I'm a big kid now

Last night Grant did what I have been dreading. He almost climbed out of his crib. I walked into his room as he was about to go over the side. I knew it was only a matter of time. My monkey boy isn't the type to just stay put. I figured he would get completely out within the week.

Today I was out running some errands and decided to drive by a few of the garage sales that were going on. I found this so cute fireman toddler bed. I had to get it. I probably wouldn't have moved him quite yet, but it was too fun to just stick in storage for a few weeks until we were ready.

Look at the cute innocent boy pretending to sleep. At least I can put the gate up and when he wakes up at 6:15am tomorrow like he has been doing, he can just stay in his room and play until I'm ready to get him out. So - here's to no sleep tonight. Wish us luck.

UPDATE * * * Grant has slept in his bed 3 times - 2 nights and 1 nap. We haven't had him get out of bed once. It is so fantastic! In the morning or after his nap he will get up and start knocking on the door. It is so cute. He has always been really good at going to bed. The kid plays hard and then crashes.

It is very sad to put my crib away knowing I will never use it again. My girls were all this same age when we put them in a big bed, but it was usually because we had to make way for another kid. Very weird feeling to be closing doors to that part of my life.

Happy #2 Grant

My first post on my blog was Grant's 1st birthday. Here we are a year later, amazing how time flies. I didn't think when I started that I would get into it, but I was wrong. I just printed my first year of blogs, it was 137 pages long. I am so grateful for all that history that is now recorded for my family.

Anyway on to the birthday boy. Grant is in heaven with all his new stuff. He just keeps moving from one thing to another. I've never seen him so happy.

When Grant opened his new car, Cassidy's response was "Now we have a car just like everybody else." Which is true. It is a classic. He has played in one of these at several people's houses and has absolutely loved it. He doesn't like to share his car very much, but his sisters are having a good time pushing him around in it.

This was our first experiment with using fondant instead of frosting. It was fun to play with and see what you can do. I'm excited for another kid's birthday so we can try again. It took about as long as the traditional piping method, but not nearly as frustrating. It is a fun tradition we have created, staying up to midnight the night before their birthday frosting a cake. I know it is a lot of work, but I think my kids are worth it. It is something they look forward to all year.

Grant is a big fan of his Grandpa. He usually goes running to him first thing.

Happy Birthday Grant - we love you!

Oh what fun it is when Aunt Kiki comes to town

Aunt Kiki came to town last month and we had tons of fun with her. We went to the zoo, we went out to lunch a few times, we went swimming, they came to our house and played, and we made hairbows. Here are a few pictures of some of the things we did.

We miss you Kiki & Kiara!

I never thought I would see the day

If you notice in this picture there are two things that are out of place . . . Whitney touching a dog, and Whitney smiling by a dog. This picture is with her cousin's dog, Hannah. (Maybe it was just the name. She does love all things Hannah!) The girls were actually playing with her most of the night. We are finally coming around to the idea that dogs are not evil. Whitney is starting to overcome her fear, finally. Cassidy hasn't been afraid for awhile now. She is very much of the mind set that she wants to be different that everyone else. So if they are afraid of dogs, she won't be. Lindsey is coming around slowly, but she is trying.

My Mother's Day present . . . .

As part of my Mother's Day present, my husband and kids made me this video.

I love my family

Yesterday I had a headache most of the afternoon. The kind that doesn't go away with ibuprofen. I was using my hand held back massager to try and massage my neck to get rid of the headache. I told my kids that I needed to lie down for a minute on the couch to let the Excedrin kick in before it turned into a massive migraine. My wonderful kids were so nice to me. Whitney rubbed my back for me. First just scratching, then she used the massager. Lindsey put lotion on my feet, arms, ears, couch etc. Cassidy brought me a pillow and blanket and helped out with the foot massage. Grant - well he just climbed up on top of my back and sat on me, once in a while pushing on my back in an attempt to help out. They really took good care of their mom. Whitney even said she would massage my back anytime I want ;)

