Thanksgiving 2014

All month leading up to Thanksgiving we talked to the girls about what it means to be thankful.  We made our Thankful turkey where we wrote on the feathers what we were thankful for.  We told the story of the first Thanksgiving and now they know what Pilgrims and Indians are and even what the Mayflower is.  It was fun teaching them all about it. 

We had Holland, Max and siblings over for a little Thanksgiving preschool morning.  We learned a song called '5 Fat Turkeys' which Jaron can even do the hand motions for.  We made turkey headbands, which my girls refused to wear except for one picture.  And we played the what we are thankful for game, which was quite entertaining with Four 3 year olds.

For Thanksgiving we went to my parents.  This is the only picture I took of the kids. They took early naps and woke up not happy.  Luckily they snapped out of it by the time we got to my parents.

After dinner Shane and I had our first ever Black Friday shopping experience...even though it was on Thursday.  And with the help of our personal shoppers (Jennifer, Kali, and Lori) we scored quite a few items and were out of the store 10 minutes after they opened.  The lady behind me in this picture was quite the serious black Friday shopper and only told me what she was in line for because I was behind her.  It was cracking me up.

We had a great Thanksgiving and I don't even need a holiday to realize what great blessings I've been given.  My cute little family makes my life complete and of course I am grateful we are all healthy and thriving.  What more could we ask for.

Jaron Update

Jaron is doing such cute and funny...and some annoying things lately.  I haven't really updated since he turned 1 so just a little update now that he's almost 16 months.

He officially started walking about 2 weeks after he turned 1.  He was taking steps here and there but really started walking most the time a couple weeks after his birthday.  He's now running and loves to run around with his sisters.

He loves to be outside, winter is going to be hard on him.  And he hates it when I take the girls and leave and he has to stay home with dad.  He runs to the door and finds his shoes and gives them to me to put on and it's so sad when I tell him he's not going.

He loves to blow kisses, fold his arms and show us where his hair and toes are.  I love when they lean little things like this.  He can sign All Done and More but those are really the only signs I've taught him, which is so different then the girls at this age.

He has 6 teeth and has since right after he turned 1.  So he hasn't had any new teeth now for a few months.

He is saying bye, hi, uh oh, a few animal sounds and yoyo's (which means those freeze dried yogurt snacks or any treat in general.)  He says please and cheese which sound the same so you have to know the context of it.  He is obsessed with candy corns and I have to totally hide them from him or he freaks out if I don't give him a piece of mine.

Jaron does not like to drink very much.  I try and try to give him more but he just refuses.  In the morning he'll drink maybe 3 oz of milk.  Then throughout the day he'll take 5-6 for lunch and dinner and then maybe before bed I can get him to drink 1-2 oz.  I give him milk and water for snacks and just takes a little here and there.  It's such a pain because then he has issues with pooping (I know TMI, sorry)  So it's kind of a pain but I can't force the kid to drink as much as I would like to.

At about 14 months Jaron started totally fighting his morning nap.  He would cry/talk for 45 mins and then sleep for 15-45 minutes.  I fought it for a while then just gave up and moved him to one nap and he's been totally fine taking just 1 nap.  Seems so early to give up his morning nap but he's happy and great.  For his afternoon nap he'll sometimes sleep 2 1/2 hours but that is the max.  This week it's been more like 1 1/2 - 2, with 2 hours being most common.  He's just never been a great napper.  But he still sleeps so great at night.  He goes right down and sleep 11 1/2 -12 hours.

We took his binky away.  I know the girls got a whole separate post about this but 3rd child syndrome here.  We went to his 15 month appt. and the doctor told me it's moving his top teeth forward.  That was all she needed to say.  We took it away the next night (I had to give him a night to recover from his shots, especially since he woke up that next morning and started limping to his high chair I guess cuz his leg was stiff.  It was the funniest and saddest little limp.)  Anyways, that next night we just put him down.  And then I left (Shane's much better at this then I am, I becomes paralyzed until I know he's asleep and don't get one thing done, I can't watch TV, I can't work, nothing.)  So I left and told him to text me when it's safe to come home.  He said Jaron talked, whined for a while then got pretty mad but that only lasted about 15 minutes and he went to sleep.  Naps were a lot harder since if he woke up he wouldn't go back to sleep but overall it took 2 days/nights and he's been fine ever since.  I still miss it...there are times I wish I could just stick it in to make him calm down faster and easier but I'm so happy it's gone and we're done with that transition.

