Growing up isn't all that great...

For just over a week now Claira has been perfecting her skills and speed of climbing out of her crib.  After many nights of struggling to keep her in bed long enough to fall asleep or even long enough for me to get out the her bedroom door, I took one of the cribs down (Aby's crib- that she has never really used) and returned it to a friend.  That friend, thank you Chanee, so kindly swapped the crib for a toddler bed.  Oh, Claira was so excited!  Showing everyone her new 'Big Girl' bed.  Even William was jealous!  So off to bed they went and after a long hour or so it quieted down and here is what I found....

Growing up is not all its cracked up to be!

Its a good thing Aby still sleeps in our bed! Claira has plenty of time to grow up, and she will make the change when she is ready.

Happy Christmas

Sigue Adelante!

We took the kids out for ice cream the other night in celebration of Wil being Student of the Month in Spanish class.  Not really sure what makes you Student of the Month but we were proud of him all the same.  He kept telling everyone he was "King of Spanish Class".  

Claira's First Hair Cut

She has been asking, and asking to get her hair cut.  So since I was going in for a trim I let her have a turn.  She hopped up in that chair like a pro...

I only had the lady cut off maybe 1/3 of an inch, but it was just enough to cut off all the scraggly ends.  She kept saying how she was 'a big girl' and when we got home she twirled for the boys.

Raining Fish!

As I was driving home from the Library today Claira and I saw these two birds way up high fighting.  You've seen it, one bird (this was seagull type) diving and tormenting a hawk.  As we sat at the stop light watching them get lower and lower I could see they were not fighting over territory but over and object.  At first it looked like a pipe...then as they got close the pipe fell!  It missed the hood of my car by inches.  I looked out my window and it was FISH!  I'm not talking a guppy, I am talking a two foot long mullet type fish!  Had that sucker hit my car I would have had a real hard time explaining that to Andy or the insurance company..."Um yeah, I was driving on Hwy 90 and a fish fell from the sky".  

Some Holiday Fun

This past week has been full of holiday readings and crafts. One project we did this year instead of cookies were these very fun bird treats.  I took some pie crust (store bought) and had the kids roll it out, use cookie cutters to make holiday shapes, and Claira was the official hole poker for the string.
After cooking I tied ribbon, spread peanut butter on them and the kids rolled them in bird seeds.  Andy was very helpful in lifting the kids up so they could put their 'ornaments' on the tree.

I think they came out very cute, and in no time a bird came down and started munching!

We also attended a Gingerbread House decorating party! Good Christmas music and lots of sugar makes for many, many giggles...

Did I mention LOTS of sugar!

Claira couldn't wait to dig in

Enjoying Aby's giggles while getting ready for Christmas

10 days ago Aby let out her first giggle. It was the sweetest sound.  She has continued to practice her smile and squeals while we spruce the house up with holiday cheer.

Loving on Daddy

I know small christmas tree, but its perfect!

Even Cleo can enjoy the warmth of holidays

HO! HO! HO!

Nutcracker Tea

With their tu-tus on the girls and I were off to a Nutcracker Tea put on at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. The kids from Ballet Theatre South, did such a great job. They walked around and talked to all the little ballerinas and princess that were there enjoying treats and tea (pink lemonade). Though the dancers were only teenagers the audience of kids thought they were the real thing. Claira loved the whole thing and came home skipping along with her wand that she had made and a bag of treats for Wil. Here are some pictures.

Claira got up and started to twirl and jump along with the 'real' ballerinas.

Dreaming of the day she can twirl and jump

Claira was terrified of 'SCARY RAT'

Shelby loved the Rat and as you can see the Rat was still lurking when this photo was taken.

We had a great time.  When Andy asked Claira about it she began to jump and twirl, leaping around the living room.  Then stopped and said, "Daddy, no like Rat.  Scary!"  She has not stopped talking about the jumping ballerinas.  Maybe next year we'll drag the boys along.

BedTime---AHHHH!

William has NEVER been a good sleeper.  We'll now that he is 4 he has gotten better at the actual sleeping part and doesn't start to bug us till about 5am, nagging "CAN I GET UP?"  But since we moved him to a 'big' bed the problem has been going to bed.  He is always full of surprises.  Some nights he passes out before you walk out the door.  Other nights the two kids talk and sing for almost an hour.  And it is not rare to be called in because Claira has gotten tired and wants Wil out of her crib.  Yes, he will have climbed in her bed so they can jump and play with her toys and read what ever books they can pull of the shelf.  We find them so cute we just let it go, but lately Wil has gotten a new favorite bedtime activity.  

Instead of staying in his room we will hear Claira start counting "1,2,3 GO, William GO!!!"  and out he runs giggling, galloping, yelling "NANA A BOO BOO you can't catch me" How do you not laugh at that?  Even after almost an hour it is still funny.  Especially since usually Andy starts taking objects away, like his pillow, blanket, nightlight...till finally William stays in his room till he begins to earn them back.  Well this tactic was working till two nights ago he came running out with his blanket over his shoulders and pillow under his arm.  Sneaky little monster!  Can't take them away if he is wearing them?!?!?

Last night of course it began again, and we decided taking things was not working...so we went 'Super Nanny' style.  Did it work?  After a hour we were still not talking to him and STILL putting him back to bed...poor Claira had gotten tired of counting and cheering him on and stared to melt down.  She just wanted to go to sleep.  Who knows why but he eventually crashed out and so did his little sister.  I'll have to update on how tonight goes.  'Super Nanny' style says that it just gets easier so tonight it might only take him 1/2 an hour of running around with the crazy, over tired, manic, behavior.  

