Mom...Mom...Mom...

I truly wish there was a way to count how many times a day I hear that... but I am way too busy to keep track of one more thing. I think we may be at the height of "mom..." with a 6, 4 and 2 year old in the house - they all can talk and yet they are all still at a stage of needing my help (with most everything), telling on their siblings & the dog, asking questions, and feeling like they need to giving me a running commentary on just about everything that happens all day long every day. At the moments (that seem to come quite often as of late) when I can't put 2 thoughts together and when I feel like I just may hurt someone if I hear "Mom..." ONE more time I try to remember all the years in the past that I couldn't wait to hear that word and the years to come in the future where I will long to hear it again. It is but a breif (albeit exhausting) moment in time.

Pretty Rico

Lexi thought Rico needed some "pretties" too. That dog will put up with most anything.
Whenever we say, "bummer" Lexi repeats us only its, "Oh, bumper!"


When she likes something you did and wants you to repeat it (like a zerbert, throwing her in the air, singing song, etc..) she say, "please, try again"

The other day I went looking for her saying, "Lexi, what are you doing?" She says, "Nothing.... I better clean up." (because of course she was into something) and now after many times a day asking her that question I just walk into the room where she is and she immediately says, "nothing"

The Pinewood Derby is Coming..

Since we are dealing with the skills of a 1st grader, we went the route that would enable him to actually be more involved than having dad do all the work- we bought the car already made at Hobby Lobby and Josh was anxious to start on it. He spent quite a bit of time the other night sanding and sanding. Then he will paint, and put on the wheels and weights. We have until April 1st for the big derby day.

His brother REALLY wanted to help too. The day before he had asked Josh if he could help paint it and Josh agreed as long as he didn't do any "scribble scrabble" on it. So first words out of Zach's mouth the next morning (before he could even focus his eyes or walk a straight line) were, "can we paint Josh's car now?"

Zach's Homework

I just recently brought out a tracing book we have (well, after I was asked by his preschool teacher if we work with him at home and we hadn't been). He has been very excited to do his "homework".

Lexi and Lizzy wanted to help with the homework, but Zach didn't want their help.

He's doing pretty well, but we need to keep working a bit. Of course Lexi gets a hold of the pen and holds it perfectly without any kind of direction. Man, are we seeing many differences with boys and girls!

Tonight I told Zach I was making him corn on the cob- I wish I would have had the video camera going. You would have thought I just told him he was going to Disneyland and could eat cotton candy and ice cream all day long. He was SOOOOO excited, jumping up and down and yelling to his sister and brother that we get corn on the cob!!! They were not as enthused:)

Some more Zachisms:

After he and Josh had wrestled me and pinned me down the other day he says, "One cannot, but two CAN!!"

Lexi was doing her incessant babbling the other day and I hear Zach say, "Woo, woo (that's his version of LuLu) I can't think when you're talking." More babbling from Lexi and then Zach saying, "WOO,WOO you're making my ideas go away!"

Josh wondered if we had guacamole and I told him no because we didn't have any avocados. Zach said, "maybe we could get one at King Soopers" I didn't know he even knew that name and when I asked him how he knew about King Soopers he said, "cause the TV told me everything."

Tonsilitis & Dentists

Today Lexi had an appt. at the dr.'s office. I made this appt weeks ago for her 2 yr. old well-baby check. She awoke at 3am a not-so-well baby. I guess it was fortunate that we already had this 8:15am appt. They did a test for strep throat and influenza that were both negative, but said she probably has tonsilitis- very red and swollen tonsils. She has a fever and has been sleeping and clinging more, but doing ok (Kung Fu helps some), until the motrin starts to wear off that is. Hopefully in a few days she will be doing much better. (How did she know I was going to try and start potty training this weekend??) We did get her 2 yr. old height and weight- 31 lbs. & 36 in.-both in the 90th percentile. She's gotta keep up with the brothers! (Zach was 30 lbs, 36in. & Josh was 33 lbs, 36in.) I guess that means they are all going to be 6 ft. tall! You double their height at 2, right?! Once again, I will be the shortest in the family:)

