Sugar Fest 2009

This morning we had 5 of Andrew's friends over to make gingerbread houses. The kids had a great time decorating and taste testing. The houses turned out so cute. It looks like we have the start of a new family tradition.

Christmas Program, part 2

One more clip from the Christmas program. (This one is my favorite!)

Preschool Program

Andrew's Christmas Program was tonight and it was cute as could be. As proud parents we showed up early with video camera in hand and ready for a front row seat. Boy were we surprised when we walked in to the gym and saw that most every seat was already taken. Who knew that getting a good seat at a preschool program required camping out???

We ended up with seats in the back row, so please forgive the grainy videos.

The preschool classrooms started the night with 3 adorable songs. Andrew is the second on the left in the front row (red sweater & khaki's)

Parkville Carnival

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Father's Day

A look back at this year's father's day!

all the guys reading the newspaper--too cute!

A new hat for dad

looks good, maybe Andrew will leave this one alone....

Nope....just wishful thinking

Parade Time

We decorated the bike and hit the trails for our very own 4th of July Parade!

Kids do say the darndest things!

Last week we went on a tour of a working dairy farm with Grace and Noah. The kids got to see up close how the cows get milked. I tell you this so you will understand the following comment.

This morning I was trying to get Andrew to sit on the potty, and he was putting up the biggest fuss. Finally I asked him why he wouldn't sit on the potty. His reply: "I just want to save my pee today to make some milk." hmmm....

Fun in the Sun

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy Father's Day

DAD

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle's flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it ... Dad

What a Day

This is a picture from awhile back, but I just had to put it on here. Andrew'd had a very busy day of playing. While Marc was talking on the phone with his parents that night, Andrew curled up in the corner to go to sleep. The poor little guy just couldn't go another step. I love that his bucket of cars is his pillow. And the outfit--well Andrew picked it out all the way down to the shoes. At the time this was taken those shoes were his favorite and he wore them with everything!

Overalls

What is it about overalls that are so darn cute? Andrew put these on yesterday and he was just so darn cute, I couldn't get enough of him!

Dog Pile

I  love this picture! Everytime I see it I can hear Andrew's squeals of laughter as he used Marc as a jungle gym.   Ellie of course just had to get in on the action.

A Letter Makes All the Difference

Marc and I often comment on what great language skills Andrew has for his age.--Huge vocab, good  conversationalist, easy to understand., but today it we were made very aware that he still has a few things to work on. specifically his "t's" and his "n's". All day he's been saying "Mommy I thunk you", as he taps me on the head. except the t's sound like f's and the n's are silent....you can fill in the rest....

Hy-Vee Easter Egg Hunt

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Andrew's first snowman

Last Sunday it was 80 degrees. We wore t-shirts, set up Andrew's sandbox for the summer and spent the day working in the yard. All of our flowers are popping up, the trees are in bloom, and we cleaned up all the gardens. We were so confident that spring was here. It was wonderful!

Wow, were we in for a rude awakening! A couple days ago they started forecasting the storm of the century.  I was in complete denial/refusal, hoping that thye were overhyping things like they always do. When the predicted arrival time of the storm came and went I felt victorious. My optimistic thinking had worked. Turns out they were just a little early in their predictions--darn!

After many hours of denial I decided to embrace the snowstorm that blew threw town today leaving ice, slush and the most beautiful snowflakes we have had all season. Truly I can't remember ever seeing snowflakes this big in all my years. At times it looked like leaves blowing outside, the snowflakes were so enormous.  Despite the blustery wind we had to take Andrew outside to see them.  When we got out there we had a pleasant surprise and discovered that we finally had the perfect snow for a snowman as well. He was so excited!

Adding the nose

And the buttons

Ta-da! (of course he had to wear a fire hat!)

We had to change his hat out when Andrew realized the snowman wasn't coming inside with us. He couldn't bear to part with his firehat for that long.  Now he looks like Uncle Freddie!

After making our snowman, Andrew dug out his sandtoys and made snow castle's--

You gotta hand it to the kid for being adaptable & creative.

Peek-a-boo!

Dining with the Easter Bunny

Make a Smilebox greeting

Little Sickie

Poor Andrew has been sick for a week, so it's off to the Dr we go...

First Warm Day

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Andrew and the ladybug

This morning when Andrew went in the bathroom to go potty, he discovered a lady bug.  I'm sure it was more out of stalling than actual curiosity but we had a conversation that went something like this. 

Andrew:  look at that little ladybug mommy. It' s cute.  Where is it going mommy?

Me: I don't know, where do you think it is going?

Andrew: Ummm, maybe for a walk.  I think he wants to use the potty too.

Me: Really, do you think he will fit on your potty?

Andrew: No, he's too big

Me: Are you sure he's too big?

Andrew: No, he's too little. He needs a ladybug potty. Where is the ladybug potty?

Me: I'm not sure. I've never seen a ladybug potty before

Andrew: Ummm, it's outside.    

(about this time the lady bug went scooting across the floor quickly and crawled under the rug, but not quickly enough...)

Andrew: look the lady bug is fast. It's hiding mommy. Where did it go?

