Sickness and the Firehouse

We've been a little sick around here...

...if you couldn't tell by looking at Brody, Brynn and Jack. Needless to say things haven't been incredibly exciting and we haven't been able to get out and do much. But after a few doctors visits (our personal daddy doctor had to leave a few days ago to go back to work helping other people), lots and lots of trips to the store for medication, and plenty of rest, we decided we HAD to get out of the house today. So Uncle Clay called the fire department and asked them if we could stop by with our houseload. And they were WONDERFUL to us!

The kids all LOVED it and they made it fun and educational for us adults too!


Tyler was actually a little nervous when we got there and insisted on holding my hand, and then Grampa's hand, most of the time. That, however, did not stop him from blurting out things like, "hey guys, i have a small firetruck at my home! not big like yours" and "your ladder go high to the top of the building, save people" and "hey guys! your bone (phone) your bone (which was ringing)" and when they said it was ok cause someone else would get it he informed them that "that not ok". And believe it or not one of the firefighters actually understood most of what he was saying to them!

It was a nice field trip and I wish we wouldn't have had to get sick this past week because we could have been doing lots of more fun things just like this. Oh well...its been a nice little reminder of how grateful we should be for our health!

Christmas Jammies

Here are the cousins all lined up in this years Christmas Jammies...Jack, Tyler, Jonathan, Dylan, Brynn, David, Brody, Madison, Jared
on Christmas Eve

Whoopsie-Do

A few days ago Brynn and Madison sat down and wrote Santa, asking him for twin baby dolls. Well, Santa can't always deliver (as Tyler learned but we won't go into that right now) but Grandma's usually pull through. And they didn't know it, but under the tree were already two special presents with their names on it. Yep, she knew before they did, exactly what they needed and this Christmas morning they got to open twin baby dolls. Grandma had gotten them Baby Alive...she talks, eats, drinks, and consequently poops and pees. They quickly named their twin babies Whoopsie Do. Aren't they just the picture of cuteness.......Well their preciousness quickly wore off into a Whoopsie Do kind of day. Let me just list for you how precious they really were today:

• We were constantly finding major pee pee spills all over the house because they kept 'forgetting' to put diapers on their babies - forgetting or running out...motherhood is hard I'll admit but come on!
• They used practically an entire can of Air Freshner on themselves and their baby dolls as hairspray?!?!
• They were caught in another locked bathroom while doing what we can only assume was meant as bathing their babies...not sure what they were trying to clean up exactly.
• They were found under the piano with Uncle Steven's computer and somehow manged to change his security passwords and delete the files from his iTunes.
• They took several gifts that were not to be opened yet (such as an Easy Bake Oven and Build A Bear Workshop kit), and opened them, spread their contents and placed the evidence in the trash.
• They used random people's toothbrushes and chapstick.
• They helped themselves to about a gazillion gumballs in between eating other things.
• And at the end of this very long and busy day they were put in the shower and told not to open any of the bottles in there...but they forgot and needed to make bubbles.

Oh, and these are only the things we manged to find out about...

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

TJ's Birthday

Sunday night Tyler, Brynn, and Jack cuddled in a chair (they were so cute squished together by choice when there was a big empty couch right next to them) watching Christmas shows while awaiting the arrival of 'cousins'.
But cousins were taking too long and so they ended up waiting at the windows...
And they finally arrived and they couldn't have been more excited. We've been busy playing with toys, bundling up and going outside, seeing The Princess and the Frog, playing with more toys, having nerf gun fights, last minute Christmas shopping, eating and oh, did I mention playing??
Today we decided to pack everyone up and go take a group shot of the kids with Santa - only to be told once we got there that we would not be allowed to use our own personal cameras, but that we would have to purchase their extremely overpriced photo packages if we wanted the shot. Bah Humbug to them! So we at least let the kids that wanted to, go talk with him. And I stood in the distance and tried to snap a few illegal photos that didn't really turn out...what was the mean little worker going to do...take my camera?!?

And it was TJ's birthday today. So he needed a Christmas drum cake...
And he had some eager helpers...

Who he let help him blow out his candles...

Gotta love having a full house!...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TJ!

Naughty List

I happen to know one little boy who better watch out, 'cause Santa Claus is coming to town, and his name may be appearing on the naughty list. The first incident of unauthorized present unwrapping was slightly humorous and almost understandable since we hadn't defined any clear rules on the few presents that were under the tree. But then we did. And I thought he understood. However, yesterday morning I woke up to hear shouts of joy and Tyler exclaiming, "moy makas!"...translation "More Markers"!!!! I rushed downstairs to see that he had woken up, found the bag of wrapped christmas presents under the sink in the laundry room, had sorted all the ones with "T"'s on them, and opened half of them. Not cool. So he got in trouble and got more lectures on obedience, Christmas, patience, etc. Periodically we have been going over the rules with him and he talks like he understands.
Well we got to Gramma's house last night. He's had fun playing with Jack. But they were being a little too quiet earlier and then we found them...and their mess...

Incident #3 No doubt Tyler was a bad influence on Jack. They had gone to town on the presents under the tree. And they got sent to time out for a long time....