His 15 month stats from his appt.
22 lbs 12 oz - 50%
32 inches - 75%
75% head

Jaron thinks he can do whatever his sisters do.  His latest obsession is sitting at our table and coloring...which is hard since we have a counter height table.  It makes me so nervous, especially since he'll climb up on top of the table to grab something when I'm not looking.  And now he thinks he's too big to sit in a high chair.  I've been fighting it all week and I'm not backing down on that one yet. He also has to feed himself.  He will let me feed him if he also has his own spoon and can feed himself at the same time.  He's actually pretty good at it, and can get the spoon in with food on it...except this picture when I just let him feed himself without me supervising.

Oh and yesterday we were outside playing and while I was down in our walkout basement area, Jaron decided to join us not by coming down the stairs but by scaling down the rock wall.  He had made it down one huge boulder and was hanging on with just his hands trying to find his footing and not scared one bit when Siena said 'Mom, look at Jaron.'  I wish I had a picture but there was no time to wait on that one.

Jaron and I took a parent/tot swim class last month.  He loves the water still and learned to blow bubbles, he jumps off the side of the pool to me and has no fear at all of the water.  It was so fun and he loved every minute of it.  It was fun doing some one on one time with him as well.

He's a busy boy and loves to make us laugh.  I'm constantly surprised at the things he does as he seems so different then the girls were at this age.  Although he is just as clingy as the girls were at this age as well.  We love our little boy!

Trick or Treat

Halloween was soo fun this year.  Seriously, the girls have never been so excited about something in their young life.  We had countdowns, we had practice dress-ups, practice hair do's (2 braids like Anna is the most requested hair do still from Aria) and talked and talked about how many more sleeps until Halloween.  I'm pretty sure they won't be this excited about Santa coming, but maybe they will be.  They talked and talked about how many treats they were going to get, they asked what mom and dad were dressing up as, and played with their pumpkin buckets for weeks leading up to Halloween.  Boy oh boy were they ready.

Shane and I are not big fans of dressing up but I did buy a witch hat and Halloween morning I walked into their room wearing it and they were so excited but weren't very happy that I had forgotten my broomstick.  Later Shane walked in while they were eating breakfast dressed as the 'Big snowman' from Frozen (aka threw some white sheets around himself...haha)

The girls got to wear their costumes to their dance class that week and were so excited to see their friends Holland and Bostyn dressed as witches and their teacher as Minnie Mouse.

2 nights before Halloween we carved our pumpkins.  Then the girls wouldn't let me put them back outside.  Every meal after that we had to turn off our lights and turn the pumpkin lights on.

We had to go with the Frozen theme this year.  Not original at all but with all the girl's current Frozen obsession and the fact that they both like different sisters (Siena likes Elsa and Aria likes Anna) we went with it.  Having Jaron be Olaf with the clincher.  The costumes turned out so cute.  I ordered the Elsa and Anna dresses from China and although I gave myself 2 months to get the, after 2 failed tries, the 3rd time, they finally showed up 7 days before Halloween.  Jaron's Olaf costume turned out soo cute.  Brigitte helped me make the body part out of a t-shirt and then Shane's sister crocheted the Olaf hat.  It took her soo much time but by the reaction we got on Halloween night it was well worth it. I was just happy he didn't pull it off and he really did wear that for a couple hours that night all around the neighborhood.

The girls had a blast trick or treating and it was so cute cuz after they would get their candy they would both say thank you and then Aria would yell so loud "Happy Halloween"  Everyone got a kick out of them, we even had people take pictures on their doorsteps.  The girls got a bunch of candy, not too much though.  I re-gifted some to other trick or treaters and then hid some from them so it wasn't out of control.  The girls almost had as much fun passing out candy to our trick or treaters then they did actually getting the candy.  They loved answering the door and if they say an Elsa or Anna that was a huge added bonus and they were yelling 'Mom, Elsa!!!'

