These are the times!

Today we had our Halloween party with our playgroup friends and it is the best example I can give when I say 'these are the times'. Meaning, these are the times I want my children to remember when they speak of their childhood. Where my fantastic group of friends generously throw a party that will not only make the kids happy but one that they will hopefully remember. I love when I am apart of a group who enjoy all of the finer points of parenting and take it to heart like I do. I love seeing my little ones hunt for bone yard bones, paint scary cupcakes and make Jack'o Laterns. I know my kiddos now may just see it as a little party but as they get older and maybe even when they become parents, they will look back and see that we tried. Not only that we tried but that we wanted it to be the best Halloween party just for them. Even if in their eyes I become the meddling and life ruining kind of mother....it was so worth it!

A huge THANK YOU goes to Grandma Teresa for making the cutest Mouse Costume for Lexie's 1st Halloween. I know Ethan, Gracie and Lexie will always treasure these items that were made with love.

She was so happy and content in her costume!

Snow White gracing us with her presence.

Darth Vader ( Ethan), Princess Jasmin (Rayven), and Minnie (Rylee)
making Jack O'Laterns

Lexie being tickled by Caryn

Playgroup buddies

Ethan petting his sister?

Snow White looking for bones

Darth Vader looking for bones

She was in character the whole time.
If she would of found a squirrel, I am postive she would've of sang to it.

So Sorry!!

I have been seriously slacking on the blog but I have a good reason. I have been parenting solo due to a TDY and something had to take a back seat. Plus, October is becoming a hectic month. It seems like Ethan always has something to do for school, or wear to school. However, I am feeling more on track and you know it is bad when your husband says "You haven't updated the blog in awhile. Are you going to get to that?" Why yes sweetie....here you go! (total smart-alec response ;))


At our last physical therapy session, Lexie sat in the tripod position for 10 whole minutes. I was very impressed!!

Here she is doing some arm strengthening by pushing herself off of the floor.

EIGHT GOOOOAAAALLLLSSSS!!!!

On Saturday I don't think anyone or anything could of ruined my day because my son was playing like a champ! I hate to sound rude or unsportsmanlike but after watching 4 year olds kick the ball out of bounds for the 60th time, any team goal is one that deserves jumping up and down lunatic behavior. Heck, I even cheer for the other team when they make a goal just because I am thrilled that we are actually playing. I don't know if it was the pancakes for breakfast or if he is just woke up on the right side of the bed, but Ethan was playing like he has never played before. After the game, Eric told Ethan that he could pick anything he wanted to do for the day. My imagination got away from me and I was already tasting the chocolate dipped ice cream cone because I know Ethan has his mother's sweet tooth. However, our kid is always full of surprises because he replied with, "I just want to go to Lowes and build something."
So on to Lowes we went.

On the video it is hard to tell where Ethan is because
both teams have on green but the one kicking the goal in is Ethan.

Highlight of Fall

Pumpkin Patch

Running in the Hay Maze

Hay ride

Life would be boring without her

Gracie is truly a character in her own world that we all just happen to live in. This is her eating breakfast while demanding that she must wear her sun glasses to get through our morning breakfast. If you look at the window behind her you can tell it is pitch dark outside. She walks to her own beat and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Picture like these just melt my heart!!

Oh whatever!!

Yesterday Lexie and I made our way to the Developmental Clinic for a fun filled morning of doctors and therapist. Now this clinic is like one big appointment with a physical therapist, speech therapist, neonatologist, and a social worker. It normally last about 2 1/2 hours and the last time we saw these people was about 4 months ago. I understand that they do this clinic to save me time and worry about having to go to additional appointments on top of the ones we already go to. However, any mother knows that no kid can go through this long of an appointment without getting fussy. So the first specialist we see is the physical therapist and I was happy that we got her first because I wanted Lexie at her prime time that way she could demonstrate her best stuff. Well, I do have to say Lexie was showing off because she was pulling tricks out of her ' I didn't even know she could do' bag. She even started to army crawl on the exam table. I was amazed and know for sure she could totally crawl if she had more muscle tone in her arms. The therapist was very happy with Lexie's progress and gave me a few pointers on helping her use her hands to work on sitting and pushing herself forward on the carpet. Needless to say, Lexie wore herself out after that visit. Unfortunately, the neonatal doctor was next and it is he who rates her on what she can do and then through some inflexible guidelines he gives us the approximate age of developmental maturity. Well, Lexie wasn't having it. She didn't want to play with his therapy toys, be held by him..nothing! She was exhausted and was ready for her nap. He kept pushing her so I just finally told him that I could tell him what she is able to do and he could rate her that way. He gave me the most skeptical look like I was going to lie to him. I understand I may be her parent but I out of anyone is more concerned about where she stands too. I told him that and a few other things and he ended up just asking me instead. After his "examination" he rated her 4 months. I was like WHAT? WHY?. I know she is not anywhere near 9 months but I am sure 6 months is more like it. HE said that since she is not reaching for items above her head, she is only rolling from back to stomach, and not sitting completely by herself he felt 4 months was the accurate age. I told him that I didn't agree with him and really who cares what he thinks??? I live with her. Maybe I can teach Lexie to save her next diaper blowout till the next time we see him and only when he is holding her. Thankfully, I happen to know the social worker so she was like "Ugh, your fine." I guess they just want to make sure I am not losing it. I was actually looking forward to visiting with the speech therapist because lately Lexie has been having some trouble eating. She will take a bottle like a champ and will eat half of her meal but then halfway though it seems like she just forgets to open her mouth and push the food back with her tongue. So, we should be getting a visit from another speech therapist who can watch me feed her and give me any tips on what may help her. Thankfully, the speech therapist rated her at her corrected age which is 7 months so we at least ended the longest appointment of our lives on a good note! Overall though it was a big -Whatever!