Sloane is incredibly interested in using the potty. She climbs up there all by herself and sits! She has tinkled a few times, and she tells us about every time BEFORE she poops, but she hasn't done that in the potty yet. I am excited that she is so aware though- maybe she will potty train early! We had a winter storm warning 2 days ago. People were all in a panic- this is what we ended up with.

Pretty funny that people here freak out about this tiny amount of snow, huh!

Christmas day

WE got so caught up in the moment that I forgot to take pictures of the kids opening presents. Oops! We did get it on video though!
Cameron is showing off his toe socks that he got from santa- boy he was excited about those!

Sloane loves her new sit & spin but she doesn't quite know how to use it yet.

She does know how to use her little people house though!

Hmmm, no pictures of Ethan- he must have been hiding in his room or playing the wii.
The kids got snuggies from santa this year. They are all loving them and try to wear them all day long.

Christmas day in the snow:

The night before Christmas

Surprise! We had a snow storm the night before christmas! The boys were thrilled, of course!

I made something new this year- marshmallows! They turned out pretty good too.

This year Ethan learned about Hannukah at school and wanted to do it here, so I found a menorah and we celebrated Hannukah (just the candles- I didn't do gifts for it) here is a picture on the last night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM!!!

Yesterday was Jim's 39th birthday. Usually he doesn't get a cake becase that is right when we start our holiday baking and, well, the thought of another cake on top of all the other sugary treats is just too much. This year I gave in though and got him a huge chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (YUCK- but Jim likes it this way!) We didn't have much in the way of a party because we ended up babysitting for the neighbors, so Jim's 39th party consisted of 3 4yr olds(to their credit, they are an enthusiastic bunch of party goers), Ethan, Sloane, and me. I hope he enjoyed it! LOL! The boys got him one of those Perfect Brownie pans that are on the infomercials (Cam is the hugest infomercial sucker!) It will probably be used lots considering Jim's love of anything chocolate!
One more year till he is officially OLD!

sick baby

sigh....Sloane is sick AGAIN. I had a bit of a cold and I guess Sloane caught it and then some. Today she told us that her ears hurt (pretty cool that she actually could tell us!) so off to the dr for over 2 HOURS! UGH! The problem with her being sick is this- she refuses to take any sort of oral medication. We tried yummy stuff, fun tricks, being nice, and shoving it down her throat forcefully....nothing works- she always finds a way to spit every last drop of it out. You would think after 3 kids this would be easy for me, but I have never had this problem before- usually the medicine is so yummy the kids ask for more. Not Sloane. So I told the doctor that I refused to leave his office with an rx of oral antibiotics for her double ear infection-ouch! If that's what he was gonna give me, I would just throw it away- no point in even trying anymore, I know it won't work. I pleaded with him to give her a shot of antibiotics. He looked at me like I was a lunatic- especially since I would have to come in for 10 days to get a shot....I told him I would rather that than have her completely miserable and sick and refusing to take anything for it. He finally relented and found an rx that is only 3 days of antibiotics but it is 2 shots, one in each leg.
Today is day 3 and she is feeling SO much better now. shots were worth it- yeah!

Ethan's Christmas party

Ethan had his Christmas party at school today and it was tons of fun! His teacher this year is Mrs. Bodiford, she is great- in fact, I think she is my favorite teacher so far since we have been in Texas!

The teacher had a craft for the kids- it consisted of dry spaghetti and gumdrops. The kids got to create all sorts of things by sticking the spaghetti into the gumdrops- It kept them very occupied, and was not too hard to clean up- I may have to do this with my own kids! And the best part is- Yeah- school is over, Christmas break is here!!!! Well, it's nice until the boys start fighting anyway- but not having to wake up to an alarm is always great!

Santa

We took the kids to see Santa the other night. Surprisingly the line wasn't very long! Sloane cried at first when I sat her on Santa's lap but then she scooted over to Ethan and was just fine. She is now fascinated with all things 'Santa' and I think it is her favorite word. Cameron asked for a Jeep and a wooden airplane. Ethan asked for a ripstick (kind of like a skateboard) and an inground swimming pool with a slide. Funny kid.

Soccer party

The soccer team got together and had a party and received their trophies. We had a bbq in december. Coldest BBQ I have ever attended- it was 34 outside! Burrr!

Yeah Ethan!!!

Apparently Ethan got first place of his science project. WOOOOHOOOOO! Sadly, he was told this some time last week and just told us today. I guess we are chopped liver :( And I think he got first place for his category (earth science) not necesarrily for the whole grade- but who knows, Ethan sucks at telling us stuff so I will have to find out from his teacher. Regardless- how cool is that, that he got 1st place?!

