What's better than a beautiful, sunny snow day?
I'd say one when school has been cancelled!
The boys have thoroughly enjoyed their surprise day off of school today. (When does it ever snow during the end of February in Oregon?) They had a heyday outside this morning with all the neighborhood kids. Came in for hot chocolate with marshmallows and some cartoons. Then off to get their hair cut with Dad and lunch at Subway. I just don't think it gets any better than that for one 8-year-old and one 5-year-old boy.
Now we're going to clean the house. I'm sure that will just be the icing on the cake for them...I know it will be for me!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
6 Months
*Today I took Allie in for her 6 month well-baby check up.
Here are her stats:
Weight: 18 pounds
Length: 27" long
She is doing all the 6 month "things" on the doctor's milestone checklist:
Rolls over on her own.
Sits by herself (as of this past week).
Has two cute little teeth. (I should say two SHARP little teeth!)
The doctor gave her the "go ahead" to try some solid foods. Butternut squash will be her first to taste. We'll wait for tomorrow night when everyone will be home for dinner. Her brothers have been looking forward to watching her take that first taste for a long time now! So exciting!
Other cute things she likes to do:
Gets the hiccups often when she laughs at her brothers.
She found her feet and likes to suck on her big toes. This kid is so flexible!
It is getting tricky to talk on the phone while holding her. It all started one day last week when I put Travis on speaker phone. She absolutely LOVES that telephone now and won't stop grabbing at it.
She gasps with excitement and kicks her arms and legs in anticipation of seeing the boys as I carry her down the hall or downstairs.
*Tyler and I did a little photo shoot with Allie in the afternoon light. I'm having fun experimenting with my camera. I'm trying to learn the settings on my own right now. I'd like to take a beginning digital photography class at some point when I can leave Allie for a longer amount of time. In the meantime, does anybody know of a good online course I could take from home?
* Tonight we went to Justin's "Blue & Gold Banquet" for Cub Scouts. Travis was just called as the Cub Master. So, he and the previous Cub Master planned a "time travel" skit to introduce Travis to the boys in a fun way. Jared went into the time machine and Travis came out saying, "I feel 10 years younger!" Which he is. It was clever and funny. Then Travis led the program with awards, skits by the boys and games for everyone. I think he will have fun with this calling and Justin is thrilled to have Dad helping out with him Cub Scout activities.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
President's Day Weekend
We are busy rearranging bedrooms. The boys have been sharing a room and a bunk bed for the past year. But they have both been begging to have their own rooms again. So, we split them up and they are so happy. Tyler loves to sleep on the big queen-sized guest bed in the play room and Justin is in heaven with his own "space" and the bunk bed. Allie is still in our room, but we're working this weekend on shuffling around and reorganizing in order to clear out the remaining room for her to be able to move in there. Everything is everywhere and by tomorrow night I hope everything has a home. That's the plan. Phew.
Oh, and maybe we'll even have time to clean up the yard for springtime...maybe not.
I am also finishing some catch-up posts. Just lick on the title to view these new ones:
Raingutter Regatta
So Kissable!
Allie's 5 Month Birthday Photo Shoot
Oh, and maybe we'll even have time to clean up the yard for springtime...maybe not.
I am also finishing some catch-up posts. Just lick on the title to view these new ones:
Raingutter Regatta
So Kissable!
Allie's 5 Month Birthday Photo Shoot
Monday, February 14, 2011
It's Valen-time's Day!
I smile every single time Tyler talks about Valen-time's Day. I kept asking him, "What day is tomorrow?", "What are you making for your friend's at school?", etc., just so he would say that again. He gave me a kooky look the other day when I asked him about five times in a row.
I finally figured out why I love the idea of Valentine's Day. The new Hallmark campaign explains it perfectly. Valentine's Day isn't about just saying, "I love you", it's for saying "I love us."
I love the way we are together, I love the life we have built, I love our little family.
I love the little valentines the boys make for us.
