Play Set

My sweet sister-in-law has been asking to see pictures of the play set we got for our backyard after reading Shane's Facebook status a few weeks. I've been absolutely terrible about posting anything on our blog. I will honestly say that it has been a harder adjustment going from 2 kids to 3. Anyway, back to the play set. Just last weekend Shane finished putting it up do to them not sending us all the parts and them having to place the order again because we never received it. We have a big, boring backyard and I wanted something for my boys to play with and on. Dollar Store toys just weren't cutting it for them and I just can't always pack up everything and head to the park; for me it just becomes too overwhelming. I wanted them to play more outside and they weren't because they were quickly getting bored with what we had. So my wonderful parents, who understood what I was feeling and needing for myself and for my boys, went in half with us! The boys have been LOVING it! They wake up in the morning and go right out to play on it, jammies and all! It's great, I get to sleep in, but not sure how much my neighbors are liking it.

 Construction

stage 1: The Fort & Slide

(all we could get built since a whole box of parts was missing)

stage 2: Completion

Kindergarten Class of 2012!



4/2006



Starting PreK 9/2010

  

Starting Kindergarten 8/2011




I can't believe we've made it through our first year of school (minus preschool)!! It seems not that long ago that I was sending him off to Kindergarten and thinking "WOW he's already old enough to go to Kindergarten!" and now the year is over and I have a 1st grader!! They started off the slide show presentation with a graphic saying Kindergarten class of 2012 Class of 2024! I can't, at this moment, phatom 2024 and Corin graduating High School! It just seems crazy to me! But then again, I bet I felt that way when he was born, couldn't imagine him starting school and now look, we are done with Kindergarten!

Corin has had his ups and downs in Kindergarten, mainly with his behavior, but through it all he has come so far, in his behavior, and also academically. I was talking to my brother Adam Sunday on Skype and was showing him Corin's papers from the beginning of the year til now and looking at the amazing progress he has made in writing; handwriting, sounding out words to spell them.
While I was Skyping Corin read to Adam a few verses of the Book of Mormon! He reading is amazing! He is already at a 2nd grade reading level! He started school not knowing how to read and now he's reading at a 2nd grade level?!?! I'm so amazed and proud of him and his accomplishments! He really has soaked up learning like a sponge and ran with it! He has had an amazing Kindergarten teacher who has been firm, but so caring with him. I am truly grateful to Mrs. Kropf for the effort and care she has put into Corin to teach him and not just the academics! She comments constantly how smart he is, but not just that she sees the goodness and sweetness that is inside of him and doesn't focus on his crazy behavior, but helps him through it and works with him on fine tuning the behavioral skills necessary to be successful at school in years to come. She's moving on to 1st grade next year and I have put in my request for him to have her again next year. I really think it will be good for him to have her again so that he can continue to be successful, but also to give him a good foundation for him to keep being successful as he moves up and will eventually be getting new teachers.

The principal at Lukas is leaving this year, Mr. Fugita, who was offered a position at the district. I'm not surprised he recieved this job. He has been a great principal and I've only known him one year. Yes, Corin has visited his office and had to talk to him on a few occasions and each time, just like Mrs. Kropf he's been firm, but caring in teaching Corin and talking with him.



Toddler "Naughty" Words

A while ago I posted here videos of Declan saying things that sounded like he was cursing. Well, here is another one. It makes me laugh to hear toddlers talk and words coming out to sound like curse words. Austin LOVES it and always asks Declan to say these things and likes to show it off to his friends.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Today we decided to do some decorating for Christmas. I used to decorate for all of the holidays, then some fell off the wayside (like Easter) and even this year I didn't decorate for Autumn/Halloween even though I love my scarecrows, but Christmas will NEVER go without decorating. I LOVE decorating for Christmas!

I realized this year that I don't have many ornaments that are condusive for young children, but we made do with what I had and they boys enjoyed helping decorate the tree.

Wherever Corin put an ornament Declan wanted to put his in the exact same place. So we had bunches around the tree. Shane asked me if I was going to re-arrange the tree after they were finished and I said No. I have realized to let go and not have it be so perfect and that it is fun to look at the tree and know that my boys did the decorating of it. So the top half was mine and the bottom half was theirs.

This year Declan got to put the star on top of the tree, which he was thoroughly excited about. We had to explain to Corin that he has been able to do it the past few years and now Declan is old enough that he gets to have a turn.

Well, we had to have a little help from Daddy.

He Said WHAT?!?!?

I think on of the fun and definitely funniest things with children is listening to them learn how to talk epecially the way the come out sounding. When they are first learning it is so sweet and cute to listen to them say their first word (so far its been Dada) and as they get older to hear their vocabulary grow. And then it comes to when they can speak but words don't sound exactly as they should, so you have to be a translater and then some come out sounding like naughty words. Declan is 2yrs 9months it makes me just laugh to listen to him! So here are my favorite funny speaking moments!

10/26/2011

Who Does He Look Like?

This is an age old question. Whether it's your first child and they are asking which parent/side of the family he looks like or when you have more which sibling he looks like. I am getting the latter question recently. At first I thought he looked like Corin because I found this picture of Corin.

 Corin approx. 1.5-2months

Teagan 7days

Both of his legs are in one leg hole of his pjs. Him being so small and I only have 3month size pjs he would always get his legs in one leg hole since most of the time they were scrunched up.

But then I saw this picture I took of Teagan at 5days.

 And thought of this picture of Declan at approx. 1.5months

Well, at least we know what family be belongs to since he looks similar to both of his brothers. We'll see who he looks more like as he gets older.

They all sleep similar as well

Corin approx. 2months

Declan approx. almost 1months



Teagan at Thanksgiving (11/24/11)

Teagan a little over 1month 

 T



1 month

I can't believe it has been a month since the birth of Teagan! I sit with him in my arms, gazing at him and it just feels right that he is in our family. I am grateful for the Lord's inspirations and promptings, even though I feel stressed about having 3 kiddos and making sure their needs are met. I have wonderful family who are so helpful and supportive. Last December I had this overwhelming prompting that we were suppose to have another baby and that it was going to be another boy. I put off telling Shane because, to be honest, at that time, I didn't want it to be true. My thoughts kept going to money and how we were going to provide for another child and also deal with the bills that would come with having a baby. I finally told Shane and he was supportive, saying "If that is what the Lord told you then we need to follow through" I still had him pray about it and he got the answer that the prompting that I had been giving was true. We got pregnant quickly! The Lord knows us SO well and knew that if I didn't get pregnant right away that I would stop trying.

Teagan's Stats

Height: 20 1/4inches (5%)

Weight: 7lbs. 2oz (5%)

Head: 13 3/4inches (2%)