Little Girls Night

The night of the father-son camp out I decided to do a girlie party for my two girls. We invited C.C. and Lexi McKinstry over to for manicure/pedicures, hair salon, and movie/treats. I didn't get any pictures of the mani/pedicures but I have to mention that Abby had to have every color on top of each other, she kept me busy while Jill took care of the other 3 girls. It was a great night. Jill and I enjoyed chatting amidst watching our comical girlies!

C.C. cracked me up with all the bows she stuck in her hair! 

 Even the dog got a make-over.

We ate treats and watched Tangled. 

C.C. got to spend the night! These two had been looking forward to this for weeks. 

We love having cousins close by!

Father-Son Camp Out

 Jacob has been looking forward to going camping with Dan all month. James needed to stay home and take care of Bonnie (she hurt her back) so Benny joined Jake and Dan.  They ate a lot of junk, stayed up super late, enjoyed playing with Dan's new iPhone app for finding constelations, rode a dirt bike through some wooded trails and came home completely exhausted.


pictures to come

That cute face

saves her every time.

Here is the latest on Abby....

Abby is officially potty trained. I have learned a lot about her over the course of doing this...she is one stubborn girl!  After picking out new undies, Hello Kitty, she didn't want a diaper of pull up on when she slept. She hasn't had one accident during naps or bed time! Amazing girl!

She is a very interesting toddler! Her first major OWIE occurred on a warm day, the very first time I put her in a cute sun dress. She fell down while running/bouncing on the sidewalk and totally skinned up her knee. Her reaction to getting hurt is so different than Jake or Tess. She immediately covered her knee with her skirt not wanting me to look at it let alone her. I picked her up not knowing how bad it was and got blood on my shirt, which totally freaked her out. When I went to clean the cut and put a band aid on it she was hysterical. Then any time we needed to take her pants off, or underwear, over the owie she would get all upset about it (which led to some potty accidents and fun clean ups for me). Her owie is completely healed now, though we still have to have bandaids covering the site. And this is what I get to deal with when I give her a bath...

She stands in the tub crying while I quickly clean her and get her out....she won't calm down until a band aid is back on the site. There is a tiny scab now that has to be covered! WOW!

My sister Emily has a child that when she was Abby's age she would leave instructions for babysitters that said something to the effect of, if it is quiet or you don't see her go running!  I am finding that the exact same is true of Abby. For example:

After feeding Abby lunch and putting her down for a nap on Sunday I found her playing in the bathroom with the blunger, then she emptied her sippy cup of water in her toddler bed, next she pooped her pants (because of said owie above) and while I was cleaning up her mess she found Tess coloring with markers and did this....

All this within about a ten minute time frame! I gave up on getting her to nap that day.

I have discovered that I have to be oh' so creative with how I discipline Abby. Honestly, I"m at a bit of a loss. She isn't phased by time-outs, losing toy privileges and most recently being spanked. Dan and I only spank when the kids put their lives in danger. Abby knows she can not cross the street without holding my hand. Most of the time I am gripping for dear life because she fights me every time. Last week Tess wanted to walk Jake to school, something we don't do anymore because of how long it takes her to walk. I decided we'd give it a try. We left 20 minutes before the final bell and were still late. (We live 2 blocks from the school, that is slowly we had to go.) On our way home Abby got out of my reach, stopped at the end of a side walk right before a street and just looked back at me with that daring look that all Mom's know.... I'm testing you MOM!... and she darted out into the street. I took off running. Luckily no cars were coming and she was fine, just grinning up at me! I spanked her. I hit her potty-trained toosh and she didn't care one bit! What to do? Any advice readers would be oh so welcome!

Though I am exhausted at the end of every day dealing with her sassy, button-pushing, curious ways I can sit and laugh with Dan about something funny she recently did or said.

