Merry Christmas!

The kids had a blast making Christmas cookies. I put them in and took them out of the oven, they did everything else. They mixed them, cut them, and decorated them. They worked together and did not fight, it was nice. Saige decorated each one of hers different. Rylan just through some frosting on and went straight to the sprinkles, lots and lots of sprinkles. Unfortunately when all was said and done they were inedible. I'm sure you probably could have eaten them but the frosting was gross. But they had a good time anyway, that's all that counts. Hope everyone has a great Christmas!

It's almost Christmas!

The last couple weeks have been a blur but we are ready. Tomorrow I'm taking Saige Christmas shopping. I take her to the dollar store and let her pick out something for everyone all by herself. Some people end up with something neat and others not so much. Two years ago my dad got a blow up punching bag with a hole in it, lol. Then we are going to start on cookies. That should be a blast, lol. She has been busy making homemade cards and writing everything all by herself this week and she still isn't done. I am so proud of her.

Last week our Daisy troop decorated cookies for a bake sale. Saige had a great time, all the girls did and we did well on the sale too. This week the troop had a Christmas party. Next month we start selling cookies. Hopefully we will earn enough for a really fun trip. She is loving Girl Scouts (and I don't mind it either) we finally got her uniform smock. She has been putting it on after school and wearing it ever since, she's so proud and it's so cute.

Today was the Kindergarten concert. It was really good, everyone did really well. It was all the Kindergarten kids and they all had a small part to do. Her class all had these really cute Rudolph teeshirts made from their hand and foot prints. They made them last week for the field trip to the play Rudolph. Robby was able to go in late and got to go, Saige was so thrilled to have her daddy there and Rylan behaved through the whole thing.

All in all, It was a good day. I let them stay up and watch Frosty and they both went to bed without a hassle. Rylan seems to be getting excited about Santa. I know he doesn't quite get it yet but everyone keeps asking him if Santa is coming and he see how excited his sister is and it seems to be contagious. On a funny note, it was almost a perfect day. Robby has spent days digging out his remote controlled cars and the remotes for them. He even cleaned the basement, that's how much effort he put in to finding them. He finally found the remote for the big ones this morning for him and Rylan. When we got home from the concert and I was getting dinner ready, Saige came out and asked me for her scissors to cut a string. I thought nothing of it and told her where they were- she came back and said don't worry mom I got those strings off, with the antennas off the cars and remotes in her hand. He probably isn't going to find it as funny as I did but she WAS trying to help.

Winter already?

I blinked and it's almost Christmas. We've been busy. I am almost done shopping and Yesterday we all took the day to do Christmas stuff. We got our tree, Saige picked it out... it's interesting. We decorated the house and took the kids to see Lights on the Lake. It was fun. Rylan LOVES Christmas lights so he had a blast. IT was pretty cool, I tried to get pictures but they didn't turn out so well. It's 2 miles of lights. Then we came home a decorated the tree, This is my favorite part. Getting out all the ornaments and remembering where they came from. The kids did most of it so there are 3 or 4 branches on the bottom with 20 ornaments, lol.
We finally got snow today that has stuck around anyway. Saige got off the bus begging to play. Got them changed and they played until dark. It was just starting to accumulate here but it was good sticky snow. She went out and immediately wailed Rylan with the worlds tiniest snowball. I thought for sure he was going to ball but he laughed and tried to get her back. Mostly he just stuck his glove in the snow and threw a couple flakes but they had fun. He fell over backwards twice trying to catch them with his tongue like Saige.

Monster

I just shaved big bald patches in my pretty- not meant to be shaved- dog. Robby broke out the spray foam insulation this morning to go around the new door, he took it outside and I thought nothing of it. But, apparently before he went out he did a bottom corner on the inside. So while I obliviously looked on, Rylan drove his truck through it and then down the head and back of poor Lola. Lola noticed something wasn't right and proceeded to jump up and run around all the furniture trying to rub it off her back. This stuff is impossible to remove when wet. Same for surfaces that can not be scraped with a razor blade when it dries. I got most of it off the sofa and chairs, Rylan's hands are still sticky but most of it's gone. Getting him to sit still so I can scrape it off is not happening. The blanket is ruined, the truck is in the trash and the dog was hopeless. It stuck her fur together so every time she moved it pulled at her so I had no choice. I broke out the clippers and shaved off chunks. It's freezing out so I didn't want to take off anymore than necessary.

