Edison Festival of Lights

Here is a crazy fact.  I was born and raised in Fort Myers and I can count on one hand how many times I have been to the Edison Festival of Lights night parade.  My dad isn't a huge parade person and oddly enough that weekend always seems to be extremely cold.  However, we decided to brave the chilly temps and bundle up for the parade.  

Some friends got us a great spot right the start of the parade route. It wasn't crowded so we were able to sprawl out with all of our stuff and enjoy the night!

Please don't laugh.  That is the best family pic we were able to get.

Peyton got cold right when the parade started and snuggled up with Mr. Garrett.  He said he didn't mind because she was keeping his lap warm.

We had such a fun time!  I think we will make it a yearly tradition!

Happy Valentine's Day

A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you.
~Author Unknown

Happy Valentine's Day my sweet children.  Your Dad and I love you more than you will ever know!

xoxo

Kids are funny!

Last week my sister sent me the links below.

46 Reasons my three year old might be freaking out...

http://jasongood.net/365/2012/12/46-reasons-why-my-three-year-old-might-be-freaking-out/
3 Minutes inside the head of my two year old
http://jasongood.net/365/2011/08/day-215-approximately-3-minutes-inside-the-head-of-my-2-year-old/

You HAVE to go read them both.  Whether your kid is 3 or 30, you will find it funny.  Heck if you have no kids and have just babysat once you will find them funny!
I could not contain my laughter and read the majority of the post with tears streaming down my face.  Seriously, it so scary the level of irrationality of small children, we as adults can't even comprehend what the hell is going on half the time.

A few of my favorites:

He’s not allowed in the oven.

His sleeve is touching his thumb.

The inside of his nose stinks. (for the record, Peyton has said this to me)

After I finished reading I sent the links to a bunch of friends with kids and immediately started getting responses back.  Everyone was dying laughing and had funny stories of their own.  So I asked them if I could share their funny kid moments here on my blog and they agreed.  So here ya have it....the good, the bad and the crazy!

Landyn: Age 2

Let's start with Landyn Audrey.  Her Mom, Amanda is an old friend of mine and she is hilarious, so it is only natural that Landyn is a character was well.

I was loading the dishwasher the other day and Landyn yelled Knife very loudly picked it out of the dishwasher and proceeded to run away from me.  I was trying to be very calm and ask her nicely to please give me the knife back since I could just picture her running and falling and stabbing herself with it….luckily there was no stabbing that day and only a minor knife fight as I tried to wrestle it away from her… Agreed, they are insane!

Connor: Age 4

Next up is Connor.

Last week, Connor and I were going through the McD's drive thru and Connor asked if he could have his window down too like me (he sits in the seat directly behind my seat).  As I paid the somewhat grumpy and socially-disturbed woman with dreadlocks at the first drive thru window, she gave me my receipt and I said "Thank you!"  Connor decided to chime in as well and said "Thanks lady with the funny hair!!"

Other weird things--

*I often ask Connor, "Are you coming or what?!", "Are you going to get out of the car or what?!"...and he ALWAYS responds "Or what!"...and its as if he's being smart but in fact, he doesn't even realize that hes not supposed to respond to the rhetorical question.  

*Connor insists that we play hide and seek with his toy story friends (he hides his stuffed animals and  then I have to find them).  He either tells us where everything is before we find it or he forgets where he hides things and we spend the next few hours trying to recover all "friends" because God forbid we not have all toy story friends with us at all times.

*Connor likes to announce what you are "doing" when you're using the restroom, especially when you're in public.  On more than one occasion, Connor has exclaimed, "Mom, are you going poop?! Can I see?!"..."Sure buddy....Shhhhh...."

Maddie: Age 3

Here is Maddie.  She is Peyton's classmate and a spirited little girl to say the least.  Cute as can be too!  Her parents might say that is part of the problem.  :)

Honest to God prayer my daughter said last night: "Dear God: I love you God. Thank you to Jesus for making me feel better (referring to her ear infection). I love my mom. My daddy too. And sometimes Baby Gavin. Thank you for getting rid of my nasty attitude so Bella can come over and play. And for making me be respectful. (clearly she had been scolded about this multiple times throughout the day). Ok, that's all, Amen." 

Peyton: Age 3

Last but not least is Peyton.  I had a funny thing she told me the other day as my original quote from her.  "Mom, I can't get this screwdriver in my straw".