The next morning they sat at the kitchen table organizing and playing with their candy for several hours.

Needless to say Halloween was a success.  They are already asking when it's Halloween again.  I keep telling them all the holidays we have to go through before it's Halloween again.  I've told them so many times this week that they almost have the order memorized.  They're pretty excited about Easter as well and already talking about Easter eggs, maybe they like candy more then they do actual presents.

Summer 2014 Roundup

Since we are officially well into the fall season I realized I never got around to some fun summer activities we did this summer.  So here's a quick run down with lots of pictures so I have them documented for my family 'scrapbook'.

We ate breakfast outside.

We fed the ducks...the girls loved seeing the little baby ducks.

Who knew that plastic cups could entertain toddlers for so long.  In the middle of summer when it was just too hot to go outside, these kept the girls entertained for an entire day and then some for weeks afterwards.  I put them up so I can get them out this winter.

Jaron wanted to join in on some summer fun around the house.

We pet grasshoppers...yes...they actually touched them...eew, I'm so not a fan of jumpy things. But I did my best to not interfere with their discovery.

We spent a lot of time in our back yard and Jaron is loving the slide and swing as well.  Jaron LOVES being outdoors and gets so mad when the girls go outside and I don't let him go out as well. His love for water has never diminished and would spend all day at the water table if I would let him.

We have lots of 'drawings' on our sidewalks.

Our passes expired at the aquarium part way through the summer but before that we went almost weekly to run around.  Favorite parts were running down the ramps and the penguins.  Although I think Aria asked to see dolphins every time we went.  Still to this day when we pass the aquarium on the freeway Aria without fail says 'Hi Ocean'

We drove down to the newly renovated Monte L Bean museum twice with family.  The girls loved looking at the big animals and probably the tiny slide might have been their favorite part.

And we took our annual trip to the zoo after school was back in session.  It was so fun and we loved seeing the new African exhibit and even got to watch the Lion being fed.

But the all time favorite activity of the summer might be petting the horses across the street from us. All 3 of my kids of NO fear of the horses.  Jaron squeals when he sees them, the girls walk right up and pet them and the only melt down we get is when the horses are too far away and don't walk over when the girls want to pet them.

Sad to see summer come to an end but we are loving the cooler weather as well.

Happy 3rd birthday Siena and Aria

Before I forget, since it's been well over a month, I need to document the girls 3rd birthday.  This year was so fun.  They started talking about their birthday about 3 months before.  I had to tell them they had to wait for Jaron's birthday, then my birthday and then it was their birthday.  They started listing all the things they wanted for their birthday and it was just watching the anticipation.

Becoming 3 in their minds meant they are now officially 'big girls'  Don't worry, I've used that A LOT to convince them to do something, eat something, etc.

I made them blueberry muffins that morning for breakfast which they just thought was a cupcake anyways.  Then they were so excited to see their presents all wrapped in each of their favorite colors Aria (red) Siena (pink)  And it just so happened they were getting 3 presents on the day they turned 3. They didn't realize there was a 4th present I didn't wrap.  We got them new bicycles with training wheels.

We took them to a flat parking lot and let them ride around.  It's taken them a little while to learn to start, stop, keep peddling, etc. but they finally have the hang of it.  And since we've had such nice weather since their birthday we take a loop around the neighborhood almost every night after dinner.

We met my mom and Jennifer for lunch that day since it was also Jennifer's birthday and they got Doc McStuffins stuff from Jennifer which they love.  The Sunday before we also had their family birthday party and my parents gave them Anna and Elsa dolls from Frozen which they are also obsessed with.

That night we took their scooters and went to Classic Skate and had pizza.  It was just our little family and it was a fun way to celebrate.  They loved riding their scooters around and did better then I thought they would.

For about 2 weeks after, almost every morning when I would go into their room they would say 'Mom, I had a good birthday.'  Then it turned into 'Mom, it's my birthday, I'm 4!'  Yeah nice try.  They have a long ways to wait until they turn 4 but it's safe to say they take their birthday as one of the best holidays yet, they must take after me, cuz this isn't a trait they get from their dad!

