Life with Kelly's Monsters

Friday, June 10, 2011

Did she say Hate and Stupid?

As much as I dislike my 4 year old using those words I realized that I was belting out 'Like a Virgin' when I was her age and dancing on our fireplace with some very interesting moves.

Here is a typical trip around town in my Van...I wonder sometimes if the cars around me can hear and see all this?

Why is Claira singing into an old phone?...but really it's the head banging baby that kills me!

Claira and her best friend Natalie have been talking about Ballet Camp since, I think Christmas! The week finally arrived and it did not let my little ballerina down. It was all Natalie had said it would be. There was twirling and leaping at lots of smiles from my little fairy. Her favorite part was the Pink outfit that she had to wear everyday. She would put it on at 7am (camp was from 10-12) and wouldn't take it off till 2ish when she would get hot in the tights.

Today was the last day and to conclude the girls put on a performance. It was a dance from The Nutcracker which they had focused the camp on.

ENJOY!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Mothers Day

I am one lucky Mama. My cute monsters showered me with love...

The day was mostly full of family time, which I love. We had a great home made breakfast made by William, and myself. Then after we cleaned up and before we went to the neighborhood pool, they gave me all their wonderful cards, (this one is from William)

and their gift...a pig. Now I know your thinking "that's great you collect pigs" but did you know that when I got married almost 8 years ago I ditched most of my collection and I'm pretty sure that my kids don't even know about it. This pig is no ordinary pig it has 18 nipples! In fact when they took Andy to the store and they started to describe it to the sales lady they described it as, "a glass pig, with LOTS of nipples" Andy said it was the funniest thing, then when they all started jumping around squealing that they found it!

When I told them how much I "LOVED IT!" they explained that it was to replace the bunny that Aby had broken. This Bunny was something that my Grama Clara kept on her front porch, and when I moved out and got my own place I've always had it on my front porch. I can't tell you how many times I told the kids not to play with my bunny, Don't pick it up, Please pet it carefully. I was very upset when it broke and it was not just Aby playing with it at the time so really they were all at fault. I guess I got my feels across, but why a pig? Not a bunny? We'll never know...but I love the story of thoughtfulness and love that comes with that ugly little pig on my front porch. I couldn't have come up with a better gift.

Rodeo Time

In Houston the Rodeo is a big deal, a REALLY BIG DEAL! I guess last year I was sick from being prego and just keeping my life together was enough, so I didn't notice how big a deal it was. This year I decided to try to be part of the festivities. Claira's school had a rodeo day, and William's school had a rodeo day. William and his fellow kindergartners made stick-horses and galloped through the halls

While their families cheered them on!

There was also hayrides, potato sack races, digging for gold, and lots of other fun activities

A friend, Lisa, and I went to see Tim McGraw one night at the Rodeo, WHAT A BLAST!!! It was so much fun, that I dragged the whole family downtown to the rodeo carnival too.

Though we didn't have tickets to get into the 'arena' we had a great time. We saw a calf be born (which Claira thought it was awesome!), there was a place to watch a real cow give milk and another place to milk your own cow, a fake cow.

Aby was very fascinated by this cow...

What was even more fascinating to the kids was How this fountain worked???? it had them stumped, till Claira noticed the little one on the table then she and William figured it out.

Besides all the great livestock and shopping, they had great carnival booths

Fun Rides, Claira thought the carousal was going to be fun, and if asked she said it was but really she had a plastered smile of fear and a death grip on Andy's arm...speaking of Andy, he thought it would be fun to 'rock' the seat they were in and he made himself a bit motion sick, LOL.

But I think the best activity we encountered was the Mutton Bustin. William had a blast and is still begging to do it again next year!

"William's on the back of Rambo!" YEEHA!!!!

He was so brave, and was just beaming from ear to ear bragging how long he held on to that sheep.

Happy Birthday Nana!

April 10th was a Big birthday for my Mom. I found some good tickets and the girls and I were on our way. With the support of Amy and Peter we were able to surprise her :) It was a fantastic but short trip. As soon as we arrived Claira insisted that Nana join her and Aby in a Pajama party...she and Aby had watched "Max and Ruby's Pajama Party" so many times on the way to her house that Claira had taken notes and knew just what you needed to have a good time. There was the fabulous toast!

Pretend, Make-up, and a dance party...

During our trip the girls got to have time at the castle park, walked around Solvang, they even got crazy and skinny dipped in the 61 degree pool!
Papa got home from work part way through the weekend and we got to have lots of cuddles with him, and Baby Cash too!

Wish we lived closer so we could play with Nana, Papa, & all our wonderful family...

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is upon us and that means playing outside, Easter, and opening the windows!

