Splish Splash!

Like clockwork everyday at 5 pm I feed the kids dinner. At about 5:30 or 5:45 Audrey knows it is bath time. She will move her hands up and down like she is splashing and I will say, "Are you ready to go splish splash??" She will say ," ya" And Off we go. I just so happened to get some really cute pictures of her splashing in the tub!

Day after Christmas! OUTSIDE

Ok...it was the day after Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse, because Mom kicked them out. I am not ashamed. The day after the inside of my house was tortured. I sent everybody outside to play and get all the extra energy out. They had run back and forth through the house more times than I could count. Daddy took them outside for a good couple of hours and just let them be rough and dirty kids.

Carlisle Christmas

Another Christmas has come and gone. This Christmas was one of the best because it was the first with all three kids. Santa came when everyone went to bed. He filled the front room with presents. David and I filled in the rest of the space :). It was a great day! The kids had so much fun! Audrey just crawled from person to person to see what they got. They were overwhelmed! Here are some of our Christmas day pictures!

Florida Fall

Well, it is December...and for Florida it has been unseasonable cold this year. We have had frost several times already. The maple tree in our backyard has just begun to turn colors and loose it's leaves. It is beautiful and the kids absolutely love playing with the leaves. Audrey has learned that if I dress her warm enough I will let her crawl around the yard. She has tried eating grass, pine needles, leaves, you name it. Gracie is going to have a fit with me because she thinks that I am horible for letting her. She has to learn some way. I explained to Gracie that I wouldn't let her do anything to get hurt. Then I get that 7 year old girl eye roll. She'll learn one day.

I got a few really cute pictures of Audrey and Mason in the yard playing with the leaves. We went outside to play before we had to get Gracie from the bus. Maybe I will get them all out there tomorrow and get a picture of all three of them. Audrey and Mason are finally geting over their colds, and hopefully Gracie doesn't bring us anymore before Christmas.

Risky Business???

Ever have one of those days where you are exhausted have a million things to do and don't know which one of them to do first? Well, I had one of those days yesterday.

While I was in the process of cleaning up the living room, I picked up an empty tissue box and asked Mason to throw it away. He paused, looked at the box, and asked if he could have it. I, of course, said, "It is trash. What are you going to do with it?" He told me he was going to use it for a project and ran off. A few minutes went by then he came back and asked me for some rubber bands. I have learned not to question such requests, so I told him they were on my desk. Then, he came back. "Mom, can we go outside to get a stick?" I told him, "no", "You can use my yard stick if that will work." Off he ran. A few minutes later he came into the room with a homemade guitar. It was absolutely adorable and ingenious. I was so impressed! He was so happy with his guitar! He still hasn't wanted to put it down. I still can't stop smiling about how smart and creative it was.

With Christmas around the corner and me worrying about what Santa is going to bring. My son found an empty tissue box, rubber bands and a yard stick and is so happy he can't stand it. It makes me realize that I am going crazy over nothing. They will find a way to play with just about anything and be happy. They are kids. They are creative, imaginative, beautiful children, who always look at everything sunny side up. We should all try to look at things that way.

That said, after he made his guitar I took pictures. Mason is always running around in his underwear. He is the cutest little rock star ever!

Christmas Card Photo Preview

It isn't quite Thanksgiving yet, but I got a coupon from snapfish.com for Christmas Cards and decided I need to get the ball rolling. It has been so cold here lately I couldn't take the kids outside for pictures because the girls' dresses are sleeveless (which isn't usually a problem). So we decided that we would try an inside picture. They turned out cute! Some of them are bloopers, but they are still fun to look at. Anyway, I ordered my cards Tuesday and got them in the mail Friday. I couldn't believe how fast! So, they will be sent out as soon as I have time to sit down and address them all. In the mean time her is a slide show of all the pictures taken that day. Can you guess which one I picked?

Girls gotta start young!

Audrey has her momma's genes when it comes to shopping. She is already a wonderful little shopper! She has decided that she likes to practice at home. She found the kids shopping cart and now likes to push it around the house. It won't be long before she lets go and takes off walking.

Soccer Season Finale

Gracie had her last soccer game last weekend. She did really well. We had a near goal, but didn't quite make it. She had a great time and wants to play again next season. She also received another trophy for her room.

Halloween

Halloween was a big deal in my house. We have had decorations up for a month that have been added to and added to and now are finally down! Only to make way for Thanksgiving decorations that will soon be adorning every wall in my house as my budding Picasso's make artwork. The anticipation was killing them Friday, because Gracie unfortunately had to go to school. She did have a "fall festival party", but she wasn't allowed to wear her costume. When she got home we had a scavenger hunt, picked up David, got changed and went door to door to ask people for candy.

