Friday, August 31, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
All good things must come to an end.
As summer winds down, we are doing the best to enjoy what time we have left. This week has been filled with a couple swimming trips (one including a water park which the kids LOVED!), a few sleepovers for the older two, and lots of preparation for the start of school. I am currently enjoying a cup a coffee while writing this post, remembering that soon my mornings won't be quite so laid back, as they will be filled with lunch making and preschool runs.
Soon, we will pack up the car and head up north for a few days of rest and relaxation (well, as much of that as possible considering we do have three kids...) on the beach. We will swim, tube, eat some good food, and enjoy each other's company. A perfect way to spend the holiday weekend!
Waterpark fun!
I am always amazed at how much the kid's love the water.
We skipped naps in order to stay longer at the waterpark; Charlotte was a bit tuckered out by late afternoon!
Alec and Will with the kangaroo that a high school kid gave them after winning it from the "giant claw machine."
Little did they know Charlotte's favorite animal is a kangaroo. Fortunately, the boys were okay with her keeping the kangaroo. (Which she has been "hopping" all over the house!)
Katherine's new 1st grade teacher sent her an email, to which Katherine had to immediately send a response. Katherine told me after reading it, "Mom, I think 1st grade is going to be a good year for me."
*********
On a completely unrelated note, I read a blog post yesterday that really inspired me and I wanted to share it. http://momastery.com/blog/
I will be having "the talk" with my children before they start 4K and 1st grade next week. I want nothing more than to raise compassionate children; I believe that this is something that needs to be talked about frequently with kids. As a former middle school teacher, I spent lots of time talking to my students about this topic, but sometimes forget that it is never too early to broach the topic with my own kids.
*********
Happy holiday weekend everyone! I look forward to sharing vacation and first day of school pictures next week!
Soon, we will pack up the car and head up north for a few days of rest and relaxation (well, as much of that as possible considering we do have three kids...) on the beach. We will swim, tube, eat some good food, and enjoy each other's company. A perfect way to spend the holiday weekend!
Waterpark fun!
I am always amazed at how much the kid's love the water.
We skipped naps in order to stay longer at the waterpark; Charlotte was a bit tuckered out by late afternoon!
Alec and Will with the kangaroo that a high school kid gave them after winning it from the "giant claw machine."
Little did they know Charlotte's favorite animal is a kangaroo. Fortunately, the boys were okay with her keeping the kangaroo. (Which she has been "hopping" all over the house!)
Katherine's new 1st grade teacher sent her an email, to which Katherine had to immediately send a response. Katherine told me after reading it, "Mom, I think 1st grade is going to be a good year for me."
*********
On a completely unrelated note, I read a blog post yesterday that really inspired me and I wanted to share it. http://momastery.com/blog/
I will be having "the talk" with my children before they start 4K and 1st grade next week. I want nothing more than to raise compassionate children; I believe that this is something that needs to be talked about frequently with kids. As a former middle school teacher, I spent lots of time talking to my students about this topic, but sometimes forget that it is never too early to broach the topic with my own kids.
*********
Happy holiday weekend everyone! I look forward to sharing vacation and first day of school pictures next week!
Friday, August 24, 2012
I need advice.
Anyone have any good tips on how to teach Katherine to tie her shoes? We've been trying for the past couple weeks with little success, and a ton of frustration for both of us.
Katherine is used to things being easy for her, and she gets frustrated when they aren't. We need help!
Charlotte's solution? Just wear crocs.
Katherine is used to things being easy for her, and she gets frustrated when they aren't. We need help!
Charlotte's solution? Just wear crocs.
Friday, August 17, 2012
An overdue update.
My blog has been short on written words this summer. I have taken kind of a break from writing; blogging was beginning to feel like a job to me, and when I started to become stressed about not posting a new entry on a regular basis, I knew I needed to step back. I am sure some inspiration for future entries will return, especially with the routine of fall and the kids headed back to school just around the corner, but until I find that, I did want to post a quick update.
We have had a busy summer. Katherine & Will are now finished with all their summer activities; summer school, swimming lessons, zoo classes, soccer camp, and tee-ball are all done for the season. The both really enjoyed all their activities and are already talking about what they want to do next summer. In between all of the scheduled activities we have been busy catching up with friends, visiting local parks, and checking out many of the local zoos/fairs. We have two weeks left until school starts, and the culmination of our summer with be a trip to northern WI with family; something we are all looking forward to.
You may be wondering where Charlotte fits into all of this?! Right smack in the middle. Charlotte has grown so much over the past few months, and I don't mean physically. She has definitely left any bit of babyhood behind and is becoming quite the little lady. Charlotte's only scheduled activities of the summer were her weekly therapies, which were all pushed into one morning a week in order to help with the ease of scheduling for the other two kiddos (the sacrifices of the youngest child!). At first, I was concerned that an hour and 45 minutes of therapy would be too much for her in one morning, but Charlotte did amazing. She has made huge gains lately and continues to love going to therapy. The rest of her time was spent watching many of her sister and brother's activities, playing with friends, and figuring out new ways to cause trouble. She is a very flexible, go with the flow kid and enjoys being in the middle of all the activity.
At some point in the near future I will post a couple updated videos of Charlotte. Her communication skills have really blossomed; her signing has exploded, to the point that she is now putting 2-3 signs together (today she pointed the remote at the tv and signed "baby signing time go!"). She is quite vocal and while she is still only speaking a few words ("sit!"and "dog" being her favorites), she is always chattering.