(as he whips the rug in the air and sends the ladybug flying across the room, landing on it's back)

Andrew: The lady bug is sleeping. I'll sing it a lullaby

Me: What lullaby do you want to sing?

Andrew:  The Farmer in the Dell

Me: I'm not sure that is a lullaby. That's a fun song. Can you think of a sleepy song

Andrew: How about Twinkle Star, (and he starts to sing)

Andrew: I think the ladybug is still sleeping, it wants a snack

Me: What do you think it wants to eat?

Andrew: Maybe some bread, it's good. How about some ladybug food?

Me: I don't have any ladybug food

Andrew: That's ok he's all done being hungry now

Andrew: Maybe he wants to play?

Andrew: He's not moving mommy

Me:  I think he's a little tired from flying across the room

Andrew: it's ok mommy he is sleeping, 

(About this time the dazed and confused ladybug starts kicking, so we roll it over, and it slowly walks away)

Andrew: look, he wants to see his friends and family.

 He was so sweet and sincere throughout the conversation, with real concern for the ladybug. I was impressed by how well he carried the conversation and loved his thinking process.  These are the things that make me feel better, so maybe they will make ladybug feel better too....

Sledding in February

Who says you need snow to go sledding? 70 degree weather works just fine too~

Under the Tuck

Can't find Andrew these days~just go look in our room you can usually find him hiding under the "tucks". He thinks it is just the coolest thing to sleep like daddy, and runs in our room every chance he gets!  

Game Time

Make a Smilebox greeting

Candy, Candy, Candy!!

Oh how I am hating the candy these days!  Andrew has such a sweet tooth and that is all he talks about.   This morning he greeted me when I went to get him out of bed by saying "What kind of candy do you want for breakfast?"  His hope was that I would repeat his words back to him like I often do to make sure I understand him, and that's when he goes in for the kill.  Ummm Chocolate he would say.  Instead I wised up and said I don't want candy for breakfast.  Ha ha! I'm not falling for that trick today, which of course crushed his little heart and he burst into tears.

Later this morning I heard him talking to Ellie (our dog)  in the quietest little voice saying "Ellie, a new Santa is going to come and bring us candy. What kind of candy do you like Ellie?"   Oh how sad he is going to be when he realizes that won't happen.

The other day I found him pushing a chair up to the fridge so that he could climb up and try to reach the candy jar that has been moved to the top of the fridge.  YIKES!!!

I have no idea where this obsession came from, it's not like he gets that much candy. Maybe a piece a week, if he's lucky, but that is stretching it.  I'm pretty sure that Max and Ruby have something to do with this! (and to think I thought they were sweet harmless bunnies and encouraged him to watch them.) 

Needless to say I am on the prowl for sugarless treats for Valentine's Day.

First Day of School

Well Andrew had his first day of "school" this week. He is going to Parents Day Out on Tuesdays from 9:30 - 3:30. While we had hoped and planned to have him not start anything until next year, sometimes things change.  For me it was a change in my work and the challenges that caring for two 2 year olds offered my friend who is expecting a baby soon. (I have to say if I was 6 months pregnant I wouldn't want to chase 2-2 year old's either).  

So, while I was very hesitant about all of this Andrew was very eager.  He has been asking to go to school for sometime now. I'm pretty sure this is mostly because he wanted to play on all of the playgrounds that he saw at the preschools around town.  Whatever the motivation was, I'm glad that he was excited--but would it last?  We spent several days talking to him and trying to prepare him for it; terrified of repeating the vomiting incidents of last fall when I started back to work.  However, whenever we mentioned the word "school" he would immediately run to get his shoes, and stand waiting at the door--ready to go, not hearing another word we were saying.

On Sunday night we went out to buy his backpack (or "pack back" as he calls it) and his lunch box. He was quite sure that making these purchases meant it was time to go school right at that very minute and proceeded to cry on the way home when we told him he had to wait until Tuesday.

Finally Tuesday came and he was so excited.   Marc asked me to take pictures of his big day, holding his back pack, standing outside the school--you know the drill.  So I tried my darndest to get the pictures, however, most of them are of the back of his head. He was so excited to go he refused to stand still and never looked back.  Here' s the few that he allowed me to take.

On our way out the door, he got distracted by the wall

Walking in the front door

My only chance at a face shot--go fast mom!

Heading down the stairs to his classroom

I called only twice during that 6 hours to see how he was doing and to see if he "needed me". Both times the teachers reported that he was doing great. When I went to pick him up at 3:00 (yes, I went early) the teachers said he did great--made a craft, played, sat at group (sorta), ate all of his lunch and with some assistance fell asleep on his cot and took a great nap.   Wonderful--truly not a glitch to be had.  I was so excited and releived that he had done so well and the teachers were so pleased as well.

Later that night as I was lying Andrew in his crib he looked up at me and said "What does Miss Mary Jo and Miss Edie say mommy"?  

"I don't know", I said, "what do they say?"

"Mary Jo says stay on your little bed. I no like that little bed mommy"

We have since repeated this conversation many times.  So maybe the day wasn't quite as perfect as everyone thought, but it was still pretty good.  I'm curious as to what next week will be--will he love it still, or will the tears flow when he thinks about that little bed?

We'll keep you updated