Whoever in there right mind thought up this tradition? I mean, when I was a kid it sounded like a wonderful idea, but I am not a kid anymore. I am a mom. A mom of three kids, who when they have sugar coursing through their veins, they can not be held responsible for what they do. This morning for example;

9:00 am Mason asked," I ate my breakfast. Can I have a lollipop?" I said,"NO it is too early"
9:05 am Mason asked," I ate my breakfast. Can I have a lollipop?" I said,"NO it is still too early"
9:10 am Mason asked," I ate my breakfast. Can I have a lollipop?" I said,"NO, no lollipop!"
9:15 am Mason asked," I ate my breakfast. Can I have a lollipop?" I said,"One, that's it! One lollipop! NO MORE CANDY TODAY!"

There is only so much 1 person can handle. :) Truth be told he probably asked more times than that. After said incident I hid the candy. Gracie still managed to find it and start the, "He got a lollipop can I have a lollipop!" This is why I have come to the conclusion that it either was a man or a child that came up with the idea of Halloween. No woman would ever curse mothers all over the US with this wonderful holiday. I now have enough candy in my house to last until next Halloween.

However, the kids were very cute in their costumes! They were just as adorable in their matching shirts that we made. Also, see the cute pictures of Audrey's newest trick. I put all the pictures in a new slide show.

Hope everyone else doesn't have to deal with the sugary aftermath!

End of October Miscellaneous

Ok. This is my end of the month post. I am trying to post everything that I have forgotten.

Gracie' soccer picture finally came in last week....I know what you are thinking...last week? I know I have been busy getting ready for Halloween.


Gracie got Honor Roll this grading period. She received all A's and 1 B(89%)...they seriously could have given her straight A's but don't get me started.

We had 2 deer in the back yard last night! I didn't get a picture because they moved to fast. I will try to get a picture before the season is over. I called Mason to come see and this is a direct quote from the 4 year old. " I knew it was Fall. In Fall the leaves turn amazing colors, and the animals come out. Especially in the woodlands where we live." I looked at him as though he was speaking a foreign language. For those of you who have been privileged enough to hear Mason talk you know he has a hard time pronouncing some of his words. So, to hear him go on and on about the woodlands and the amazing colors was amazing in itself. Later he informed me that those were white tailed deer, and that they were girls because they didn't have antlers. He says he learned all of this from his Animal Genius game for his leapster (thank you Aunt C.J.) Who says video games are bad?

Audrey is too cute! She was standing holding on to things last week, but you had to help her up. I went to pick her up from her nap yesterday and she was standing in her bed. Today, she did it again and then pulled up on the coffee table. I predict she will be walking before the new year. She is after the record! Gracie walked at 14-15 months. Mason didn't walk until almost 16 months because Gracie brought him everything. Audrey on the other hand, let's just say the other 2 team up and run off without her. She doesn't like that. She is ready to run too.



We also, very deliquently, did our pumpkins last night. I found the neatest thing at walmart. They are like Mr. Potato Head pieces for the pumpkins. The kids can then decorate them their selves, and I have much less (no) mess to clean up. They are so cool. Here are the pictures. All you can hope for is atleast one normal picture in my house. The rest have to be silly faced.

The picture of Mason and I display Gracie's new found photographic talents!


Ok, last but not least! My friend Jaclyn tagged me to post my fourth picture from my fourth folder on my computer. So here it is.

We're Back!

OK, after recuperating for a few days I am finally posting the pictures from our trip. We went to Vegas to surprise Mom for her birthday. We only stayed for the long weekend, because Gracie had school. We had a really great time! The kids were really excited about the airplane, and the entire trip!

We didn't do the typical tourist stuff. We just visited with Mom, CJ, and Grandma. Everyone was really excited and sad to come home. The kids were hoping there would be snow on the mountains, but there wasn't. Gracie is already planning our next trip. I told her to start saving her allowance.

I put all of the pictures in the slide show above.

Side note....Audrey had her 9 month checkup yesterday. She is really 9 1/2 months, but whose counting. She was 21.5 lbs and 29.5 inches long. She is going to be a big girl. She is crawling everywhere and pulling up on chairs and the coffee table. I ordered her a baby corral for her own safety because she is one quick little baby!

Blog overload!

Ok....prepare for a blog overload. It has been awhile and I have a ton of pictures, so sit back and relax.

Ok...First things first....All pictures that I have from the last week of September until now are going in the slide show above. That way this won't take so long.

The last weekend of September my Dad and Trish came for a visit. We had a really nice time. Gracie won her soccer game that week. We still haven't got her soccer pictures back yet. Hopefully we will receive them soon.

