Nap time.

Without I could be crazy! Whether I sleep or not doesnt matter. It is that time of day that is quiet. There is no crying, no whining, no picking on each other. I can do whatever I want. Laundry. Email. Crafts. Shave. Anything Without it the kids would go crazy! It is their time to rest. There time to have a break from mom (ask Raymond, he will tell you he needs a break).Nap time is a good thing. We all feel so much better after nap (if you notice Ashlynn is not in the pictured because she doesnt sleep until they all get up)

Seatbelts, Please

Today, as I was leaving the store with all 3 girls, I did the usual thing. I put the seat down so the girls could climb in. I put the seat back up so I can sit down to buckle Ashlynn in. Than I reach back over the seat to buckle both girls. We do this at least 3 times a day. It is pretty routine. Kayann puts her straps on, and tries to buckle the top. Kaylee tries to put her straps on.

While we are doing this, a lady in a van next to us attempts the same thing. She opens her van door. Her 2 year old climbs in. She tells her to get in her seat. Her 2 years old replies NO! and starts climb all over the van. She is in the driver seat, the passenger seat, the back of the van. Just all over the place. Her mom would go to where ever she was to get her and she would run and say NO! (I'm standing there shaking my head putting my kids in the car). After asking, telling and demanding that the little girl gets in her car seat the mom says "if you dont get in your seat you arent getting any french fries" What?! I couldnt believe. The little girl got in her seat and they drove off. I than turned to my girls and said "thank you for being so good and getting in your seat when mommy asked"

I am very grateful for good kids. Sometimes with the craziness of life I over look that. I am truly blessed with a bunch of rambunctious, full of life, silly, but good kids.

Simple things

When we first moved in with Derek he would always make the kids say thank you for supper mom Honestly at first I thought it was a little cheesy and unnecessary. However these last few weeks that I have been home feeding the kids supper every night, I have come to appreciate and enjoy it. They just say it. No one tells them to do it. Even little miss Kaylee will say thank you supper. I appreciate that my kids are grateful (and recognize) for the things people do for them.

O how the time flies

Ashlynn is a month old! I cant believe it. When you are pregnant time seems to go so slow. Than they are born. Before you know it they are 5, (ok not there yet).

Ashlynn seems to fit right in. I tried to get her to go to bed at 8, that way I could get the girls in bed first. She wasnt having that. Like clock work at 730 she starts screaming wanting to eat and go to bed. She is a very good sleeper. She usually (I say usually because babies do their own thing) only gets up 2 times during the night.

She loves her big brother, as he loves her. She isnt so sure about the girls giving her baths with baby wipes (they are cold). She loves, loves, LOVES milk. She is very curious. She wants you to hold her up right so she can see all the chaos!

Kayann loves to sing this song to her: ASHLYNN GRACE WE LOVE YOUR FACE!How could you not love this fat face!

brother love

I was going through the pictures on my phone. I came across some of Raymond and Kayann. These 2 are my favorite. Raymond is such a good big brother, helping his sister

Brothers make the best stool

And portable back rest

They are like sponges!

I am so amazed what kids remember or find important. Sometimes, as parents, I think it is easy to forget that kids remember (and usually copy) everything you do. Their brains are like sponges.

I had a gently reminder of this this morning when I was finishing up breakfast. I heard Ashlynn crying, than she stopped. I went to see what was going on. Kayann was reading a nursery rhyme book.

I'm so grateful that my kids finding reading so important.

Valentine Princess

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

From none other than the Valentine's princesses themselves.

Yesterday I made these little wands with the girls. Kayann had to have all the pink pieces. She was more than happy to share with her brother, Kobe and grandma. Can you imagine the boys running around with these?

When the cat is sick the mice will............

The other day I had a terrible fever and was in alot of pain. After picking Jakobe up from school I just had to lay down. I knew my mom would be there in a hour, roughly.

The boys were so helpful. They gave the girls snack and played with them.

But as I laid on the couch with my eyes closed and ears opened (come on moms you know you do it) I couldnt help but wonder what the kids were REALLY doing.

Luckily for me, little miss Kayann loves to take pictures. She document all the chaos that was going on while I was resting.

Boys being boys: wrestling........in my KITCHEN!?

A friendly race down the stairs? we will never know

A rock show, dont forget the air guitar and Kobe's number one fan!

Kayann beating up Kobe *unfortunately, this happens alot (I know it is hard to see but it was too funny) At least I knew where and what one of the kids was doing.

Babysitter

Raymond loves to babysit his sister. I will have him babysit when I'm not far, like when I'm making supper or doing the laundry. The last time I asked him to babysit he happily did it. I came to check on Ashlynn and I found her with a book. Raymond said that he thought she should start reading now because its important. I did keep her quiet. It was so cute. She just laid there "reading" her book. Raymond is such a good big brother. He just loves helping and taking care of her. He says that he will always play with her and that she isnt going to be annoying. He said that same thing with Kayann. Just wait until she can move, than we will see!

Our new found friend

This is our new friend. At first I was nervous. Worried that it wouldnt help. That Raymond would just keep getting worse. However, it seems like doctors know what they are doing.

Yesterday I took Raymond to the doctor. He had had a fever of 102 since Saturday. He was complaining that his throat was hurting. I thought maybe what had started as a head cold and cough, turned into strep throat (he gets that often). While doing his vitals they noticed that his oxygen level was at 90%. His lips were even a funny color! They gave him a nebulizer treatment.

The doctor thought, by his cough and fever, that he could have slight bronchitis! What!? We came for a strep test. He couldnt hear much wheezing. He also said that it could be a cold induced asthma type thing. Where when he gets sick his lungs tighten up causing him to cough and not get enough oxygen. They are both treated with an inhaler, as needed up to 4 times a day.

I would like to say that Raymond is doing wonderfully after 5 uses of his inhaler. I just wish I would have sent him to school today!

Do I like this?

Ashlynn is growing. She is learning all sorts of things. She is learning how to "handle" all the helpers her mom has. She is learning that crying is the way to get things done. But, mostly she is learning what she likes and doesnt like.

Somethings she doesnt like:

Her hat. That is right. It is that blasted thing that her mom makes her wear that always covers her eyes.

Her carseat. Sitting there makes her crazy!

Tummy time.

She doesnt like being cold. Which doesnt really work with the not liking her hat thing, very well.

Somethings she loves include:

Her bouncy chair. It is that cozy place to sit and sleep.

Her mom. Who doesnt love an endless food supply?

Her cute little thumb.

Her bath, as long as she isnt cold.

And last but the most important. To snuggle. She just loves it. It doesnt matter with who as long as they are warm and snuggly!

The learning process is a hard one. Good thing she has lots of time to learn everything!