OREOS....

So Maggie and Owen had their first encounter with OREO cookies and milk this past week. I showed them how you dunk it in the milk (my fav way to eat them)and Owen loved this. Maggie on the other hand prefered to eat hers as a sandwich, no milk....big surprise huh? As you can see, Owen enjoyed his dunking alot...he was covered from head to toe (literally) with OREO when he was done.














We had a nice surprise this week as Lisa, Terry, Allie, Liv and Wil stopped by on their way home from Nashville to visit. It was so good to see them and they were glad to get to see the kids and meet Miss Josie. I wish we lived close by as Allie and Liv would make perfect babysitters so I could get out and grocery shop alone!! Maggie and Owen had fun with them here and Maggie told me she loved Wil because he was so funny. Here is a cute picture of all the kids.







I had to take Josie to have an ultrasound of her hips on Friday because the doctors felt a small click at her 1 month check up. It's more than likley no big deal but one of those things they like to be sure for legal reasons on their part. Anyhow, I asked my friend Sheila if Maggie could come over and play with Issac while we went so I wouldn't have to take all 3 with me. I didn't trust to leave Owen as he is pretty wild and I am always scared he's going to break something or hurt someone if I am not there to keep him in check. Well, when I dropped Maggie off she convinced me she would be fine and to leave Owen as well. I finally agreed and Owen told me over and over "I promise I am ready to be a good boy, I will not hit, I promise I will be good." He didnt exactly keep his promise....he didn't hit anyone directly but he is a thrower and hit Maggie and Issac several times (from maggie's report) with launching toys. I am hoping he outgrows this total "boy" stage before long...but from what I hear there isn't a lot of hope for that. :) I guess since he is a boy I am glad he's all boy.


Josie has gotten sleeping down, she nurses last between 9 and 10 and doesn't wake until 7-8am. She is still in her basinett in our room but since she rarley wakes at night I will probably move her up to her room soon. Maggie and Josie wore matching dresses to church today, Maggie was very happy about this.












After church we went to eat at Olive Garden and then to Lowes (Yo's as Owen calls it). Joe has about finished painting the basement and it looks great. I will hopefully get some pics up soon along with Josie's room which I have never put on here I just remembered. Well, tommorow I have my 6 week check up (2 weeks late) so Neila is going to keep the kids and she has her first prenatal visit after mine so we are going to swich off keeping kids. That is about all going on here. Owen wore underwear for a good bit of the day and did well but this evening had a few accidnents so we went back to diapers. I am not up to cleaning up pee all day so we will try again later.

HAPPY EASTER

....a few days late. We had a nice easter, different since it was just us, but we had a fun day. The kids were so excited the night before and sat their baskets out by their doors for the Easter Bunny. I was reading the easter story to them before bed and both had a million questions about why every one was so mean to Jesus and what dead really was and just why He died on the cross. I had quite a time trying to explain it all to a 2 and 4 year old. I am not sure how great of a job I did, but hopefully it will stick with them that the Easter bunny is not what Easter is all about, but that the real celebration was Jesus resurrection. On the way home from church Joe was asking them about what they leanred and Maggie said about Jesus being alive and not dead anymore. Joe asked them if they knew what dead meant and Maggie said, yeah, it's red and lots of boo boo's. I thought that was a good enough description for a 4 year old to have of death. Owen chimed in, "no, it's green." Not sure what he was imagining in his head.

Owen woke up easter morning about 8 and we finally woke maggie up at 830 so they could get to their baskets. I didn't hide them very hard so they found them quickly and were both really excited.









Joe laughed at me becuase their candy and toys color coordinated with their baskets. (and gender) Owen got all blue candy...m&m's, hershey kisses, etc. Maggie's were all pink. I am not sure why but since they have been born I cannot not do that....from clothes, to sippy cups, to candy. They were both very happy with their baskets and in about 1 minute Owen had everything in his basket strung out across the room. Maggie's is still all neatly in her basket. :)




Maggie got the 101 dalmations movie so she was so happy as she has been telling me for weeks she wanted it. Owen got the horton hears a who movie which also had some other dr. suess movie's on it. We took them to see Horton hears a who a few weeks ago and they loved it. Josie got a small basket with a few toys....basically for maggie and Owen than her. She slept through the morning and woke up only to eat and get dressed for church. One of Owen's favorite things (and Joe's) was a rabbit who hops and poops out jelly beans. They both thought this was very cool....and funny.















