Fangs

I know it isn't Halloween but Tate just lost his fourth tooth in a row. Giving him FANGS! I hope they grow in soon so he can chew his food befor swallowing it; :)

Over due trip to Monticello

For fall break we all headed to Monticello for a mini vaca with Grammy and Grandpa Ramsay. We had such a great time.
Highlights:
Isabel asserted her Independence more through out the week. She is really starting to talk and demand what she wants.
Peaches had her birthday, turning four and was spoiled rotten. Court gave here a perfect night time package. Jammie's, books, and a flashlight. Tate gave her a ballerina dress up outfit with fairy wings. I gave her clothes and a coat. Grammy and Grandpa gave a "paper doll" set of a princess and a ballerina made of wood and magnets. Granny gave Peaches two necklaces that she loves but I think will only mean more to her as she grows older. But her most special gift of the day was from Daddy. Gentry gave Peach a necklace that sparkled and said "Daddy's Girl" and three little rings. Peach had him help her put them on and then holds her hands together and looks Daddy in his eyes and says, "I think I'm in love." (She may have seen one too many Princess movies) It is so fun to have a girl that is growing older.
Tate loved driving the tractor with Grandpa. He got to run over an old shed and help gather scraps from around the farm to make a huge wood pile. He also loved riding around on the lawn mower while Court mowed the back yard for Grandpa.
Court got to light the bond fire! A cub scout dream to start a fire that grows bigger than a house. It grew so big and hot no one could stand with in 50 feet of it. He also won the high score on the pinball machine in Kevin and Robin's basement. A score that uncle Brady has held for quite a while.
Gentry spent some time putting siding and roofing on a shed at the farm with Justin, Kevin and his Grandpa. I think that is how he bonds with them. They all had a good time. We also got to drive Kevin's T Bird. All the kids got a ride and the boys thought they were the bomb!
I enjoyed my time most spending it with one of Gentry's favorite people, his Granny. She is so sweet and it was nice to feel like I was making a difference in her day. We talked and she painted. We even snuggled on her bed and watched an old TV show. Nothing big, just our hearts binding together. It was fun to learn that she likes ice cream just as much as I do as an evening snack.
We all enjoyed the beginning of the drive home from Monticello to Moab. Through out the years we have all gotten to know the names of certain rock formations through out the area. We have named some of our own after each child. This trip we found a formation that looked like a bell and we named it "Izzy's Bell." One more thing to look for each time we go. Kevin and Robin are always so good to us. We had such a great time and can't wait for the next time we will be headed down to Monticello.

What are you having?

I am so lucky to have

and

They have filled my life with Starwars, sports equiptment, cars and Legos.

I have also been blessed with

and

They have brought me dress up clothes, babies, princesses, hair fun, and so much chatter.

I hope my next GIRL enriches my life just as much. We can't wait!

Piano Recital

Courtland and Tate had a piano recital Saturday. They did great. I am happy that they are growing to learn and the piano. It makes me happy.

I love that Emily is their teacher. She does a good job and I know no teacher could love her students more.

Easter Pictures

My children are the center of my world. Most everything else is dictated by their needs and what we want for them. So I can't help but post pictures of them. These were taken on Easter.

Isabel is barely a year

.

Peaches is 3 1/2

.

Tate is almost 5 and believe it or not, this is the best picture we could get of him since all he wants to do is make silly faces

.

Court is almost 10

All I Want for Christmas...

Tate and Court were playing in some sand that was on the side of my house on Saturday. They got the hose out and started making dirt clods. Then, once you had dirt clods what else are you going to do then throw them at each other? Ten minutes later I heard screaming. I ran out to see what caused it, Court had thrown one at Tate and it hit him right in the mouth. Now Tate was bleeding and telling me how badly he was hurt. I take him in and start washing out his mouth and notice that his front three teeth are moving with the water. His gums are bruised and two days later he lost two of the three. Luckily the third one stabilized and he should be able to keep it.

I wonder if these boys will make it to adulthood without any permanent scars that they leave on each other. His adult teeth will probably not grow in for a year or two, but it could be worse.

The ironic thing is that they weren't even fighting. It was just a game and both were having tons of fun until the tears. Can you just imagine what they could do if they were mad?

The tooth fairy came and left $5.00 for each tooth that night and Tuesday morning we went to the store for Tate to pick out some toys.