The Five Senses of LOVE
by Tyler Guptill
Love looks like Mom.
Love sounds like Allie.
Love tastes like apples.
Love smells like ice cream.
Love feels like sleep.
Justin send Tyler a sweet valentine through the "mail" at school:
Feb.9, 2011 to: tyler
Dear Tyler, Happy Valintine's Day!
Here is a Valintines day poem!
5 little hearts all in a row,
the first one said "I love you so,
the second one said "will you be my vanintine?",
the third one said "I will if you'll be mine,"
the forth one said "I'll always be your friend",
the fifth one said "we'll be friends till the very end."
I hope you like the poem!
From Justin
While Tyler was labeling valentines for his classmates, he told me he hoped he wouldn't be getting any princess valentines. Justin immediately told him "You are totally getting princess valentines, Tyler!" Tyler made a funny face, "Why?" Justin answered, "That's just what girls give!" Tyler thought for a minute. "Well, I guess that's o.k. as long as they don't forget to give a candy with it!" Ha ha!
Valentine's Day hasn't ever been a huge deal for us as a couple. We always try to do and/or give something sweet to each other. But nothing very big or expensive. Travis blew me away today with the sweetest valentine's present ever. An anniversary ring with a little diamond nestled in the band for each year. Ten. I did not see this one coming. I cried.
I couldn't stop gazing at it all night. When I look at it I see 10 years of us. So many moments of bliss. It makes me want to smile, laugh and cry happy tears all at the same time. I love this man.
I finally figured out why I love the idea of Valentine's Day. The new Hallmark campaign explains it perfectly. Valentine's Day isn't about just saying, "I love you", it's for saying "I love us."
I love the way we are together, I love the life we have built, I love our little family.
I love the little valentines the boys make for us.
The Five Senses of LOVE
by Tyler Guptill
Love looks like Mom.
Love sounds like Allie.
Love tastes like apples.
Love smells like ice cream.
Love feels like sleep.
Justin send Tyler a sweet valentine through the "mail" at school:
Feb.9, 2011 to: tyler
Dear Tyler, Happy Valintine's Day!
Here is a Valintines day poem!
5 little hearts all in a row,
the first one said "I love you so,
the second one said "will you be my vanintine?",
the third one said "I will if you'll be mine,"
the forth one said "I'll always be your friend",
the fifth one said "we'll be friends till the very end."
I hope you like the poem!
From Justin
While Tyler was labeling valentines for his classmates, he told me he hoped he wouldn't be getting any princess valentines. Justin immediately told him "You are totally getting princess valentines, Tyler!" Tyler made a funny face, "Why?" Justin answered, "That's just what girls give!" Tyler thought for a minute. "Well, I guess that's o.k. as long as they don't forget to give a candy with it!" Ha ha!
Valentine's Day hasn't ever been a huge deal for us as a couple. We always try to do and/or give something sweet to each other. But nothing very big or expensive. Travis blew me away today with the sweetest valentine's present ever. An anniversary ring with a little diamond nestled in the band for each year. Ten. I did not see this one coming. I cried.
I couldn't stop gazing at it all night. When I look at it I see 10 years of us. So many moments of bliss. It makes me want to smile, laugh and cry happy tears all at the same time. I love this man.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Yikes
We were going upstairs to get ready for bed late last night when Allie woke up. We have the crib in our room and I'm dragging my feet about moving her to her own room. Well anyway, I picked her up and was walking over to change her diaper when the power went out. Total darkness. Our whole neighborhood was out of power so no street lights were on either. I just froze where I was and tried to focus on where things were in our room. I couldn't see a single thing. Not even Allie in my arms. It was a little bit scary.
Just then, Travis came up the stairs carrying his iPhone with the flashlight app on. That thing is just so cool. He grabbed our extra flashlights and we got ready for bed and I fed the baby.
