October 2017

Here's October in some brief snippets...Wesson is two!  Flu shots for kids.  MOPS meetings going well.  Amanda rear-ends with van (boo), all ok.  Papa and Gemma are still on vacation-kids like the pictures.  Visits to Oxbow-Poppy and Grandma.  Jeff passes another NICET-Level 3 now!  Parent Teacher Conferences.  Family photos, no fall colored leaves yet.  Huskers lose and lose.  Room parent tasks begin.  Joint October boys birthday party!  Kalum is five!  13-year Wedding Anniversary!  Darth Vader, Rey, a Mermaid, a Power Ranger and mini Darth Vader. Buelts and Papa and Gemma over for dinner and trick-or-treating.  Halloween snow!

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• This girl loves to be around people!  As soon as she gets home from school she is asking to go see if a neighbor can play, unless Wild Kratts show is on, but as soon as it's over.  Today she asked after two neighbors then went up the street a little to ask about one of her "BFF's" from school  We didn't know they lived so close until recently.  She and Lily had a great time.  Samara seems to be the leader in this relationship, and Lily is super sweet and polite and has a couple inches on Samara in height.  Listing of one's friends and BFF's has become the thing to do on the back of all her homework papers.  Earlier in the school year, Samara asked me if I knew what a BFF was. ;)  The new things you learn in 1st grade!
• Samara got to go to her buddy since preschool, Sabrina's, 8th birthday party.  It felt like her first real big kid party.  I dropped her off and all the girls were there.  She got to craft, learn dance moves and have cake/ice cream.  And they have a tiny dog, so a perfect afternoon for her!  I could barely get her to leave.
• She is still LOVING first grade.  I am the room parent for her class this year, so I got to plan the Halloween Party.  She was so excited that I was the "teacher" for the party and planned the stations - headband craft, make a snack, BINGO and bowling.  She said the best station was the snack, a pretzel rod they covered in frosting and they got to add their own sprinkles and the salami on the meat/cheese tray she loved. She liked being a Mermaid (Samermaid as I called her) during school and for trick or treating.  She was all about sorting and checking out all her loot when we got home from the freezing night of festivities.
• Went for her 7 year check-up (wanted to see how the school year was going, in case we needed to discuss anything at all)...49 lbs (39%), 48.5" (54%). Healthy BMI and blood pressure.  Got her flu shot with just a brief nervous moment.
• Parent Teacher Conference was great!  She is a joy to have in class and is doing great with everything they're learning.  Teacher said she seems to enjoy writing and reading is coming right along.  Her handwriting is nice and she is helpful in the classroom.  She gives her teacher a hug every morning and the baby girl in her teacher's tummy, too.

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• He got to work with Daddy at Greenwood on Saturday, Menards run and DQ for lunch.  He scooped walnuts, mowed and a couple misc tasks.  He loved the special time with Daddy!
• Oct 5th - He can pump himself on the swing!  Benefit of having older sibling to coach you (and tell you it's something you must know before kindergarten).  He tried jumping off the swing like Samara does, with mixed results.
• He was super bummed that Samara went to a birthday party without him.  So I said, while Wesson naps, what do you and Mommy want to do at home?  He said, watch something.  Ok.  We find a paleontologist show on Netflix and he is SO enthralled!  I was trying to keep my eyes open as it wasn't an amazing show, but he watched several episodes until I finally said that was enough watching.  He kept saying he wants to dig up dinosaur bones when he grows up!
• Power Rangers party - Loved his Samurai Sushi play date party with buds from school.  They played Super Hero Memory game, dressed up in super hero costumes and had snack/treat and sand Happy Birthday.
• At first he was a little upset that we were celebrating both boys birthdays together with family, but once he saw decorations, cake a presents, he was okay.  Plus I said he got separate friend party (play date).  So fun was had by all and we had a full house of family!
• I was doing a workout at home.  He says, "Mom you're shaking.  Why do you keep doing it?"  I said, "when you're shaking it means you're building up your strong muscles.  He said, "I'm tired just watching it.  I'm never gonna do that to my muscles."  Lol!
• Is wanting to read books too, like Samara.  He will try to sound out words using some of the letter sounds he knows.  He's not there yet, but I can see him being an early reader, with Samara leading the way and expressing so much interest in it.
• Parent Teacher Conference Call...He's doing well again this year!  Teacher said he is a sweetheart with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes sometimes. Has started writing "Kalum Lee Derby" on all his papers, maybe a phase, or just a flair for the formal.  eager to learn, can count to 29 typically.  Knows all uppercase, learning lowercase.  He and Nathan play, not just side-by-side, but actually interacting while they play.  Boys can get chatty at circle time, and if she turns her head for a second too long, there is a dogpile going on oftentimes.

Wesson's Milestones/Moments for the Month:

• On one of our visits to Oxbow to see Poppy and Great Grandma this month, the memory care ladies were bopping a balloon with pool noodles - Wesson put on the charm and joined in the game.  He showed Poppy his cars and trucks he brought.  He gave hugs to Gma and Poppy when it was time to leave.
• It's fun to have him seeing forward in the car now!  Constantly comments on what he sees (and I'm seeing it too, instead of him saying things about glimpses out of the back of the van).  Favorite thing is morning is pointing out buses on way to school. "Bus.  Yellow.  More Bus. Big. Bus gone. Want more bus.",  "ment truck" (cement truck), "Dirt!" for any construction site, When S gets out of the car at school, "Bye Sissy." "Kiss." "sissy gone"
• When we dropped Kalum off one day, he wanted to give Kalum a hug.  Kalum didn't see or hear him and went right to circle.  Wesson followed him all the way over there with arms stretched out saying, "hug".  I finally had to get Kalum's attention and say Wesson wants a hug or we wouldn't have gotten out of there. Melting heart!
• He's taken an interest in being part of the dogpile when older kids are playing or wrestling, with or without Daddy.  Just wants to be like the big kids!  And he might be a little more determined than Kalum...
• Started taking off his own diaper and clothes to sit on the potty chair.  This by NO means means he is near potty trained, just likes to be nakie and try it out.  Our carpets have suffered a couple times thanks to sudden air exposure and a two-year-old who doesn't yet have bladder control! I did show him today that I have big boy underwear he can wear when he starts using the potty.  Kalum was 3, hoping he can be a little sooner...
• When at places with other people he seems to go quiet, but at home he never stops talking.  And he's very smart, figuring out how to get where and what he wants. Now throws a screaming tantrum if that doesn't happen.  He does calm down and then he'll say "done" in response to "I can see you're really upset, but can we calm down?  Are you done?" Then sucks his finger with tear stained face, and usually asks for diddy, his blanket.
• When given his dinner plate with broccoli on it (they have to try a veggie like 10 times, right?!), he grabbed the small broccoli portion he'd been given to try and said, "Daddy try.", setting it on Jeff's plate.  How can we not laugh at that?!  I guess he is mine.
• 2 year check-up - 29 lbs (75%), 35.5" tall (77%) - healthy growing boy!
• He knows the rules and is starting to test them more often.  Ex - Stay in the kitchen with your milk...he stands with his toes nearly touching the edge of the carpet and chugs away while looking at you, pauses to say "toes" and point out where they are.  he also tells other kids, whether siblings, cousins, or friends, to stop doing something that he feels is in violation of a rule.  Or will say, "brother calm down" if Kalum is getting upset about something.  Wesson will hit, scream and pull Kalum's hair if they are arguing over a toy.  But he will eventually cool off and then hug and say sorry.
• Figured out how to open the childproofed pantry closet and the fridge this last week of October.  Now, he can grab a box of crackers before you even know it.  He also opens the fridge to help himself, grabs the gallon of milk and lugs it to the table.  Says, "my get it.", there's no helping him.  Then when gets to the table, says, "muscles" and shows off his guns every time.  
• Can identify a handful of colors and shapes pretty well.  Likes to count along with someone or say every other number, after 12 he drops off and defaults for 14 or 17 repeatedly.  Starting to sing his own little songs or parts of songs he's heard.  Still a few favorite books - Thomas Train, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Goodnight Goon.  Now says, "read gin!" when you're done and giggles if you say, read this again?! 
• He's not eating as much as he used to it seems, so must be in between growth spurts.  Will have to continue to work on those veggies...