Last night I went to a baby shower. It was another one of those days when Aaron walked in the door from work and I walked out. When I left my house it was a disaster. I had been cooking all day for the shower, and throwing loads of laundry in and dumping it on my bed to fold later. When I got home last night, my wonderful husband had done all the dishes, cleaned up the entire house, put my kids laundry away, bathed 3 of the kids and all of the kids were asleep :). This means even more to me because he is so stressed out with all the things he has to do at work right now. He didn't even go to sleep last night. He laid down for 30 minutes this morning at 7am when kids woke up, but that is all the sleep he got. So, instead of just plowing in and start working on his stuff, he stopped and helped me with the mess that I had left behind.

I am so grateful for my wonderful family. I love them all so much.

This is your last warning

Dear Spring,
I am writing to give you your final warning. We have discussed your poor behavior in the past, but today was unacceptable. We can excuse this behavior at the beginning of your season, but you have been in charge now for almost a month. It is obvious when you are being lazy and letting winter do your work for you. Many people are suffering because of you. The flowers and the gardens are barely surviving. While the kids enjoy your laziness, that is no excuse. If this happens again we will be forced to find a replacement.
Sincerely,
All of us who are tired of snow.

Happy Easter

Aaron's Cakes

Here are some of Aaron's cakes over the years.

Whitney's 1st Birthday (Flower Theme)Whitney's 2nd Birthday (Elmo Theme)
Cassidy's 2nd Birthday (Elmo Theme) Cassidy's 3rd Birthday (Pumpkin Theme)

Lindsey's 2nd Birthday (Minnie Mouse Theme)

Whitney's 4th Birthday (Dora Theme)

Cassidy's 4th Birthday (Star Theme)

Whitney's 6th Birthday (Swimming Theme)

Cassidy's 5th Birthday (Tinkerbell/Fairy Theme - Aaron doesn't like this one at all)

Lindsey's 4th birthday (Hello Kitty Theme)

Lindsey is 4

I love this picture of Lindsey. She was such a chunk! She is about 4 months old here and weighing in close to 20 pounds. I had to get Physical Therapy on my back from hauling her around.

My girls
Lindsey went with a Hello Kitty theme for her birthday party. Dad is always in charge of frosting the cakes - for obvious reasons. I bake it, he frosts it. Sounds like a deal to me.

She had a party with four of her little friends. They got to play pin the bow on Hello Kitty (Aaron comes in very handy for these sort of things, there is no way I could have drawn that) I made them each a cute bow to wear like Hello Kitty. We painted finger nails. We played Hullabalo - a favorite Cranium game of Lindseys. All in all, the girls had fun and went home happy, that is all that matters - right? You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars for the kids to have fun. They are just happy that they get to go to a party.

The night before Lindsey's birthday Whitney and Cassidy pull out their baby books. I am a failure on this part of my life. Whitney has about 4 months scrapbooked and Cassidy has a page with her name on it and a few things just stuffed into sheet protectors. Lindsey & Grant had nothing. So when Cassidy and Whitney were looking at their books and Lindsey is in tears because she doesn't have one . . . . you can guess that I feel like a failure as a mom. So after she goes to bed I decide to do some speed scrapbooking. I go through my photos, I have one picture of Lindsey that is printed. So, I go through all my online photos, upload them to be printed. I make a cover page with her name on it and go through all my paper and pull out anything that is baby or girly. I had a couple of pages that just had quotes on them to cut out and put on pages. Morning of her birthday I run out to the store and she picks out a baby book. (Can't get things past her.) Then I pick up the photos from the store and as Cass & Linds are watching a movie I spend an hour slapping some scrapbook pages together. I got about 15 pages done. She didn't know I was putting the pictures in her book, so she was very surprised to open it up and see the pictures. She has probably looked at the book about a hundred times. Well worth the effort. Now I just need to do the same thing for Cassidy - because of course now she is the one saying - why don't I have any pictures.

Happy Birthday Lindsey - we love you!