Last week after church we were going to Quick Trip so Tracy could get chew. We went through downtown Des Moines. Duncan was amazed by all the big buildings. He asked, are we in the city? Tracy told him yes we are. Duncan just kept saying over and over, thank you for bringing me to the city! He was so amazed, like he had never been out of Runnells before!
Tracy was in California this week (LA) for a conference. I stayed home with the kids, because that is just easier. It was a good week, everyone did a good job of getting along, including me! All the kids were good listeners too, that always helps. I worked one day, which helped break up the week! Grandma was on vacation this week to, so she helped out. I got new frames for my glasses since Olivia decided to break my other one's.
It was a beautiful day today for January. So we played outside for a couple of hours this morning. We went on a walk, got suckers from the postmaster at the post office, stickers from the sheriff, and all wound up by aunt and uncle. They stopped to visit in front of the post office. Then we came home and just played outside. The kids loved it. It has been awhile since they have been able to get toys out of the garage. Elliott is tall enough to reach the petal on the jeep without setting on the edge of the seat, all though all the kids can make it go now. Boy are we gonna be in trouble this summer! They took good naps today, 2 1/2 hours!! Fresh air does wonders for 2 year olds. Duncan crashed hard at bed time, fresh air does a 4 year old boy good too, even though he always says he is not tired.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
It's all about letting the kids learn!
First a few things Duncan has been saying. With almost every sentence it starts with Can you believe what ever he is going to tell you about or Did you not recognize I could do this or that! He also says I need, or do you need issistance. (assistance)! He also has been singing the days of the week, and talking about the seasons. He is always asking is it still winter, and why is it still winter. Or is it spring yet!! He knows his birthday now too, they have mittens at school with their birthday on, they put them on a tree everyday at school. They made a goal chart at school the other day, the director is always sending little emails about this stuff. Duncan's goal for this year is to learn to ride his bike on the ice! She says we better watch out, he is all boy. That he is!
Now for the other four kiddos, we continue to learn what works and what doesn't every day! Most recently we have started letting them have their drinks at the end of the meal. Lots less spills that way! Since I decided they needed to learn to drink without lids they have decided the last couple days that they are not going to use them, even if we want them to! We were giving them drinks at the beginning of the meal, but they mess around and it ends up getting spilled. We have also started using the timer at meal time. When they decide that they are going to play and not eat we set the timer for 5 minutes and meal time is DONE! They all know what it means when I say I am going to sit the timer, because they tell me no!! It gets set anyway and when it goes off, plates come off the table and they get washed up and get down. They eat in the last 5 minutes usually, well Olivia does anyway, but she will stay at the table for a hour if you let her. So my hopes are that they will one day eat and not play!! They are doing better about sitting on the big chairs to eat. We still have our days, but we always will!
Olivia has decided she likes to jump! She was jumping off of my leg to the floor. She had a hold of my hand, but she did it and laughed and laughed. So they boys all decided they needed to do it too, we all had fun with it. They like to jump out of the recliners too, that is what I caught them doing when I came into the living room tonight. They had the leg rest out and jumping away! They can get to anything they want these days.
Naps are a thing of the past I believe. I still put them in bed to rest, but they just play. They other day I put them up in their room for rest time, but they played instead. I went upstairs and had sheets off the mattress and they were pulling the inside of one mattress out. It got broke the other day while all 5 kids were jumping on it. i put grey tape on it but they took it off. So we taped it a little better.
Tracy left for a conference in California today. He will be back on Friday. It could be a long week! Not really, it will be fine. I know I can call anyone if I need help. I am working on Wednesday and Mom is going to babysit. She is off this week so help really is just a phone call away!
While we were playing tonight, I thought all of the kids were down on the floor wresting around, well I was wrong. Olivia was on a stool and had gotten my glasses off of the table and broke the bow off. Good thing I have some contacts. Guess I should pay more attention, she was very quiet, quietness is always bad in this house!!!