October Pictures

September 2017

This month everyone is starting to get their school year routines down!  We went to the State Fair on Labor Day - saw animals, quilts, Demolition Derby, Combine rides, rodeo, and all!  Jeff had a guys trip to Chicago to visit John and see their new baby.  They packed the weekend full of activities and had a great time!  We got our passports for our trip in November - it's getting real!  I got to got to MOMCon, thanks to Jeff staying home and Cheryl taking a day off work.  It was in KC and a wonderful girls weekend with inspiring and informational speakers, awesome live music, hang out time and a group dinner to Buca de Beppo Friday evening.  The MOPS year officially began, so this year as Co-Coordinator, I'm just trying to look with new eyes at the year so I know what all I'll need to be doing next year as Coordinator!  Jeff is busy at work, studying for the next level of NICET Certification, working at Greenwood house and is enjoying his Men's Mentor Group that meets each month.  Moments and pictures should explain all we've been up to!

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• She said she wanted to be a mermaid for Halloween.  Hark!  That's what I was in kindergarten, so wear it this year while it fits!  We got it from Gemma's house and she tried it on - instant love!
• She brings things home from lunch or treats for Kalum if she knows he'll like them.  Reason she was so sad about backpack getting run over (in our garage, she dropped it where I couldn't see it and I knew as soon as I heard the crunch what happened) was that she couldn't share the homemade candy corn treat from school with Kalum. (They had pieces of plastic sandwich tub on them...)  Kalum does the same thing, saving one of two school treats for her, etc.  Both will ask if they can have one for their sibling.  It's so sweet (even if sometimes fighting, they do love and think of each other).
• One more run in with L-girl at the end of the month.  She made a comment to Samara that she would kill Samara if they were ever on the same bus again, which they shouldn't ever be, but still.  When Samara told me (she wasn't shaken at all), I tried not to overreact, but I had her go in the next day to tell her teacher.  The teacher followed up with me by email about what had happened.  Samara and L-girl went to the office, Samara told her side of the story then went back to class.  L-girl stayed and consequences were laid out for future.  No more issues since, per Samara.

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• He's so excited about his red Power Ranger costume!  He had to wear it around the house doing Power Ranger moves the afternoon Gemma found it for him!!
• Kids are the bathroom showering up for bed.  Samara tells Kalum what a BFF is.  he then lists off his 4 BFF's from preschool.  Then he says, "I have another. Samara." She says, "Oh, that's so nice.  You have 5 BFF's." He says. "It should be best brother and sister forever." Aw! a loving sibling moment. Not all their moments are like that, though they can play really well together for hours sometimes.
• Kalum had his first field trip of the year, to the Super Bee Apple Orchard.  His favorite part was the apple sorting machine!
• I asked Kalum after preschool one day if he ever got to be the helper during class.  "Oh yeah.  I've done that."  Not important for him I guess.  Samara LIVED for being the helper at preschool.  It was the first thing I heard about and she counted down until it was her turn again.  Kalum's main thing to report is what was for snack and what treat he might have gotten to choose at lunch bunch.

Wesson's Moments for the Month:

• Almost two maybe?!?!  He threw a screaming tantrum on the floor of JoAnn's Fabrics.  "Cart please!" Slobbering, sobbing, nose running, rolling on the floor kicking.  Two old grandma ladies let me go in front of them...whether for my sake or theirs.  One apologized for laughing at him! haha
• When you read a book he likes or sung a song he likes, he immediately says, "gin!" (again) when you're done.  And he will repeat as many times as you'll humor him with the book or song.
• At my annual physical, he quietly played with a train toy and looked at books throughout the appointment.  The midwife said she understood why we felt our family was complete - stop while you're ahead!
• Sept 30th - Wesson is two tomorrow!  He is getting to be such a big boy.  Talks a ton - identifies some colors, shapes.  "Counts" to ten, sort of.  Says his name well and that of his siblings - "sissy" and "Kamum", says brother sometimes instead.  Asserting his opinion more and more!  Always asks for a cracker and is trying to get the pantry closet door open.  He will even attempt to climb the shelves if it gets him closer to the desired snack.  He's always willing to help with a task or chore - sweeping, vacuuming, emptying DW and picking up toys.  Sings his version of the clean up song while he does that.  Likes to be read to, wooden puzzles, coloring (very briefly), riding his bike and being outside, playing cars, trucks or trains.

September Pictures

August 2017

With the school year looming, we packed in a brief weekend "vacation" to Adventureland to meet Jeff's cousin, sister and fam and have some fun.  The kids loved every minute (except maybe the one roller coaster, they weren't huge fans, but they were brave!).  There were some planning meetings for MOPS, final summer bible study, meetings for Sunday School volunteers, Journey Group dinner, school open houses, and then, it was getting ready for school to start, summer ended and back to school for Samara and Kalum!  So far, as you'll see in my notes below, a good start to the year for both!  There was also the Solar Eclipse, which we didn't go out of town to see or anything, but it was cool to see the video that was captured by some!  Check out our month via the moments and pictures below...

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• Love the pool this summer and became a fish, or a mermaid (and a tan one at that!).  She loves to swim underwater and can hold her breath quite a while.  With a life jacket she can swim even in deep end after jumping in.  Did some freestyle type strokes, technique still needs some work.  She can get into the back float position on her own and float for ten seconds.  If pool wasn't crowded she could do better, was afraid someone would jump one her or make waves to splash over her face, which was justified.
• Last day of summer - she got to choose the agenda for the last day of summer.  Bounce house, pick out gift for friend's upcoming bday party, lunch at home while watching power rangers, sewing on her quilt blocks while Wesson was napping, then worked on her "about me" homework for Friday from open house night and sang (loudly with abandon for songs she knew) along with the radio while she reloaded the dishwasher.  You can tell when she knows the song because all of a sudden she cranks up the radio volume!
• Second recess of the school year there was an incident where L-girl (my code name for girl who gave her so much trouble last year).  She was seemingly jealous that Samara had moved on to other friends this year.   She took it out by kicking wood chips when Samara said L-girl wasn't her friend.  Then she shoved a piece of trash off the ground into Samara's new friend's mouth!  They went to the office for discussion after that...
• She has been really loving first grade so far! Doesn't complain about going, loves her teacher, enjoys classmates, says math is her least favorite subject,  helps pack her lunch, proudly shows me all her work in take-home folder each day, apparently loves it when she says or does something silly and everyone laughs.  She told me a story about her silly picture she drew, "a cheetah on a toilet seat with wings".  She said after she told about her picture, everyone laughed and later people came up to her and said, "that was so funny when you said that".  She also said she made a silly face when she shut off the light and closed door (her seat is closest to door) and class laughed.  Not afraid of an audience and likes people being happy because of her!  She made up a game at recess where she's the teacher/coach for other friends to complete.  I think she enjoys being helper to smaller kids at KWG as much as doing challenges herself.

