Thursday, August 27, 2009

First Day of School, First Day of School

It is hard to believe that today marked Alexis' first day of school. The past five years have really flown by.
Our day started with her running into my room yelling "First day of school, first day of school! Mom, I can't wait first day of school!" It was only 7:50 in the morning and school doesn't start until 12:30, which left her plenty of time to ask "Is it time for school yet? How much longer until school?"
She continued her preparation process by eating a bowl of cereal and cinnamon toast. Then deciding on what to wear. She went through three outfits before she found "the best one for the first day". After choosing her outfit, which was a skirt/button up shirt/pink vest combo we debated for about ten minutes on how I should fix her hair. We finally agreed on two braids. Next came the shoes. The silver sandals or the black flats. "Definitely the black flats." Finally topped of the look with her new Tinker Belle backpack.
With the process we had for her first day I am really scared to see what is lying in store for the first day of Jr. High!
Trying to figure out what to have for breakfast

Choosing the outfit

The One

Hair and shoes in place

Finishing touch on any "First Day of School" outfit

Fashonista

"Let's go already"

"Awe Mom! Can we just go now?"

Found her cubby and her name tag

One of the newest Westview Wildcats

Thursday, July 9, 2009

A summer's worth of pictures.

I realize it has been just shy of three (or maybe closer to four-I am not really sure) months since I have been on here. That is how long my life has been in a sort of medical limbo. For a few weeks I wasn't sure how scared I needed to be, but now have been reassured by the docs that my condition is not life threatening. It is just changing my quality of life for now. As I have been experimenting with different medications trying to find the correct dose/doses to get everything back on track it has been hard for me to find the motivation to get up and write anything. The last three months have been recorded only sporadically with pictures. I cannot tell you enough how sad that makes me. I have had days where getting out of bed to care for my monkeys was the only feat I could manage that day. The last two days however, I have been feeling a little better and now that most of the housework has been done I am making time to finally post about the kids. Again, sorry for those of you who come here regularly and have found nothing new for 3 months. My life and mind have been other places. None the less, I am here now and ready to fill you in on all the happenings we have had, and there have been plenty.

Jake has most definitely furthered his independent personality over the last three months. He knows what he wants and really will stop at nothing to get it. He throws a fit if there is any barrier put in the way of him and the prize he has his eye on, which is usually dog food. Yes, we have come around the corner to a very quiet baby gumming down some kibble a few times. Thus a baby gate has been put up blocking off the kitchen. Oh! Let me back up. I forgot to tell you that our little preemie, Jacob, can now crawl. He crawls fast. He is also pulling himself up on things or just randomly standing up. He has just started letting go of the couch and attempting, but not completing a step. He has a whole bag of tricks he pulls out for us everyday. He can also pull his diaper off and likes to do it around the corner of the couch so he can hide for a bit before it is discovered he is bare bunned. He fights you the entire time you are in diaper change mode. Once the old one is off he is twisting and turning and bucking in all directions to try to break free of you before the new diaper is put on. He is happy all the time. As long as his belly is full and there are toys to play with there is a smile on his face. He loves the water. All forms. He screeches and laughs whenever a dog pays any sort of attention to him. He draws the attention of everyone in public. Sometimes for screaming, he likes to scream really loud for no reason. But other times it must just be his happy face that draws them in.

Alexis. Oh, Alexis. This summer I have come to believe that the very existence of the Earth depends on the noise that she makes. If she stopped making noise for one split second we would fall out of rotation and perish. She sings and dances all day, usually not paying attention to her surroundings, knocking things down-including her brother. She loves her brother by the way. They play peek-a-boo, hide and seek, and more recently tag. She gasps at every move he makes scared that he is going to get hurt. She sings to him and forces him to snuggle with her. She is a typical 5 year old in that when you give her one thing she is already asking for another. She has enough questions to get her through the 24 hour period. She wants to be a princess, and actor, a doctor, an artist, and a zoo keeper. She accessorizes every out fit she puts on, getting compliments everywhere we go. She loves lip stick. She loves going to the baseball games and mostly she loves Otto, the teams mascot. She loves to talk on the phone with anyone, call her and find out. She is all about play dates with her friends. She starts school on August 27th and she could not be more excited. Every day she asks, "How many more days before I start school?" I am going to be sad that she is knocking down another mile stone, but I think the quiet time might be nice. As always, though she is noisy and busy she is beautiful and every day I am thankful that she is here.

The pictures attached are in no particular order. They are just a collage of photos that we have taken over the summer. Again I am sorry that it is not more organized, but it is a miracle that I had enough time to get this done before one of the kids needed something! Take care :)






Alexis loves Otto, the Indians Mascot

Grandpa thinks Jake is too cold

Not diggin' the hat

Yay for the Indians Game!

Alexis showing off her batting skills

Daddy and the kiddos

New Indians hat

Alexis and G'ma walking the bases for the cure
This looks bad, but it was all staged

Our little red head

Snuggles

Alexis' first train ride

Lex driving the train near Canada

This is what the red eye light on the camera does to Jake

MMMM... Chocolate Pudding

America's next top model

The gate

Dancing Queen

Where you can usually find Jake

Trying to stand up

Getting into things as usual

Strike a pose

Smile

"He was trying to get into my room"

Best Buds

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Shiny New Bike

During the three day weekend my parents came to pick Alexis up to spend a couple nights with them. While she was gone Gene and I shopped around and found a great deal on a bike she had been asking for since her birthday. We put it together and hid it in the garage. On the two hour drive home from picking her up we hyped her up for this great surprise we had for her. We told her it was going to be one of the best things that ever happened to her. Being the drama queen that she is, she totally played to our hand getting over excited. When we got home we told her the surprise was in the cupboard. The surprise we told her were a new box of fruit snacks!! A little let down she mustered up a smile and said, "Thanks guys."


Great surprise


When she had finished her pack of fruit snacks Gene asked her to help him put away some tools in the garage. She went out dancing the whole way, just because that is how she rolls


When the garage door opened up her shiny pink and purple bike was sitting there and her face lit up like Christmas all over again!












Sorry for the blurry pics. Not sure what is going on with the camera...or the operator!

Family BBQ

This weekend we used the holiday to get the family together, something we have not been able to do for a few months due to my sister being cast in the spring theater production at EWU. The show closed last week and has given her some free time. We all met up at my parents house to enjoy the green scenery, a BBQ, a birthday cake, and good company.


Mom taking charge, as usual, manning the grill

Aunt Sarah with her "new" hair.
My grandma with Jacob and Alexis


Part of the view off my parents back deck


You would think that something funny just happened, but no, this is how my dad always looks while holding Jake. Truth.


You would think that Sarah just did something to make Jake angry, but no, this is how he always looks when she tries to talk to him. Truth. Again.


Grandma and Jake didn't know I was sneaking around with the camera


Aunt Sarah's "real" hair length...and Eric (it was his birthday)


Alexis customizing some wrapping paper


Dad and Alexis playing some ball