Halloween

Halloween was a lot of fun. I was sick but I made it through, lol. The weather was great, the rain stopped just in time and it was warm. They were fine with just their costumes over their clothes and I didn't have to try to fit them over coats, lol. I was a bit nervous about Rylan, he had been refusing to even try on his costume. However when it came time to get dressed for trick or treating he said "okay" and put it right on. He figured it out right away. He followed Saige to the first house, it was amazingly decorated and everyone was in costume... he liked that. I got him to open his bag and the woman dropped some candy in and his eyes just lit up and he started pulling me to the next house. He loved it! After an hour Saige was tired and wanted to go home, so we headed back and hit some more houses on the way with Rylan leading the way. He never did say trick or treat but he did say "tank you" to everyone. We saw some really neat costumes, all in all, a great night.

misc

Halloween post is coming next. I finally got around to getting the pictures off the camera, what an adventure that was. For some reason they would not load on my laptop, where all my pictures are. They haven't been deleting either, I always click to delete after uploading but it seems that has not actually worked, there were over 600, but they were not visible on the camera? Oh well, anyway I figured it out and here's some misc pictures.

This is my favorite page from Saige's October journal from school. She is "writing" all the time, she comes home from school and writes about her day. She is doing really good at recognizing the sounds from words she doesn't know. It says One firetruck is red, lol. It is so much fun to see her so excited by reading and writing.

Saturday was our last soccer game of the season, the kids played great and we had nice warm weather and sunshine for it. I finally remembered to have Robby bring the camera and here she is about to score. I am amazed at how much they all improved in the last few months. Their biggest problem is crowding each other and taking the ball. They were good, most games we ended up switching kids from the other team or telling them they had to pass it 5 times before making a goal so the other teams had a chance. I was very lucky to have such a great well behaved and eager team. A great assistant coach sure didn't hurt either.


I just thought those two were cute. Last is Saige's Halloween Kitty she made at Build A Bear last month.

It's almost here!

Halloween that is. I love Halloween, it is no doubt my favorite holiday. I like other holidays, I mean who doesn't like Christmas, but Halloween is special. It's all fun and little to no stress to go along with it. My MIL is awesome and has helped tremendously, I have never had to worry about costumes. I have always loved Halloween, from trick or treating as a kid, to the fun (that I will never admit too, lol) as a teenager. I think the being mom stage is the most fun. I get the best of trick or treating, I am official candy inspector and sometimes that means collecting all my favorites to "test" I love seeing all the little kids all dressed up and the sheer joy on their faces. I am room mom this year so I get to go to school and see all of the little ones too. I'm not sure who is more excited for the Kindergarten party, me or Saige.

This year Saige is going to be a pretty witch, it's what she wanted. There is a cow costume that is just adorable that would fit her now, I was hoping she would want it but was pretty insistent she wanted to be a witch. Rylan doesn't care, or get a say. I figure when he can say what he wants we will worry about it. He is going to be Eeyore, the one Saige wore at 2. I have to say, and I may be a bit biased but he is a damn cute Eeyore with his big blue eyes and floppy ears. I've been trying relentlessly for weeks to get him to say trick or treat, no go. He wont even try. It's his first year out of the stroller so I hope he catches on quick.

Other than his refusal to say trick or treat his speech is still improving every day. He even talks in sentences now and then. Not huge sentences or anything but things like "Mom, me let kitty out" I'll take it! New words everyday and he is starting to repeat (uh oh, lol) things we say. Every time we read a book with animals I sit there and go through with him cow... what does a cow say? Of course I always end up answering myself, by now it's just habit I don't even wait. Today was different. For the first time ever I got answers while we did the animal puzzle. I asked what the cow says and he said MOOOOO I almost fell over in shock. Not holding my breath or anything I said what does the duck say, he says quack quack! I got an answer for the dog, kitty, tiger, monkey, and frog. I asked him what the horse says and he goes NO MOO. THAT was great! Moo was the only word I have heard from him, that is what he calls cows and horses. So he finally gets they are not the same. I was shocked, I kinda still am, he is sick too.

