Big Kids!

I took some photos of the kids outside the other day. They look GIGANTIC! I just can't believe how fast they grow and my sweet little babies are "big kids!" Ellie will be 5 in a couple weeks. WOW! Jack is only 2-1/2, but acts & talks more like a 3-year old thanks to a big sister.

Halloween Party #1

Billy & I went to a Halloween Party this past weekend, and we have another this coming weekend too. Here are the pictures of us as Count and Countess. We won "Scariest Costume" - I should mention that we were really the ONLY scary costume. But we looked good - I think we can brag on our trophy!

Ellie thought it was very exciting! She helped me get dressed and watched me put on my make up. I came out of the bedroom completely ready and scared Jack a bit. He's not too sure of all the scary masks and skeletons around. Hopefully he makes it trick-o-treating on Tuesday night, and doesn't get too scared. The kids are planning to be superheros. Ellie is Wonder Woman and Jack is Flash.

5 Months Old

Lil' Miss has just passed the 5-month mark. Can't think of a major milestone to share. Of course, she's growing in strength to hold objects, sitting up better, and her mad scream. When she gets really upset, she actually kind of growls. I'll have to get it on video sometime. But it's hard to imagine this cute little face growling, huh?!

Making a Track

Jack made this cool track the other day all by himself. These little pieces have magnets on the ends and he started making a "track" and eventually he made it into a big circle. I watched him the entire time, and one interesting thing is that he knew when the magnets were not connecting right (polar sides wrong) and he turned it around so it could connect tight. Pretty good for a 2-1/2 year old. Magnets are fascinating!

Sensitive Boy

Evenings around Amelia without Mommy can be kind of a challenge. When she is tired, she doesn't want to be comforted by anyone but me. So on evenings when I have to be gone and Daddy is on duty... sometimes things can get kind of stressful. She's been known to scream her head off for 2 hours until she finally gives up and falls asleep.

Recently, during one of these fits, (I think it had been going on for quite awhile and Billy was grateful that the big kids were being well-behaved) Billy was croutched down trying to get her comforted in her bouncy seat. Along walked Jack and stopped for a moment, patted Billy's arm, gave it a kiss, and off he went.

Billy said he nearly cried it was so sweet. Jack didn't say a word, but Billy knew that he was just trying to say, "Hang in there, buddy, you can do it!" What a sweet story.

Excuse Me!

Teaching children good manners is a never-ending task. And with eyes watching, we as parents have to be good mannered also! Please and thank you, excuse me, elbows off the table, don't interrupt, etc.

Jack & Ellie now share a room with bunk beds. Jack on top, Ellie down below. This change came when Amelia was ready to go to the crib and her own room a couple months ago. The "big kids," as I like to call them, are doing very well with this adjustment. Much better than we thought! They go to bed at the same time and normally with very little talking, off to dreamland.

The other night, after putting them to bed, we could hear Jack in the room shouting, "No!" A few seconds later Ellie comes out to announce, "Mom, Bubba tooted and he won't say 'Excuse me.'" We politely told her that it was okay and to go back to bed. Luckily, she listened and headed right back because we busted up laughing!

Coos that Melt your Heart

The fun thing about Amelia's age now is that she's starting to coo and shout. Sometimes I have to check to see if she's upset or just testing out her vocals. She'll just be shouting away at Ellie or Jack - I guess she's already seeing that she'll have to be loud to be heard!

Since Billy's family is 2 states away, I wanted to make sure I got some video of Amelia up so they can see how she's growing. We'll be down there next month, and I'm sure they can't wait to get their hands on her!

They've got talent!

Here are a couple of videos of Nate, my brother-in-law, and Brian Mantz, my brother, Jon's father-in-law doing some jamming the evening after Jon & Abbi's wedding. It was really fun! They are both very talented and they entertained us for a couple of hours!

Unfortunately, because I was holding the camera, you can hear my intoxicated-self singing sometimes too. Really, it is unfortunate. I think I picked 2 clips that I don't embarrass myself too much.

A Whole New World

Here is Ellie singing along with her discman. If you can't figure it out, it's Aladdin's "A Whole New World." Hilarious! Someday she'll love it that I have this on record ... hehehe

1st Annual Fabulous Grill 'n Chill

On September 8th we had our 1st Annual Fabulous Grill 'n Chill! It was a smashing success with around 75 folks here...20 of them being kids! It was nuts!

We had a couple of food contests going on - Voted Best Side Dish winner was Michelle Siepker, Ellie's preschool teacher with her Mexican Fudge. It's not fudge, it actually has not chocolate in it. It's some egg/salsa/cheese dish that was delish! Voted Best Dessert winner was a consultant on my Pampered Chef team, Sherri Reinier with her Not Yer Mama's Nana Puddin'. (She's from Texas, can ya'll tell?!) An awesome version of banana cream pie. Everyone had a great time tasting the food and then voting.

Billy went a bit nuts-o on the meat. We overestimated how much we needed... forgetting that people would be stuffed with side dishes and desserts and not eat as much meat. So we had plenty of smoked ribs and chicken. He also made 3 new bbq sauces from scratch that were a nearly gone too.

4 Month Pictures

I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted pictures. September was a complete blur! I had a very busy, successful month with my business... so some of my normal fun activities had to be set aside.

Amelia is growing... as babies do. Her 4-month well-baby check went well. She ended up with a fever for 2 days after the shots, but she wasn't too fussy. She weighed in at 13 -13 and is 24.5". She's still my biggest baby of the 3. She's eating cereal once a day and also is now in the exersaucer standing up and grabbing at toys.

Besides a week of no #2's, there hasn't been anything alarming with her health. And that is pretty normal for a breastfed baby. Billy was pretty concerned... but with lots of smelly farts, we knew the pipes were working. Amazing how topics like poop are the norm when you have a baby and toddlers.