Audrey has begun attempting to crawl, which we have almost perfected. She now figures with that milestone down she is going to start pulling up. Also, she has a new tooth (that makes 5 sharp little teeth.) Did I mention that out of the middle of no where the other day she said, "Go Get Dada!" Don't ask where it came from. Up to this point I have only got "Hey" and "Mama" and "Dada" and "mo nack" (translation...more snack). It wasn't a fluke, she has done it several times since then. There are also pictures of Audrey and the Giant Peach. I made the mistake of thinking I could have a peach for a snack this weekend. She took it before I could even have a bite and started gnawing on it. She was too cute! I eventually had to take it away from her because she is getting too good with her teeth and getting such big pieces she couldn't chew them.

Mason got a haircut yesterday. It looks very nice. He really had no desire to sit still for it, but oh well, he needed it cut. He has really been sweet with Audrey. He also has been doing his chores and helping around the house.

Gracie is doing really good with school and soccer. I have been a bad mom and forgot the camera the past couple weeks. They have been early games. Who wants to be at the soccer field at 8 am on a Saturday? Anyway, it is already almost time for report cards. Time flies!

The kids have really enjoyed playing out in the yard in the evenings lately. It has been nice a cool out. I say cool. It is in the 70's that is cool for us. I attempted to take a group picture of the kids yesterday. Let me emphasize...ATTEMPTED! I got them dressed cute, David cut the grass, I had them posed. It just wasn't going to happen. When one melts down it is like an avalanche. It is all down hill from there. I did not get 1 picture with them all looking at the camera a smiling with there eyes open. I took close to 75 shots. That is crazy. I will try again later in the week, but some of our attempt are on the slide show.

Well, I think we are caught up. If I think of anything else I will add it.

School Picture

Ok Quick post. Have other stuff to put up but will do that this evening. This was too cute and thought I would post before I forget. Gracie got her school pictures today. You know the ones that you have to pay for before you see that are usually horrible. They are cute this year. Thought I would share.

Soccer Update...as promised

OK. A couple days late, but not too bad. Here is Gracie's soccer update. She did really well at her game. Partly because her daddy gave her a vitamin water before the game which contains caffeine. I never give her caffeine. I think the most caffeine she has ever had has been in one sip of a coke. Anyway, with that said, she did super. She even almost scored a goal! In an extremely comical moment her and a boy from her team both stood there in front of the goal with the ball waiting for the other to kick it. Needless to say someone from the other team finally came and took it from them. No biggie! It is all a learning experience. I have no idea what the score was because I was busy taking pictures and trying to keep a certain 4 year old in line. The score doesn't matter Gracie had a great game!

Awww

OK today was a typical busy day. Drop Gracie off at the bus stop, run home get things done, put the baby down for a nap, feed the kids, run errands, another nap, pick up Gracie, go over homework, cook dinner....you get the idea. In the midst of all the crazy busy things you sometimes over look the sweetest most precious things.

I layed Audrey down with the big kids and her bottle to watch TV while I cooked dinner. I came around the corner and this is what I found.

If that is not the cutest thing you have seen all day please email me, because I would find it hard to believe that you saw something cuter than this sweet baby girl. She was so adorable I had to take her picture, because unfortunately moments like these don't last all day.

Later, after cooking dinner, I came around the corner and saw this...

a completely different kind of cute. Rotten boy cute. He had to try on his Halloween costume. In case you couldn't tell....he will be....Spiderman!

And now...to make it fair I must mention sweet Gracie. Whom, I didn't get a picture of today, but promise will take pictures of her at her soccer game tomorrow. She is such a wonderful little girl. She helped me clean the playroom today after she came home from school.

Happy Birthday Mason!

Today is Mason's fourth birthday! It is hard to believe. We had his little celebration yesterday because David had to go back to work, and Gracie had school today. He had a big time yesterday with all of his presents, decorations and cake. We are going to go do something fun today.

Gracie's first soccer game went well Saturday also! She won 5-2. She did a really good job! Especially since it was so hot outside. There game was at noon.

All in all in was a really good weekend! I hope the week turns out to be just as great!

We're Getting the Ball Rolling...

We're getting the ball rolling, literally and figuratively. Gracie's soccer season has begun. She has had her first 2 practices and is having a blast. Her first game is Saturday the 13Th.

The rest of us are getting used to waking up at 6:45 am (if Audrey sleeps in) or 6:00 am (when she doesn't. The kids are enjoying the school year. Gracie is making friends, and doing a great job with her work!

Audrey's tooth count is now 4. The top 2 have come in, just not well enough to really be noticed yet.

Will update next week with big game and Birthday pics.

Back to School

Apparently, I am way behind. I have pictures coming out my wazoo, and just realized it has almost been a month since I did a post. Hopefully, it will start to get a little better.

At the beginning of August we took a trip to visit family before school starts. The kids had a big time! They even got to bottle feed a calf at papa's house. Gracie is in second grade and loving it, Mason is in Preschool, and Audrey is loving her one on one time with mom.

