Kiddos

I love my kids so much....as much as they fight and scream and are so loud, they also are the sweetest little things ever.  For example, yesterday, my stomach was sort of hurting...Alli said, "Mom, will a back massage make you feel better?"  Of course it would!  Or if not better, it would still feel good.  So, I laid on the couch for almost an hour while all 4 kids gave me a massage.

Alli is in 1st grade now and just turned 7 in October.  She is doing so good in school (like her Mommy always did--maybe Dad did too, but I don't know, so I'll take the credit since I'm writing this).  At recess, she has been doing this walking club.  They walk laps and they get a punch in their card for every lap, but after 20, they get a little charm for their necklace.  So, she showed me her first charm.  I let her know how good she did and asked if she was going to keep doing it and she came out and told me that she and another friend decided not to walk the next day and they were just going to cheer on her really good friend, so she can catch up to them and get a charm too. Then they could all walk together.  I was so proud of her for being so nice to her friends....I told my best friend that we probably would have been competing, not waiting for each other! haha! 

She played softball for the first time this spring/summer and now just finished up soccer last weekend.  Over the summer she also gave gymnastics a shot and took tennis lessons.  This kid loves everything!  She will be starting up dance again in the next few weeks and also she is excited to star Girl Scouts next week. 

Daddy took her to her first concert---JUSTIN BIEBER!!!!  She had so much fun :)

Jenna, Cassie, and Jimmy are in pre-K this year and are doing great.  They go 5 days a week, which is a little tough getting them all ready in the morning for Jim and I.  They are only going half days though.  Silly me...when I signed them up, I thought it was for only 3 days a week, so I was shocked when I found out it was 5 and I'm glad I didn't sign them up for full day.  That way I can spend a little bit more time with them before they go to kindergarten.  Everything is getting a lot easier now with them.  About 6 weeks ago, we got them big beds----they love them!  I even think they are sleeping better.  I wish they had a bigger room...they are all 3 still in the same room that fits nothing but their beds.  But, we are making do.  Jimmy picked out Super Mario bed stuff and the girls picked out Princess.  Now I have to figure out a color to paint their room that doesn't look obnoxious but matches it all :)

Today, Jenna told me that I never do anything fun with her. I know its not true, but then I started thinking....a lot of times, we take Alli to do something, or we take the triplets to do something.  But they don't get much one on one time.  I plan to start doing that with them more often.  Even if its just a trip to the store, I think they will enjoy it.  When I took the girls to soccer or something a few weeks ago, Jim took Jimmy for ice cream and it was supposed to be a secret.  When I got home, Jimmy kept acting so sweet towards me and just acting different.  Finally, after about 10 mins, I asked Jim what why he was acting so funny and he said, He is just dying to tell you his secret!  So, I picked him up to ask what it was...he wouldn't tell me at first until Jim told him it was okay to tell me.  He was so excited to tell me that he went to Dairy Queen.  For the next two weeks, he would say, don't tell Jenna and Cassie that I got ice cream with Dad.  He thought he was so sneaky :)

Jimmy still loves to cuddle, yet he is all boy.  He loves to squeeze my cheeks and say "CHUNKY" in his cute little voice.  He is also in the stage where he thinks it is just hilarious to wipe off my kisses!  He loves to play with Alli's Nintendo DS and iPod Touch and Dad's iPad.  He also loves puzzles and is so good at them (like Mommy!) He didn't play soccer but 5 mins.  He is pretty shy when it comes to being alone.  I guess the girls sort of have each other on their teams so they aren't as shy.  I thought having his cousins (Matt, Mike, Cory) on his team would help.  He tells me he will play when he is 5.  We shall see.  He wants to see Wreck-It Ralph for his birthday.  It was so cute when he was telling me in the car and I couldn't understand him and finally I did after the 5th time he told me.  Jimmy eats anything I make and always tries new things.  He isn't much of a sweets eater.

Lately, they have all (4) been playing so good together.  Alli doesn't lock her door anymore and lets the kids play with some of her toys and games.  She shows them how to play them---just a good big sister.  They all love to color and draw.  Jenna and Cassie are really getting into Barbies.