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• Early this month I gave Kalum a hug and said, 
• "I can't believe you're going to school soon for two whole days a week! What am I going to do all day with just Wesson here?" 
• Kalum: "Probably sit and think about what it like when I was here all day" 
• Me: "Well, we'll miss you, but I think I might try to get some things done too." 
• K: "Yeah you might some stuff while you think about us" :)
• By the end of summer he's gotten much better at jumping in from the side of the pool into shallow end.  He will put his face underwater briefly.  Attempted some swimming and can float with assistance briefly on his back.  He knew where the water was too deep and learned to stay where he could touch.
• First Day of Pre-K (Green Class) and Enrichment (afternoon class)- He seemed a little unsure at first, but teacher came and took his hand and off he went to circle time.  He loved staying all day (Two snacks and he got to bring his lunch!!), singing, playing, reading...he listed it all off for us.  Closer to bedtime I said, "Can I have a hug.  Did you  miss me or did you have too much fun?  K: "I was having so much fun I forgot all about you!"  Well, better than being sad all day I guess. Ha!
• Kids Warrior Gym - took him to use a one-hour open gym - he played in the gym area for like 25 minutes then he opted to play with the gear toys in the lobby area.  Built cars and a road and had a great time!  Maybe he's going to follow the "builder" genes embedded in his DNA.  Or he's just lost being at KWG without Samara, time will tell!
• By the end of August, he seems to really enjoy this school year so far!  Likes having two snacks and lunchtime there each day.  Still has some of his same friends from last year and has made a couple new ones, too.  Favorite toy is transforming alpha robots, he tells me to order them on Amazon almost everyday after school!

Wesson's Moments/Milestones for the Month:

• When he wants your attention for something he's going to do, he will look to make sure you're watching and say "mommy watch".
• By the end of the summer pool time he loves to be held on his tummy to kick his legs, laying his head back into water and jumping in the pool to someone's arms (usually doesn't bother him if he goes under water.  Would catch him sometimes and let him dip under water some.)  One day he jumped when I wasn't facing him yet!  He basically rolled off my back and went underwater.  I reached down and grabbed him from nearly the bottom of 3' and he came up with huge eyes, but not crying or coughing.  He must have instinctively held his breath!
• He is a talker!  Can identify red, orange and sometimes yellow.  "mom sit", "watch" (as in look at this cool thing I can do) "trains TV" (wants to watch trains on TV - usually this one is said much too early in the morning and then he wants cereal while he watches).  Can communicate what he wants or what happened Ex-Kalum flicks water at Samara and some gets on him.  He goes to Samara and says "Kamum. Hands. Shirt. Wet."  They won't get away with much when he's around!
• Favorite books: Blue Train, Green Train and Go Train Go (Thomas Train books) Roadwork, Commotion in the Ocean.  Wants to read them all before sleeping or napping will happen.  (And then staying in bed for bedtime has mixed results anyway...)
• Learned to say his name now as Wesson!

August Pictures

July 2017

July in a quick synopsis...
New bed and frame for Jeff and Amanda-yay!, Hall Coach training at church (going to start that position rather than teaching in a room this fall), a trip to the zoo one morning, birthday festivities (more details below), MOPS planning meetings for next year and MOPS Steering Team retreat (Friday night and Saturday morning until lunch, a time to get to know the ladies and what each role has planned for the new year), a NARI tailgate and StormChasers game (the kids could go to the kids area, which was a hit!), a trip to the Lincoln zoo to meet our old neighbors, weather cooled off-so less trips to the pool, meet Jeff for lunch, and final punch list items finished, then celebration pizza dinner at Breadeaux Pizza in Ashland with Papa and Gemma.  
Eagle house went on the market and we got a full price offer!!  We had another possible one, but they decided rooms were too small.  So, we signed our seller documents (with all the kids in tow) the afternoon of the 18th then the buyers closed on July 21st!  The family has 7 kids and is so excited to move into the house and we are so excited to have it sold!  
The kids got to start their free month at Kids Warrior Gym - they like it so far!  With the first month they're open being free, there are a lot of kids in the class.  I told them we'd try it for this month and pay for August, then decide what to do.  Once school starts it may be too much for an evening after all day at school.  So, that's where we end July - school starts in two weeks for both kiddos, summer is nearly over.

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• Daddy took Samara and Kalum out on Zorinsky in the boat to fish.  She was very disappointed that there were no fish caught on their early morning trip.  Oh well...another time in the boat perhaps.
• Samara had to get two fillings on teeth that are close together. :(  She is supposed to floss every night, but ended up with two small cavities anyway.  I'm guessing she'll step up the flossing going forward.  She was really brave and listened as they explained everything (except the shot, they just had her close her eyes and said there would be a pinch).  Once they were done, she got up, gave me a hug and started to cry.  I think she put on her brave face, but was nervous the whole time.
• She is 7 years old!!  She started at Kids Warrior Gym - loved it!  She had an Ice Cream themed birthday party since cake is not her favorite dessert.  We set up an ice cream topping bar and let the 4 kids that were at her party create sundaes.  She's now officially 48" tall, only grew 1.5" this past year compared to 3" years prior.  She's been doing well over the summer so far, playing with her brothers especially Kalum for hours a day usually. She loves going to the pool!  She likes to get to watch a tv show during lunch when I let them (a living room tv picnic).  She seems to know when she's doing eye and nose tics and remarks when she's gone a long time without doing it.  We have noticed less nighttime waking with bad dreams over the summer.  She's still going to the therapist weekly, but will likely wrap up at end of July.
• She had her first time experience with swimming at a lake and loved it!!  My friend Monica invited us out to her family's cabin in South Bend on a Friday afternoon while she was visiting Omaha.  Besides one spider web incident, Samara enjoyed it as much as the pool.  She floated on the raft and swam back (life jacket on).  She jumped in, tried to find and catch minnows in her hands, found a snail and wanted to bring it home of course!  I did convince her to let it live free and in the wild on a shady part of the dock.

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• He liked the Kids Warrior Gym, was a little nervous at first and was glad he was in the same class as Samara.  He hurt his finger (very minor) but otherwise seemed to enjoy trying all the obsatcles.  He is always up for a snack and always seems to need a drink of water before the other kids.  He will definitely whine if you let him...
• He has liked going to the pool and having time to play all summer.  He also got to enjoy his first time lake swimming!  He was totally not concerned about the murky lake water.  He was jumping in off the steps, playing on the float raft and sitting on the pool noodles.  Had a mesh of swimsuit incident, but he came out okay.  Whew! (Several moments of internal mom panic going on there for sure!)
• He really likes his clothes to match.  If shirt is green, he'll want shorts and socks to go as well.  We've tried to explain that things like black and khaki can go with multiple things and maybe looking like a crayon (all in one color) isn't the ideal look.  ;)
• Now that Samara has had her party, he is all about planning his and telling me what he wants as presents.  Okay, let me know in a couple months kiddo!

Wesson's Milestones and Moments for the Month:

• He loves his cousin, Noah!  He says "Wawa" for Noah and he was so excited to get to see him at Papa and Gemma's house Saturday for 4th of July celebration.  He said his version of "baby Jonas" that day, too.
• He really understands instructions!  Maybe the other two kids did as well, but I'm so impressed when I say, "take your cup to the counter when you're done", and he does!  He even carries his little plate over after many meals (without my saying anything, jsut sees big kids do it).  Starting to imitate counting, colors when named and abc's song.  He sings a version of Happy Birthday to whatever name comes to mind first.  By mid-month he is a repeating machine!!
• Lake swimming first!  He wasn't so sure about getting in the water at first.  I had to hold him so that his feet just barely touched the water.  After a while he was okay with his body getting in too. He liked laying on the raft and just floating over the gentle rolling waves from passing boats.  He really enjoyed playing with Madelyn (Monica's daughter) as well.  Thanks Monica for sharing the afternoon and lake with us!!
• He actually sits on the seat and uses feet to move the balance bike.  Before he was just walking around, straddling the bike.
• I usually wake up to him standing by my bed saying "cereal" "duddies" while trying to push buttons on my phone that is charging on my nightstand.  He wants me to turn on his favorite toddler video "Curious Buddies" and get him some cereal to munch on.  He still wakes at night usually once a night, but usually just because has rolled off his mattress and I think he's confused.  I just put him back in bed and he sleeps.
• Names of family members: He used to say Kal, then something that sounds like Kammer, now says Kamum.  Still calls Samara, "Sissy" (which she loves).  He says "Sasa" for Wesson - getting there!  
• He has an opinion on how things are done now and wants to do them all himself.  We are hearing a lot more "stop!" "don't" lately.  He even said "Don't brush hair!" to me one day when I used my brush to smooth his 'do.
• End of the month he actually asked me "why?" on three different occasions when I asked him to do something.  Tell me we aren't to that phase yet, kids?!

