Tae Kwon Do

Last year Brett asked when he would 'get to do something' like Reagan does...he was referring to dance, girl scouts, etc. I told him when he was 6 he could choose something. Well, he turned 6 and chose Tae Kwon Do! He will go on Tuesday nights while Reagan is at dance.....that was on purpose to save me a trip across the bridge. He's really liking it and it gives him an outlet for all of his "fight" energy and we're hoping it gives him some focus and discipline. That said, bad behavior for Mom results in having to miss TKD class on Tuesdays......he's lost one already and is actively in the process of losing another this week! Gotta hit 'em where it hurts. A missing daddy, and some new found independence from going to school all day everyday has brought out some power plays, but ultimately I still rule, as he's finding! In the photos above Brett is receiving his white belt.

Root Viewer

The kids and I started a new project, a root viewer. We planted seeds in the provided clear test tubes: a carrot, a radish, and an onion. In this picture they are adding water to the peat moss. We let that soak in overnight.

The next day they put the peat moss in each of the tubes.

Then the added a few seeds into the respective tubes.

Reagan's turn. I love how Brady is looking on so seriously.

Brady took a turn to drop a seed.

As did Addison.

Then we put it on the window sill. Each kiddo has a chart to record their observations as the veggies grow.

Hello Mr. Dragon fly

This friendly dragon fly came to watch us plant our fall garden. You can see Brady saying, daggin fie! This fall we planted cabbage, kale, spinach, carrots, white and purple kohlrabi, spaghetti squash and pumpkins. Yum!

No words.....

I have no words for these crazies! Just giggles. They were having a ball....keep on rollin', little ones and I'll roll along with ya!

Sick babies......

I've always cherished the fact that our oldest two kiddos aren't pukers and I mean puke, not spit up cuz if that was the case Reagan nor Addison would hold any records....both were spitter uppers and boy do I NOT MISS THAT~!. I don't think Reagan threw up until she was 6 years old, seriously. Brett maybe at 4 but not often. Let me put it this way both were able to get to a toilet....and that's HUGE! Now Addison and Brady have both thrown up before, Addison directly in my face from only inches away as I slept, to be accurate! (eew, I know....only by God's grace and the deep love of a mother is she still allowed to live here and even sleep with me sometimes! LOL) Ok, so even when the little two have gotten sick it was never at the same time and never in the middle of the bleepin' night. Add one deployed Daddy to the mix and Murphy's Law enters from stage left.........
A couple nights previous Brett had gotten sick, but he blamed my cooking, ha! We had some orange chicken that he didn't think settled with him, ok, works for me. I was really only annoyed about cleaning it up cuz only the night before, he'd had a bloody nose AND peed his bed. Lord knows I LOVE to wash sheets and scrub carpets! So, fast forward two nights and Addison fusses so I get her up. This isn't out of the norm so we're chillin' on the couch. I walked to the kitchen for something and get there just in time to see her freaking out cuz she's getting sick and she doesn't really know to just let it come out. Poor thing. Into the bath she goes, great. Out of the bath.....while cleaning the couch, she throws up in the bathroom......lovely. Back in the bath. Start to clean bathroom. Out of bath. Sittin in bathroom. I run to get more towels and she doesn't know what to do while getting sick again and runs into the hallway, yep.........back to bath. Start cleaning hallway. Addison, meet Mr. Bucket! Please puke here!
Addison on floor, on blanket in living room. How much more could be in a small child, really? Cleaning, cleaning. Over the monitor I hear Brady get sick....interesting and sad, cuz when I went in he was only crying and saying, "sorry, mama!" Awwwwww, so polite, even while puking! Into bath for him. Addison running...splat.....me....cussing at this point asks what happened to the bucket?!?! In bath together. Cleaning up hallway. Stripping Brady's bed and straight to the washer on steam with extra stem. Both out of bath. "Camp" set up on floor in living room. Thank goodness there are cartoons on at that hour, not sure why, but they are! I camped out with them and they took turns throwing up in the bucket....exciting times! This started around 10:30 pm and ended around 5 a.m. The three of us slept on the living room floor. Both were weak and laid low the next day. I was beyond tired and did four loads of towels and blankets and such....gotta love the steam washer! No puking all the next day until bed time and Brady did it again.....see, I love to wash sheets! It took a whole other day or so and then I felt like crap. *Joys of motherhood* Luckily, the others were all better and Reagan and Brett (mostly Reagan, love her!) stepped up and managed the little two, got them up and dressed and fed and kept them entertained while I slept in and moved very s-l-o-w-l-y. Never got sick, but sure felt like poo. Whooza that was a night to remember, or to forget, take your pick. Just another day in the life!

For Daddy

Addison hard a work making a picture for Daddy!

Daddy, we stole your blanket!

And your neck 'piddo'!

Listening to Daddy read the Cars book.

I wouldn't dream of making a paper chain for each day Scott is gone, so we opted to count down the weeks. Here are Reagan and Brett making the chain to help us countdown. Once it was up Rea said, "it doesn't seem so bad when you think of it as weeks instead of days." She's right! It's all a matter of how you look at it and we choose to look at it as a time to enjoy each other and grow as a family and to celebrate the man we love. We're proud of our Marine!

31 movie nights til Daddy is home....give a take a couple.

Our first movie night! So far we've watched, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Bettlejuice (which was to scary and we stopped watching it and opted for America's Funniest Videos, and Bedtime Stories.

Reagan removing a chain!

Look who I found snuggled up on the couch listening to Daddy!

Addy's turn. They like the Tow Mater page!

We have a daddy cut out. I need to get 'him' laminated and put on a stick so we can have fun with Daddy, just like a flat Stanley! We just sent Scott a camera and a Capt. America figure so he can do the same for us!

Darn, this is blurry, but Brady's giving Daddy a hug!

Daddy doggies! Reagan and Brett both have Daddy Bear's which are stuffed bears wearing cammies. We attempted to get teddy bears for the little two before Scott left and they only had one when he went. He bought the one and I've been checking back again and again for more to arrive with no luck. The last time we looked they had these bulldogs wearing cammies and the kiddos loved them! So, Daddy Doggies it is!! We may have to get collars for them so we can reduce fighting over which one belongs to who, but really they seem to know, it's a strange twin thing I've decided. They look at two of the exact same toy and can tell me whose is whose.

Lego fun with Brett

Brett received some birthday money from G&G Holm and Great Gma Mary so we headed to the store. His big purchase was a Ninja Lego dragon. We had a great time putting it together, but by now you can bet it's in a million pieces all over the house and I'm certain the vacuum has eaten a few of the small pieces. I have a love hate relationship with Legos, and Polly Pocket shoes, for that matter.