A cruise and a convo

A few days ago, during an afternoon visit to Nana and Papa's house, we all bundled up to take a walk. It wasn't long before Ashley and Papa were ahead of us, hand in hand, cruising at their own pace. It wasn't until yesterday that I learned what they spent the 2 miles chatting about.....Disney World. It seems Ashley was trying to nail down a date and time when Papa will be taking her there.

Mom and Dad only have themselves to blame; they're responsible for the Disney monster they've created

Rrrrrright on!

It's Thursday. By now you should know what that means....

...letter sharing day!

This week Ashley has learned all about the letter R. From robots to rainbows and everything in between, Midget has impressed us with the ability to write both the capital and lowercase R and can even sing a song about the colors of the rainbow. She's having difficulties with sign language for R; not because she doesn't remember what it is, but because she can't quite cross her fingers yet. But with a little assist she gets it and is even working hard on teaching Natalie!

I don't know about Ashley, but I'm sure having a lot of fun with her sharing days! Some weeks have been a challenge, but I think we always manage to come up with something fun. 

A wee bitty Rapunzel toy for sharing

Wordless Wednesday

Ashley's prayer

Yesterday afternoon Ashley came into my room as I was getting ready for the symphony and had a few interesting things to tell me...

First she said "Mommy, I want you to have another baby in your tummy. I want to be a big sister for 3 times."

When Jake and I explained that Keely is probably the last baby Mommy will have she thought for a second and then changed up her game plan.

"Mommy!", she said.

"Yes, Ashley?", I replied.

"Mommy. I'm going to ask God to put another baby in your tummy."

I smiled and nodded at her knowing that trying to explain things to her with logic would be a waste of our time. Besides, how wonderful is it that Ashley already has her own relationship with Him? I certainly don't want to ever do anything to discourage that.

But I guess my silence wasn't enough for dear Midget. After repeating it a few more times she shocked my socks off by saying "Mommy, I'm going to find Mary and ask her to have one for us."

I didn't know if I should celebrate her creative nature, rejoice in the fact that she knows the Nativity Story or giggle at the impossibility of it. 

It seemed there wasn't anything I *could* say.

Midget silenced me.

Ashley 1. Mommy zilch.

FIELD TRIP!!!

There's a million reasons why I'm blessed to be a full-time Stay At Home Mom. But perhaps one of the greatest reasons is that I have the opportunity to help out in Ashley's classroom and accompany her on field trips. 

Who doesn't love a field trip?

This particular field trip we went to a great play center in McMinnville called Imagine Play. Ashley and Natalie LOVE Imagine Play, so when I told Natty Kat she got to come along to play, she was so excited to with Tissy and her school friends at such a fun and inventive place.

We'd never had the chance to be there for 3 straight hours and let me just say it exhausted all of us! But in that happy, feeling full of life and blessed exhaustion. 

Ashley is having such a wonderful time at school which takes the sting out of her being away. Her latest kick is getting Natalie enrolled in the 3-year old class. She keeps telling me "Mommy Natty is SO smart and would have so much fun! Natty NEEDS school!" And of course she's got Natty all keyed up on the thought of starting school just like Tissy.

Siiiigh. There they go growing up on me.

Reluctantly taking a 5 minute snack break

Midget the stuntman on the wing of the airplane 

Having such a great time with her school friends

Cooking up something tasty

Natty Kat enjoys the pretend store with the cash register and money - well really it's the money she enjoys the most (just like Daddy!)

Showing me how to can pretend to eat the pretend food

If you're on Facebook then you likely saw I was tagged in this Imagine Play pic - Midget enjoys the vet section of Imagine Play. Here she's doctoring up a very injured bunny.

Playing around in the train - The Little Spunky Who Could - Choo! Choooooo!

They've recently added a crafting corner where you can draw, trace and make cards. Natty Kat's head exploded when she saw the stamps and stickers!

Crafting with my favorite middle blessing

After Imagine Play I had to run into my hair dressers and pick up some product. Julie is such a great gal; she immediately got out the sparkles and glistened the girls up!

10 days later and Natty Kat STILL has glittery tresses!

Christmas presents

Back when I had my Christmas tree up (is it the end of February already?!), I loved nothing more than posing the girls under it and snapping pictures. Lucky for me Ashley is getting better at holding still AND smiling. Natty Kat, on the other hand, still has a ways to go. If she's holding still, there's no way she's smiling. If you get her to smile, it's usually a silly face. And if Keely is within reach, she's usually being malled by both her bigger sisters.

This particular morning I think I shot close to 70 pics and managed to come away with 6 decent ones.

Yeah. You do the math.

What's this? All 3 sets of eyes on the camera at once?! Why it's a Christmas miracle!

Natty Kat refuses to let go of her Babee Sis-tee

I'm pretty sure we all know what Keely Q's expression is saying here

When I start to get desperate, I let the girls pick their own poses. Sometimes it works.

World's proudest big sister

"Mommy I can't help it. I just love Keely Q."

It didn't take Midget long

Every morning when Ashley gets to school she has to find her name, put it on the board and then trace her first name on a piece of paper. Recently the teacher has added the last name to the tracing paper, and in true Ashley fashion, FIRST she questioned the need for writing her last night and THEN she went ahead and wrote it out.

