Princesses

Ok, I feel a little silly, but that is what being a Mommy is. When your daughter asks you dress up like a princess you just submit and put on your nearly six year wedding dress. Afterall isn't that why I kept it, for my daughter. I tried to get her to commit to wearing it when she gets married, but she says she is going to wear a snow white dress when she gets married.

Morning Greeter

Both of our kids wake up a bit on the grumpy side, not Kyle. He is always super happy to see us in the morning. I suppose with all the sleep he gets he would be the happiest. Sometimes he sleeps 12 hours straight. Two nights ago, was the first time he woke in the middle of the night in around five months. Our kids wake up more often.

Last Days of Sun

Here Kyle (who was chewing on my hair) and I are enjoying some sun while I read. Isn't he cute?

Napping with Daddy.

Nika has sure grown up. I can remember pictures of Nika asleep on Matt's chest at the hospital, when she was born and now 4 years 6 months later she is still doing it.

Crawling Kyle

Hey there are benefits to crawling as Kyle has discovered recently. The other day Kyle found a discarded orange sucker on the floor. Finders Keepers right? Christian threw a fit that I would not let him open a third sucker to partially eat on it, so threw it on the floor. Kyle sweeped in to the rescue (more like inched wormed into the rescue).

Just a quick disclaimer. I don't normally let him eat; A) Candy B)Off the Floor C) Chocking Hazards. It was just to cute to not document.

Fall is here.

Ask me how I know fall is here. Could it be fall leaves, brisk air, rain, or pumpkins? No! Muddy toes, muddy floors, and wet noses. Last week after watching cartoons of kids playing outside in the mud the kids and I decided to let them play out side in the mud. It went really well on TV, but not on my floors. Christian cried that his boot fell off then figured it would be fun to feel mud in his toes. He came is side to tell me something and tracked mud on the floors. They did have fun, and to be honest I enjoyed clean the mud off the floors and screaming as Christian put his toes in the mud. Hey they were having fun, so I was too. But I haven't sent them out in the rain again yet!

Train Trip

Christian has really been into Trains, so Matt took Nika and Christian up to Portland on the train. They were so excited. I think the only thing that Christian didn't like about the trip was standing next to the Engine just as it was about to take off. It made loud noise, which really scared the little man.

Day Trip to OMSI

Matt came up with the great idea of taking the day off so we would all go to OMSI. The kids did so well. Kyle stayed chipper through many wakeful hours of playing, as did Nika and Christian without thier regular naps. OMSI is so terrific, we only made it through the biggest of seven or so areas. It is so great that the kids are getting old enough for these things.

First Day of Preschool

It seems like such a big step to send Nika to Preschool. I mean it isn't Kindergarden, but it seems like it should be as important as Kindergarden.

Today was her first day, but last night Nika didn't think she could wait another night. She had had it up to here with waiting for Preschool to start. She had heard, "It is a long wait." "Not long now." "It is a short wait" and "Tomorrow." To her it all meant the same thing, "Not today Nika." "Mommy Preschool is never coming!" she said to me last night. I think she was shocked when she finally got to put on her School Clothes this morning.

Still I don't know how I will ever deal with getting everyone ready in the morning. I was up at 6 am and we were still running late.

Nika's teacher's name is Mrs. Read. She sits next to a girl named Maya. On her first day of school she learned about the letter "N" and "I"

Kiley's Visit

Our neice Kiley came to visit last week. It was such a joy to have her, but I really don't think I can handle four kids. Nika was sad to see Kiley play. Many of you will recall that Kiley lived with us for around four months last year. It seemed like much longer.

Blanket Fort

Recently the kids made a fort. It is really great to see how well the kids play together. It was totally Christian's idea and Nika had so much fun doing it with him.

First Teeth

This morning I found out that Kyle has his first two teeth. I felt like a terrible aunt, because I didn't even realize they were there. For several weeks I was checking daily, but saw no evidence. Discouraged I stopped looking. Those pristine flawless gums now have two teeth all the way broken through. Bitter Sweet!

Yesterday we spent the day at two picnics. The first at Silver Falls State Park with family and friends from England and the second at Matt's company picnic.

The first picnic was so nice. The kids played in the cool water and the grown kids went for a short hike to see the South Fall. Our friends from England are actually my step granddad's foreign exchange student from when his kids were younger. I went to OSU with thier daughter and visited them for several days after graduated. So it was a grand reunion.

The Second Picnic was just as terrific. Matt's company picnic is always more like a fair then a picnic. The kids enjoyed horse rides (multiple), ice cream, bouncy houses, cotten candy, kettle korn, korn on the cob, movies, sand castle building, and wonderful food. Not to mention many new friends. There was even fireworks, but we didn't stay for those because the kids were worn out.

Several weeks ago we got a professional photographer take pictures of our kids. Kyle wasn't in the pictures, because we didn't know how long he would be with us and it ended up being complicated enough with the kids we had so far.

Top picture (left to right, back the front); Nika (4), Soren (3), Benton (3), Rachel (3), Christian (2), AJ (1), Keiton (1), ? (1), Nat (1), and Karis (1).

And the trouble begins.

Today Kyle rolled tummy to back for the first time. He did it several more times back and forth then looked at me. I could read in his eyes, "Did you see? Did you see, Auntie Meghan I did a trick!" It was so sweet.

His coordination is just out of control now too. He is finding things on the floor and stuffing them in his mouth. I was eating a cookie and he grabbed it and stuffed it in his mouth.

By the way we are looking for a good house cleaning person. If you know of anyone let me know.

Kid's Photo Shot

Kyle's Photo Shot

Kyle eats Oatmeal. Yeah.

Boy do things change. When I was feeding my kids food for the first time they recommended waiting until 6 months. But taking Kyle to the Peditrician last week they gave me the go ahead to start the solids. He really loves being at the big kids table.
Sunday Uncle Josh made a fort for Christian. It was so sweet watching Kyle trying to get into the fort with Christian. No he doesn't crawl, but if he was close to crawling he would have been in that fort. Can't wait until he is crawling.

Beware the Goose!

For those not familiar with the Goose it is a fun Game we have played with our Friends over the last Six or Seven years. Maybe someone else would be will to fill in more of the History. But basically when some major life event come along the goose will be "regifted." Well several weekends my brother-in-law (Josh) celebrated B.S. Grad and recieved the Dreaded Goose. Now all had hoped the Goose would be leaving us when Josh and his family leave for Portugual or even Carnagie while they are there. But, I am sad to report that last night that same sweet Josh (yuck) regifted the Goose to Matt for his upcoming Birthday.

So beware all. The Goose just might be there when you open that next gift from us.

Cartoons

Ok I know it is wrong, but while at my Mom and Boyd's house in Sisters we discovered that Kyle likes Cartoons. Here you see all of the kids laying down to the right of the TV watching cartoons. Nika and Christian love laying down and hanging out with Kyle on the floor.