For example:
Dan was in our bathroom getting ready with Abby under his feet playing with our scale. At one point Dan put her on the scale to see how much she weighed. Abby's reaction was hilarious. Dan told her that she weighed 30lbs to which she hollered at the scale over and over "NO, I NOT THIRTY, I TWO!"

Her latest phrase of affection is  "Mommy, I love your face!" (She can also say the exact opposite but I still think it is funny!)

Before turning out the lights at night I let the kids feel/watch the baby move as I lay down on the floor. A couple days ago Abby was giving the baby a kiss and then the next moment she gave me a zurber,  it totally took me by surprise. We were all laughing as she continued over and over to "zurber the baby".

I took the next picture at the doctors office today when Abby was pretending to be my doctor.

On our way through the parking lot Abby was actually letting me hold her hand. I noticed how cute and small her little fingers were since she wasn't fighting my grip! I told her " Abby, you have such a cute little hand!" to which she responded, " I know. I got it for Christmas!" And then continued singing the chorus of  I'm Walking On Sunshine....it must have been one of the songs that was playing in the office! Funny girl.

Abby is in a toddler bed now. Most nights I put her back in bed at least 3 to a zillion times! She doesn't nap every day which makes home schooling Tess a bit more difficult. But I do have to mention that on the days she doesn't nap she is still a happy curious little girl all day long! Occasionally she'll fall asleep on the couch in the late afternoon.

 Yes, that is a pacifier in her mouth. It's a battle I'm not up for fighting right now!

Abby is soooooo independent.  She dresses herself. Unfortunately that also means she changes her cloths about 4 times a day (adding to my loads of laundry!)

Also, for several weeks now she has been doing her own seat belt in the car. Heaven help me and everyone within ear shot if I so much as un-twist her buckle.

She has taken to helping me do my cleaning! I have learned to expect it plan for it and enjoy it. She vacuums with me, dusts, Clorox's the bathrooms, and unfolds my folded laundry. It's great!

Abby is the only child who inherited Dan's ability to roll his tongue! 

Isn't that face just so kissable!

Tess

Our sweet Tess has lost another tooth. Although the way it all happened was so true to how Tess's luck has been recently.

The day before her very wiggly tooth came out Tess was out back riding her bike. We were given the OKAY by her doctor to ride her bike because it still has training wheels on, which is suppose to make it hard for her to wreck. Well, the bike tipped and she went crashing down on her bad leg. Her cry was one that seriously alerted me! I spent the next 24 hours praying she hadn't broken it again. She wouldn't put any weight on it and the doctor told us to come in for an x-ray. So, skip ahead to a couple hours before we head into the doctor's office that next day. During lunch Tess took a bite of her sandwich and began to cry.  She twisted the two front, very wiggly, teeth causing them to bleed but still remain in her mouth. She kinda freaked out. Okay she totally freaked out and vomited. She spent the next 30 minutes slurping he spit and afraid to even close her mouth.

I finally convinced her to let me touch one of the wiggly teeth with a cold washcloth. It fell right out!!! 

We headed to the doctors office where my prayers were answered! No broken bones. She bruised her weak bone badly. The doctor told me to baby her, carry her, because it really was painful. This bruise set back her recovery a bit but she'll be fine!!!

So, the other front tooth was still so lose, and crooked! It looks like it is half-way out and hangs lower then her other teeth. Tess is very self-conscious of her new smile. I tried several times to pull it myself but couldn't. Luckily we had a dentist appointment for Jake and Tess scheduled just 2 days away so I figured the dentist could take care of it.

The dentist put some topical on it and twisted a bit but Tess cried so she stopped. The dentist explained that the tissue is tougher at that tooth so it is hanging in there...literally! She instructed Tess to wiggle/twist in on her own and it would be out in about a week.  (I have to add that Jake and Tess ACED their cleanings with NO cavities! I'm one proud and thankful Mama!)

So here is her cute smile! 

I have to say I think it is so cute and I love how it makes her talk and read during school time! She is just adorable, even with a "snagel" tooth!