Bathroom Talk

OK this may be a little graphic.

I have a five year old boy. I don't know if all five year old boys are this way but I am going to tell you about him.

Tate was potty trained right around three. He hasn't had many accidents through the years, but he does have one MAJOR problem. He likes to play while he pees.

A couple examples:

Sometimes he will leave the seat down and then he tries to "fill it" and get the whole seat as wet as he can.

He will pee on the screws at the back of the toilet and it runs over.

He aims for the trash can sitting next to the toilet and it gets not only all over that, but it also gets all over the wall and floor.

Sometimes he just isn't paying attention and so it just goes where ever. One day he ran in to go and didn't close the door (the next big hurdle) and he just wasn't aiming at all. So I say, "Tate!" and he turns his whole body towards me and says, "What?" "What?!" I say, "you are peeing all over the floor." He turns towards the toilet, making his parts face the toilet too, and looks down. Then turns back to me and says "No. It is in the potty." ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

I have tried talking to him about it, laughing it off, scolding him, threatening him, guilting him... nothing works. Until now, I figured we had better go back to the potty training days. Cheerios on the back of the toilet. He can throw a couple in and try and sink them. I hope it works.

I am just not thinking about the ones he eats before, after, or during the peeing.

Kangaroo Zoo

My Sophomore year of high school a girl my age moved into our ward. We started hanging out right away and we kept touch even after we were married and had kids. Then when we moved to Saratoga Springs, she and her husband were living down the street. Now our kids get to play with each other. Circle of life.

Last week Tate and Peaches were invited to Wyatt and Matthew's birthday party at Kangaroo Zoo. If you have never been, you really should go. There are all kinds of slides and bounce houses for kids to play in and on. I thought Peach might be a little afraid of the big slides, but it only took her three minutes to be running from the bottom to start again. Brynn (cousin) was also there and she was a great help to Peach. They had a really fun time and were worn out when it came to bed time that night.

Happy Birthday Wyatt and Matthew! Thanks for inviting us. And more importantly, thank you Monica for being my friend for so many years.

Snow Cave

With the kids being out of school, there has been a lot of playing outside. It is the only way for me to survive. Gentry and the boys built a very large snow cave and they played in it for a few days until the sun finally melted it enough to make it unsafe. Tate kept telling me that it was warm in the cave, but I would still make them come in when I thought they were good and cold enough.

Let’s Play In The Snow

I am so glad that winter is here.

Finally snow!

Let’s Play!

Two Wheeler

Tate is riding his two wheeler now without the training wheels.
I took the training wheels off and tried running along side of him, hanging on to the seat but he was to scared to trust me. He kept turning to look at me and make sure that I was there for him. After three of four times up and down the street he finally started trying for to actually ride. He got it really quick but noticed in our shadow that I wasn't hanging on just running along side and threw a fit. He was so mad at me and wouldn't let me help him any more.
I went in and got Gentry and ten minutes later was called back out to see Tate giving Daddy all the credit for teaching him how to ride a two wheeler.
There is no credit for the mommy.
He couldn't be prouder of himself

And I couldn't be prouder of him.
Good Job Tate!
You ROCK!
He even got the special plate for dinner.

Piano Recital

Court and Tate had a piano recital this last week and both did great. I am so proud of them for practicing and are developing this talent.Boys with Emily (piano teacher) and friend Jacob

Tate and Court at the piano

Isabel listening and loving the music

Peaches at the recital

Halloween

Halloween is always such a blast. As my kids get older it just gets funner. It makes me wonder if there is the same progression but in reverse once they become teenagers. I guess we will see.
We have been very busy. I was in charge of the games for Courts class party. 45 mins of activities for 9 and 10 year old kids. I was nervous I would be done and still have a half hour of stuff to get done. Luckily it was the opposite. We didn't have time to complete every game, but regardless, everyone had a good time.
This year we went to three Halloween parties. Including a family one that we go to every year. Our neighbors invite pretty much the neighborhood and everyone brings food to share. There are costume contest, donuts on a string, and kids jumping on the tramp. Everyone has such a great time and it is always good to get together as neighbors and friends. Last night was the best so far. Peach loved dancing, Tate bobbed for apples, and Court played football in his suit (yikes!)
Peaches was a purple fairy. She didn't like her wings after wearing them all day so she just went without them

When we asked Courtland what he wanted to be he couldn't decide. I made suggestion after suggestion, showed him costumes, and tried talking him into some, but he told me that they weren't really him. "What is you?" I asked. "Um, you know, like a missionary. Something like that." O.K. As Halloween got closer he decided he wanted to be a prophet. I finally gave in and got the things to make him old but after getting his makeup and hair done in the morning we talked him into just being an old man. It turned out great.

