought Dusty was actually real. 

Owen giving Asher a kiss

It was pre nap quiet time. These two are a hoot when they aren't fighting... well, they are still a hoot when fighting. (Good thing, because they are nearly always fighting!)

Three teeth on the bottom. No sign of the fourth and I am good with that. It's pretty stinking cute.

Asher is growing up too isn't he? Losing that baby face!

School is in session!

The first day of Kindergarten! Woot! 

First - We made it through TWO years of school already without having to go to school with toothpaste on our shirt. Yes, we may have changed once, and I know we forgot to do our hair maybe twice... but no toothpaste. Until the first day of Kindergarten! Dad is close to being black-listed from helping brush teeth in the morning! The first day! Here is to not many more... Is that weird I am bugged about those white drips? Gross though! 

I went early to get a handicap spot, there are only two, and we were there and ready when Mrs. Nelson came up to get Dylan. She hauled her away and I took Duncan and his groceries over to the line up. By groceries I mean his school supply list, we were one of only THREE people who brought them! Out of 22 kids! What? Boo! 

His supply list was:

Glue sticks

Snacks

Clorox wipes

Tissues

Paper Towels

Ziplock bags

Hand Sanitizer

Markers

Playdoh

This is my kind of class!!

We waited in line, and saw a few of his church friends that are in first grade but in the line next to us. Our class was the last class to go in (room 1 is closest to the door!) and we moseyed on in. Duncan found his name right away and sat in his seat. He immediately started playing with his name tag which I am sure didn't end even after he was reminded several time but you know...  The kids were all at the table and parents circled the room. Then Mrs. K basically told us to get the crap out and tomorrow stay outside. Awesome. 

When I went for pickup the D's and two of Dylan's aides were waiting outside for us. I asked if I was late but they told me they are trying to get their routine down and they were actually early. One of the aides actually buckled Dylan in the car while I talked to the other one about how cute she was. (Totally.) And then I talked to the one that buckled her in about how cute she was. They said she fell asleep at 10:45 and didn't get the "snack" that were were planning on because she was asleep. It's all good. 

Duncan said his first day was "Great!" Boo, hiss... yay?

Part of his homework is that we have to read to him 20 minutes every night. Dad usually reads a book to them before he puts them to bed but I am pretty sure it doesn't come near 20 minutes so we need to soldier up here. Dad has been out of town this week so what I have been doing is putting the little boys to bed and then going and spending some reading time with Duncan. He is so cute because he is starting to get the little nuances in books and he is able to sit through entire books like Rumplestiltskin and Jack and Beanstalk without getting antsy. That's pretty good for him! And fun for us. I think I am going to like this mandatory reading time!

Ian went to preschool on Wednesday and he loves it. I knew he would. We pull out Duncan's homework and he always asks where his is. I just picked up one of those preschool books from the store so we can give him homework too. 

On the way in we ran in to Charlie and Annabelle who we know from church. They are an adorable threesome! 

I talked to Mrs. Nelson today about the first week of school and she seemed really excited about Dylan and the things that they are doing. It was kind of fun to get the week report and have her be so happy about Dylan.

Oh yea, you totally read that right, the first week of school on my own! I think we are getting a good routine down though, as long as I do everything I can to prepare for morning the night before! I have quite the list of chores to do before I get to go to sleep!

My mom came over to give Grey his birthday present because we won't be there birthday Sunday. He wasn't sure what to think about everything but Asher thought it was great! we are still working on him sharing Greyson's toys! 

Duncan is making a treat this afternoon. It has a Laffy Taffy piece, a cinnamon disc, pieces of a candy cane, Ice, water, cinnamon and sugar and a sugar cube... so far. Ugh, this kid and his "inventions"! Added note, he totally froze is and then ate it all... though he didn't have a pleasant look on his face toward the end. Shudder.

Ian had a bit of, at the risk of TMI, "loose stool" the other day which I always call a "sick bum". So I said "you have a bit of a sick bum today, why?" and Ian said "because someone coughed on my bum!" Learning about germs. Kind of.

My BIG Kindergarteners!

"Why are you looking at me?!"

I am sure he had to be told a million times not to touch this name tag.

First day of preschool!

Seriously, this face.

He is so our kid!

The trio ready to take on the world!

We got this stone-faced look the entire time.

Getting edged out.

Well, I guess there is this funny face too...

Mom says no more walking. Grandma is rushing things.

My mom is reading a book called "Sometimes Even Moms are Wrong"

Whatever.

Lake Powell Pics

I totally kidnapped Meggie's camera to scour it for pics of my kiddos down at Lake Powell. She shoots, she scores! Here are a few of my little big boys one vacay without their mother. 

This is what tired looks like. 

This was apparently a fun activity. Uncle Kiko was catching these guys jumping into the water.

Waiting their turn

An attempt at brotherly love

Driving the boat! 

Ian playing with Mason

These are so cute, they just showcase my little Ian's personality, he is so loving toward littles and toward Dylan. What a sweetie.

The "Super Extreme Team"

This is what a family picture would look like if Ian belonged to Megan and Michael. 

This was a total Ian photo bomb - I cropped it down for your viewing pleasure.

I am sorry Eden, I don't know WHAT you were doing back there but this is just so cute of my boys I had to use it! 

More tired.