56/365 {Feb 26}

Today was Pajama Day at preschool for Addison and Caden. They have been looking forward to this for a month! They told me the day they brought the note home what pajamas they were wearing. They also got to take slippers and a stuffed toy. They had a lot of fun!

55/365 {Feb 25}

This boy loves apples! I used to have to hide them because if he saw them he would take one, eat a few bites, then go get another one and do the same until they were all gone. I'd find all kinds of apples all over the playroom with bites out of them. I try to avoid going past them in the grocery store too, otherwise there's lots of screaming and crying because if he sees them, he wants them NOW!

54/365

Happy Birthday to Me! We went to the Packinghouse kidless. Aaron gave me some cool pink and black rain boots and a gift certificate to Scrapaganza. I made some cupcakes with awesome homemade frosting and sprinkles, at least I thought they were awesome!

53/365

Mr. Monkers or Monks has been Caden's baby since he was born. Aunt Monica and Aunt Keely gave us a bunch of little stuffed animals in the hospital, we have a lot of them still but Monks is Caden's and who he sleeps with every night (except for the few times we've lost him in the house). His mouth is gone and he looks pretty rough but Caden still loves him.

52/365

These two sitting together while Reese fed Ethan some of her Cheerios. Sometimes they are the best of buddies.

51/365

Look what Miss Smarty Pants figured out: she can use toys to stand on top of the train table to get a front row seat in the playtime.

50/365

This is what a doctor's appointment (ear rechecks) looks like for me. The only thing missing is Ethan and Reese opening all the drawers and cabinets 5000 times each (why don't they put child locks on those?????). It's loud and I bring stuff to occupy them but nothing seems to distract them from being out-of-control and in case you're wondering does it make the doctor hurry in faster when you have 4 loud, crazy children in a small room . . . the answer is no, it does not.

49/365

A game of naked football/basketball after Aaron gets home from work. None of the kids wear clothes at home EVER! Reese can strip by herself sometimes.

48/365

"Feel free to sleep in!" is what I say as he goes to bed many times. This was probably Ethan's tenth time downstairs in 30 minutes. I'm trying to get him out of the habit of afternoon naps . . . although if it were my way they'd all take one until they were 18. Yesterday I wasn't so successful; he slept a few hours in the chair. Then it was 10:30 before he went to sleep. He awoke promptly at 5:30 am and went downstairs in the dark calling my name. He only slept 45 minutes this afternoon but an hour after being upstairs he still isn't asleep . . .

47/365

What was I thinking? I thought we'd all go on a walk after all it looked so bright and sunny outside but when I opened the door it was freezing . . . too cold for the baby. The older kids were disappointed so I said you can go out and play but stay out of the mud. I guess nobody heard the but part because in less than 5 minutes their boots looked like this as well as Addison's jeans and pants because she "fell" in the mud.

46/365

Watching their new movie "Horton Hears a Who", a Valentine gift from Uncle Steve and Aunt Ashley. Resting after a fun and tiring slumber party at Grammy's house.

45/365

My cousin, Scott, and his new bride, Heather look so happy! What a great wedding and fun reception! We wish them all the best in their new life together!

44/365

Today I decided I'd better get some "valentiney" photos of the kids. I doubt I make them into valentines for anyone but I can make some cute scrapbook pages. I got some really sweet ones of Reesey. She's wearing my baby sweater too. I have photos of Addison wearing it too when she was the same age.

43/365

I started painting the kids' room. I painted all the trim {white over white} first . . . boring. Then I couldn't wait to do color so I opened up the Bulldog brown . . . looks like chocolate pudding and I love it!

42/365

We're in full Valentine creating mode here. I don't like the cheesy store bought valentines, so we make our own. The kids have been helping, I try to have them do a few a day. Addison wrote her (LONG) name on all hers. Caden drew faces on his and a "C" for his name. Ethan helped glue his puppy faces and scribbled for his name on the back. It's fun to make them. I love making memories like this.

41/365

Almost spring -- it's was so warm yesterday and today looks like it may be over 60 degrees again. We walked to school and they will be walking home. It's all short lived, snow is coming in a couple days.

40/365

Upside-down girl -- Reese loves to look at things upside down . . . what a character!

39/365

Daddy and his girls having some fun time. Showing Reese how to give "fives".

38/365

A Daddy-Daughter dance was on Saturday at the YMCA. They had a good time. Daddy said Addison is quite the dancer. They ate some marshmallows and chocolate, made a cupcake, played some games and after 45 minutes she said "okay, Daddy, I'm ready to go" so they went to McDonald's for dinner. They both had a great time!

37/365

Ethan was the 4th victim of ear infections. He stayed home from school on Friday and wanted to go upstairs to get his "stuffs" (blankets and animals). I forgot he went upstairs when I turned the corner, here's the little surprise I got: he made a little nest next to the baby gate.

36/365

I feel like I should have just gotten a big jug of this antibiotic. I now have 3 bottles. 3 out of 4 kids sick with ear infections. Ethan's cough is starting that's been the first symptom in all of them. He did have a little fever yesterday but it went away -- I wonder if he'll escape but it's doubtful. I'm vying for BFF with my pediatrician anyway. I've seen her 3 times in the last 9 days!

35/365

That hair! Yeah, she's sick but it would look like this no matter what. It's super curly when wet but somehow after she sleeps it does this forward thing on the sides and the back is all fuzzy. Maybe a haircut would help????

34/365

One tired guy . . . only because we trying to let him be a "Big Boy" and took off his crib tent last night. He climbed in and out of bed from 8:00 until 10:30 then he fell asleep. Bright and early at 4:40 am he was standing by our bed "go downstairs" he said. We pulled him into bed and finally about 6:30 he went back to sleep. I thought he should skip his afternoon nap today but he couldn't do it and snoozed on the couch for a couple hours.

33/365

Sick child #2. I didn't wait to go to the doctor this time. Same symptoms that Addison had coughing, runny nose, tired, feeling yucky, not eating = double ear infections. More antibiotics. At this rate of one kid sick each week that will be a whole month of me nursing them back to health. Caden was feeling pretty rotten today and this is what he did most of the day and he didn't eat one thing today at all.

32/365

We had a SuperBowl party, well I called it a "party". It was us and Grandpa. We had lots of food and everyone wore their football and cheerleading uniforms. Too bad all my photos except 2 were somehow deleted off my computer. I'm sad about that but this is about all I have to prove it happened!

31/365

Today was brunch at IHOP (Caden's favorite) and our first trip to Build-A-Bear. Aunt Keely and Uncle Jeremy were so nice to give us gift cards at Christmas. Caden got a monkey and dressed him as Batman I guess that makes him BatMonkey. The other kids had fun too but WOW is there a lot to pick from there! Thanks Dines Family for such great gifts!

30/365

A sweet moment captured. Ethan loves Reese a lot, he loves to boss her around and she will listen to him because she doesn't know not too. He even let her sit in his laundry basket with him -- a rare moment!