Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Madison 11 years old
I finally got around to taking the girls annual picures this weekend. Here are Madison's.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Living Like Allison
Allison is a messy person by nature and it drives us all crazy. I remember going to get her in her crib in the morning and she would have everything messed up in her bed. Kevin and I really feel sorry for Madison because she has to share a room with her. Our rule is that things have to be clean before you can play and Madison is constantly cleaning up after Allison so she isn't penalized. One night a few weeks ago Kevin came up with this crazy idea that we all start living like Allison. I did not like it at all and wasn't on board until this week since I had a sick Ashley. Ashley is our little girl that doesn't know how to relax so I had to sit and cuddle her and watch movies with her all week so she would sit and get better. Kevin would come home from work and look at things and I would just say "That we are living like Allison." He didn't say anything but boy it was driving us all crazy.
Finally last night Allison came to me and said she wanted to clean. I was surprised because I thought Kevin was crazy and this was not going to work. This morning we started getting our house back in order and Allison was on board 100%. That hasn't happened before. She loves to clean bathrooms but all the other stuff is like pulling teeth to get her to do. We first started by straitening things up and then did the deep cleaning and this is when it got fun.
Madison is more then willing to straighten up and put things away but you ask her to clean and it is the end of the world. I set a plan on how we could get things done quickly if we all worked together. Each girl took a bathroom while I tackled the kitchen and then I would help them when I was done in the kitchen and living room. Madison was not happy at all. Cleaning a bathroom is torture to her. Kevin was working from home so he got to experience all the drama with me. We were laughing so hard. Last time they helped me with the bathrooms Madison got away with the easy stuff and didn't have to touch a toilet but this time Allison figured it out and Madison was out of luck. 
Yes Madison has a scarf around her nose so she doesn't smell anything.
Now that it is all done it is fun to watch them. They are very protective about keeping it all clean because they realize what hard work it is to get it clean. It was a fun day cleaning and working along side my girls. I am slowly trying to let go and let them help me. Kevin is trying to point out that I am doing them a disservice by not letting them work along side me. It is hard but I am learning that my way is not the only way to do things.
Finally last night Allison came to me and said she wanted to clean. I was surprised because I thought Kevin was crazy and this was not going to work. This morning we started getting our house back in order and Allison was on board 100%. That hasn't happened before. She loves to clean bathrooms but all the other stuff is like pulling teeth to get her to do. We first started by straitening things up and then did the deep cleaning and this is when it got fun.
Madison is more then willing to straighten up and put things away but you ask her to clean and it is the end of the world. I set a plan on how we could get things done quickly if we all worked together. Each girl took a bathroom while I tackled the kitchen and then I would help them when I was done in the kitchen and living room. Madison was not happy at all. Cleaning a bathroom is torture to her. Kevin was working from home so he got to experience all the drama with me. We were laughing so hard. Last time they helped me with the bathrooms Madison got away with the easy stuff and didn't have to touch a toilet but this time Allison figured it out and Madison was out of luck. 
Yes Madison has a scarf around her nose so she doesn't smell anything.Now that it is all done it is fun to watch them. They are very protective about keeping it all clean because they realize what hard work it is to get it clean. It was a fun day cleaning and working along side my girls. I am slowly trying to let go and let them help me. Kevin is trying to point out that I am doing them a disservice by not letting them work along side me. It is hard but I am learning that my way is not the only way to do things.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Easter
For Easter this year we went to Kevin's parents house. Both of his sisters were there with their kids and our kids were dieing to see their cousins. Kevin decided to stay home and work on school work so it was just the girls that headed to Twin. This year the Easter bunny came on Saturday so we could use Sunday to focus on our Savior. The girls didn't know the plan so they were surprised to wake up and find their Easter baskets at the end of their beds but there was no complaining. A few of them tried to convince me that the candy was for breakfast but I told them no way. They survived. The kids were busy all day long. Madison and Allison are 6 and 3 years older then the the rest of the cousins but that doesn't' phase them. They always have the best time. Madison is so amazing with kids. She is so patient and loving. Madison's little cousin Ava who is 2 1/2 loves her so much. Where ever Madison was you would find Ava. Madison loves that Ava loves her so much. 
Allison had fun with Owen who is the closest cousin to her age. He also was the only little boy that was there this weekend but he didn't seem to mind.
At first we were worried that the kids weren't going to be able to hunt eggs outside because of the weather but it got a little warmer and the kids were to excited not to do it. Grandpa went out and hid all 80 eggs and we had a hard time holding the kids back while everyone was getting ready to go outside.
This is Allison and Owen the first ones out of the house to hunt for eggs. 
Ashley wasn't missing any part of the back yard she was very thorough. It was really fun watching all the kids run all over the yard. Each one had their own strategy. 