CAST PARTY!

BEFORE

 AFTER

Dan was away on business but made it back in town just in time to meet me at her appointment. Not only was it super helpful to have him lift her around, she adores her Daddy! Tess giggled and giggled as the cast was cut off. Then tears came as she started to scratch her leg and we realized she had some pretty bad rashes. The doctor told us her everyday life would be enough physical therapy however, it will take some time for her to be able to run again. She was instructed to take lots of baths/swim and take it as slow as she wants. She has a 2 week and a 6 week follow-up appointment and then we just have to watch her over the next year to make sure the growth plate is stimulated and her leg doesn't turn out.

Tess has been incredible over the past 6 weeks. She hardly ever complained and stayed her normal cheerful self! I was worried she would be scared to put any weight on her leg but she was doing that within 24 hours! I think she'll be running before her 6 week follow-up!!!

Spring Break

We had a very low key Spring break this year since Tess still couldn't get around very easily and I needed to "take it easy". We stayed home but did some fun things each day.

Dying eggs with our cousins

Playing with friends

Jake and Agustin

Agustin is in Jake's 1st grade class and they are best buddies! Jake laughed the entire time they were together.

Abby's reaction to seeing Wesley McKinstry at the park...I was laughing while taking this picture.

Easter Egg Hunt with Friends

Abby was so excited after opening her first egg and finding candy inside! 

I put an egg up in one of the trees...I was proud to see Jake climbing the tree going after it!

In the time it took took Tess to hobble over and pick up one egg all the eggs were collected. She was pretty disappointed and I felt really bad for not staying with her and helping her. So I promised her another egg hunt later that week.

Easter weekend Bonnie and James blessed Samuel. On Friday Hollie and Cris came to stay with us while Grandma and Grandpa Larry stayed at the Warners. We had a great time with Hollie and Cris! We took the kids to the park Saturday morning, then headed to Red Robin for lunch, and ended the day with a bon-fire at Little Bennett with everyone.  As soon as we got to the camp ground I took off hiding easter eggs for the kids. This time Tess was very successful!

Grandma had the kids laughing so hard! 

Sunday we hosted Easter dinner. It was fun to extend our table all the way to fit 10 adults around it!
Per request of Donna-- here is a lovely picture of my rather large belly at 28 weeks,  Hollie at 31 weeks, and sweet six week old baby Samuel. (I am carrying this girl soooo low, can ya tell!!!)

The Verdict...

is in, the cast stays on for another two weeks. 

Even though Tess loves having a colorful leg she was hoping 4 weeks in this cast would be long enough. No such luck for my sweet red-head. We have done lots and lots of crafts indoors but with the weather being so nice we've had to improvise with ways to entertain her and enjoy the sun.

We've had picnics on blankets and used up our bucket of side-walk chalk.  

My all time favorite is watching her dig in the dirt and play with her rock collection, she has 34 rocks!

 We tested her rocks with vinegar to find out which ones were limestone. 

When we venture to the park she spends her time doing this...

She is a pro at pumping herself and getting super-duper high! 

Tess's good friend Spencer McKinstry broke his leg a week before she did.  It was fun to watch them the first day they saw each other, both in their wheelchairs, comparing notes. His cast was bright orange and he is now trying to build back the muscle in his leg now that his cast has come off. Jill (his mama) has been so helpful and understanding. My pregnant belly has complicated things and she has come to my rescue many times!

The Orthopedic doctor helped to clarify something for me today. I thought Tess had broken her bone right ON her growth plate but he said that actually-- that would have been better than what really happened. The break is right next to the growth plate, below the knee. He told me we will have to watch her over the next year to see if her leg continues to heal and grow as it should. Apparently 1 in 4 children who have this same break end up needing surgery a year or two after the break to correct the leg from growing the opposite direction from the knee down. Not exactly calming-my-nerves- kind of news but I really do think Tess will be one of those 3 kids who do just fine!!!