Sunday, February 25, 2018

Tidbits

It has been a rainy February! We have had a few pretty days sprinkled in but it seems like mostly rain and clouds. We haven't been up to too much the last few weeks. The kids are at such fun ages though and they are always doing cute things that I want to remember.

Lainey

She is so funny. She loves bringing stuff in the car. When I called for kids to all come and get in the car to drop Cambry off at school this is how Lainey came. In her pajamas with her robe on and with about 5 stuffed animals in her arms. Although this is nothing compared to how many she sleeps with.


Last week Greg and I had folded a pile of laundry and then got up to do other things. A couple minutes later we see Colton and Lainey throwing clothes everywhere trying to get them to land on the mantle and Lainey had put on my jeans.


Lainey has really started to be interested in books lately. Well, certain ones. Mainly Peppa Pig Books or any of the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series. She loves to look at them and talk about the pictures.

Cambry

I have been so impressed with Cambry's reading lately. She does great on her take home readers and now all of a sudden she is starting to read any of the regular children's library books we check out. She is also discovering that she can read signs on the road. So fun!

She has set up the area behind the couch as her secret fort. She has covered the windows in papers - rules, alphabet, drawings, all kinds of school worksheets, etc. The other day she wanted to have a meeting with me in her fort to discuss Lainey's speech therapy progress and goals. Then she decided she wanted to help Lainey work on her yes/no answers (which is one of her ST goals) so she wrote and illustrated a book for her. Each page had a picture of something (butterfly, dog, cat, etc) and asked "Is this a butterfly (etc)? Yes or No?". She is the sweetest big sister.


Colton

This boy wants to wrestle all day every day. He does sound effects and will just come at you in an loving-aggressive tackle-hug. He sometimes says hilariously suspicious things like "I'm doing nothing", or randomly in the car "Nobody pooped!". I squatted down to hug him one day and he asked to be held so I held him while squatting. Then he said "Don't hold me like that. Hold me tall." He doesn't exactly understand measurements of time so he is always asking to do something for "a couple more hours". Come on Colton it's time to go. "I play trains a couple more hours". He is so very opinionated and bossy and wants to do everything for himself - turn the car off, push the garage door button, put the lid on his milk, help pour the milk, and on and on and on. Cambry taught him a version of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, that goes Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Bottoms which he finds hilarious and loves to sing. 


Of course when I actually sit down to write a blog post I suddenly forget all the cute stuff they have said lately so that's all I can think of right now!

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Valentines Day 2017

We started the tradition a couple years ago of celebrating valentines day as a family with a fun breakfast at home. We make pink donuts, and have pink milk (or water) and I decorate the table. Greg and I never really made a big deal over valentines day pre-kids, but I love our family tradition and I love having a reason to decorate and make something special out of it. My mom always made holidays so special for us growing up and love carrying on the tradition. Valentines day fell on a Wednesday this year so we did our family breakfast on the Saturday before.




This year was extra fun because Nana and Pops joined us! The kids had so much fun having their grandparents over and getting lots of extra attention. We had a fun weekend with them.

Lainey's class exchanged valentines at school and we brought flowers to her teachers. She was very proud to hold them.



Cambry's class exchanged valentines as well and they each made a box at home to hold their valentines. We bought this cute unicorn box kit at Target but of course had to add a little of our own touches as well.


I'm not sure why I started it, but every year I have taken pictures of the kids for Valentines day. I love how they turned out. I want to scoop them all up and kiss their sweet faces.







 On the night of Valentines after we put the kids to bed I made dinner for Greg and I - steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans. He had brought home Gigi's cupcakes that day so we enjoyed those afterward. Then on Friday night my parents offered for the kids to spend the night over there so we could go out. We went to see The Greatest showman at a nice theatre where we sat in recliners and ordered dinner. I loved the movie and I am dying to see it again. Greg doesn't even like musicals really and he thought it was great. After the movie we did some quick shopping at the outlet malls before heading home. It was nice to have a night to ourselves and the kids had a fun slumber party. I should add that the last movie we saw together in a theatre was The Butler. That was 2 kids ago! We should really get out more.


It was a great valentines day/week!

Monday, February 5, 2018

Meeting Mabel

In January, I had the privilege of flying out to Phoenix to meet my brand new niece, Mabel. She was born on a Monday, and my parents and I flew out on Friday. Lauren and Cody had come home from the hospital by then so we got to spend some good quality time with them.


She is absolutely precious. And she has 3 sweet big brothers to love on her.


Mabel and I got plenty of good snuggle time.

It was fun to spend time with my nephews too. Playing with Wesley is pretty much exactly like playing with Colton. 


We flew in on Lauren's birthday so we enjoyed a yummy cake. Then my mom put together a little (early) birthday celebration for Hayes a couple days later.


One evening the Grosse ladies did face masks. And one day we went to a foot spa. I had never been to one before but it was wonderful.


It was such a nice visit. I was able to help out around the house, relax, and enjoy their company. Meanwhile, Greg was on full time daddy duty taking care of all the things and taking time off work so I could go on this trip.

He even took the kids to buy new light up shoes.


And he made awesome snacks like this. Pin that. Thankfully the kids have not requested any snack art since I returned cause #aintnobodygottimeforthat. 





I'm looking forward to when we can get our whole family together with the Kimmels this summer!

Also, I should add that when I returned to Houston it snowed. They closed schools for 2 days because of the lingering ice! What is going on with 2 snows in one season in Houston?!