Second week of October 2016

We sure do a lot of fun things in the fall!

Maxwell creating a drawing with a shape template.

Big girl playing at the mall on the toys while the boys were in school.

Melissa and I kidnapped Mary Ann one night and took her to get a reflexology massage.  She was totally surprised and clearly nervous as we were driving there and she had no idea what we were doing.  It was Melissa and her first time getting this type of massage and they loved it (of course - they are great!).

Pumpkin painting!

Maxwell was very detailed in his painting this time  (he puts a date on everything now).  He kept saying he was "doing more details" as he'd paint other things.   That must be something he's hearing in Kindergarten.

Ditching the paintbrushes

Emmalyn had her 30 month check up with her pediatrician.  She was so excited to see and talk to Dr. Nail.  She let him check everything with no problem.  pin prick to check her iron and she said ouch that tickles :) it was awesome. He thinks she will be 5 ft 3-4 inches tall when she grows up. 

The results of the questionnaire

She had her finger pricked so they could check her iron levels in her blood.  When they pricked her finger, she said "ouch, that tickles". :) It was awesome. 

Emmalyn's 30 month stats:

Weight - 26 lbs 7 oz 32nd %

Height - 35.3 in 39th %

(huge jump from 17th at 24 months.  I doubt this will last)

Head Circumference - 19 in 58th %

Playing at the park

Maxwell made friends and rode his bike around.  Now that he's in public school, he always seems to know someone at the park.

Emmalyn touching a butterfly (I hope that doesn't really kill them)

Aunt Tammy was so kind and sent the kids a Halloween card.  They were VERY excited.

Cool glow in the dark stickers

I got a little adventurous with her hair

At Kindermusik, they were doing a song about cleaning up and so we were "scrubbing" the walls.

We had a play date with a bunch of the boys from Maxwell's class at Castle Montessori and their teacher Mrs. Cynthia even came.  They were ALL so excited to be around each other.

Dylan, Preston, Joshua, Mrs. Cynthia, Maxwell, and Lucas

She was the best!  I can't wait for Emmalyn to be old enough next year to go to school and be in her class.

Me wearing Maxwell's glasses.  Yes, I have a child size head. (but yet oh so round...yuck - not a good picture!)

I got out all of Maxwell's winter clothes to get them washed and ready for cooler temps that will be here eventually.  This kid has quite a lot of clothes.

Blowing bubbles

She loves pretending to be a doctor.

Emmalyn still wants to nurse, she asks for milk each morning or will point to my boob and say "it works momma" and I tell her it doesn't  Sometimes she's okay with that and other times she loses it.

Peter bribed Emmalyn with a sticker for going pee in the potty and a sticker AND a sucker for going poop.  So she pooped (at night!) two nights in a row!  The next day I got her to pee on the potty. But she still doesn't have it all the way because then the next day, she peed in potty then came over and peed on the floor, showered, and peed on the floor again.

Second week of August 2017 - saying goodbye to Montessori

I helped coordinate an event at work where we had the American Heart Association and an expert in heart health come and talk to us.  We learned hands-only CPR.  It was a really great event while shocking and scary to heart all the statistics.

To help Donna be more comfortable in her room, I went and bought her a desk and a chair and then Peter put it together (he was thrilled - can you tell?).

I went and read to Maxwell's preschool class during their library time for the last time.  :(  I've loved doing it once a month for the past two years and will really miss it.  I have a ton of respect for his teacher - it's not easy wrangling all these 3-5 year olds!

Pool style

Mr Chris spoiled her with a popsicle after swimming.

My cousin posted this picture of my Grandparent's house with such a nice thought.  She is so right on!  This room has changed very little in the last 25 years (how is that possible with so many little grandkids and great grandkids running around that everything has held up so well?!) and I love it and my grandparents so much!

He got to wear a big backpack to school.

My giggly little girl was helping water the tree...

...but quickly decided it was more fun to get other people wet,

including herself!

Once she was all wet, we put on her swim suit and her and Landen played in the pool (still with the hose).

Video - Emmalyn singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Maxwell's note to his preschool teacher on the last day of school.  This is the front of the envelope.

And his note inside.  

Last time driving him to preschool.  I have LOVED the quality time we've gotten together during the 15-20 minute drive to school in the mornings.  

(tickling himself for a good smile)

Last picture out in front of the school.  He's certainly grown since the first day.

Last time for him to sign in with his code.  He's been in charge of doing it himself for awhile now.  I stayed for a little bit so I could watch the kids participate in field day.

They had a field day. (It wasn't technically the last day of summer school but just the last day that Maxwell would go.  I wanted him to have a couple weeks "off" before he started Kinder.)  I took this picture because at many previous school parties he would refuse to walk along the beam because he was scared so I was super proud of him for doing it this time while trying to balance a frisbee on his head.

water/sponge relay

We love Ms. Cynthia so much!  She and I both teared up as I gave her a hug goodbye.  She has been a great teacher for him and he's thrived in her class.  I am already looking forward to Emmalyn having her as a teacher in a year.

His cubby

All these boys are going to Kinder at different schools - Dylan, Luckshya, Maxwell, and Joshua.

Diaper head shenanigans

She swapped her couture hat for some heels and a backpack (backpacks are a big staple of her wardrobe lately).

The kids and I hit up the farmer's market on Saturday

She's eyeing his sucker with a determined look on her face!

Then we had a birthday party for Emmalyn's neighborhood friend, Hudson, at a play place.  The cash register again was popular for both of them.

Giddyup!

Enjoying her cupcake

The wall was a big light brite toy - it entertained them for a long time. 

Our busy Saturday wasn't over yet.  We also went to the library for new books, (Maxwell has rocked the city's summer reading program) a few minutes on the computer, and to play with the new toy area.

Sweet little hand on that mouse.  Computer skills run in his genes.

And if this wasn't a busiest enough day?  We also fit in a haircut! Got to look studly for Kindergarten.

A few details that show his personality...  He's wearing an "in-n-out" pin on his shirt that Uncle Joe gave him.  He totally loves it.  He's also rocking his sweat band on his wrist.  He loves things on his wrist whether it's a bracelet, a watch, or his sweat band.

The kids wrapped up their night with their favorite babysitter, Bridgette, while Peter and I went out on a date.

Peter created this "Emmalyn" pancake on Sunday morning.  It's stuffed with Nutella. mmmm

The kids still have their weekly swimming lessons with Coach Katie and Coach Jada.  Maxwell's getting better thanks to the private lesson but Emmalyn is still hesitant to swim and wants me in the pool with her.