Scrapbooking

A couple of times a year I get a chance to go to all day scrapbooking event and work on my passion.........taking pictures of my kids. In April they had Celebrate Phoenix at the convention center down town.

here we are taking a break, looking at all the sample pages and checking out the new items

Jenn and I got some Mommy & sister time. NICE!! We have another one coming up this weekend........it's National Scrapbook Day. I can't wait!!

Around the House..Miscellaneous

I had some miscellaneous pictures that didn't really fit into anything that I thought were worth sharing....

Missy had hidden in our room since we got Daisy............she usually runs and hides from the kids, but lately Sidney asks me to hold her collar if she is sitting on my lap, so that she can pet her........Missy is trying desperately to get away here

Cameron is so funny.............he loves to get dressed up with his sister

Carter loves playing outside

Roman's best friend from San Diego came to visit last month......it was a poker and beer kind of weekend

Playing in Gym Class

The kids really seem to enjoy their gym classes................the boys class is first and Sidney's class is immediately following.........the teacher doesn't mind if Sidney participates in the boys class (as long as she isn't intimidating the smaller kids) and if the boys participate in Sidney's class (as long as they listen and follow directions...........Sidney's class is more structured and has specific activities)......so they get to run around for a couple of hours and get their sillies out.......

this day Cameron had found an extra paci in the diaper bag, and for some reason was sucking on them both

here's the boys running around..........I think they look so cute when they run

Carter got one away from him and took off....................he doesn't use a paci, but will sometimes take Cameron's

then, even though it's lunch time, the kids always want to go play on the playground at this community center. This day Cameron found some trucks that no one was playing with......so he scooped right in and claimed them for himself!

Sidney was playing with another little girl that is in her class, and her brother is in the boys' class, so they play with each other a lot.

A Fun Time in Class

During the school year I get to work in Sidney's class a few times. It's nice to see what goes on and....... watch my shy little girl making friends and having fun. The kids were playing so nicely together.............I was so glad I had brought the cameras with me!

the kids were playing ring around the rosies, it was so cute!

ok, they're mixing things up a little here......

a smaller group now

ok, time to switch again

"Rockin out the Show"

A few weeks ago we had Sunday dinner at Jenn's house............Madeline had gotten this Hannah Montana outfit for her birthday, so she was practicing her "act"

the girls love their dress up

Madeline was being such a goof........cracking herself up

Sidney and Kendall are rockin' the guitars now

Carter was pushing Cameron in the swing.............unfortunately, he learned the hard way that when you push someone you need to move back.............he got clocked by the swing at one point....but then he tried it again..............all was good

ok, they're being much more mellow now................everyone loves sidewalk chalk!

More Princess Power Hour

Sidney is really enjoying all of her classes this year...........she just asked me the other day about her "Princess Power Hour" class (which is already over). She liked it so much, I'm thinking of enrolling her again next session.....

they use all sorts of fun things to twirl around.........she really likes these ribbon bracelets

waving their ribbon bracelets around......sometimes they use scarves too

they were running around and jumping with these pom poms, it was really cute

then when we got home she wanted them in her hair (which she never wants anything in her hair), so cute!

Playing with the boys

The boys had another playgroup at the park. This one was covered, so that's always nice.

the first thing Cameron sees is a car.............it's not even ours, but he was playing with it for quite awhile

Carter is getting adventurous and going down the slide backwards, on his tummy

some of the older kids were out on spring break, so he was helping the kids play soccer

another love of my kids..............playing with water.....they played with this fountain for a long time that day

then later that night, Roman had another baseball game....

Of course, the kids were running around playing more than watching Daddy play......which means I don't really get to watch the game either......since I need to keep a constant eye on them.......sometimes I wonder why we go?

Sidney's Swim Lessons

Sidney hadn't had swim lessons since last summer, but when she started up again it was like she had gotten 10 times better! They bumped her up two classes in the first few weeks. I can't believe how well she is swimming now!

here she is............going for it

she can swim underwater, with her eyes opened......we need to get her to wear her goggles more, because she always comes out with really red eyes.

The teachers there are great and give great positive feedback.....with some time to play too. Sidney loves it!

here she is doing the breast stroke..............she can put it all together now.......I just can't believe the difference.........and I'm not quite sure how it just all of a sudden happened when she hasn't been in the water in a long time.

Easter

Well, I'm going to try and do some recent stuff, then eventually get caught up.......hopefully. Of course, I picked one that has A LOT of pictures and video (and the kids have not been cooperating in the time department...)

Sidney loves putting these window clings on the sliding door...........we have some for a few of the holidays................of course, then the kids think it's great fun to take them off too (before the holiday has even arrived!)

the best part of the Easter baskets for the boys................the cars (which were actually from a birthday party the day before that they didn't go to because they were napping), Carter even loves to look at pictures of cars...........especially from the newspaper, for some reason......shopping for his first real car already.....