Isabel was a pumpkin. The cutest pumpkin I have ever seen.

Tate was a brave night. He totally got into it too. Tate has a fun personality, so anything he does he has a good time.
I hope everyone had as good of a season as we did. Happy Halloween!

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Saturday between conferences we headed out to pick pumpkins. It was an honor to be able to support neighbors in this effort. In February, a three year old boy in the neighborhood was diagnosed with leukemia. Another neighbor planted some pumpkins to now be sold and the profits to go to this family. I love our neighborhood. It feels like a community. For two hours friends sold pumpkins, hay bales, corn stocks, and even hot chocolate. It drizzled and rained the whole time, but (I heard) every item was sold. I hope everyone felt like it was a success.
My kids certainly loved it!

Peaches’ pumpkin

Tate’s pick

Court got the big one

Set out front

This is on old picture of Peach with the pumpkins we grew a couple years ago.

Faux Hawk

Tate is one cool dude. He cares about how he is dressed and what his hair looks like (even if the look that he is going for is messy, he wants to be aware of how it looks to make sure he still looks good). For his first day of preschool he had to get a hair cut because "it is just looking a little bit shabby". He got a faux hawk. Barely. But don't you dare tell him he doesn't look cool.

I have found a great site that gives girl hair style ideas. I absolutely love making Peach "look like a princess" and she loves the attention. Today's hair is adorable and something I would never have come up with on my own. This one is called Braid Flower. I love having a girl!

Fishing Anyone?

Mommy bragging moment… Tate is becoming a little fish! Now at the pool he decided that he would rather swim by himself then with the noodle. The flotation device that was once his safety blanket is now hindering him. I thought I would post a video of him swimming. This was at the beginning of the day. By the end, he didn’t even think about it. He just knew that he could swim. I have to agree.

Events of the week

The week is almost over. I can’t believe it. We visited Charlotte’s Nature Museum, a Vietnam War Memorial Wall, and North Carolina Zoological Park.
The nature museum was fun for the kids, lots of exhibits, tons of hands on things. My favorite moment was when a butterfly landed on Jennifer’s stomach. She is pregnant and it was like the butterfly wanted to be close to her baby. She couldn’t get it to fly off her. An employee had to take it off her. The memorial wall was more for us adults. I have never been to a memorial like this before. (Actually I guess I did in Hawaii at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, but that was on a different scale) There was something reverent about touching the men’s names who have given their lives for our country. If I was a poet I might be able to express the emotion but…
The zoo was great. We meet with Melissa and kids (Gentry’s cousin). Fun that the kids all ready knew each other so no strangeness between them. It was such a hot day so we had to buy ice cream for $3 each and cool off by the fans but totally worth the hour and a half drive. I liked the laid out of the zoo. It seemed like the animals were living in more natural surroundings.


It's been a great week. I hope your was just as fun. Oh and in case you missed it, the picture of Tate being a bug... yes he had peed his pants.

Burning Hot

We go to the pool on quite a regular basis. It is a way to get out of the house, we all love it, and it is an activity that we can play together. This week we’ve been three times already. Unfortunately another disaster has struck. It was in the 90’s weather wise, but to cool off we just got in the water. Tate needed to go to the bathroom. It seems every time we go he needs to pee. We start to walk the 500 yards to the bathroom but the ground is so hot that I had to put on my flip flops and then carry Tate there. On the way back he doesn’t want to be carried (he is five and too cool for that). Running for the pool he is saying, “Ouch! Hot! Ow! Hot! Oh! Ouch!” each step. Turns out he got 2nd degree burns on the bottom of his feet from that. Every toe has a tiny blister and the balls of his feet are bright red. Poor guy. He is walking around on his heels because they hurt so much. Maybe next time he will welcome mommy carrying him.
Random pictures from the pool of each kid.