Welcoming the new year

With a new year starting, we thought we would start it off by cleaning, organizing and getting a fresh start.  After Christmas we organized the kids toys and put up most of them, leaving only a few bins readily available. This way the kids have to ask to get something down, and then they have to pick that up before moving on to the next thing.  We used to just wait till the end of the day or before nap time to pick up and it was such a chore.  All the kids complained because it looked like a tornado had hit the house and it was very overwhelming.  Even though it was a pain to pick up and find spots for everything, I have to say it has been really nice.  I feel like the house looks more like a house and not Romper Room.  I also feel like it has helped Camden have a better attitude toward picking up.  I think it was because there was *so* much to clean up, he dreaded it. Now it just takes him a minute or two to pick up and we have a lot less fuss from him.  Callan has also helped a little more than usual, and Carter is not having to do the majority of it.  It is a win-win all around.  We also cleaned and organized the store room, my craft area, the bathroom closets, laundry room, and hall closet.  It felt good to start the new year in a more organized fashion.  We soaked up all the time we could while Chad was home and we all enjoyed it.  We also had a lot of time to play and just be together as a family.  Right after the new year started the kids went with the Scribner grandparents for a day of fun.  They went to the children's museum with their cousins and then back to grandparents house for ginger bread cookie decorating, and dinner.  This gave Chad and I time to finish up some organizing projects and even sneaked in a quick dinner alone. *I just learned while writing this that even though the word sneaked does not sound right in the sentence, it is correct, and snuck is not a word. I guess I am still learning every day* There was a tiny mishap (I say tiny, because it wasn't me who had to deal with it.  Thanks grandma and grandpa) when the kids were out.  Carter was eating lunch and claimed to have something stuck in his throat.  He proceeded to throw up but then said he felt fine.  He sat with grandpa for a little while and then went and played and ended up throwing up again.  After each time he said he felt fine and acting fine, and just kept complaining something was in his throat.  After the third time, they took him back to their house to rest, but that was the end.  He felt better, ate a good dinner and had no other issues.  No one else got sick, so we have no idea what that was all about.  We are very grateful that grandma and grandpa kept the kids because for one, we got to finish up stuff we needed to do, and two, Carter had a great time making the ginger bread cookies and being at their house.  Here are some pictures of their fun day.

The kids also got a visit from great grandma Jewel.  Since we missed the Hardt family celebration Karen, Al, and Jewel came over to give the kids their gifts.  I wasn't there, but it sounded like a good time was had by all.

Before Chad went back to work I wanted to get one of my big projects done which was finishing my canvas wall.  Although it is not 100% done, it is up and functional.  I will put the finishing touches on it soon. (the blank canvases will have pictures, quotes and birth stats on them.)

Now for a little update on the kiddos.  

Carter was excited to get back into the old routine and get back to school. I was happy that he was excited to go back.  I know he loves being home with all of us, but I think he missed the school routine and his friends.  The first day back he came home to tell him his goals for the next year were to learn to skate, and to learn to read better.  I really enjoy, for the most part, watching Carter turn into a school aged kid.  The things he says cracks me up, and you know he is learning/hearing them at school.  There are a lot of nuh-uh and yuh-huh's used despite our correction. (it is usually accompanied by an attitude) He also likes to say *easy*. If we ask him something like how do you spell "can", he responds with "easy, c-a-n."  He also enjoys it when he can tell us a meaning of a bigger word. At lunch today there was a perfect example but now I can't think of it.  I need to be better about writing this stuff down. We got a new book for Christmas called "King Hugo's huge Ego" which the kids love. Carter always asks what ego means, and now that we have read the book many times, he likes to tell us what an ego is.  A funny thing he said to me recently when he found me in the kitchen he said matter-of-factly "Mom, do you have to shoot zombies with a lazer to make them die?" I of course was busy and concentrating on dinner and said "I have no idea Carter!"  He then turned around and said "I am going to go ask dad, he knows more about zombies than you."  

our assembly line of help with dishes.  these two know how to unload pretty well

showing off their superstructs they got for christmas

Camden was also happy to be back into routine.  He still asks where daddy is most days but he was thrilled to be back in school.  He is looking forward to his birthday celebration at school on Monday and has chosen Runza as his birthday dinner.  As I said earlier in the post, Camden has done well with our new toy system and is picking up with less fuss.  He has taken on his role as big brother to Callan, and used it to his advantage.  Unlike Carter, Camden thinks it is fun to tell Callan to do something he know he shouldn't do and then be able to blame Callan when they caught.  Carter always came and told me if Camden was doing something wrong so this has been a change.  Camden really likes playing with Callan because he can tell him what to do and they play by his rules.  I like seeing their relationship grow, but the trouble they get into is more than I like.  Camden has taken an interest in reading sight word books with Carter and is doing a good job pointing out some words.  He loves reading the cereal boxes in the morning and asking us things like "what does k-e-l-l-o-g-s spell?"  He is consistently writing his name on his preschool papers and I love seeing how it keeps getting better.  I think we are going to have to move him to 4T pants, not because of the waist but because of the length.  I am just afraid even if we cinch them up to the max they still won't fit around his tiny waist.  The one story I have to tell about Camden is, one day this last week he asked me to cut a string off of his sock.  I told him I would but he needed to wait a minute. Apparently that minute was too long so he took out the scissors in the kitchen drawer and tried to cut if off himself.  Instead he cut a hole in his sock. :(  His pair of new socks were now unwearable. 

playing with his luigi hat on

mom, i am freezing!

Little baby Callan.  I laugh now when I call him "the baby" because we got so used to it.  He must have too because when I say things like "you are such a big boy now", or "what a big boy, you went pee in the potty". He started to respond with "no, I baby."  So now Chad and I have a joke with him where we say "are you mommy's big boy?" he says "no, I mommy's baby".  I know we should not say things like that, but I can't help but laugh, and it makes me feel like I don't have to let go of my baby so soon.  Our little Callan has had the toughest time getting back into our normal routine.  He does not understand why Chad is not home all the time now, and often searches the house for him saying "where daddy at?"  He wasn't fond of tagging along in the car pool or going back to the YMCA.  He wanted to stay home and play.  But by the end of the week I think he was doing better.  He is not very fond of the new toy arrangement and has been finding lots of non-toy items to play with. He also found a bottle of bleach spray, found the drawer with knives and knocked over (i mean completely over) his changing table/dresser.  It has been a bit rough for him lately but I am hoping we are on the right track now.  He is still talking a ton but we still have a hard time understanding all he is saying.  At lunch today he wanted dessert so he said something like "I eat all san-ich, cah-wat, gapes, I get ssert?"  All while motioning with his hands that he was going to eat all of this sandwich, carrots, and grapes to get dessert.  He tries so hard, and has so much to say.  I just feel bad that we don't understand it all.  But when we do, man is he thrilled.  He lets you know when you got it right by smiling from ear to ear while flapping his arms in excitement.  He loves to sing and dance and do all the things his brothers tell him to do.  I can't wait till I can understand all that is in that head of his.  

I caught him reading up on the top bunk one day

proud to be helping with the dishes

getting a ride from daddy

he really loves potato heads

Chad started his new job at Kenexa last Monday and has really enjoyed it so far.  We just pray that it is a good fit for him and our family and that he will enjoy what he is doing.  Thanks again for all the prayers.