January and February...

I really hate January and February. They are such blah months. The holidays are over, there is still a bunch of snow and it's cold- so you are forced to stay indoors. Since we have been inside so much, we have had to get a little creative about what we've been doing so that we don't all go crazy with cabin fever.

The kids obviously got some new toys for Christmas, which has really helped me out. One of their favorites was a set of mega-blocks. Ryan loves to build towers and then knock them over. Kate loves to sit with him on the ground and hold the blocks- maybe she thinks she's helping. Ryan is sweet with her though- he will bring her a block if he can see that they are out of her reach, and she sits and laughs when he knocks over his latest architectural creation.

Ryan is also to the point that he thinks he needs to wear underwear now instead of diapers. Sigh. I hate potty training. If there was a place you could send you kids- like a potty training bootcamp- I would totally be on board with the idea. But no. We plug along in the usual way- with snacks and drinks and books on the potty. And in case you are wondering about the pirate hat- Ryan loves to play "Pirates", and is almost constantly wearing his pirate hat. I attempt playing "the good mom" and hide "treasure" around the house for him to find (he also has a bunch of plastic gold coins- which is what we use as his treasure).

Ty has also become quite the techie. Anything that remotely deals with a computer, video game, iPod, cell phone, etc. and he goes absolutely nutso. It drives me mental. He doesn't get to play with any of them very often because he gets this glazed over look that worries me- but when he does get to play- the whole house could fall down and he wouldn't notice.

We have also instituted a "Chore Chart." The boys didn't really put up much of a fight when I implemented it- which made me happy. The boys have certain chores that they have to do each week, and every time they do them, they get a star. Once they have a certain number of stars, they get to choose their prize (nothing too exciting mind you- ice cream cone, treat from the store, $1, Get out of Time Out free...). It's been good for them and good for me too- because they really do help me out a lot. Thanks boys for being such good helpers! Below is a picture of them vacuuming their room- you wouldn't believe the things we found when we cleaned it out!!!

Kate is still just a little sweetie. You can gag at me if you want to- but it's true. She is teething again and has a top tooth that has poked through and two more bottom ones- so she really should be miserable- but she's just as cheerful as ever. She got a baby-doll for Christmas from my mom (it's the cutest little Cabbage Patch) that she loves to eat. If you hold it out in front of her- she gets the biggest grin on her face and reaches for it. Once you give it to her- it immediately goes in her mouth and she sits and chews on it.

We also have a game at our house that we like to call "Where's Kate?" It goes like this... I will place Kate in the middle of the living room rug with a few toys to occupy her for a minute. Then I run downstairs to switch the laundry or I'll put the dishes away... Something that only takes a small amount of time, but something that I don't need her "help" with. I then go back into the living room and look for Kate- who invariably is somewhere other than where I put her. A lot of times she ends up under the piano or behind the chair, sometimes she even ends up in the hallway. It's so funny and it makes me extremely grateful for a room where she can't get into trouble.
The boys are usually looking for something new to entertain them and I am constantly straining to find things for them to do. Granted, Ty keeps pretty busy with school in the mornings, but the rest of the day is up to me. The boys wanted to watch a movie the other day, but they just wouldn't sit still to do it, and just ended up making each other scream. So, I built them a "fort" for them to watch their movie in- just in the hopes that it would shut them up for just a little bit. It totally worked! I put a blanket over Kate's play gym and they laid them in it with their pillows... And they just sat and watched "How to Train Your Dragon" in there! It was wonderful. It hasn't worked since- but I'll take one quiet afternoon if that's what I can get!

Here's Kate with her blocks again. We actually went out and bought another package of them so that there were more to play with (and lose under the couch). She is officially sitting by herself now, and loves to be right in the middle of things.

I have also undertaken something HUGE. As you know, I teach piano for a few of the neighbor kids on Monday and Tuesday afternoons... I have recently added my most challenging student of all... TYLER!! EEEeeeeekkkkk! Actually- he has been a model student so far. He is always bugging me to help him practice, and he has already learned several pieces. I'm very proud of him, and am really impressed with how quickly he has picked it up.

Here's Kate in her tutu. I always swore that I would NOT be one of those moms that put their daughters in ridiculous things... but dang it if they aren't freakin' adorable! For the record, I do try to keep it to a minimum.

Kate also has enough hair now for a few simple hairdos! She sported her first "pig-tails" this week. She left them alone once I got them in her hair- but the actual process she screamed the entire time. I would just leave her alone, but I don't want her to be one of those girls that have out of control hair that is just never done. Of course- because I just said that- she will probably be one anyway. At least you all know that I tried to do something about it at one time.

This is just a picture of me and my kids- who I love a lot. We recently had to go to a meeting with a few attorney's in order to get the money owed for Ryan's hospital bills from last year. And we were accused of being negligent parents since we allowed this to happen to our little boy (yeah that was an ugly meeting). I don't think we are (of course I'm sure that those that really are oblivious would say the same thing), in fact, I think that we try very hard to make sure our kids are safe and happy. It was one of those things that you always wonder in the back of your head- if you really are doing the best that you can with the spirits you have been entrusted with- and to hear it spoken aloud was one of the worst things a parent can hear (trust me). I was hurt. It was such a crappy day. When we got home- I grabbed all my kids and just held them for as long as they would let me. I love them so much- and if they ever read this- please know that we tried our best.

We also got one hell of a snowstorm last night. Yes. I said hell. You wouldn't believe the amount of snow we have here. The boys were so stinkin' excited to go outside and play in it. This is why I love kids. While I think terrible, rotten things about ALL the snow outside- they are trying to get out to play in it at 7:00 in the morning. I made them wait until the afternoon, when it had warmed up a little bit before I sent them out to play. Ryan insisted on goggles, so naturally Ty had to go find his too. They look like they are ready for take-off.

These are the pictures that I took of them outside next the the snowdrifts by our driveway. It's unreal and I'm thinking that the snow is NOT going to melt until July.

And finally- I took a picture of Kate today. She is so beautiful and such a good girl. She is trying to stand up on her own- and I have to keep telling her to slow down!! I'm afraid that she'll be walking before too long and then life as I know it will change forever!

Anyway- I know this was a MASSIVE update. But it had to be done!