Rob is feeling much better. Rylan seems to have a milder version of what Rob had, low grade fever and a raspy voice with a nasty, nasty cough. I've called the doctor, they don't want to see us. Told me to treat him at home unless he has trouble breathing, then take him to the ER, call them back if we can't control his fever. They said it sounds like flu symptoms but maybe it's not and if he doesn't have it, chances are he will if we bring him in. That is reassuring, lol. I figured as much that is why I haven't called them, so far whatever we have had has been manageable and I have not been in a big hurry to expose them to anything worse while they are already feeling yucky. I think the worst has past, his voice sounds better and the coughing is lessening. He never acted sick, in fact he has been in a rather good mood. He is an odd little bugger. Knock on wood but I seem to have skipped the worst of it. I felt awful the day before yesterday, today I just feel yucky and lazy. Nothing bad just no energy at all, I feel drained. It was rainy and gloomy today so it was a good day to hang out and lazy.

On another note, Rylan has been working hard on finding new more creative ways to be naughty. Our kitchen is coming along, Rob just finished the frame for a new cabinet. This afternoon Rylan was paying in there and I let him, I figured what could he hurt. He was having a good time and being good and quiet. Despite his lack of speech, quiet is a rare treat from him. Than he got out of the cabinet and his mouth looked funny and there was something on his clothes. So I got up and he had peanut butter smeared all over his face. I look in the cabinet and sure enough there is the half empty jar of peanut butter and a spoon. He was quietly hiding away eating large quantities of peanut butter. Unfortunately it was natural peanut butter and instead of stirring it he just poured the oil out (and all over himself) and got to business. I also keep finding him munching on milk bones. Yup, dog biscuits. I have no idea where he has them stashed, he fed the entire box to the dogs a couple days ago, or so I thought, but three times since I have found him behind the chair sucking away at a milkbone. I am amazed the dogs haven't figured out where he is hiding them either. I know they wont hurt him but yuck, they can't taste good, can they?

sick

It's that time of year. Everyone is sick. Saige left for school last Friday fine and came home with a 102.8 fever. Why this ALWAYS happens on a weekend just as the doctors office closes is beyond me, but we managed. Saturday was more of the same with some vomiting thrown in for good measure. Sunday she was fine. Monday she was coughing so bad we kept her home from school for two days to be sure. She still has a cough but that is to be expected. The dr says it's her asthma but when she gets sick the cough lingers for weeks.

Now Rob and RJ have it. I hate when any of them are sick but he (Rob) is the worst. He turns into a giant whining lump on my couch. I hope it's almost gone, they do seem to be feeling a bit better. Unfortunately this means my turn is coming. I don't want it. Most likely Rylan and I will get it at the same time, which is totally unfair.

Wish me luck

Good News

I'm not sure where it went but summer is gone and the cold is settling in :( I'm not ready yet, there is too much to get done and not enough time to do it. But, my kitchen is coming along nicely, I'll post picture soon.

Rylan had his 6 month follow up hearing evaluation this morning. It was completely normal. Woohoo. His tubes are still in and doing the job. I'm a bit nervous about after they fall out, but I am holding out hope that he will okay and not need anymore. They were pleased that he is making progress with his speech and said he doesn't need to come back again unless the ENT wants him tested after the tubes are gone. He HAS been making great strides in the speech department, it gets better by the day. His personality is becoming a lot more pleasant too, and I love it.

