Harper's First Thanksgiving (& 34 Weeks Old!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

While I am thankful for countless things, these are definitely my top three!

I hope Santa has some ideas...

of what to get my children for Christmas b/c right now I got nothin'! Harper, well she needs diapers and that is about it. Carson, he needs a carseat since Harper is going to take his over here soon. Davis...well, he doesn't really need anything but wants a Tag learning system and that might be out of Santa's budget. Those books are spendy. Of course they have now circled everything in the toy catalog...Hot Wheels Jump Tracks and Star Wars Light Sabers and Little Learning Lap Tops, and every DS game in there....I fear that Santa will disappoint this year...but if he is into fulfilling wishes Mom and Dad want some R&R, a trip to Mexico sounds really nice right now...

I think giraffes might like to eat babies...

Here is Harper strolling along, with her cute hair bow that Jan made her. Yes, the bow is an important part of this story.

Here are the boys and Grandma feeding the giraffes, who in hindsight are very aggressive when it comes to eating.

Check out the tongue. I wonder if Gene Simmons has met this giraffe.

He means business.

Davis and Carson having a stare down.

Let's introduce him to Harper. She is not so sure of him.

But, if you want to eat me my Mommy will just watch you do it and I will smile about it.

Seriously, how stupid can I be? Here I am waiting for Keith to take a picture when Keith yells at me (mind you I am holding the baby) and he yells to stop the giraffe. WTH? Why not intervene. The giraffe took the flower from Harper's head, I snatched the headband hoping to get it all back from the giraffe, but he was too fast for me and he snatched the flower off and started chewing. And chewing. And chewing. Keith again, tells me--you have to tell someone. Again, WTH? He is not a mute. So I tell the people there who look at me like I am the dumbest girl ever. I figured this was not the ideal time to let them know that I do have a master's degree and once upon a time people even paid me to have a job with responsibilities...instead I cowered to the zoo people as they walkie-talkied for help...you see the hair bow, it has metal, and while tiny, not idea for a giraffe. The giraffe...he could not swallow it. He is still chewing...then it comes back up and people are trying to grab it from the giraffes mouth. YES, a part of me wanted to photo this...but since I was already in the zoo dog house I held back this urge. Instead just watching this poor giraffe struggle to swallow.

You will be glad to know he did swallow eventually and he was still OK and harassing others when we left. But, in hindsight, that giraffe could have wrapped that monster tongue around my baby and took her. Seriously, is it safe to be this lackadaisical when it comes to feeding animals...these are wild animals, right? Man..again..when did I get so dumb...babies +wild animals=not good.

You smell like pickles.

Tonight Carson yelled at Davis that he didn't like him and he wasn't his friend anymore because he smelled like pickles. How I wish I could have used that one when I was working...

Thursday Stuff

Since Keith does not usually work much on Thusday's we get to hang out with him. Today we went to Carson's preschool worship service, they have them once a month on different days but today we all got to go. As you can see the princess was getting a bit spoiled wit her Daddy time.

Here is Harper and Hannah, very deep in conversation.

Harper saying these teeth...are they ever gonna just come in 'cause this kind of sucks.

Let the singing begin! Most of the songs are accompanied by sign, and Keith has this one mastered!

33 Weeks!

The princess is 33 weeks old today! Thank you to our friend Jan for the CUTE hair bow she made her. You are so talented Jan--and it goes perfectly with her little faux fur reversible vest--definitely a must have for every seven month old princess! Now...where can her Mom get one just like it...

Look Who is SO BIG!

I would not call what she is doing "crawling" but she can make purposeful scootches (technical term) to get anywhere she wants to go...she sees something she wants, she goes for it, or if she wants to be near you here she comes. She is also so please with her sitting ability, she can't get there on her own and she does wobble over eventually, but she likes being a big girl. Mommy is not so sure she likes it...

Bundle up so you don't freeze...

Can you name that book? It is one of our favorites? Just had to share this cute pic of Miss H all ready to take her brother's to school this morning. I was going to go play games with Davis and his class since today was early release day but another Mom that usually works wanted to go so instead Harper and I did a little more xmas shopping. I think we have one more thing to pick up and then we are all done...except for the kids...why are they so hard to shop for?!

Color Blind

Well, I certainly didn't see this one coming...or did I? When Davis was small he used to confuse colors, but really...don't all kids? Now he seems so precise on all of his colors that I never gave it a second thought. Then last week the school nurse called, the same one that was not so on top of the cookie situation for Halloween, and told me Davis was color blind. I asked Davis about the test she gave and he said he didn't understand what she was asking. I know she is a "nurse" but I am not 100% confident in her so I talk to Keith about it. He tests Davis and he thinks he is a little red/green deficient, so all in all he is a little bit color blind. Surprise of the day for sure.

Snow?

I woke up to snow. Where did that come from...granted I don't watch the news, but it was like 75 out last week and then we had some rain and now snow...???

Becky Meets Harper!

Here is Becky. I didn't manage to get pics of Jim, but the were at the house for dinner on Sunday and she got to meet Harper. She spoiled the kids with presents and played puzzles with the boys. She used to be a Kindie teacher and was great with them! She also has a granddaughter, Adalyn, who turns one in December so she knows a little something about spoiling little girls too.

Froggy comes to Movie Night!

Davis is STAR student this week, and it kicks off on Friday night with a visit from Froggy. Froggy is Leap's friend, Leap is the class mascot. Froggy had a great time meeting all of our other stuffed friends. Marlo the Monkey (Davis' Monkey) and Benny the Bear (Carson's Bear) had to join us and Froggy for a viewing of UP on Friday night. Everyone had a good time and loved the popcorn....loved it so much I am still finding it in the couch!

