Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Trip to Story book park with my parents!! Kids had a blast!
K was sad she was too short for the purple slide.
Patrick went down both of the slides he was big enough for many, many times. He didn't want to leave!
Kathryn went down the only slide she is big enough for just once. She had been talking about it for weeks! She really did not enjoy it unfortunately and refused to go again.
Me and my little ones:
K was sad she was too short for the purple slide.
Patrick went down both of the slides he was big enough for many, many times. He didn't want to leave!
Kathryn went down the only slide she is big enough for just once. She had been talking about it for weeks! She really did not enjoy it unfortunately and refused to go again.
Me and my little ones:
Saturday, July 11, 2009
After meeting Ms. Abby, we went to the nearby park which had a spash pad! I had no swimgear for the kids, so they played in the water in their undies.
Meeting Ms. Abby for the first time. Kathryn was so excited she was at a loss for words. Patrick immediately asked to give her a kiss on her little head.
Meeting Ms. Abby for the first time. Kathryn was so excited she was at a loss for words. Patrick immediately asked to give her a kiss on her little head.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
On Father's Day, we took our first swim in the pool. The kids were really anxious to get at it, but Shaun had to balance the chemicals and give it a good post-winter vacuum first. Fortunately, this year we had NO ALGAE! Yippie!
The kids love to watch their Daddy dive in!
Kathryn was brave and was first in the water with Daddy. Patrick followed, but was more aprehensive. He was only in briefly, then went to play on the stairs.
Kathryn had a good long swim with her Daddy.
Then Patrick agreed to swim too. But he wasn't as keen, thats for sure! He has since re-discovered his love of being in the inflated ring and swimming around the pool (unassisted) for the floating discs.
Kathryn got chilly playing on the stairs, but didn't want to stop! Fortunately we have these hooded towels for them (thanks Gramma!) so she could continue to play.
The kids love to watch their Daddy dive in!
Kathryn was brave and was first in the water with Daddy. Patrick followed, but was more aprehensive. He was only in briefly, then went to play on the stairs.
Kathryn had a good long swim with her Daddy.
Then Patrick agreed to swim too. But he wasn't as keen, thats for sure! He has since re-discovered his love of being in the inflated ring and swimming around the pool (unassisted) for the floating discs. 
Kathryn got chilly playing on the stairs, but didn't want to stop! Fortunately we have these hooded towels for them (thanks Gramma!) so she could continue to play.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Summer sibs:
Bubble blower:
Cutie patootie!
Kathryn decided she was a baby and insisted that mommy feed her. So I fed her breakfast! It made her happy to be fed and it made me happy to see her eat. And it didn't re-occur the next day... not that I would really have minded... but lets not make it a habit! It was nice to snuggle with her over breakfast.
Bubble blower:
Cutie patootie!
Kathryn decided she was a baby and insisted that mommy feed her. So I fed her breakfast! It made her happy to be fed and it made me happy to see her eat. And it didn't re-occur the next day... not that I would really have minded... but lets not make it a habit! It was nice to snuggle with her over breakfast.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
P & K had a blast in swimming again this term. Patrick had a much better time in his class than last year and made some great improvements. He will be repeating this level again in the fall. Its a tough one to pass! But hopefully with lots of time in the pool this summer, he'll have the skills he needs.
Here he is attempting a back float with his instructor. Patrick does NOT like putting his head in the water. That is something we have to work on!
Front float!
Kathryn was in a class of 2 this term. She was in the class that I was in the water for the first 3 classes and then she was in just with an instructor. I expected more of a fuss that first class where I was not in the pool, but she did just fine with her instructor and the other little friend. Here she is getting a ride on the lilly pad:
And hanging out on the tot dock.
Kathryn passed her level and will be enrolling in the same level as Patrick in the fall. This actually makes our lives sooooo much easier!! And it will be great for them to be in the class together.
Here he is attempting a back float with his instructor. Patrick does NOT like putting his head in the water. That is something we have to work on!
Front float!
Kathryn was in a class of 2 this term. She was in the class that I was in the water for the first 3 classes and then she was in just with an instructor. I expected more of a fuss that first class where I was not in the pool, but she did just fine with her instructor and the other little friend. Here she is getting a ride on the lilly pad:
And hanging out on the tot dock.
Kathryn passed her level and will be enrolling in the same level as Patrick in the fall. This actually makes our lives sooooo much easier!! And it will be great for them to be in the class together.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Yesterday we took the kids to Fairy Lake for the first time this year. They love to feed the wildlife (ducks, swans, turtles, muskrats, and very large fish) and walk around the lake. It was an absoultely gorgeous day and the perfect morning outing.
