Trip to the ER

I have been such a bad blogger lately. One of my new year's resolutions is to start it back up again. I'm not a scrapbooker and haven't kept up with any of the kids baby books. So one day I would LOVE to turn this blog into a personal book to give to my kids....all the funny stuff they did and trouble they got into. Does anyone know how to turn your blog into a book? I heard you can do that....hmmm....

A few weeks before Christmas, Camille fell and hit her head on the fireplace. It was terrible. There was a big gash the size of a quarter on her forehead!

I'm not very good in emergency situations. I tried to stay calm, but it is hard when your baby is bleeding from the head! Not to mention, I am home alone with 3 kids ages 3 and under! I don't think you're ever ready for an emergency, but we really weren't. Kids only in diapers and me still in pj's. I called Ely (he was on a job only a few miles away) and told him to come home immediately.

I also called my sister to meet me pick up the other kids. THANK YOU JACQUE & DAD! I don't know what I would have done if you weren't available to pick up the other children. It's hard enough with ONE child in the ER waiting room!

Long story short, she ended up with 9 stitches. They are out and healed. It looks like she will have a scar. Her forehead is concave where she hit it. I wonder if it will round back out? Oh well, it could have been so much worse.

KFC

We were at my dad's house last weekend. I was playing cards with my dad and his 2 brothers. OU was getting their butt kicked on the muted television. A Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial came on.

"Do you like KFC Papa?" Zander asked.

"Sure do," he answered and my Uncle's agreed.

"I knew it!" Zander exclaimed. "I've been asking my mom to take me there since I was three years old but my dad said it's nasty and she won't take me. I knew it was good."

Santa Came Early This Year?!

We were at the mall this week (Children's Place having a BIG SALE on all Holiday clothes ~30% off lowest marked price! I got the girls their dresses for $6.50 apiece!) Anyway, Santa is already there. Gavin HAD to go talk to him.

He sat on his lap, but was more interested in the bowl of suckers next to him. Santa made a little light conversation with him, commenting on his red hair. Gavin said, "Yeah. I have red hair. You have white. Can I have a sucker?"

"Well, why don't you tell me what you want for Christmas son."

"Candy," Gavin told him.

"Well, do you want me to bring you any toys this year?"

"Sure! How 'bout a dump truck or bulldozer....and candy" he added.

Finally Gavin got his lollipop and we were on our way.

The next morning me and the 4 kids rushed out the door to take Zander to school. This was in our front yard!

Gavin squealed with delight. "Mom! WOW! Look at that!" and he ran to it with the biggest grin on his face.

Sorry buddy, Santa didn't come early this year.

Camille & Maya

The only good thing about having our yard dug up, drive way re-done, and a portapotty in our yard (Yes, the City of Tulsa choose our yard for their construction workers to use the bathroom in...I'm so honored) is hours of entertainment for the kiddos! All 4 love watching them work.

Happy Halloween!

We had such a fun filled Halloween! Hope you did too!

Money is a little tight this year (isn't it every year?) so I asked the boys to come up with their own costumes. They have a trunk of dress up clothes in their room...fire fighter, spiderman, cowboy, jedi....seriously, they have to many to name.

Zander came downstairs, wearing head to toe black with a black sheet tied around his neck as a cape. "Ohhh. What are you?" I asked him.








"I am The Dark of the Night," he informed me. I have no idea where he got this from, but I think it's pretty creative for a 5 year old!





For the past month Gavin has been telling me he wanted to be a bird. A bird?! I was really hoping I could persuade him to be a pirate or something he already had, but he wouldn't budge. I was up for the challenge. Here's what I came up with. I bought felt, cut them into "feathers" and hot glued them together for his wings. If I was to do this again I would use a lighter fabric. The felt was so heavy pined on the back of his shirt that it choked the poor little guy!



I bought an eye mask and a bag of feathers for the mask...the beak was made out of foam. To complete the costume he had feather boas and rubber glove feet! the total cost of the costume was under $15!


This was Gavin's first year trick or treating. Last year he was sick and the year before he was just a baby. When it was dusk I said, "Let's go trick or treating!" He ran outside and hopped in the van. I told him to get out and he started to cry, saying he wanted to "go to trick or treat" HA! The first house we went to he tried to go inside! It took about 10 houses before he caught on to trick or treat etiquette....No grabbing candy, no demanding candy, saying thank you.
The twins were Thing 1 & Thing 2 and I was the Cat in the Hat! We went to Boo Ha Ha on Brookside for trick or treating. The girls got more attention then normal....they were huge a hit!

Growin' Up!

I've been in baby mode for at least 5+ years. From my calculations I've spent 30 months pregnant, 36 months breastfeeding, and changed at least 20,000 diapers (sorry mother earth)! No telling how many hours I've spent reading and researching baby "stuff" online. My identity has become mother and caregiver. I am totally ok with this. I love it....but a new phase is coming...and it is unknown territory...

My oldest baby is in kindergarten! It just doesn't seem possible for him to be in school. He is learning to read and write already! I went to his parent/teacher conference yesterday. His teacher told me that he is a great student. He participates in class, follows the rules, and has lots of friends. She said that he is the type of kid that school is easy for him and he is excelling in everything. His sweet teacher said, "We're doing something right." So nice to hear!

The fact that my the twins are my last babies is weird...but in a good way...don't think I'm crazy and gonna have another one! With my luck I'd be blessed with triplets. I'm defiantly enjoying them more...enjoying the small stuff. The giggles during bath time. The cute way that they are stingy with their kisses. The way they say "HI!" to everyone they pass at the grocery store.

When they say, "Enjoy your kids, they'll be grown up before you know it!" It's true. My hubby and I were watching old videos of the girls yesterday....we don't even know those babies anymore!! It's crazy how much they've grown! Before you know it they'll be reading you stories at night...sniff, sniff...

Woodward Park

One of my favorite places to take the kids is Woodward Park in Tulsa. As a mother of one year old twins and a three year old that runs off everytime he has "a good idea" I have grown to dispise parks with playground equipment or a nearby body of water.

I can lay a blanket out in the middle of the park and let the kids run wild. Who needs a slide then you've got a stick to play with?

These pictures are from last month. What happened to fall? I hope it warms up soon...or at least stops raining...so we can enjoy the park more this year.

Middle Child Syndrome??

I've had to focus a lot of my attention on Gavin lately. For those of you who don't know, Gavin is my 3 1/2 year old...the "middle" child. When he was only 2, the twins were born. I was so incredibly busy (and still am!) with the girls that he was, unfortunately, pushed to the side.

The first year of the twin's life was such an adjustment...for all of us. We all know how much love and attention TWO infants need, so naturally he was pushed away. "Let's watch TV" or "Go play with your brother." As a mother, this is really hard to admit....out load. But I own it. It is what it is. I did the best I knew how at the time...but am paying for it now!


All the attention he missed out on...being the baby...there is a lot of guilt there. I find myself making excuses for his bad behavior.

Gavin, just a week before the girls were born...still such a baby himself!

I know children are resilient. I haven't "scarred" my child in any way. BUT I know that I can do better by him. I refuse to give up on my little Dennis the Menace!



We started "date night" with the boys. This is special one on one time with mom or dad. It can be anything...a trip to the grocery store, library, movie, ice cream, park...the important thing is to spend quality time with Gavin, in particular.



Hopefully positive energy will transform into positive behavior. A mother can hope right?! Ideas, suggestions and encouragement are welcome!