Let it Snow!

Autumn in Ohio - changing leaves, beautiful harvests and a final few days of shorts weather quickly followed by snow. I've lived in Ohio all but three of my 35 years and it's pretty much guaranteed to happen like that. Well we've gotten our snow the last three days. Nothing big, but enough to kind of get you in the Christmas spirit. Mike must have felt it too, because he wanted to get the Christmas village and train set up last night. I take care of the rest of the Christmas decorating, but that's Mike's little project. He and Taylor had a good time getting it put together! It's up on the poker table, but we'll still have to be sure the Pear doesn't get his little hands on anything.

Part of the Christmas village.

Yay, the Christmas village!

Daddy and the kids, pre-bath.

Post-bath.

The kidlets and I.

The Pear and I played while Taylor and Mike did most of the work. Michael has become so much fun in the last month. He loves to play peek-a-boo and does silly things that he knows will make us laugh. Tonight at dinner he kept putting the lid to my Gladware on his head and laughing hysterically. It was so cute. He also likes playing ball - he has a pretty good arm! I've noticed that he's been cuddlier than ever lately. I just melt when he puts his little head on me and nuzzles.

Michael loves putting the ball in this musical tree. Note to self: dark gray is not a good color for a teething, drooling child.

Snot, drool, a little leftover dinner and a yellowing bruise on his noggin. Still, the Pear is adorable. (Don't worry, I was there the whole time he was on the steps and pulled him off after this picture. He thinks it's funny to climb up a few steps then laugh until one of us grabs him.)

All cleaned up and in a comfy pair of fuzzy jammies.

Whoa Mom, it snowed!

Givin' a little love to Champy.

Like most moms, I get horrible mom guilt if I think I've not paid enough attention to one of my kids. Champ, my first "baby", is no exception. I felt bad that he hadn't gotten a walk in a few days, so we headed out in the elements after I put the kids to bed.

Just like the old days - Champy and I out for a late-night walk. Gotta love my ensemble. Eh, I was warm.

A picture of our snowy deck.

Gotta get some sleep now. I'll update this weekend with pictures from Taylor's Thanksgiving program.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Smile

Just sitting here at work thinking how much I love my kids. They put a smile on my face.

That's all.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Friends

Have you ever seen those cheesy cards, coffee mugs, prints, etc. that have the poems about "sisters" or "brothers" written in some dramatic font on a pastel background? After some jealous first few months, followed by months of apathy, I think the Worm and the Pear have become friends. Who knows, maybe they'll exchange cheesy cards someday. :)

Now that Michael is old enough to acknowledge Taylor and laugh at her silliness, Taylor pours it on. She's granted him permission to play in her room and even gives him some of her least favorite toys to play with/chew on.

The kiddos, playing together in the Worm's room.

Taylor and Michael on the Pinto swing. He doesn't look too happy, but he was smiling and having a blast until I picked up the camera.

Michael has taken a real liking to Taylor's kitchen set. I think he thinks it's his job to remove every piece of plastic food from the counter and throw it on the floor.

He likes to play peek-a-boo with the refrigerator door.

Taylor really looks out for her little brother's safety. She screams for me anytime he heads for the stairs (which is approximately 98 times per day) and is good about keeping her small toys off the floor. She performs a "choke test" by placing the item in her mouth to see if it can be swallowed. It's hysterical. The Worm has also learned that she is strong enough to move her little brother around. She likes to pick him up now and remove him from danger. This doesn't always go over so well, as the top-heavy (aka big headed) Pear sometimes takes a fall. More than once Taylor has run up to me saying "Sorry Mommy" as I hear Michael crying in the other room.

Taylor, performing the choke test. Uh-oh, the plastic doggie fits and fails.

Helping Michael out of his chair.

We've just been going with the flow here with not much new to report. The weather was awesome last week so we spent lots of time at the park, taking walks and hanging out in the yard. We had a dance party tonight in the basement, but Mike has forbidden me from sharing footage. :)

I have lots of random pictures to share. Here goes:

Michael loves Taylor's pinwheel.

Wheeee!

She's such a ham. I picked up the camera and she busted out this pose. You're right Lauri, such a Kellie poser.

X Games 2022?

Michael likes to play give and take now.

Hanging out on Daddy. Michael is huge.

Yes Michael, you are adorable. Drool and all.

Taylor cheesing after a trip to the dentist. She was such a good girl!
There's an old farmer guy at church that just loves Michael. He says he looks like a little cherub. In this picture, I have to agree! During his screaming fits, not so much, haha.

Well, hi there Mommy!

I'm a biased Mom, but I think my kids have great eyes. Both have blue eyes, but the color and shape are completely different.

Michael.

Taylor.



Alright, time to spend some quality time with Mike. Have a good weekend!


Until next time,


Mommy Kel

Happy Halloween!

