Pictures of Our Past Week

I'm skipping the formal ten this week and just writing about all the pictures. Many pictures so be ready.

This is at the Woodlands Children's Museum. The girl's class went on a field trip there and they had lots of fun. I missed the few hours of quiet that I normally get on school days but it was fun to go with them and see them with their friends and exploring all the different things there.

Puppet show for Colt.

This was at our ward trunk or treat. Livy is Jessie from Toy Story and Rachel is Barbie from A Mermaid Tale. No one knew who she was so I felt bad. They kept saying "oh look it's Jessie" and nothing about the mermaid. I had to keep reminding her that maybe they never saw that movie so they didn't know who she was. So we practiced telling people who she was. They had lots of fun at the trunk or treat though. Colt was a lion, kind of. I never got him a costume so we just drew on his face and put the ears on him. Cute little lion!

The girls with their ghosts again. They didn't make it to Halloween week. But the girls loved them while they were there.

Kiddos loving each other. Can't beat it.

Colt and I having fun in the grass.

Jack-o-lanterns. Rachel went for the traditional triangle face while Livy opted for the dog face. These didn't make it to Halloween either. They molded and melted after a few days. We woke up one morning to find a puddle of pumpkin all over the table and floor.

Colt swiping some candy. He is all over the place and getting into everything. He is getting so old so quick. On Halloween night he took his first steps. I think he did 4 steps in a row. He's not that interested in walking though so he doesn't really like to try. He's so quick crawling he just likes to get down and do that.

Getting into Pebbles cage. I came into the room to find Colt laying on top of Pebbles inside of her cage. When Pebbles saw me she got up and out of the cage so by the time I got back with the camera he was getting out too.

A few days before Halloween Grammy, Poppy, Hannah, Richie and Erin all came to visit us. Mom and dad's plane from NY got cancelled so they had to take another flight the next day. And so you'd think before they left TX we would check the flight, well they had to leave the house at 5 am so we forgot to check and that flight was cancelled too! Can you believe it! It was a problem with the plane so they re-booked them on another flight at another airport with another airline and they made it just in time, barely. But the flight had a 3 hour layover and took them all day to get home. Sorry guys. But we are so glad you came! The girls are still talking about packing and going to NY to see you guys.

They brought lots of crafts with them so they kids painted, and baked, and glued, and glittered, and all sorts of Halloween crafted. With a little help from everyone, thanks guys!

Livy picked this out for Hannah at the store a few weeks ago and was so excited to give it to her. They sure love when their Hannie comes to visit them!

Colt loved seeing everyone and watching what everyone was doing. He went right to everyone and was such a happy baby the whole time. He is obsessed with electrical outlets and even tries to plug stuff in already. He is a smart little boy. But that is just his mom speaking! I am amazed when I show him stuff how he remembers how things work after the first time and how he figures stuff out on his own. Maybe I have forgotten how much they can do when they get to be almost a year but he seems smart to me!

On Saturday Eric set up all his Halloween stuff outside. They girls loved it! They loved Halloween and all the decorations this year. Their favorite was one of those big blow up things down the block. It was a Frankenstein one but they called him "Franklinstein." And they had to go see it everyday.

Rachel hiding in Poppy's shirt from something!

Richie had to leave on Saturday morning to get back to work that afternoon. It's always fun having him around and Rachel couldn't get enough of him. She sure loved hanging out with Uncle Richie. She even made Poppy ride in a different car while Rich was here. He was definitely the favorite. Poppy got his status back when Rich left though!

Dog pile. A fun game they love to play every time we are with them.

These two were buddies this trip. Hannie loved playing with Colt and taking care of him and he loved being with her just as much. She managed to carry him around most of the time even though it was a struggle because he's kind of heavy! Come back Han! We need our babysitter again!

Erin got to stay until Monday so the girls enjoyed having her here with them and sleeping in the same room as Erin. They wouldn't go to be until she came up because they were afraid she would leave at night like everyone else did!

Silly time!

Ok, these pictures are out of order but this is Colt's long hair. Eric decided to give him a trim all by himself. And lets just say he should stick to pools! Look what he did to the poor kid. 

Good thing you are so cute Colt! Because daddy did a number on your hair. Luckily it still combs to the side so when we go out I can kind of fix it. On another note, he started shaking his head no now when he means no. It's so cute and I love that he can tell me a little what he doesn't want at least. And he plays peek a boo now where he covers his own eyes. It is the cutest thing and he has his sisters rolling when they all do it together.

On Friday we all went to the Oil Ranch. This was our first time and the kids loved it.

Feeding some goats. This one with the big horns actually bucked some little kid to the ground while we were there. He was ok so it was funny. But watch out if you go!

Grammy made it down the slide.

Livy was unsure about the pony rides. Everyone else seemed to love them.

Colt even got his first ride!

