Growing up

Today is Little Miss Sassy Pants kindergarten graduation picture day. I cannot believe that she is almost finished with kindergarten. It doesn't matter that we have only had these kids for a year. It still makes me sad that my little girl is growing up so fast. She was so excited to have her picture taken today at school. I hope I like them or I will be taking her to do them on my own.... Here is a picture that I took this morning right before school...

 

Isn't she pretty? Everyone says that she looks like me. Crazy how that works. We are so lucky to have not just little girl in our lives but her brother and sister as well. We love you so much Nadia.

Spring Cleaning

So this story is just too funny not share...

 

Last night we told the girls to go to bed at 8. We went down tucked them in around 8:15 or so. By 9 I was back down there telling them to be quiet and to get back in bed. I also told them that I would be cleaning their room while they were at school on Monday (today). Well, apparently, Nadia took that as I was going to take toys away (because the day before (Saturday) we cleaned out the toy box and got rid of some things that were either broken or little McDonald toys) and she took all of her toys and dumped them on the living room floor. This is what Joe found at 10 last night...

 

 

I was laughing so hard. I am not sure what was going through their cute little minds, but somewhere they thought that if they cleaned it out, I wouldn't have to. Yes we made them clean it back up and they quickly got back in bed.

 

Today Carson was dealing with an infection in his eyes so I did not go to work. I took him to the doctor and they said that it is just the lingering effects from his cold that has been hanging on and they have given us some eye drops.

 

So true to my word, since I did not go to work, I cleaned the girls room. I wish I would have taken a better before picture before I started moving their room around, but this is what I have when I thought about taking a picture.

 

 

If you can picture it, all of this stuff was all over the floor and beds along with all of the various blankets, dirty clothes and coats.

 

 

After cleaning the girls room and before remaking their beds.

 

 



Weekend Re-load

Yesterday we went to get the stuff for our fence. We are so excited to get that thing up so the kids can go out and play more often. I have to be out there every time they go out right now since we don't have a fence, so they don't get to go out much. This summer is going to be so nice to just say, go outside and play. I need to fold a batch of laundry then I will come out and play with you. Or whatever it is that I am needing to do at the time.

On Saturday we decided at the last minute to take the kids to the rock show before going to my work party. Nadia was in heaven. She loves jewelry and there was a lot of it. Raven and Carson didn't seem all that interested, which is fine, I wasn't all that interested either. At the rock show they had a dinosaur that was walking around and teasing the kids. They all liked that.

After going to the rock show, we headed home and got the kids packed to go stay at grammy's and papa's for the night. This is their first sleepover since we got them 11 months ago. The girls were very excited, but Carson, not so much to be spending the night away from mom and dad. (I think it is a good thing he was scared. It means that he is bonding with us). After dropping the kids off to my parents for the night, Joe and I headed to my work party for H&R Block. We had a good time. My friend Gina and I did anyway.

Once the party was over, Joe and I headed to my dad's hotel for a night away. Thanks dad for getting us room. (Didn't get a picture. Sorry!)

Build A Bear

The kids got build a bears for Christmas and we finally found the time to get them stuffed. A rare moment when the kids were out of school and I was not working happened today, so we set out to the mall....after picking up Grammy that is...

 

Grammy's moose's name is:Skeeter

Carson's puppy's name is: Boston (cause it looks like aunt Britt's dog)

Nadia's Bear's name is: Twinkle

Raven's Bear's name is: Fluffy

 

We did some shopping. I was able to get Raven a skirt for school next year. Since they will be going to a Charter School, it has to be certain colors and they only had the right size for Raven (getting them one size bigger than they wear now). I will have to keep an eye out for one for Nadia. I was also able to go to Aeropostale (my new addiction). I got me a couple of short sleeve shirts for the summer time.

 

We also went to In-n-Out for lunch. And then finally we headed off to Krispy Cream. My parents got the kids a free coupon for a doughnut for Valentines and they expired today so we had to use them quick.