Jenn and family came over and colored eggs before we all headed over to my Mom's house for an Easter Egg Hunt and dinner.

the girls actually did really well..............they found some eggs......and helped the boys find some too.

the boys are still a little young..............they were more interested in Uncle James' old cars than the eggs. (And of course getting their nice white outfits dirty!)

we brought Daisy over and she had a great time running around with Kiflo

gotta get a family picture in there too

Roman's birthday was the next day, so I made a strawberry cake/boston cream cheesecake combination thing............it was the first time I'd made anything like that....and it actually turned out pretty good, if I must say so myself. Of course, the kids love anything sweet....or with berries!

It was sooooo cute.........Carter was playing with Papa and a little toy airplane.............I just love his little giggle!

It's so nice when the kids actually play together without any fighting!

Carter is definitely our little ball player......Cameron joins in too..........I just love watching them run.....it's so cute!!

A Pleasant Surprise

I have my computer back!....I actually got it back a couple of days ago..........I stayed up until 1AM the first night trying to go through my 100+ e-mails (and that was just the old stuff, plus the new stuff I needed to keep, to save, or print out, or do something with) and was getting the checkbook/Quicken updated ......and filing paperwork (I hardly ever have time to do that, so it REALLY piles up in-between)...................I WANTED to work on my pictures, but just got to doing that today.........man, am I far behind on the blog now! (and printing pictures........and WAYYYYYY behind on scrapbooking - I've got to get the boys first year albums done!....but I've been working on another project lately.....it's a surprise, so I can't tell what it is : )
The kids haven't really been allowing much time to work on things either...........we are busy, busy, busy.............sometimes I think too busy...........and Cameron woke up at 5:30am this morning.........I tried to have him lay on my chest and rock him in the glider.....like I do every night......hoping that he would go back to sleep, but nope, he was up! He opened his door and headed straight for the stairs and was saying "Mon Mommy!" Then Sidney has woken up before 6 AM the two previous days, so I am REALLY dragging here.......I was going to try to get a couple of things posted tonight, but I just can't do it.(It's been so long since I've posted pics I had to go back through the old posts and see what the last one was..)...I've got to hit the hay. I'll see if I can get some done over the weekend.

A Real Bummer

Well.......I just heard today that I will not get my computer back until at the very earliest the end of April.......I took it in because it had locked up and one of Roman's friends looked at it and found a known error from the manufacturer...........well, apparently, there is also another known issue that once they get past the BIOS error, the mother board crashes (or whatever mother boards do?)....so they had to order a new mother board.........I just heard today that won't even arrive to them until the 27th................then who knows how long it will take to actually get to my computer........and we are praying that that will fix the problem........no out of pocket $$$$ and no damage to the hard drive. Luckily, I had recently backed up all my pictures of the kids, but I haven't backed up any of the video of them........................not to mention countless other things I have saved on there..................what would we do without our technology? I am going through picture/blogging withdrawals! The kids keep doing cute things, or I'll think of something to write about, but I don't have any way of posting any pics or video...............Roman doesn't have the program for the pictures and I have been forbade from downloading ANYTHING onto his computer. By the time I get my computer back I will be soooooo far behind..........I'll have to go out one weekend day (so no interruptions) and try and get caught up. Those that know me, know I like to edit ALL of my pictures.........lighten it up if it's dark, crop things out, eliminate red eye.........clone something out of the picture if I can.............Jenn and I will have to take a Mommy's weekend away before we take the kids up to WA this summer............it's been FAR too long!

Progress

Well, it's official...........my computer is down......I need to try and call today to take it in and hopefully it's a manufacture fix that will be covered!

So since I don't have any way of posting pictures or video, I thought I would just update you on the kids.......

The boys have been acquiring a lot more words lately (although, when they are upset it's still very difficult to figure out what's wrong), especially Carter. Both the boys can now say "Sidney".....it sounds more like "Nih-ney". Carter and Sidney lately have been partners in crime.......she will get him into something (like soak the bathroom with water and/or soap!).......then later he will go back and do it again and be calling her to come join him! Carter has been saying "Alright" in the cutest, little sing-songy voice. He says "Mon Mommy" (meaning Come on) or "Mere" (Come here)......he also says "what", "wait" "Oh No!", "Nice", "Speed" (after Lightning McQueen says "I am speed.") Carter says "I did it"......and just signed and said "eat" the other day..........Carter is big into trucks....which sounds more like "shuck".....he makes this sound when cars are driving by.....I haven't figured it out yet......like shuh, shuh, shuh..........He now says "Bye, bye" when he's ready to leave somewhere, or if we are at home and he wants to go somewhere. Carter has been saying "Up" (although he uses that for down too.) Sometimes he will say "help", but they kind of sound alike. Carter can also say "outside"....which sounds more like just "side," when he wants to go play in the backyard.

Cameron says "I get it", and just went went to take a sip of my juice and said "no more" when he realized it was gone. He says "Hi Mom" (Yes, it's Mom most of the time these days........not Mommy.......sigh.........are they growing up that much already?) He says "Stuck", "Look"......and loves Sidney's pink and purple fuzzy boas...he can say Carter & Sidney.......but not Cameron.

