Children's Museum

Jason took a day off and we took Jonathan and Samantha to the Children's Museum of Play. I was surprised because Jonathan was very excited about going...well not about the almost 2 hour ride. Once we got there, they actually started to have fun. Here are some pictures of what they did....

A cats eye view..spring is in the air...somewhere!

If you look very closely, you can see two fluffy birds at the bottom of the picture. This bush is right outside our kitchen window. The other day, I say one of the cats sitting on the windowsill with her tail flipping around. I couldn't figure out what she was looking at. Then I finally noticed....Yummy!

Training children

A while back I was reading a friends blog about how she was having a hard time with obedience, etc. I finally felt as if I was not alone in the matter! Sometimes it doesn't seem to matter how many times you mention something, the kids just don't care! My biggest struggle right now is Samantha....she doesn't want to be potty trained nor does she want to pick up her toys. Jonathan I usually don't have a problem with. Last Friday or Saturday, I got tired of listening t myself saying to pick up the toys, so I told them that if they wanted new stuff then they would need to prove that they deserved new stuff. And Jon better hurry because his birthday is coming! I thought I would post a pictur of what the play area looked like. Poor Nick can't walk anywhere! And it has been worse.


I guess since they couldn't play very well in the play area they migrated to the living room, took all Nick's toy's out of the truck and continued to play. The rule is supposed to be that to get another toy out you must put the toy you are playing with away. Good concept!


I laid down for a much needed rest with the feeling of defeat and much work ahead of me! I think I laid on the couch for about 3 hours! I just didn't care anymore! In the end, Jon managed to pick his stuff up and tried to encourage Sami to pick hers up, but it wasn't working. Sami doesn't have much to play with these days. She spends time with Jonathan and then she doesn't have to pick anything up!

Happy Easter!

I tried to get a photo of all three together, but that wasn't going to happen. I managed to get two separately...

Sami just loved her new dress. She couldn't wait to put it on with her new purse and shoes!

A craft project, a new stove

Saturday we took the kids to Michaels for some free craft making sponsored by Crayola. What fun! They made a wand, a doorknob hanger and a card. Even Nicholas participate. Crayola makes these wonderful paints, crayons that are easy to grab-they are ball shaped. Of course, we ended up going down the new Crayola isle and purchasing some things. They seem to have fun. Apparently, Michaels does this every Saturday.

We were actually on our way to a game dinner at a friend's gun club. Since we were done early at Michaels we stopped in at Lowe's. I desparately need a new washing machine. As we were leaving we saw a clearance isle and just for the heck of it went over. There happened to be a stove that was marked from $648 to $300. Well, I need a new stove too! Basically, the previously owner had it only about 4 days and returned it. After much hemming and hawing, we purchased the stove. We never did make it to the dinner. because we had to drop off the kids at my parents and go back and get the stove. It was a carry out only and they were willing to let us come back and pick it up. I am enjoying the new stove as well as one can who doesn't cook much. And no it has not improved my cooking skills any! But is is nice to use the oven and have the meat thoroughly cooked in the proper time. It is not self cleaning so I will have to invest in some stove cleaner. Hopefully, I will be able to keep it clean!

Kids.....

Jonathan came running to me this morning and in all seriousness said, "I can't find Sami anywhere. I looked all over."

"That's because she is at Grandma and Grandpa's house," I said.

Suddenly it dawns on him, "Oh, yeah, I forgot!"

A new day.....

Tuesday night I kept thinking to myself how wonderful Wednesday was going to be because we didn't have to go anywhere and the furnace man was not coming until 9am. I could sleep in! Well, at 8am the dog start barking. Hmmmm.....he is here already? Nope! I forgot Nicholas has therapy on Wednesdays at 8! What was I thinking?! Not only, was I not up, Nicholas was still in his crib and the play area was a disaster! So, Nick played in his jammies and I tried to sneak away to make myself presentable. Thankfully, I was more ready then the furnace man showed up 15 minutes after the therapist left. And as the morning wore on things only got better....I am in the kitchen and hear a little voice (Sami) say "oh, powder" and something about Jon. I make my way into the play area/livingroom where Jonathan has been playing and where we just cleaned to the man could check the fire place only to find a little boy covered in powder as well as the floor, the chairs and anything else along the way. He looks at me innocently and says, "I didn't know it was open." I was almost in tears as I thought of everything I was trying to get done and cleaned before the baby comes. Of course, then Jonathan and Samantha start running through the mess making footprints and sending more powder into the air. What's a mom to do?? I told Jon he needed to get his clothes changed and grab a dust cloth because he had alot to clean off! I still do not know what possessed him to dance around with the powder!


Jonathan after he cleaned up his mess.








Nick and Sami entertaining themselves....