With fall right around the corner, the start of school means that Missy will be headed to back to work as well. I love when she is off for the summer; we seamlessly shuffle our kids back and forth between houses in order to help each other out with childcare. We talk numerous times per day on the phone, and usually spend many mornings per week hanging out on the patio drinking coffee or at park while the kids play. Tomorrow is her birthday, and I want to wish one of the most important people in mine, and my children's lives, a very happy, happy birthday. We all love you.
An update post wouldn't be complete without a couple pictures....
Big-eyed beauty.
Play date with friends.
Afternoon rest time.
Happy weekend! Thanks for sticking with me and checking in even though the writing has been sparse!
We have had a busy summer. Katherine & Will are now finished with all their summer activities; summer school, swimming lessons, zoo classes, soccer camp, and tee-ball are all done for the season. The both really enjoyed all their activities and are already talking about what they want to do next summer. In between all of the scheduled activities we have been busy catching up with friends, visiting local parks, and checking out many of the local zoos/fairs. We have two weeks left until school starts, and the culmination of our summer with be a trip to northern WI with family; something we are all looking forward to.
You may be wondering where Charlotte fits into all of this?! Right smack in the middle. Charlotte has grown so much over the past few months, and I don't mean physically. She has definitely left any bit of babyhood behind and is becoming quite the little lady. Charlotte's only scheduled activities of the summer were her weekly therapies, which were all pushed into one morning a week in order to help with the ease of scheduling for the other two kiddos (the sacrifices of the youngest child!). At first, I was concerned that an hour and 45 minutes of therapy would be too much for her in one morning, but Charlotte did amazing. She has made huge gains lately and continues to love going to therapy. The rest of her time was spent watching many of her sister and brother's activities, playing with friends, and figuring out new ways to cause trouble. She is a very flexible, go with the flow kid and enjoys being in the middle of all the activity.
At some point in the near future I will post a couple updated videos of Charlotte. Her communication skills have really blossomed; her signing has exploded, to the point that she is now putting 2-3 signs together (today she pointed the remote at the tv and signed "baby signing time go!"). She is quite vocal and while she is still only speaking a few words ("sit!"and "dog" being her favorites), she is always chattering.
With fall right around the corner, the start of school means that Missy will be headed to back to work as well. I love when she is off for the summer; we seamlessly shuffle our kids back and forth between houses in order to help each other out with childcare. We talk numerous times per day on the phone, and usually spend many mornings per week hanging out on the patio drinking coffee or at park while the kids play. Tomorrow is her birthday, and I want to wish one of the most important people in mine, and my children's lives, a very happy, happy birthday. We all love you.
An update post wouldn't be complete without a couple pictures....
Big-eyed beauty.
Play date with friends.
Afternoon rest time.
Happy weekend! Thanks for sticking with me and checking in even though the writing has been sparse!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
State Fair Fun
We decided to try the fair again; after our experience at the county fair, we were a bit reluctant to give it a try, but we talked it over with the kids and set some ground rules: no games and no rides. I am happy to report, things went much better, and all three kids loved the fair this time around. Charlotte squealed each time we walked into a new animal barn, the highlight of Will's morning was the root beer flavored milk (umm...gross?), and Katherine was as happy as a clam walking out with a giant "birthday cake" ice cream cone. I deem this trip a success. I forgot the camera, but here are a few iPhone pics.
Happy mid-week!
Happy mid-week!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Friday night beer and ice cream.
Last Friday night, Katherine was invited to a movie night at a friend's house, and in an attempt to cheer Will up after realizing his big sis was leaving for a night of fun, we told him he could pick where we went for dinner. His choice? It didn't matter as long as he could have beer and ice cream. Will loves root beer. He doesn't get it very often, but when he does, he guzzles it down in no time. He also has decided that it is quicker just to say "beer" instead of "root beer." You should see the looks from the cashier at Noodles when my 4 year-old asked for a beer.
Anyway, Will was in heaven. Beer and ice cream, it's really all you need.
Afterwards we finished with a quick walk around the pet store. Charlotte thought that was pretty neat; mostly because I didn't confine her to the cart!
Enjoy your weekend! Have a little beer and ice cream...
Anyway, Will was in heaven. Beer and ice cream, it's really all you need.
Afterwards we finished with a quick walk around the pet store. Charlotte thought that was pretty neat; mostly because I didn't confine her to the cart!
Enjoy your weekend! Have a little beer and ice cream...
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
How is it August already?
Summer seems to be flying by. Sadly, it seems that I am averaging one blog post a week! I could give a laundry list of excuses, however, you have heard them all and all I can say is, hopefully August will be different? If anything, I will make an attempt to post at least a new picture a few times a week!
One of the neatest things I have witnessed lately is a huge increase in purposeful play between Charlotte and her older siblings. I often catch Katherine & Will playing "babies" with Charlotte, doing puzzles, showing her how to put little imaginext men in rocket ships, or including her in a game of hide-and-seek (though I did have to intervene during this one; Charlotte was a bit freaked when they shut the door to the art closet while she was in it!). It is really fun to see.
One of the neatest things I have witnessed lately is a huge increase in purposeful play between Charlotte and her older siblings. I often catch Katherine & Will playing "babies" with Charlotte, doing puzzles, showing her how to put little imaginext men in rocket ships, or including her in a game of hide-and-seek (though I did have to intervene during this one; Charlotte was a bit freaked when they shut the door to the art closet while she was in it!). It is really fun to see.
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