Saige is still loving school, she read me Green Eggs and Ham the other night. I am so excited that she is starting to read. I LOVE to read and she seems to as well. I hope that continues. We start Daisy scouts next week. I'm going to be assistant troop leader. I have no idea what I am getting myself into but I know it will be fun, so we are both looking forward to that. We still have a few weeks of soccer left... and in case I haven't mentioned it, it's cold out there, lol. But, something seems to have clicked in Saige. She scored her first goal this season two weeks ago... once she did she was unstoppable. She got 5 more goals that game and another this past weekend. The hesitancy is completely gone and she is GOOD! She is very sly about it too, not the slightest bit aggressive, but she maneuvers in and steals the ball quite politely, it's cute. Rylan loves to kick the ball around too, he sure can kick for a little guy. He has two more years before he can play but he wants too.

quick update

It's been a busy couple weeks. Saige is loving school, she loves her teacher and her old and new friends. Some of them are real and some are fake, lol. The fake ones are kids that have the same names as some of her old friends so she refers to the old ones as "the real such and such" It's funny and no amount of explaining will help, I have tried. It's very weird having her gone all day long, she gets off the bus at 4. But, it's kind of nice at the same time. I miss her, but Rylan goes for a nap when Robby leaves for work and I get a couple hours of me time. THAT is very nice :) It took me a while to get use to it. So my fingers are crossed that the little man does not decide to give up his nap anytime soon.

We had Open House at school tonight. She was SO excited to go. We had to walk through twice, the first trip was her practically dragging me through the whole school to see everything pointing and running to the next thing before I could even see what she was pointing at. Then we went back through and I got to check out some of her projects and a get a closer look at stuff. I can't really remember Kindergarten but I sure wish I could... it had to have been fun. Yesterday in the car totally out of the blue Saige asked if she could be a scout. So I signed her up to be a Daisy scout tonight. That should be a lot of fun as well.

Rylan spent the first couple days of school wandering around sad and lost. All he said was "where's Saigey"... over and over again, all day long. By the second week he was loving the one on one with mom and dad. He has been so good during the day (knock on wood) of course the fighting starts the second she steps off the bus. It's really great and a huge relief to see more of the good side of Rylan. He is still talking more and more by the day. He isn't quite where he should be yet but he is getting there. His speech is getting a lot clearer as well so not only is he talking, we understand him a lot better too.

My kitchen is coming along nicely. Actually sort of faster than I expected. I know it's going to be a long time before it's done but I'm getting excited. We now have two finished base cabinets with self closing drawers and doors and the third on is underway. I love my hubby, he has done such a great job on them. I think they are nicer than most we looked at, not to mention thousands and thousands of dollars cheaper. Plus they are truly custom built just for me :)

Last week our water was out for whatever reason and it blew a pipe under the sink when it came back on.... and it ran full blast all night long. We heard it turn back on in bed at 12:10 am, at no time did it occur to me that I should go check anything, and Rob didn't say anything so I rolled over and went to bed. Saige appeared at 7:40 and said dad someone left the water on and it's all over the floor and pouring out. Thankfully that wasn't a new cabinet under the sink yet, but it went through the floor and rained into the basement for 7 1/2 hours. I suppose it's a good thing that I have made Robby move so many things around that there were holes in the floor from old pipes and wires so most of it went to the basement. It was pooled in the kitchen and soaked through the drywall and under the walls into the bathroom but most of it went down through the floor. The laminate floor in the kitchen is a bit warped but dried up a lot better than I thought it would. The basement is finally dry but everything that wasn't in plastic totes got ruined. Some holiday decorations, books, and ALL off my important paperwork, like tax returns and such that I had filed in boxes all shot. AT least an extra 10 loads of laundry of clothes I had stored down there. Fortunately it could have been a lot worse. Unfortunately we have public water so the bill will be extremely painful when it shows.

First Day of Kindergarten

As I expected, last nights anxiety was gone and Saige was excited about school this morning. The new outfit I had set out for her was way too big. I made her try on everything about a week ago... except that one outfit. She looks like a turtle in her giant book bag. It is much lighter than it looks. She was packed to the max with a pillow and small blanket for quiet time and a package of napkins for snack time.