We were running late getting to church so I didn't get any pics of us dressed up which I was bummed about. The kids all looked adorable.












Josie was ready to eat about halfway into the service as usual...so I took her to the cry room to nurse her where they have TV's with the service on them. When I got in there it dawned on me that I was wearing a dress which isn't the easiest thing to nurse a baby in. Let's just say I was so glad that nobody else came in while she was eating.....from now on it will be skirts for me. haha
Here is a picture of Owen in the gym after church. We are very proud of his upper body strength and he held him self up here a good 15-20 seconds before Joe got him down.





















After church we went to eat at the cracker barrell with Shannon, Preston and their girls. It was quite a table with 6 kids but we had fun.








We didn't do much else that evening, just hung out and relaxed, I put the kids to bed a little after 7 and I think I was in bed asleep by 9. Joe must have been a little stir crazy as he decided to paint the whole basement. So we have a new spring color.

We had lot of fun with mom and dad here, although it wasn't nearly a long enough visit. friday morning mom and I took the kids to get easter pics done here in town and then I went that afternoon to get my hair cut, which I LOVE. It's my favorite haircut ever. That evening mom and I headed back out to the SUMMIT and to eat at chick fil a while dad and Joe cleaned the deck and watched movies. Mom got to see Maggie's picture up at the studio
























and here is mom and Owen sharing a milkshake at chick fil a. I don't believe there was really much sharing to it...after his first drink he looked at mom and said, "this is good." I don't think he stopped sucking after that.
They enjoyed spending time with Josie who showed off her new smiles to them and enjoyed getting held alot too.
























Here is Mimi and Jaja with their 3 grandkids.










They went back home on Saturday and we just hung out at the house, we went to eat that evening at a japanese steak house here in town which was alot of fun. The kids really enjoyed watching them cook at the table so we will probably go back their again since the food was great too.


Yesterday Neila Susan came over early to share some great news with me....She is pregnant!! So now they are moving down the street from us and having another little one for our kiddos to play with. We hung out most of the morning and since we both needed to go to Kroger we did our grocery shopping together which the kids thought was fun. She wanted to surprise Nick so she got a bunch of pink and blue balloons and went to their new house that is being built and filled the room which will be the nursery up with them. Joe got nick to the house and we all surprised him when he got there with the news. After that we headed to their current house for dinner and to celebrate. We didn't get home until about 9 so Joe put the kids to bed right when we got in while I fed Josie. Maggie had spilt a little water on her bed yesterday and I forgot to wash her sheets so it was still a little damp, but not much. Well, I went up to check on the kids before I went to sleep and Maggie was not in her bed. It scared me at first but then I saw a little hand under the bed and looked down and here she was sound asleep under her bed.












I moved her up to her bed without her ever waking. This morning when I got her up for school she asked who moved her adn I told her I did. I asked her why she slept under her bed and she said because her bed was still wet. How funny.

This morning Maggie went to preschool and Owen adn I just hung out at home (with Josie of course) until it was time for our mommy and me playgropu at church. They had a picnic and play at 11 30 so we went to that and my friend Sheila, who's little boy is in preschool with maggie, picked her up from preschool and brought her there. The kids had lots of fun with the jumpers they had and balls and other toys. We are home now all taking naptime so that is always nice.

Eggs, Bunnies, and more smiles

We have had a fun past few days. Tuesday evening we had Nick, Neila, Carson, and Susan (Neila's mom) over for dinner and to let the kids paint easter eggs. We hadn't all gotten to hang out together for awhile so it was alot of fun. The kids had a blast painting eggs, Owen missed out on the first half as he was in time out for pinching Carson, Carson crushed both of his eggs and Maggie tried her best to get each egg the exact shade of pink she wanted. All ended up with colorful hands though.


















Nick and Neila are buying a house in our neighborhood, they just put a bid on it today, so we are THRILLED about that. Neila and I have always wanted to be neighbors and now that is going to happen so we are so excited and looking forward to many fun times.