Cameron's Christmas concert

Last night was Cameron's Christmas concert. He did so well up there and even sang the songs. He sure isn't nearly as shy as he used to be, that's for sure!

Attack of the popcorn ball

Ethan's science fair project

Yeah, it's finally over! I think Ethan is as relieved as I am. These things are alot of work. This year he had to perform an experiment, so he grew crystals. It was alot of fun but writing the paper wasn't. The dang thing was 7 pages long- and he is only in 4th grade!!!!

Ethan- Strange as usual!

I had to take a picture of Ethan because it was just halarious. I guess it was too cold for him so he wore his ski mask with his glasses underneath and his helmet on top.

Cameron's Thanksgiving Feast

Cameron is having alot of fun this year at school. They had a Thanksgiving feast, and asked everyone to bring something. I just bought my first bundt pan and I am obsessed with it right now, so we used it and made a cool pumpkin cake to take to his feast. He was so excited about it! His class all made pilgrim hats, they were all so cute.

What's going on

Lets see- in early September, I had surgery on my left shoulder. Part of the bone in my shoulder had grown kind of a hook so I had lost some mobility and had pain from it- so they went in and shaved off the bone- fun stuff! It really wasn't too bad, but sucked not being able to do anything for at least a week. Jim was mean and went back to work after just a couple of days. Thankfully Ethan had a long weekend break for Labor Day so he took good care of me- which included laundry, dishes, dressing Sloane and changing her diapers, and even getting me dressed, aka-putting my bra on for me- poor kid! But he didn't even complain once, he loves helping out. Now I am going to physical therapy. I am not doing as well as the doctor had hoped, so hopefully the PT will pay off soon!

Ethan is doing SUPER in school this year! We are so proud of him. He is also doing soccer- we have had a slow season though because of all the rain.

Cameron is loving preschool- he goes 3x a week. He also has speech once a week and he is doing pretty good with that too. He still has some sounds that he can't do very well but he is trying. He went to the cardiologist for his annual checkup the other day- he is still doing great!

Sloane is good too. I thought she would have a hard time adjusting to the boys being at school but she has done well. She has become daddy's little girl lately- if he is home, he HAS to hold her. She can't seem to get enough of him. She still doesn't sleep through the night most nights- I sure wish she would though! Sloane loves to help me clean up. It's so nice- too bad I know it won't last! She had her 18month checkup the other day and she was 22 lbs, 11oz, and 33 inches long.

Jim is busy- he is working an outage right now- which means he is not really home for about a month- ugh! He will also be starting lisence class in january (he is hoping) which means LOTS of studying and being at work. He is looking forward to it though!

Poor old dog

For over a month now, Bagel has had some bladder problems, mostly at night. Fun thing is she sleeps in our bed! We tried medication but it didn't work. When I took her back to the doctor they figured out she is in kidney failure. She is 14 so it really isn't a huge surprise but still sad. It isn't super bad yet, but that could change quickly- so we just have to wait and watch. Looks like there won't be any travel for us for awhile because she cant be put in a kennel nor travel with us- too stressful. Sloane is really really attached to Bagel and oddly enough- Bagel doesn't mind. She has never liked kids before but she definately lets Sloane poke and prod her more than she ever let anyone else!

Ethan now likes his head to be shaved, so I game him a mohawk real quick before shaving it ALL off.

Sloane spending some time with her daddy.

Yum!

trike-a-thon

Cameron did a trike-a-thon at school. They rode their bikes for 30 minutes straight, and let me tell you- poor little guy had some tired legs afterward!

dandilion

Sloane

Just some recent Sloane pictures!She is still cute when naked :) Here is Sloane putting her shorts on- she got them most of the way on (couldn't get them over her butt) and she put her legs in the right holes and everything! This was all in an attempt to keep me from putting a diaper on her.

Riding a trike just like her big brother!

wish us luck!

We are going out tonight and leaving Sloane for the longest time ever- 6 hrs! With a babysitter! EEEK I am nervous. I know, she is 16 months old, time to cut the cord, but she is my baby and it is really hard to do! She has never stayed with a babysitter before so I am freaking out just a tiny bit. The fact that she was up ALL NIGHT LONG last night doesn't help me feel better about it either. Ugh! Hopefully it all goes well.