Now for the other four kiddos, we continue to learn what works and what doesn't every day! Most recently we have started letting them have their drinks at the end of the meal. Lots less spills that way! Since I decided they needed to learn to drink without lids they have decided the last couple days that they are not going to use them, even if we want them to! We were giving them drinks at the beginning of the meal, but they mess around and it ends up getting spilled. We have also started using the timer at meal time. When they decide that they are going to play and not eat we set the timer for 5 minutes and meal time is DONE! They all know what it means when I say I am going to sit the timer, because they tell me no!! It gets set anyway and when it goes off, plates come off the table and they get washed up and get down. They eat in the last 5 minutes usually, well Olivia does anyway, but she will stay at the table for a hour if you let her. So my hopes are that they will one day eat and not play!! They are doing better about sitting on the big chairs to eat. We still have our days, but we always will!
Olivia has decided she likes to jump! She was jumping off of my leg to the floor. She had a hold of my hand, but she did it and laughed and laughed. So they boys all decided they needed to do it too, we all had fun with it. They like to jump out of the recliners too, that is what I caught them doing when I came into the living room tonight. They had the leg rest out and jumping away! They can get to anything they want these days.
Naps are a thing of the past I believe. I still put them in bed to rest, but they just play. They other day I put them up in their room for rest time, but they played instead. I went upstairs and had sheets off the mattress and they were pulling the inside of one mattress out. It got broke the other day while all 5 kids were jumping on it. i put grey tape on it but they took it off. So we taped it a little better.
Tracy left for a conference in California today. He will be back on Friday. It could be a long week! Not really, it will be fine. I know I can call anyone if I need help. I am working on Wednesday and Mom is going to babysit. She is off this week so help really is just a phone call away!
While we were playing tonight, I thought all of the kids were down on the floor wresting around, well I was wrong. Olivia was on a stool and had gotten my glasses off of the table and broke the bow off. Good thing I have some contacts. Guess I should pay more attention, she was very quiet, quietness is always bad in this house!!!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
What a day!!
Today started with the AEA coming bright and early at 9am! I schedule these appts and then the kids sleep schedule changes!! We were all up at 7:30. Elliott was the last one just finishing getting dressed when they got here. All is good with all the testing, aside from speech and communication. So we are going to start speech at the end of the month. 2 times a month, we will meet at preschool when Duncan is at school so that will work well. They all scored just a little low, so we figure it isn't going to hurt anything to have a little extra help.
It was finals at the high school so we took Sarah to school at 10:30. Home for lunch and rest time. Duncan and I made meatloaf and brownie cup cakes while the other kids were resting (playing!). The brownies are good, but they don't make very good cupcakes. They stick to the paper, I used the paper cups because I HATE washing cupcake pans. After rest time I decided to go on a walk. Thought about taking the stroller, but decided all the kids could use some exercise. I also decided not to put snow pants on; it is not a big deal if the pants get a little wet. We will just take them off when we get home. So we all get ready, coats, boots, gloves and are on our way. We get outside and I get they arm straps out of the van. ( I am not completely crazy, I won't go on walks without those yet!) So as I am putting them on, I look over and Duncan and Owen are jumping in a mud puddle in the drive way, that should of been my first clue! So everyone is ready, we are off.... Duncan and Ethan are ahead of us, walking in the snow. So we FINALLY get to the sidewalk... Another mud puddle, yep, they all jump in it. We are off again, some mud, we all walk/step/jump in it. Everyone has lost gloves, so I have put on gloves, they are all wet and muddy!! We FINALLY make it to the post office, all go in, no mail ( thank goodness, not sure how I would of got it home!). We get out of the post office and Duncan jumps off the ledge to the side walk. Well everyone has to do what big brother does.. So everyone ends up on the sidewalk, and then in the street, then we have to go up the steps to the side walk. Elliott plays on the snow mound by the stop sign.. Olivia and Ethan both sit down.One of the neighbors drove by and wanted to know if I wanted to put all the kids in the back of his truck and he would bring us home, I politely said no thank you! So we finally get back across the highway to the sidewalk. Find more mud. Duncan is ahead of us, I holler at him to come back so he can hold Elliott's hand. Well Duncan lost his boot in the mud he was playing in. So he carries his boot to where the rest of us are. I tell him just to take off his sock, and carry it with Elliott's glove and put his boot on with no sock. We are on our way again. Elliott and Duncan are ahead of us, well guess what, Duncan lost his other boot. So now we have 2 muddy socks. He looks at me with a look of what do I do??? By this time the rest of us are caught up. So as Duncan stands there with one boot off, the rest of the kids are jumping in a mud puddle! So I tell Duncan just put the sock and glove in his boot and carry it home. Just wear one boot, go straight down the alley and stay out of the mud and snow. So we get home, get on the back poarch. Strip get boots, coats, gloves and pants off. I send everyone to the kitchen to wait for me to open the gate. Well I forgot about the cat water and food. Yep you guessed it, Elliott was playing in the food and the water was all over the kitchen floor! So our walked turned into a lot of work for me since I had to wash all the coats and gloves and wash all 5 pair of boots since they were all muddy. We ended the evening with supper of the meatloaf. Baths and bed!! Really I wouldn't change anything. We all need a little adventure once in awhile! Of course I would of loved pictures of today, but there was no way possible.