Ashley and Kylie
Kylie, Owen and Allison
Madison played it smart and went away from the house at first while the others were getting all the ones closest to the house.
Ava only wanted the pink eggs so it was fun watching her pass eggs because they weren't pink.
When the kids were done hunting and looking what each egg had in it, we moved on to the coloring eggs. Nana cooked up 3 dozen eggs for the kids to color. It was interesting coloring eggs with 3 four year olds, a two year old, a eight year old and an eleven year old. Madison and Allison are old pros so they helped a lot so there wasn't a big mess. It went pretty smooth.
The kids really had a great time and the all saved one egg each for the egg spinner. I bought this at the beginning of March and Ashley was very anxious to use it so she got the first turn and it was her birthday. 
All the kids did their eggs and they thought they were so cool.
This isn't the best picture but the eggs turned out tie dye. The kids thought it was pretty cool.
The girls had a great time celebrating Easter with their cousins and I am so glad that we did all the commercial Easter stuff on Saturday. It really helped keep the true spirit of Easter in our hearts on Sunday. We had a great time and will miss our family very much. The girls are already talking about the next time they get to see their cousins.
Allison had fun with Owen who is the closest cousin to her age. He also was the only little boy that was there this weekend but he didn't seem to mind.At first we were worried that the kids weren't going to be able to hunt eggs outside because of the weather but it got a little warmer and the kids were to excited not to do it. Grandpa went out and hid all 80 eggs and we had a hard time holding the kids back while everyone was getting ready to go outside.
This is Allison and Owen the first ones out of the house to hunt for eggs. Ashley wasn't missing any part of the back yard she was very thorough. It was really fun watching all the kids run all over the yard. Each one had their own strategy. 
Ashley and Kylie
Kylie, Owen and Allison
Madison played it smart and went away from the house at first while the others were getting all the ones closest to the house.
Ava only wanted the pink eggs so it was fun watching her pass eggs because they weren't pink.When the kids were done hunting and looking what each egg had in it, we moved on to the coloring eggs. Nana cooked up 3 dozen eggs for the kids to color. It was interesting coloring eggs with 3 four year olds, a two year old, a eight year old and an eleven year old. Madison and Allison are old pros so they helped a lot so there wasn't a big mess. It went pretty smooth.
The kids really had a great time and the all saved one egg each for the egg spinner. I bought this at the beginning of March and Ashley was very anxious to use it so she got the first turn and it was her birthday. 
All the kids did their eggs and they thought they were so cool.
This isn't the best picture but the eggs turned out tie dye. The kids thought it was pretty cool.The girls had a great time celebrating Easter with their cousins and I am so glad that we did all the commercial Easter stuff on Saturday. It really helped keep the true spirit of Easter in our hearts on Sunday. We had a great time and will miss our family very much. The girls are already talking about the next time they get to see their cousins.
Happy Birthday Ashley
Ashley turned 4 yesterday but we started celebrating on Friday. The celebrating started by going to lunch with Kevin. We normally do a birthday dinner but the girls and I were heading to Twin later so we bumped it up to a lunch. Ashley chose to go to Red Robin. As soon as we ordered our meal, Ashley was asking to open her gifts. It is always so fun to watch her. She gets so excited and doesn't hide it at all. 
The present that I was most excited for was the cape that I made her. She is always asking us to tie her blankets and make them capes so I thought she would really like to have one. 
She loved it and wore it the rest of lunch.
When lunch was over we hurried home to make sure everything was perfect for all of Ashley's friends to arrive for her party. Ashley's nickname has always been bug which is short for lady bug. She always gets a lady bug pair of pjs every year for her birthday. This year we decided to have a lady bug themed birthday. We played pin the dot on the lady bug.
The kids really had a great time with this and they loved that they got to have two turns. One little boy Michael got it right on the spot. We also had a lady bug pinata. When I bought the pinata I just thought it was a normal pinata that you have to hit but it was better. It had pull strings so I didn't have to worry about anybody getting hit. I never knew that there was such a thing but it was great. The kids really enjoyed it a lot. They would walk up and pull really hard and was so bummed if they didn't get the one string. 
We played a lot more games and really had a lot of fun but the best part as always is the cake. I thought I would try something new this year and I actually made a themed cake. It was not as hard as I thought it would be but not sure I am up for anything more complicated then a lady bug.
Ashley loved the cake and I am sure that she will be telling people about it for weeks. 
She had a great party. I love watching my kids have so much fun and make great memories with them.
When we were preparing for Ashley's birthday she really wanted her cousins to be there but I told her they live too far away. I did tell her that we would have a little party with them at Nana's house. That made her happy. So on Saturday her actual birthday we had another lady bug cake so she could celebrate with her cousins. Madison, Owen and Ava decorated by making a sign.
