Back To School

Well they are back at it! 

 

Aubrie went to 2nd grade.  Here is what I've basically gotten out of her since she started..."Mom everyone knows it's impossible to make new friends in 2nd grade."  Really?  I did not know this.  But apparently it is so.  She's already requesting a cell phone and Ipad Touch - apparently some other 7 year olds have them already.  Seriously people - my mind is blown.  Not gonna happen Aubrie, not gonna happen!  She's again a top notch student that is brown nosing her teacher daily - it's how she rolls and she's quite good at it!

Everett is repeating Kindergarten.  Why?  Because he just turned 6 August 16th.  There are many reasons, but last year he was one of the smallest, he struggled with maturity, attention span, and impulses.  I feel like he really, really grew up and changed so much since March to now.  So this year he's going in as the big dog.  If I say he's one of the biggest he gets mad - he IS NOT the biggest, he's just bigger than some of the kids.  His teacher sent a note and said she already cried this year over his progress & that he is her go to guy!  Yep I'd say repeating kindergarten is most likely the best move ever for our little dude.  When I ask him about his day - he remembers nothing - literally nothing other than it was good & he liked lunch and recess.  

When you turn 16...

Call me what you will, but the truth is I love to harass my kids!  I got it honest from my Dad!  So the other night we had a conversation about cars.  I informed Aubrie at 16 she would get an old Buick Lesabre and Everett would get a minivan because when I was 16 in 1998 I scored a 1976 Yellow Ford Gran Torino - it's only fair they receive similar gifts right?!!  Everett bawled - why?  Because he wants a big van!  Can you say pedi van much?!  

A Real Stay At Home Mom

Let's be real for a second here - and some Moms out there may gasp in shock when I say this, but as a stay at home Mom - I can't wait to see book bags on these two again and a big bus pulling up my drive daily!

(2012)

Don't get me wrong - we have had an awesome summer together!

(2012)

But I'm ready for routine & ready for these two to go get their learn on!

(2012)

Ollie will still be with me 24/7 except when she goes to her preschool for early intervention - then you can find me at a Panera or Starbucks blissfully enjoying a coffee and some Internet time in peace & quiet and occasionally shopping the aisles of TJ Maxx and Target looking at whatever I want for however long I want!!  Whooooo baby! 14 days - but who is counting?!? 

My Girls

I'm not sure how I did it, but when Jade and I made babies I some how created two little mini mes and I love it!  Enjoy!

Ollie at 2 1/2 - doesn't her scar look amazing - I think it does!  It's so faint you hardly see it now!

Aubrie at 7 1/2 - new hot pink glasses ready for 2nd grade - yes 2nd stinking grade - time goes so fast!!

 

Throwback Tuesday - say what?!

I'm breaking the rules and doing Throwback Tuesday because I like it and I do what I want.

So I'm going to share with you my first blog ever!  

Here is what I wrote about the fabulous Aubrie Grace that is now 7 1/2 years old...

at the time this all went down she was going on 4...and clearly she was pretty kick A back then too!

"So to get down to it - you want some funny today? Well here is the scoop. I have 2 kids that are named Aubrie & Everett. Yes they have old people's names, but that's because we ADORED our grandparents and spread the love to our kids. Aubrie is almost 4 and Everett recently turned 2. Well this summer when Aubrie was 3 1/2 she had a good one. I seriously mean it was hilarious! I actually keep a notebook to write down these funny kid moments so I can't forget them b/c I will forget - it happens already!

Well here's the story. Jade was being outrageous about something. So when he went outside to grill our dinner I said Aubrie your Daddy is a ridiculous man & thought nothing of it. I then went in our bedroom to put away laundry when Jade comes in all worked up. He said what did you tell your daughter about me? Well this had been about 10 minutes later so I have no idea what he's talking about. Apparently when he came in the house from outside, Aubrie stated - Daddy you are a dickless man! Talk about mispronounciation! PRICELESS! I couldn't have planned it better! To this day it's one of the funniest most shocking things she has ever said. I think that is why we had kids - to make us laugh and share our stories with others!"

Still by far my favorite story & my favorite come back to him in times where I want to make him laugh!

A Grown Up Pad

This past weekend Maggie, Kylie, Caroline, & Penelope moved into their new house through the woods.  In the move, Aubrie landed Maggie & Kylie's old bedroom - it's huge!

She couldn't be more thrilled!

Everett goes on and on and on every time he comes down about how beautiful it is, how much work I put into it for Aubrie, and then tries to sleep with Aubrie.

Every time she gets so mad that he's in her room & kicks him out.  She proceeded to make a sign that says "No Boys Allowed.  An image of a boy crossed out, with a small footnote - Dad Yes!"  Hilarious!

It's a work in progress, but overall I'm pretty pleased with the look!  It seems so grown up like a Tween - how did that happen?  She's only 7!

My next job is to paint the dresser I think pink her favorite color.  I know people are out there cringing, but as always - I don't like wood - so it's getting painted!

Stay tuned - the other bedroom is becoming a fitness room & Everett's room is *almost* done!

Reid Dynasty

Our Christmas was hilarious.  My kids have fallen in love with every ridiculous show on TV - Duck Dynasty, Gator Boys, Swamp People, Rattlesnake Republic.

 

Their Christmas list was as follows...camo clothes, camo boots, camo gloves, red ryder BB gun, live animal trap...and the list goes on.

 

Their wish was fulfilled - check them out - pretty sweet hunters right!

 

Full on sniper pose.

 

Jason Bourne as a boy.

