Playing Catch Up, Part III

Morgann's turn. The littlest firecracker is 7. A lover of animals, but especially horses. Morgann participated in riding lessons over the last year and a half. She couldn't wait to move to the farm because she wanted a horse to be the first farm purchase. We haven't gotten there quite yet, but we are working on it.

She too, is playing soccer with a group of kids whose parents were my teammates! I'm getting a dose of what Earl lived in La Grande and it's awesome. Morgann is a second grader and works hard to learn. She keeps up and does so with a smile on her face.

Happy 7th Birthday! 

Playing goalie! 

Five. 4. Three. 2. One!

MaKenna is FIVE! Celebration JJ style this year. After a her choice dinner at McDonalds with the Miller family, we headed out at five a on her actual birthday. She felt special and celebrated. It's all that matters!

4. The number of OUTS Mason had in his last baseball game, go BUDDY!

The little three year old is a straight-up dog lover! A wanna- be dancer. Has her first year of pre-school under her belt. She only cried two out of three days per week, for the entire year. Heart-wrenching.

2. Michelle and I finished her first, my second, half marathon. Together, well I left her somewhere on mile one, but watched her finish! Minus her telling me to "kiss her ass" we enjoyed our sister time to the M.A.X! And we plan to Rock a City next year, too. 

ONE dog left today! JJ, Grandpa Dan and Grandpa Bob left this morning, after a quick visit here to watch one baseball game of Mason's and MaKenna's first dance recital. Where she shook her groove thang to Sugar Pie Honey Bunch and trumpeted her left elephant arm! Rightthissecond she is playing dance recital and bossing Morgann. Girls will be girls.

They are no trouble.

3 & 4 year olds are no trouble at all. Mine are best friends. Sweet, innocent sisters. Smart. Happy. Funny. Girly. Athletic. Jokesters. They share like the best, and worst of friends. They smile and giggle. Run and ride together. Trip and fall, all together. They move stools to discover nail polish, mascara and lip stick. They empty out diaper wipes in a matter of seconds. They feed their babies from secret food they stash in their playroom, their arm pits and bottles. They make crafts and paint. They love to dress up and pretend they are getting married. Well you get my drift, they have fun and are really, no trouble.

The Trouble with 3 & 4 Year Olds...

More to come.

Don't go asking for the moon, kids.

Or should it read, iPod. iPad. LeapPad. Computer. Bike. BMX bike. Kindle Fire. Barbie. Baby. Wii Games. Leapster. Yikes. So, what are you getting your small children?

We stumbled upon this Santa at the Soroptomist Festival of the Trees. I don't really think they were prepared. But Mason and MaKenna, hopped right on. Morgann screamed. And although she feels too old to scream, we I let her. Get away with it. It was going to be fine. We I don't have to have her in the picture. My, the things I have learned to look past with a number three. I'm so glad the he's pushed it. Santa and Earl. And at minimum, we had her in the picture. There was no touching. She wouldn't even grab the candy cane from him. But he's not going to disappoint her this year!!

Fast Asleep

After stuffing themselves full and playing with cousins on Thanksgiving 2011, the day after drive found the girls like this. Our first Thanksgiving in our new home was nice. Things are finally coming together!

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2 and 3 of 3

Whoa! Those are bad pictures of pictures. But the plate is too full for any kind of retake. I can't believe the girls are growing so fast. When I changed my 8x10's hanging in the hallway I was in complete awe at MaKenna. She became a little girl over the last year. Right before these eyes. And as for Morgann, she grew. But that toddler-ish look is still there. One more year.

Tomorrow we start laying floor in our post flood kitchen remodel. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!! Our appliances just showed up and the cabinets are being delivered Monday. So after some really long months, progress is seriously knocking. Right now!! House pictures coming next.

School day! (SICK DAY)

**Update. For as cute as these smiles and as happy as the faces are, I am slightly surprised we ended up being home at 11A. Sick day. Mason's stomach hurt. But, I really don't think so.

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1+1=2

One nervous, jittery but somehow still smiling beneath those fingers girl. Added to one excited, ecstatic and barely containing her happiness inside girl.

 Equals two beautiful, smart and important girls who had their first school day at Heidi Ho in 2011, together.

Love that place. Love these girls. Love this life!

8.31.2008

And then there was Morgann. The loudest and littlest baby of mine. 6.6 ounces arriving around 3 weeks early, at 11:41 PM, three years ago today. The smallest little something that completed our family.

Happy Birthday to our baby. We love you, to the moon and back- a saying you tell us often. Right now Morgann, you also tell us frequently that, "my bifday coming up August firty first." And you excitedly add that it is going to be a monkey party.
Morgann, you can't wait to start Heidi Ho next week. You will surely be the youngest toddler in your class, but certainly the toughest, loudest and happiest. Mrs. Lara is going to have her hands full with all your help.
Your new found independence in dressing yourself makes me nervous. And your scream while we brush those locks makes my ears hurt. But somehow you always seem to look adorable, every morning we luckily reach a compromise.
As much as I want a baby forever, that isn't happening. Happy Birthday,to my baby toddler.