We have been busy with outings to the zoo where during spring there are lots of baby animals, a 3 day old chimpanzee, a giraffe who was less then 48 hours old, even the python had babies! They have a new section at the Zoo, African Forest, it is amazing and fun! They have a new chimpanzee exhibit and this one guy was interacting with us through the glass. In fact, when I asked the girls to turn around for the picture he sat up tall and smiled too!

But the best part of the new exhibits is the Giraffe feedings...

Those purple tongues are neat!

Claira was a bit scared...I don't blame her. They are BIG, and hungry animals.

Claira does like the carousel

and All the spring flowers

She has also enjoyed her first season of Spring Soccer, GO RED DRAGONS!!!

We also spent many Saturday afternoons cheering on William, GO BLUE KNIGHTS!!!

I think one of Claira's favorite activities she has done this spring besides soccer was 'Dessert With Daddy'. It is a school activity where she gets to bring Daddy to school one evening and they have sundaes (with ALL the fixings!), play games, and get some well deserved 1 on 1 time. She was buzzing with excitement before they left and he left her glowing for days...Daddy has that effect on me sometimes too :) She got herself all dolled up, (alone) isn't she cute?!?! Her Great-Grama Clara would be proud of her style...

At Claira's school in the spring they also have a fundraiser that has lots of fun and silly activities. If only they would stay like mummies or a while so I could sit down once in a while...

This is the second time we've been lucky enough to play with AbbyGrace (aka. the monkey)

With all these fun Spring activities the days were flying by and it was April Fools...time to play a few friendly jokes on the kids, Nothing like finding a worm in your apple!

As spring started to warm up to Summer temps it was Easter

and all William wanted was his two front teeth!

We live in a great neighborhood that puts on a huge Easter Egg Hunt and Party,
Hula hoop contest

Pony Rides, ice cream cones, clowns, bounce houses, fire truck rides, food, petting zoo, and face painting. The kids have loved it every year.

We also did the normal activities like dye eggs, both the traditional way

and by using Old Silk Ties

Easter Morning arrived and they're off on the hunt with their first clues in hand...

Claira was so excited about the carousel snow globe that plays music and her 'Biggy' chocolate bunny.

Aby was and has been very pleased with her new cash register...actually ALL the kids loved her new register.

Emilia has enjoyed the new balls she got for her Dinosaur

And William, yeah..."What was this Bunny thinking?"

Crazy Happy Life

For those of you that have been on me about updating my blog, I'm going to work on it while Andy is in Hong Kong/China this week. Having the 4th little monsters has really taken any 'personal' time I had, and threw it out the window. It really takes all I have to maintain this house, these little bodies, and keep up the social calendar for a family of 6. Here is quick preview of the craziness I call, 'Life'...
Trust me I wouldn't trade a single smile, giggle or tear for a moment of peace and quiet.

We try to spend as much time on the weekends as we can with Daddy, and he is always a good time!

We have found that bowling is a great sport/activity that the whole family can play and cheer for each other, especially on days when the weather is not on our side. One day Aby actually beat William & Claira!

Speaking of AbyKate, she is a big consumer of Mommy's time. Basicly, if you don't know where she is you'd better find her!

"I look Cute?"

and when she is not into make-up, then its the toilet paper or the fish tanks, or climbing the pantry. Today in fact I found her climbing the drawers in the kitchen like they were a ladder to get to her stamps...yes I have to keep ALL art supplies so high in the kitchen cabinets that even I need to get on the counters to reach them. You think that's a little extreme? I too one day LONG ago would have thought it a bit extreme but not now...not after I got out of the shower one morning only to find AbyKate naked and covered in stickers and stamps (including her ____!). She has learned not to color on walls, not to color on the table, and most recently the couch. She has cut off her bangs and learned the lesson that your not supposed to cut your own hair, and she got in big trouble by her sister when she learned that you don't color Barbies face and you defiantly don't cut off My Little Pony's tail.

Turns out AbyKate is a hands on kid who insists on learning things the hard way. Luckly she is happy so you can't stay angry at her for long.

She'll say in the sweetest voice, "I sowy Mommy"

Since, she figured out how to climb out of her crib she has been moved to the floor. The problem with this is, she is ALWAYS bugging poor Claira who is so sweet and just wants to do what is right and expected of her. Claira is always happy to follow the rules and do as she is asked. Aby is bound and determined to get Claira to party with her at night, many nights we'll go in to find Aby playing with sleeping Claira.

One night we came in to tell AbyKate to sing a bit quieter and found her doing, "This little Piggy" on Sleeping Claira's feet :) Usually she won't even stay in their room, she'll cover herself up with her blanket. Sneak down the hall only to hide so well that if you ignore her long enough she will fall asleep.

Now Emilia is not as time consuming as you might think a little baby would be, and compared to Aby she is easy! An angel in-fact. But she too keeps me on my toes...she loves to put everything in her mouth; dirt, wood chips and leaves are her favorite.