Feeding the fish bread:
Checking out the stream and looking for more fish:
Hiking along the path:
Patrick posing in a tree:
A huge tree stump:
Daddy and his kiddos:
Feeding the duck. There were more but they apparently weren't hungry!
Feeding the fish bread:
Checking out the stream and looking for more fish:
Hiking along the path:
Patrick posing in a tree:
A huge tree stump:
Daddy and his kiddos:
Feeding the duck. There were more but they apparently weren't hungry!
Shaun got the camera happy and we finally uploaded some photos to the computer. I got them edited this morning, and here is a selection of pics over the last month... not many!
K grinning post-dentist and post-nap (which is why her piggies are askew). Please note the princess sticker - her reward for such a good dentist trip!
Patrick talking to Daddy on the phone one morning.
Such a happy guy! Its so hard to get a good picture of him. He is distracted much too easily.
Snuggle time with Daddy. K is always very snuggly right after she wakes up. I do believe this was post-nap.
K grinning post-dentist and post-nap (which is why her piggies are askew). Please note the princess sticker - her reward for such a good dentist trip!
Patrick talking to Daddy on the phone one morning.
Such a happy guy! Its so hard to get a good picture of him. He is distracted much too easily.
Snuggle time with Daddy. K is always very snuggly right after she wakes up. I do believe this was post-nap.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Goodness... its been almost a month, hasn't it?
Well, I'll be honest, we haven't taken many pictures of late. I didn't even upload many from P's birthday party because the editing software is v.e.r.y...s.l.o.w. and I get frustrated.
The kids continue to do very well at school. K is moving up to the next room, probably by July. She is more than ready. She is now the eldest in her class and she needs more stiumation. She is a very social creature and she will do well in a classroom of more advanced kiddos.
Patrick continues to make strides. Dare I say he is potty trained? He will sometimes tell us he has to go too, and has even taken himself without saying anything to us. He is very good about going when asked as well. He does still have accidents - generally at school - and probably due to being distracted with fun activities. He is dry ALL NIGHT which just constantly blows my mind. We put him to bed at 8 (sometimes 7:30!) and his pullup is dry when he gets up between 7 and 7:15 a.m. I can't even do that!! I wonder how many times I can re-use a night time dry pullup before its considered gross....
Kathryn is now on my potty training radar. But she is stubborn! I think we may have to go straight to undies with her. She tells us now when she's poopy or has peed so we'll change it... so she knows!! Probably just lazy like her older brother! Why bother with the potty when I can pee my pants and keep playing? We do have a good stock of undies for her. I think this week I may start putting undies over pullups, and maybe the week after we'll try just undies!
On the homefront, nothing much has changed. Shaun and I both have summer projects we're itching to complete. Shaun is putting the last section of pool fence in to replace the old metal fence. He's already put in 2 posts and we have the rest of the wood in the garage. My parents are coming for a week in July and Dad is going to help Shaun put the pergola together.
I'm taking 2 days off that week - Tuesday and Wednesday - and I took the kids out of school. I would like to take them (and my mom) to the Keady market that Tuesday and we'll think of something fun to do on the Wednesday too while the guys work outside. I hope it is nice weather that week!!
We opened the pool about a month ago. Unlike last year, it was crystal clean and only in need of a good vacuum and some leaf-removal. Its up to 19 degrees already! We do have a small leak near the skimmer, but we're having that fixed soon. This year, I have assembled a planter to go at the deep end of the pool in the space that the diving board would be attached. There are 3 spiked implanted in the concrete and I am constantly worried someone will step on them or stub their toe. We want to keep the spikes incase we want a diving board in the future. I put the orange life-saving ring around the spikes, and the planter sits just inside the spikes. It looks pretty nice - pictures will follow eventually.
My projects this summer include finishing up my garden extension and moving some plants in the garden and laying more mulch.
As well, I'm almost done with the renovations in the master closet. I took everything out, filled holes, and painted a fresh coat of white paint. I've ordered a tower to go in the middle for sweaters, hats, purses, etc. The old bar will go on top of that (spanning the entire width of the closet) and a shelf on top for long-term storage. Half way down the tower on either side will be another bar (for hanging pants) with a shelf on top as well. Shaun will have hooks on the inside wall on his side for ties and belts, and I will install a hook on my inside wall for long dresses (I only have 3). Currently, our clothes are in the spare room closet and its a tight fit!!