July Pictures

June 2017

Summer is going so quickly, already four weeks down!  

• This month we packed in playtime at home (really what the kids LOVE to do), a women's bible study on Tuesday evenings, a playdate in Arlington at a MOPS friends' farm, dance recital, seeing our Dads for Father's Day (lunch with Derbys in Eagle on Saturday then they took the kids until evening and lunch at Pennells on Sunday.) and of course Sunday school, church, and all the normal summer stuff.
• We took a trip to Milford Sate Park in Kansas with the Derby family on 23-25th.  It was almost four hours away and in the end the algae levels were too high to get in the water, but we got to stay in cabins, have campfires, kayak, take a walk, play at the park, ride Aaron's parent's boat, and have picnic lunches/dinners.  It was a fun family trip with all of Jeff's family and Michelle's in-laws, the Holmbergs.  There were discussions of making it an annual thing (maybe a different location since everyone is in NE now though!)
• Summer U was at our church the last week of June.  All the kids had fun with the spy themed crafts, activities, science experiments, stories and large group with the high school kids putting on a song/play each day.  Samara seems to think she's found her calling in 8 years. ;)
• Eagle house continues to get closer to done!  Jeff's been working hard on the finishing items (which always add up).  Mulch went in this month, making the outside now picture worthy.  Inside we were finishing up trim, basement and any other items needing tied up.  Ready to officially go on the market soon!
• Amanda's MOPS table had a fun night - baby shower/game night.  MOPS is now done for the year and it was such a blessing to be involved on leadership again.  My role as publicity was a good fit and way to ease back into Steering Team for sure.  Our current Coordinator asked if I would be interested/willing to step into the Coordinator role when she is done.  I had already considered what my response would be if they asked and I said yes.  I know there are a few hectic times of planning and executing items during the year, but I'm looking forward to serving in that role staring this summer/fall.  I'm transitioning the Publicity role to another mom and I'll be the Co-Coordinator for 2017-2018, then Coordinator after that for two years.  Locked into MOPS for sure, but that's a good thing!

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• She was explaining how something would be and inadvertently combined catastrophe and disaster.  Haha, good one, may use that!
• She continued to go meet with Deb at City Care during the month of June.
• She has been loving our Gretna pool membership!  becoming quite the fish (or mermaid if you ask her).  She can kind of do a handstand underwater.  She likes to try and swim like a mermaid.  She can do the back float if you help her start, need to time the length, maybe 10 seconds.
• Samara's dance rehearsal and recital were June 10th-11th.  She really enjoyed getting makeup done, hair done (thanks to "the perfect bun" thing that I got at target, made it so that dreaded bobby pins were barely needed).  She had fun performing and knew her dances all the way through.  I had fun watching her and reminiscing of my recital days.  She kind of wanted to keep dancing for next year after the recital, but I think it was the "performance high" as she still seems more excited about Kids Warrior Gym starting in July.
• Samara was a big helper with all her cousins on our trip!  She was watching out for them and playing with them.
• Jumped off the diving board first time try!  She got on diving board and jumped right in to (well, kind of ON) Daddy.  She had fun on the first evening swim session with Daddy of the summer.  The big kids got to go into the deeper water and jump in to Daddy while I took Wesson to the baby pool area.  We can't do that when just I'm there with the 3 kids.  It was a fun kick off to the weekend!

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• The kids brought a movie each to watch in the van ride to KS.  Kalum got to watch his Ninja Turtle selection on the way there, so it was Annie on the way home.  Apparently it was no not interesting to Kalum that it forced him to sing made up songs of made up words for a while on the way home. I've never heard him do that before, too funny.
• Since I taught Samara's class last year at Summer U, I said I would teach Kalum's this year.  It was fun to see him in action, enjoying big group, knowing all the answers to the questions about the big group story, enjoying special yummy snacks and doing crafts.  When making the paper grocery sack "coat of many colors" he was lining the strips up precisely so there were no overlaps all the way across.  He was definitely more particular about his project than basically all the other kids.  He even pointed out to one of the other boys that his coat was missing a certain color.  Perfectionist much?!
• Kalum got to attempt the diving board for his first time ever!  It took several tries with balks, one where the lifeguard lowered him in, another finally dragging him off board because too scared and other kids were waiting.  After some jumps to Daddy off the side of the pool, he warmed up and braved jumping in off the board!

Wesson's Milestones/Moments for the Month:

• He's starting to repeat things he hears (not just when you ask him to say things).  Kids were watching the rest of Beauty and the Beast on the way home from Eagle on evening.  Kalum asks after the beast is injured at the end, "Did he die?"  Wesson from his car seat, where he had been just babbling, "Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!"  Well we better be sure we watch what we're saying around him now...
• By mid-June he can actually jump and his feet leave the ground a little.  Also can point to and say body and face parts on his own-eye, nose, chin, neck, forehead, eyebrows, knee, head, hair, toe, mouth and ear.  He always seems to be babbling and saying something.  Most of the time it's babble but some words make sense so you can tell what he's getting at.
• A cute baby phrase is already gone from his vocab.  He called his blanket "diddy" until end of June.  Now says "ki-ki" and in blanKIE.  Cute to hear him saying things more clearly each day.

June pictures

May 2017

May - Summer is here!!  Here's this month's highlights in list form, we've got to get caught up here, as fall is around the corner!

• For Mother's Day weekend, we had dinner at Lazlo's with Derbys on Saturday and then visited Grandma Kunes and Poppy following by dinner after at Pennells.  Courtney and I got the kids together to make keychain gifts for the Grandmas (oh, and for us, too).  Jeff was sweet and got me a gift card for a massage - now just to get it scheduled sometime!
• Jeff had his mentor group Retreat this month, a Friday evening through Saturday afternoon.  They had some fun guy time at Mahoney and got to know each other better.  Despite adding book reading, Jeff has been glad he committed to this group for the year.
• We had a couple playdates at parks with Courtney and the boys as well as meeting some other moms with kiddos.
• We took all the kids out to Zorinksy for an evening boat ride at the beginning of the month.  Wesson wanted nothing to do with the life jacket and thought he could just climb out ONTO the smooth water.  So, I opted to have Jeff turn the boat around and we waited on the shore.  The older kids and Jeff have enjoyed some trips to the lake to try to catch some fish, but they've been elusive thus far.
• We're all ready for a break from the routine of school and some low-key days at home, or "stay at home" days as the kids call them.

