Friday, March 25, 2011

Jack had a fun day playing with his friend Xavier today. He was so incredibly excited before we dropped him off. He kept saying, "This is going to be GREAT Mom!" We dropped him off before the girls' gymnastics class and Xavier's mom dropped them off here to play after lunch. The boys seem to get along great and they didn't have any problems finding things to do. Jack's highlight of the day was 'warring' with Xavier at his house and coming up behind him and shooting him. He's told me the story 50 times and although I still don't understand the thrill, it's fun to see him so pumped about a new buddy!

After the playdate, I told Jack he could spend the money he's been saving, his 'chore money', to buy a new toy to play with during his spring break this week. (this was obviously partly to save my own sanity, but also because he's been talking about Batman toys forever and doesn't really have any to play with). We pulled into Toys R Us (or the Toy Tore, as Mallie calls it) and Jack's first comment was, "Mom, why do they spell Toys R Us with an R and not with the word 'are'?" I thought this was very perceptive of him and it totally reminded me of something my sister would say. She hates stupid abbreviations like that! :)

Annie and Mallie have been very interested in the new baby. They love to feel my tummy and seem astonished at how big it is getting. Mallie watched me pull my 'over the tummy' maternity leggings on the other day and the look on her face was priceless. When I asked her what waas the matter, she said, "Whoa!!!! That new baby is getting really, really big!" Just before I put her to bed tonight, I was on my knees in the hallway, and she came up to me and hugged 'the new baby' and nuzzled her little nose all over it. Every night before I give Annie her goodnight kiss, she holds on to me and says, "Mom, can I hold your new baby when he comes out of your tummy?" It's her last words to me every day.

I had my OB appointment on Wednesday afternoon at 1:20. I dropped Mallie off and Annie and I headed to Dr. Jhaveri. As I pulled into the parking lot, the receptionist at the office called to move the appointment back 2 hours b/c the doctor had a delivery. So, this meant I had to bring all 3 kids with me. After another lady named Erin barged in front of me when they called 'Erin', we were left to wait in the waiting room for over an hour. The kids were very well-behaved, but by the time we actually saw the doctor, things were falling apart. They got to help hold the instrument to hear the baby's heart, and made many loud comments as I re-clothed myself after the doctor left the room, (i.e., 'Mommy! I can see your butt!!!") Very embarrassing and the point of the story is I will try not to bring everyone with me to the OB in the future! :)

Mallie just asked me as I put her to bed, if someone is making a story about us. I asked her what she meant and she said "I think God is making up a tory about you and me and Jack and Daddy and Annie". I thought it was so cute and I asked her if it was going to be a happy story or sad story and she said, "A happy tory!!!"

Tom and Mary came over today because they were watching Abby and needed a little break. Annie was thrilled to have them sitting on the couch as a captive audience for anything that came to her mind. She started a very lengthy and colorful story about 'huge reindeer' in her backyard that were 'caring' her 'really a lot'. She also was taking care of a baby doll named 'Bian' who was 'growing up' (throwing up) and needed a bucket and to take a bath.

Annie had a bit of a rough time at gymnastics today. I am noticing that she gets nervous and a little embarrassed at any class I take her to (i.e. story time, etc.) and gymnastics is no exception. When it is time to do the warm ups and stretches, she gets quiet and clingy, and then the emotion turns to anger. I am never sure how to handle her when she is like this, but ignoring the anger seems to work. However, being that we pay a little more than I normally have for gymnastics class, I feel the need to push her a little more. She wasn't thrilled with me during class and was pretty whiny and angry (hitting me several times and yelling at me). Not sure if we'll be renewing Annie for the next session. Mallie is still doing great though and LOVES it. I suggested she sign up for the next older class, in which the kids go by themselves without moms. She was not a fan of the idea.

Annie's favorite word these days is 'stinkerpot', or as she pronounces it, 'tinkerpot'. And everything is a 'tinkerpot'. I am, Mallie is, Tommy is, yogurt, TV shows, the car, school, etc. She says it at least 5000 times a day. It is extremely annoying.

We were listening to the Star Wars theme in the van today. Jack told me, "Do you hear that low part Mom? That's the cello!" When I asked him how he knew that, he said he remembered learning about the cello at this ONE music class I took him to when he was 3, right after Annie was born at the Beck Center, focusing on the cello. I am still in shock that he remembers this. And it made me realize that all of those field trips we took when he was so little made an impression and I should probably be doing just as many for the girls.

On our way home from the toy store tonight, after buying a new Batman, Batmobile and super heros, Jack said we needed to go back to the store to return the toys. I asked him why and he said he had given up playing with cars and super heroes for Lent.

Monday, March 15th, 2011

Today on the way home from picking Jack up from school, he saw a big group os kids walking home from St. Angela's. He said, "Hey! Look at that big group of graders walking across the street!" He calls them 'graders' becaues they are the 'big kids' and not the kindergarteners (in grades). But for a minute I wondered if he was calling them 'greaters' as if they are bigger and better!? Either way, he will be a grader next year, and when I told him that he got a big smile on his face! :)

If there is music playing, no matter what time or where we are, if I ask Jack to 'Dance it out', he stops whatever he is doing and gets his groove on. He can definately feel the beat and enjoys making me laugh with this.

Once of my favorite things that Jack says is when he is pretending to be upset and challenge what Tommy or I says. He says, "Oh yeah!?? You think so?" For some reason, this always makes me laugh. I think mostly because he knows he's kidding and tries to be serious about it.

We were reading the other night and Jack mistook the word 'chickens' for 'kickens'. This may have been the funniest thing he's ever done (for himself). He could not stop laughing and had tears rolling down his cheeks.

Mallie has been wheeling and dealing us over the past couple of weeks. We have been having problems getting the kids to shake hands at the sign of peace in church...so for better or worse, we've starting bribing them. Tommy told them they would get a quarter for each person they shook hands with. It worked for Jack, but when we asked why Mallie did not shake anyone's hand after church, she replied, "I will just find another way to get my money". When we tell her that if she doesn't finish her dinner, she will not have anything else to eat for the rest of the night, she replies, "Oh, that's OK, I will just eat in the morning." She's got it figured out. And she's only 3.


Mallie and Annie's favorite game is 'Mrs. Patton and Mrs. Rapps'. They play in my closet, wearing my high heels and walking around calling each other Mrs. Patton and Mrs. Rapps. There isn't much more to the game than that. But it sure occupies their time!

The girls started gymnastics class last week. They seem to really love it and took very little time to warm up to it and hae a great time. Even the teacher was impressed with how quickly they jumped in and how well they did. They look too cute in their pink tights and leotards that Yaya got them for Christmas.

The kids are just getting over a week's worth of illness. Jack got sick last Monday and we determined on Thursday that he had strep throat. On Friday, I took the girls for their strep tests and both were positive. Annie is still getting over it and had a fever all day today. When Annie is sick, she definately milks it. She tells us a million times a day 'I so sick." "I so sick in my tummy.' 'I need my medicine in my tummy.' 'I grow up' (which is her way of saying that she threw up). She also does these fluttery, half-opened eyes.

Annie calls paper towels 'wiper towels', the remote is the 'gamote control', the tv is the 'tvt'.

Mallie helped me make dinner tonight and announced to everyone that we were having 'beef tew!"