After that is done, I will be re-doing the spare closet in a similar fashion for Kathryn. After that, I'm going to prime the spare room in preparation for some electrical work that Shaun has to do. The paint in there is very old and oil-based and we figure the patch compound will stick better to new paint (transition paint) than the old stuff. In the fall, Shaun will get the electrical work done, and then we'll patch and sand, and then I can paint! We're painting that room a medium lavendar and then we'll move Ms. Kathryn in. We have purchased her a nice new white bookcase (which is assembled already in her room) and a dresser from IKEA which is in boxes in the garage. My sister gave me an oval mirror for over her dresser and we just got her new bedding. I can't wait to see the finished product! I am so glad she will have a bigger room so she can keep lots of her dolly stuff in there. She is quite the little 'mother'.
I'm also sanding and painting a bookcase for Patrick. This particular bookcase was one of my parent's first pieces of furnature! I can't wait to give him more storage space for his ever-expanding book collection.
After that, I'd like to tackle the front hall closet. I think I could re-work it better. But that will likely be a fall/winter project.
Well, I'll be honest, we haven't taken many pictures of late. I didn't even upload many from P's birthday party because the editing software is v.e.r.y...s.l.o.w. and I get frustrated.
The kids continue to do very well at school. K is moving up to the next room, probably by July. She is more than ready. She is now the eldest in her class and she needs more stiumation. She is a very social creature and she will do well in a classroom of more advanced kiddos.
Patrick continues to make strides. Dare I say he is potty trained? He will sometimes tell us he has to go too, and has even taken himself without saying anything to us. He is very good about going when asked as well. He does still have accidents - generally at school - and probably due to being distracted with fun activities. He is dry ALL NIGHT which just constantly blows my mind. We put him to bed at 8 (sometimes 7:30!) and his pullup is dry when he gets up between 7 and 7:15 a.m. I can't even do that!! I wonder how many times I can re-use a night time dry pullup before its considered gross....
Kathryn is now on my potty training radar. But she is stubborn! I think we may have to go straight to undies with her. She tells us now when she's poopy or has peed so we'll change it... so she knows!! Probably just lazy like her older brother! Why bother with the potty when I can pee my pants and keep playing? We do have a good stock of undies for her. I think this week I may start putting undies over pullups, and maybe the week after we'll try just undies!
On the homefront, nothing much has changed. Shaun and I both have summer projects we're itching to complete. Shaun is putting the last section of pool fence in to replace the old metal fence. He's already put in 2 posts and we have the rest of the wood in the garage. My parents are coming for a week in July and Dad is going to help Shaun put the pergola together.
I'm taking 2 days off that week - Tuesday and Wednesday - and I took the kids out of school. I would like to take them (and my mom) to the Keady market that Tuesday and we'll think of something fun to do on the Wednesday too while the guys work outside. I hope it is nice weather that week!!
We opened the pool about a month ago. Unlike last year, it was crystal clean and only in need of a good vacuum and some leaf-removal. Its up to 19 degrees already! We do have a small leak near the skimmer, but we're having that fixed soon. This year, I have assembled a planter to go at the deep end of the pool in the space that the diving board would be attached. There are 3 spiked implanted in the concrete and I am constantly worried someone will step on them or stub their toe. We want to keep the spikes incase we want a diving board in the future. I put the orange life-saving ring around the spikes, and the planter sits just inside the spikes. It looks pretty nice - pictures will follow eventually.
My projects this summer include finishing up my garden extension and moving some plants in the garden and laying more mulch.
As well, I'm almost done with the renovations in the master closet. I took everything out, filled holes, and painted a fresh coat of white paint. I've ordered a tower to go in the middle for sweaters, hats, purses, etc. The old bar will go on top of that (spanning the entire width of the closet) and a shelf on top for long-term storage. Half way down the tower on either side will be another bar (for hanging pants) with a shelf on top as well. Shaun will have hooks on the inside wall on his side for ties and belts, and I will install a hook on my inside wall for long dresses (I only have 3). Currently, our clothes are in the spare room closet and its a tight fit!!
After that is done, I will be re-doing the spare closet in a similar fashion for Kathryn. After that, I'm going to prime the spare room in preparation for some electrical work that Shaun has to do. The paint in there is very old and oil-based and we figure the patch compound will stick better to new paint (transition paint) than the old stuff. In the fall, Shaun will get the electrical work done, and then we'll patch and sand, and then I can paint! We're painting that room a medium lavendar and then we'll move Ms. Kathryn in. We have purchased her a nice new white bookcase (which is assembled already in her room) and a dresser from IKEA which is in boxes in the garage. My sister gave me an oval mirror for over her dresser and we just got her new bedding. I can't wait to see the finished product! I am so glad she will have a bigger room so she can keep lots of her dolly stuff in there. She is quite the little 'mother'.