Ashley loved telling everyone that this said "Happy Birthday Ashley." They made her day by making this sign. After dinner we had our little party for Ashley with a lady bug cake and everything. 
She got some presents from her cousins. She was so sweet after opening them she looked Owen and said, "I love you Owen." Then she turned to Kylie and said, "I love you Kylie." It is so sweet how these three interact with each other. They are all 4 and you would think there would be a lot of power struggles but they get along very well.
I think Ashley really had a great birthday that hopefully she will remember it for a long time. She is such a joy to have in our family and I can't imagine not having her smile in my life.
The present that I was most excited for was the cape that I made her. She is always asking us to tie her blankets and make them capes so I thought she would really like to have one. 
She loved it and wore it the rest of lunch.When lunch was over we hurried home to make sure everything was perfect for all of Ashley's friends to arrive for her party. Ashley's nickname has always been bug which is short for lady bug. She always gets a lady bug pair of pjs every year for her birthday. This year we decided to have a lady bug themed birthday. We played pin the dot on the lady bug.
The kids really had a great time with this and they loved that they got to have two turns. One little boy Michael got it right on the spot. We also had a lady bug pinata. When I bought the pinata I just thought it was a normal pinata that you have to hit but it was better. It had pull strings so I didn't have to worry about anybody getting hit. I never knew that there was such a thing but it was great. The kids really enjoyed it a lot. They would walk up and pull really hard and was so bummed if they didn't get the one string. 
We played a lot more games and really had a lot of fun but the best part as always is the cake. I thought I would try something new this year and I actually made a themed cake. It was not as hard as I thought it would be but not sure I am up for anything more complicated then a lady bug.
Ashley loved the cake and I am sure that she will be telling people about it for weeks. 
She had a great party. I love watching my kids have so much fun and make great memories with them.When we were preparing for Ashley's birthday she really wanted her cousins to be there but I told her they live too far away. I did tell her that we would have a little party with them at Nana's house. That made her happy. So on Saturday her actual birthday we had another lady bug cake so she could celebrate with her cousins. Madison, Owen and Ava decorated by making a sign.
Ashley loved telling everyone that this said "Happy Birthday Ashley." They made her day by making this sign. After dinner we had our little party for Ashley with a lady bug cake and everything. 
She got some presents from her cousins. She was so sweet after opening them she looked Owen and said, "I love you Owen." Then she turned to Kylie and said, "I love you Kylie." It is so sweet how these three interact with each other. They are all 4 and you would think there would be a lot of power struggles but they get along very well.I think Ashley really had a great birthday that hopefully she will remember it for a long time. She is such a joy to have in our family and I can't imagine not having her smile in my life.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Chefs in training
The girls are out of school right now on track break and they have been having fun in the kitchen. As Madison has gotten older we have let her do more things in the kitchen and that has sparked interest in Allison. They want to bake or cook all the time. This week I have let loose and let them go at it. One morning Allison made fluffy pancakes and scrambled eggs. They were very yummy. One evening this week Madison made dinner all by herself. She made Tortellini with an Alfredo sauce. It was a big hit everyone had seconds including Allison who never does. The one bad thing was there was no leftovers for lunch the next day. I wanted some more. The girls are also good at desserts. Madison made some cherry turnovers and Allison made a cheesecake. We have really had a treat this week with all of their cooking. Tonight I thought I would make it fun for all and we made personal pizzas. Ashley is always wanting to help and I thought this would be a good way to include her. 
Allison was in heaven because cheese is all she likes on pizza and we don't normally have just cheese pizza. 
Ashley surprised me. I thought she would only put olives and cheese on but she put all the toppings on and ate them all too. Normally she doesn't eat it all if I put it on. 
Madison treated it like a piece of art. She was so meticulous with the placement of all the toppings. 
The girls had a lot of fun and thought their pizzas were the best. It is so hard for me to turn the reins over to them but I need to remember how much fun they have. Messes can be cleaned up and the memories are priceless. It has taken along time but I am learning to let go and let them be kids.
Allison was in heaven because cheese is all she likes on pizza and we don't normally have just cheese pizza. 
Ashley surprised me. I thought she would only put olives and cheese on but she put all the toppings on and ate them all too. Normally she doesn't eat it all if I put it on. 
Madison treated it like a piece of art. She was so meticulous with the placement of all the toppings. 
The girls had a lot of fun and thought their pizzas were the best. It is so hard for me to turn the reins over to them but I need to remember how much fun they have. Messes can be cleaned up and the memories are priceless. It has taken along time but I am learning to let go and let them be kids.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
