All about Alli

Monday was Alli's first dance recital. She performed "Twinkle, Twinkle". She was so excited and so darn cute. I know Mommy and the two Grandmas were crying. Not sure about Dad. We had to be at rehearsal at 5:30 and they ran through it twice, and she did great. When it came time for the show, she froze up a little, but she still did really good. Since it was summer session and not real formal, they let us take pictures and video and the costumes were very basic....they just got to wear PJs. She got to watch all the older dancers perform and now she can't wait to be able to dance like them. She is going back for the fall session next week and they are introducing tap along with the ballet she has been doing. Alli before the recital

Making her entrance on the stage

Her twinklers...Twinkle Twinkle Little Star


Echappe [ay-sha-PAY] Taking her bow

Right after the show...she really enjoyed it and Nana brought her flowers (Grandma gave her some book activity set too)

Our Tiny Dancer

Alli with her two Grandmas

Alli started preschool on Tuesday. She has been excited about it for months. Here she is eating breakfast.

Getting ready to leave for school

Her cool new Princess bookbag

She loved it! She goes on Tue/Thurs for 3 hrs in the morning. I miss her a little bit b/c she is such a helper, but it wasn't too bad b/c the first day Jim took a half day and then the second day, I had a speech therapist here to evaluate the babies (through First Steps).

The therapist did recommend speech therapy for the triplets. She said by age 2 (they are 21 mos) they should have a vocabulary of about 250 words. I think mine might have 30-40 words, and usually it is just repeating. She doesn't think they are just late talkers, b/c they make noises a lot, sort of whining, like 'eh eh eh' when they want something. She says they are trying to communicate, just don't know how to do it yet. So, although we know our children are very normal, we figured if they could use the help and its free, might as well take it. We feel it would make our lives a little easier if they could talk to us and tell us what they want rather than cry and scream all the time :) So, it will be 1.5 hrs a week (or 30mins a kid).

Here are a few more pics of all of the kids (oh, and Jim too ;)

Alli and Jim camping out watching Kung Fu Panda and eating popcorn in their tents

Playing in the house...they love this thing, but they fight over it all the time! Their latest is to crawl out the window on the right where Cassie and do a flip over the arm of the chair.

Eating on their new table....trying to get them out of their high chairs soon. They try to climb out of them all the time and they take up so much room in the kitchen.

Playing in the tent

She was so proud of her little fort she built around her :)

I thought this was funny....Alli was rocking the girls and they all looked so cute, so I wanted to take a picture. I was obviously in Jenna and Cassie's way while they were trying to watch TV.

Good Weekend!

I usually base how good my weekend was on how good the kids behave :) This weekend was great! We weren't crazy busy like usual and the kids were VERY good.

Friday night, we went to Trailhead to celebrate our friend Danielle's b-day. After dinner and a few drinks, me, Danielle, and Ann all went to Kohl's. I think we were there about 2 hrs! We all got lots of stuff though and we all got to use my 30% off coupon :)

Oh, earlier that day, I was working and very jealous of all my friends going to the pool, so I took a half vacation day and joined them! I love summer and its almost over :(

Saturday, we went to Pawnee to see Jim's family. The kids were all good the whole ride out there and also while we were there and on the ride home! It was a great trip! First time I could say that since we've brought all the kids out there. Its usually pretty hectic and either the ride there or back is bad. Papa and Daddy took Alli fishing. She was supposed to go out on her first boat ride, but the rope broke on the motor, so she just had to fish from the dock. But, she caught her first fish! She was sort of excited, but she had a lot more fun playing with the worms.
Today was Sneak and Peek at school. Alli got to meet her new preschool teacher and got to play in her classroom. (The triplets were good too!). We stayed probably about 45 mins. She is so excited to go to school. I know she is going to love it! Only one more week. The rest of the day, we didn't really do much. Just hung out at home and played with the kids. Jim cleaned some of the outside toys and brought them inside the living room to play. They all had a lot of fun with them. Oh, and we got 3 trees cut down in our backyard. Our fence plans were approved by our association, so I'm hoping I can get the permit tomorrow and get the fence up in the next week or two. And then comes the new swingset! We are getting there :)

Jim said maybe this house is too small for 4 kids!
Lined up for the slide....Jimmy and Jenna use the steps usually...Cassie just climbs it
They are fighting in the house. Jimmy likes to yell.

