Happy Jumping Day

A week or two ago, Quinn asked me when we could celebrate a big event in her nighttime routine.  I contemplated the question, then remembered that Leap Day was coming up soon.  I suggested Leap Day as a great day to celebrate this milestone.  She agreed and thought it was a good idea - enough said.

A day or two ago, Quinn and I had the following conversation in the car...completely out of the blue.

Q:  "Mom, when is jumping day?"

M:  "Huh?  What are you talking about?"

Q:  "You know... jumping day."

M:  "I'm sorry, honey.  I am totally lost.  I am not sure when jumping day is or what jumping day is."

Q:  "You know, Mom. The day you said that we could celebrate my special day."

M:  (The light bulb clicks on with me at this point) "Oh..... You mean Leap Day!!!"  

I chuckled pretty hard at that one!  I thought that was pretty funny that she equated jumping day with Leap Day!   Oh, the mind of a 5 year old.  

Letter V - The Things We Love

Quinn - Violet and Pink

Not much to say about this - Quinn is a girly girl!!  She loves all things pink and purple.  From clothes to decorations to toys and more - if it is pink or purple, Quinn will love it!

Sullivan - Vitamins

Sullivan is in charge of passing out vitamins at dinner time.  This job was not appointed to here - it is something that she has taken on herself.  She announces "Vitamins. Vitamins.  It is time for vitamins!"  - much like selling peanuts or popcorn at a sporting event or the circus. 

Ryan - Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt is Ryan's alma mater.  It is where he did his graduate work and earned his PhD.  When living in Nashville, Ryan and attended quite a few Vanderbilt basketball and baseball games.  It was a lot of fun!  Ryan is still a HUGE fan of them and watches them on TV as often as he can.  Luckily, the basketball team has been on quite a bit lately!  

Audra - Vera Bradley Purses

Vera Bradley purses also go back to our Nashville days.  My dear friend Cynthia got me hooked on them.  I remember that she had quite a collection of them 'back in the day' before they became the latest rage.  She, along with my other dear friends, bought me a bag when Quinn was born.  I have been hooked ever since!

Easily Forgotten

For those of you who have had children, I am sure you've probably said to yourself, "I will remember when (child's name) did ___.  There is no need to write it down and remember it.  I have it stored in my brain where it will stay forever." I was one of those people.  I was certain that I would remember all of my children's milestones and never forget when they did certain things.  I've tried hard to write things down, but obviously I didn't capture everything.

Fast forward several years and one more baby later, and I have already forgotten when Quinn hit certain milestones or accomplished certain tasks.  And being that I was not into blogging at the time (did they even have blogging back in 2006 when Quinn was born?!), I don't have something to reference.

That being said, this weekend we were hanging out and playing toys.  Sullivan had her Magna-Doodle out and had announced that she was drawing a picture of her dad.  Not really thinking she was drawing anything other than the circles and scribbles she usually does, we said, "Oh good!"  She then announced that she was drawing mommy to go with daddy.  When Ryan and I glanced down at her work, this is what we saw:

Now I am not really sure when children are supposed to have the ability to put things all together to make recognizable figures, but Sullivan has hit that milestone.  It seemed to have happened over night.  One day scribbles and circles, the next day a recognizable person with a head and eyes and arms.  Keep in mind we are missing a few major body parts, but that will hopefully come in due time!

Sullivan was so proud of herself and her accomplishments... needless to say we were (and are) proud of her too!  

Kansas City - President's Break

We spent President's Break in Kansas City with our close, dear friends the Boyles.   As usual, we had a blast together!  They are the kind of friends that regardless of how much time passes since we've seen each other last, we pick up right where we left off.  I guess that is a sign of true friendship!

The kids got along spectacularly.  Quinn and Nate entertained each other very well and spent a lot of time sharing each other's electronics. It is fun to get two kindergartners in a room and watch them interact!

Sullivan tried to hang with the big kids - and overall they were good about including her - but she is just at that in between stage. She spent a lot of time hanging with the adults and observing Lila.  (Notice I said 'observing' Lila... not a lot of interaction with her, but was very curious what she was up too!)

We went to a place that is called Kaleidoscope.  It is an arts and crafts studio put on by Hallmark.  Hallmark puts all their scraps together in this studio and kids can use their imagination to create different projects.  We've been there before and loved it.  Again, it was a hit with the kids!  If you are ever in Kansas City and have kids, check it out.  It's all free!!!

We also crossed the border into Kansas and went to the Kansas City Children's Museum.  It is an old school that has been turned into a museum for kids.  It had several different rooms to explore and play in.  They had a good time exploring and playing and running about....

