New Christmas Traditions

Ryan and Jordan are getting really excited about Christmas this year.

Ryan at religious education classes learned about the St. Nick tradition with the shoes. In his class they all left their shoes at in the hall and then later they checked and their was a treat in their shoes. Ryan thought this was just the coolest thing ever.

So, last night Ryan without telling any of us, starts laying out each one of our shoes by the Christmas tree. I ask Ryan. What are you doing? He said putting out our shoes for St. Nick to put something in them. I ofcourse die laughing and look at Shawn thinking - crap we need to find something to put in the shoes tonight. After the kids go to bed, I start looking through drawers trying to find something to regift. Since I am tired and don't want to go out at 9pm to get something! ha! I am thinking the kids won't pick up on this.

The next morning the kids find a two pencils and some stickers I found. Ryan gets all excited. Jordan says - wow, this is the same pencil that I already have! I am thinking on no...then I say. Well now Jordan you have two! Shawn says to Jordan - Jordan where is the other one. Ofcourse, I am laughing and saying shutup Shawn all at the same time. So funny.


Another tradition we started was the elf on the shelf. My Aunt Ozzie sent it to the kids. Basically this elf sits on a shelf throughout the house and then every night it goes to see Santa Claus. It then lands back in another place in the house and each morning the kids have to find him. Ryan things this is the coolest thing ever, but is asking lots of questions like how does he get up there and does he have batteries? He keeps telling me to check the back of it to make sure it doesn't need any. Ryan also names him Charlie. Jordan on the other hand is scared to death. She is worried this thing is going to come into her room while she is sleeping and now wants to sleep with me. I finally convince her that he won't come upstairs and that she can sleep with Ryan to protect her. This morning the first thing they do is go look for Charlie. Very fun.

Bad Habits and Kwanzaa

Dinner at Oma's and Opa's. Oma, Opa, Mom, Dad, Ryan, Jordan and Peyton at the table.

Kwanzaa
Mom: What was one thing that you learned today at school, Jordan?
Jordan (who is 4 at goes to Carpe Diem preschool): I learned about Kwanzaa. The whole family looks at each other trying to remember what Kwanzaa is and thinking that the 4 year old is smarter than all the rest of us! All of guess some Jewish holiday.
Jordan later describes the sign but she really doesn't know what it is.
Shawn (sign of the times here): Looks it up on his igoogle phone and tells us all it was some black celebration
Beth: That was my second guess.;-)

Bad Habits
Jordan randomly says: "I suck my thumb, but yooooouuuu three (pointing to Opa, Daddy and Ryan) bite your nails."

Mom and Oma die laughing!!! love ya Jordan!:)

Ryan loses his first tooth!

I thought this day would never come...Ryan at almost 7 lost his first tooth. The big tooth has been coming in behind it for weeks. We were at dinner at Christina's mexican resturant and Ryan was eatimg chips. Shawn said is you tooth still there Ryan and he said yes it just pushed back a bit. Shawn said are you sure. Ryan showed him and it was gone. HE ATE THE TOOTH! He thought it was a chip and he bit into it.

Jordan's head

Mommy: where are you going on your field trip tomorrow?
Jordan: Pause...It is in my head but I don't remember

Jordan Starts Ballet!

Ryan started his third season of soccer and Jordan started ballet for the first time! She was so excited! They do both ballet and tap. She did a great job of listening and following what the teacher told her to do. She loved it! She wore here ballet clothes the entire day.

 

 

 

 

Peyton's Baptism

Jordan's confession

Jordan: Randomly Jordan says - "Mommy, I am sorry."
Mommy: For what?
Jordan (sad/guilty face): I told all my friends at school that I loved them more than you.
Mommy: laughter
Jordan: Don't laugh at me. I am really sorry, mommy

Cradle cap aka popcorn

Peyton has cradle cap just like the other two. Jordan is obsessed with trying to peel it off and we constantly have to tell her to stop. This morning conversation:

Jordan: Peyton has popcorn head, I need to pick the popcorn.

I love 4.

Age 4 is my favorite age, since I love what the kids say at this age. It is so funny. They are just putting life all together. Here are some recent conversations with Jordan who is now 4.

