Masters of Disguise

Nani (my Aunt Cindy) gave the kids goody bags for Christmas filled with awesome toys!! The kids have had the best time with all of it and the toys are Dollar Tree grade which is even better!! It proves that I don't need to spend a lot on toys, I can just go to the Dollar Tree and they will think it's wonderful!! Thanks, Nani, for giving us such fun stuff!!

Getting ready for a nap?

In true AP fashion, she is happily
posing for the pic as if to say, "I
am not ashamed!"

Our precious daughter, Ann Phelps, has acquired a NASTY habit. For the last two months, Ann Phelps has decided that it would be fun to dig in her dirty (poo poo) diapers and "paint" with the contents. This is a gross subject, but I want to document it so one day I can blackmail her with it (just kidding)! I have tried everything from footed pj's, onesies, overalls, etc... - nothing has kept her from getting her hands in her diaper! I have a friend who is going through this and she suggested using tape. At first this sounded a little like child abuse, but until you have had to clean up a crib for the 12th time after the "mess" then you get desperate!! So far the tape has stopped her - except when I don't put enough on, then she gets in there! I am really hoping this stage (that my boys NEVER went through) will end very, very soon!!! I am tired of having to use my hazmat kit every time she wakes up from her naps!!!! (when Ben and Will see me getting the clorox clean-up wipes and turning on the bath tub water, they automatically say, "Did AP play in her diaper?")!!

G-free ain't cheap!!

In the picture above is all the gluten free food I got for $68!! This will only last me maybe 3 meals for the boys (not counting the snacks, of course)!!!!! I will need to get a "real" job just to pay for gluten free food!!

Party Weekend

AP was not scared to visit with
the real fireman

going down the fire pole

Ben going down the pole

Will's turn to slide down the pole

Looking at the first "fire truck" - a wagon pulled

by horses!

eating our gluten free cupcakes

The blue wand - he loves it!

This weekend the kids had two birthday parties to go to. We all went to Sam Springfield's party at the Fire Museum then Ben and AP went to a party for one of Ben's classmates. Of course the fire museum was a hit with the boys. We even had some excitement - the firemen had to leave on an emergency call while we were there!! There was a woman who explained everything including fire safety. I didn't think the boys were really paying attention, but Ben informed me this morning when he saw the "smoke" from the humidifier that we should get on the floor and roll out of the house and don't worry about Otis because he will get out by himself!! The birthday party Ben was invited to was a "princess" party. Ann Phelps made herself at home. She pushed her way into the crowd of girls to meet the "real" Cinderella then she "helped" the birthday girl blow out her candles!! As we were leaving, Ben was crying because he didn't want to leave- the birthday Mom gave him his party favor fit for a PRINCE (a sword) but he wanted the blue magic PRINCESS wand instead!! By the time we got home we were partied out!!

A Memory

Right after we got Otis, I took a picture of Ann Phelps trying to get Otis to go to sleep. It made me think of a picture my Mom had of me when I was a little girl sleeping with a puppy. Every time we are at my parents' house, my Daddy tells me how much Ann Phelps reminds him of me. She loves animals and isn't scared of them. I can't wait to teach her to ride horses!

Otis 10weeks

almost 9 weeks old



almost 9 weeks old

10 weeks

He's not spoiled!!

He can climb over gates!

It's like I am keeping up with a child's weekly progress! I guess our dogs will always be considered our furry children! Otis is growing like a weed - the super fast kind! In one week he went from 13lbs. to 16lbs. - ONE week!! Just like when your baby goes from the happy-sitting-in-one-spot to the I-have-to-move-everywhere stage, Otis is no longer happy lounging around napping in the kitchen! He has to be in the middle of whatever the kids are doing. I am a nervous wreck because I am so scared he is going to swallow a toy/silly band/etc.. and get sick! The boys don't care for Otis at this stage because he bites them - in other words, he plays too rough for them! But Ann Phelps doesn't mind. She loves the puppy, "Dotis" (that is what she calls him)! If she could only figure out a way to get him to be still and sit next to her so she can put a blanket on him, their play dates would be more enjoyable (for her)!! It has been 10 years since I have had to deal with the puppy stage - at that time, I had never had children - I didn't realize how having a new puppy is like having a newborn!! We are enjoying it, though!

A Holiday Tree

I am trying something in 2011 that I have wanted to do for years. I am having a "holiday" tree in my house. We put up a white Christmas tree this year because I wanted a "kid tree"! I have always wanted to decorate a tree for each holiday. A white tree seems to be more workable! So these are pictures of the Valentine's Day tree!!

Muffins with Mom

This week Will's class is studying the letter "M". Today we had Muffins with Mom! I made (with the help of my sweet husband, the real cook!) gluten free cinnamon/sugar breakfast muffins!! They were so good to be g-free!!

Snow Day??

The muffins (in my defense, Rhyne filled the
pan way to full with dough)!!


Building a construction site

watching Toy Story 3

Styling Mom's hair

The kids had a snow day yesterday without snow! We didn't get any snow, just ice. Will was so disappointed when he woke up yesterday morning! We stayed inside ALL DAY Sunday and Monday due to the road conditions. This was fun until the 20th hour of togetherness, then things got hairy! We filled our time with movies, building construction sites, playing barber shop, "camping" in tents, and having indoor picnics. I also found time to bake gluten free chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and muffins!! I do feel blessed I get to be at home with my kids, but I do like the option of sending them outside!!

The First Week of 2011

Some pics of this week:


Otis is growing like a weed


We decorated for the next holiday

Ann Phelps busted her lip on New Year's Day-

we almost had to make a trip to the ER, but

got advice from Amanda that saved us that

8 hour wait!!

I don't want to be negative, but I am sooooooo glad this week is OVER!! Between Ben disappearing and Ann Phelps digging in her dirty diapers and painting the walls 3 times this week - I am ready to call it quits!! Otis (our 8 week old puppy) has also decided to start climbing over the dog gate - that gave me a heart attack because when we came home Wednesday, I couldn't find him in the kitchen and the gate was still up. I had horrible visions of the kids "accidentally" letting him out the back door as we were loading up for school. Thankfully, I called his name and he came running from the living room!! I put him back in the kitchen and he showed me his new "trick" of climbing over the gate!! What a week!! I do have to say, I feel so very blessed to have all of this busy-ness, no really I do! God has given me so much to be thankful for! I am excited to see what 2011 will bring!!

Lightning

I have no pictures to document this but I have to post it for our scrapbook. I took all three outside to ride their 4-wheelers. I decided to take them around the block. The boys can go faster than AP so they know not to get out of our sight - they are supposed to stop and wait. Well, Ben decides today to take off and not look back!!! He disappeared. I had AP and Will was trying to stop Ben. I finally sent Will back to the house to get Rhyne - Rhyne got in his truck and went around the neighborhood to find Ben (aka "lightening") in some one's yard!! Thankfully we live in a small subdivision with lots of kids so it's not unusual to see kids playing therefore the cars are careful. BUT my heart stopped when Ben disappeared around the corner - I was completely helpless - I couldn't leave AP and chase after him!! And I really don't think Ben understands how dangerous his stunt was!! Will does, he kept saying, "I hope Daddy finds him, that is a big NO, NO!!"!!!! I can only imagine the posts that are to come!!