What a great weekend... it is always great times when we all get together.  We look forward to the next time that we can see each other again. 'Til the next time...'til the next time!

Far Too Long...

It has been far too long since I saw Judson and Crew.  We have been on vacation and battling some cold like symptoms that have prevented us from getting over there.  But thankfully tonight we were able to see them again!

Needless to say they are just as adorable as they were the last time I saw them!!!

Judson Henry

Crew Thomas

The girls have been asking to see the twins for awhile now and were so excited to get to see not only the boys, but Uncle Matt and Auntie Mer too!

It seems like a three ring circus when the girls are around the twins.  They are SO eager to help and want to be right where the action is. It is cute to see how helpful they are and how much they already love their cousins!

Happy Valentine's Day

Until recently, I had forgotten how much of a big deal Valentine's Day is for the little ones.  Quinn and Sullivan were both ecstatic for Valentine's Day.  They had Valentine's parties at their respective schools and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Quinn and I made special Valentine's gifts for her teachers.  Between her classroom teacher, art teacher, PE teacher, educational assistants and all the others, I think we sent 19 teacher gifts to school and 3 more to after school daycare! I found this idea on Pinterest (!!!!) and thought they were darling!

 I was lucky enough to be able to attend Quinn's party this year.  They ate treats (healthy!!), opened Valentine's and played Bingo!  A well run party.  I give Quinn's teacher all the credit in the world - she does such a fabulous job with each and every one of them!  Nothing seems to phase her - not even 25 hyper, overexcited Kindergartners and a room full of parent volunteers and educational assistants! (Bless her!)

Quinn opening her Valentine's at her party!

Unfortunately, no pictures of Sullivan this Valentine's Day (Sorry, Sull).  Here are the Valentine's she made for Ryan and I at school though.  Aren't they sweet?!

Crazy for Dad "because he plays toys with me".

"I love my mommy because she rocks me in the rocking chair!"

How sweet is she?!  I hope that she forever remembers the countless hours we have rocked and rocked and rocked together!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  

A Good Way to Spend the Day

I couldn't think of a better place I would want to be than snuggled up where Ryan was this afternoon.... lucky man!

 As you can see below, Ryan is snuggled in with his two girls.  Next to Sullivan is her baby doll.  This is her new favorite toy.  It goes everywhere she does and has to sit next to her all the time - that way she can take care of her baby and rock it when it needs to be rocked! What a great mother she will make some day!

This picture below that just captured the love that Ryan and Quinn have for each other. It melted my heart when I reviewed the pictures this afternoon!  So.so.sweet!!

The Things We Love - Letter U

Quinn - Umbrellas

All summer long, Quinn and her good friend next door played "umbrellas."  They would pretend all sorts of things - that tornadoes came and blew them away with their umbrellas, that the storms were coming in, that they were princesses!!  They (on occasion) shared the umbrellas with their little sisters, but only for a short time and always with stipulations!  I will be curious to see if the umbrella obsession continues this summer!

Sullivan - Underwear

Sullivan has been fully potty trained for several months now.... but she still thinks she is pretty cool wearing her big girl panties!  I have to admit that I am obsessed with her ability to wear underwear too.  That means no more diapers, no more wipes, no more worrying about changing diapers in gross public bathrooms!  The independence is wonderfully exhilarating for at least half of us in this family!

Ryan - Ukuleles

Ok, so Ryan really isn't obsessed with ukuleles!  I racked my brain to think of something that he was obsessed with and just plain couldn't think of anything.  However, Ryan does like Hawaii quite a bit and the Hawaiians do play the ukulele there - so maybe with a BIG stretch - this word works?!

Audra - UCONN

I am not sure how I got hooked on UCONN basketball, but it started over ten years ago.  I think it started with March Madness basketball brackets.  I chose them one year to win and the obsession with them stuck!  They have had their up and down seasons, but regardless of how they've done, they are still #1 in my eyes!!!

Her Shirt Says it All...

I like to smile and be happy.... Sullivan's mantra!

Sullivan had a good afternoon - Quinn was with Nana and Dad was running errands.  I was busy picking up the house and turned to check on Sullivan.  She was all decked out with high heels, a backpack, her shopping cart, sunglasses, and her baby doll!

She was in all her glory... a sight so sweet to see!  A sight that (I am certain) she will look back on and say, "Why did you dress me like that?"  Well, dear Sullivan, let's just say your mother let YOU pick out your outfit this afternoon!  This is what YOU chose!  And I would have to say... you are darling!