Bowling Party

The boys were invited to a birthday party at our local bowling alley.  They were sooo excited, even though they had never been bowling before.  They did pretty good for their first time bowling - especially considering the smallest ball was about a third of their own weight!

The funniest part (to me at least) was that the balls rolled SO SLOW, since they could hardly push them, that by the time the ball actually got to the end of the lane, they had lost interest and were not even watching anymore.  We tried to get their attention and show them that their ball was about to knock some pins over...but they were usually off playing by this time.

I am pretty sure one of them will request a bowling party next year. 

Practice Makes Perfect

Conner & Cayden have really been working hard on learning to write their names.  Cayden is happy to sit down with a pen and paper and draw, write, or doodle for quite a while. Conner on the other hand lasts for maybe 30 seconds, and even then he says he doesn't want to.  I've bought all different kids of pens, crayons, slick sticks, paints, etc. to try and make it more fun for him, and keep him interested.  This attempt, I broke out the sugar and they had a blast.  They thought I had lost my mind and kept laughing at me while I was pouring the sugar into the pans.  Flour works better, but I had more sugar, and it worked just fine - and an added bonus dad showed them was that they could lick their fingers for a little sweet treat.

Conner is also working on "crossing midline" which he has made great progress on, as you can see here.  Crossing midline is something that most of us do not even think about, but until recently, Conner could not pick up something on his left with his right hand - he would pick it up with the closest hand and then switch hands to get it to the other side.  Likewise, he could not draw a figure 8 without stopping in the middle to avoid crossing the line.  If this sounds foreign to you, it did to me as well.  I never thought about it until Conner's Occupational Therapist pointed it out to me.  She also told me that crossing midline is essential to reading, writing, pedaling a bike, and many other tasks we do every day without thinking about.  Anyway, he is doing great!  Our goal for this summer is to get him on his bike. 

Lucky!

It's been a while, and things have been (and still are) a bit crazy!  Before I begin blogging, I must make a comment about Keir's last post -- I cried when I read it (several times), and I am one lucky girl to have him!  He is the best, really, he is!

The Best Wife and Mom EVER!!!

Blogs are fun to read.  I love reading the blogs that our friends and family post.  Its such a great way to keep up with people you can't see regularly.  My favorite blog to read is ours...The Jones Family.  Sorry everyone...

Most days I'm off at work or meetings for 10-12 hours, which with three awesome little kids is the better part of their day.  If I could, I'd spend all day playing with them....maybe that's why I didn't ski but only one day this whole season.  During the work week I miss so much and only get to hear the fun stories over dinner.  That is until Lindsay sits down at her computer and gets to work.  

Lindsay is the best wife and Mom three great kids and an mediocre Dad could want!!  She is diligent about posting to our blog so that our families can all keep up with the Colorado Jones'.  Over the year's she's made some unbelievable birthday cakes for the kids and has chronicled their lives in some pretty cool scrapbooks.

But what really makes Lindsay the best wife and Mom EVER is her extraordinary amount of selflessness.  What she didn't blog about this week is how sick she's been--even last night while she was blogging she said, "it feels like my head is going to burst!"  A long winter with sick kids, crazy changes in temperature--Mother Nature can't decide if its Spring or Winter--and a whole lot of other stressful things caught up to her this week and knocked her flat on her back!  She wouldn't even call someone to watch the kids, she just toughed it out as best as she could.  I did step in and got some of our friends to watch the kids so she could rest. But even when she's healthy and her head's not going to explode, she's the last to get a bath or a shower.  Meals for the kids come first.  Getting Conner to his many therapy appointments or doctor visits takes priority over a hair cut, manicures, a quick trip to the gym or even hanging out with friends for a play date.  Not to mention keeping up with and entertaining Cayden...that kid is a handful!!  And now that Allie is getting ready to walk its going to get real nutty!  Lindsay is ALL kid and family time and ZERO personal time.  There have been days when I've said, "boy, I'd sure like to just be a stay home dad...you can go to work again Lindsay."  But you know what, I couldn't do what Lindsay does.  What she does daily is amazing!

Lindsay...MOM...we know you know this, but its nice to hear it when you least expect it...

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR FAMILY!!!!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Climbing

I should probably be grateful it didn't happen sooner, but it happened today.  Allison discovered climbing.  She has climbed the stairs on several occasions, but today she discovered that she can climb ANYTHING.

First it was the chairs.

Then it was the table. (We'll be moving this table tonight away from the bannister!)

Then on to the train table.

Up to the couch...

And, another method to get on the couch.

The best part is that she also learned to turn around on her belly and go backwards when she is trying to get down from whatever she climbed up.

Growing Up!

Every day, my kids say the funniest things (well, I think they are funny!), and act so grown up.  I wish I was one of those moms who just remembered every little thing, but I am not.  And, usually the funny things happen as we are running out the door with no time to write them down.  Today, there were several. . . 

Conner could not find his snow boots this morning (yes, it snowed again last night!) and I went in the garage to look for them.  I found them and walked in the back door just as Conner was getting ready to come out and get in Dad's truck.  He looked very excited and then said, "Mom, you have perfect timing!"  Seriously, this sentence blew Keir and I away - especially considering he didn't speak very much at all a year ago.