It was finals at the high school so we took Sarah to school at 10:30. Home for lunch and rest time. Duncan and I made meatloaf and brownie cup cakes while the other kids were resting (playing!). The brownies are good, but they don't make very good cupcakes. They stick to the paper, I used the paper cups because I HATE washing cupcake pans. After rest time I decided to go on a walk. Thought about taking the stroller, but decided all the kids could use some exercise. I also decided not to put snow pants on; it is not a big deal if the pants get a little wet. We will just take them off when we get home. So we all get ready, coats, boots, gloves and are on our way. We get outside and I get they arm straps out of the van. ( I am not completely crazy, I won't go on walks without those yet!) So as I am putting them on, I look over and Duncan and Owen are jumping in a mud puddle in the drive way, that should of been my first clue! So everyone is ready, we are off.... Duncan and Ethan are ahead of us, walking in the snow. So we FINALLY get to the sidewalk... Another mud puddle, yep, they all jump in it. We are off again, some mud, we all walk/step/jump in it. Everyone has lost gloves, so I have put on gloves, they are all wet and muddy!! We FINALLY make it to the post office, all go in, no mail ( thank goodness, not sure how I would of got it home!). We get out of the post office and Duncan jumps off the ledge to the side walk. Well everyone has to do what big brother does.. So everyone ends up on the sidewalk, and then in the street, then we have to go up the steps to the side walk. Elliott plays on the snow mound by the stop sign.. Olivia and Ethan both sit down.One of the neighbors drove by and wanted to know if I wanted to put all the kids in the back of his truck and he would bring us home, I politely said no thank you! So we finally get back across the highway to the sidewalk. Find more mud. Duncan is ahead of us, I holler at him to come back so he can hold Elliott's hand. Well Duncan lost his boot in the mud he was playing in. So he carries his boot to where the rest of us are. I tell him just to take off his sock, and carry it with Elliott's glove and put his boot on with no sock. We are on our way again. Elliott and Duncan are ahead of us, well guess what, Duncan lost his other boot. So now we have 2 muddy socks. He looks at me with a look of what do I do??? By this time the rest of us are caught up. So as Duncan stands there with one boot off, the rest of the kids are jumping in a mud puddle! So I tell Duncan just put the sock and glove in his boot and carry it home. Just wear one boot, go straight down the alley and stay out of the mud and snow. So we get home, get on the back poarch. Strip get boots, coats, gloves and pants off. I send everyone to the kitchen to wait for me to open the gate. Well I forgot about the cat water and food. Yep you guessed it, Elliott was playing in the food and the water was all over the kitchen floor! So our walked turned into a lot of work for me since I had to wash all the coats and gloves and wash all 5 pair of boots since they were all muddy. We ended the evening with supper of the meatloaf. Baths and bed!! Really I wouldn't change anything. We all need a little adventure once in awhile! Of course I would of loved pictures of today, but there was no way possible.
At what point do you say goodbye to naps?
I know I am not ready for the little kids not to nap, but some days I wonder is it worth the many trips up and down the stairs??
The other day I made the mistake of trying to have Duncan lay down upstairs with them. Well instead of napping, they made a slide out of the mattress'. I should of known better than to have Duncan lay down upstairs. Now they rearrange the mattress's every day at nap time. And almost everyday make a slide. Today they have been upstairs for 2 hours, no one is asleep. I have taken one mattress out because they took the sheets off, went back up to change a stinky diaper, and they had just moved down the line and more sheets were off! Hopefully they will go to sleep soon, although I am not holding my breath.
The other day I went to check on them because they were laughing and caring on, Elliott and Olivia had no clothes on, but when I had to go back up awhile later, they were both naked. Now everyone wears pj's backwards. I am sure soon they will figure out how to unzip each other. I don't put anything past my kids.