Anyone have any ideas, I am always open to ideas...Grandma Jenny tried and well, to her surprise she did about as bad as us.  Just as she started to brag, "look he stayed" He jumped out and yelled "BOO!" She about died laughing....and yes I know laughing at him is not at all helping or the right thing to do and we try to walk away before busting up but he is hilarious! And really if you don't laugh or at least smile at it you are sure to go the other way and get mad and who wants to end every day like that?

Thanksgiving & Aby's Baptism

WOW!  It was a crazy week.  Lots of cooking, lots of family, lots of eating and best of all, lots of love.  This was my first year officially hosting Thanksgiving and I am happy to say it went great!  The turkeys were delicious, thanks to Martha Stewart and Andy's mad BBQing skills.  There was two 12lbs turkeys (one oven & one BBQ), dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, peas, and cranberry sauce.  Oh, lets not forget the delicious pies that followed, apple, pecan & two pumpkin.  I had some help from Andy, my Mother-in-law Jenny, and Claira. It was one of the best Thanksgivings I have ever had.
I am thankful for my husband, my children, my parents, my sister, my WHOLE family.  I am thankful that I have such a wonderful life. 

The Feast

Who knew you could wash that many dishes in 3 days.  I felt like I spent the whole time in the kitchen.  If I wasn't cooking and doing dishes it was my father-in-law Dennis washing and Andy loading and unloading the dishwasher.  I have no idea how Andy's grandmother, mother of ELEVEN, did it???
After the feast and events everyone relaxed and napped.  While others played tricks!

When Thanksgiving was all said and done, attention was turned to Abygail.  Her Baptism was Friday morning.  It was perfect. Everyone arrived here at the house and we walked over to the church.  It was a  quite, intimate event. 

May God Walk With Her Throughout Her Life

Father Farrell, GodFather Tim, and Godmother Lucie

Oh how I love my baby girl

Nana loves this baby girl too

And here is my World that I am so thankful for.

Bed Time Cookies

Andy was out of town last week and again this week.  For once Wil & I are dealing very well with his absence but its seems to be taking a toll on our little Claira.  She has been saying, "Mommy, hold me"  Of course my arms are usually full of Aby but I am trying my best.  I hate to admit defeat but my best is just not enough.  As one of my friends said the other night, "you can tell they only have 50% on their normal attention, they are all over me with hugs."  Though it was true and I had noticed, it still broke my heart.  
Like I said I am tying my best, so after all kids were in bed and Claira was still awake I let her get up.  I made two cookies (we have a huge tub of dough thanks to a the neighbor who bought it in a grandson's fundraiser, its neat you just make as many as you want) and we sat down to some cookies and milk.  

She really wanted to have her "hot coffee" on the coffee table so there we sat and I crossed my fingers she didn't spill, this was so against Daddy's rules  But since earlier in the day she dropped her diaper and pooped on the carpet then as I ran to grab her she giggled and peed, I figured what's a little spilled milk?

Anyhow we had a great little tea party.  Then we cuddled on the couch and read 3 books!  I let her flip the pages back and forth, back and forth, BACK AND FORTH!!!! We talked about that, and that, and that, and that, and that....it was Wonderful :)  
She is still singing in her bed, but this time when I put her in her crib she said "night, night, wove oou"  

"I Love you too, Sweat Heart"

Thankful for Monsters

William was an Indian in his preschools Thanksgiving program. It was so cute, the two year olds were the turkeys, the three year old classes were the Indians and the four year olds were the Pilgrims. He was rewarded for his good listening by his music teacher, Ms. Sue, and was given the privilege of being the Indian Chief. This meant that he got to be a drummer!

(He is the Chief with red sleeves and is drumming with is hands)

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This is Wil and his best Indian buddy Bart, they both did such a good job.

After the performance they had a traditional feast, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce. For some silly reason Wil was so excited about the mashed potatoes and gobbled them down. He was so sweet and shared with Claira, of which she loved the jellied cranberry and they both loved the turkey. I guess I'm not going to have to worry about them being hungry after thanksgiving, they apparently love it!
This is Wil's place mat he made for his spot at the feast. On it it says what they are thankful for. His buddy Bart said he was thankful for "God making the earth" Of course my sons said, "Monsters" Yes, you gotta love those little boys. So lets all be thankful for "Kelly's little Monsters!"

Wil's new bike

The son of Andy's co-worker had out grown this great bike and so thoughtfully cleaned it up and gave it to Wil. It is a Schwinn Stingray, Wil thinks its a new motorcycle. He pedaled around all yesterday and this morning at 6:30 he was bundled up and out in racing around in the frosty hours before school.

The Handoff

Its going to be a long time before he looses that smile

During this time of giving it was a great lesson for both boys.  I had just been talking to Wil about giving up some of the toys he has outgrown.  Today he was happy to give a little boy his old plastic tonka truck that he has grown out of and now plays with a big metal one. It is so sweet to see them grow into such thoughtful little boys.  
Here is the front of his Thank You card, its a picture of his new bike!

He is getting so good at writing his name!

Look at her go!

For the past two months the neighbor girls and I have been working on teaching Claira how to pedal her tricycle.  And to my shock and amazement she put her helmet on last night, climbed on her bike and pedaled away, like she had been doing it for weeks.

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Annual Pictures

William Thomas

4 years old

Claira Elizabeth

2 years old

Abygail Kathryn 

2 Months