Because God only knows why that is important. But then this weekend we had the following exchange and to date it is the strangest conversation I have ever had with her.

From the other room she yells, "Mom, I have to go potty".

Me: "Okay, get up and let's go."

Pey: "No, I want to go later".

Me: "But you just said you needed to go".

Pey:  "I went yesterday".

Me: "That's great but you said you need to go so let's get up and go."

Pey:  " I will wait and go tomorrow". 

Me: "Peyton, get off the couch and go potty".

Pey:  "I just already told you I went yesterday and I will go tomorrow".

Me:  "Fine Peyton don't go potty".

....less than 3 minutes later she walks into the garage to tell me she went potty.  So I opened a beer!

If you have a funny kid story or quote and want to share it, I would love to hear it!  Until then, best of luck staying sane!

A Quick Trip

This past weekend we made a quick trip to Tampa to visit Aunt Shirley and family and attend a Baptism.  Let's start with Aunt Shirley's house.

We love going to Shirley's house.  There is so much to do.  They have a game room for the kids, a lake and a boat for Mike and plenty of good food.  (especially the Sunday morning sausage biscuits prepared by Uncle Mike)

Peyton loved using the binoculars to try to find her Daddy on the lake.

Then it was her turn for a ride in the boat.  She was stoked!

 Until she go in where she promptly wanted out of the little john boat.  Oh well, at least she tried.

 Here is Alexis teaching Peyton how to minnow fish.  I attempted minnow fishing as well to no avail.  Those suckers are fast!

 And Bones is never far away.  He loves being outside and taking it all in.

The view from the porch.  Perfect!

We had such a nice time and can't wait to go back soon.  Oh and it was Shirley's birthday, so those birthday photos are up next.  We had a PARTAY!!!

Ballerinas

Here are the promised pictures from ballet and tap class.  It's so crazy to see how grown up Peyton is becoming. She's hanging with friends and starting to have interests.  

 We couldn't get Peyton and Maddie to smile for the camera simultaneously to save our lives.  The post class snow cones were WAY more important.

 All three of these sweet little ballerinas are in the same class at school.  So they are extra excited to see each other at ballet class on Saturdays!

I look forward to watching these little munchkins grow and learn together.

Releve' on ladies!

(ps. I just learned what releve' meant last week and wanted to use it.)

4 Month Checkup

 I haven't done a very good job of keeping up with CJ's stats like I did with Peyton.  So I decided I would make sure to store them in my phone today when we visited the doctor for his 4 month checkup.  

Weight: 17 pounds

Height: 25.75 inches

Head 43 cm

Each of those measurements are in the 85th percentile.  So he is perfectly symmetrical and still a Hambones....just not the biggest hambones, like I assumed he was.

Also, he is as healthy as can be and right on track with everything he should be doing, maybe even a little ahead with all the rolling over that started last week.  

Regardless, we knew he was perfect but it is always nice to receive some affirmation of the job you are doing as a parent.  

Here a few things CJ is doing this month:

*Rolling from back to front and front to back

*Mimicking noises and facial expressions we make

*Started riding in the big car seat, (I couldn't carry the infant carrier anymore)

*Eating solids. So far he has tried, oatmeal, pears, apples, peaches, avocado and sweet potatoes.

We are looking forward to all that his 5th month has in store.  We love you Bones!

This and that

Lately I have either felt extremely busy or like the days are floating by.  This past weekend was a floating kind of weekend.  Mike and I worked on Etsy while Peyton played outside and CJ just hung around being laid back as usual.

 Peyton did a little painting.  She worked on this project for a solid hour.  The girl takes her projects seriously!

 Saturday morning Peyton started dance class.  Unfortunately these were the only pictures I managed to take. But as you can see I did a pretty good ballet bun!

 She really enjoyed the class.  So we have signed her to continue.  Maybe we have a little ballerina on our hands!

 Lastly, meet Mr. Gavin.  He is CJ's newest and smallest friend.  Believe it or not that sweet little munchkin is 3 weeks old!  He was born under six pounds and is so sweet and cuddly.  I could hold his little body all day!  But then again maybe that is because I hold an almost 18 pound Hambones everyday.  Either way we are so happy to have a guy friend for CJ!

Well that's it for what's been happening around here.  It's almost the weekend!  TGIF!