Markers

Let's hope the package was a bit more truthful about the whole 'Non-Toxic' part than it was about the 'Washable' part . . .

(Check out that tongue.)

Day after Thanksgiving, a couple videos from decorating the tree (well, the first one, as this one FELL OVER randomly the next day)

My 'Twins'

Looking at them, you wouldn't guess these are my furthest spaced children (not that that's saying much -- they're just under 2 years and 2 months apart).  I don't actually think they look that alike or anything, and Isaac definitely looks younger (what with his giant toddler head and all), but when you sit them side by side in a shopping cart, his tall torso makes him appear to be the same height as his big sister and inevitable someone in the store will ask me, "Oh, are they twins?"  Nope -- he outweighs Ellie by a pound or so, is wearing bigger shoes than her, and has just had to jump up to the same size pajamas as her, but he is her little brother . . .

I had to include a ridiculous amount of pictures showing the exact same thing, 'cause of the legendary 'many faces of Ellie' -- seriously, that kid is always trying out her newest pose/facial expression!

Recent Videos and Lazy Facebook Status Stealing

A bunch of random videos of my kids in the last few weeks . . . 

Then, no semi-monthly blog post would be complete without me going through and copying and pasting all the stuff about the kids I've put on facebook:

November 13th, 2012
Ellie laughing maniacally from the bathtub, "Mwah ha ha ha! We are evil scientistes!" I would love to see the inner workings of her four year old mind!

Isaac, after throwing something across the room, then stopping to look up at me apologetically, "Whoa, sorry Mom. There was no reason to throw that."

Talina shut the gate before Bailey could bolt up the stairs.  She started crying.  Isaac sighed and said, "Oh, she is SO disappointed."  

Mine and Talina's little babies -- I cannot believe Owen's 10.5 months old -- he still seems SO babyish. He's tiny, toothless, hairless and I just put away some of his 3-6 month pajamas and the size 2 diapers -- how is he nearly a toddler?!

November 11th, 2012
Annie was writing in her journal tonight, and she wrote, "We sang in Cody's Church today, and everyone said we did really . . . " she paused there and asked, "Mom, should I write good, or do you think I can write great?" I said, "You can definitely write 'great' kiddo, you guys were amazing." She smiled and wrote 'great' then looked up and asked, "So, do you think I should use an exclamation point?" Definitely Annie Bananie, definite explanation point! :-)

SO, so, so, SO proud of my little girls today -- they sang amazingly in front of hundreds of people and couldn't have looked happier, more at home or more confident than they did! They both totally surpassed all my wildest expectations :-)


November 8th, 2012

The kids are pretty happy to have Uncle Cody home :-)

November 6, 2012 - Talina babysat and wrote this down:
Isaac's stream of conscience: "Bailey sad. Bailey sad for her dad. She worried about her dad. He is at work and when he gets home he will hold Bailey then she won't be sad . . . (now in a singsong voice) When I was a white person. She went to bed, to bed, to bed. When I was a white perrrrssson! Help. Thank you (for the record, he wasn't asking me for help and no one helped him . . . that I could see). (Once again singing) "Now go away, go away, gooo aaaaawaaaay!!!"
Have I mentioned lately how much this kid cracks me up?

November 3, 2012
I was singing to Isaac this morning, and he pointed at my mouth and grumpily demanded, "Turn that off."

November 2, 2012

Yay . . . Cody is home! Ellie just wants to be held and talk to him incessantly (he doesn't speak Ellie yet so he doesn't understand much) . . Annie is being shy and giggly . . . Isaac is incredibly wary of this new guy . . . Owen already had a strict 'nobody but Mom' policy, so he lasted about ten seconds in Cody's arms, which is a pretty good first attempt. So happy.

 

November 1, 2012

Kinda in shock -- Cody's flight didn't get out of Uruguay yesterday -- and isn't leaving 'til this afternoon now :-( We don't know when he's going to make it home for sure, but it won't be today :-(

 

October 31, 2012

The funniest part about this weather is that when Grandma took the two girls off to trick or treat at some of her friend's houses, they were gone 10 minutes before I noticed that Annie had left her shoes -- she trick or treated after 8PM for 20 minutes or better in socks, and never got cold :-)

 

Annie sitting up late in bed last night, giggling and squealing, "Only two more days! Only two more days!" Probably the only six year old in town who did not care that Halloween was the next morning . . . all she can think about is Uncle Cody coming home TOMORROW! :-)

 

 October 29, 2012
Ellie tonight at (past) bedtime, "But Daaaaaad, I'm hungry, and if you don't give me food I'll have to eat my boogers again . . ."

Halloween, First Snow, Cody Coming Home and the First Half of November -- i.e., the NEW Longest Blog Post Ever!

First, random pictures of the three youngest kids . . .

 Ellie happily marching in her Halloween Preschool Parade.

Sweet sleeping baby boy -- my little Owen

Owen in his Halloween shirt, and in half of his tiger costume . . . 

 The girls all dressed and ready for Trick or Treating on a warm Halloween evening . . .

My zoo.

 Bailey and Aunt Star at Grandma Karine's house -- and then the granddaughers altogether.

At Grandma's house the kids stripped off their costumes, took off their shoes and played in the grass.  Annie even went trick or treating to Grandma's friends houses for about 20 minutes, and when she got home I realized she'd never put her shoes back on.  Halloween was warm this year.  :-)

 

Then, even bigger than Halloween . . . Cody's homecoming from Uruguay!

We were totally shocked when we found out his first plane was delayed and he wouldn't be home for an extra day.  There was lots of shuffling around to do to get off work the next day (and not everyone could), and most of the family was able to be at the airport on Friday.

Four excited big sisters!

 Ellie and Annie putting the finishing touches on the posters.

 Grandpa and my niece Bailey

 All of us waiting patiently . . .

 Bailey got injured literally a minute or so before Cody emerged . . . poor thing!

 The moment my Mom's been dreaming of for two years.

 Ellie was SO excited.  She glued herself to Cody for the next several days.  She sat on his lap during lunch and wanted to be held by him nearly constantly.

 Annie was also over the moon excited -- but of course, she spent the next several days just giggling every time he tried to talk to her.

 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture of Cody meeting Bailey for the first time.

 Owen's not so sure what he thinks of this guy . . .

We headed to Leatherby's on the way home -- where Ellie sat on his lap the entire time, and Ellie giggled.

Then we got back to my parent's house, where Cody showered us in gifts . . . 

Uruguay Soccer Shirts!!!!!

So, that was all the 'first day home' pictures.

On to snowstorm pics . . . 

 Playing computer games with Uncle Cody on Sunday evening . . .

 The kids posing for pictures for Aunt Star's birthday . . .

And lastly, Owen got his first pair of 9-12 months pajamas.  He was swimming in them :-)  It was adorable :-)

 Phew, I'm caught up on pictures again!  I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving, or that we're just a month and a half from Christmas and Owen's first birthday -- time is getting away from me!

Phew, I'm caught up on pictures!