Brothers

The girls woke up early this morning so they had lots of time to play, eat, and get ready for school. They played together and played a lot with Killian.  Right as I told them to get their shoes on and head to the car Keeley walks up to me and we have this conversation:

Keeley: Mom, we have two brothers in our family but one brother, Kendrick, died.
Me: He did.
Keeley: But we'll get to see him when we die and we'll be a whole family.  But we won't die for a long time.  When we do though we'll get to be a whole family.
Me:  We will.  That will make me happy.  I really miss Kendrick.
Keeley: You showed us pictures of him.  (After many, many requests from the girls, we showed them the pictures we took of Kendrick after he was delivered)
Me: I did.
Keeley: But we didn't meet him.  We will when we die.

We do have two brothers in our family and, as sad as it still makes me to talk about Kendrick, I'm glad the girls still count him as a part of the family.  One day soon Killian will know that he has a brother too.

More teeth!

The girls went to the dentist yesterday and both did great.  Keeley got her first set of x-rays with the bite wings and I was super proud of her because she went all by herself.  The only thing I was not thrilled about was that she is getting ALL FOUR of her 6 year old molars!!!  How is it that my baby has lost two teeth already and is getting 4 more permanent ones!  She's not even five yet!  The hygienist told me to take lots of pictures now because she will likely lose the top two soon and no longer have a "baby" face :-(

Pea Pod

When Keeley was a baby we purchased a "pea pod".  I can't remember now why we thought we wanted it.  If we thought it was cheaper/easier/more versatile than a pack and play for our trips?  Who knows and it doesn't really matter.  She was so colicky we didn't take many trips and she hated the pea pod!  I didn't even bother to try with Kayden and then gave it to my cousin, Amy.  She didn't use it either and just recently returned it.  My girls saw it when it was returned and they were fascinated.  For a week now they have played in it with their brother.  You'd think we bought a new toy for them.  They will get in and get zipped up with all their toys and play.  So funny!!!

Sweet picture because Kayden is so happy and look how much fun Keeley's having with brother bear!

Everyone looking at the camera and smiling.  How often does that happen?!

Kayden

Kayden is a very bright kiddo and intent on being equally as skilled as her older sister in everything.  As soon as Keeley started reading, Kayden read her first book as well.  She read the "Mat" book that Keeley started with the day after Keeley did.  When the girls read together, Kayden will frequently finishes the sentences before Keeley does.  This results in comments from Keeley such as, "Kayden, you have to let me read it first!" 

Apparently, Kayden can also write.  She has been asking us to write "dots" for her since Keeley first started working on writing a year or so ago.  Every time she signs her name, Keeley will make the dots for Kayden to write "Kayden".  Frequently Kayden will ask us to write dots for words if she wants to write more than just her name.  Kelly and I came home from running some errands yesterday to find Kayden labeling a bag.  Oma was simply telling her the letters and Kayden was writing them - with no dots, and upside down!  I had no idea that she could write without the guidance of dots or that she could write upside down!

And something that is just funny - We went to Mooyah Saturday for lunch.  As we sat down, the girls started coloring their cow pictures and Kayden suddenly said, "OH!  It's called Mooyah because 'moooooo' for cows."  Really made me giggle.  Now, I don't know that she understands that means people are eating the cows and none of us did on that trip - grilled cheese and veggie burgers - but it made me laugh anyway.

We have a reader!

In a random conversation with a mom from the girls' school I learned that the books they use to start the kids reading are the BOB books.  She mentioned they use the books and that she has downloaded some for her ipad or phone or kindle or something.  Clearly that technology is beyond me but I did order them on Amazon.  Real books.  The ones you hold in your hand.  Anyway, we got them yesterday.  Keeley saw them and immediately said, "We have those books at school but I can't read them yet."  I told her I thought she could probably read them with Dad's help and she did.  She read the first two last night to Kelly before bed.  She came home today from school and proudly announced, "MOM!!!  I'm on on books now at school!!!!"  And then came home to read the first 4 of the series to me.  She is so proud of herself.  Kayden will not be far behind.  She was finishing a lot of the sentences before Keeley.  Don't tell her she is a year younger, she will definitely set out to prove you wrong.