So last night at 11 o'clock I was not asleep, nor was I tending to my baby....here is what I was doing.....














making bunny cookies for maggie's preschool easter party today. I had planned on getting them done earlier but realized I didn't have the cookie cutters I needed plus it's easier to get it done with out little hands helping. I went to her party today and took Josie, we left Owen down the street with Shannon to play with Bella. She had alot of fun, they painted their faces like bunnies and made ears plus had an easter egg hunt where she wound up with like 30 eggs so she had tons of candy. Since Maggie isn't a candy person, Owen was very happy with all she brought home.
Owen also had fun with Bella and Shannon said he was good so that is always good for me to hear. I asked him if he'd been nice and he said, yes. Then he said, "well, I was just a little bit mean to Bella mom, just a little bit." At least he's honest.











Maggie looked so cute and told me it was the best easter party she'd ever been to. She was glad Josie came and she got to show her off.










Here is Owen after he had gone through Maggie's candy.


















And of course some more pics of Josie being her happy self. Maggie and I had so much fun with her this afternoon. Maggie had her just smiling away, which thrilled Maggie. She is such a happy baby!






















So a few funny stories to end this post....

Owen had become the King of trying to make up excuses for not going to bed yet. He has tried all the usuals.....brush his teeth again, drink of water, tell everyone goodnight, etc. Last night I was putting him down and he begins telling me things he needs to do and as he says them I remind him we have already done those things. He sits there a second and finally says, "Mommy, you forgot to cut my clips" I wasn't sure what he was talking about so he says it again and holds up his fingers. I cracked up, knowing he meant I didn't clip his nails. I told him we only have to do that about once a week since they don't grow that fast. This seemed to be a good enough answer as he went to sleep after that.

We were at Cracker Barrell last week one evening and began talking to a lady and her mother who were sitting next to us. They lived together and had like 14 dogs as they took in abused and homeless dogs. They also had various other animals they had rescued. They were really nice and maggie being the animal lover she is had a million questions about their animals. They lady then asks Maggie if she has any animals to which Maggie replies, "No, my mommy doesn't like animals." Which is pretty much true....but to the animal rescuers I tried to smooth it over and explained I have athsma/allergies to them so it isn't alot of fun for me to be around them...which is also true. Ahhhh, kids say the darndest things huh?


Mom and Dad came up today to visit a few days so the kids have had fun playing with them all evening. I am sure we will have more fun tommorow to tell about.

Not gettin' pinched!

So Maggie, Owen, and Josie were not getting pinched today since they all were sporting their green.


















Josie looked so cute in her st. patricks day dress. It wasn't exactly weather for it, but since we weren't going to be outside I figured it didn't matter.
Neila Susan had an easter egg hunt/party at her house this morning and the kids had a blast.














Owen would open each egg as he found them and take the candy out and toss the egg back down. He was throwing eggs at one point and one about hit Neila in the head so I talked to him and told him he must be bored because he always gets rowdy when he's bored so he needed to find something to do. He looked at me and said, "No Mommy, I didn't throw a board, it was just an egg!" Maggie found so many that she had to get a 2nd basket from Neila Susan. We headed home for naptime after lunch and I just tried to get caught up on some housework and tonight I went to my bible study.

Sunday Neila-Susan and I headed out early to the outlet malls in Indiana for the day, we had a blast and boy did we shop. The Gymboree outlet had one of my favorite lines out so I was pumped about that and got the girls several matching outfits which Maggie is thriled about. We got home around bedtime that night and the kids had had fun with Joe, he let them make and decorate their own cakes so they loved that.















When I got here they were all 3 outback picking up rocks in the yard and putting them in the wheel barrow. Maggie informed me that daddy told her that the grass wouldn't grow in with rocks in the soil and they couldn't get a swing set until the grass grew in so she was all about helping out for the cause of getting her swing set. :) Smart recruiting on Joe's part.


Tommorow Maggie has preschool and I hope to get her room cleaned and in order while she's gone and weed out some of her clothes. No other big plans.
Here are a few pics of her being a great big sister.












I laid Josie on a blanket today and told Maggie, "let's see what she can do" meaning how well she can hold her head up and such. Maggie said, "what kind of new tricks do you think she's learned mommy?"