And on to dental drama. Let me start by saying I would rather do ANYTHING else than go to the dentist- cut my stomach open a 4th time please, just don't make me go to the dentist! That may be one of the reasons for putting it off for a couple years so deciding to be adult about it I made an appointment for myself and for all 3 kids. Let me tell you of my nightmare- so far I have been to the dentist 6 times in the last 3 weeks, we have 4 more scheduled and probably 2 more after that. Kill me now. Not only do I end up crying and more than a bit anxious when I have to go for myself, but it is difficult to put on a happy face and convince the kids that this is all fine and good and no problem for them. (and after the very bad experience for both boys 6 mo. ago- it's not an easy sell.) I sit and hold their hand while they are in the chair, say reassuring things, while trying to keep my anxiety under control, and whenever they are not looking I avert my eyes from the tools and such to some happier view in the room. I don't think I will survive the next 10 years of taking 4 of us to the dentist multiple times a year/6mo. period. Really. Honestly, I don't know how. (to say nothing of how much this is costing us- even with insurance!)

Chuck E. Cheese's

Where a kid can be a kid...

and a mom can spend the hour trying to keep an eye on 3 kids going different directions and inbetween be looking at her watch wondering if we can go home yet....

Of course Zach found his favorite- Dino Dash

On the last token of the day Josh hit the jackpot

103 tickets!!!

And they are all worn out (notice Lexi's shoe next to her and not on her foot- she's still doing that!)

Zachisms 20

This morning in the car he said when he is an adult he wants to be a baseballer, a truck man or a dirt man. Then asked me if I wanted to be a dirt man too and started talking about how we could do it together. Lexi started yelling, "I adult, I adult!"

Rico was annoying us in the kitchen as we ate lunch so Zach said he was "the boss of dogs" and kept trying to get Rico out of the kitchen. Rico wasn't listening to the boss.

Rico was sniffing Zach and in his way as he was trying to get his shoes and jacket on so he turned to him and said rather gruffly, "Go sniff somebody your own size!"

This morning Lexi put her arm around me and said, "you good boy, mom":)

Valentine's Day

A chilly day with fog and ice on the trees, so we stayed inside all day.

with goodies...

Balloon games

Which Rico wanted to play too

A treasure hunt to find their gifts (one being going to Chuck E. Cheese on Monday since Josh is off school that day- Zach & Lexi hope we don't actually see Chuck E.- he's scary!)

Josh read most of the clues himself!

Lexi just followed them around

The boys got a spiderman game

Lexi a Cinderella movie- hoping that takes the place of Kung Fu Panda for awhile, not sure if that is possible yet though- her love for Kung Fu runs deep:)

The boys love the new game, and what boy wouldn't- you try to get powers and fight the green goblin!

2 year old cuteness

The toughest choice of the day- chocolate covered strawberry or melted brie on a baguette?

Josh & Lexi had a little dance jam to the Kung Fu soundtrack, "everybody was kung fu fight ing...."

And ending with a fire, another round of spiderman and a movie.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Pre-Valentine Activities

Zach takes cookies to his class party
Lexi gives him a big hug after school

awwww, so sweet- also Lexi's idea

all the goodies from friends at school

An evening event at Zach's school (no siblings allowed and it was Zach's special day with Dave so they went)

The activities of a preschooler...

We had to make a valentine mailbox at home. Josh decorated it himself- yellow and green. It was killing me not to put some pink or red or hearts on it, but I guess that's a guy's valentine box for ya.

I cannot get this guy to be serious in photos lately- he loves to make a silly face (and then check it out on the digital camera)

Checking out the loot from Josh's valentine party at school.

Lexi quickly grabbed up a lollipop- one of her favorites!