Overheard

Benny (4-yrs-old): "Andy, you do [should] not move your legs when I change your diaper."

Benny has now changed two of Andy's soggy diapers on his own and he loves it!

small update in pictures

The last weekend in August we had a good time with Spencer around. He had worked some weekends that month and it was nice to have him around. That Friday we drove up to Bartlesville (about 45 min away) to go to the Kiddie Park. It's a bunch of carnival rides for kids up to age 10. Most rides are a 25 cent ticket, some are two. Adults get in free. We met up with a couple of other med school families - one in our ward and the other in the stake - and had a great time watching the kids have a ball! It was the latest we've stayed out in quite a while, but it was definitely worth it. Benny and Andy are definitely about cautious fun. Lilia was confined to the stroller the whole time, but she did well. We really didn't do all that many rides, but the kids thoroughly enjoyed it - particularly the train ride at the end - complete with tunnel that Benny still mentions ever once-in-a-while.

First Spencer took the boys to ride the "horsies" on the carousel. They were a little scared.

They loved the airplane ride! Unfortunately Benny wasn't able to pull back hard enough on the lever to lift them up. They still had a great time, though.

Lilia enjoyed watching.

One of their favorite rides (they went twice) was this horse and carriage ride. It just went around in a small circle. Very tame, but right up their alley.

Spencer with Lilia on the train. We all had a great time!

The next day we went for a short walk on the river walk after enjoying some good frozen yogurt (you get the cup, pick your own yogurt from a large variety and put in any number of mix-ins and pay for the weight). The kids really enjoyed the frozen yogurt and the walk. They loved seeing the bears!

Yes, Andy is wearing a cape!
I'll put up more pictures of the capes I made for the boys some day. They both really enjoy them, but Andy especially. He wears his often to the store and anywhere else we go!
If you ask him who he is he answers, "I am Pince Phi-yip!"
He also loves Sleeping Beauty. :)

Pre-K and Reading Lessons

Here in Oklahoma they have what's called Pre-K. I don't remember knowing about anything like it in Utah, but I didn't have any kids that age at the time. It's basically just another year of kindergarten. Just a year earlier. What I came to find out, though, is that almost all of the programs in our area are a full school-day M-F. Honestly, it seems absurd to be to send a 4-year-old to school all day, every day. I think I am the only one I know who is not putting their 4-year-old in. I don't regret it. Benny has a lot of years of school ahead of him. Spencer's still in school, so I don't feel bad about keeping Benny out right now. It's a good decision for us. We've been doing something else instead.

A while back my sister told me about a book she has used to teach some (I'm not sure how many) of her kids to read. Back in July at my family reunion my sister-in-law told me about the same book. It turns out she had originally told my sister about it. It's called Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. You can get it from Amazon for $15. Not bad at all.

image from here.

I am really enjoying it and Benny does well with it. He's already starting to read some words. I really like the system as it seems really effective. Benny already knew all of his letters and their sounds so it hasn't been a hard transition for him. I really recommend this to anyone with a kid/kids ages 3-5. If you do get it, be sure to read the whole introduction. It's quite long, but it gives good background on the system and information on how to conduct the lessons. I don't think I'm one of those parents that things their kid/s needs to be reading before kindergarten, but if they're showing signs of being ready (knowing all letters and sounds), I say go for it. Benny has been ready for something more for a while and I'm really glad I'm doing this with him. It works out really well that Andy and Lilia usually take naps at the same time in the afternoon and I can take 15-20 minutes (that's really how long they take!) with Benny after he has a little quiet time. And it's very rewarding to see him learning more things.

I wrote the above a while ago and we've since amended things. I started doing lessons in the morning and now we've slowed things down a bit, but I'm still a believer in the system. I'm trying to take things at a better pace for Benny to make sure it's a pleasant experience for him. I want him to love reading like Spencer and I do.

I've also got a good routine to help him with his counting. I got the idea from my friend Kira. I picked up a big wipe-off calendar from a school supply store that we have close to us (I love those places). Every morning Benny will count to the date and will put up a picture that shows the day's weather. He started getting better at counting right away. That's been fun to see.

