Misc. January Pics

1/6 - Can you hear the trumpets and hallelujahs?!? Ethan and Kaylin are starting to play games TOGETHER and by THEMSELVES! Some games, like this board game "Cariboo", are structured. Others are known only to them. They usually involve saying some made up word and running back and forth between the Bonus Room and Living Room! :)


1/12 - The kids just LOVE being on the stairs (we have a "3 step rule". They can play on the bottom 3 steps, but no higher so they don't fall and seriously hurt themselves) (Yes, Kaylin is in 3-step-rule-violation for this picture. But come on, Ethan took step #3 !)


1/15 - Ethan and his sewing card. I drew a black line on a plastic piece of sewing card. Then I gave him a plastic kids needle with yarn attached and showed him how to make stitches. I told him to make a stitch every 3 holes (1,2,3 up...1,2,3 down...) AND HE DID! I was amazed, but not really. He does very well with structured instructions for a specific task.


Kaylin was a LITTLE less accurate with her sewing


1/23 - Ethan in his pajamas


1/23 - Kaylin in her pajamas (with Ms Bunny)


.... and Krystin in HER pajamas (of course, she is almost always in pajamas....) (1/23)


1/25 - Ethan is SUCH a good older brother!


1/31 - WANTED: Extra Hands !!!
This is how Dan found me upon his coming home from work. Let me explain.
Krystin earlier in the day had a poop explosion which dirtied her chair that she uses downstairs. Therefore, when it came time to make supper, she was awake and I had nowhere to safely (from 2 older sibs) place her except in the "Mama pouch". I proceeded to start supper while wearing Krystin on my front. Not more than a few minutes later a very tired (no nap) Kaylin was fussing and mournfully, consistently tugged on my pant leg saying "up, up, up". I tried reasoning with her: "As soon as I get supper going, i will hold you.... I cant hold you and make supper" ... Kaylin does not understand reason. So I got out the toddler back pack. As for Kaylin's messed-up-more-than-usual-hair: as I (and therefore Krystin) was leaning over to place Kaylin in the backpack, Krystin spit up right on Kaylins head! So before an already tired Kaylin had a TOTAL melt-down, I quickly grabbed paper towels and mopped it up... mostly (hey, it was bath night). Then I proceeded to make our stir-fry and egg roll supper as best i could wearing 2 children until reinforcements (Dad) arrived.



... and when Dad got home, it was Ethan's turn to be paced. Ethan still likes "pace time with Dad" every once and awhile.

Grandpa and Grandma Collingwood's Visit

Dan's parents (Lyle and Sherry) came out for a visit from Wednesday, January 18, through Wednesday, January 25th. Sherry was a big help around the house and both her and Lyle did a lot of grandchild entertaining. They also babysat the kids twice so Dan and I could get out on a couple dates. Thanks again, Dad and Mom! The time flew by too quickly, but we managed to sneak in opening Christmas presents and playing several games of "Pepper" (a card game).



"First Meeting"


Proud Grandpa


Krystin mimicking Grandma's expression.... or is it the other way around? Either way, Krystin enjoyed several hours of "face time" with Grandma throughout the week!


Ethan sharing quality time with Grandpa...and Mr. Fish!


Spud Buds
Kaylin got these "spud buds" from Uncle Dave and Aunt Jacque for Christmas. Kaylin held Grandpa hostage many hours to play spud buds! Fortunately for her, Grandpa was a good sport.


Playing "3 Brown Mice"


Krystin was baptized on Sunday, January 22nd


The “Geo Trax” train set - expertly assembled by Grandpa and enjoyed by all :)


Kaylin was quite the Grandpa's girl


The Women's Secret Weapon.....
"Spit up once if hearts, twice if spades....."
Every time Lyle and Sherry visit, the 4 of us play as much "Pepper" as time and kids allow. The Women did pretty well this trip I must say. (Krystin got to play because she was up until almost midnight every night)


Morning Pajama Time with Grandma

Christmas 2005

Even though we didn't travel back to Iowa and had no relatives visiting us, we still managed to have a fairly busy Christmas. Or maybe it just seemed like it due to three very young children! :) On Sunday, December 11, Ethan was in his first ever Christmas Program. This was also the first time Krystin and I had been to church since she was born.
The following Sunday - on the 18th - we opened gifts from Gpa and Gma Jordan. (Papa Masson's arrived later in the mail and Gpa and Gma Collingwood are bringing theirs in January) That night we drove around looking at Christmas lights. Christmas Eve day we opened our stockings. Dan then had to be at church by 6:00 pm because he was singing in the Christmas Cantata. Christmas morning we went to church and then came home and had our Chirstmas Brunch. (scrambled eggs, grapefruit, and cherry turnovers) After nap time, we opened presents. Then we had our snack food and watched a movie. I hope in spite of Dan's and my sleep depravation /lack of energy that the kids still had a fun Christmas - and more importantly "caught" that Christmas is about baby Jesus. I think they did - especially with help from the music CD from Ethan's Program. One of the kids favorite songs to sing at home says: "Christmas without Christ, there's no reason to rejoice. Christmas without Christ, there's no Saviour, there's no joy. Christmas without Christ, oh it makes me want to cry. Why bother having Christmas without Christ"



Ethan in his 1st-Ever Christmas Program on Sunday, December 11th. The 3 & 4 year olds sang with the kids choir for the first 4 songs and then came back on stage for the final song. Ethan did SUCH a good job - both singing and actions. Dan and I were very proud (and i had a hard time not bragging to other parents that he was the BEST 3 year old up there! He even did better than some of the older kids) :)


The girls in their matching pink dresses after church on December 11th. (Aren't they precious?!)


