February Cell Phone Photo Download

Jack trying to block himself from my camera

Jack earned his Turbo Math Ribbon for Multiplication!

Will's penguin project

Swinging on a 50 degree day

At the park

Hannah at PJ day at school

Hannah making pudding at Grandma Lana's house

Jack and Grandpa filing football cards by team

Hannah making croutons with Grandma Lana

Dad helped Will and Hannah build this TALL tower

Will and dad at Penguin Project day

It is hard remember everything we do over the course of a month until I go back and look at my cell phone pictures. The most most exciting thing that happened was Jack earned his much deserved Turbo Math ribbon for multiplication. To say he was excited is an understatement. He has worked so hard trying to ace it and finally did.

Will had to work with his parents to create something that showed what he learned during the class' study of penguins. We decided to show their habitat by using sugar cubes, cotton balls, foil and a slide. Will was very proud of our creation and loved using the glue gun. I also loved creating the project but had to stop myself from making it look like we spent days on it! The parents were then invited to come to school to view all of the projects and have doughnuts in the classroom. All Will cared about was Darren being there and he was. It was a fun morning and Max appreciated the doughnuts.

Hannah had pajama day at school and decided to wear 3 layers of Hello Kitty pjs topped off with a Hello Kitty robe and slippers. They ate pancakes of all colors and made a fun morning.

Darren, Will and Hannah used every block in the bin to build a tower taller than 8 feet. They took a picture and then had fun destroying it!

Hannah spent time at Grandma Lana's making jello and pudding and Jack spent a different day filing his football cards by team in the new box Grandpa bought for him.

Finally, while Hannah was at dance last week, I took the kids to the park to enjoy the 50 degree weather. I was freezing but no one else seemed to mind. When Max noticed that we were walking towards the car to leave the park, he started running the other direction and screamed as I put him in the car. It looks like I will be spending a lot of time outside this summer!

Max & his Markers

At the doctor's office

The green kitchen floor

Max has been coloring with crayons for months and markers when he can get his hand on some. He knows where everything is kept and will get his own paper and crayons out. The other day, I came in the kitchen to see Max laying on his stomach coloring the floor green. He was very content and probably could have spent an hour there. It is so cute to see him all sprawled out on the floor on his stomach working on his masterpieces. While at a doctor appointment for Jack a few weeks back, Max also layed on his stomach to color. It must be comfortable!

Hannah & Will's Concert

Hannah & Will's "smiling" pose
Will told Hannah not to smile!

Hannah & Will love to play together, probably because they are so close in age. They do not care if they play "boy stuff" or "girl stuff". Some of their favorites are, taking a trip, babies, sleepovers, house, school, super hero and their most recent....rock star! I went into Will's room the other day and Will was dressing Hannah up in every item of black dress up clothes that he could find. They divided the ninja outfit so each could have a top or bottom and then they found half of a firefighter costume and cape. They topped it off with hats, bandannas, black fingerless leather gloves and superhero masks.

I asked them if I could be the audience and they agreed. I went to get Max out of his crib and in the 1 minute that took, Max and I were given official tickets to get into the concert. In case you were wondering, the stage was Will's bed. Jumping on the bed is not normally allowed but I was dying to see the rock concert so I did not say anything! Max and I took our seats and Hannah entered the stage (bed) to introduce the first singer...Will.

Will came on stage and sang "Dynamite". I must say that it was with far less enthusiasm than Hannah gives the song but he did a good job! Hannah then got on stage and sang the same song but before she started she announced that video and pictures were not allowed! I pretended to turn off the camera but really did not! I should also mention that they wanted to have their concert with all of the lights off and blinds shut so I am sure the video did not turn out. I was told that it is dark at concerts. They sure know a lot about concerts! It was really cute and made me realize even more how much I am going to miss these imaginative years.

Valentine's Day 2011

Mom trying to get a Valentine's kiss

Hannah's Valentines

Will's Valentines

Jack's Valentines

Max's Valentines

Jack's Valentine's box

Hannah at her Valentine's Party at school

Eating a heart shaped doughnut

Max eating a sugar cookie after dinner

Jack humoring me by smiling during a bite of his cookie

Hannah posing by her roses from dad

On Sunday I told the kids how excited I was that the next day was Valentine's day because they were going to give me so many hugs and kisses. They were all less than thrilled except Hannah of course! They spent a lot of time in their rooms making Darren and I cards and gifts. The gifts involved using glue guns which are Jack's new found tool to put things together.

Will was of course up first on V-day, waking me up early to present his card. He told me that I would have to wait until dad got home from work to open the rest of the gift. Hannah then woke up (i think Will woke her) and dug under her bed running to give me her card. She spelled everything on it and was so excited that I loved it. Jack laid in bed until he had to get up and was able to wait until dad got home to present his card and gift to both of us. Jack was so proud and spend a lot of time making it just right. He made a frame out of sticks and put his picture in the middle. He also made a nice card with a pocket for gum he was giving us. The cards and gifts were so special and they kids worked hard making them just perfect. Darren and I loved each of them. We now need to find places for our new frames!

