St. Patrick's Day 2013

St. Patrick's Day weekend started off with the Elementary schools Spring Carnival on Saturday.  Dennis took the three boys while I stayed home with Leah.  The boys had fun playing games and were pretty well behaved from what it sounds like.

I had spent the last couple days making treats for the "sweet shoppe" at the Carnival.  I made Chocolate covered mint oreos and mint chocolate rice krispie treats.  Both turned out pretty good!

After the carnival we all went to a neighbors who had invited a few family's over for a St. Patricks Day party.  This was one of Leah's first times around a large group of people.  She did awesome!  Dennis and I just took turns holding her and she just smiled at people and talked a little.  She even fell asleep in my arms at one point.  She only fussed a bit when she was hungry, after I fed her she was fine again.  The boys had fun playing with all the kids, it has been a while since we have been out and about.

Then when we got home, Evan was so excited to set out his leprechaun trap (thanks to the school for putting this idea in his head).

Sunday morning they woke up to discover that they didn't catch the leprechaun, but he did leave them lucky charms cereal and some chocolates.  Evan laughed so hard when he looked in the toilet and saw that the water was green!  The leprechaun had used our potty!!!

Leah is 4 Months Old!

Today Leah is 4 months old!  At 4 months Leah is talking and laughing.  She is smiling a lot.  She is in general a good baby.  She is sweet and pretty patient.  Though she will cry eventually if you aren't doing what she needs.  She mostly just cries when she is tired.

She usually goes to bed around 8:30 (give or take) and wakes up around 8, give or take.  She wakes up once between those times,  But, it can greatly vary when she wakes up.  Anywhere from 1:30 to 5:30, usually around 3-4ish.  She eats and falls right back to sleep.  Leah did 10 1/2 hours one night, but for the most part is doing about 7-8 hours.  She is our worst sleeper, but that is relative.  Most people would love that their baby sleeps 8 hours, but our boys were sleeping 10 hours at this point!  Not sure if it is just her personality, the fact she eats less than them or if it is because she was a preemie and isn't really a 4 month old developmentally...

She is sleeping her own room in her crib now for both naps and bed time.  She continues to sleep to white noise.  Both to help her fall asleep and to drown out the boys noise.  We also are sleeping her on her belly all the time now.  She just seems to like it better and is able to fall asleep better.  She will occasionally fuss when you lay her down for nap, but she usually settles herself and if not will need just a little patting on her back to fall asleep.

During the day she takes about 4 naps or so.  She eats then plays for about 1 1/2 hours and then goes to sleep and repeats this cycle throughout the day for the most part.  In the evening she may or may not take a nap, and will usually eat her last 2 feedings closer together.

She is still rolling tummy to back occasionally.  She is also starting to grab for toys that are hanging in front of her.

She is a lot of fun and just very sweet tempered.  We are having so much fun with her!

Dennis has been out of town the last few days so we are so excited to have him back tonight!

Favorite Child

Most parents will say they don't have a favorite child.  However, I once heard that that is not true.  Parents have a favorite child it is just always changing in any given moment.

Well, if that is true.  Friday Colin was my favorite child, because he came home with a certificate saying he had gone the "extra degree" all month of February!  Teachers nominate one kid each month based on great behavior.  I was so proud of him that him and I made peach cobbler for dessert!  And as a reward we took him out for frozen yogurt Sunday night!

Monday, Evan was my favorite child because he came home with a letter he had written at school to Colin.  It said that he loved Colin being his brother and it thanked him for "helping me".   He can be so sweet!  Evan loves school so much right now.  On Friday his class had a secret visit from a leprechaun who did tricks to their room and left a note for the kids.  Evan told Dennis that the note said "Dear Friends" and asked Dennis, "why did he say friends when he plays tricks on good people?".  He is so excited to set traps with his class on Friday to try and catch the leprechaun on Friday!

Leah is often my favorite child because who doesn't love baby laughs and smiles and cuddles?

She loves looking at her head bands.

Looking at herself in the mirror.