While driving to Occupational & Physical Therapy this afternoon, Conner asked, "Mom? Are we going to pick up Cayden after we see Francie and Jeanine?"  I told him yes.  He then said in a very concerned voice, "Mom, you forgot to put Cayden's booster seat back in the car."  Good thing I have a 5 year old to remind me of the many things I forget to do.

Cayden said the prayer at dinner tonight, and remembered to bless the food all by himself.  He usually has a long list of things to be thankful for (toys, school, etc) and forgets to bless the food.  He also said "thank you that we get to see Jill in the morning."  Jill is Conner's speech therapist, and the kids all adore her.  I am pretty sure Jill will tear up when I tell her this.

Easter Morning

The Easter Bunny came to our house, and the kids were so excited to begin searching  for hidden treasures.  The Easter Bunny even left some empty buckets to collect anything to be found.

Ms. Diana's Easter Party

Park Day

Today we went to the park, and I finally found a way to make Allie sit still.  Hee, hee.....she was not quite sure about the grass.  Okay, it didn't last long...only about 5 minutes until she was all over the place again.

No More Bottles!!

It took a few days of fussy, cranky Allie, but we are D.O.N.E. with bottles, and I am so proud of her!  Yippee!  She wouldn't take the sippy cup at first, but as soon as aunt Tiffy gave her one with apple juice (which she had never had before) she gulped it down, and I knew she could do it.  So I took advantage of this and started giving her milk only in the cup during the day, and let her have a bottle at night.  Within a few days of this I switched the night bottle to a cup as well, and wala, we are done.  Yippee!!

Eggs

We have been Charlie (and Kristina, of course!) deprived lately, and were so excited to receive an invite over to Charlie's house to dye Easter Eggs!  I made the mistake of telling the boys on Saturday - all I heard all day Saturday and Sunday was, "when are we going to Charlie's?" Here are some pics from our fun day today. 

Who can dye three dozen eggs on an empty stomach?

If you cannot tell by the pictures, fun was had by ALL!  Thanks, Charlie and Kristina!

Blue appears to be the favorite color of the day - or maybe we ended up with more blue/purple colors when Cayden decided to MIX the colors by pouring them together.

Funny Stuff

Yesterday was a fun family, lazy day.  We stayed home, watched conference, and just spent time together.  Around dinner time, Conner paused, looked at me and said, very confused, "mom, why are you in your pajamas still?"  He has recently started to get his own clothes out in the morning and get dressed ALL BY HIMSELF!  It is so exciting - even if he does not match at all, is wearing shorts in the snow, and breaks the hangers trying to pull his shirts down from the top closet rod.  He is so proud of himself!  Now, we just need to move his clothes so he can reach them without breaking the hangers.

This morning, I had an extra 20 minutes when I realized it was NOT my day to pick up Conner form preschool.  So, I took a shower, and blew my hair dry.  This may not seem like a big deal, but it is for me.  If I do not get out of bed at 5:30/6:00, and get a shower BEFORE my kids wake up, it just might not happen that day.  Anyway, after I finished getting ready, Cayden looked at me and was very quiet for a few seconds, and then said, "mom, you are gorgeously pretty!"  I just about cried.  Then a few seconds later, "are you finished getting pretty?  I want to go to Charlie's house, now."

Crazy Hair Contest

I think Conner loves to wear this wig to try and compete with Allison's CRAZY hair!  :)

Thank You!

More birthday presents arrived in the mail, and Allison loves them!  If you cannot tell, she is holding Daisy Duck by her teeth, her new Minnie pjs in one hand, and her new shaker toy in the other hand.  She would not put anything down!  Thanks, Kim, Brian & Austin!

Messy, Messy Treat

...and THAT, is how you put away a drumstick! 

Another Denver Trip

Last week was Spring Break, and we spent a few days in Denver to visit Children's Hospital for some appointments for Conner.  As usual, he does not want to go, and says that he will IF we can go to Chuck E Cheese after.  How could I say no?  He had FOUR different appointments, and was such a trooper.  We need to find another place in Denver that Conner will think is a treat....any suggestions?

Keir was not able to come this time, but we were so lucky to have my niece Natalie with us.  I couldn't have done it without her.  Thank you, Natalie!

Please notice Allison's hair in this picture.  Yes, her hair is standing on end, and it is like this every day.  I can get a small amount in the little clip to keep the front down and out of her eyes, but the back is ALWAYS standing up.  Too funny!

The outcome of all Conner's appointments on Thursday was mixed.  Conner needs two (totally unrelated) surgeries that we will schedule once school is out.  Although it is more surgery, more doctors, more time in the hospital, and will mean at least eight weeks without hearing aids (Super Ears), they may do both at the same time - which might make it a little easier.  (If that's possible.)  Again, poor kid!  I am grateful for him, his strength, and his absolutely joyous personality.  I learn so much from him!  He just keeps going, and never asks why.  His last appointment on Thursday was with Jackie, his audiologist, and Conner loves Jackie.  He couldn't wait to see her and play the "games" in the sound booth - which is how they check his hearing, and hearing aids.  Conner's hearing tested the same - which is great!  Jackie also made new ear molds due to a "not great" fit last time, and trying a new material that ended up annoying Conner.  He requested yellow Super Ears, because he remembered the yellow pair (two visits ago) that fit great.  Such a smart kid.  He cannot wait for his new Yellow Super Ears to arrive.  I was glad this was the last appointment of the day, and we ended on a happy note.