Fighting over the door.

Let's see, what's been going on around here......

Last Friday night we went to the horse races at Fairmont Park. It's one of the last weekends for races, so I was glad I got a chance to go out there. It's always my favorite place to go out in the summer, although I usually only get to go once or twice a year. We didn't win any money, but we drank a lot and had fun with friends!

Carrie, Me, and Cathy
Dawn, Nathan, Danielle, Janet, Me, Jim, Don, Derek
Janet, Dawn, and Nathan
Me, Mrs. Yount, Janet, and Dawn
Saturday, we went to a diaper shower for Ann and Tim. They got tons of diapers (and other gifts). Hopefully it will last them a few months when the new babies come. That will probably be soon...she is 34 1/2 weeks I think right now. I pretty much base how much fun we had on how good (or easy) the kids were. SO, we had a nice time b/c the kids were on good behavior :) It was a swim party too, but it rained all day, so we didn't get in the pool.

Sunday, I went to church and then went to the pool with Dawn for 3 1/2 hrs! It was soooo nice! It had been exactly a month since I'd been there. The pool is my FAVORITE summer spot, and I never get to go like I want. We are always either busy or the days we're not, it rains. Alli was with us for about an hour, until she almost drown b/c I took her wings off. The lifeguard had to jump in....I was so scared (and embarrassed). She was fine though.

On Tues, Parents as Teachers came over. Alli loves when her 'teacher' comes over to see her. I think they are all right on track with everything. She did mention that maybe we get Alli evaluated for speech therapy. There are some letters she says with a 'd'. Like, the word jar, she says more of dar. And her 'g' is kind of like a 'd' also. She says Grandma, Drandma, and great, she says dreat. Zebra sounds like dbra. So, anyway, I think we might take her to get evaluated. It's free through the school district and I think if she does get it, they would go to her preschool for 30 mins a week. She is so smart and I don't want her not to talk right. I think some speech/letters come with age, but I don't know when they should know which sounds, etc. So, I'm all for it if it makes Alli better :) We'll see how the evaluation goes.

Later that afternoon, my work friends came over to see the kids and we ate pizza. It was fun! At least for me...I get so bored on my days at home!

Today I went over to my friend Danielle's house. She was babysitting 9 kids today with a little help, and then I brought my 4 over to play. Alli played in the sprinkler with the other kids. She had a lot of fun.

Mia and AlliCassie
Matthew and Michael
Bubble time!
Cassie and Jimmy
Matthew
Wondering where Jenners is at in all the pics? Following me around wanting me to hold her! ha!


Cassie is getting one of her canine teeth on the bottom.....She looks so darn cute with her big smile. Jenna is still such a mommy's girl. She always wants me to hold her. She can be so sweet. Their hair is getting so long and pretty. Jimmy is such a BOY! He is always taking their toys or whatever they have away from them. When I tell him to give it back, he just stands there and grins or laughs or runs away. They are starting to say a few more words....their newest one is "SpongeBob". Although I hate that show, it sounds so cute when they say it. When the song comes on TV, they all start dancing. They love to dance with Alli to the Britany Spears CD. And for some strange reason, they dance to the song for my soap, Y&R.

Alli at dance class - she loves it. I can't wait to see how she does at her recital later this month.
Funny story about Alli....one day (about a month ago), she wanted to sit on my lap on the rocker and watch SpongeBob. I kept saying, No, I don't want to watch it. Lets watch my show. She kept repeating it, so I said, Alli, what am I supposed to do when you are watching your show sitting on top of me? She said so sweetly, "You can look out the window." haha! I thought it was so funny---she just expected me to look out the window for 30 mins while she watches her show :)

Busy weekend coming up!