And Dennis and I can both agree that lately Logan has been our favorite child many times.  He is such a joy right now.  He is so polite and helpful.  He says no and thank you with out being prompted.  He is great to take to stores most of the time and is just talking so cute right now.  He is usually the first awake and he takes his clothes downstairs to the basement where Dennis is working out or showering and says, "Hi Dad, I had a good sleep.  I didn't wake up my brothers."   I just love the little person he is right now.

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One Lucky Girl!

Leah is one lucky little girl.  She has 3 big brothers that just ADORE her.  They always want to hold her.  Logan has completely fallen in love with her.  He asks all the time when she can play with him.  He also tells me when she is crying and gets me whatever I need.  He will wipe her mouth with the burp cloth if she spits up and he is always kissing and hugging her now.

Logan has also started calling her "baby doll".  He will say, "Hi baby doll.  I love her.".

This girl is loved...

And of course Daddy is pretty smitten too...

Watching TV together...

On a different topic.  Leah slept from 7:30pm to 6 am this morning ate for a few minutes and then went back to sleep for a couple more hours!  She is doing great sleeping.  She is also smiling and laughing a lot now...

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Movie Night.

This past weekend, was the usual...Tae Kwan Do for Evan on Saturday and Church and Church class on Sunday.  Evan did have a birthday party on Saturday afternoon that Dennis took him to.  Then Saturday night we did a movie night (Puss and Boots).  The boys enjoyed eating pizza on the blanket and watching the movie.

Sunday was full of running errands.  I went to Target while boys were in class and then we went to Costco and then I went to the mall.  Dennis and I have to tag team most weekends, taking turns running errands to get everything done.  If we go together we have 4 kids to bring along, so its usually not worth it.  It is nice sometimes to go to a store by myself and not feel rushed to hurry up and get what I need before kids get antsy.  Though, I am still kind of rushed trying to get in and out and back home before Leah needs to eat.  When you become a parent your schedule goes out the window and everything is based on the best timing for the kids.  Dennis and I often say to each other, "what did we do before we had kids".  I can't remember, but I do remember being bored sometimes.  I can't honestly say that life is never boring now!

Oh during story time tonight Dennis commented that not all the kids could see the book (they are always arguing about where to sit and not being able to see the book).  Dennis said, "We had too many kids, they can't all see the book".  Colin responds, "Well, at least we help your taxes."

Logan the Helper...

Logan has been a great helper lately.  He gets me diapers, throws them away, puts blankets on Leah and "babysits" her for me.

He is at such a fun age.  I love the way he talks.  He has started calling me "Mom" and Dennis "Dad", which is so funny coming out of his little voice.  Especially, since the older kids say "Mommy" and "Daddy".  When I ask him to do something he will say "sure, Mom, I can do dat".  Or if I ask if he did something he will say, "Sure I did, Mom.".

He thinks he is a grown up and really does whatever he wants to do.  He will get his own snack, mess up Colin and Evan's room when he is supposed to be napping, and pick up my phone and start looking at YouTube videos without asking.  He can drive us crazy, but he is so darn cute he manages to get away with a lot!

Oh and Logan asks me almost every day when Leah will be able to play with him.  He is dying to play legos with his "baby sister".

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Is It Spring Yet??

It's that time of the year where I just can't stand the cold and dreary grey skies another day.  I think Dennis and I are both thinking we need to move to Florida some day or somewhere equally as warm.  I think the darkness gets me even more than the cold.  Anyway, I am counting down till Spring and can't wait to get outside and go for walks with Leah and Logan.

This week Evan was excited about a school field trip.  He continues to do well in school.  He came home with a list of sight words he needs to know by the end of first grade and he actually already knew most of them.  He has already mastered all the Kindergarten words.

Colin is also doing well too.  He continues to do real well academically and likes to be the "class clown" at school so we have been trying to teach him when it is appropriate to be silly.  Luckily, the silliness at school has improved.  His behavior has been over 90% the last couple weeks so we are very proud of him.

I signed both boys up for their spring sports.  They don't start until after spring break, but they are looking forward to it.  Colin is doing soccer and Evan is going to do baseball.  I am also looking forward to it, since it has been a while since any sports have been going on.

Not much else going on around here, just enjoying indoor family time until we can break out of this house and get some fresh air.  Hurry up Spring...

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