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• She was so excited that they got to see and pet new baby chicks at school today!  One teacher has them in an incubator and they hatched. "So soft and cute" she said.
• May 9th we had a Mommy-Samara night!  We went to meet her therapist, to Target for a new pair of shoes (size 13?!?!) and a pair of shoes for Mommy, Hobby Lobby quickly, then a surprise stop at YoYo Berri.  Her school had a fundraiser night so I thought we'd stop in.  She loved seeing and saying Hi to kids she knew there.  While we were driving she said, "I love running errands"  Me: You do?  Why is that?  S: "Because I get to spend time with you and talk."
• Samara has been participating up for her dance recital - likes having a routine to remember and perform, not just moves to practice.
• Mid-May - They did end of the year reading level testing and she tested at first grade reading level.  She reads everything she can now, books (even just on her own in bed), cereal boxes and signs we pass.  It's fun to see her learning and hoping this summer we can instill the reading habit firmly by getting her some bigger kid books.
• This month brought dance pictures, which she said went better than she thought it would.  Her group pic is in tap and she took her solo in ballet, which is her favorite costume.  They all looked so cute!  Her bun was better this year because got a "bun making kit" so hardly had to use any bobby pins (which she hates).  She still likes the lipstick best. :)  She had a heart-to-heart with Angie about not doing dance again next year, she really wants to try some new things she says.  An American Ninja Warrior and gymnastics.  And she wants "a day off to be home and play with me like Kalum always gets to."  Hmmm, already living for her day off and she's in kindergarten?!
• Last day of kg May 27th- She wanted to have dinner and pick her treat since she's done with school.  We ended up going to Eagle house for the afternoon with her early out, so we got DQ and blizzards.
• Reflections on Kindergarten:
• What did you like most: computer lab
• Favorite thing you learned this year: the rules
• Best field trip: Vala's Pumpkin Patch
• What you'll miss most: my student teacher, Miss Winnicki
• Most excited for in 1st grade: to meet my new teacher
• Most looking forward to this summer: having fun
• What do you want to be when you grow up?: a Mom and...I just don't know quite yet

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• Early in the month I noticed freckles on his nose for the first time!  So, maybe he has Daddy's complexion, like I had already suspected.  I think they're cute, but I know Jeff didn't like his freckles when we was younger.  Samara is quite envious, she wants freckles for some reason.
• Usually the first thing I hear about when he gets in the car from preschool is what they had for snack or if someone brought treats for their birthday.  Chocolate pudding is high on his list!  Early May-this week they got to pet a bunny that a teacher brought in and their butterflies came out of their chrysalises.  They've learned about their senses and at bath time tonight he told me all five-what body part goes to which sense.  He can remember very well, sometimes he even calls Samara on details about things. Lol!
• His last field trip of the year was to Gifford Farms - we carpooled with another mom and he enjoyed seeing the animals there-ponies, chickens, roosters and a calf.
• He may have a good memory, but the listening ears just aren't always on... Five seconds after I warned against running in flip-flops on the sidewalk, he fell hard and scraped his knee.  The way he cried on the way home and for 30 minutes after we got home, you'd have thought there was bone exposed!  Wesson sat down on the floor by him sympathetically saying "knee knee" pointing to his own knees which had gotten scraped on a fall a few days before.
• May 31st - Jeff put the pedals back on his new bike (had removed for a few days so that he could get used to balancing the larger bike and using brakes).  A few tries with help and he was off!  He was excitedly saying, "I can't believe I'm riding like this!" as he cruised down the street, sticking out his tongue in concentration mode.
• Reflections on Blue Class Preschool:
• What did you like most: picking out of the treasure box 2-3 times
• Favorite thing you learned this year: I haven't learned anything so far
• Best field trip: Farm
• What you'll miss most: the tractor toys and probably my teachers too
• Most excited for in 1st grade: new toys there and lunch bunch
• Most looking forward to this summer: going to a hotel
• What do you want to be when you grow up?: a Husker [football player]

Wesson's Milestones and Moments for the Month:

• 19 months old - came into kitchen, covered his eyes, then uncovered and said peekaboo. so cute!  That was the first time he did that without me initiating the game.  Starting to catch on to "head, shoulders, knees and toes".  Likes the song "slipper fish" and abc's.  (Listens and smiles whole time, but only says "me" at the very end.
• He takes a while to get him into bed and asleep now - ugh!  I have resorted to sitting my the bedroom door.  Otherwise it's a ridiculous amount of times he'll keep getting up.  Once he sees I'm there, he jumps back in bed smiling - it's a total game.
• By mid month he's starting to repeat more words.  He can repeat well now for most any word (if he's in the mood to humor you).  He understands what is happening and responds with correct motion, word or object.  He loves Curious Buddies videos now, sits in chair in living room, says, " duddy do do do" and points to tv.  It doesn't always work for him, but if I'm needing to get something done, that 30 minutes can be SO helpful!
• End of month he was building with duplos and every time he got a tower of a certain height, he would go over to each of us to show it off.  He'd get really in your face, "Sissy...tower", "Kal...tower"..."Mommy...tower".  He waited for an amazed response then go onto the next person.  It was so funny and he stopped before I could catch it on camera of course.
• He insisted he ride (walk while straddling) his strider bike tot he Arbor Gate park today since the big kids were riding their bikes.  Sigh.  We made it there and back, just took some extra time (and patience on mine, S and K's part).  He LOVES to do all the things the older kids do at the park and basically can!

May Pictures

April 2017

Spring is here - more finishing work happening at Eagle house (painting floors, refinishing floors, installing vinyl plank flooring, etc etc) , wrap up meetings and events for MOPS and end of my parenting class at church, Saturday dance class for Samara, kids dentist check-ups, a zoo day on Easter Monday, a Pennell ladies night to Lincoln to view some art quilts, Jeff and Kalum went to Grand Island one Saturday for shooting range and Derby family Easter fun, just to name a few things.  One Sunday the kids were sick, so we had a stay at home day - got blizzards in the afternoon, grilled for dinner and watch half of Star Wars.  (The kids now equate watching Star Wars with having blizzards!) Jeff also had a minor surgery to remove a splinter that embedded in his thumb in December.  He did NOT want to have it get to that point, but it was the way it went in the end, as it was under a nerve according to the doctor.  Easter was also this month and we had a quick dinner with Derbys on Saturday evening then to the 7PM Easter Service and then to Pennell's house for Sunday brunch.  So, hope you had a Happy Easter month - He Is Risen Indeed!  

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• Beginning of the month - focusing on making sure to fill her love tank.  Some quality time either on an activity or talking at bedtime once boys are tucked in.  Being purposeful in my comments, uplifting whenever possible, noticing the good choices.  The last two years have been a lot of changes for her...adding a sibling (that, though cute, takes away from time with just her), dad working more in evenings requiring mom to handle all three kids (cutting into her time and lowering quality), starting school where she's gone for over 7 hours each day(really no physical touch, constantly on her guard whether trying a new thing or having to deal with kg issues that might arise), mom working then not working-still feeling like I have things to get done and not taking advantage of time I do have with her each day.  Jeff and I are going to be more diligent with physical touch-hugs and cuddles, quality time and words of affirmation in coming weeks.  So far this week I've noticed her facial stuff only a couple times and we've had no meltdowns.  
• Then we have a morning tantrum over the pants she wanted to wear...not as bad as last time, but was headed that way.
• She still likes to share the details of her day usually.  She can give some exact details of conversations that were had and things that happened in the classroom.  I try to draw out feelings about different parts of the day, as she tends to have obvious emotions tied to most incidents that have happened.  Usually a playground squabble, drama or disagreement is part of the play by play.
• She got to go on the second kg field trip this year.  To the zoo (and it was like 45 degrees!!).  They could only have so many parent volunteers, but she had fun with the other two girls and the dad in their group.  I'm sure he had plenty of silliness by the end of the day!