Rachel wouldn't go until she picked her own pony. She picked this mini one and then was so happy about it!

Rachel and her bud!

Train ride they all loved.

Some seriously fun swings. Rachel and Hannah had a ball on them and Eric, Richie, Erin and me all got on too! They guys pushed it so it went fast. It was really a fun swing.

Livy was more into the animals. She loved feeding them and seeing all of them. Here's the group!

I love this picture! My Halloween lovers! They are all smiling, if only Colt was in there too!

There's the little lion.

Happy Halloween!

They were so proud of themselves when they said trick or treat and thank you. And so was I.

Colt rode around in this little car and had a blast watching all the kids all over the place.

Daddy stayed and handed out candy while Erin and I went with the kids to trick or treat to a few houses near us. When we got back to our house they wanted to stay and hand out candy to all the "customers" as they called them. I think they liked this part best! They would scream and shriek in delight and yell, "there's customers!" every time some one would come up to trick or treat. They got so excited and loved handing out candy they started handing out the candy they got in their baskets too. I think when the night was done we had about 5 pieces of candy left, total from theirs and ours. Which worked out fine since I don't have to make them ration it now!

We had a great visit with everyone and it was sad to see you all go. Come back and visit again soon! Thanks everyone for all your help and all the time and love you give to our kids. They truly adore each one of you.

A Little Late and a Few Extra

1. Eric's birthday was last week. He didn't get many desirable presents but the girls had fun wrapping the candy and hand painted little statues for him. They had a wonderful time celebrating his birthday. We spent a long weekend up at the lake and had a great time. We ate out a bun ch for his birthday "week" and even went out by ourselves one night!! One night we went to a restaurant up on cliff kind of. You had to park your boat, they pick you up in their boat and drive you to this little outdoor elevator thing. And up to the restaurant you go. One of the many b-day dinners. Hope you had a great birthday Eric. We love you so much.
2. While in Austin the girls were in the tub in Brenda and Alan's room and got a little rambunctious and accidentally hit the button that put the jets on. Well it looked like a water park in there! The water was shooting all over the bathroom, hitting the ceiling and soaking everything. I could not find the button to turn it off so I was screaming for Brenda and the girls are just screaming because they were scared. The bathroom ended up with 2" of water all over the floor. It was pretty funny when it was done. If only we had a video camera. 
3. Last week Eric brought me flowers. Not for anything special just because. It was so sweet of him. And I actually didn't even see them when I first walked in, oblivious sometimes when so much is going on, but he waited patiently until I noticed them. Thanks so much Eric. They were beautiful.
4. Livy is definitely the independent one. She wants to do everything on her own and doesn't want my help anymore. From opening stuff, climbing, dressing, just pretty much everything, etc. She loves using the public restrooms by herself too. She locks me out and I hear her clanking the little trash can around. How gross. She likes to clean all the stray toilet paper off the floor before she begins. Gross again. I do love her independence though. It is so awesome to watch it bloom. Even if it means extra germs, backwards clothes, and more messes. She's awesome.
5. All the kids have colds the past two weeks. And now Colt has an ear infection from it and Rachel has bronchitis. But at least they are pretty good while sick this time. Two things I didn't realize when I became a parent. How many messes you will clean up each day and how many times kids get sick, a lot!
6. Well I am sad to report that the stroller I ordered got here and has a weight limit that the kids already reached. It was different than the one listed online so I am bummed. It is not great quality or I would just keep it and say who cares about the weight limit but I don't want it ripping on me next week. So the search continues.
7. Earlier this week I posted about a hard day. I haven't posted one like that in a long time and it has not been because I have been trying to hide it but honestly because there haven't been many. I don't know why this week it got to me. But I am glad to report that things are good around here. We are hitting a good age with everyone!
8. Except for these baby voices the girls like to do now a days. They talk in these high "baby" voices which are not so fun to listen to. Hopefully those will go away soon.
9. Colt loves opening cabinets and drawers. He has played it a lot the past month but now just stands there without holding on and does it. He is getting so big and old! One of these days he will just start walking and then there will be no stopping him. He is just starting to stand up in the middle of the floor by himself without anything to hold.
10. Oh how I love little Rachel. But the sweet little smartie pants just will not let me get my hands on her curly head of hair. I can barely get a brush through it without tears, and there is always screaming when I brush it. It looks adorable in a ponytail or anything pulled off her face but she will not have it. She cries and rips anything out that I put in saying it hurts. Again I guess it is the independence. Sometimes I just want to put her hair up but I guess I will just have to live with it all crazy and up in her face. Not something to complain about but just jotting it down so she know why she always has her hair in her face in every picture!
11. The girls are so good with Colt now. They still cry when he takes their stuff but they have gotten better about just asking me to move him or giving him something else to play with. He is a punk and always tries to take what they are playing with. But the girls love him and always want to make him happy, make sure I know when he is awake and to go get him, like playing with him, and telling people about their baby brother.
12. Bonus: Mom, Dad, Hannah, Richie, and Erin + baby boy are all coming to visit us next week! Can't wait to see everyone!