Easter Pics

So we went to the mall today and got Easter pics done, here are the kids before we left. They did pretty well, or should I say Owen did pretty good. The girls both did well but it's just hard to get all 3 looking and smiling at the same time. I did get a few good ones though so that is what I was going for.
Owen was in Joe's car a few weeks ago and saw a picture of Maggie Joe has in there. Owen was just staring at it and Joe asked him what he was doing. Owen pointed at it and said, "where's my picture?" Joe told him he didn't have one because he never smiles when I take him to get his picture so that was my bribe today was that daddy would put his picture up in his car. Joe surprised us and met us at the mall so we got to have lunch with him which was nice. We then took them to see the easter bunny which they were so excited about. Owen said he wanted cars and Maggie said she wanted a doll house. I then explained to her he was the easter bunny, not Santa. :)

Here are a few pictures of Josie today, she was in such a good mood and just smiling and cooing.













It just dawned on me today that I don't have her an easter basket or anything for easter, although I have Maggie and Owen's done. I guess it doesn't really matter since she needs nothing and has no clue what day it is though.

While we were at the mall today there was a little boy about 1 or so who was into everything and Maggie was watching him. She said, "boy, he sure is curious." The mom and I both started laughing. She is getting so big and acting so much older, it makes me so sad sometimes when she says or does "big girl" things. I am doing my best at keeping her little as long as I can. I painted her nails the other day for the first time and she thought she was such big stuff.












Owen was talking about MOPS the other day and how he doesn't like going. He said he always cries and wants Mommy when he's there. I asked him why he does that and he said so matter of factly, "because I love you mommy." Here is my adorable "little prince"


























And lastly, here are a few pics of Josie in the nude where you can see how big she's gotten.
























And my little sleeping beauty. :)














No big plans this weekend. Hopefully it will be nice so we can head back to the park. Sunday Neila and I are planning on taking a girls day and going to the outlet malls for the day without the kids (well, except for Josie)

Snow, Smiles, and More

Okay, so I am finally getting some time to blog....although I should be asleep. We have had....you could say a rough last 2 weeks or so, and lets just leave it at that. :) But we are all well, Josie is doing great, and we are ready for spring and the warmer weather.
We finally got a ton of snow so the kids could get out and play in. Owen and Joe made a fort which Owen wasn't fond of getting into after he saw Joe get stuck in it.












Yes, I am aware my son has on hot pink snowpants....I couldn't find his and Maggie wasn't going out that time so hot pink it was.
They also all made a snowman with thin mint cookies as eyes....but it melted before I thought to get a picture of it. A day or so after they made it we were headed out somewhere and Owen takes off running towards it while I was getting Maggie and Josie in their carseats. When he came and got in the van I went to strap him in and he is eating cookies....I had no clue where he got them until I look at the snowman and see he is "eyeless". Yes, Owen had pulled them off the snowman and was eating them. :)
Josie had her 1 month checkup today and is up to 10 lbs. 7 oz. so she's growing well. She is such a good baby, so laid back. She is already sleeping from 10 pm until 5am. Everynow and then she'll have a night where she gets up more but not very often. She is very happy and is smiling alot, although I have yet to get a picture of her smiling great big like she does. Here are some I took of her tonight where she is smiling some. As you can see she's done quite a number on her face with her nails...even though I am constantly cutting them.





























We are headed to the mall tommorrw for easter pictures so wish us well.....wish Owen well. :) Today it was so nice out so we headed to the park for a few hours. Joe got back from Alabama around 2 so he met up with us there. The kids had so much fun and enjoyed getting to be outside and run off some energy. They are really beginning to play well together. Don't get me wrong, at times it feels like WWF around here still, but there will be hours go by sometimes where they play great so that is hopeful for me. Listening to them play latley Owen reminded me so much of my Papa Whitey. For those who knew him I am sure you remember that no matter what you said, he'd smile and say, "yeah yeah." Well, Maggie was talking a mile a minute and no matter what she'd say, he would say, "yeah yeah Mag, okay." I couldn't help but laugh and hope he'd turn out as agreeable as Papa was.
Owen is very into telling us what he wants for his birthday and the other day we were driving along and he starts yelling, " look daddy, look, I want that for my birthday!!" We could not figure out what he was pointing at until finally I said, "Owen , do you mean that 18 wheeler "big rig" beside us?" and he says, "yeah yeah, I want that for my "birfday". Joe and I cracked up and broke it to him that he in fact would not be getting a 18 wheeler truck for his birthday. Well, hopefull I will have goodnews tommorow about the pictures!!