Cassie is such a character...she reminds us of Alli when she was about that age.  She loves to sing and make up songs and dance.  She cracks us up!  She is still a little timid in trying new things, but she does try them...just the last of the 3.  She is really good at her letters and spelling.  She loves to play the Nintendo DS, iPod Touch, and iPad.  Every night, before bed, she wants to sing me a song.  And she always wants to know where I'm going to be when she wakes up....will I be on the couch or in bed.  She always gets up at least once and comes out of her room for us to yell at her before she goes to sleep.  Oh, and her latest...she'll love me later for this...her new thing is that she loves to FART!  So gross---that must be from her Dad!!!  We've all been taking showers now instead of baths and when I'm drying her off and still stuck in the shower, she'll say, "Hey Mom, watch this!" or "Hey, Mom, I have a surprise for you." and out comes a big fart.....I usually just push her out wet at that point!  She has been doing great at soccer!  At first, she just sort of ran along with the others, but about mid-season, she really stepped up her game and is really aggressive!  I love to watch them play.

Jenna is my too smart for her own good child ;)  Whenever I just want to yell at her for her smart mouth, sometimes its hard for me to do it, because....I realize she gets that from me!  She is very smart, but also very know it all....its so cute sometimes b/c I think she feels the need to explain EVERYTHING!  When you tell her something or when she hears something, you can see the wheels spinning in her head, grasping the idea, and understanding and/or formulating her next statement/question.  She is still so tiny---which makes it so fun to watch her play soccer.  She is soooo aggressive.  She scored two goals already this year.  I always hear people in the crowd saying, "Look at #12, she is so little and so good, always getting the ball, etc"  I just sit and smile, being all proud of her.  That soccer skill does not come from me ;)  Jenna and Cassie are getting ready to start back up in dance when soccer ends in two weeks.  Jenna always wants to hang out with Alli and the older kids (cousins).  I always feel bad for her when they don't let her.  She is my best sleeper and always has been.  Goes right to sleep and is always the last one to wake up.  She always wakes up with a smile on her face and happy in the morning.  But, she can also be stubborn and crabby sometimes.  She still loves to put her blankie over her nose....and now her cousin is doing it too.  So cute!  She loves to find the corners of her blankets and find the 'hard parts' - she will suck on it a little bit, so I guess when the spit dries, it gets hard. 

If anyone is still with me....probably my MOM :) - Mom--you are their favorite babysitter---they love when you pick them up from school and take them to McDonald's to play.  Thanks so much for babysitting for them for so long and I promise somehow that I'll make it up to you for the past few years.  I know it can be hard!  Just a few more months and they will be in school all day :)  Love you!

I promise to add pictures on the next post!  I am so far behind.  The writing is more for myself to remember :)

Chrissy

This was from early 2011....I must have drafted it up and never got back to add pictures or whatever.  It's old and not much, but it made me smile :)

Jimmy was playing with the See N' Say the other day and it said "Can you find the goat?" and in his cute little voice, he said back "No, I can't" and went on playing.

In the same 5 mins, I was eating Teddy Grahams with Jenna and they were stuck in my teeth, so I had my finger in my mouth getting them out, and Jenna said, "Mommy, why are you eating your fingers off?"

Jimmy is the first one to wake up every morning and he is so sweet in the morning. He likes to cuddle and snuggle and hug us while he lays in bed with us. Of course, this only last for about 30-45 mins, then he turns into his honery self :)

Jenna is usually the first to sleep every night and the last to wake up in the morning. The extra sleep must really help her though b/c she wakes up happy and smiling every morning :)

America's Funniest Home Videos

Well, seems I have slacked again with updating this and my good friend and coworker Shirley let me know about it today.  I know I say it all the time, but I'm going to try harder.  I really do think about it 3-4 times a week, but then life takes over...or sometimes just Facebook ;)  Anyway, I found this post that I guess I started on May 24th and got as far as the title.  Maybe because we had to take the link off of YouTube when my husband because a celebrity on America's Funniest Home Videos :)  He just found a link last night---although not great - someone was recording their TV.  But, you can see what an idiot he truly is - just teasing---its pretty funny!  It starts at 2:20.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=pKkVr1EegwI&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DpKkVr1EegwI

Intro to T-Ball and Softball

 The kids started t-ball and softball a few weeks ago.  The triplets played through the community center...it was just 6 sessions and they had it set up in stations, so they would do each of the 5 stations every night they were there (hitting, running the bases, fielding, throwing, etc).  I think they liked it, but it was sort of long (almost 2 hrs) and they I don't think they could concentrate on it for too long.  