Until we figure some other sleeping arrangements out, I guess we will just go with it and what ever happens, happens! They generally do well at night, just naps are hard! God doesn't give you more than you can handle. I remind myself of that often!
I looked online to see how much a 2 year old "should" sleep every day. Well 13 to 14 hours, our kids sleep 12 or 13 hours at night. Maybe they don't need a long nap. They will have "rest" time, which is not really "restful" because they run around and play!
The other day I made the mistake of trying to have Duncan lay down upstairs with them. Well instead of napping, they made a slide out of the mattress'. I should of known better than to have Duncan lay down upstairs. Now they rearrange the mattress's every day at nap time. And almost everyday make a slide. Today they have been upstairs for 2 hours, no one is asleep. I have taken one mattress out because they took the sheets off, went back up to change a stinky diaper, and they had just moved down the line and more sheets were off! Hopefully they will go to sleep soon, although I am not holding my breath.
The other day I went to check on them because they were laughing and caring on, Elliott and Olivia had no clothes on, but when I had to go back up awhile later, they were both naked. Now everyone wears pj's backwards. I am sure soon they will figure out how to unzip each other. I don't put anything past my kids.
Until we figure some other sleeping arrangements out, I guess we will just go with it and what ever happens, happens! They generally do well at night, just naps are hard! God doesn't give you more than you can handle. I remind myself of that often!
I looked online to see how much a 2 year old "should" sleep every day. Well 13 to 14 hours, our kids sleep 12 or 13 hours at night. Maybe they don't need a long nap. They will have "rest" time, which is not really "restful" because they run around and play!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Playing in the snow!
We have had lots of fun in the snow. All of the kids love to be outside. So I decided to bundle them up and go out after nap. Man it takes a long time to get 5 kids ready. I got Olivia dressed, turned around and Elliott had pulled her gloves off! We finally got ready ( 1/2hour or so!) and ventured out. They all just wondered around for a while. Then they started playing with the toys that are still out. Olivia had to swing, she loved it, even could touch the ground with all the snow. They were all throwing snow at each other. Lots of laughs outside! The little boys put to good use the stocking hats that they got for their birthday from the Hawkin's!
Duncan with the snow he was eating
Elliott
Owen
Olivia had to swing
Ethan had to mow
Friday, December 28, 2012
Christmas
No cribs is sure an adventure! Bedtime is usually OK, put nap time is a different story! Today the kids( Elliott was the mastermind I am sure), got the gate open, were running around and knocked the space heater over and I am sure it is broken now. At least they didn't get hurt in the process. Make that 2 times getting out in 1 hour and 15 minutes. We played out in the snow for awhile this morning, all the kids had a good time. I thought it would wear them out so they would nap good, guess I was wrong about that! What a day!
They also are sitting at the table on big kid chairs, no booster seats, they are doing well with that too!
The other day I was having Duncan take a nap too, upstairs ( mistake). They made a slide out of the mattress. So I had Duncan come downstairs and the little ones did it on their own. What an adventure!
The week before Christmas on Wednesday, we had a snow storm. It knocked out the electricity here in town. We were without electric for almost 3 days. It came back on on Friday afternoon. We went to Adventureland Inn on Thursday afternoon, it was getting really cold and I knew when it got dark the house would cool off way fast. It was another adventure at the hotel. No one slept real well, but we managed. Tracy stayed home Thursday and Friday to help me, thank goodness, I would of went CRAZY!
We started Christmas off the Saturday before in Albia. Joni, Wayne, and Alex were back. We went to church with Grandpa, it went very well all the kids were very good! We had our gathering at an old church in Albia. It was lots of fun! Tracy and the kids came home, and I stayed in the hotel so I could actually visit! It was very nice. We spent Sunday morning at the hotel visiting and then the afternoon at Grandpa's house. We had lots of laughs!
Christmas Eve we had the Gruber get together at the Community Center in Runnells. It is always a fun time! We all gathered in the kitchen just like at all the Gruber get togethers! The kids had lots of room to run and play.