It is hard to believe that Audrey is already 7 months old. It is even harder to believe that my 7 month old is in 12 month clothes. She is growing to fast. She is sitting up well by herself, rolling everywhere, and trying to crawl. We have perfected waving bye bye, MAMA, and DADA. Occasionally I get what I think is an Acie, for Gracie, but I might just be being hopeful.

Mason has a birthday coming up in a couple weeks. This year, after much deliberation, it is all about Spiderman. He has changed his mind more times than I can count. Race Cars, Jungle, Green, Spiderman, Batman, Toy Story...you name it. We finally settled on Spiderman. He is excited.

Gracie has her first spelling test tomorrow. Her teacher's name is Mrs. Johnson. She really likes her. Gracie is riding the bus to and from school, and making some really nice friends. She is glad she went back to school this year.

Well, I think you are all caught up. I will be better about posting more often.
Enjoy the pictures!

TEETH!

OK....it is official Audrey has 2 teeth! They haven't come all the way in, but they are there. Here are some new pictures of Audrey, if you look carefully in some of them you can see her teeth! Ignore her orange nose. She had just eaten carrots, and they tend to stain. I didn't even realize it until I saw the pictures myself.

Little Fish

Well, we have 29 days until school starts. School supplies have been purchased. Now we just have to get new clothes. Which they are all looking forward too. Mason also knows his birthday is coming soon, and reminds me over and over and over again. I hope I survive to see it in SEPTEMBER!



We have been enjoying our summer. Our neighbors have been nice enough to let us use their swimming pool. The kids have really loved it! Gracie can swim now and Mason will at least get in the water with his floaties on. That is a major improvement from " I'm not going in there...there's Sharks in that water!" Audrey loves the water! She kicks her little legs and grins! We bought her a little float so she can enjoy the pool and watch everyone else swim.



Audrey had her sixth month checkup the other day. She was 16 1/2 lbs and 27 3/4 inches long. She is in the 97% for height. I guess Gracie and I will be the short ones. The other two will be tall like their daddy. At least I have one my size.

MAMA

OK I have had this for a week or more now and keep forgetting to post it.
I know I know....I should be more punctual about these things. By the time everyone goes to bed it takes all I have to stay awake!

Fourth of July

We hope everyone had as wonderful of a 4Th as we did!

We all had a super time. David BBQ'd Ribs, Corn on the Cob, Hot dogs for the kids, etc. The kids played all day and could hardly wait for nightfall. David had bought an ungodly amount of fireworks this year. He definitely made this an awesome memory for the kids.

We had the big fireworks that go up in the air like at shows. Audrey fell asleep at 7:30 and was up at 8:15 as they shot the first firework. There would be pictures of all these wonderful fireworks, however I was holding a baby who didn't understand what all the noise was for. Needless to say, she wasn't going to let me put her down to take a picture.

Our neighbors came over with their baby and we had a nice little party.

We had so many fireworks that is was after 11 before we called it a night.

All in all it was a fourth that we won't soon forget!

Peek-A-Boo

They are such great kids! I came in from taking the dog out and this is what I found. Too cute!

We found Mason a preschool yesterday. He will go in the mornings starting in August when Gracie starts Second Grade. I won't know what to do with just 1. Audrey is rolling everywhere. She finally slept through the night for 2 nights in a row. Then she decided she didn't like it anymore and woke me up twice last night. Oh well, atleast I got 2 nights sleep. There is always hope for more.

Funny little tidbit. I made the kids turkey sandwiches for lunch yesterday. Mason was only eating the insides. I asked him why. He said, " Gracie said they only eat bread in jail. I don't want to be in jail." Gracie had told him that people only eat bread and water in jail. So, after explaining that he could still eat his sandwich and not go to jail. He only ate the turkey. Hopefully, He will eat bread again before long. The things kids think.

Sticky Bubbles

Of all the fun things the kids learned this weekend. This is one of those moments caught on camera.

Mason learned that when he was wet from the pool that bubbles would stick to him!

New meaning to "Toe Jam"

Wouldn't we all love to be this flexible? Audrey is teething...apparently toes are the new chew toy. Gracie thought it was too funny.

Slip and Slide

Well, Summer will be here before we know it. It already feels like Summer outside. I went out and bought the kids a slip and slide. They have really enjoyed it! Gracie really knows how to do it. Mason just likes to play in the water. Audrey just watches. She smiles and laughs at the bigger two. If we only knew what she was thinking.

Audrey has perfected her rolling over skills. She has started using them to travel. She is also sleeping better. I think part of it is she is eating more solid foods, and she is getting more active so she exhausts herself more. Either way...I get more sleep. I still haven't had a night of straight through sleep, but I can only hope it is coming soon.

My grandma was in for a visit and stayed with us for a week. The kids really enjoyed having her in the house. We had a really good time.