They sure were filthy after their first session.  When I was giving Jimmy a bath, I asked him what his favorite part of t-ball was....did you like hitting the ball, throwing the ball, catching the ball, etc.  He said with a big smile,  "Playing in the dirt!"  haha!  I could have figured that out on my own, I guess.  

As the sessions went on though, not sure how much Jimmy liked it.  Jenna and Cassie seemed to like it a lot though.  They were having a free league after the 6 sessions ended, but we were so busy the 3 weeks, so we thought we will wait until next year.  It was just a little too hectic and I honestly don't think the kids would go through a whole game.  At the last practice, they wanted to end it and our coach said, I have two more batters...Cassie and Jimmy.  So, Cassie hit the ball off the tee....then they asked for Jimmy....wondering where he was at?  I pointed over to the other field where Jimmy sat, throwing dirt in his hair :)  That's my JIMMY!

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting patiently for practice for the triplets to be over 

They looked so cute sitting there :)

 As for Allison, she is playing softball for the first time this year.  Jim checked a box that he could help out with coaching on the sign-up sheet...well, I'm guessing he is the only one that checked it b/c a lady called him and wanted him to go to a meeting that night.  Jim was pretty shocked...then he had to go to two more training classes.  But, he is Allison's coach and he LOVES it, and so does Alli!  She is doing really well.  The only bummer part about it is there are 17 girls on the team, and most of them show up to all of the games, so they usually only get one (MAYBE 2 chances to bat), which they love.  But all the girls on the team are doing pretty good---way better than I expected to see them play this little :)

You can see the ball coming in at the top right of the picture....

Nice hit!  I wasn't fast enough to catch the ball, but she did smack it

Easter 2012

Easter was a lot of fun this year....totally crept up on  us, like every year! I never made it to the mall to get a bunny picture, but this one at the egg hunt turned out so much cuter anyway :)

The kids got so many eggs---it really is a very nice egg hunt!

We met up with Matt, Mike, Danny, & Chris :)

Well, this was the only picture I have of coloring eggs b/c my camera battery went dead.

Easter morning, we went to church.  The kids were really good and looked so cute in their new outfits.  Then we went to Mom's house for brunch and for the Easter Egg Hunt.  Mom always puts good candy and money in the eggs, so they love to collect all of their loot :)


 

 

 
 



 
We had to leave Mom's house pretty early b/c Alli was starting to break out in hives from the dog.  The kids played with some of their new toys from the Easter Bunny - bubbles, sidewalk chalk, etc.  Then I took them to the park for a little bit to play.  It was a nice relaxing day :)

Here I was just playing around with the camera....Alli was either in her room or fell asleep.

Jim went to the Kentucky Derby this weekend.  I've been trying to make the kids have a good time without missing him too much.  It's been very hectic with school for all of them, May Crowning at Sacred Heart for the triplets, dance, softball, and getting the fence washed and stained.  Oh, and how can I forget..the hose that drains from the A/C got knocked away from the drain, so the basement carpet was soaked!  So that took a lot of clean up, and setting up fans to dry it out, etc.  Now I still have to steam clean it b/c it stained the carpet.  Lots of running around and although we always run around, I don't always have to take all of them with me.  Ann helped me out a bit by going to the gym with me and getting dinner last night.  Then today when I had to go to Home Depot for more stain, she drove with me so she could sit in the car with the kids.  Anyway, its been very hectic this morning/afternoon, but since we've been home, I'm just folding laundry and the kids played with the neighbors for the last 4 hrs.  Oh, and they didn't nap....so today has just not been great.

Alli just made my night...the neighbors were leaving to get Taco Bell and she said, "Well, my mom is the greatest b/c she took us to get sno cones last night!"  I'm glad something so small as getting sno cones made her think I was the best Mom in the world.  Love that kid!  I think she wants Dad to be gone more often....we had Bread Co yesterday, sno cones, today we had Burger King and pizza.