The thing is, I do believe it.

I had a really good productive morning today. It's been way too long since we've been to the library, so because of that (and the fact that I had three books being held for me) we went this morning. Story time day is Tuesday so we just picked out some stories and read a few there together. As much as I like going to story time, I really like going on different days because we don't have to deal with anybody else in the kid section. It's definitely more relaxing!

After the library we ran to see some friends who are moving back to Utah tomorrow (and to drop off toys that we still had in our car since our road trip to Utah) followed by a quick trip to the bank, then to the fabric store (where Andy ended up tipping over the cart - with Lilia buckled inside it, don't worry, she's okay), and then a totally unplanned trip to pick up a big calendar to use with the kids because they were doing so well and I thought, "Why not?"

I was quite pleased with how the morning went. For some time now I've been describing myself as "quite mobile" with the kids. We do all sorts of stuff. This morning was great.

When we got home I unloaded the kids and started on library books. I went to the back of the car to get the books I had put in the stroller bag when leaving the library. But the stroller wasn't there. I immediately realized I had left it in the parking lot of the library right next to where I had parked the van. I wasn't so much worried about not having the stroller, but I really didn't want to have to pay to replace the books (especially because I would have hated to pay for the books and not have been able to keep them - when they're books I really like). I hurried to get the kids in the van - the boys were great and ran right away to get in - in their socked feet and went on my way. Praying the whole time that I would find it in the parking lot. I didn't want to have to go inside to see if someone had turned it in because that would mean I'd have to leave the kids in the car when it's way too hot outside or bring them all in again. Without shoes.

Thankfully, as I turned into the parking lot I saw small black wheels from underneath a car. Someone had at least moved it out of the parking spot itself. I was so grateful - and made sure to pray that, too.

I know there are some who don't believe in pregnancy dementia, but I think I will always be a firm believer. I'm just so grateful I didn't leave Lilia buckled in! Although I'm sure I would have noticed much more quickly that I had forgotten something. I'll keep believing that, anyway.

Looking back on it, it's not that big a deal, but it sure made for an interesting morning!



On a completely unrelated note:
I thought I'd share that the only ice cream I have found that does not have high fructose corn syrup is Blue Bunny.
If you haven't heard, despite what the commercials tell you, I learned on the history channel that high fructose corn syrup inhibits something in your brain so you don't know when you're full, thereby causing you to eat more. I know ice cream isn't the best anyway, but at least I've found one that's better.
Unfortunately (for me), this does not mean I will not enjoy other kinds of ice cream occasionally.

thing 4

coming February 2011

*confused? see here.

Lilia turns 1 and other goings on

in no particular order: Lilia turns 1 (Birthday "party" on the actual day, dinner on the following Sunday), trip to the aquarium, and playing around the house.

Video of the birthday party.

Can you tell these two are siblings?

Conversation

While grocery shopping this morning I had an older lady approach me and ask: "I know this is none of my business, but are those all your kids?" Of course, I said they were and she said, "I don't know how you do it." After a little chitchat, she ended with saying: "The pope must be very happy with you," to which I responded with a smile and not with: "No doubt he would be if we weren't mormon!"

Overheard

Benny had picked out a T-shirt and some shorts for Andy to wear.

Andy [walking into their room after getting dressed]: Look at that me!

Benny: Those clothes look great on you!

By the way, we love the way Andy says "look at me!"

The end result:

5 years

taken July 2009
my hair is longer and Spencer's sideburns are gone, otherwise, we're pretty much the same

We had a really fun time on a date tonight. (thanks, Lynsie!)
Who knew Home Depot could be so much fun.
I'm serious. It was great. As was dinner beforehand.

It's been a wonderful five years.

Overheard

Benny: Where is Daddy going?
Me: He's going to help some people.
Benny: Daddy's going on a fire truck?