The stockings were hung by the fica tree with care...


Dan sang in the Cantata for both Chirstmas Eve and Christmas Day church services. He also had an entire song solo which he sang magnificantly (OTHER people said so, too!). The song lyrics and tune were beautiful, but written in a fairly high key. I think in a couple spots he sang higher than I do! I was going to take a pic of him singing his solo, but didn't want to distract him and mess him up!


The "Fam" decked out in our finest Christmas attire in front of the Church's Christmas tree.


Krystin (8 weeks) waiting for the Christmas festivities to begin. Her cute outfit is compliments of Gpa and Gma Collingwood.


Kaylin getting pretty excited about the pretty paper and bows. Which, by the way, she can now say "bow". She has recently added "dog, pink, bee, blue (boo), and ball" to her list of words she can say. (Dad, Mom, up, NO) She just BEAMS when we recognize what she is trying to say :)


Ethan waiting patiently for his gifts


Ethan's gifts. The red box on left is a pop-up punch bag. The "V-Smile" is a learning video game for the T.V. The eggs containing 3-D puzzles of a snake, alligator, lizard, and turtle. Not shown are his bag of whiffle golf balls from Kaylin.


Kaylin's gifts. The star wand is from Ethan.


Krystin "opening" her gifts.........with the help of her siblings!


Krystin's 1st Christmas loot. So far Ethan and Kaylin have been enjoying the gifts for her :) (Ethan bought the Food book and Kaylin bought the Animals book)


The kids with their "Christmas Money" jars. The month of December they would get dimes and quarters for doing various tasks around the house. Then the Wednesday before Christmas we went to the dollar store so they could purchase gifts for everyone. They really got into it and were so cute dragging their shopping hand carts around! Then they each got to personally hand the cashier the money (she was very patient and kind) for their purchases. That afternoon they got to choose which paper and bows to wrap their gifts in.



Britt with her gifts. Coasters are from Ethan and the cow milk mug is from Kaylin. The Gift Certificate from Dan is for a 1 hour professional massage.


Dan with his Christmas Gifts. The "Hercules" and "Car Crash Rescue" VHS tapes are from Ethan and Kaylin.


Our Christmas Goodies
For Supper on Christmas day we spread a blanket on the Bonus Room floor and ate the above goodies while watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". This was the first time either Ethan or Kaylin saw the cartoon. It was a big hit and we think we'll do it again next year.


Watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". The kids were enthralled :)

Late December 2005

“The Box”
Dan and I recently purchased a T.V. for our bedroom. I had him save the box. It has provided hours of entertainment just by cutting a window in the “back” wall, duct taping some fabric over the front, and installing a pie tin steering wheel. I plan on getting many more miles out of this box. There is still “decorating” (marker, contruction paper, etc…) to do and many more gadgets (ie: egg cartons, paper towel rolls) that could be attached. Anyway, the kids are enjoying their fort /tent /dog house……


"Peek-a-Boo"


"Here I am"!


Sister Love


Brother Love


Krystin - 8 weeks old. She now weighs 10lbs 4 oz and is 22.5 inches.
Thanks to the Krobs for the ADORABLE outfit.
(And thanks to God for the ADORABLE little girl) :)

Early December 2005

Grandma Jordan's Visit

Grandma Jordan arrived on Wednesday, November 30th and stayed through Thursday, December 8th. Words can not express how much I enjoyed her company. And she was a HUGE help around the house. She even took care of me and my 3 children while I was sick for a couple days. I guess a Mom's job is never done! (It should be noted that Dan has always been a huge help with the house and kids, but it was nice for him to have a break, too) :)


Grandma Love. This is the first time Grandma Jordan got to hold her newest grand-daughter, Krystin.


All bundled up for an afternoon walk


3 Children, 1 Grandma lap


.... This time using a bigger chair. It worked much better!


SNOW DAY! The first full day Mom (Penni) was here we got about 5 inches of snowfall. So while Mom watched Krystin in the warm house, I took Ethan and Kaylin out in our back yard to play. We didn't DO too much. When you are only 3 feet tall and your coats make you just about as wide, there isn't too much you CAN do!


One-Mom-Firing-Squad. Mom (Penni) caught me in the act. You gotta believe me, it was a LIGHT toss. I am actually a very loving Mom!


Again, I really AM a loving Mom. Really.


Kaylin DID have mittens on. But I was letting her feel the snow with her bare hands for a little bit.....And Ethan is just TOO cute in this picture! :)


Playing "Mouse and Cheese". One of Ethan's favorite games. Kaylin got to help Grandma pick her game pieces out of the bag.


Girls' Bedtime Story


Boys' Bedtime Story