Missing Them

These are the monkeys that swung from my rafters for the past 3 weeks. 

Make no mistake. It was a blast. I, however went from knowing where everything in my house is, to wondering why toys had made their way under every piece of furniture we owned. I guess that's what happens when the bin of cars gets dumped out more than three times every day for 17 days straight. I learned quickly that it's been a long time since we had a crawling baby who puts everything in it's mouth and we put all choke-able items away. It was inevitable that when my three kids all got the nasty cough going around that they would share that with their cousins. 5 sick kids here and the baby got sick by the time she flew home but wasn't here for the worst of it, thank goodness. Not one night where all three of us moms slept well. When you aren't used to sharing rooms with your kids and then somehow all of them end up in your bed, sleep is no longer considered restful. I say it was worth it, and I'm sure my family would agree, but we would all also agree that we aren't doing it again (all kids under one roof) until one of us gets a bigger house :). My house is very quiet this week and I am almost caught up on the daily hum drum of cleaning and putting things back where they go, but everyone is missed. The highchair is empty and John will no longer sit in it because he says, "It's baby's." Ella won't wear her pajamas that match Kenzie's because Kenzie is not here to wear hers too. Peter keeps finding stuff that he thinks belongs to Levi and Emerson and telling me, "We should fly to take this to them." It's sad to live so far from family, but it makes the times we are all together so much fun. 

The Parade

Showed up early for the parade and kept warm in the laundromat.

Finally it started. Kids anxiously awaiting.

Mall Trick or Treating to stay warm out of the snow.

They had a reptile exhibit there and the boys loved seeing all the snakes and lizards. 

Turtles and Butterflies

Heroes in a Half Shell!

Turtle Power!

Butterfly Girls!

All the cousins.

So much fun getting them all dressed up to see the parade!

The celebration...

This year, since we had family in town, we did a small party for Ella and John. I am thinking that I may not do this again, join their parties. It was fun, but I felt torn with how to do it for a 2 year old and 5 year old. Boy and Girl. Next time, we will do one early, and one later. The kids had a nice time, and we spaced out opening their gifts during the week so it wasn't so overwhelming. Thank you to all of you who sent and gave gifts. I think this year will be the first year I teach Ella how to write thank you cards. She needs to learn at some point that life is not all about electronics and verbal affirmations. The lost art of sending a real card is something I plan to fix in my house. John did a great job thanking each person and since he's so little, just know he's grateful. Princess and Buzz Lightyear cupcakes were the choice for this party. I bought turquoise as a neutral color for plates and cups and hung lanterns from the ceiling just to spice it up. Also because my sister took me into Party City for my first time ever which was a huge mistake. I never knew you could do so much for a party.  I'm also really indecisive so we spent over an hour in there just browsing the crazy amounts of theme ideas. Landing on the obvious picks for both Ella and John, we left with deciding to tone it down to just cupcake toppers. It was a nice night and we all had fun. 

The annual mom and dad with birthday child photo. This time we are wearing the same outfits since it's the same night. Easy.

He's 2.

The baby is two. It means he's not a baby anymore, he's a toddler. We don't have a baby. Those 5 words are so strange to me right now. John has been a total joy from the start. He loves life. He's usually the most content person in the house. He teaches the rest of us to stop and take a break. When things get crazy, he brings me his "banky" and asks to sit. I think he knows every one needs a time out. He is all about having fun. Copying his siblings is something he's really into right now. He also likes to play with them, and now that he's getting older, this isn't such a task. They actually all enjoy it. He says almost everything he would like and has certain phrases that just crack us up. When he's playing "sooker hero" and yells, "to intinity and deyond!" He likes Buzz Lightyear a lot. At night he tells me "do not shutta de door." He likes the door open. Keep him included, not closed out. When he's agreeing with something he nods his head and says, "Mmmhmm, yes...mmmhmm." As if just saying yes is not enough. When he cries it makes everyone sad. His little mouth can't even open wide enough to take him seriously sometimes. But it's pitiful anyway. When he's in trouble, he goes right to the time out chair, tells me when he's ready to be sorry and apologizes. No fighting, no screaming, just remorse. Maybe this will change, but he's by far the easiest child I've ever disciplined. I will take it for now. We are so thankful for our little man and can't even believe he's changing so fast. 

Got a bowling set from Grandpa Ben & Grandma Barb. Thank You!

Testing it out. Good form John.

Birthday morning. "I Two!"

Dipping his fingers in our chai foam is a favorite thing of his to do. He always asks if I'm making chai and if I'm putting "cream on it." A boy after my own heart. Foam and whip cream. Yes.

He took a bite out of his candle thinking it might be good. He learned he was wrong.

Peter covered in ice cream with his brother who is in the middle of a bite.

New Mr. Potato head.

Testing out the parts. Smile!

I will never get enough of those cheeks.

John, thank you for bringing us so much happiness and laughter. 

A perfect summer day to a little boy means, a scrape on the knee, mud on his face and collecting bugs in garden. ~ Anonymous