Crazy Little Family

Here we are in the middle of December preparing for the holidays and trying to keep warm. We've been so busy the last couple of months. We had a wonderful halloween: Samantha was Silvermist Fairy (from the Tinkerbell movies), Bradley was a cowboy and Dylan an Indian. The boys actually did really well in their costumes.

In November we hit Christmas Candylane at Hershey Park on a nice warm day. We took all the kids and my nephew Kevin. It was such a good bonding time with all the kids. We all had a blast and for once we weren't super-bundled up!

We had a wonderful thanksgiving spent with all the kids grandparents at Granny and Grandpa's house. Such wonderful family time. And that Sunday we put up our Christmas Tree. While the boys could have cared less, Samantha was such a little lady putting it up. Much like her mother she admires each and every ornament as we put it on the tree. She listened to my stories of the different memories I have of ornaments. And she was genuinely excited to find some ornaments herself. Often shouting "I remember this one." It was very touching.

Last weekend we put up Grandpa and Granny's Christmas Tree. Their tree gives artificial tree's a bad name as far as I'm concerned. I came very close to dragging that PITA tree out to the curb several times. But it is up and it is beautiful--despite the broken lights! Samantha absolutely loved putting that tree up too. And then, finding a number of christmas cards Granny saved over the years she began to play post office. Which means Granny and Mommy played post office too--a lot.

Aunt Jen came over to bake cookies with us too. We sure baked a lot of cookies but we were so distracted by the wonderful snowfall. It was beautiful. It snowed all day--big, beautiful flakes. But it was the type of snow that only stayed on the grass, and that is why it was so wonderful. We got Samantha's sled and Uncle John, Daddy, and I went in the backyard and she got to go down the hill in the sled several times. Until we realized that we were tearing up Grandpa's yard--sorry Dad!

We are very excited for this weekend. We are celebrating my nephew Max's very first birthday. On Sunday we get to celebrate his Christening too. I know Samantha is really looking forward to spending time with her cousins. And I am looking forward to becoming a godmother to such a special little guy.

Tuesdays

I've been lucky enough since I went back to work after the boys were born to work at home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. What a lifesaver. It gives me the chance to do some household chores, go to the grocery store, and work in my sweats.

Starting this fall on Tuesdays Samantha stays with me. Its been really cool to have her home with me while I'm working. Sure, I've had some guilt at times. Stopping work so I can get her set up with a project. Or ignoring her so I can work. But now that she is five she is so independent and it has for the most part worked out well.

Samantha has dance class (ballet/tap) at 1 pm on Tuesdays. It is awesome that I can take her to dance class during my extended lunch break. I didn't get the chance to be a stay at home mom to my kids. But this feels like a little taste of it and I'm grateful for it.

Today was an extra special Tuesday because not only was I able to give my girl a bath, take her to dance class, set her up with projects. But since it was beautiful out she was able to ride her bike to the community park. What a lovely day.

In unrelated news. Why are the boys up giggling in their cribs 40 minutes past bedtime?

Happy 5th Birthday to My Little Girl

Samantha is five years old now.

To me five is such a milestone. She's losing that little kid cuteness and gaining that young girl sweetness. We had such a great birthday this year. I took off the afternoon before her birthday to get some last minute presents and decorations. Then after she was asleep her daddy and I decorated the house with some balloons and streamers. So when she came down on the morning of her birthday she felt so super special. You could tell how much she appreciated it. Then we gave her a present, a new Barbie Video that she "really, really" wanted. She gave the most excited reaction. And we let her watch it on the way into daycare. After a day at daycare we celebrated with cake. Her daddy and I sang happy birthday and she opened some more presents.

On the Sunday after her birthday we had her party. We did it a little different this year. Instead of inviting a ton of guests over to Granny and Grandpa's house we thought since this was a big birthday we'd have it at a BounceU. We really wanted to have it closer to home so we would be able to invite her friends from daycare. And it was well worth it. Samantha had a blast playing with everyone. Bradley and Dylan did too! It was great to see some friends Sammi hadn't seen in a while. It was a great birthday.

I really cannot believe my girl is five. I keep telling her to stop growing up. But as she told me the other day she needs to grow so she can drive and reach things. I of course told her I still can't reach things.

I'm so proud of Samantha. She is so smart--sometimes too smart. Sweet and loving. Always wanting to help others. Innocent, like only a child can be. Helpful. Always wanting to learn. Playful. Crafty. And she is so stunningly beautiful.

Happy 5th Birthday Samantha. I love you and I always will.

Toothfairy

The toothfairy has made two visits to our house in the last month. While I find this completely gross, Samantha is thrilled to be growing up with such a big girl milestone. Samantha put her tooth (each time) under her pillow and the toothfairy brought her two $1 coins.

What a Month

Wow, its been over a month since I've written. We can't access this site at work anymore, not that I would dare update it at work.

Samantha turned 5 in the past month. I don't even know what to say about that!

They boys still aren't talking much but I've noticed some progress. For example my dear youngest child Dylan was just unzipping the laptop bag for my work computer. To which no less than 10 times I told him "no." Of course he stared at me with a huge smile on his face. I came over to him, and said "no" four times. To which each time he clear as day said "yes" back to me each time. Part of me was indeed happy to hear a new word. But most of me just knows this is a sign of things to come--behavior-wise.

Samantha has been playing soccer for a month now. In fact, her daddy took her to her game right now (I'm home sick). She loves playing. But her philosophy of "not wanting to take the ball from the other kids because it is nice to share" while sweet and something I'm happy we instilled in her doesn't work so well for soccer games. Although she did score her first goal last week. We were so proud. The boys love going to her games because they get to play in their red wagon. Samantha really likes her practices on Thursday nights because she gets to have a ball for most of the practice and they play games and other fun things. I like it because I can see the practice field from our house and we don't have to load up the car with all the kiddos!

The worst part of the last month was finding out Samantha had the dreaded swine flu. Back in mid-September she got it. It wasn't that bad for her. Just a periodic fever and some headache. No coughing or sneezing or other flu symptoms.

That's my update for now. I'll talk about Samantha turning five as soon as I'm able to accept it.

Hershey Park

It seems that we didn't make it to Hershey Park as much this summer as we did in previous years. We took Samantha a few times by herself and even went to the water park a few times. But we really wanted to take the boys to the park this weekend. Well, slowly but surely all of the kids are getting sick. Bradley started it last Wednesday, Samantha on Thursday, and Dylan on Friday. And all weekend they keep passing this fever back and forth.

So today we finally managed to get over to Hershey Park. We didn't stay long because the kids still aren't themselves, but they sure had a ball on the rides. Hopefully we can get over there another day in September or at least in October for the halloween fun!

Here's to another fun-filled summer!

This is a little video of the kids earlier today:

Window Heirarchy

so last night I was playing barbies with Samantha in her room. And we started talking about how lucky she is to have her own room. I made sure to point out that she was the only one in our house with her own room. so, this morning on the ride into work she started to talk about how she and her brothers only have one window in their room and mommy and daddy have three. As if that isn't fair. I informed her that as soon as she started to pay the mortgage I'll switch rooms with her. Of course she asked what that meant and I said--it means you need to stay comfortable in your own room.

she's such a smarty pants.