Saturday Jeni and Chuck babysat the kids so Keith and I could do our Christmas shopping. It was a successful day as we have everything done except for the kids. Our kids, well they don't need anything and the things they do want we don't know if other people are getting them...so you people (you know who you are) need to talk to us so we know what to do!

Saturday night we had a relaxing night of dinner and Wii. If only all weekends could be this way. Then on Sunday we spent most of the morning at church until noonish and then I went and got my friend Becky who was in town from Indiana (her husband Jim was here for a work thing). Let's just say Becky--you are a bad influence when it comes to little girl shopping. And, why is everything so much cuter when it is tiny?! I did show restraint, but I sure coveted many an outfit for the princess!

Today Harper and I went to Target in the middle of a monsoon and did some shopping and then to the petstore to acquire some geriatric food for our cat that seems to be hanging in but getting smaller and smaller as the years pass. I don't think he feels so well...but he is still here.

At the risk of this being the most boring post ever I will bring it to an end, but at least this way I am all caught up with our excitement :-)

Tomorrow is early release day for Davis so I hope to go play some games with him at school in the morning!

Easter?

I mentioned that Carson wanted to go ahead and have Thankgiving so we could see Santa. Well, earlier this week he found his Easter basket and wanted to go ahead and have Easter instead. That boy is just wanting to hurry up and do it all. Can't he see his momma can barely keep up...I am struggling to get thank you notes done for my birthday and that will have been a month ago if I don't step it up.

In other holiday news, we passed a sign at the great mall that says (in GIANT letters), SANTA IS HERE. Since Davis is learning to read he called me out on it. I tried to say, oh they are just getting the signs ready...I don't think he bought it. But really Great Mall people, is it time? Is he really there.....and if so, can you and all other retail people just hold up and let us have Thankgiving first?!

32 Weeks!

Jumping Jumping Jumping. Harper would jump nonstop if I let her I think. I need to take a video of her and post it soon. She has started "talking" to herself in the mirror, it is so cute. This jumper is in our bathroom and it is between me and the mirror when I am getting ready in the morning. We talk and she jumps and just babbles on and one. So fun. It is also fun that the boys run into see her each morning too.

Everyday I think how blessed am I to have such a happy girl. She is so amazing that she makes me want to rewind and do all 32 weeks over again, oh if I only could I think that would be the best thing ever. It is nearly midnight and I just want to wake her up to see the grin.

It has been a busy week here...but then again, I suppose it is often a busy week here. Really looking forward to spending some time with the boys tomorrow--no activities and no plans tomorrow night. I feel a movie night coming on.

A little Q&A with the kids

I try to ask the kids some random questions once or twice a year to compare answers as they grow. Like, Davis' favorite color used to be "Colorful" and his favorite animal was a "Tiger, dolophin and a bumble bee" in that order. Things have changed! Here is the latest Q&A.
The boys answered for Harper.

What is your favorite fruit:
Davis-Strawberries and Grapefruit
Carson-Oranges
Harper-Bananas

What is your favorite vegetable:
Davis-Carrots
Carson-I don't like vegetables.
Harper-Carrots

What is your favorite color:
Davis-Red
Carson-Blue
Harper-Pink of course!

What is your favorite animal:
Davis-Monsters. "Oh yeah, those aren't animals...how about a snake?" Snake, that is my favorite.
Carson-Cats
Harper-Elephants

What is your favorite breakfast:
Davis-Fruit Loops
Carson- Fruit Loops
Harper-Milk from "mommy's tummy" per Carson.

What is your favorite dinner:
Davis-Potato Soup
Carson-Tacos
Harper-Bananas and Milk

What is your favorite sandwich:
Davis-Turkey and cheese with spicy mustard.
Carson-Peanut Butter and Red Plum Jelly
Harpe--The boys said, I don't know..."maybe a milk sandwich?"

What is your favorite sport:
Davis-Soccer
Carson-Baseball and Soccer
Harper-Per Carson, "She doesn't have a sport."

What is your favorite show or movie?
Davis-Scooby Doo and Spongebob
Carson-Star Wars (which he has NEVER seen), UP and Scooby Doo.
Harper-Per Carson, "She doesn't like movies."

What is your favorite game?
Davis-Cariboo
Carson-Honey Bee Tree
Harper-Umm...princess?

What is your favorite book?
Davis-I see a Leaf
Carson-Goodnight GOON (not a typo)
Harper-Princess Book

What is your favorite thing to do at school?
Davis-Recess and Centers
Carson-Color
Harper-"Harper doesn't have a school!"

What do you like to do when you have free time to play?
Davis-The Wii, Blocks, Coloring and being outside with Tyler and riding my scooter.
Carson-Painting, playdoh and riding my scooter.
Harper-Jumping

What do you want to do right now?
Davis-Eat!
Carson-EatiCandy!
Harper-Jump!

What do you want to ask Santa for this Christmas?
Davis-A star wars leapser, a transformers race track and a reading system. (His Mom doesn't knwo what any of these things are)
Carson-I want everything Davis wants for Christmas and a Transformer movie.
Harper-Per Davis, I don't know...I guess some books...

This is what peace looks like. When they are awake that is...

Everyday, if I am lucky, there are moments when everyone just gets along. And, when the stars align it happens during dinner time. I love it when it happens...now if only I could find a way to sustain this...because moments after I took these pictures Harper was screaming, Davis was crying and Carson was being ornery. Good times.

Santa? Seriously?

Just a little peak into a weekend art project with the boys. As you can see the project had them more than they had the project...but nonetheless, they had a great time with it. Then again, they can make darn near anything into a great time!

We found it interesting that they broke out the Santa jammies from last year to wear. Even more interesting was Carson asking me to take him to see Santa. I told him we could not see Santa until after Thanksgiving. His response was, well then let's have Thanksgiving!