Mommy's Helper

Olivia is my little helper around the house. She loves to help me fold laundry, set the table, vacuum, and most of all ... clean the toilets. I'm serious. It makes her day when I let her clean the bathrooms with me. I love having my little helper while I do chores (and of course she ALWAYS sings while she works). I'm just hoping this '"happy to help" attitude continues into her teenage years!

Self Portrait

Joshua was asked to create a self-portrait for kindergarten. It looks JUST like him, don't you think? ... ok, maybe not the 13 fingers on the right hand, but other than that it's a perfect match. =)

So Big!

Our little Ethan is growing up! The best word to describe him ... happy. He has a contagious smile and laugh that we can't get enough of. Ethan is now eating baby food and LOVING it (seriously, you'd think his rice cereal is chocolate cake the way he downs it), and he is rolling all over the place. He loves to watch his brother and sister act crazy, and he likes to play with anything that isn't a baby toy (specifically wrappers and clothing tags). Oh my goodness, we love him so much!

Adventures in Shopping

Note to Self: If ever again you are tempted to take your three exhausted, fighting children to Gymboree for a "quick" shopping visit because you have an amazing coupon that you cannot allow to expire ... I beg of you ... reconsider!

Last week I was doing just this. (Hello, it was Friends and Family week!) I thought my kids were quietly watching the Gymbo television while I browsed the racks, when suddenly I heard screaming from across the store. I raced over and found Olivia with blood pouring down the back of her neck and dress. After fighting with Joshua over who got to sit closest to the screen, she had fallen and cracked her head open on the television. We made it to the emergency room in record time, and she was stitched up after much crying. I nearly cried myself when a patch of her hair fell out that night where the stitches had been placed. Five days later, we returned to have the stitches removed. She was in a much better mood this time-hence the smile in the picture above- because I told her she could have a Kit Kat if she was good for the doctor. (Is it bad that my children will do ANYTHING for a Kit Kat?) And so our adventure ends. It will be a long time before I can show my face at that Gymboree again. Sigh...

More Birthday Fun!

Last week was Jason's 32nd Birthday (I know ... he's really getting up there). He had work off, so we had the entire day to celebrate. We went with Jason's sister and her kids to Party On, had ice cream at the park, then dropped the kids off with my parents so we could do dinner at PF Changs and go to a movie. It was great to spend the day together. We love Jason, and we love birthdays too... any excuse to eat cake. Happy Birthday sweetheart! (Oh, and I was just kidding about the whole "getting up there" thing. You're still young as ever!)

Kindergarten

Today my little boy started Kindergarten ... I am crying even as I type this ... I miss him.