They both have "MINE!" down pat and frequently are fighting over cars these days......even though we have over 30. They can both say "Slide" too and "cookie".....which is getting easier to understand, but they go right over to the cupboard where they are, so it's easy to figure out. They both use "all done", with the sign and immediately push themselves away from the table (we are working on waiting until everyone is done, but it's proving to be a challenge.) They are both learning to toughen up......as big sister Sidney shows them the ropes........or the floor.......or how to take a fall........through real life experience. It's funny, I will tell one of them to say sorry and the one that's hurt will say it, not the one that did it! They both can say "wet", meaning that they want to get wet usually.......although they can say "water" too, (at least I know Cameron can.) Sometimes they will get loud and have an attitude like they are being very authoritative and babble something, with the pointing finger and everything,.....it's so cute, but I have no idea what they are saying. (It's usually Cameron that does that.) Carter is VERY into sports, like his Daddy and likes to pose squatting down, with his hands on his thighs. like he waiting to catch a basketball rebound, and holds the bat over his shoulder with bent knees waiting for the pitch. He also has been doing this football push thing........he will hold one arm out straight, into Cameron's back, pushing him like he's trying to run for a pass through the opposing player. Recently they both started saying "burp cloth" too, although Cameron says it more clearly and will also use it for his bink/paci. " They can both now say "Excuse me", which usually sounds like "muse me"......when they need to get by each other (and I'm trying to get them to use it when they burp too!) All three kids say "cheese" as soon as I pull the camera out and are used to being constantly recorded. (Although they usually want to see the picture or video before I'm even done taking it!)

Sidney is once again showing her Independence........not wanting to wear what I pick out.....it always has to be a skirt or a dress.......but SHE has to pick it out.......and the bedrooms are upstairs, but we spend most of our time down stairs, so it's kind of pain......I make her take the clothes back up to her room and she can usually bring the stool over from her bed into her closet and get the skirt (or dress) that she likes. Plus, lately she has been very mischievous and defiant.......climbing on the counters and getting into things when I go upstairs to change the laundry over or get dressed or make the beds or something.........and telling me "No" when I tell her to do something.............or getting up and walking away when she's in a time out. Some days (ok, a lot of days) Mommy has to let out a UUUUGGGHHHHH! with frustration.......and it's kind of funny, Carter will do it too. They really do mirror your behavior.......I'm seeing that more and more every day. She will now actually wear a headband (usually not holding her hair back....just for looks......but Mommy and Daddy always try to fix it).......or sometimes a couple of barrettes, kind of like tiny pony tails in the front of her hair. She is very into Hannah Montana now and has her guitar, and a CD and tells me as soon as we get into the car that she wants HM and which song she even wants to listen to! After seeing High School Musical on Ice, she is getting into that too. (Her cousin Madeline has all three movies and the music! They won a gift basket at the school/church raffle.) Roman was saying that it really hit him how much she is growing up (at the ripe old age of 4!) when they were driving to Lake Havasu and the boys were watching a video and Sidney had her headphones on and was bee-bopping to HM on her portable CD player. She even knows the words to a lot of her songs.........definitely not a baby any more......and with the attitude she sometimes displays........not even a toddler any more.......look out Mommy and Daddy.........some serious drama coming your way!

Ok, if I want to get this posted (and I need to go referee again with the kids), then I had better stop thinking of all the cute, and sometimes annoying things that my kids do!

Updates 4/1/09

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, we have been CRAZY busy..........sometimes I think I signed the kids up for too much! We have something nearly every morning..........and a lot of afternoons or evenings......you'd think with us being gone so much that the house would stay relatively clean.......I only wish! I just can't keep up with the kids and the house. They mess it up faster than I can pick it up!
And yesterday just reinforced that I am not such a great cook...........My brother and his family are in town, so we all were here last night for dinner............I made a meal I make for others often......it's good, but takes a LLLLLOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG time to make! Even with the boys sleeping part of the time and with Sidney gone part of the time there still seemed to be something to tend to almost the whole time I was trying to cook. And since there would be so many people I was doubling the recipe, so finding bowls and pans large enough proved to be a challenge. I kept having to walk away from the kitchen to stop Sidney from playing in the water, or pulling on the dog, or change diapers and feed or hold fussy babies.....(I know the boys aren't really babies anymore, but they still seem like it I guess, at least much more like babies at this age than Sidney did...............and if I call them something else besides babies, then Sidney will tell me "No, you mean the babies Mommy?!" Plus, I now have a cold that all three kids had.......so I am even more tired than usual at the end of the day. I was trying to work on editing some of the pics that I've taken while my bro was here and look at some of the video yesterday morning when my computer just froze up..............I couldn't even get it to work at all! Luckily, someone is looking at it today! I'm on Roman's computer, but all my pics and video are on MY computer.........ok, we've got to get ready for our busy day!