Cameron's art

just thought I would post some of Cameron's latest artwork- I love the people he is drawing these days!

my daughter the bully

Our neighbor brought her little girl Avery over the other day- she is just 2 weeks younger than Sloane. So far Sloane hasn't really taken to her and will usually just stay far away. When she came over the other day though, the second Avery grabbed one of Sloanes toys, Sloane ran over there and started screeching 'mom!' I guess she was telling on Avery! LOL! She did this for about 30 minutes, every time Avery would pick up a new toy. Then they were quite behind the couch, and when I looked Sloane was following her around and pushing her!!! Avery didn't even cry about it or fight back, she just took it! Poor girl. Finally after Sloane got in trouble she started being a bit nicer, but not much. Who knew, my cute little girl is a bully!

TGIF!!!

Well, the kids have survived a week of school! Cameron LOVES school!!! He didn't want to come home on monday! He is such a different kid than he was even a year ago. He used to hate going and it would take him about a month to get used to any changes, but not anymore. Ethan has been enjoying 4th grade too. He has had a bit of homework but not too much...not yet anyway! He starts soccer this coming monday, he has really been looking forward to playing again. I am not looking forward to trying to keep Sloane off the field during games- it will be interesting for sure. We were thinking of getting Cameron into soccer but jim is working alot this fall so if there are games it 2 cities, I cant stretch that far so we decided to wait until spring when Jim will be home on weekends more.
Sloane is doing well- she isn't minding being home alone without the boys as much as I thought she would. She is talking alot these days, nothing clear but Jim and I usually know what she is saying. Of course now that I am trying to think of what she says I cant think of many of her words- go figure! She says shoes, fish, baby (daaada),no(nanananana), night night(nini), boo! and a bunch of animal noises- elephant is her favorite!

I got my hair permantly straightened last week. It is soooo nice to not have to straighten it myself now. Unfortunately, it stripped the color out of my hair so I had - god forbid- brown hair for a week now!!! AND I wasn't allowed to pull it back because it would crimp my hair (do you know how many times in a day Sloane pulls my hair???) but finally today I am going back in to have it colored so I will be red again- yeah! Just in time for the big concert tomorrow night- Depeche Mode, here I come!
Shoulder surgery is set for next thursday- I am so ready for it. The hospital was nice enough to call me yesterday (1 week before my appt) to inform me that I have to bring $1200 with me for my copay. Niiiiice! Not a problem, dont we all just have an extra grand laying around the house??? jerks!

First Day of School

Today is the first day of 4th grade for Ethan and the first day of Cameron's new preschool! They were both really excited. Gone are the days of me picking Ethan's outfits for him- he is all about looking cool now. Unfortunately, this morning he woke up with a huge zit on his chin- it was like saying welcome to 4th grade- you know have hormones!!!! I am not ready for that yet! But Ethan was looking forward to school and friends he hasn't seen all summer. Hope he has another year as great as last year!
Cameron was even excited! I figured that might last until he got to school then he would freak out and get clingy like he usually does, but nope- my shy boy has grown up and he was totally okay with me leaving him in his class. His days will be longer than he is used to- he used to stay about 4 hours twice a week, and now he will be gone 5hours three times a week PLUS a day of speech therapy.

Now both my boys are gone all day and I don't know what Sloane and I are going to do to keep busy. She loves playing with the boys and now she is going to be bored like crazy! Looks like we will be spending time at the park! At least today we should be okay- the neighborhood girls are meeting up for lunch after not doing it all summer long- I miss my girl time! It almost made it worth sending the boys off to school! LOL!

end of summer

Well, it's now the end of summer. last night we went and met Ethan's & Cameron's new teachers. From the sounds of it, 4th grade will be alot of fun and not a whole lot of homework. He will have 5 different teachers this year! Cameron's preschool teacher seemed very nice and he enjoyed the classroom. He is going to a new school this year so I hope he does okay. They both start school on monday- Ethan at 8am, Cameron at 9am. I think Sloane and I are going to be bored without the boys around to entertain us!
Next weekend I bought some concert tickets- Jim and I are going to see Depeche Mode in Dallas. Since Sloane did well with my mom, I feel better about leaving her with a babysitter. I can't wait for the concert. Depeche Mode is the first big band I ever went to see in concert so it will be cool to go again! Too bad I can't bring my camera :(
Then Sept 3 I go in for shoulder surgery. I don't have any torn ligaments, just a deformed shoulder bone (I guess it usually happens to old people) so they just have to go in and shave off part of the bone and make it straight again. The dr said recovery is 8 weeks but that I can use it as soon as I want to- it will just hurt like hell! LOL! I just hope that I can still take care of Sloane afterward, Jim will only be off for a couple of days afterward to help me and after that Ethan wont even be home to help me so I will be on my own- yikes!

summer pictures

Ethan has wanted his head shaved for forever! Finally we caved and did it. He loves it!

lollypop lips!

She was one sleepy baby!