I need to get some more stuff at Home Depot, so Mom is going to come over for a few to watch the kids.

Can't wait for Jim to get back.  Hope he is having a good time!  So now its my turn for a girls weekend--who's up for one??  Any suggestions??

Bed Time Routines

I wanted to jot these down, because as much as they annoy me every night b/c it takes sooooo long to get Jenna, Jimmy, and Cassie in bed, their little routines are really sweet and sometimes even a little funny--just not at the time :)

Alli is so easy...she doesn't take a nap, and she is always at school or playing and having fun, she gets tired and tells us usually between 8-9 that she is tired and she wants to go to sleep. That is, if she doesn't fall asleep watching tv before we realize we haven't seen her in a while. But, we say our prayers...here is the one she made up and always says -- God is great, God is good, when we are up, and when we are sleeping. -- Then we pray for whatever special requests we have for others, ourselves, and give thanks for all the good stuff that happened that day. We give her a kiss and hug and we don't see her until the morning.

I wish the triplets were that easy!!! Besides getting them into their pajamas, making them go potty, putting a diaper on Cassie (just in case), and getting them into their room....here is the rest of it -

Jimmy - he is the easiest of the three. Once I get him into bed, we just tell him we love him, give him kiss and hug and he's good.

Jimmy doesn't usually sing and when he does, he starts adding in the pees and poopies and poopheads, etc.


Cassie - her stomach (or her legs, or her head, or her shoulders, or her hand, etc, etc, etc) ALWAYS hurts as soon as she gets into bed. More recently, she also always needs a tissue b/c her nose is running. She gives me a kiss and a hug and then she has to sing me a song. It's either "You Are My Sunshine", "Tomorrow" (from Annie), a song from the Doodlebops, usually "Ukelele" , or "Miss Lucy had a Baby" - the last song, she likes to sing really, really slow!

This was Cassie about 2 weeks ago.



Jenna - she has to have the corner of her 'feet blankie' from St. John's up to her nose so she can either smell it or breathe through it or do whatever she does. She has been doing that since she was a baby. Even though I'm not sure exactly what she's doing, she looks so cute doing it. When she was a baby, she would use anything she can find, sometimes the sleeve of her shirt. So, then we have to put the blanket over her, but it has to be PERFECTLY lined up on her, with no creases, no folds. One time she was even yelling at me b/c she saw a bump underneath the blanket. I was like, "Jenna---those are your feet under the blanket!" Then its time for kisses and hugs. It goes like this -

Jenna - "First I give you a kiss" - (so, I have to sit there and let her kiss me, and Heaven forbid I accidentally pucker my lips because then I have to start all over).

"Now I give you a hug"

"Now you give me a kiss" (so she lays there like dead weight)

"Now you give me a hug" I give her a hug. "My head was a little turned for that hug, but that's okay" and she cracks up laughing.

"Now we both give kisses"

"Now we both give hugs"

Then...."I will sing you a fast song - Miss Lucy is fast. No, no its not. I'll sing "Sunshine" She proceeds with the song and I tell them Good Night, I love you, Stay in Bed or we'll turn the TV off. Turn off the light and shut the door.

Jenna - about 2 weeks ago.


Cassie and Jenna (Jimmy sometimes, but he's pretty good) get out of bed and start playing with toys about 2 seconds after we walk out of the room. TV is usually off after about 5 mins. At least one of them is out of bed to tell us that "someone is waking them up and they can't sleep"....not like they were sleeping in 2 mins anyway! Or maybe their belly hurts, etc. Or, "Mommy, I don't want you to leave when I'm sleeping."

I think I'm just going to start saying a prayer with them and tell them we can't do the other stuff anymore! It's a chore just to put them to bed :)

Night at the Races - Mom's 71st Birthday

We always love to go to the Night at the Races out in Wentzville every year. Always so much fun. This year, we were big fat losers!!! We even took to betting on rock/paper/scissors b/c we couldn't win any races! Not even on the side bets! Jim, by the way, was not good at the R/P/S game...but I was :)

We also celebrate my Mom's birthday at that time b/c its always right around it. I put in all of these pictures b/c I think our family is so funny how they all jump into pictures (NOTE--It's not ONLY ME :)