Tot Clock

The girls both have tot clocks in there rooms.  We love them and they are great for helping the girls with their rest times and wake up times in the mornings.  They each know that in the morning they cannot come out of their rooms until their clocks are yellow.  We have the clocks set to turn yellow at 6:30.  That is a reasonable time based on when they go to sleep and their ages.  There is an option for the clocks to play music at "wake up" time but I'm certainly not a fan of waking sleeping babies so we don't do that.  Keeley is usually up before her clock and uses the time to get ready for the day - put her glasses and headband on, change her pjs...  The instant it turns yellow she flings our door open and announces, "Wake up time, guys!"  She used to also turn our light on but I put an end to that quickly!

This morning, following a very rough night with Killian, I woke up to silence at 7:10.  Confused how all three of my kids were still sleeping, I stayed perfectly still in bed so as not to jinx it!  About 10 minutes later Keeley came in the room still in her pajamas, with no glasses on, and an indignant look on her face.  She then said, "MOM!  My clock is yellow but I am still tired.  What is wrong with my clock?  I'm still tired."  I told her that she could go back to sleep if she was tired.  She huffed off and laid down in Kayden's room..I guess she wasn't that tired after all!

Quick on her feet

Kayden has always been quite observant and has always been quick to say things that surprise us.  Recently, she's become quite skilled at manipulating conversations to go her way. 

The other morning she and I were the only ones awake.  We were enjoying some quiet time together and I asked her what she'd like to have for breakfast.  During the week we normally eat cereal or toast.  Perhaps if I'm feeling like a bit more effort, I might make oatmeal.  I thought she would choose one of those things.  This is the conversation that followed:

Kayden: English muffin.
Me: I'm sorry but I don't think we have any of those.  That does sound really good though.
Kayden: Well, my teachers have them. How about french toast?  Please? (insert sweet smile here)
Me: Okay. (I really, really didn't want to make french toast but she was so sweet and I did have time since she woke up so early....)

While I was making the french toast brother and sister woke up and needed to be tended to.  I asked Keeley what she wanted (cereal) and set to work on Killian's breakfast.  I get everyone's plates on the table, baby strapped in to the high chair, and start to sit down.

Just as I am sitting Kayden says: I don't think I want french toast anymore.  I just want cereal.
Me: No.  You asked for french toast and I made it.  You will eat french toast.
Kayden: Well, I'm not going to eat it. (arms crossed, grumpy face).
Me: That's fine, but you aren't getting anything else and you will get hungry at school.
Kayden: (as she stands to clear her plate from the table) We have snacks at school.

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Yesterday we had allowed the girls to skip their quiet time to run a quick errand with me.  On the way home they were fighting over the number of Killian's toys they each had.  Kayden had three and Keeley only had one.  I don't know why they care or why they are so obsessed about his toys.  Keeley asked for one of the toys and Kayden said she could have one tomorrow but not today.  I sat in the front seat wishing I had left them home with Kelly...

Instantly upon the answer that she couldn't have any of the toys until tomorrow Keeley bursts into way over-dramatic tears and wails, "MOOOOOOOM, Kayden's not sharing Killian's toys.  She has three and I have one and she said I can't have one until tomorrow. And we have to have the same number."  I didn't get into the ridiculousness of any of that - he wasn't in the car, they are baby toys, why does it have to be equal....I simply shrugged and said, "Sounds like you girls aren't cooperating very well. I think we should have quiet time when we get home so you can have a break from each other."  I had barely finished speaking when Kayden pipes in with, "I'm just trying to decide which toy to give her (as she studies them).  I only told her I was going to make her wait until tomorrow to trick her."

Too smart for her own good.

Forts

The girls have recently been very interested in making forts.  This particular day the fort construction became quite involved.

Keeley directing Kayden. You'll notice that they each have a "fort" with a bed under it.

 Jumping on the couches is not allowed, even if it is their fort!

I know you thought this was a mess in my living room.  It is not.  The girls went and got their shoe basket, pajamas, dresses, tissue boxes, trashcan, Keeley's glasses....and set up a little corner with their things in it.

Secret Code

There was a small decoding puzzle in a magazine that we read recently.  Keeley loved it.  While I watched Keeley work on it, I remembered making a code and sending a coded letter to my Gramma when I was in Girl Scouts.  I called my mom and told her that while actually writing a letter might be a little complicated, the girls might like to do some code work with her.  Mom brought some stamps the next time she came up so the girls could work on their coding with her!