Trick or treating was a success! No costume malfunctions, we had just enough candy and the weather cooperated - couldn't ask for anything more. It was pretty chilly so Taylor had to wear "normal" clothes under her princess dress. It was all pretty much covered by her unicorn costume (yes, a dual costume this year), so no big deal. She looked so cute and just kept saying, "This is the best Halloween EVER." Ever Taylor? "Yes, EVER." Precious.




Princess Taylor - the Unicorn rider.


Taylor and her preschool friend.

I was a little nervous when I first started getting the Pear ready. He was having a few **ahem** bowel issues and not happy about putting on his bat costume. Luckily, a little guano and few minutes later and the little guy was as happy as can be. He looked adorable, too.

"Let me get this right - I have to wear this stupid costume, but I don't get candy?"

The Pear, checking out the sights.

Champ donned the same costume he's worn the previous five years. Super Dog isn't quite as fit and trim as he was at 1 1/2, so we had to make some alterations.

2008

2003

We lasted about an hour before heading home. Taylor helped me hand out candy and Michael supervised. I bet we had over 300 kids this year! Our street is a giant horseshoe, so parents unload their kids at one end and pick them up at the other.


My cuties.

The family posing. Neither kid is looking at the camera.

Taylor also had her preschool party yesterday. It was a circus theme (it's a Christian preschool, so they do this to eliminate scary/gory costumes) so I had to find a second costume for Taylor. She chose to be a tiger and we just threw something together at the last minute. She loved it and looked great! I helped out at the party and had so much fun. Four is a great age - the kids are getting out of the shy stage, but haven't entered the "too-cool" stage. I had so much fun playing with Play-Doh, helping with games and doing silly dances. The kids couldn't believe that the moms all knew the Chicken Dance!

Taylor the Tiger.

The circus class.

Yesterday was a busy one! After the class party, we picked up Michael from the babysitter's house and headed to his GI specialist follow-up appointment. He's been going to a specialist since was about 8 weeks old because of milk sensitivities and reflux. The doctor was amazed and quite pleased with how big the Pear has gotten. He's 31" long (over 95th percentile) and 23 pounds (75th percentile). We're starting to wean him off the Prevacid (the doctor said the dose he's on is not very effective at his weight now anyway) and were given the okay to start trying cheese and foods that have milk as an ingredient. If all goes well, he can have regular ol' milk at 1! He also put him on a mild stool softener for a few weeks because of some straining. We'll leave it at that since the Pear and his future wife might be reading this some day. :)

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

P.S. Updated to add a picture of my Halloween costume. My sign says "Charlotte" - I'm a web writer (my official title at work). :)

Cupcakes and Cuties

We're in full Halloween prep mode here. Taylor is so excited for her classroom party and trick-or-treating that she can barely contain herself. She's had her unicorn costume picked out for months and has been keeping track of the days with a homemade Halloween countdown hanging on the kitchen wall. Her school and the town do everything on the 30th, so tomorrow is the big day! I'm helping out in her class tomorrow; I can't wait to see Miss Chatterbox in action.

We carved our pumpkin a few days ago while the Pear napped. He's been so curious lately that I just knew we'd all be covered in pumpkin goo if I let him anywhere near it. Taylor's prerequisites were: 1) Happy and 2) Girlie. Since Mike has no part in the carving ceremonies, I obliged.


Taylor and our work of art.

Gotta love the eyelashes. Those suckers were hard to cut!

I got the kids to pose outside with our new jack o' lantern. You'll notice that Taylor's hair is longer here than in some of the later pictures. I shaped up the bob on Tuesday. It looks so cute!
The best I could do. Michael kept yanking the lid off the pumpkin.

Taylor working the bob and pink "Daphne" tights. (That's a Scooby-Doo reference.)

New 'do up close.

Michael scaling the stairs and drooling all the while.

Evidence that Michael actually does have hair. It's so blonde that it's hard to see in pictures.


We made Halloween cupcakes for the kids at the babysitter's house on Tuesday. I love having those extra days off each week because I get to do fun Mommy-type stuff with the kids. Taylor was such a big helper - she cracked the eggs, held the mixer (control-freak me only had a slight heart attack while she was doing it), poured the batter into the cups and handled the sprinkles.


Good job, Taylor! Breathe mom, breathe.


Our finished products!


The Pear and I get some quality mommy-son time each Tuesday and Thursday after I drop Taylor off at school. We usually play in the floor, have a snack and get some good giggles in! He disses me for a nap after about 45 minutes, but I love that time with my little man.


Woo-hoo! Just you and me, Mom!


Michael isn't as thrilled with his new winter coat and hat as I am. He looks like I've stripped him of all dignity.


Well, I think I'm going to hit the sack. Michael doesn't always sleep great when he's teething, so I know I might hear him around 3 a.m. Hope you all have a great Halloween! Can't wait to post some costume pictures.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel