The Happy Painter

Grace LOVES to color. She will color all day if we let her and had the paper to do it! We should have known this would be something she loved when as a 2 year old she used yogurt to color on the stair railing going downstairs and then butter to color on her bedroom wall and then desitin to color on her bedroom door and then foundation makeup to color all over the TV set. This was all in 1 week....yes, we all survived!

Grace is sad when Daddy asked who put the "yogy" on the stairs

The door of either butter or Desitin...I am thinking butter on this day:

Butter on her bedroom walls and floor (not easy to get out or wash off):

A couple months before all of this, I found her downstairs with red ink (Holiday Red from my stamps) all over her hands and face. Here is our conversation...

Mommy: "You MUST BE KIDDING!"

Grace: "No, I not kidding. I a clown!"

I stuck her in the bath and did what any normally perfect mom would do....I called Grandma to save her little butt! We are thankful that she now colors in coloring books and on paper...granted she is 5, but I am still thanking God that she has outgrown her naughty coloring. So, onto the reason for this post (it really wasn't to tattle on my princess)...Grace was sitting and coloring one night and I walked into the livingroom to check on her and found this:

Yep...sound asleep coloring! Notice the Color Wonder markers and paper....Santa is soooo smart!

Bethany, I have seen your wonderful colorer and she would get along GREAT with Grace...however, we probably wouldn't want to see what masterpieces they came up with!

Just keep swimming....

Today's post has nothing to do with the kids....it is all about ME :)

When a very good friend (that would never steer me wrong) challenged me to doing a triathlon 2 years ago, I said "sure"! Then, I got out of it by being pregnant with Kate. Now I have had Kate and she didn't forget I said "sure" 2 years ago, so I am signed up, paid for and committed to doing a triathlon this July. This is considered a "sprint" triathlon. That means the really good people do this at top speed with no problems. For me it means: I hope I finish without drowning, falling off my bike and fainting while I "run". I have to swim 1/2 mile, bike 12 miles and run 3.1 miles (5K)...all in one day :). I am now able to "run" 2 miles without stopping..it is more of a very slow jog, but I am technically getting both feet off the earth at the same time so it is running :). Granted I have only ran that far once, but I know I can do it. Today I did some cardio on the eliptical (sp?) machine for 20 minutes and then hit the pool. When I first started training 5 months ago (Kate was only 4 weeks old) I was only able to swim 1.5 laps without stopping (it was pathetic). Today I swam all 16 laps (1/2 mile) without stopping :). I now know that I will not drown in the tri! Tomorrow is supposed to be 53 degrees outside so as soon as the snow has melted and the bike trails are open I am going to be out biking. Another friend (what kind of insane friends have I found) has talked me into doing a run 15 minute/spin 30 minutes/run 15 minutes class at the gym on Wednesdays. That scares me a little but I am going to give it a try! Anyone else out there reading this that wants to join me this summer let me know...Missy, want to TRI?

Tempers....

So, our littlest princess has developed quite the temper if she isn't getting her way. When did that little connection in her little head develop? It seems like one day she is perfectly fine sitting in her exersaucer while I fold laundry and the next day she is throwing her arms out straight, her head back and screaming with her eyes closed tightly the entire time I fold a pair of socks. As soon as I move toward her....the huge smile comes out and she reaches up to me. What is a mom to do? On one hand I know she is playing me like a fiddle and on the other hand she is reaching out to me with that big smile and bigger blue eyes saying "I love you mama, hold me NOW" and how can I ignore that? I am in so much trouble....and am learning how to fold socks with the help of a 6 month old. It also takes a bit more time to type this one handed because a little certain someone doesn't want to play on the floor...the keyboard is SO MUCH more fun. Did I mention I am creating a monster...a very cute monster :). Here is what happened when I was trying to get pictures of her yesterday for her 6 month shot...she had enough and tipped herself over and the temper started :)...isn't she cute?

Happy 1/2 Birthday Kate!

Today our princess-in-training turns 6 months. I have truely enjoyed EVERY minute of her 1st 6 months and am eager to see all that God has planned for her in her future. Everyone asks how it has been going from 2 kids to 3 kids and my answer for everyone is always the same: EASY! I think it has to do with the fact that the other 2 kids are in school everyday so in a way it is like having my 1st baby all over without all the questions of a first time mom. Kate is such a happy baby and loves to flash her gorgeous smile at anyone that looks at her. She is just starting to show her "little" temper when she doesn't get something she wants (usually it has to do with us not giving her a drink of Sprite or a bite of ice cream). In 6 months she has grown 8 inches and gained 6 pounds. She can sit up on her own for more than a minute and has her 1st two bottom teeth. She has got the BIGGEST blue eyes that just sparkle and a smile that will melt your heart. She LOVES LOVES LOVES Jack and Grace and is determined to poke the dogs eyes out. She is our little Tater and we love her sooooo much. Happy 1/2 birthday peanut!

A post a day for a month....

So I have been challenged to do a post a day for a month. They probably won't be super long and won't always include a picture but I will try :). So for today's post:



Kate's 6 month checkup:


Stats-
Height: 27 1/2 inches (97%)
Weight: 16 lbs 3 oz (50%)
Head: not sure of the actual measurement but it is in the 19%!



So, my baby has a smallish head...we knew this and there is nothing wrong with her. She is doing everything a 6 month old should be doing so they aren't worried. We are just used to babies with big melons :). She is our little peanut and that is ok with me! If you missed our "post for everyone" keep scrolling down...that is a much longer post with an update on all of us.

Updates for everyone!

Kate is learning so much lately. She is rolling over more and more, and has grown Abs of Steel doing her version of stomach crunches. She does this whenever you lay her down to change her...she just keeps her head off the floor. She has started sitting up by herself (for about a minute).

She also LOVES food...big surprise in this family :), but only wants to feed herself or help us feed her...very messy and fun times!

She also grew a bunch of red hair...ok, that is Grace's Build A Bear Ariel wig. I knew there would be a good use for it someday!

Tomorrow she goes in for her 6 month checkup to get weighed and measured. At 6 months Grace was 2o lbs 13 oz and 28 1/4 " long...I don't think Kate is anywhere near that...and Jack was even bigger by this point! I can't find Jack's paper from his 6 month check up but at 4 months he was just under 23 pounds!!! At 4 months old Kate was only 14 pounds! I always said I wanted a "little" baby but I was really referring to when they were born :)...so far I haven't had any little newborns (I guess I have to be more specific next time). She is our peanut and we are all so in love with her! She is starting to show her temper; especially when Daddy let her try one bite of ice cream and then cut her off....man oh man, her little head went back and she started bawling and screaming....we are in trouble! Her biggest news is that she now has 2 bottom teeth. She was not happy for about a day and then they were all in and she was fine. Hopefully the rest come in that easily!

Grace is doing better now that she is over the flu. She had a 103 temp for 2 days and just sat next to me and cried and cried and cried. I felt so bad for her. She is getting ready for the big dance recital at the end of the month so I will try to post that video on here if I can figure it out! She just got the PRO award at school (People Respecting Others). They chose 2 kids from each grade every month to recieve the award then they get their picture taken and put in the school newsletter....big stuff! She was just excited that she got a free ice cream from Culvers!

Valentines was big stuff this year for Grace because she is now in Kindergarten. Our friends Shawn and Lorraine bought her this adorable skirt for Christmas and I couldn't wait until Valentines Day so she could wear it. I asked if all the kids loved her twirly dress and she said "Yes, even Logan loved it". Logan is a little guy in Grace's class that loves to tease everyone so Grace was very happy that he even said he loved it and didn't tease her :). The lady in the picture with Grace is her wonderful teacher, Ms. Embling. Jack had her for Kindergarten also. She is a wonderful Christian women that loves the kids and is so patient and quiet natured. We are very blessed to have had her for both kids.

Grace still loves to match her clothes with Kates whenever possible!

Jack is doing great. He spends his time waiting for the snow to melt so he can get back out playing football and fishing. For now he plays with Kate and is constantly making her smile and laugh...I think he may be her favorite person (next to me of course!). He is doing really well in 3rd grade and this year has to learn the location of all 50 states, their capitals and how to spell both the state and capital....I am glad I am not in 3rd grade! I need to pin him down for more pictures of him. I will put up one that I think I just posted on facebook....maybe it was here...anyways that is all your getting because I don't have any recent pics of Jack.

Jared is keeping busy with the offices and trying to sell our house. We have had a handful of people look at it but no bites YET....we are hoping that once the snow melts and we can actually show off the lake and the surrounding property it will have a better chance to sell...at least that is what we are hoping. For now I can just be happy my house is ALWAYS clean :).

I got to partake in 80's night at the Melting Pot. It is a fantastic fondue restaurant that lets us dress up, eat chocolate and laugh for hours with the posse! I will show some pictures of all of us that went. If you want to join us next time you have to dress up and have fun :)

My big news is that I have officially signed up to do a triathlon this summer. Jared has started helping me train for it by running with me at the gym. I am up to 1.5 miles without stopping...that is the furthest I have EVER run...I hate running. For the tri I will have to swim in a lake (yes, with fish...pray for me) for 1/2 mile, then bike for 12 miles and run for 3.1 miles (5 K). I am going to do this and will be in better shape before then so I don't pass out! If there is anyone out there (women only for this one) that would like to do it with me let me know! Search under Trek Womens Triathlon and I am doing the Wisconsin "Chicagoland" tri July 12th. Sign up soon!

I am going to really try to do more frequent updates so they don't get so long! Sorry...but thank you if you got this far!

5 months old

Kate is now 5 months old! I think she is starting to get her 2 bottom teeth but nothing has popped through yet. She is mastering all the noises you can think of and is not quiet at all with sharing them with us! I am trying to get her to say Mama but she just smiles and goes back to yelling and screeching.

The first picture below is when she was just 9 days old and the second picture is Kate at 5 months....time goes fast when you having fun!