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• On a bike ride to the park, he was commenting on dandelions as we saw them (and Samara was helping people out by yanking the yellow tops off).  We go by one yard and Kalum yells, "this yard is dandelion heaven!!"  Thankfully the owners weren't outside and neither were any close neighbors...
• We had Kalum's parent/teacher conference for preschool at the end of April.  He does well in school.  He likes to share during circle time, doesn't interrupt but wants to have his turn to share.  Sometimes can be a little chatty with his friends there, Nathan and Seamus.  He likes doing the building station there the best.  When he colors, he takes time and does it well. Knows all shapes, colors, identified capital letters A-Z and numbers 1-10.  Counted to 29 on his own.  Needs to work on using only one hand for scissors.  Good "Kalums" drawn for his self portraits, getting more detailed and proportionate each quarter.  He told them he was going to be a Husker when he grows up.
• Kalum was so pumped when I said we'd go look at a bike I saw on craigslist one night.  It'll take some getting used to - has pedals and brakes, whereas his balance bike had neither, just used his feet on the ground.  But, he'll be off to the races soon I'm sure.  He didn't want to go to bed tonight, wanted to keep practicing!
• Dentist appointment this month he did great, just a little impatient during mom's turn, but REALLY wanted his new toothbrush and coin for the treasure chest machine in lobby.  Wesson just sat on my lap during my turn, can we say appointment during nap time?

Wesson's Milestones for the Month:

• Beginning of the month he is trying to imitate words and sounds that he hears - "all done" is a specific tone and sound each time, identify maybe 10 body parts, follows verbal commands, likes to walk free and not be held (unless, of course, I'm making dinner)
• After he nearly got hurt climbing out of his crib, we took the side of the convertible crib/toddler bed.  Now some nap times it takes quite a few tries to get him down to stay.  Nighttime has gone better since Kalum is in his own bed in the room too.  One night when I went upstairs for bed I found both boys had rolled out of their beds and were sleeping away on the floor!  Silly boys - and Kalum asks why they can't get bunk beds yet?!
• Wesson got my glasses off my dresser and bent one side right off!  I was so frustrated with him.  I went back to my old glasses until I can find out about getting them repaired.
• 18 month check-up: 25.5 lbs (66%), 33.5" tall (88%), 19" head circumference
• Wesson got a cold this month and then discharge from his eyes.  He had a low fever and I called into Dr office to see what to do.  They called in drops and his eyes were better within a couple days.  A few rough days and not very restful nights for him or Mommy.
• And Wesson gets the balance bike!  Yes, he's a little young, but since Kalum was getting an upgrade, it's his now.  We lowered the seat and handlebars to lowest setting and he walked up and down the sidewalk with his while the big kids rode.  He was all smiles the whole time.
• By end of the month he was saying peek-a-boo, apple (for the actual food item and when I try to use my iphone to take a picture of him! haha)

April Pictures

March 2017

March was a good mix of family, school fun days for the kids, work on the Eagle house, Journey Group meeting, MOPS, and stay at home days.  We even gained a new nephew, Jones Lee Buelt, born on March 15th!  Basically everything else is listed below or in the pictures, so read on to hear more of our March adventures...

Samara's Moments for the Month:

•  So, I've been trying not to make this facial tic issue into a big deal, but at the beginning of March, Samara's eye blinking/rolling is at the most prominent it has been.  We've noticed it when listening to a book being read, while walking along, sometimes when you're talking to her and while she's responding, when she gets excited it increases a lot.  Is this nerves or energy she can't handle?  I spoke with her pediatrician and he said the spectrum would be from a tic (monitor, ignore for the most part, may fade in a year or possibly change to another) to a compulsive behavior (possibly a coping habit for stress or anxiety - potentially have her see a therapist to cope with things that may be causing these issues).  She doesn't seem like an anxious kid, but who knows what it going on inside.  Kindergarten is a year of lots of change - new kids, not all nice like in preschool.  She has talked about one girl on the bus being mean (despite her attempts to talk it through and handle it well) and its making her upset.  She seemed to want to be friends with her because she's also in her class, but I finally said that if someone can't be a good friend, then maybe you should find someone who will be.  I almost feel like she is more hurt that this girl says they're friends and then does mean things.  We'll only continue having her ride the bus if she is able to ride without getting so upset.  I don't want it to become something she'll be teased about, but I want to monitor it more before we decide what, if anything to do.  It doesn't seem to hinder her at school, she's friendly and outgoing with all kids (besides the one girl), she's doing well and mastering all new lessons they're learning and she has friends she plays with.  Samara says that Lucas is her best friend in her class.  "Not that she's going to marry him or anything.  He's just her friend in her class."  (Her words).  We want to focus on building her up more, talking through her day or issues she wants to process at bedtime and pray for and with her.  
• In monitoring over a weekend, basically didn't roll her eyes at all while at home.  We ate lunch at the park and didn't see her do it once until other kids were there to talk and play with.  Sunday was okay for the most part.  Monday-right back to it after being at school all day.
• She had her kindergarten program this month.  She was glad to have her own audience and she did so well!  They sang 15 (yes-wow!) songs and she knew all the words and actions...it seemed all 100+ kindergartners did.  She asked if we could stop on the way to school at HyVee so she could pick out flowers for herself (from us though) for a great program.  Um...no, I think not.  We suggested she wait for her dance recital for potential flowers. ;)
• on Sunday 3/13, Samara wanted to sit by Auntie Courtney during church.  Courtney helped her with her kids bulletin and then Samara loved getting to feel the baby kick on Courtney's belly.  And it's good she did because on the 15th, Samara got to meet another boy cousin!  She lost the gender bet with Courtney and owes her a penny and a quarter since Samara said it would be a girl.  She didn't get too upset (no tears like when Wesson was born).  Courtney said she didn't have to pay up. ;)
• Samara was "Top Banana" at school the week of March 17th.  She got to fill out an "All About Me" poster and bring in some pics to go on the bulletin board to show the class.  She brought green chocolate chip cookie bars and ring pops on St. Patty's Day for the class and I joined her for lunch one day, too.
• March 19th - This morning Samara seemed to be testing out a new habit.  I asked why she was wiggling her nose, was it itchy or something?  She said she just couldn't explain it.  Then later she asked if I'd rather have her roll her eyes around or wiggle her nose.  What the heck?!?!  I said, well, I would choose neither one.  She seemed to switch today to the nose wiggle for the rest of the day.  She made a reference to maybe she is just weird.  So strange really.  But the nose wiggle as of now is less distracting, so we'll take that.  Maybe she'll get over all of it completely and decide she doesn't need a "habit".
• We got to have our first experience with a kid having pink eye in the Derby household... Monday it was slightly red in the evening and then overnight we knew for sure it was pink eye.  We were able to call in and get drops Tuesday, so no school that day or Wednesday, since still contagious.  The drops worked and she never even got miserable.  She already had no school Thursday due to kindergarten roundup or Friday because school was closed.  She was in "stay at home day" heaven!  Jammies, playing, crafting, painting, a few chores, tv show watching during inside lunch picnics.  She won't want to go back on Monday!  Thursday afternoon she came down with a fever and low energy (no nose twitching the whole time with fever).  She took a cool bath and have her med at bedtime since fever was 103.5 and she slept well.  By morning she seemed better and appetite back to normal next day.  And no one else got sick - whew!  Pink eye did spread, but that's for early April...
• She got to run errands with Mom and use a gift card to Claire's that Grandma gave her for Christmas.  She chose a locket necklace, clip on earrings and a headband with crystals.  We went to pay and they said, It's buy three, get three free!  She was in sheer amazement!!  We went back to pick out her additional items and pay.  She proudly carried out her bag full of girly treasures.  We might have a dangerous shopper on our hands when it's shopping for her!  She didn't enjoy the longer than expected stop at Home Depot before that Claire's stop quite so much, but neither did I though.
• March 29th - We had a rough morning with Samara today.  She had an hour long, vicious temper tantrum that even rolled into school drop off.  Kids have meltdowns, I know, but she really seems unable to get it under control once she gets to a certain point.  We will work to fill her love tank and reach out to a therapist, just to give her some coping strategies.  Are the tics and tantrums actually out of her control? Are they related?

