January

January was a busy month. We did lots of things INSIDE. I don't even dare look out the window if the weather is below 75degrees!

***Reese's first laugh for josh was at 12weeks 2days and may have been the cutest thing I've ever heard! ***

Here is proof I do let my kids wander outside occasionally though...Max figured out how to blow bubbles and not just dump them out 

Play date with cousins Nathan and Lydia and of course Caiden (who I babysit 5days a week)

My mom taught Max to use scissors (because she is crazy!) and she is super nice and thinks that Even though he is fisher #3 he should still learn things...

Braden likes to do "homework" sometimes while riley does hers

Riley has a lot of homework but usually does it without too much complaining

The many faces of Reese!

She is a big time thumb sucker...I fought it for awhile and tried all different types of pacifiers but none stuck. It is very convieneint this thumb!

The kids and I LOVE library time

And going to the park...

We had Christmas at my dad's in January after he recovered mostly. Uncle Matt "knuckle head" was making Reese smile...or vise versa...

Eating at the kids table.  

Bonding

We got a babysitter for Max and planned to surprise the kids with a hockey game (and meeting up with our friends there) but the game was sold out. We salvaged the night with their first time bowling. They had such a good time!

Riley and I made these perler bead hearts for her class for valentines day

Max snuck a lick or two of his sucker to Reese when I wasn't looking! Luckily braden told me.

Braden loved to hit everything with that sword and finally broke it one say hitting the bushes outside. Boys will be boys!

My mom was determined to make Reese laugh but I think I was the only one laughing hahaha I love my goofy mom!

Earlier in the week I let Max and Caiden sit in the car portion of the cart and told Braden he could next time...well this was the next time and he got ripped off! Riley thought if was hilarious. 

Visit to my grandma...reese looks like a baby sumo wrestler here. 

Grandpa Jeff

Reese got a cold over the weekend and I took her to see her dr on a Monday...got her on some meds

by tuesday night we were in the pediatric ER. Stayed there for 14hours under observation before they admitted her for 3more days. 

We had been in the ER about 4 hours when josh called saying he had to being Braden in for breathing problems...he was released a few hours later after some meds

She was all smiles the day I brought her in. Followed by a sad sad day, I could not get her to smile once, she looked as if she felt defeated. It broke my heart. 

feeling better

Diagnosis. Bronchiolitus and most likely RSV 

My mom came twice to visit and hold Reese

Josh's parents came once to bring me dinner and love on Reese.  I love this sweet picture. 

We had so many people offering to help

In every way while i was stuck at the hospital. We sure are blessed!

  January ended with everyone happy and pretty healthy. 

Bedroom switcharoo and new(ish) beds!

    Josh's parents gave us the bunk beds that josh and most of his brothers used growing up when they moved to their new house. They are old but surprising in ok shape and only needed some work to make them nice again...

   I helped some but josh did most of the work sanding down the frames and re-staining them. 

    We have switched each of our kids out of cribs into "big kid beds" (twin beds) when they turned two. So it was Max's turn!

   On new years day while the boys were napping we shuffled the crib to Riley's room (and a few toys over to the boys room) officially taking apart the "nursery" (I'm still in denial) and set up the bunk bed frames. We are going to keep them separate until the boys are older and more responsible to have them stacked. 

   When they woke up from their nap we brought them in thinking atleast Max would be super impressed...wrong! First he was so tired he just stood in the door way then when he did go in he just started to play with his tools (that's he has had forever) ignoring the new beds! How funny! Then he finally got happy and climbed on his and pulled the blanket over him. Braden liked his new bed and thinks its cool their are cubbies by the head board to put some toys in. 

   Before:...our nursery...turned boy/nursery...turned big boy room (tear)

Last time in his crib...

The surprise unveiled:

The room isn't decorated yet but beds are in and all is well. 

Max has done much better with the transition from crib (jail) to his free and non caged bed...i thought it would be too much freedom for him. But one week in and he normally gets out 2-3 times before he decides it's not worth the spankings and stays in bed and sleeps. 

  Braden is a good big brother and good example at night staying in his bed with no fooling around. 

    Riley is excited to share her room with Reese but gets a little frustrated when she feels Reese's stuff is "taking over". 

   Reese still sleeps with me but could easily sleep with Riley since Reese sleeps from 8:30pm to 7am. I just like her by me. 

   Riley's room before:

And after:

Obviously not decorated yet but yoi get the idea!

   Our kids are growing up and it is happening MUCH too fast. 

Visit to Lakewood

It has been a long time since I went to visit Lakewood where I grew up. Carrie and Bradley still live there and my brother and his wife as well. It was definitely "my turn" to make the drive! I packed up the kids (minus Braden-he was at Oma's house) and half the house as soon as they woke up and we were off to pick up my mom to join us. 

    We got to my brothers first and Max LOVED chasing the chickens. My brother rigged a plastc sac on the end of a fishing pole and let Max chase the chickens around with it. Max abused those poor chickens so bad! He would chase them both into a corner some how and whip that fishing pole down on their behinds!!  My brother said he has a hard time getting them back in their coup but they were running right in when Max was around haha. 

  

When they did try to hide in their house max would jut shove the fishing pole in it...poor poor chickens. It was pretty funny to watch though. Through our giggles we would tell max to be nice and soft. 

And my mom was brave enough to let the chickens eat out of her hands and showed max how. My brother whispered to me how bad it hurts when the hi jens peck your hand and bites up laughing when it finally happened to my mom...we are so mean!

Riley stayed far away from those pesky chickens and explored my grandpas craft house to see what treasures she could find. 

What's a trip to uncle "knuckle heads" house with out a shooting lesson. This was max's first time shooting. 

    We toom a break from that fun and me and the kids went to carries house to hang out. I didn't get any pictures except of me Carrie and paula. So fun to see her!

The kids rode bikes, played chalk, terrorized carrie's mom's house, did crafts and later that night after dinner we went in the jacuzzi. 

   So nice to see friends and have a good safe day!