As I rocked Allie, I couldn't stop thinking that I really, really need to update our 72 hour kits. I mean, if we suddenly had to leave our house, the kits we do have are so outdated it wouldn't even be worth taking them with us. How miserable would it be to be in the middle of an emergency and have absolutely nothing packed for the baby but plenty of toddler clothes for Justin and Tyler?
The power was back on within an hour of so, but it was a good wake-up call for this mommy. So there you have it...my new goal for this month. Pack a little bag for each of us.
And if I find some stylin' bags like the ones in this picture, I may just be hoping for an emergency so I can actually use them. Knock on wood.
So seriously, do you have any tips for me? Something that has worked for your family?
Just then, Travis came up the stairs carrying his iPhone with the flashlight app on. That thing is just so cool. He grabbed our extra flashlights and we got ready for bed and I fed the baby.
As I rocked Allie, I couldn't stop thinking that I really, really need to update our 72 hour kits. I mean, if we suddenly had to leave our house, the kits we do have are so outdated it wouldn't even be worth taking them with us. How miserable would it be to be in the middle of an emergency and have absolutely nothing packed for the baby but plenty of toddler clothes for Justin and Tyler?
The power was back on within an hour of so, but it was a good wake-up call for this mommy. So there you have it...my new goal for this month. Pack a little bag for each of us.
And if I find some stylin' bags like the ones in this picture, I may just be hoping for an emergency so I can actually use them. Knock on wood.
So seriously, do you have any tips for me? Something that has worked for your family?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Projects
When my parents came out to help after Justin was born (9 years ago this May), my Dad came up with the idea to build stacked-to-the-ceiling shelving units for storage space in our one car garage. My brother, Jared, was here to help. So, Travis, Jared and my Dad went to work all that week in the garage. Bless them. Ever since then, we have USED those shelves.
After living in this house for nearly 9 years and adding two more kids to our crew, we just have more stuff. Now that we have another munchkin with all of her munchkin things, we have been starting to feel a bit crowded in our home sweet home. We have four bedrooms but hardly ANY storage space throughout the house. Small rooms, small closets, no basement, you get the picture. I have been getting good at purging and passing on things we don't really need anymore. But as Travis tells me now, "We can't throw away everything!"
When my parents came out to help with Allie when she was born, my Dad came up with a new solution for our garage: Building a garage-wide suspended storage unit over the garage door. He and Travis worked hard for more than a week to build an awesome storage space. It was so funny one day when my dad was drilling into the ceiling of the garage which in directly below our bedroom where I was rocking Allie. I knocked a loud "Hello" on my wall, "Da, da-da-da-da..." and he answered with a "da-da" knocked on the ceiling. It cracked me up that I could hear him laughing down there. Here is the final beauty:
We really think this new space will allow us to stay in our house for quite a while longer. It has been so nice to have a "hidden" place to stash some big things like our artificial Christmas tree, luggage, etc.
The boys have been sharing a bunkbed in the biggest bedroom for the past year. We still have Allie's crib set up in our bedroom and have just stashed all her stuff and random toys, books, whatever in the middle bedroom. Then we have a so called "guest room" that ends up being stashed with everything else we don't know what to do with in our house.
So, while the boys have been begging for their own rooms, we have given in and are in full re-arranging mode.
After living in this house for nearly 9 years and adding two more kids to our crew, we just have more stuff. Now that we have another munchkin with all of her munchkin things, we have been starting to feel a bit crowded in our home sweet home. We have four bedrooms but hardly ANY storage space throughout the house. Small rooms, small closets, no basement, you get the picture. I have been getting good at purging and passing on things we don't really need anymore. But as Travis tells me now, "We can't throw away everything!"
When my parents came out to help with Allie when she was born, my Dad came up with a new solution for our garage: Building a garage-wide suspended storage unit over the garage door. He and Travis worked hard for more than a week to build an awesome storage space. It was so funny one day when my dad was drilling into the ceiling of the garage which in directly below our bedroom where I was rocking Allie. I knocked a loud "Hello" on my wall, "Da, da-da-da-da..." and he answered with a "da-da" knocked on the ceiling. It cracked me up that I could hear him laughing down there. Here is the final beauty:
We really think this new space will allow us to stay in our house for quite a while longer. It has been so nice to have a "hidden" place to stash some big things like our artificial Christmas tree, luggage, etc.