Dear Siena

Dear Siena -

Oh my crazy 3 year old Siena.  You make our home crazy, fun and full of life every day.  You love to make us laugh and if you know we're laughing you will do it over and over again.  Sometimes you start laughing at yourself and I'm not even sure why.

You love to talk.  You talk and talk and talk all day long.  Sometimes repeating things 5 and 6 times even after I've answered your question.  You do not like to use quiet voices and when I ask you to use a quiet voice you say the next sentence quietly and then you're back to full volume.

You love to learn.  You ask lots of questions on what things are and have quite the little curious mind.  While Aria loves to color you would rather stack blocks, make something or do a page in a workbook.

'What game should be play mom?' is often a question you ask when you want something new to do. You love games and just about anything you do is a game to you.

We are still working on being accident free on the potty and I'm not sure if you just get distracted and don't think about it of if you really have some issues we need to work on.  It might be a little combination and we're working on it and you love to get stickers and beans in your bean jar for keeping your panties dry.  We'll get there I promise.

'I'm just fine mom' is one of my favorite phrases you say when you trip or if I think you need something.  You are independent and can be quite stubborn at times as you learn the ways of life.

You also love to sing and when we're in the car and you see the temple you break out into "I love to see the temple" only to stop the car when we go around the corner and you no longer see the temple...only to break back into song as you see the temple again around the next corner.  It's pretty funny my cute girl.

You are obsessed with having choices.  You always ask what your choices are, and you can't just have 2 choices, you always ask for 3 choices...whether it's which bathroom to use, what to do, what to wear, or whether you want to help or go to timeout, you thrive when you hear me list out your choices.  Most the time you always pick the correct choice that you know will make me happy.

You have become more reserved and shy around others.  You decided to swap roles with Aria one day and where you used to be fine in situations that made Aria nervous, you now get nervous and always ask me to 'stay with me'

We transitioned you and Aria to big girls beds a couple months ago and it actually solved a few night sleep issues you were having.  You love your new bed and seem to sleep better.

And, yes my big girl, you are still teething.  We have 1 incisor left and 3 back molars.  You might be 10 before you lose your first tooth! :)

You love to go to the library and 'buy books' and are always sad when we take them back so other boys and girls can read them.

I love you my smiley crazy girl and can't wait to see you learn and grow this year.

Love,
Mom

Dear Aria

Dear Aria -

My little Aria.  Where to start to tell you all that I love about your 3 year old personality.  My favorite thing you do right now is sing.  You sing everything you can think of and many times during the day I find you off by yourself singing away.  You love for me to sing you songs but more often you love to sing yourself.  You even sang during the Primary program this week even though you were just in the audience.

You love horses.  The horses that live at the end of our street are your favorite horses.  You talk to them, tell them where we're going, tell them to have a good nap, dinner, lunch, etc. and would pet them 5 times a day if they and I would let you.

You love to color.  Often you will just climb up to the table and start coloring away.  You're getting better at holding the crayon the right way and even now attempt to actually color in the lines a little.

You do not like to play with Jaron and often take out your frustrations on him.  You don't want him in 'your playroom' and slam the door in his face more often then I can count.  He just wants to be like his big sisters and yet you just want to play without him.  One day I'm sure he'll be more fun.

You are perfect in going to the bathroom.  You never have accidents and are very good about stopping what you're doing for a bathroom break.

You favorite movies/shows are Little Einsteins, Winnie the Pooh Heffalump, Frozen, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake and Tarzan.

You love to run errands with mom and your favorite store is Costco so you and your sister can both sit in the front of the cart (only when Jaron stays home with Dad)

We're working on getting you out of the whining stage and using a big girl voice and that is one thing I won't miss when you grow out of that.

You love your dance class and in general have become not as dependent on mom and shy around others.  You actually will say hi to most people and don't seem as timid.

Most of all I love that you still love to cuddle with mom, hold her hand going down stairs and sitting on my lap whenever you can.

My favorite saying right now that you say is 'Oh my goodness'  I giggle every time I hear you say it.

I love you my little 3 year old Aria and can't wait to see all the things you'll learn this year.

Love,
Mom