Darren gave me a dozen red roses and a funny singing card and he also brought Hannah a dozen pink roses. She was so proud and loves it when dad brings her flowers. She feels so special. Good thing there are not 3 girls in the house or V-day would get expensive!! We had dinner in the dining room consisting of steak for Darren and corn dogs for the kids. We then dined on some cookies for dessert. It was a nice day.

2011 Superbowl

Jack's favorite football team is the Colts and his 2nd favorite would be the Steelers. When the Colts lost during the playoffs, Jack turned to the Steelers who ended up losing the the Super Bowl. Will was cheering for the Steelers so in turn, Hannah was also.

Will and Jack wore their Steelers shirts to church that Sunday and Max wore a Green Bay Packers jersey that Jed had given him. It so so happens that the Steelers were playing Green Bay in this Super Bowl! Jack laughed when he saw the Green Bay jersey on Max and told me to dress him in Steelers but I told him that I had nothing in Steelers for him to wear. Jack thought he looked cute.

The kids made signs for the big game and Hannah brought out her pom poms that just happen to be yellow and black. By the end of the game, Jack and I were the only ones still up watching it. Jack was really disappointed the Steelers lost but there is always next year.

Hannah's Fancy Tea with Grandma

Grandpa - the honored guest!

Grandma and Grandpa take each of the kids for a "special day" alone every few weeks. They really look forward to it and are not too happy when it is not their turn.

Last weekend was Hannah's turn and Grandma had a surprise for her. She had planned to have Hannah bring her Hello Kitty's and have a tea party. They started off by making sugar cookies and then they set the table and invited Grandpa to the tea party. Grandma had candles, flowers, fancy plates, heart confetti and crystal all ready to go. Hannah came home beaming. She was so excited she could barely talk. This tea party will be something that she will always remember. She even wrote Grandma a thank you note the next day that read "thank you for the day". It was written backwards but it was the thought that counts!

Max 18 Months

Coloring

Coloring on the floor at Jack's Dr. appt

18 month check-up

It is hard to believe that Max is already 18 months. He has grown up so much and understands much of what you are telling/asking him. He will bring you his coat in the morning if you ask him to get it, he will take you to his shoes if he has thrown them somewhere and I can't find them, he will take me to something he has wrecked or messed up and point to it and he will scream loudly if you wait to long to feed him.

Max you:

Weigh 28 pounds

Wear a size 2T pants and almost 3T shirts


Wear a size 5 diaper


Drink a lot of milk each day


Love carrots, peas, green beans and avocados


Equally like, chocolate, brownies, yogurt covered raisins, and ice cream


Wake up way too early at 7am or earlier


Are very attached to you blanket and pacifier


Watch the kids play in the snow and want to go out too


Can only say mama, dada and dog


Love your brothers but Hannah has a special place in your heart


Will lay down immediately if I tell you its time to change your diaper


Do not like shopping


Love balls and dogs


Love throwing objects at people


Like to be rocked to sleep and mom gets sad thinking about when you will not want to any longer

Love baths


Do not like me holding anyone but you


Throw every blanket out of your crib except your favorite


Love books but only looking at the pictures


Love Avery and you pet him nicely


Do not like it when I leave the house


Love playing base tag with Dad


Do not play with baby toys, only big boy toys like you brothers

Love to color

Run to dad when he gets home from work

Do not like to touch play dough

Love real screw drivers but not pretend ones. You know exactly where they are used to replace batteries in each toy.


Hannah has the patience with you like no one I have ever seen. She attends to your every need and rarely gets upset with you. She shares everything she owns with you and always has time for you. She loves you deeply and often mentions how I will need to help you when she is in Kindergarten next year and can't be there for you. She calls you "honey" and will make a fabulous mother someday. Darren and I joke that we would let Hannah babysit Will and Max before we would let Jack.


Jack and Will think that you are the funniest and cutest little boy they have ever seen. They love chasing you around the house and giving you fast rides in your red car. They like to carry you when you don't want to be carried and take stuff from you that you want to keep. Jack will let you play in his room but Will is not so inviting. Sharing a room with Will eventually may not work out so well! Jack and Will love you so much and and are very protective of you.

Marker Man

Darren sent me the 2 pictures above today. I have looked for these pictures no fewer than 10 times over the past year or so. I have checked every computer, every folder on both computers and every CD I have looking for them. Needless to say, I was excited when I opened the attachments.

This was probably one of the funniest, nights we had ever had. I had just gotten Will and Hannah out of the bathtub and I then went to take a shower. When I got out of the shower, I saw Will and Hannah totally covered in black marker! Will decided to not only cover himself in marker but also Hannah and she was very happy to be a part of it. I only took pictures of their upper halves but Will did not spare any part of his body if you catch my drift. In fact, he spent the most time on the lower half. Will was 3 and Hannah was 2. After we looked at their artwork, back in the tub they went for a scrub down. In case you were wondering, Jack was the one who ran into the bathroom initially to warn me about what I was about to see. Looking back now, it is surprising that he was not the ring leader with the great idea!