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• Early March - can snap his fingers!
• Kalum to Samara during dinner conversation...

• K: If you keep losing all your teeth you'll be teeth bald!
• S: No, it's called toothless.
• Me: Either way, there'd be no more chewing food.  So, let's just keep brushing ALL of your teeth, ok?  (holding in most of my laughter)
• He enjoyed his own Hawaii Day at school after getting to tag along to Samara's the past three years.  He didn't want to hula, but enjoyed snack, making a lei necklace, playing in the "ocean", finding sea creatures, coloring a fish picture and shuffleboard (well, running around with the equipment in hand at least).
• Running around one day, he slipped and fell in the kitchen.  When I asked if he was okay, he said that, "it hurts where God hooked my leg to my body".  After figuring out what he meant and soaking up the cuteness of the explanation, "Oh no!  It hurts when you hit your hip on things."  Kalum - "My hip, yeah, that's what it's called".
• Kalum and I played a simplified version of the board game, Life, one afternoon.  He ended up an athlete with a car full of kids!  I asked what his wife looked like - she had long blonde hair.  Kids names included: Banana, Ice Cream, and Ant.  Lol!  I ended up as a married salesperson with no kids, if you were wondering.
• Mid month - he counted all the way to 20!  Always got stuck in the mid-teens, but totally nailed it today!
• He saw a dinosaur craft at Hobby Lobby when shopping for a possible birthday gift for someone else.  He really wanted one for him!  So, when we got home, he paid me with his own $10 he had saved in his wallet and worked diligently on it for nearly two hours.  It was stiff paper on foam dinosaur cut-outs to assemble and add color coded squares to the sides of.  I helped a little and Samara joined in after school. But it was all him and he's been playing with them all the time.  I later found out that he paid me with paper dollars (which he saw as valueless in compared to his coin money.  That's why he just tossed the dollars my way, as if I was being taken. Dinosaurs for this dumb paper! Ha!)

Wesson's Moments/Milestones for the Month:

• Early March - tries to jump.  Squats way down then stands up and does some quick marching in place.  Getting there bud!  He now waves and says"hi" very clearly.  Even at the store, and usually to someone too far away or after we've already passed someone who waved at him and hello.
• One morning while we were all getting ready to head out the door to church and we all of a sudden couldn't find him!  We heard him squawking but couldn't figure out where he was.  Finally, Samara said, I know, and we opened the pantry closet door in our kitchen.  He had been in there by the cereal boxes, pulled the door shut, then couldn't get out!  
• When you get out your camera or phone, he stands there and smiles a big cheesy grin, as if to say, "here I am, take my picture!"  Then he, of course, wants to see himself.
• March 21st - Yesterday started acting like he could climb out of his crib, putting his leg up and kind of starting to hoist his body up.  Then today, as expected, he climbed over top of his crib after nap time.  He was standing on front bottom rail, still holding onto the bars, saying, "mama mama" when we opened the door.  I guess the six inches to step down were too much.  That only lasted a day, then he had the full dismount figured out!  Goodbye soon to that crib.
• Started telling me when he needs his diaper changed.  One day I told him it was time to got get into the van to get Samara.  He seemed really reluctant and usually he is really excited saying, "Sissy!  Sissy!"  Then he pointed to his booty and said his version of diaper.  I said, do you have a dirty diaper that we need to change?  he nods and starts climbing up the stairs.  We barely made it to bus pickup, but he didn't have to sit in a dirty diaper!  The next day he did the same thing.  Okay, now if we can just catch this before the act...alright, settle back to reality, he's only 18 months old.

Click here for March pictures.

April is next, and with that, more spring fun!

February 2017

Well there was plenty going on during this month of Love!  Samara had dance each week, got a sneak peek at her recital costumes and had a play date with one of the girls in her dance class and also class at school.  Kalum got to have his first school Valentine's experience, choosing a candy and writing his name on the card for each kid.  Jeff started in a men's mentor group through our church that will meet once a month throughout the year.  He also jumped into plans for the Greenwood house that we purchased to remodel and rent and back into work on the Eagle house that we plan to sell by early summer.  I continued on in my Foundations of Parenting class and found it so valuable, convicting at times, but a solid reminder on the long-term perspective of daily parenting decisions.  I had two MOPS meetings, one with a craft and got to attend the THRIVE women's retreat at our church.  Courtney and another friend from church were are my table.  Though, cut short by one evening due to the snow/ice, it was refreshing and such a fun and knowledge-filled event!  We had a family celebration night for selling the Memphis house - Bowling and Dairy Queen!  The kids had a blast - check out the pictures!

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• She was so proud of her Valentine's box with wrapping paper, pom-poms, ribbon bows and candy hearts glued on it.  I drove her to school so she wouldn't have to risk it getting damaged on the bus ride.
• Feb 7th - She was still clearing her throat a lot, something we just have to call her out on sometimes if it is getting really distracting.  This week I haven't heard her doing it as much, actually had stopped completely.  But I noticed instead she is rolling her eyes back and forth and blinking  When I asked her why she was doing it, she said because she just has to and her eyes feel like she has to.  Hoping this is a phase, but it seems to have replaced the throat clearing habit.
• Feb 9th - First top tooth to come out, now there's a definite gap in her smile.  it was really loose for weeks, but she was afraid to pull it out.  Once she pulled it out, she was crying, but after she calmed down she said it didn't hurt at all.  She got so hyped up prepping to pull it out.  She said she was happy she could talk with no lisp even though tooth was gone!
• Spring kindergarten conference - doing well at school!  Both teacher and student teacher love having her in class.  She does her work, knows her sight words, is on some of the "wall of fame" categories.  She has many friends in the class and always puts forth her best effort.  Now that she was "secret student", she whispers to her teachers that so-and-so is doing really well and could be the next secret student.  Like she's in the teacher's club to select one. ;)  She's reading at a first grade level (on word recognition alone).  They'll do more reading comprehension next year.  Just supposed to keep working on site words so that she moves up the chart on reading level.  Can write a sentence when dictated to her (phonetically spelled out of course) and draw a corresponding picture.  Great handwriting for letters and numbers they said.  She said favorite part of school was lunch, likes to play with Wesley and her teacher thinks she is awesome (spelled "osum").  She has lots of friends, I would describe her as confident but definitely sensitive to what others think.
• At her valentine party, she won the first game of number bingo.  Looked at me beaming and said quietly, "I was the first secret student and now I'm the first one to win bingo!"

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• After hearing about Groundhog Day, he wanted to know what the groundhog's prediction was.  I found a video from that morning.  He watched it all and when they announced he'd seen his shadow and that meant six more week so winter, he started all out bawling!  "6 more weeks of winter?!?!?!"  I had to explain that the groundhog wasn't really in control of the weather, it was just a fun tradition, show him the forecast over the next week includes temps in the 50s and after a few minutes he calmed down. Sheesh, was not expecting that!  This boy REALLY loves riding his bike and wearing shorts!
• He was so pumped for Dad's night at preschool, where only he and Dad got to go!  They made a valentine for Mommy with their picture on it and he ate a plateful of food there (after just having finished dinner at home).  A fun, special night for him for sure.
• He was playing a toy guitar one day doing a show for Mommy.  Was dancing, smiling, playing and bopping his eyebrows up and down with the music.  Then he said, "Did you see my eyebrows?  Kind of manly, huh?" Lol!  The stuff kids say!