Another tooth....gone!

Jon has lost another baby tooth. Unfortunately, the new tooth had already appeared in an entirely different spot! I see braces in the future! He did not want to put the tooth under his pillow because he did not want money. He HATED money! Good to know! He was also very concerned whether the tooth fairy was real or not. I think I only confused him more! I keep telling him he is just a child and not to worry about it.

Courtesy of Grandpa, we all got haircuts. This is Nicholas' second time to the salon and between me and my father taking turns holding him, he recieved a pretty decent hair cut. I, on the other hand, had so much hair cut off they could make about 3 wigs! My head feels much lighter. I think the stylist was more worried than I was. Ah, it is just hair, it will grow back! She was not entirely convinced I would survive such a drastic change. I love it!




Although you cannot see new haircut in the picture, it is short now. I had alot of hair! Thanks, Dad!

It's a wonderful life!

Yes, it truly is a wonderful life! My excitement comes from a brand spanking new SUPER Wal-Mart! Imagine! I even went to the grand opening, much to the chagrin of others. I had Jon and Nick with me. Boy was it exciting! We had to drive around for a parking spot...ended up parking way in the back, but it was worth the walk. Of course, we went in the wrong door-there are 3 to choose from. Ours led us right to the toy department where we immediately looked throw the rows of Disneys Cars from the Cars movie, then on to the Laugh and Learn toys and finishing up with the dolls. The rows were so neat and everything was clean. We moved on down past the baby stuff. I just looked around, found the diapers ($2 cheaper than the other Wal-Mart we used to go to!) Then we finally made it to the food section. I was really there to buy food. Unfortunately, in my excitement, left the WIC checks in the car! We ended up spending 2 hours at the store. Ahh, the good life! And no I am not a redneck!!

Independence

It is interesting to see the different stages of indepence between the three children. Jonathan is at a point where he is understanding the difficult things much better. For instance, in the morning he gets up goes down stairs and puts in a DVD. This is quite the feat because you can't just turn on the tv. You have to turn on the tv, the DVD player and the receiver. And the tv, you have to make sure it is on the right channel! So, he has made many trips up to me (I am still in bed!) to make sure he is hitting the right buttons. The other day he not only managed to get it all right without having to come back upstairs, he informed me that he was hungry and made himself a bologna sandwich. In some ways, it is nice to know he can do things by himself, but others times, it is frightening. Like when he tries to use the toaster!

Samantha and Nicholas, on the other hand, have not gracefully made the transition. It is more yelling and screaming! Samantha wants to do it herself, mostly because Jonny does, but can't. And if you try to help her, well you have your earplugs! I have come to learn to first let her try it and then let her ask for help. Usually, if you don't say anything, she'll end up asking for help. As Jason would say, she is just like me!

Nicholas only yells because he doesn't know how to verbalize his requests yet. Most of the time, if he wants something, like a toy on, he will bring it to you and say "on". Only you need to move fast, because he tends to be impatient! When he is hungry, he knows to go to the kitchen and start opening doors, eventually, he will find food. He will bring it to the table and go to his chair and then start saying "eat".

I think of all this as I sit in my chair not wanting to do anything, but knowing I have alot to do. Only I remember someone telling me to enjoy my children because they are only young once. Normally, I would not sit and just watch the kids. But lately, I realize that I learn some interesting things during this down time.

A guest

We came home from nursery school to find a guest at the house. On one side of the door was Bruiser, our cat, and on the other was an orange and white cat. It ran away the closer we got to the house. Well, anyone who knows me, knows what I am going to do! We looked for the cat for a few minutes and then finally went inside. I finally let Duke out awhile later. All of a sudden, he starts barking like he is angry at something. We look out the window and sure enough, there is the cat on the railing of the porch. I kept trying to get Duke inside, but he wasn't about to budge. H was having too much fun harassing this poor cat! Funny thing is, he wouldn't come up on the porch. He stayed off and tried to jump up to get the cat! Eventually, the cat ran off out of Duke's range- we have underground fencing. I almost had the cat, but when I went to pick it up, that is when it jumped and ran off. So we will be looking for it again. The kids are excited for some reason. Like we don't have enought animals!

Some outside time

With Jason not being home alot, it is hard to get Jonathan and Samantha outside. So, on Saturday with Jason home most of the time convinced Jonathan to earn some money. Didn't last long though! I think Jon was more interested in blowing his whistle. Jason ended up shoveling off the concrete pad and patio anyway!





Sami tried to help, but ended up following her brother in his adventures.








And poor Nick had to stay inside. I don't let him out much! Especially in this cold, cold weather. I am trying to keep him healthy.









After shoveling, Sami came back in and felt she needed to put her dress on. And Jonathan decided he needed to make her look beautiful!