May 08 - Misc

The first weekend in May we watched 3 precious kids overnight. (And I mean 3 besides our 3 precious ones ;) The next 3 pics are a glimpse of what 6 kids age 6 and under look like playing.

(Of course, to Grandma Goff this is no shocker - maybe just a reminder of the fun, hard work, chaos of days LONG ago .... sorry Mom and Phil and Aunts... it WAS a long time ago ;)

Dan being pounced.... by all 6 kids. But if you look at his face, he seems to enjoy it.

Yes, we did employ the video-paci a couple times. But we didn't need it very often as they all DID play well together - as usual. In spite of the fact that almost all of us had colds :(

My 3 children LOVE to help in the kitchen. I try and remember that if I take the time and energy to TEACH them, that they will be great helpers independent of MY help someday.

Actually, there are some things they are starting to do by themselves. Picking grapes off of the vine to be washed is one of them. My little "attention to detailers" do a good job of rejecting the bad ones and making sure no stems remain in the grapes. :)

Below are the back and front views.

(the picture cut it off, but E and Krys are sharing 1 stool and K is on another)

You may have noticed in the above grape picture that Kaylin has stickers on her arm. That is nothing. See below. She was pretending to be a leopard. In fact, the whole afternoon/evening if Dan or I referred to her as "Kaylin", she would remind us: "No, I'm a LEOPARD, reMEMber?"

We finally went shopping to spend the Christmas money from Great-gparents Werner and misc birthday money for E and Kay (from grandparents and for Ethan a return from D&J). Below are their choice purchases.

The orange My Little Pony is "Scoot-a-loo" and comes with a removable cowboy hat. The pink one is "pinky-pie" and has removable birthday hat.

This princess horse matches her sleeping beauty princess barbie Dave and Jacque got her for her 3rd birthday. Kaylin is starting to appreciate dolls and anything pink a lot more than before.

(but never fear, cars are still favorites :)

Ethan had accumulated the most money. He kinda surprised me with the dump truck purchase. But he is more into trucks/vehicles than he once was. He is still VERY much into games - ANY game. Not pictured is his 1 other present, the game "Jam-Pack-Jam"

Mothers' Day. It was very windy.

If you look closely, I am wearing 2 necklaces. 1 from each of my favorite "boys" in the world. (And in case you are confused - the pink pearls are from Dan and Ethan made me the heart necklace that morning)

I had to post this to show the grandparents.

Kaylin sleeps with no less than 5 cuddlies. Typically the same ones for months on end, and maybe a new one mixed in every once and awhile.

She will wake up in the middle of the night and yell: "Mom, I can't find bendy-bat! ..... or ..... One of my cuddlies is missing! Where is tiny-pillow?"

("bendy-bat" and "tiger" (little brown dog) were Wendy's meal toys. "Pinky" - the poodle, was valentine's gift from Gpa Gma Collingwood. "Tiny pillow" (grey thing next to poodle) is the pillow from Dan' latest watch purchase! And of course - Miss Bunny (sometimes "Miss Bun") is her life-long cuddly :)

Another side note. She likes these pajamas for 2 main reasons. 1) she loves vanilla icecream. 2) "there is a heart to remind me of Jesus-us Lu-Uv" ;)

(any heart or cross reminds her of "Jesus-us Lu-Uv") How Precious

May 08 - Dan's Birthday

Birthday Boy and his Supper of Grilled steak with mushrooms, Bac-ion Green Beans, and baked potato

All 3 kids made him a card

I had gotten a few smaller gifts so the kids could each give him one. Shelled Pistacios, tennis balls (we want to start playing again), and an easy-slide adjustable wrench.

I wanted Ethan to take a picture of me handing Dan his gift from me so that I was in at least 1 pic..... Bless Sweetie's heart, she wanted in the pic, too :)

Inside the box were metal clips and post to use on a peg board..................... and a note to look in the van trunk....

Ta-DA! A workbench (tool organizer) for the garage.

(I'm not sure if this gift is more for me or Dan - but he liked it) ;)

Key Lime Pie was dessert.

(The video of kids singing is too long to post - But Krystin blew out Dad's candle and per the other 2 kids we had to re-light so DAD could blow it out)

Yep. Krystin still likes the pie.

(see July 2007 archives - "May 07, Dan's Birthday" posting)

(no, sorry, I do NOT know how to create a fancey link to take you right there like Kari does)

And what is a birthday party without games?!?

Doesn't Dan look excited to be playing Hullabaloo? ;)

April 08 - Krystin

These pics were taken in early April. Krystin is just continuing to act older and more independent. Even now (in May) she does not like to be boosted up to wash her hands. She likes to stand on the footstool by herself and BARELY reaches the water with her fingertips)

She's not too old to still cuddle me, though :)

Likes to brush her own teeth

April 08 - Ethan and Kaylin in Swim Lessons

These first 2 pictures were taken just before their 1st swimming lesson on April 16th.

This was their 3rd or 4th lesson.

Our friends are also in this class.

Emmy, Ethan, Kaylin, Mandy, some other boy :)

Teacher is Miss Susanne

At the start of each class they hold hands and dip down under the water to blow nose bubbles.

Kaylin did not do this.

(Today - May 21st - 9th lesson - Kaylin's head went under with the rest of the class for the first time!)

A couple times Miss Rhonda helps out.

Here Ethan is getting ready to catch rings. He LOVES this part and gets so excited! :)

I think Kaylin looks so different in goggles!

Poor Krystin. She would love to swim, too.

But there IS a nice indoor playroom and an outdoor swing set.....

... and good buddy Tyler to play with.

At this particular lesson, Kaylin was still uneasy about going in the deep end with her teacher.

But Miss Susanne is great and warmed her up and.....

... this was the first time Kaylin actually went under!
... WAY under!
Now she chases those rings like a pro :)
Ethan practicing relaxing and reaching