...they appeared ashamed (Tyler on the stairs, Jack on his bed). I'm hoping this time he learned his lesson. Katy and I had a lot of rewrapping to do. But Brody was enjoying the mess...

Here's hoping we can make it 5 more days! Or maybe we should just move the presents...it appears to be too big of a temptation for a 3 year old.

Kindergarten Holiday Program

Brynn had her holiday program this afternoon. She did so good and wasn't even shy. However, I wished I could have sat back and enjoyed it more but I had two little rascals with me. Dylan has had a very rough week - he's spent most of it crying/screaming - and so it took everything in me just to keep him calm and satisfied so I didn't have to leave the gym. Here are a couple video clips...

Tyler was very proud of his sister. He was so excited to be at her school and see her on the stage.
When it was over she took him by the hand and they found the cafeteria and snacks.
Happy Holidays and Good Bye's to Mrs. Panacopoulos!

Brynn was very excited to get to wear her jammies to school today. However, her teacher informed me that she had to keep reminding Brynn to zip them back up so other people couldn't see her underwears...geez...I should have know this would be a problem. Every night, after getting into bed, she strips her jammies off, kicks off the covers, and has to have the fan on. Crazy girl.

Santa's Helper

The Residency Program had their Christmas Party this afternoon. Only Santa couldn't make it so he sent one of his helpers -- Brynn could tell because of his clothes and his HO HO HO.
After our many encounters Dylan still said no thanks...

Then tonight while PJ and I were all too quitely finishing up our dinner we heard a little commotion in the living room. We had gotten a fun package the other night from Grandpa Wilson and apparently the kids couldn't contain their excitement anymore...
Please notice the scissors in my daughters hands. What were they thinking?! Although I can't really blame them - I wanted to open the presents too. So I guess THANK YOU Grandpa Wilson! They loved all of it!

Here are the little rascals, who must have been tired from all their business, alseep while trying to watch the Polar Express before bed...

Any Resemblance?

Breakfast with Santa!

Throughout the season, as we have had the opportunity to see Santa, Brynn would very matter of factly tell me that it wasn't the real Santa. That the real Santa was too busy and that it was only his helper. And I of course had to agree with her. Well yesterday morning the Med Group was having a Breakfast with Santa.
When I told the kids what we would be doing Brynn asked if the real Santa was going to be there this time, to which I told her I didn't know if he would be able to make it because it was getting closer to Christmas. So when we walked in and saw Santa I looked over at her and she looked back at me and said, "Yep, Mom! It's the real one today!"

They were in heaven, it was a great time! Not only did Santa and Mrs. Claus mingle with us, but they also had crafts and donuts and cookies and hot chocolate. What more could you ask for!?!

Dylan apparently still doesn't like the Jolly Old Man...
...so he got handed off to Mrs. Claus... ...and he liked her quite well.

Well I know I said what more could you ask for...but there was more...

...Santa had a special, personalized gift for each of them...not just a candy cane either...books!!

We had asked Tyler what he was going to tell Santa he wanted for Christmas and he kept saying, "the biggest tractor!!" So when he actually got handed a present he was thrilled. We rushed to the sidelines to open it. And when he saw the books he got a puzzled look and said, "Hey, that's not fair, where my tractor? My biggest tractor? I go try again." And with that he dropped the books and stood up to go get back in line. Oops...we explained that it wasn't Christmas just yet so he'd have to wait and see what Santa would leave him under the tree (guess Santa better be finding 'the biggest tractor').

15 Months

Dylan is 15 months old today. Yesterday at his doctors appointment he weighed 26 lbs 12 oz which is 75th-90th % for weight. And he measured 33 inches long which is 90th % for height. And then his head was off the charts at about 19 3/4 inches.

He got tooth #8 (finally!) right after he turned one, but none since. This month he seems to have grown very attached to his pacifiers. And no, he is still not walking but can at least take steps. However, just this week he has decided to be brave and start to walk from one object to another but he is still unsteady and unbalanced. At least now he is trying and there is a light in this tunnel. Here is a video of his mandatory nightly practice time:

First Snowfall

Before we moved from Arizona to Illinois, Brynn would tell people that asked her, that she was leaving the desert and going to the snow. So you can only imagine her dissapointment when we got here 6 months ago and it was hot and sunny and summery. It finally sank it what we had been trying to explain to her...It may be summer all the time in the desert, but it wasn't winter all the time in the midwest.

Well this morning started very early with Brynn being unable to contain her excitement that there was snow outside. I figured she probably looked out and saw frost all over everything (and of course wouldn't know the difference). But sure enough she was right, there was snow on the ground - not much mind you, but enough to delight her. I felt bad that she was sleeping during her first snowfall. Had I known what was going on outside I would have woken her up to take it all in.

It has gotten COLD here. And this girl refused to wear socks or her winter coat (opting for a tiny jacket). I figured she'd give in when she realized it was freezing. But no such luck. I've still been waiting to get a call from the school about how I don't dress my daughter appropriately. I didn't know what to do. I should have been praying harder for snow. Yep, she went to school with socks AND her winter coat today. Unfortunately it was all gone by the time she stepped off the bus. Hopefully there is more, much more, to come!

My little angel...

...or not...caught doing something he knows he not suppose to...