Mom and the Hawkins stayed the night on Christmas Eve. We got up Christmas morning and had a big breakfast. We went to mass at 11, Santa came while we were at church. It was really nice, the kids were good at Church again! We came home and Santa had been here. The kids got a train table, trucks, Olivia got some dolls. Lots and lots of new toys. They love them all. Aunt and Uncle and the Girls got them bathroom decor, the 5 little monkeys, Duncan loves it! I love it too, not something I would of bought for them, we just had a plain bathroom.
Duncan is on Christmas break, it is nice not to have to get up and rush around for school, but I will be glad to get back in a routine.
They also are sitting at the table on big kid chairs, no booster seats, they are doing well with that too!
The other day I was having Duncan take a nap too, upstairs ( mistake). They made a slide out of the mattress. So I had Duncan come downstairs and the little ones did it on their own. What an adventure!
The week before Christmas on Wednesday, we had a snow storm. It knocked out the electricity here in town. We were without electric for almost 3 days. It came back on on Friday afternoon. We went to Adventureland Inn on Thursday afternoon, it was getting really cold and I knew when it got dark the house would cool off way fast. It was another adventure at the hotel. No one slept real well, but we managed. Tracy stayed home Thursday and Friday to help me, thank goodness, I would of went CRAZY!
We started Christmas off the Saturday before in Albia. Joni, Wayne, and Alex were back. We went to church with Grandpa, it went very well all the kids were very good! We had our gathering at an old church in Albia. It was lots of fun! Tracy and the kids came home, and I stayed in the hotel so I could actually visit! It was very nice. We spent Sunday morning at the hotel visiting and then the afternoon at Grandpa's house. We had lots of laughs!
Christmas Eve we had the Gruber get together at the Community Center in Runnells. It is always a fun time! We all gathered in the kitchen just like at all the Gruber get togethers! The kids had lots of room to run and play.
Mom and the Hawkins stayed the night on Christmas Eve. We got up Christmas morning and had a big breakfast. We went to mass at 11, Santa came while we were at church. It was really nice, the kids were good at Church again! We came home and Santa had been here. The kids got a train table, trucks, Olivia got some dolls. Lots and lots of new toys. They love them all. Aunt and Uncle and the Girls got them bathroom decor, the 5 little monkeys, Duncan loves it! I love it too, not something I would of bought for them, we just had a plain bathroom.
Duncan is on Christmas break, it is nice not to have to get up and rush around for school, but I will be glad to get back in a routine.
Santa at the Community Center in Runnells.
Duncan is the only one who wanted to sit on Santa's lap
Olivia finally would sit on Santa's lap for a candycane!
The only picture I got of presents! Duncan with his truck with a hook on the front from Santa
Monday, December 10, 2012
Begining of December
The start of the month hasn't been great. Duncan, Owen and Elliott were sick. They all had fevers, and just didn't feel well. Tracy came home from work so I could take them to the doctor. One upper respiratory infection, and two ear infections. Medicine for all. Owen and Elliott went back 2 days later and we got a nebulizer. That helped, thank goodness! Ethan and Olivia decided they didn't want to be left out and both had fevers, but just for one night. Thank goodness. It was a long week, up and down all night. It has been a while since we have had to do that, I forgot how hard it is to have lots of nights of broken sleep! We are on the mend now.
Duncan is still enjoying school! He is really into playing games and he has been writing alot lately too.
The "babies" lost their cribs this week. Tracy made a gate to go across the room so they have to stay by their beds and can't roam the whole upstairs! Nap time was hard today, Olivia did not nap and the boys only napped a little. Bed time was better, after about an hour or so they all went to sleep. Well the princess had to be held for a few minutes and then she went right to sleep. They have crib mattresses on the floor. Duncan wanted to sleep with them so we moved his mattress in there too! Could be interesting I am sure. Hope that they adapt to the change quickly! Naps could be a thing of the past, but we sure hope not.
Duncan is still enjoying school! He is really into playing games and he has been writing alot lately too.
The "babies" lost their cribs this week. Tracy made a gate to go across the room so they have to stay by their beds and can't roam the whole upstairs! Nap time was hard today, Olivia did not nap and the boys only napped a little. Bed time was better, after about an hour or so they all went to sleep. Well the princess had to be held for a few minutes and then she went right to sleep. They have crib mattresses on the floor. Duncan wanted to sleep with them so we moved his mattress in there too! Could be interesting I am sure. Hope that they adapt to the change quickly! Naps could be a thing of the past, but we sure hope not.
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