Flips take 2

Ever since Ella took Flips the boys have been begging to do "Team Flips" so today was their turn and they loved it. They couldn't get enough. Christopher came out at the end of class saying why does it have to be so short. He was thoroughly annoyed that his class only lasted 45 minutes.

It definately wore them out and tonight when we were out walking Jack says Mommy carry me? I said Jack honey can you just walk please. No Mommy the batteries in my legs are dead. Well fair enough, Jack got a piggy back ride home.

Bubbles

It seems that weekends are getting busier and busier. It wouldn't be complete without a birthday party. On Friday night Kyle had his 8th birthday and it was a little bit of heaven for the boys... He had a gaming party with laser tag. Jack who is OBSESSED with Wii was in his element!

We had to skip another birthday party though because we were looking after Tyler, Ryan and Ethan. Six kids was fun and we went through a lot of food! So tonight when it was just us and the chaos the weekend was done the kids had a relaxing bubble bath. They love to turn on the jets in my bath because it makes mountains of bubbles. Aren't they cute.

A few days ago, Jack was talking about a girl he likes at school and says to me Mommy, she has brown hair and brown skin. I said Oh thats nice Jack, what color is your skin? white, he says, so I continue with What color is Daddy's (this is always fun to get a response to) dark, Jack says, and What about my skin? He looks at me very seriously and after quite a few seconds on pondering, he says, polka dot. Mommy you have polka dot skin. Ella is laughing so hard, no Jack they're freckles!

Fat Tuesday

Ella and John got my stomach bug and spent the day at home today recovery. Ella mostly watched tv and colored but by 2pm she had perked up and was wanting to do something. We noticed on the calendar that it was Shrove Tuesday or "fat tuesday" the day before Lent begins and a day of gluttony before giving up something. We are not Catholic but we thought donuts are always a great idea so we decided to get festive. We are very close to Louisiana - so when in Rome...

The kids made masks and enjoyed their donuts! A fun time for all! Even John had one, must be on the mend.

Fish

We have some new members of our family. The kids wanted their own fish for their own room and I guess I am a sucker because you can see they got them. Dorothy rests comfortably in Ella's room and Monster was just kissed goodnight by his dad Christopher and Jack thinks Lucy needs to sleep in my room with Jack. Hopefully they will remember to feed them!

GO CANADA

Jack is always making us laugh. He is so funny, pretty much every dinner is the kids and I laughing at Jack. Well on Friday morning bright and early I woke up with the dreaded stomach bug. UGHHH no fun being sick. John had a big project and was no way able to help out so I thought well I could call my friends who are always willing to help out (thank you) or I could just wait and see. It was a bit of heaven for the boys. I was laid out on the couch with my ginger ale and crackers and the boys were allowed to pretty much do anything - they decided to play WII Super Mario bros. A couple hours later I moved my miserable self upstairs with the boys and told them they could do anything they wanted as long as they played in my room so I could hear them. In my in and out of sleep the boys were laughing and literally tearing my room to shreds. Fun stuff. I have a rubbermaid bin of baby items that I wanted to keep that were theirs. I have literally 10 things in it, their favorite blanket, the dedication outfits, and the outfits they came home from the hospital in. I also have a CANADA tshirt that Ella wore on her first Canada day. Jack found it and squealed in delight. This is appropriate I guess since its an Olympic shirt and it was opening night of the Olympics in Canada. He wore this all day and refused to take it off. Grandma Ruth promised to replace it with a more appropriate size. Yeah. Here are the photos of Jack left to his own devices - too small shirt and sweater upside down. Isn't he cute?

Flips

Ella had her first official gymnastics class. We tried at the YMCA when she was 3 and she was just too little or nervous - either way she wasn't ready. Well today was the day to try it again, I being a gymnastics fan couldn't be more thrilled that she is doing it or that she is awesome! She did shed some tears of fear but stuck with it and says she wants to go back. YEAH. Jack is wanting to do it so very badly, he says I want to join Team Flips. Looks like with all these extra curricular activities someone needs to get a job!

Different

When I had Ella people would say oh just wait till you have boys, boys are like this and boys are like that. Well now that I have two boys I realize you most certainly CANNOT make assumptions about boys. They are the most different personalities you could have. Here is an example:

Christopher is singing sweetly to me asking me to love him and be his valentine and here is what Jack is doing:

Girl Scouts

Notice anything about this picture? Jack has decided to join girl scouts. He says he's 6 and he can be a girl scout. One problem I try to explain to him is that he isn't a girl! Apparently didn't stop him from enjoying the festivities today!

Billy Bear

Christopher has "brown bear", his favorite stuffed animal that my mom bought for him years ago. The proceeds went to sick kids in Toronto so a good buy indeed! He sleeps with brown bear, his blue blankie and his red wagon. Today he decided to take them for a walk.

The boys have billy bear from school and he went everywhere with us. We took him for lunch and to swimming lessons. They always have so much fun with the class pet.

Last night Jack climbed into bed with John and I. I said Jack, what are you doing, you need to go back to your bed. Sweet Jack says BUT mommy I forgot how to sleep so I am going to need to stay here.

100th Day of Kindergarten

Today was Ella's 100th day of school. They had fun activites planned for the kids and she had a great time. I am always amazed after all these years how times flies. The saying was always time flies when you are having fun but really time just flies by fun or no fun.

This morning early, Jack and I took sweet Belle to have her spayed and her hernia fixed. When we got home Christopher was a bit stressed that she was gone but with some reassurance that she would be back he settled down. Later tonight the kids and I went to pick her up and they were just horrified to see her incision and stitches. They were so gentle with her and had what seemed like a million questions. We are glad to have her home!

Jack is having a great time letting his imagination run wild. He wouldn't get out the car today and I said "come on jack, No Mommy Sarah will bite me, I said who is Sarah? He replied, she is the animal that lives in our garage and she BITES!

We also had a shopping trip to get some new shampoo with all the swimming the kids and I are doing our hair is taking a beating. Ella's is suffering the most since its so fine. She got a hair cut and new shampoo. Christopher asked about the new conditioner and I said that the chlorine in the pool can make your hair dry and break, OHHH he says, Is that what happened to Grandpa Paul? Did his hair break off in the pool?

Name Change

The kids love taking pictures of each other with my camera - they are little photographers. I have been known to move the furniture around every couple weeks, well really, who am I kidding. Every day it seems. The boys took advantage of me moving Ella's bed and made a home for themselves and their animals.

Jack has an imaginary friend and his name was inappropriate, so we finally convinced him to rename him Collin. So Welcome Collin from Alaska! Christopher told my mom that his friend Sawdit was just part of his imagination! My parents reminded me of Ella's imaginary friend Simba. I had forgotten about her little animal that she held in her hand and pet and talked to. How quickly they change and grow!