I'm also sanding and painting a bookcase for Patrick. This particular bookcase was one of my parent's first pieces of furnature! I can't wait to give him more storage space for his ever-expanding book collection.
After that, I'd like to tackle the front hall closet. I think I could re-work it better. But that will likely be a fall/winter project.
Friday, May 15, 2009
We are so incredibly proud of Patrick right now we could BURST!! Patrick is well on his way to being potty trained!
It started a couple of weeks ago when we decided to really tackle this Potty Training thing head on. Afterall, Patrick is 4 now and it was becoming quite obvious he would never ditch the pullups himself.
So, knowing that Patrick needs baby steps, decided to introduce him to underwear by having him start wearing them every day overtop of his pullup. And at first he DID resist, but he got used to wearing them overtop and even enjoyed picking out which one he would wear each day.
The next step (a week later) was to have him start wearing the undies UNDER the pullup. I didn't want to remove his 'safety net' too quickly. I was hoping that peeing into the undies and having them stay wet would help to remind him to pee in the toilet instead.
By Monday (we started on Fridays) of this undies-under-pullup I was getting tired of washing the undies! He was going thru 10 pair a day, and didn't seem to be making any headway. So... as a trial... I started putting him in undies as soon as he got up - no pullup. The first morning he didn't get very far... and he REALLY hated having his jammies wet. The second day he didn't have any accidents in the morning, so we took the plunge and sent him to school with a huge supply of pants and undies. That night, I washed 9 pair of undies but only 3 pair of pants. AMAZING! We were so pleased. Wednesday was even better, and Thursday better yet!
Today was the best day yet. Patrick had dry undies all day except for 2 small accidents (and 1 poopy one - but I am OK with that - poop training takes a lot longer) AND for the first time EVER he actually asked if he could go potty. Shaun and I just about fell over! He was even dry over 'nap time' and I had put a pullup on him just in case.
The BEST part is, when we send him to the bathroom it is exactly that. We send him. He does it ALL himself, including washing his hands. Its WONDERFUL!!
I hope I haven't jinxed things by sharing our joy but I think our little boy may actually, finally, be ready to be finished with pullups. HURRAH!!!
It started a couple of weeks ago when we decided to really tackle this Potty Training thing head on. Afterall, Patrick is 4 now and it was becoming quite obvious he would never ditch the pullups himself.
So, knowing that Patrick needs baby steps, decided to introduce him to underwear by having him start wearing them every day overtop of his pullup. And at first he DID resist, but he got used to wearing them overtop and even enjoyed picking out which one he would wear each day.
The next step (a week later) was to have him start wearing the undies UNDER the pullup. I didn't want to remove his 'safety net' too quickly. I was hoping that peeing into the undies and having them stay wet would help to remind him to pee in the toilet instead.
By Monday (we started on Fridays) of this undies-under-pullup I was getting tired of washing the undies! He was going thru 10 pair a day, and didn't seem to be making any headway. So... as a trial... I started putting him in undies as soon as he got up - no pullup. The first morning he didn't get very far... and he REALLY hated having his jammies wet. The second day he didn't have any accidents in the morning, so we took the plunge and sent him to school with a huge supply of pants and undies. That night, I washed 9 pair of undies but only 3 pair of pants. AMAZING! We were so pleased. Wednesday was even better, and Thursday better yet!
Today was the best day yet. Patrick had dry undies all day except for 2 small accidents (and 1 poopy one - but I am OK with that - poop training takes a lot longer) AND for the first time EVER he actually asked if he could go potty. Shaun and I just about fell over! He was even dry over 'nap time' and I had put a pullup on him just in case.
The BEST part is, when we send him to the bathroom it is exactly that. We send him. He does it ALL himself, including washing his hands. Its WONDERFUL!!
I hope I haven't jinxed things by sharing our joy but I think our little boy may actually, finally, be ready to be finished with pullups. HURRAH!!!
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
This is the fake cake I made for P to share with his class. Its a corningwear round dish filled with individually wrapped (and certified peanut free!) treats, covered with white paper and those are tooth-pick candles.
There was much confusion about this cake at school. Everyone thought it was 'real' which is a no-no. Parents cannot bring home-baked treats because of allergies and the fear of cross-contamination. At anyrate, it was a hit when everyone figured out it wasn't really a cake! And we only got 3 treats back out of the 46 I sent! I'd say that was success!
There was much confusion about this cake at school. Everyone thought it was 'real' which is a no-no. Parents cannot bring home-baked treats because of allergies and the fear of cross-contamination. At anyrate, it was a hit when everyone figured out it wasn't really a cake! And we only got 3 treats back out of the 46 I sent! I'd say that was success!
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