 

Now it is off to work for me...BOO!!!



New Technique

I am not sure why I never thought to use this technique with Carson, but it came to my attention that it just might work. We have used this technique on Raven and Nadia and it has worked like a charm, but for some reason never used it on Carson. Anyway, so the idea is to tell the child what you want,then you ask them "What did I ask you to do?", they answer, then you say, "So what are you going to do right now?" (You ask once, and then make them repeat it twice) so for example...and this really happened tonight...

ME:   Carson, we are about to get in the car, I need you to get in, put your seat belt on and we are putting the child safety lock on. You are not going to complain about it because we want you to be safe.

ME:   Carson, what did I ask you to do?

Carson: To get in my booster seat and not complain when you lock my seat belt because you want me to be safe.

ME: So what are you going to do?

Carson: Get in my seat and not complain about the seat belt.

ME: Great job, buddy, thank you. (He did not complain the entire way home)

Another example:

ME: Carson I need you to go get in bed and stay there.

ME: What did I ask you to do?

Carson: Get in bed and stay there.

ME: So what are you going to do?

Carson: Get in bed and stay there.

ME: Thanks buddy. That is exactly what I asked you to do. (And then he got in his bed)

Who would have thought it would work on a 4 year old? I guess we didn't cause we never thought to try it out on him.

Real Life Happenings

Raven has been struggling with her thoughts and feelings lately and being able to voice them. I am glad that she is finally getting them out, but man oh man, I don't think I was prepared for what would come out once it did. The anger, the confusion, and the hurt that has come out and to find the words of comfort and understanding that I need to show her has been difficult at times. I know that she is not really mad at us, but at the situation that she is now forced to call life.

In therapy, Raven's therapist gave her a book to write her feelings in with our help, so it is not just being used as a doodle book. Yesterday we actually sat down and talked about what she was wanting to put in the book and without giving up her privacy, we wrote it in her book. The hope is that one day when she is older, she will look back and read these things and come to some understanding as to why things are the way they are. This book is supposed to be used to write the good, the bad, and the ugly. Joe and I are also able to write about things that have been happening in this book. So today, I took the time to respond to her comment that we wrote yesterday and then I also took the time to write her a personal letter from me explaining how much we love her and are very blessed to have her in our lives.

Yesterday we had some one on one time and I let her paint my toe nails and this was the result...not bad....

 

 

We have had a lot of sickness at our house the past month. I took them all to the doctor a couple of days ago and then last night Nadia started to complain of an ear ache. She did not go to bed until 11 last night because of it, but she was fine when she got up this morning so I sent her to school. She has not complained since. This next picture is how Nadia sleeps when she is snuggled up with mommy.

 



Misc. Things

 

Tonight Nadia and cousin Ryleigh made a necklace and crown with a race track.

 

 

Yesterday Joe's friend (and our neighbor)'s son got married. We have known them our entire marriage. Joe has known them for even longer. Anyway, the neighbor's brother was our best man at our wedding, but moved away awhile back. He was here for his nephew's wedding and brought his family with him. This was the 2nd time since we got the kids that they have been here and the kids have hit it off. Our kids call them Uncle Marc and Auntie. I wish they lived closer so our kids could play more often. Anyway, at the reception, their oldest daughter asked if she could come play for a little bit. We of course said yes. They had a good time.

 

Watching Wreck it Ralph, playing Pop the Pig and coloring.

 

Auntie, Raven and Carson.

 

Raven loves helping me in the kitchen.

 

On Friday the girls wanted their hair curly for school, so because I didn't have to work that morning, I took the time to do it for them. These girls are so pretty and we love them to pieces.

 

Love that this boy is becoming more snugly! Especially with me. This happened more than once in a week.

 

Last weekend, the kids and I had a movie night while dad was helping family with project.

 

Back in Feb. Carson got a "Big Boy Booster Seat" He is one proud little boy. And I am one happy momma. It is so much easier to strap him into the car. (NEED A VAN)