Checking out the code key with Oma as they write their message.

Starting to stamp.

This is a close up of the "code".  The stamp set was perfect because there were all the letters and then symbols that started with the letter

The girls wrote a message to me and to Kelly (I love you).  After Oma left, we wrote a message for her to figure out next time she came up.  I had to stop the girls because the message became so long.  This is what they stamped out for her "We love you, Oma.  We made a code for you.  It is just for you.  You can share it with Star and Grossmama if you want to."  It took a LONG time for us to make the note!!

Look what I did!!!

Killian has really enjoyed pushing things around the house lately.  One that makes me really nervous is our little shopping cart.  It frequently falls over and there are tears when he gets hurt.  He usually tries to push it after it has fallen and then just gives up.  Today he actually got it to stand back up and look how happy he is about it!

On a mission to get it to push again...

And, again it falls over.  Continuous cycle..

Food painting

Stuck at home, inside for a week with sick kids forces Mom to get a little more creative.  Somewhere, on one of the blogs I read it mentioned edible finger painting.  I set Killian up in his high chair so he could participate with some applesauce while his sisters finger painted.

Not sure about this...

Fun!

I like this, Mom!

YUM!

This picture cracks me up because I was trying to get the girls mixing their colors.  Killian noticed I was taking a picture and smiled for me, certain I was trying to get his picture!  He gets his picture taken a lot....

How can this face not get captured?!  He is just so cute!

Kayden finger painting.

Keeley decided to work on writing her name.

Kayden dropping paint.  Killian is still thinking that, of course, I must be taking his picture!

She started dipping her paper in the paint.

Poured out and swirling around.

No pants!

Killian fell asleep nursing the other day before his nap and then promptly woke up when I put him in bed.  It was nap time so I left him there. He played in his crib for an hour before I went in to get him.  When I walked in, I was greeted by this: 

 

 Where are your pants, brother bear?!  The funniest thing about this scene to me is that I have this picture of Keeley about the same age:

He seems a little happier about his accomplishment!  We do not have a pants-less picture of Kayden post nap.  I'll let you speculate on why that may be...

Water Beads

A blog I follow talks about water beads and how great they are all the time.  Recently I saw them and decided to go ahead and make the purchase and just hang on to them until I wanted to give it a try.  With both the girls sick and home from school, I though this seemed a great time to give it a go!

They start out really tiny.

Adding water to our tub.

Already growing.

Exploring them right after we added the water.

On the light table...

They added a few of their small, hard creatures.

We did this for about 45 minutes before the girls grew tired of it.  I covered the tub and left them to explore later because I knew the beads would get bigger.

Checking out how much bigger the beads grew!

Quite a few rags were used in this activity.

One bead so we could compare the size.

That exploration lasted another 45 minutes or so before they took a break.  After a while I suggested that we let them play with the beads in the bathtub.  They loved it.

 

 I did not love it.  The beads cannot go down the drain and they smashed a bunch of them while playing so I ended up spending a long time fishing out all the parts from the bathwater.  The lady on the blog does this and never talks about them getting so smushed so she either doesn't use as many in the tub, her kids are smaller, or her kids don't play quiet as hard as mine in the tub!  Regardless, it was a great activity for us to do all day long. 

Sleeping

When Kayden is tired, she passes out.  How is this even comfortable?

Just like Mom..

Keeley is Kayden's baby in this picture.  The baby was hungry...

Best Daddy!

I'm training for a half marathon and have to do my longer walks on the weekend.  Sunday I did that walk during quiet time but the girls still wanted to go out.  I didn't want to go again so Kelly took them.  And he took Killian so I could have some nice quiet time!

 

Forts!

The girls have been really into building forts lately.  Sometimes they build just one and sometimes they build two or three (for the girls and Killian or for each of the them to use alone).  They really commit to them too - snacks, toys, glasses, tissues, the tv remote...it can all be found in the forts!

Looking for something but not wanting to actually leave the fort.

What?

Not sure what is going on here but I love that Keeley is wearing her wolf ears.

Killian is not pleased with whatever Kayden is doing!