Brian's Birthday

Brian had his birthday!  He requested ribs, potatoes, rolls and corn for dinner. 

 

And pumpkin bars for his cake.

 

We love having him in our family.  He's such a good father and husband.  Happy birthday, Brian!

This Week

We went to Heritage Park with some friends from the ward.  The kids loved seeing the ducks.

Thomas is pretty good at sitting up now. Less wobbly and for 5 or so minutes at a time!  This has opened up a whole new world of toys and playing for him.

School Break

Between parent/teacher conferences and Veteran's day, Robbie had a 5 day weekend!  We set out to have some fun.  The Discovery Cube had some new exhibits: Thomas the Train and Invasion of Bugs. Our friends, the Spencers, joined us.

 

Lydi- the only girl playing with the trains.

We thought of our cousin, Ashley, while we looked at these huge bugs:)

 The next day we met Dad for lunch and then went to see Big Hero 6. It was such a cute movie-funny, good moral, my kids loved it!

 I was a little nervous taking 3 kids by myself, especially since it was sold out, but they did great!  We got there early and found a seat that was close to the exit where I could stand if Thomas needed it.  The older two were so into the movie that it wasn't a problem.

 The kids did some reading too.  Lydi loves being read to and Robbie loves to read.  It works out quite nicely.  Robbie's even getting into different reading voices.  Here's his Cookie Monster:)

It was a fun break!

Accomplishments

Thomas reached a few milestones this week.

He can get up on his knees and rock--it won't be long before he's crawling!

 

He can also sit up!  We recently learned that he loves to play ball.
 

Robbie received his bronze AR reading award this week too!

Way to go my boys!

Magic

Lydi performed this magic trick for us.  I think it's one of the cutest videos we have of her.

Gymnastics

We completed gymnastics on Saturday.  I've been proud of both of them.  I think Lydi wants to try dance next and Robbie is excited for basketball to start.

5 Months

Thomas is 5 months now.

He's starting to drink water from a sippy. He's pretty good at doing it all by himself if he's laying down.

He has baby food for dinner and sometimes breakfast. He's had green beans, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, and bananas.

 He graduated from his bassinet to sleeping in his crib in the boys' room.

He rolls EVERYWHERE.

He's wearing 9-12 month clothes.

He loves his exersaucer.

Also loves to chew on his thumb and forefinger.

 He still has a clogged tear duct.  We are seeing a pediatric ophthalmologist this month.

We are still working on the nursing issues.  We are over thrush, but the Le Leche League leader that I met with this month thinks he has a slight tongue tie.  It's not bad enough to effect his feeding (he's getting plenty), and she doesn't think it will effect any speech.  She didn't think any doctor would do anything about it actually.  So, she gave me a few pointers and I'm trying to implement them.

We love our Thomas boy!

Celebrate

 We had Robbie's Parent/Teacher Conference on Friday.  I've debated how to share some of the things we learned there.  I don't want to come off as a bragging mom, but if I'm being honest I am a proud one.  I would also like a record of the great things his teachers say about him.  We are always so pleased with his work.  Ms. Guay continued to tell us how special he is.  She told us that before the school year, Mrs. Mendez (his teacher from last year) came to tell her about Robbie.  She raved about how awesome he was to have in class and what a special spirit he had.  At the time she just brushed it off like, "Oh that's nice, I'll have another great student."  She said, "But now I get it.  There is something extraordinary about him.  When he was gone in September for a few days I kept looking around the room and thinking I need Robbie here.  I missed his influence in the classroom."  She also told us that she really loves that even though he is beyond 2nd grade curriculum, he is always open to learning and finds things to improve.  He never has an attitude that he knows it all. 
Ms. Guay selected him and another boy to be technology specialists.  They set up the iPads for AR testing.  She's written a grant to get a few more in their class.  She wants to arrange a standing table along one wall where students can independently take tests to reach their goal.  Robbie would be partly in charge of setting it up each morning.

After hearing his great review we decided to celebrate with a family trip to Knott's!

 

Thomas's first ride on the trucks.  He had to sit up beside me. He's not sitting alone yet, but does pretty good with a hand to balance.

Lydi's tall enough to go on the Mexican hats--first time.

Robbie was too tall to ride the planes, so Lydi went alone.

 

 

 Great job in school, Robbie!

Conversations

Lydi: "I'll hold your hand, Daddy.  It'll be okay."  (while Brian got his flu shot)

Lydi: Can I have some grown up milk?
Me: Why is the milk grown up?
L: Because it grows me up!

I said our night-time family prayer.  After the prayer Lydi and Robbie start giggling.
Me: What's so funny?
Rob: You should have seen Thomas during the prayer.
Lydi: Yea, he had funny faces.
Me: How did you see Thomas during the prayer?  Why weren't your eyes closed?
Lydi: Cause Sissy wasn't prayerin'!

The kids like to play/pretend fight.
Rob: Hey, Lydi, let's kick each other.
Lydi: Um, Jesus Christ told us we don't have to do that.  We just need to be nice.  That's was Jesus says Robbie.

After I brushed Robbie's hair, he hands me back the brush.
Rob: Here, you go Mom.  Now you can use the brush.
Me: I already combed my hair Robbie.  Can't you tell?
Rob: Well, it just looks a little messy.


Robbie has a hard time falling to sleep at night. He's allowed to read or write to relax before sleeping.
Rob: You know how I can't sleep easy?
Me: Yes.
Rob: Well, reading and writing aren't working.  I've noticed Dad just falls right to sleep.  He looks at his phone right before bed.
Me: What are you getting at Robbie?
Rob: I think maybe I should try to play on my iPad before I go to sleep.  I think it will work.
Me: Nice try, Rob.

On Fast Sundays in our ward, the High Priests do the sacrament.  Brian blessed the bread.
Lydi: (after recognizing Brian's voice) Is that Daddy prayerin'?!?

Thomas doesn't speak yet but he communicates effectively!  After his food is gone, I hand him his spoon to play with.  One day he didn't think I had fed him enough, so he swats the spoon out of my hand and starts to whimper.  He didn't want that to be the end of his food!

Gymnastics

Lydi was the only one to show up from her class so she got private lessons!

 

Lydi going through the obstacle course.

 

Robbie on the springboard.  He does 3 tuck jumps landing in a straddle position.

Halloween

 For Halloween this year, Robbie was Superman and Lydi was a cowgirl. 

Robbie's school had a costume parade in the morning. 

Later that afternoon, we went back for their classroom party.

Robbie's teacher, Ms. Guay, was Maleficent.

dancing

 

singing

just before trick-or-treating

It was a fun day!