Growing

Well, school is in full swing.  The Lion has finally been tamed at school...although it took me meeting with his teacher and a little bribery to make him hush his social little mouth.  He is growing up to be such a good boy and a great big brother.  He and Monkey have been playing well together (for the most part) and I have never seen him be sweeter to anyone than he is to Koala.  He uses a softer tone, chooses kinder words, and has a gentler touch with her.  The other day he told a friend that was at our house, "It is OK to kiss a girl if she is your baby sister."  He is usually NOT a touchy feely kind of guy.  I can barely get a hug, and Justin Bieber got deleted from his list of cool people when he found out that Justin might actually want to kiss a girl. But, Koala steals all of his affections.

This is one of those "getting along well" moments for Lion and Monkey.  They love playing outside together.

This is a picture of the "Fun Run" Fundraiser at school.  They make a huge deal of the kids running around in tiny little circles....prizes, music, popsicle parties.  Hundreds of parents show up and the school raises tens of thousands of dollars!  CRAZY!  I only wish I had been the one to think up this fundraising organization because I don't think they do too shabby either.  Thanks to all of our friends and family that contributed.  Hopefully a new computer or two will be bought, but if not, Lion was super pumped about the prizes that you helped him earn!! 

Monkey is growing up to be such a lovely little lady.  I was reminded after she had been in school for about six weeks that she had been on green every single day.  She had never said anything about it...never asked for a prize.  She is one of those kids that does what is right just because it is right.  Ahhh!  Very nice, but very sad that I totally forget to praise or reward her....EVER.   So, when it dawned on me, I told her that I would take her to get icecream one day to celebrate.  She said she was hungry right then and we had time to go before getting Lion from school, so we headed to the icecream shop.  I had totally forgotten that I did not have on one stitch of make up. My hair had dried after my shower while I was laying on the couch and I forgot to bring anything to put it up with, so it was Medusa-like.  I had on some sort of gym clothes (not the matchy matchy kind, but the aka "pajamas" kind).  Koala was grungy, had no shoes, and I had not brushed her hair.  To top it all off, when we pulled up to the icecream shop, Monkey announced that she had forgotten to bring shoes as well.  A one year old with no shoes is socially acceptable, but a five year old...not so much.   Anyway, I was not turning around and going back home, so we went in just like that.  It was worth it.  Sometimes, such is life with three kids. 

Monkey has also been very helpful at home.  A small house with three children makes for very quick messes.  Sometimes I wish I had a playroom or an animal pen or something to put the kids and their messes in and close the door.  But, we just try to clean up often....ugh.  Jeremy and the kids have been very helpful!

Nothing like washing windows in high heels. 

Koala finally learned how to walk and when she did, she was off like a shot!  I loved the fact that she didn't walk until 15 months, although she was getting heavy.  As soon as she started walking she decided she wanted to be "big."  She is talking a lot more, climbing everything, and of course being such a good helper too!  Her latest trick is getting my attention by hollering "Ouch, ouch!"  She learned that I paid attention quick when that came out of her mouth.  I'm onto her now though, so she's not getting the wanted response. 

The love of coloring is "big."

The love of coloring everywhere...not so "big."

Feeding yourself is "big."

 

 

Insisting on using your hair as a napkin....not so "big."

Entertaining yourself is "big."

Taking every single thing out of the cabinet to do it...not so "big."

And last but not least, not only are the kids growing and getting bigger, but so is our family...and my belly!  We will welcome another baby to this crazy zoo in April!  Bring on the excitement!

A Synopsis of Our Sensational Summer

lIt is hard to believe that we are already heading into the Fall, with little ones back in school(especially since it is, and will be 100 degrees for another month!)  Our summer was definitely eventful...I wouldn't call it relaxing, but we packed a lot in!  We started out with our yearly visit to Mammo and Papa's house, which we DROVE this time.  Since we had only driven the 12 hour stretch one other time, I had temporary amnesia on all the reasons it is not a good idea.  1) The first time we only had one child...now we have three!  2)  That one child couldn't talk yet...we have two blabbers now!  3) 12 hour trips turn into 14, 16, 18 hour trips when many potty breaks are a necessity.  Nevertheless, it was worth it and we had a great time.  I have always thought it was important for my kids to build memories at the grandparents' houses, regardless of how long it takes to get there!  I know the memories I have at my grandparents' houses are very special to me and it is a gift we can give to our children. 

Our next adventure was to the beach to meet my side of the family for a long weekend.  Of course, you can't tell we are at the beach in any of the pictures because we actually never took the kids down to the beach.  Because of the oil spill, they would not have been allowed to play in the sand or swim.  Lucky for us, who needs a beach when you have cousins!?!

One of my favorite adventures of the summer was Lion's first adventure with church camp!  We were not quite ready to let him go by himself for the whole week, so we made it a family affair.  That's right...I was in a cabin full of 7 year old girls with Monkey and Koala in tow.  Luckily, my sister did most of the chaperoning.  Jeremy was heading up the 7 year old boys cabin by HIMSELF.  Suprisingly he survived and all of the boys were accounted for at the end of the week.  The BOYS seemed to have a fascination with all of the butterflies at camp. It was all Jeremy could do to keep them from running out into the woods on wild butterfly hunts every time they walked outside!  Ha. I did get a kick out of the whole thing!  Camp was a great experience!  I really hope we can go back again sometime. I love the memories we create together and the spiritual development and growth that is unique to church camp.

Aside from these fun-filled trips, we took several trips to the lake, I taught 8-10 group fitness classes a week , we babysat 3 extra kids for five weeks,  and of course spent countless hours at the pool!  Whew!  I have to say...I will be glad when summer is back again, but for now... Hello School!