Trying to get them to do a train, not quite successful.

The ghosts which have already been poped and ripped down by the girls!

Eric's 29th birthday!

Livy did her own lion makeup with my eyeliner.

It's Been a While

I haven't had a post like this in a while and it's due time. It is just one of those days where I can't manage to get my head above water. I go from mess to mess, sick kid to sick kid, making injuries better, solving toy fights and disappearances, trying to unpack from the long weekend at the lake, debating whether to bring the kids to he doctor, medicating kids, taking temperatures, wiping noses, laundry, cleaning, feeding kids this and that trying to avoid the food store with all three of them, more laundry, more messes sometimes involving pee, and the house is still looks like a bomb went off in here and  you can bet I am not even going to try and cook dinner. It's pizza for sure tonight. And now that I have snuck away and I am getting a second to myself to type this and I don't hear any crying or anyone even looking for me, I feel guilty that I was complaining. I really do know I am blessed and I am so grateful for my three beautiful, healthy, sweet, children. Sometimes it all just feels overwhelming. I then feel guilty for feeling that way. So this was my little outlet and now I have got my head back together. Even if it is only lasts for an hour or two. Days like this go hour by hour and I just try and hold on. Hope you're holding on too.

Ten Today

1. Monday was the beginning of Eric's birthday week. His 29th birthday is on Thursday and we decided it will be a 7 days of celebrating. I think it is just an excuse to eat good food all week! The girls picked out a skeleton for him for his birthday and we gave it to him last night for his first gift. They wrapped it, colored on it and hid it. But as soon as he walked in the door Rachel said "we got you a skeleton dad, look here it is!" They get so excited they can't hold it in! We had a yummy dinner at Saltgrass for the b-day night number 1. We hope you have a great birthday week Eric! We all love you so much!
2. Eric bought himself a new smoker/grill last week and cooked us some awesome ribs on Saturday for lunch. They were excellent, and especially surprising since it was his first time cooking ribs. This is probably his real birthday present because I don't think a skeleton or some other little stuff counts!
3. The simple things. The girls love those tiny princess dolls with the terribly annoying plastic clothing. You know which ones I mean, the ones with the tiny shoes that don't stay on. I am constantly searching for them and dressing and undressing them for the girls because they are too hard for them to do. Anyway, yesterday at Wal-mart I let them get a Jasmine one because they don't have one of them and I was so pleasantly surprised. They have made the clothes so easy to get on and shoes that are painted on her feet so they don't come off!!! I could hug the people who make these because I am so happy with the new ones!! I know it seems stupid but it made a difference. Now we just have to replace all the other princesses with new ones! And you know what, it just might be worth the money!
4. Colt is allergic to eggs we found out this week. And peanuts but only slightly, whatever that means. We will go to an allergist next week to get more info but for now we are to avoid all things with eggs and peanuts, even baked goods where egg is a distant ingredient. We got an epi-pen for him in case of severe reactions. Hopefully we will not have to use it. But the encouraging news is that most kids grow out of their egg allergies in a few years.
5. What is going on with the weather? I was so happy it was getting cool. I got the kids some pants and long sleeves. And now it is back to 90 during the day. Ugh. I am ready for some cool. I was not made to live in the heat.
6. I ordered a triple jogging stroller and I can't wait for it to get here and have some freedom to go on walks or runs! For a while I could put the girls in the double jogger and carry Colt on me in the wrap but now he is getting so heavy it is really hard and not so fun. And there is no option of jogging if I feel up to it. And when it was hot it was not an option because it was way too much to wear him. I looked on craigslist in Houston and Austin for a few weeks but nothing ever worked out. So I just ordered one. Can't wait to get it just in time for cool weather, hopefully!
7. Today the girls and I made 25 ghosts. They are all hung in the front yard on strings from tree to tree. More than we planned to make but the girls insisted we use all the balloons in the package. A little overkill on the ghosts but they had lots of fun drawing faces on them and playing with them outside.
8. Finally got Halloween costumes that fit. The final choices are Jessie from Toy Story for Livy and Rachel will be Merleah (Barbie in a Mermaid Tale movie). And Colt doesn't have one yet.
9. The girls are still loving school. So am I. Their open house night is scheduled for a night we will be out of town so I am kind of bummed. I know that kids like to take their parents to see their class and all the things they are doing. Wish we would be here for it. But I am glad that they like it so much still.
10. Colt is completely weaned now. He did so great. No issues at all going to bed at night or the few times he woke up at night without nursing back to bed. I was kind of scared and sad to wean him but it went great and he is so happy when he gets a bottle that I don't think he misses it. Happy the weaning is done and everyone is good! Well, maybe not my boobs yet but soon.