The boys have been sharing a bunkbed in the biggest bedroom for the past year. We still have Allie's crib set up in our bedroom and have just stashed all her stuff and random toys, books, whatever in the middle bedroom. Then we have a so called "guest room" that ends up being stashed with everything else we don't know what to do with in our house.
So, while the boys have been begging for their own rooms, we have given in and are in full re-arranging mode.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Life with Allie at 5 months
The new-baby fog has lifted and I am finally posting the details. Click here if you'd like to read about Allie's birth story.
I'll try to blog more often now to catch up through the rest of 2010. I have missed my blogging friends and now I'm committed. I'm back! We are doing so good. The boys are having fun with school and we are still just eating Allie up! She's delicious! Allie is always flashing her big smile and fusses if we don't pick her right up to join us at the dinner table.
This has been a busy 24 hours for her. Yesterday, she rolled over for the first time! Yay! And her first two teeth just broke through today. What a high-achieving 5-month-old cutie we have! She hasn't been feeling too great this past week with the teething and all, so I have been holding her constantly. This song pretty much describes us. ("You and me, baby, we're stuck like glue" - by Sugarland) It is amazing how connected we are when she doesn't take a bottle and I haven't left her with anyone besides Travis (for haircuts and visiting teaching) and Grandma Davis (for last-minute Christmas shopping while we were in Utah). Allie and I met my good friend, Upi, for hot chocolate yestderday morning and it felt so wonderful to get out and enjoy some girl talk.
I am really enjoying this new baby time and feel like I have been able to really enjoy every stage with Allie. I'm not trying to keep my house spotless or have dinner ready by a certain time. I don't even get a chance to put my makeup on most days. But I am feeling more on top of it every week. This has been quite the transition for our family to move from 2 to 3 kids. I am realizing we have a new "normal" in our family. I am excited about this new year and look forward to its possibilities.
O.K., so Travis just read this post and says we can't "eat her up" because then she would be "all gone". So, I'll just say she looks scrumptious and we can't get enough of her. Lol!
Stay tuned for more details and pictures to come...
Love,
Kayelynn
I'll try to blog more often now to catch up through the rest of 2010. I have missed my blogging friends and now I'm committed. I'm back! We are doing so good. The boys are having fun with school and we are still just eating Allie up! She's delicious! Allie is always flashing her big smile and fusses if we don't pick her right up to join us at the dinner table.
This has been a busy 24 hours for her. Yesterday, she rolled over for the first time! Yay! And her first two teeth just broke through today. What a high-achieving 5-month-old cutie we have! She hasn't been feeling too great this past week with the teething and all, so I have been holding her constantly. This song pretty much describes us. ("You and me, baby, we're stuck like glue" - by Sugarland) It is amazing how connected we are when she doesn't take a bottle and I haven't left her with anyone besides Travis (for haircuts and visiting teaching) and Grandma Davis (for last-minute Christmas shopping while we were in Utah). Allie and I met my good friend, Upi, for hot chocolate yestderday morning and it felt so wonderful to get out and enjoy some girl talk.
I am really enjoying this new baby time and feel like I have been able to really enjoy every stage with Allie. I'm not trying to keep my house spotless or have dinner ready by a certain time. I don't even get a chance to put my makeup on most days. But I am feeling more on top of it every week. This has been quite the transition for our family to move from 2 to 3 kids. I am realizing we have a new "normal" in our family. I am excited about this new year and look forward to its possibilities.
O.K., so Travis just read this post and says we can't "eat her up" because then she would be "all gone". So, I'll just say she looks scrumptious and we can't get enough of her. Lol!
Stay tuned for more details and pictures to come...
Love,
Kayelynn
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