1,2,3,4,....

Yesterday I was running some errands with the girls while Vinny was at school. We went to Target to get a few things and Addie was riding in the cart. She got to go in the basket since I didn't need too much so she was pleased! I picked up a pack of big pack of AA batteries. She was inspecting them as she does every item when she gets to sit in the basket. She started 'counting' the batteries. Up to this point it is usually one, two, ONE in a cute little screech. She has been starting to say a lot more numbers, but they are usually out of order. So anyway, she is counting her batteries and then I hear.... one, two, three, four (I am thinking wow - she is doing really well at this today) five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven (holy cow), twelve, thirteen, fourteen (huh, those counting songs and little games are paying off), fifteen, fifteen, fifteen, fourteen.... Okay, so this was her first attempt - you can't expect perfection!! She made it to fifteen! I was very impressed I must say! Daddy even got a call at work for this little occasion.

Spiderman saves the Princess

I should really be recording the dialogue around here right now. Vinny is once again in the form of Spiderman. He was able to get his tight-fittin outfit on all by himself. He then directed Addie that she needed her princess dress on.
After they were all decked out he began talking about how Princesses really like Spiderman and that Spiderman is very handsome and not 'pretty'. Vinny combed Addie's hair and told her she looked even more pretty now.
Apparently the Hulk is needed here also, Spiderman just isn't strong enough for all the things that need to be done around here.
Elise is just taking it all in.

Just Creepin Along

Elise officially started creeping on Friday! It is just too sweet. She can still be kept fairly contained and I am not trying to lure her too far, but she is definitely starting to get into more mischief. She managed to get herself over to the small toy basket in our bedroom today, tip it over and find all kinds of goodies. Trying to keep all those tiny little toys of Vinny's out of her reach is going to be tricky!

We officially have a spider man in our house! On Friday morning we had some company. Beckie stopped in with Noah and Quinn on their way to get some grocs and Dave's parents and Jesse and Bradley also stopped in and dropped off a tractor for Dave to try his hand at some tractor tune-ups and repairs. How many hobbies can one man get.... I do like just popping him a message and telling him to change my oil and check the air pressure in my tires, so I won't complain - at least not here or now since he is currently standing right next to me! So anyway, the kids were all playing and having a good time and all of a sudden Vinny comes out holding his halloween costume (I had it hidden -obviously not very well) saying 'mommy, mommy, what is this!!!!' so.... he has been wearing it ever since... all day yesterday, all this morning, I did not allow it to be worn to bed (this he found very upsetting and REALLY wants some superhero pj's since his superman pj's are for summer) or out running errands with Daddy this morning. Hopefully the costume lasts the week and can actually be used for trick-or-treating. He is just the happiest boy when he gets to dress up as a superhero. The super-man pj's were worn for several days in a row when they were new as well. Oh, to be 4 again!

Adelaide has developed a real interest in the idiot box -I mean tv. She was lounging watching one of her favorite shows yesterday and just very matter-of-factly stated in her quiet little voice 'I like TV'. That was it, no big show just laying around making a fact known to us. It really is very cute to see her get so excited when the SpongeBob theme song comes on. We shut the tv off frequently and she loves books too, but she really likes to veg a couple times a day. At this point our skinny little, often over-active kids need some down time to maybe gain an ounce or two! :) I decided today that we have lollipop children - tiny little bodies with big heads! As a side note - they love lollipops too! They all linger on the bottom or at least below half on the growth charts for weight, but they all manage to stay in the upper parts of the head chart. Makes the shirts tricky to try to get over their big melons.

Tonight we took the kids to Chuck E Cheese. They had such a blast and they even ate too (always a good night when that happens). They love the games and Adelaide loves the truck rides and car races. Elise just comes along to be cute. We have only been there a couple times, but they have such a great time. They get pretty excited about the crappy prizes they get to pick out. Adelaide got a lollipop and Vinny got a taffy candy and a glider plane that appears to be broken already - imagine that!

Pucker Up

Adelaide has never given an actual kiss. Well, she is only 2, but I had been starting to notice she wasn't doing it. She loves to give hugs and she would always come and just give a little lean into you when she wanted a kiss. Tonight at bedtime she went to give Vinny a kiss and she actually made a pucker up kiss sound. It was just adorable. When I laid her down she did it again on her hand to blow me a kiss.

A note about our restructuring of bedtime. We now all head up after pj's are on and read books together in one of the kids' rooms and then go potty, brush teeth, say prayers and tuck in. It is working fabulously so far. The bedtime ritual has been cut in half I would say. whoo whoo!! Adelaide also appears to be over her crying at bedtime - was just for a few nights early last week, but all seems to be back to normal now. whew!!

Break Dancin' Inch Worm

Elise is now a break dancin inch worm! She squirms all over the floor looking a bit like a fish out of water. It is absolutely adorable. She will soon be making big brother and sister angry with stealing toys. So far they like to watch her squirm around and make it across the room in just a few kicks, rolls and flops. Better start double checking the stairway gate! :)

Bathtime....

Elise joined her brother and sister in the big bathtub for the first time last Tuesday. She really likes it. She loves to splash and has a smile the whole time! Vinny and Addie think it is pretty cool when she is in with them also. She doesn't stay in very long, but I am sure it won't be long and she will want to stay in for the whirlpool bubbles too.

Weekend....

Falling a bit behind on some blogs...
So, the weekend. Friday the kids and I were home all day and I cleaned the house - yipee! :( I got the house cleaned top to bottom though, which was nice till an hour later the toys were scattered about and more bugs had made their way in. The boxelder bugs and asian beetles are out of control right now. UGH!!!! Friday evening we went to visit gma and gpa Schwarz (always a good incentive for getting the kids to cooperate - they love the visits to see grandparents!). We took our hard drive out there from our now dead old computer. Luckily, we were able to retrive the items we needed off the old drive. RIP old computer - you served us well for 8 years!! :-) So, now we have to find ourselves a new computer...

Saturday was gorgeous and we got to enjoy some unusally warm weather. Dave got a lot of trees cut up. I took Beasley running - she found it way TOO warm - what a treat in October!

Sunday we went up to Isaac's birthday party - 5 already!!! Great party. Kids had a great time and we had some great food (we as in Dave and I- the kids had pretzels and cake, I think!). We were all pretty wore out when we got home last night, but sleeping was an issue. Vinny and Addie watched a little too much of a show that had them scared. Elise was overtired and I had bad timing with an caffinated soda. After a rough time getting all parties to sleep - they all slept in a bit this morning, so that was a welcomed treat!

Vinny picked up some sniffles somewhere along the way and has had a headache (or he discovered that a headache scores him some children's tylenol!) Hope he is better for school tomorrow - picture day.

Paper Batman

Vinny has become very creative with tape and paper lately!! Yesterday he made himself a batman costume. He made horns, cape and belt. He taped the horns to his head and got the belt taped on all by himself. He needed a little assistance with the cape, but it is pretty impressive work for a 4 year old. He wore his new 'costume' last night (slept in all but the cape), this morning to the ear doctor and is still wearing it. He made some revisions and made a new cape after lunch, but the horns and belt are holding up well. I am going to need to switch to generic tape and buy in bulk!

I Like Move It

One day last week we were driving somewhere and Adelaide started singing to the Rihanna song 'Disturbia'. Came out something like 'Serbia', but cute! So today she starts singing 'I Like to Move It Move It.' (Comes out 'I like move it'). Very amusing!! Now to get those ABC's down. :)