Oh Ashley.

The second day of writing first and last names she came home from school, grabbed a pen and paper and diligently (and without asking for prompts) wrote her name for me to see.

It seems when you're name is only 4 letters long, it doesn't take long to learn how to write it. I don't know for sure, but I bet it took me a bit longer to figure out how to write my last name. At least I had all those O's going for me. 

Ashley Enos. Much easier to write, and learn, than Schoonover.

It won't be long before she's writing the next Great American Novel

Apparently this is her proud face?

Just peachy

Last week Keely got her first taste of fruit - delicious peaches!

I figured she'd show a little more excitement over something sweet, but to be perfectly honest she didn't seem to even notice. It seems as long as *something* is going into her mouth, Keely is good to go.

First bite and it's...

...nothing exciting (note Mommy's bummed attitude!!)

WHY do babies insist on putting their hands in their mouth when they're being fed?

There's the Little Miss Smiley we're all growing accustomed to!

The irony of the otoscope

If you read the earlier post about Ashley sharing her toy otoscope for letter sharing day, then you'll appreciate the irony of it all...

A little timeline to understand.......

Sunday night: Keely Q sleeps terribly and wakes up a few times during the night

Monday morning: wakes covered in a rash and is Misses Cranky McCrankerton. Wins herself a trip to the pediatricians office where we're told it's likely a viral thing although there is concern it's an allergic reaction to her reflux medication (contains dairy which she's allergic to)

Monday night: sleeping isn't any better than the night before

Tuesday night: sleep flat-out does NOT happen. Down at 7, awake at 11:30. Awake at 12:30. Awake at 1:30.

Wednesday night: unwilling to fall asleep. Under Jake's recommendation we administer numbing ear drops because we suspect ear infections. 15 minutes after drops are given, Keely Q passes out and sleeps straight through the night.

Thursday morning: a trip to the pediatricians office confirms ear infections

So while Ashley was sharing her toy otoscope with her classmates and explaining what one is used for, across town at the pediatrician's office Keely was getting one stuck in her ear.

Do you see the irony?

On one hand I'm like "Hey! This mama still has the magic able-to-diagnosis-an-EI-touch!" and on the other I'm like "Crap. Crap. Crap. Mama's had too much exposure to EI's and knows when one is lurking."

It's all too ironic.

Monday morning - rashy yet happy

We didn't get to see her pediatrician on Monday, so when we saw him today he was so happy I had these pictures to show him. Technology to the rescue!

Even when she's a rash-bucket it still doesn't dull Keely Q's smile

 Wednesday night 15 minutes post numbing drops Daddy had her sleeping like a, well, baby

Passed out so hard her thumb is already out of her mouth

Thursday morning at the docs office - too bad she doesn't look sick

Letter of the week

This week Ashley learned all about the letter O.

Oregon.

Olives.

Octopus.

She's just full of oodles and oodles of O things!

So today for sharing she brought in her toy otoscope. 

Because what 5 year old doesn't automatically know what an otoscope is?

The credit for today's selection can go to Aunt Angie the Physician's Assistant and Aunt Shawna, Registered Nurse. It's these 2 that Ashley looks up to and why she talks of going into the medical field someday. Credit also can be given to Natalie and the massive amounts of ear infections she had before she got her tubes. Ashley's witnessed an otoscope in action a few dozen times.

Thanks for being her inspiration Shawna and Angie! And Natty Kat? How I wish we weren't so familiar with one because of your misfortune.

Otoscope. It's whats for letter O.

Paging Dr. Keely

I've got a case of Toodarlingitis that needs attention STAT.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Hour = happy partygoers

As it turns out, Happy Hour is no longer just for beers and bar food. These days kiddos get to enjoy all the fun that comes with half-price apps and brews!

Well maybe not EXACTLY that...
Back in December we invited over Ashley and Natalie's friends for a joint birthday party. McDonald's made it entirely too easy for me to slack and go the easy route; Tuesday nights are Happy Meal Happy Hour. I figured if I can get a hamburger Happy Meal for $1.55 then what's the point in cooking?
Turns out a Happy Meal Happy Hour birthday party is a big hit amongst the 2-9 age range.
Well, truth be told it's a hit with this 32 year old mama, too.
Special thanks to all the friends who came and helped Ashley and Natalie celebrate their birthdays. It was a fun evening made even better by The Golden Arches. :)

Dinnertime is easy when it comes ready-made in a little paper bag

Jake's pretty proud of his new couch and the fact that all the adults had a place to chill

Popcorn balls!! 
PS Thanks for making them, Mom

Chase and Nic enjoying a bite

Happy birthday to you!

Make a wish!

Best part of this picture? Natty's face, naturally.

Love my Natty Kat

Birthday beauties 

A sticky Mister Lincoln

Thanks for the play dough!

Really, Nathan?

Presents have all been opened, now it's time to toss the wrappings all over!

Not only did the Happy Meals bring happiness, but Mickey Mouse's Twice Upon a Christmas provided quality entertainment, too
PS I'm almost ashamed to admit that I had enough pillows for each child to have their own (and those were just the ones downstairs!)

The Sitton family always finds the cutest PJs for Ash and Natty - such a fun gift to snuggle down into after the party is over