Body Art

This is what happens when mom tries to take a shower.  I guess I should just be grateful it was not the scissors...sigh.

Plane Ride

Keir made a sudden trip to California to visit his grandmother in the hospital, and the kids were all very upset that we could not join him.  They created their own plane, complete with snacks served by Cayden, pilot Conner, and a seatbelt for Allie so she cannot get up - and we all went for a trip of our own.

I am thrilled to report that Omie Grace is doing much better, is at home with Auntie Christa, and we cannot wait for the next plane ride when we can all see her!

Bad Hair Day

Allison is one rough sleeper!  She regularly wakes up with hair like this.

OK, fine, have some yogurt!

Allison has recently discovered that she can go in the fridge whenever she wants, and today she kept begging, whining, and crying for the yogurt.  After trying for hours to convince her that it was NOT yogurt, I gave in, and gave her a bowl of sour cream.  Yuck! 

Hopefully she will learn to trust Mom soon . . .

Clumsy or Crazy?

This ice pack has been used a lot within the last week.  Is our little Allison clumsy, or just plain crazy?!? 

She is definitely CRAZY!  On Monday, she tried to drive an old red tricycle down a very steep driveway, and I was worried about her for hours after she rolled the trike and collided with a car - without a helmet.  Later in the week, she fell down our stairs while trying to do a trick she has seen her brother do.  Full flight.  Hardwood stairs. Huge knot on her head.  Then a couple days later she was in the dining room watching the quirrels (squirrels) out the window.  I heard a crash.  I was in the next room, but from the scene I concluded that she was standing on a chair, leaned a little too far, and tipped it back landing on the floor with the chair beside her.  She is starting to remind me a little (or a lot) of a couple people.   I won't say any names Keir and Tiffany!

Season Complete

We are very proud of our dad who completed several (four, I think?) triathlons this year!  Due to our crazy schedules, and distances from the races, we did not make it to watch them all as we would have liked to.  So, for the last one of the season, we all went to cheer him on.  Keir left early, began the swim, switched to his bike, and we were waiting to see the transition from bike to run.  

 Giving the kids a quick five at the beginning of his run.

 Waiting at the finish line with our friends who were there watching their dad as well.

 Here he comes!

 Wait, what just happened?  Keir grabbed the boys from over the fence and let them run across the finish line with him!  They were thrilled!

We are so proud of our dad, especially since he gave up MANY of his training runs/swims/rides to spend time with us instead.  XOXO

This made me so happy . . .

 As I went downstairs to check on the kids in the playroom, I anticipated a giant mess of toys, which is usually the case, and a sign of some good fun times.  However, I found this, and my heart melted.  Cayden is becoming quite a good reader!  ( . . . and, even better, the playroom was spotless! :)

Big Man on Campus

Cayden started his last year of preschool today, and is now the oldest in his class.  His school is mixed ages (from 2.9 through almost 5), which I love.  Last year, Cayden looked up to the older boys a little too much, and would copy everything they did.  I realized then that we may need to help him develop his own ways, and desire to be a leader - without following the older "cool" kids.  Well, this is the year to do it.  With a November birthday, he is now the oldest in the class, and he is very excited about teaching the little ones how things are done at school.  It is going to be a great year!  (Allie, on the other hand, is very upset that she does not get to go to school yet!)

Pizza Party

Keir was in charge of this church activity, and did a fabulous job!  We had a gorgeous day, a beautiful yard (complete with trampoline, sport court, soccer field), and PLENTY of pizza! 

Cayden and Allie learned some new tricks on the tramp.

Great job Dad!

Apple Picking

In observance of Rosh Hashanah there was no school today,  so we met some friends, and went apple picking.  Growing up, I had never done this, but it is very popular out here on the east coast, and there are many different orchards.  This one seems to be the most popular to take kids.  There are goats, pigs, two different mazes, a hayride, and of course, tons of apples!

Notice, these pigs have three houses to choose from, one made of straw, one of sticks, and one of bricks.  Conner thought this was funny and waited to see which one they used, but they never went in.  Too many kids throwing food to rest!   

It was a little chilly, and Cayden refused to wear his windbreaker because it was "scratchy" so he wore Allie's pink fleece.....until one of the older boys asked why he was wearing pink.  Kids are cruel to each other.  He could've cared less until he was being teased.  Overall, he handled the situation well.

 

You can tell by the number of pictures that Allie stayed near me, and the boys went running.  The apples, doughnuts, and pie were all delicious!  We will definitely return, and next time I promised the boys they could go through the giant hedge maze - with dad, since I do not think Allie (or the stroller) would have made it.

Just in case . . .

Allison's new phrase, "just in case" is getting really worn out.  A few examples from a single morning....

Saving the baggie from her sandwich, just in case.

Leaving a couple books in her bed, just in case.

Putting her shoes on the wrong feet, just in case.

Wanting to take lambie in the car with us (even though he is not allowed to leave the house), just in case.

Filling her cup of milk to the tippy top, just in case.

Saving the pile of stems from her grapes, just in case.


....this reminds me that I never posted about her last phrase, "wrong side" which luckily has disappeared.  Imagine being told "wrong side" all day, while driving, making breakfast, getting dressed, fixing her hair, etc. Glad this one is gone.  :)

She made me do it!

Cayden ran over to me from the direction of the swingset crying, "Allie made me do it!". Before I could see him, I responded that his 2 year old little sister couldn't MAKE him do something. Then I saw him, completely soaked from peeing his pants. I couldn't help but laugh. "How could Allie possibly MAKE you pee your pants?" I asked him, while trying not to laugh, or get angry. He has been potty trained for over two years with no accidents - I have a right to get a little angry, right? He then explained that Allie sat on his tummy on the slide and bounced a little, and he peed. I laughed. Cayden was a little confused and told me that it was not funny! Still, I couldn't help but laugh, and Cayden started to laugh with me, although I am still not sure he understood why I was laughing. After going through three pregnancies, and having them kick me in the bladder, I agree with Cayden, Allie made him do it!

Alien Monkey

Cayden asked that I post this. One of 200 drawings he has done today, all of which have been different types of aliens. I have no idea where he even learned what an alien is?

Special Connection

Conner and I were at Children's Hospital last month to meet with his geneticist.  During the appointment our doctor asked us if we would like to exchange contact information with another family who has a child with Kabuki Syndrome.  Of course, we said yes!  Their little boy is only 2, and since every child is very different it is hard to compare them, but there are still many similarities.  We emailed a few times and then decided to meet and let the kids play at a park.  I still cannot believe that they live only 15 minutes away.

While watching the kids play I was reminded of Conner at two years old.  Still tube fed, barely started walking, and probably only 5 words.  Wow, time sure does fly!  Conner's geneticist is very happy with Conner's development, and says that he is by far the highest functioning child with Kabuki Syndrome she has ever seen!

Our new little friend does not have the hearing loss that Conner has, but he does have significant vision issues.  I am excited to keep in touch and share stories, and support eachother as our boys grow older.

Allie LOVED these little flowers.  She sat and spun all day.  She would find someone to spin her, and then try to get out and walk, usually falling over because she was soooo dizzy.  She was hysterical.

First Day of First Grade

Conner was so excited this morning to attend his first day of first grade!  He was dressed, finished his breakfast, packed his backpack (including packing his own snack!), made sure he had extra batteries for his Super Ears, and then had to wait for the rest of us.

Conner with his new teacher, who we are told is one of the most liked teachers in the whole school!?!?  So far, we agree!  She was great with the kids and parents this morning - and there were A LOT of parents!