It's over

Summer is gone and I have no idea where it went. There were suppose to be way more lounging around relaxing days than constant on the go days. Saige has been really excited for school to start... right up until bedtime tonight. Out of no where, while I was tucking her in she went from telling me how she was going to see her best friend again and make me stuff, to throwing her arms around me and crying. Begging me not to make her go. She will miss me, she will miss the dog, she will even miss her baby brother. What if I need help with Rylan? Who is going to watch daddy (lol). If we love her why do we want her to go away all day? At that point I was crying too. I finally convinced her that if she went and made an effort to have a good time we would make a toad house for the garden when she gets home. I really hope she was just overtired and is ready to go in the morning. I KNOW that she will be fine once she is there, she loves school and I KNOW she will love Kindergarten and seeing her friends again. But, it sure wont be easy on me to send her off if she still doesn't want to go :(

One kid showed up for soccer practice tonight. We are already down to 4 on the team, I knew one wasn't coming but the other was a no show as well. No phone call, nothing. Thankfully the one that did show up was the only one who hasn't played before but it was hard trying to prep them for a game of 3 on 3 with only two players. I have to say, for never playing before, he is pretty good. Saige is doing really well, a definite improvement from the Spring. I hope she keeps it up for the games. We had fun though, when they weren't starring at the sky looking for airplanes and flying saucers. Next weekend should be lots of fun, lol.

Rylan has been talking up a storm this week! I am so happy, he has been adding words left and right. I knew it would start happening eventually, but knowing that doesn't really make you worry any less. For a kid who doesn't talk much, he sure is bossy. He talks in complete sentences when he is telling you what to do, lol. He was so excited to go to bed tonight, he knows the school bus is coming in the morning for Saigey. He loves school buses, tractors, motorcycles, anything on wheels. I'm hoping if nothing else that will cheer her up and get her going- she'll get to go on the bus and he can't. He had a blast yesterday at my MILs riding the dune buggies with daddy. So much so, that after the belt broke on the one, and the big kids weren't giving up the other, he got daddy to spend the entire afternoon pushing him around on it. I fear the boy is going to be a master manipulator.

The Ben Franklin Institute

If I had to chose my favorite from Philadelphia, this place would be it. I love Science museums and this was the ultimate one. We almost skipped it. We thought the Academy of Natural Sciences would be more fun and interesting. But when we got there it was closed for the day and this place was right next to it so we said WTH and went here instead. We did end up going back the next day to see the dinosaurs but it was nothing compared to the Franklin. There was SO much to do and see. The first thing the kids did was walk through the giant heart, taking the path of blood through it. They had this really cool thing that took your picture and aged you. You could see what you would look like at any age. The line was so long we never got to it but we did watch others for a while. I'm not sure I would want to know what I will look like in 40 years, I prefer to let that little horror be a surprise, lol. I wont bore you with every detail that would take pages but I will subject you to just a few of the pictures ;)





This was a real train, Robby and Rylan rode it (it only goes a few feet) while the rest of us watched a movie in the planetarium.

That is Robby, Vin, and Kayden building pipes to get everyone wet. This was the section just for little kids. They had a ship with different activities, caves, a maze of mirrors. I dare say the big kids (aka men) found it far more fun than the little ones did.





There were paper helicopters flying everywhere, Rylan didn't know what to do, lol.




The sports part was really neat, the kids surfed, played games, tested how fast they throw different balls, and raced wheelchairs. Rylan LOVED the race cars, in fact he sat in them the entire time and screamed bloody murder when we made him leave. I took him straight to the bathroom- None of which were equipped with a baby changing area :( to change him and let him calm down. He was still screaming so loudly and awfully, I had people opening the door to be sure I wasn't pulling his skin off of him in there. Other than that he was really good for the 4 days so I wont complain to much.

Philadelphia part 2 The Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest zoo in the US, and by far the best I have been to. We were there for hours and still didn't see everything, we missed quite a bit including the elephants (but we have those here at home) and the zebras.





Saige and Kayden on a camel ride.



The rabbit village





I had never seen an ant eater before and had no idea they were this large.


No, we were not crazy enough to go up in this thing.





The hippos were the best part, I had never seen these in person either. I could have watched them all day they are such neat creatures.