Ellie's Starts Preschool...

Despite my blubbering and hovering over Brig starting kindergarten, I like preschool.  We do co-op style with 3 or 4 other moms and take turns teaching. Its low-key, tailored to what we want, with people we know and love and lots of fun for the kids.

Ellie started her first year with 3 other girls...yes...4 girls, it is bound to be fun! Kali, Millie, Rosie and Ellie. We were pretty excited.

She looked so grown up and beautiful on her first day, I was amazed that it had come so fast. But I was so excited for her and knew she would love it.

And then. Then...two weeks into preschool I was driving her to the house and she told me that she wanted to walk in by herself. I was cool with that. It wasn't far or dangerous in any way! But then she got out of the car, walked her cute little self to the door, rang the doorbell and went in the house. Without me. She didn't even need my help! And I kind of started the blubbering all over again. How is SHE big enough to do that already?!?! I remember when she was born I would think of what she would look like when she was 3 or 4 and what she would be like. It was incredibly surreal for me to realize in that moment as she walked in the door to her preschool that the moment I thought about had arrived. She is more wonderful than I could have ever imagined as I held that beautiful newborn in my arms 4 years ago!

So, here is to these amazing people who are growing up before my eyes and I can't do a thing to stop it...

Mini-Super Senior...

Brig graduated from preschool today...but will be back for one more round next year. 

Since his birthday is in the summer, we decided to wait and send him to school when he is 6. I am thinking I want to keep our lives un-dictated by schedules school books for one more year. Plus- he and his sister will be closer in school and he's not really chomping at the bit to leave me yet. I'm ok with that. 

So here's to 3 years of preschool! 

Jase is 3 Months...

My! Oh, My! Jase is already 3 months.  I remember thinking that seemed so far away when he was born. Now I look back and wonder where the time has gone!

A little bit about Jase...

He is our biggest baby yet- he is kind of a chubby little guy. And boy is he hungry! I breastfeed him but I occasionally have to supplement him with formula because he is just so hungry!

He has a smile that will melt anyone's heart.

He is one drooly fella!

He has acid reflux and has to have medicine but as long as he has his medicine...he is quite content.

He is so strong. He is really stiff and can support his head very well- and has been able to since he was born.

 

 

He is soooo loved by his brother and sister.  They think he is the greatest thing ever...especially Brig.

He loves his swing and has spent countless hours during the day and even quite a few hours at night just swaying back and forth.

 

 

I know that I am completely bias...but I think he is such a beautiful baby.  Ok, who am I kidding. I pretty much think all my kids are gorgeous.

I know...like I said, I'm partial.

 

Once Upon A Time on Halloween Night...

Some fairy tale characters went to a Trunk or Treat at their church. 

The Dragon was only a temporary presence (I told Cory he just had to take a picture...this was before anyone even saw him!)

The Princess wept (Ellie was so sad and under the weather the entire evening. Poor girl)

And the Knight was ever so brave and made his Fairy Mother a little sad because he is growing up so fast. He proclaimed it to be the "Best Halloween Ever!" (he went around trunk or treating with his friends and got TONS of candy)

We have always been able to dress up as a family (much to Cory's discontent)...

2009

2010

2011

2012

I thought that this year we wouldn't be able to make it happen. Brig and Ellie both had opinions about what they wanted to be. Brig wanted to be a hunterman, then a ghost, and Ellie wanted to be a cat and then Tinkerbelle.  So, I just tried to be ok with it...Cory tried not to jump for joy;) Then at the last minute Brig decided he wanted to be knight and convincing Ellie to be a princess was a pretty easy sell (she did insist on being Cinderella instead of just a normal princess though) and Brig even assigned Cory and I characters too.  (I think he might like the whole family dressing up just as much as I do!!!) He really wanted Cory to be a dragon so he could fight him.  So I told Cory a while ago that I would only make him wear a hat or something simple...he thought this was a little overboard this year but when I told him how much Brig wanted it...he conceded for a picture:)

So cute and such a fun night. We passed out cotton candy that we actually made right in front of the kids...it was pretty exciting:) 

Bedtime...

There are a few things about bedtime that I love right now.  I don't want to forget them...

 

like how Ellie wants insists that she sleep with her baby in one arm and her monkey in the other. Oh, and her wa-wa (water) can't be too far away either. And ever since we moved into the Riverhouse she has refused to sleep in her crib.  So, she sleeps in her pack and play. End of story.

Right now, Brig prefers to sleep in the sleeping bag he got for Christmas...on the floor. He likes to have his "kitty blanky" close to him.  It is an old raggedy blanket that I had when I was a baby- it is super soft and falling apart at the seams.  The doctor said I was going to be a boy so someone made this blanket for me and it is blue...but it has cats with bows and ruffled edges...we are just going to say that it is a unisex blanket:) Brig also asks for "ice-cold water" each night. He is kind of a little prince!

 

We have a pretty consistent bedtime routine that includes reading scriptures (only 5 verses) from the Book of Mormon and then kneeling as a family for prayer...I love that part! I love the strength that comes from kneeling together.  It is so tangible and real!

My absolute favorite thing about bedtime right now though, is after we have put on pajamas, brushed teeth (that part is not so fun!), read scriptures, and said prayers and the kids get on each side of Cory and he reads them a book.  I. Love. It. I get to just sit back and see the 3 people I love most spend a few special moments cuddled together in happiness (usually).

 

When the book is over Ellie and Brig will both try to convince Cory to read "one-more." And sometimes, he caves:)

 

Lego Jar...

So several weeks ago Brig asked us for some Legos.

We told him that if he wanted them then he would have to earn them.

Enter the Lego Jar.

It is pretty cut and dry after that. He would do extra jobs around the house and for his grandparents and we would give him some change or even a dollar to put in his jar.

He was so patient and he worked so hard!

Then thanks to his hard work and some very generous grandparents. He had enough money!

So we went to Walmart with his jar in hand and literally layed out all his options. After much deliberation, he made his decision.

We were so proud of him and oh! how he loves those Legos that he worked so hard for!

Great work Brig!

No More Pacifier...

You might expect this post to be about Ellie.

Nope.

We are talking about Brig.

Our almost 4 year old.

Yup.

This is slightly embarrassing to admit but with pride we announce that Brig no longer needs his pacifier.

It's a miracle!

 

 

And it was easier than we thought.

You see, he was really attached to that thing right from the start. And he was never a very good sleeper and he was quite colicky...so we were equally if not more attached than he was.

 

My least favorite thing about pacifiers in the fact that they are so easily lost! AGH! Nothing frustrated us more than not being able to find a single pacifier (and as you can see from the pictures...we have had several!) when your kid is screaming and you just need him to go to sleep.

Yay, we have had that happen at least twice;)

(insert sarcasm)

 

 

 But it came in pretty handy especially when he had his accident and there wasn't anything we could do to console him except offer him his pacifier. We were sure thankful for it.

 

He has only used it at night now for about a year now but we were so afraid {when I say we...I mean us as parents!} to get rid of it...what if he slept worse than he already did? But one day we got brave and he was super tired and he just fell asleep without it. Then we told him the next day that if he was a big boy and maybe we should give his pacifier to someone who needed it...like a baby. And that was that! He agreed that his new baby cousin needed it and its now history! {and no, we haven't really given it any baby. That would be gross}

 

So, yes he is super old to have a pacifier. But we are so proud that he is a big boy and gave it up based on his own decisions.

Now to work on Elle and her "Pass"...