We spent the afternoon at the Magic House with cousins today. We had a fun time enjoying the addition (they recently expanded and doubled in size).
R in the fairy tale room...
E playing with this air tube system...
S and R watching bubbles form (in the bubble room)...
entrance to the fairy tale room...
R climbing the beanstalk...
*Lisa, well worth it for the PIE event!!!
Ever since Reagan was a little baby she has sucked her thumb. Anytime she had her blankie her thumb would be in her mouth. As her fourth birthday approached we told her that she needed to stop. She vowed that she would NEVER stop- no matter what. So the day after her birthday we put an anti-thumb sucking potion on both her thumbs (she really only sucked one but she said she would just switch to the other one if needed). The first night she still tried it. There was much spitting, water drinking and hand washing (she kept sneaking out of bed). Needless to say this stuff DOES NOT come off. The second night I forgot to put it on. As I was laying with her she said, "if I stop sucking my thumb for 30 days will you have a party for me?" I said yes. She hasn't had her thumb in her mouth since- not at naps or at bedtime. She simply lays her head on her blankie instead of holding it. I am amazed at her determination (although I shouldn't be). It has been 29 days- we celebrated with chocolate cake and a girls trip to the mall to buy a new Webkins. She is so happy! 
I have not posted anything in awhile because I have been fulfilling one of my goals (I should be covered thru April)..... 
Tonight we went over to uncle's house for a little play time and dinner. Grandma and Grandpa are leaving and will be gone until May so we had a send-off dinner party. The kids had fun playing with everyone.
notice the crown- reagan told grandpa "i am king of everything!"
reagan is not thrilled with eating- she needs some coaxing...
playing with the new tools...
reagan and aunty...
carsyn and luke torturing cori and erin...
micah and his mommy...
reagan and grandma playing...
the ride home... :)
In my mind today was going to be a fantastic day! Dale and Carsyn were headed to school. I was going to make bread and start some fun activities to kick off the beginning of 2009 (which will occur daily- hopefully). Mondays are always fun- there is no where I have to be so we hang out all day (well, until afternoon carpool). It started out great but we hit a few bumps; hot breakfast, Dale out the door, hot breakfast, Carsyn out the door, open "letter of the week" envelope (letter B), make bread (our letter of the week activity for today), kids "help", kids play with extra dough, clean up HUGE mess, make "B" page for our alphabet book, break up several arguments (fancy word for fight), send kids to their room, listen to yelling, have a talk, watch Word World AND Barney, eat delicious bread, play legos, try to redirect arguments, try to ration with screaming/dramatic little one, read, play, eat luch, read, deal with disobedience, send kids to bed for "nap", listen to Reagan yell for 20 mintues, then fall asleep at the hint of silence. AHHH... I won't go into any more detail as the afternoon was a little intense the moment Carsyn got in the car after school. Right now all is ALMOST quiet and I am headed to watch some 24!
Letter of the week puzzle...
playing with the extra bread dough...
after 20 minutes of yelling (and after I woke from my short nap) I found her like this...
the mess in my room at the end of the day...
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for this day. I pray for 17 inches of snow after Wednesday so Jacob can come and play. AMEN!
We decided to set goals for this year. Not resolutions- just things we would like to try to accomplish sometime this year. I asked the kids at bedtime tonight- they had great ideas (I did not even prompt them)..
Carsyn:
go to the museum and the science center
drink more water
not have too many sweets (I DID NOT tell her to say that!!)
stay healthy
hug and kiss mommy and daddy
not be grouchy- LOVE this one!
Luke:
go to the magic house
play "sorry"
learn to read
go out to eat just mommy and me :)
eat ice cream at mary moo cow (oberweis)
get 2 hummingbird sets and 1 "finchin"
Reagan:
watch a movie
go someplace special- like Cabela's :)
have a campfire with a tent
watch the stars
Amy:
read a book a month
take a class
participate in "photo 365"
Dale:
NOT have major surgery
make cheese
date night at least once a month :)
Her are a few pictures of our first day of the new year....
dale making his new cheese press...
carsyn is helping sand...
luke super glued his fingers together!
the kids started their new "jobs" today- they will be earning commission and learning to save, spend and tithe (we made money jars tonight)...