Jordan: Mommy am I prettier than you
Mommy: (I am worried she is going to say this to other people so I am looking as this is an opportunity to coach her on this:-)) I say Yes, you are but you shouldn't say this to people since that may hurt their feelings when you say you are something they are not. Also, what is more important is how pretty you are on the inside. Jordan are you pretty on the inside?

Jordan: Yes, mommy I am pretty on the inside, since I am all pink!

Mommy: (holding back the laughter). Yes, jordan your are all pink inside and it is pretty. But, what that really means is how nice you are to people.

Conversation 2
Mommy: What did you get that sticker for at school today?
Jordan: for playing the quiet game good
Mommy: that is great!
Jordan: Yeah, I talked but the teachers didn't see me so they gave me a sticker.

conversation 3:

Jordan: I want to be a baby again so I can be cute
Mommy: But, mommy loves you the way you are at 4. You are very cute.
Jordan: But, I want to go back to being a baby.
Ryan (the voice of reason says literally): Jordan, you can't back to being a baby.

April Pictures

April has been a fun month. The weather has been great and I have been enjoying my time off from work with the baby. Here are some pictures of Peyton at around 6 weeks.
On one of the pics, the little girl in blue holding Peyton is Anna Ichiba (Mik and Amy's daughter). Starting last week and the rest of my leave I am keeping Jordan home on Wednesdays for a play date with the Ichiba's, who also live in Murphy! Jordan loves it. She needs some girlfriends her age, so we are glad she has Anna and Mia!

Ryan has also started Baseball (Ryan won't let me call it T-Ball, since he doesn't use a T anymore, that is beneath him). He just had his last soccer game today and scored a goal! Baseball will carry us through June then Ryan will start a basketball team for the first time. I can't wait to see him play.

The last picture is of my nephew Hayden and his friend Lane. They got to meet a Texas Ranger at the ball game last night. Shawn takes Hayden, his dad, and a friend every year to game for Hayden's birthday. Good family bonding time!

It is a miracle - Ryan is eating REAL FOOD!

I am happy mom! Ryan is finally eating normal foods beyond his same 10 foods that he eats (chicken nuggets, tortillas, fish sticks, pizza pockets , grilled cheese, apple sauce, bananas, chips and yogurt). Within the past month he has consumed spaghetti, stuff chicken and spinach shells, meat loaf, chicken breast, and apples. This is amazing. I never thought this day would come. It all started when my dad and Eva were visiting and we convinced Ryan to try chicken that Eva had prepared. Then again when my Aunt Ozzie was here, we got him to eat her spaghetti. I am beginning to wonder if Eva and Aunt Ozzie are better cooks then me and this is why he is trying the food!! Anyway, He seems to be ok with it as long as I promise that he just has to try and it and if he doesn't like it he doesn't have to eat it. With this process, he is finding that he likes more stuff than he thought! He has told me on several occasions now that is was the best meal he ever had. I guess he didn't know what he was missing out on before.

The other night I served stuffed shells which have chicken, ham, spinach, cottage cheese, etc. I thought for sure the kids would turn up their noses. But Ryan told me this was his favorite meal and Jordan told said - "This is going to be a party in my tummy". I thought that was so funny. I thought she came up with it on her own, but then I found out that it is from that show I hate - Yo Gaba Gaba. I guess, I shouldn't hate it anymore since it seems to be influencing Jordan to try new foods!

The protective brother

Ryan is so protective of Peyton and he is nuts about her. He says she is the best baby ever. Everytime she cries Ryan makes sure that mommy knows and thinks I must do something about it immediately.:-) Also there was an incident where Shawn and are were running around the house looking for Ryan's uniform and Ryan and Jordan were downstairs with the baby. Jordan was singing to Peyton and touching her head. Ryan screams - mommy and daddy Jordan is touching the baby's head. I look down and it was very gentle, and I said it is fine Ryan. He doesn't take this answer, he keeps telling us over and over and we keep saying it is fine Ryan. He finally just gives up and in desperation - thinking we aren't caring or listening to him - he says - "fine! just let Jordan touch the head!"(in this tone - implying - I give up just touch her head and she will get hurt and it will be because no one was listening to him). Very sweet, Ryan.