 

And no worries - the BB gun has a padlock and the keys & BBs are kept hidden away so they are only allowed to shoot with adult supervision & safety glasses.

 

And my sweeties - they were on the nice list too (although Jade was on the fence - Santa said he was naughty for peeing in the shower)

 

Ollie Updates

Ollie is pretty well famous - in fact google "Down Syndrome Tattoo" & go to the images - you find her all over those pages - hilarious - yes!

 

Girlfriend is 21 months old now and a light in our lives.  Her smile brightens any room and she smiles a lot!

 

 

Her vocabulary has taken off.  I have a word list because she says so many!  Communication was always my biggest fear with her, but so far she's coming along!  Her favorite words are:  Daddy, Everett, Aubrie, bye bye, oht oh, doggy, kitty cat, up/down, baba for her bottle, and most recently no.  Please take note she does not say Mama.  She's rotten.

 

Girlfriend is still working on her gross motor skills.  She climbs like crazy, she cruises furniture & walls, and LOVES her walkers.  She isn't walking independently but we think by Christmas she will have it.  That is VERY exciting!!

 

She was recently blessed with a gift from a kind neighbor - she received an IPAD and she's in love with it.  We're focusing on fine motor skills like using her pointer finger, she loves the pages that have animals & make animal sounds like traditional flash cards.  She also loves the books because the autoread books make lots of sounds & have action to them.  This is by no means a way to replace other therapies, but it's a huge tool for her & we are incredibly thankful for it!

 

 

And one last update - this is the kids for Halloween - I'm a bit late with sharing, but alas I'm terrible at updating the blog!  Everett was a skunk, Aubrie a raccoon, and Ollie an owl.  Ollie fell asleep on the way to town so not one person saw the cuteness she was exuding!

 

 

 

 

Science Lessons...

Yesterday I received a mid-day email from Aubrie's teacher & I thought oh boy.

And I was right to think oh boy.

Apparently they had a science lesson where they discussed opposites such as push/pull.  They had to do a drawing rendering how this works. 

See exhibit A:

Yes that would be my sister Abbie PUSHING out baby Clifford.  And see the yellow bag - that's her pee bag - yep Aubrie expects Abbie to need a cathedar.  At least it was a sunny day in her hospital room.

Exhibit B:

I didn't scan it but it's PULLING out Ruby's (no not grandman Ruby but the cat Ruby) kittens.

I'm pretty sure her teacher had not expected the obstetrics & gynecology lesson to take place.

To further this conversation I asked Aubrie if she knew how babies got out because I have carefully & decisively avoided this topic with distraction in the past.  Her answer "Well duh Mommy through your belly.  Don't you know?  You've had 3 babies."

I had to fess up that it was not the true answer - so beware softball participants she knows now & will most likely do a public announcement at the next game even though we discussed it being a private discussion.  We shall see.

Oh and you're welcome - this was hilarious I know.

The Chronicles of Aubrie & Everett

The bigs went on an adventure this week with my camera...welcome to life through their eyes.  They took the pictures, I will chronicle it for them...

Shadows are still mysterious - thanks to Peter Pan.

Max the rabbit can't be trusted - he has red eyes - never trust people with red eyes.

When you venture out to the limits of where you are allowed to go in the yard without leaving the yard, the sky is truly bluer on the other side.

and the house looks better this far away...

The yard seems enormous when you are under 4' tall.

Your brother is your very best friend, even if he's on your purple bike.

Always, always, always, document the wasps' nests because you never know when they will do a surprise attack on you.

Overfeed your cats & put them in the choke hold if they do not obey.

Every legendary day includes a glamour shot of yourself!

*Sidenote - ha look at how strong her glasses are here!!*

Stay out of the woods it's a rule - so just photograph them instead.

You gotta admit girlfriend has good perspective here.

Our favorite flowers!  Too bad they didn't pick them for their Mom.

I spared you the hundreds of blurry random photos.  To be honest I'm quite shocked no one mooned the camera in this set - must be a new record for them!

Cats...

When Aubrie was 2 1/2 I brought home a kitten to her. 

This kitten was COVERED in fleas and just in terrible shape.  So I gave him a bath, fed him, cleaned him up, and named in Carl.

Within 2 days, Carl was on his death bed.  He was seriously a hot mess & yes he died & no one wants to know that story...  So we told Aubrie what any parent would - he went to live in the woods.

Yes - we lie to our kids.  Who doesn't?

Aubrie has never, ever, forgotten about Carl.  Her memory is like a steel trap.

This spring a yellow and white cat started prowling around our house because my Dad gave us, yes that's right, count it 3 cats in addition to our other 2 - so we have 5 outdoor cats!  Ruby (conveniently named by my kids the same as my mother in law) is not fixed.  So this man cat is in the market for a hot new feline.

And surprise - magically the kids think Carl has resurfaced from the woods.  Aubrie is thrilled & the lie remains intact.

So - if anyone wants some kittens this spring - this chick will probably have some from Carl, who has also been spotted on this seasons series of The Survivor - ha!

Six Years

It goes by in the blink of an eye.

You bring home the most adorable bundle of joy that smells so sweet.

Before you know it she has teeth and sits in a big girl car seat.

Another year is gone, she is a big sister to one and sports her own set of glasses.

Then, she's 3 years old and she seems so grown up!

At four she's in preschool and such a big girl.

Then she turns five and she becomes a big sister again, and is such a big helper.

She has experienced a lot!  Kindergarten all day, new friends, the school bus.  Every year she grows and changes - here is to six - may it be the best year yet!

We love you Aubrie Grace!!