Overheard

Benny: Andy, will you talk to me?
Andy: Hey-o! (Hello)

Benny the Green Truck

This afternoon I had Benny come up with a story for me to write into a little book for him.
Here is what he came up with:

Benny the Green Truck
by Benny Cotterell

One day Benny the green truck was playing at his friend's house. Benny's friend was Mimi. Mimi was a pink truck. Benny and Mimi were sharing a toy truck with each other. The truck they were playing with had a trailer that could come off.

After Mimi the pink truck and Benny the green truck were done playing with the truck with a trailer, they played with some different toys. They were playing with some different trucks. And then they played with some cars.

When Benny and Mimi the trucks were done playing with toys, they wanted to go outside to play. Benny and Mimi liked to race each other. Sometimes they would trip and they would laugh. They had so much fun together.

Then it was time to go back inside. Mimi said, "Yes, it is time to go back inside." They went inside so the bugs, the ants, the birds, and the airplanes could not get inside. Those things need to stay outside. And Benny closed the door.

When they went inside, they raced and they tripped, and they laughed again.
Benny and Mimi found more toys to play with.

They found some airplanes to play with. They were toy airplanes. But not real ones. Real ones are not for people -- or trucks -- to play with.

After Benny and Mimi were trucks, they were trains!
Then they played with airplanes and then they went outside once more. And they raced and they tripped and they laughed. And there were tracks to play on. But they were pretend ones.

Then they went inside and after they were trains, they were airplanes.
Then they went outside and they raced and they tripped and they laughed.

Then they went inside and after they were airplanes, they were cars.
Then they went outside and they raced and they tripped and they laughed.

Then they went back inside and Benny and Mimi were a boy and a girl!
And they went outside and they ran and they tripped and they laughed!

The End

You may have seen this before. I saw it for the first time this evening and thought it was funny enough to share. I'm sure it's telling that at the end I had some tears in my eyes. No I did not cry, the end just made me really happy. Anyone want to babysit?! :)

You can go here for more funny videos by Anita Renfroe. I remember her "William Tell Momisms" being sent around a few years ago. If you have some time check them out. If not, just watch the above. I don't think you'll be sorry.

Overheard

Benny: "Singing and dancing and clapping is not playing."

I always tell the boys "No playing" when I put them to bed. They were making a whole lot of noise tonight and when I went in there to see what was going on, I got the above information.

Azalea Festival

Last Monday we went out to Muskogee (about 45 minutes away) with some friends from school and church for the Azalea Festival. I'm grateful to have gotten such great pictures of each of the kids. These will update our 8x10 wall! We had a great time with friends looking at the flowers and playing at the park there. We will definitely have to go out again - if not before, next April for sure! I love finding out about these fun things to do in this area. In our years left I hope to find out much more!

Overheard

Benny: Mom, sometimes boys pick their noses.

....................................................................................................

Me: Benny, you wet your pants!
Benny: They are shorts.

....................................................................................................

Benny: But Mom, I don't think we want to go home!

"Come as you are" photo tag

Alright, Jamie, I don't usually do tags, but since my children are working to cure me of pride, I thought I might as well. :)

kitchen sink:



refrigerator:
I went shopping yesterday for lots of fruits and vegetables.


I just wanted you to see the matching outside.
"Matching, matching! Teal squared!"



Favorite Shoes:
Funny, they're both Dansko's.
Incredibly comfortable and worth the investment.



Favorite room:
The living room. We're not in here all that often except for puzzles, going to the back yard, and home teachers. I'm liking it more because it has a ceiling fan (and it's been getting hot these days!) and because the wood-paneled walls were making me feel nostalgic. My grandparents' basement in Provo (where I lived for 6 of my 7 years in Provo) has beautiful wood-paneled walls.



Laundry room:



Bathroom:



Closet:
Lilia sleeps in here during the day. That's why the door's closed.



What my kids are doing right now:
Benny's in quiet time (usually reading stories to his animals - today he transferred all the stickers from his shirt to his shoes and dresser drawer - you can see them in the background) and the other two are sleeping.



Self-portrait:

If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged (but only if you want to!).