Wesson's Milestones/Month for the Month:

• Beginning of month - Thinks he can walk down stairs by holding onto the railing.  Thankfully has only done this on our short set of stairs!  He wants to grow up so fast to be like his siblings.  I already catch him mimicking things Kalum does while playing at home.  He can climb onto the couch at inside corner.  He's so proud and stands up.  Smiles a big smile then sits down as you get closer to him.  He likes to look at the family pics on the wall.  Makes distinct different sounds for Samara, Kalum and Daddy.  Will not say Mommy yet!
• Favorite book is "Llama Llama Zippity Zoom" right now
• Mid-month - Says KaKa for Kalum, a version of a word starting with S for Samara, sounds more like sister.  Finally started saying Mama and not just when mad or wanting to be picked up.  Now says "words" or sounds for blanket, up, helpt and some others.  Doesn't sign as much since he thinks he's talking and of course, we should understand him!
• Feb 21st - Has been crabby last few days and just realized why today...Two new teeth already in on the top and two bubbled sore spots on gums on the bottom.  With some motrin at bedtime, he did much better.
• Said "Hi!".  Waves both hands and said hi to people walking by outside and to Daddy when he got home.!
• Two word sentence! - Says "di-dee" for blanket.  And just started saying "Go?", as in where did something go.  So, one morning said, "di-dee...go?"  He had left it in the room and didn't remember that.
• By end of month can identify parts of his body: ears, eyes, nose, forehead, chin, neck, belly button (favorite!) and hair

February Photos

January 2017

Happy New Year!!  January meant back to school on the 5th for Kalum and Samara.  They really enjoyed their time off and having more "stay at home days" as they call them, but back to reality!  I coordinated with Jeff's parents for an overnight stay for the kiddos at their house and surprised Jeff with a dinner and stay downtown for his 35th Birthday!  The kids weren't even in the loop until the last second, as their suitcases and sleeping bags were hidden in the back of the van.  I had snuck our suitcase into the car on the way out the door.  As my going away gift last year, Omaha NARI had given me a gift card for dinner and a hotel stay, so I decided to finally cash it in.  We ate at Sullivan's Steakhouse and stayed at the Hyatt.  In the morning we fit in the Star Wars Rogue One movie, too. We finished off the mini staycation with Jeff's parents for lunch and brought the kids back home after cake at their house.  It was some much needed time together and re-charging time for Jeff, as he's been going non-stop!

We didn't get to have our Winter Birthday celebration at Mom and Dad's in full fashion, as an impending ice storm was threatening.  Instead on the 15th we just had at our house a quick soup lunch with cake and a few gifts, then everyone headed home.  We opted for safety sake, to have a delayed gathering with Grandma and Poppy when the winter weather cleared.  And the roads did get icy, as promised!  Jeff was unsure at first on Monday morning about heading to work, but after calling in it sounded like everyone made it with no issues, so off he went (admittedly slightly reluctantly, as he had mentally planned for working from home).  Samara had Monday off of school and then both kids were off Tuesday and they welcomed the extra play time!  

Memphis update would be - inspections were passed by mid-month and it was just a matter of wrapping up all the final punch-list and cleaning items!  We had two weekends that were packed with final things, including one Saturday where the kids went to Derbys for the afternoon and one where I brought the kids out for an indoor picnic lunch with Daddy then put them to work vacuuming and tidying.  :)  Our final night there was Monday 1/23 where we did the final clean and took photos.  Since we signed the contract with the buyers, we just had to sign payoff papers on 24th and then they closed on the 26th.  They sent us a really nice message about feeling like they were meant to live there and being so pleased with all of the hard work that went into the renovation.  There was a slight blip on the easy transition when the day of closing the new homeowners couldn't get the heater to work.  Jeff made a quick, frantic trip out there to make sure there wasn't a major problem.  It turns out the propane tank was empty, so some space heaters were placed and the propane was filled the next day (goodbye $1000) - but still, whew!  In the end, another DRG home to an appreciative homeowner!

We have had a healthy winter thus far (which says a lot considering we have kids collecting germs in three different places - Kindergarten, Preschool. MOPS childcare and Sunday School).  But, we did finally get one stomach bug in the house - Wesson first, then Kalum, then Samara, Mommy and Daddy had stomach issues soon after as well.  It was short lived at least and all bounced back quickly!  

I started a six week Foundations of Parenting class at church at the end of January.  I'm really excited after just one class about the topics that will be covered and the perspective on parenting that will be taught.  It is Tuesday mornings during Kalum's preschool and had childcare, so it is a great fit in our schedule.  I'm hopeful to have some practical concepts that we can bring into our home and apply in parenting our kids.  It will take discipline on our parts upfront, but the payoff so rewarding as they grow up and mature.

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• Was not really thrilled to go back to school after break.  She enjoyed the more relaxed mornings and just having extra time to play at home.
• She has a front tooth that is super loose, but she really wants it to fall out at school.  They give you a plastic treasure chest to put the tooth into until you get home, and she really wants that to happen!  (Truth be told, I remember other kids getting a plastic treasure box to hold their newly pulled tooth, and I wanted one.  I never had a tooth fall out at school...sigh)

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• He has been having trouble with his listening ears for mommy.  He seems to be doing well at school and Sunday school and he knows all the stories from the morning, so we know his ears work!  But, getting him out the door or doing as I say is sometimes ridiculous.
• He can take off his long-sleeve shirts himself!  Not sure when he got that figured out, but just realized he hasn't been asking me to do it when getting ready for bed anymore.
• One night getting ready for bed I said something about hoping Wesson would sleep all night since he'd been not feeling well.  Kalum says, "You should get pampers so he'll sleep sound all night."  Oh, who says that?, I ask.  "That's what they said on the TV."  Lol - Thank you pampers commercials on PBS for making my four year old all-knowing on babies sleeping all night!

Wesson's Moments for the Month:

• Beginning of month, says cracker rather than "dardar" now, shakes head yes or no aggressively and tries to repeat parts of Old McDonald song.
• He smacked mouth on edge of living room end table.  He bled a ton and cried a lot.  Holding ice on it was not working, as he wanted nothing to do with that.  Eventually stopped bleeding with a pop-ice popsicle just to confirm there was no need to head to the ER at 8pm with 3 kids in their jammies.  Whew!  He might get a nasty bruise and swollen lip from it.  Samara was a mess too during the whole ordeal because she was closest when it happened, so thought it was all her fault.  So, I have a writhing, bloody-mouthed baby and sobbing hysterical six-year-old while Kalum is in the living room putting stickers on a new game while I specifically told him to wait until I could help.  Ack!  Of course this stuff always happens when Daddy isn't home...
• He will wave but actually said "bye bye" when Jeff left.  He still won't say mama.  He loves his Daddy!  He gets a huge smile and goes running towards the door when I say he's home (or he hears the garage), saying "Dada!  Dada!" excitedly.
• Mid-month when it's bed or nap time he says his of the word "caterpillar" and gets the book out of the basket, then sits down on your lap to have it read.  He knows the order of the book and giggles at the same points each time.
• Figured out how to eat one cereal at a time out of his snack cup. Previous to this, he would hold the flaps covering the top back and shake out as much cereal as possible.  I much prefer this new method!
• Can hold a banana in the peel and eat it by himself.  Just needs help pulling down the peel sometimes.
• By the end of the month, he has added the O to E-I-E-I-O in Old McDonald.  It is very pronounced and super cute!  He also started doing this fake haha laugh with squinty eyes when he knows something should be funny or it others laugh at something.

Link to Photos for January is below - enjoy (lots of Memphis house pics since it was the last month in our possession!)

January Photos