Three (Somewhat) New Videos

Well I am MAJORLY behind on blogging. Unfortunately, right after Christmas the kids were all hit with illness. Riley just had a cold/cough for a few days, but Naomi and Riley had fevers of over 104 for a week straight with coughs/congestion as well. Elijah ended up being diagonosed on top of that with pneumonia and an ear infection, for which he was put on amoxicillin, but then ended up with a head to toe rash from an allergic reaction which lasted another week (and on top of all this, mind you, he was cutting a molar!) so our lives the last three weeks or so have been TOUGH! But we finally have a healthy household again, and this mama is trying to get back to some kind of normal around here while catching up on everything that had to be neglected while caring for sick kids and getting little to no sleep each night.

I'm sure I'll catch up eventually. If you're on facebook you've probably already seen our holiday photos, so I don't feel too bad :). Here are a couple videos I do have to share today.

This first video is of trying some "flag math" with Naomi. She is very mathmatically minded (always telling us how many boys there are and how many girls there are or counting up various things and setting up scenarios). A game we frequently play in the car is counting flags. This video is at home (since I can't video her while I'm driving!) showing how she started figuring out differences while playing this game.




This is a video of Riley and Naomi on Thanksgiving Day 2010 (see I told you I was behind!) sharing some things that they are thankful for :).



And finally, here is a funny video of Elijah and his response to transitioning to a formula/whole milk mix...not so much a fan (although since this video he drinks it just fine! haha)

Clap, Sing, Laugh!

Clap Your Hands




Sing A Song



Laugh Out Loud



(If you are reading by email, please click over to the blog to view the videos.)

We Dig Trucks

Yes, this is my third post today :). Seems like we go, go, go and then I have to try and catch up on everything all at once. This past weekend, we took the kids to an open house for the town department of public works. They had all kinds of trucks and work vehicles for the kids to climb on and a few that they could even operate with the help of a town worker. It was a pretty fun outing for free! :) We even got free hot dogs and lemonade for lunch!

The kids all got a plastic construction hat. Elijah actually left his on the whole time...I think he liked it! :)

The kids got to climb up into several of the trucks and plows.

Here's Naomi posing to show how big they were - the tires were bigger than her! :)

Riley went in this truck and was able to operate it with the worker!

Elijah got in on the fun a bit too!

There were so many different ones to try!

This was the highlight for Riley. He waited in time a LONG time to get to operate one of these diggers!

It was pretty cool - definitely worth the wait!

Haha, I like how Brad looks like he's overseeing in the photos. What a cool day!

Oh, By The Way...

He made it!

His favorite part of kindergarten? The bus ride, of course! And when I asked him the first day if he was the only kid on the bus he said, "Yup! Just me and my backpack!" :)

Riley's been really enjoying kindergarten so far. He made a new friend because they both like the color red :). And he had gym yesterday and said it was great. Chapel today didn't go over too well when he had to wear that handsome uniform, but hopefully once he sees that everyone has to wear the same thing he'll be a little more willing next week...we'll see ;). He's been super tired by the end of the day, but I think we'll all adjust to this new schedule in the next week or so.

On Friday, we sent in cupcakes and he got to celebrate his birthday at school! He came home with this snazzy crown and said it was a lot of fun!

Perhaps the biggest adjustment has been for Naomi who has lost her daily playmate and best friend, but I'm trying to find special things for her to do each day. She does need to learn to find ways to play on her own and that was harder for her than I though it would be. They have both said that they miss each other when Riley is at school!

I'm so glad my kids love each other so much and actually miss each other when they are apart. Such a blessing and I pray their relationship continues to be a special one for their whole lives!

More Thoughts About Mommy

It's always fun to ask the kids questions like these. You can read Riley's answers when he was 3 years old here. These are Naomi's answers at age 3 and Riley's new answers at {almost} age 5. :)

1. What is something mommy always says to you?
Naomi: Pick up.
Riley: Don't step on the baby.

2. What makes mommy happy?
Naomi: My smiles.
Riley: When you give her a big hug.

3. What makes mommy sad?
Naomi: When you're gone and you don't have me.
Riley: When I'm doing something else and go somewhere without you.

4. How does your mommy make you laugh?
Naomi: When you say something silly!
Riley: By doing a silly thing like singing a silly song.

5. What was your mommy like as a child?
Naomi: Played with toys.
Riley: Grammy?

6. How old is your mommy?
Naomi: 78
Riley: 13. You're old.

7. How tall is your mommy?
Naomi: This tall (raised her hand as high as she could)
Riley: This tall (points to my head)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Naomi: Do the computer, right?
Riley: Play her favorite game.

9. What does your mommy do when you're not around?
Naomi: Go to the store by herself.
Riley: Work on the computer.

10. If your mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Naomi: I don't know.
Riley: You would sell something like a lot of pears to everybody in town. Then you'll be rich because you'll have a lot of money.

11. What is your mommy really good at?
Naomi: Computer and cleaning the kitchen.
Riley: Computer and building, like building tables.

12. What is your mommy not very good at?
Naomi: uuhhh don't know mommy i'll do that one later.
Riley: Legos, good but not Very good.

13. What does your mommy do for a job?
Naomi: Computer.
Riley: Help take care of everybody.

14.What is your mommy's favorite food?
Naomi: Noodles.
Riley: Pizza

15.What makes your mommy proud of you?
Naomi: When I poop on the potty!
Riley: When you be good the whole day.

16. If your mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Naomi: Mommy!
Riley: Goldilocks.

17. What do you and your mommy do together?
Naomi: Go to the store.
Riley: Go to the park.

18. How are you and your mommy the same?
Naomi: Cause our hair is the same. It's long and blonde.
Riley: We're not the same! Well, because we have the same skin.

19. How are you and your mommy different?
Naomi: Because your eyes change into green.
Riley: We have different hair.

20. How do you know your mommy loves you?
Naomi: Because I'm pretty and I kiss you.
Riley: By giving hugs or a valentine.

21. What does your mommy like most about your daddy?
Naomi: His hair. Nooooo. His arms. Hahaha.
Riley: That you love him.

22. Where is your mommy's favorite place to go?
Naomi: To the store.
Riley: To new restaurants that we haven't been to before.

The Cookie Cure All

Now that Riley is big enough to go with daddy jogging (he rides his bike along with him), I had to think of something special to do with Naomi so she didn't feel left out (which she did of course). And what better way to my girl's heart than baking cookies?! It is definitely a cure all!

I think it worked! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Funny I realized that Naomi seems to be the star of my wordless Wednesday posts. There are just quite often no words for this sweet, spunky girl! :) I love you Naomi!

Wordless Wednesday