Happy Friday

Happy Sisters!

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We're Ready to Jump!

We are still biking. In fact, my replacement for the Solstice Triathlon next week, mastered suicide hill this morning. That makes for a proud wife! I know my teammates will be in good better hands. My wound is healing and next week, I am spinning whether it feels good or not! I must MOVE!

Not that I care to jinx any sort of good news we have, I can't help but share. Our house SOLD, so we really are moving and quick! July 7 we sign and officially close on July 8--pending all inspections. The house we offered on, worked out. We'll be living in a nice little cul-de-sac where our kids can....ride bikes on the street!

And in two weeks there is a little boy in our house that turns SEVEN! He's requested a bike riding birthday party. Complete with some sort of course. I'm still trying to figure that one out! A course and the cake.

Here Comes the TrekSter(s)!

I posted a status a few days ago on Facebook, something to the tune of riding bikes never gets boring. It really doesn't especially after my wreck. Maybe I should just get honest, it was a "fall over" not a wipe out of any sort. It was my First time EVER clipping in my mountain bike. The 82 miles rode the previous day might be part of the excuse, too. The location of the fall was almost to the top of where you would start your descent down what has been dubbed "suicide hill." I guess going up is just as suicidal!

But, as stated before, riding bikes for this PARTY OF 5 never, ever gets boring. And now that we have Morgann riding our evening route by herself completely on her trikester, there really isn't any complaining! It's summer, time to ride.

The truth is, with views like this and friends like these girls, Mountain Biking is for everyone!

Even after bruises, bumps, and separated somethings-- I can't wait to get back out there!

new shoesies

Big day! Morgann let me try shoes on her. In the store. And then she refused to take them off. Which really didn't bother me because this is probably only her second or third pair that aren't hand me downs from MaK. Which is only her own fault. The girl refuses to try them on. Looks like I might have created another lover of shoe shopping. Ouch for the pocket book. That now equals five of us!

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Blah.

This might be the first, but it certainly won't be the last week during this long training schedule that I pretty much bomb. Don't get me wrong, I worked out. I spun my heart out twice. We had many family outings that resulted in activity. Like Anthony Lakes and walks to and from Central School. I went out for a run Sunday and was gone for 45 minutes. I walked for about 15 of those. So. Not. Feeling. It. Blah. Kind of like my little Morgann on ski's. You want me to mooovvvveee?

On a brighter note, the hubs and I had a super fun date night. I helped a great co-worker/friend retire in style. Complete with Jaeger and Lemon Drops. That might have something to do with the missed Shamrock Shuffle, 10K, I was supposed to participate in.

And even better than that? I found a running partner for Monday's during the lunch hour! Cheers, to better weeks of running. And the good life.

Hey Dad!

Give me MY bike back! That's MY bike Daddy! Mine. MIne. MINe. MINE! My bike. Mine. I'm two. My bike. Mine. My bike.

Spring has sprung! Our bikes are out. The yard is calling our names. Kid by kid. But, just so you know. Morgann is always the first to go! She loves the outdoors!

Cinnanummmy Rolls!

I surprised the kids on Wednesday morning with cinnamon rolls. No they were NOT homemade. But neither were his. Growing up my dad, AKA Grandpa Dan, worked swing shifts. I can remember waking up some mornings to find Fuller's cinnanom rolls for Michelle and I (and of course him), right next to some sort of potted plant for my mom- mums. It wasn't weekly, or even monthly. But frequent enough for me to want to share the love with them.

It made for happy sisters. A wonderful morning, with happy sisters. I so remember those days!

this is a test ...

Uploaded from my Droid. Wa hoo. As for a Morgann update,she will be just fine.

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Full of Big Kids

After a full two days of practice, I think it's safe to say that Morgann uses the toilet now! 

And this weekend she went from the crib into MaKenna's toddler bed! (MaKenna moved to Mason's twin bed and Mason to a new full size bed). I think moving up feels good to our smallest.

We just made some serious progress in one weekend! She even takes her own cups and plates after dinner to the sink and loves to put forks out for everyone!

If she chooses not to stick with the toilet, that's fine. But I kind of think she's digging this BIG GIRL thing!

Twas The Night Before Christmas 2010

And it was a good one! Our family went skiing at Anthony Lakes, where luckily we ran into Santa Claus. Or as E put it a volunteer Santa because there were some serious questions about how he'd get everything done if he was at Anthony Lakes while we were skiing. Just because we had not yet sat on his lap. We have wrote letters.

What more could you ask for on Christmas Eve? Skiing. Santa. Riding up the lift right behind you. No stores. Pure family entertainment. This includes Morgann's Santa reaction as entertainment. She wanted nothing to do with him. What.so.ever!

He was a Santa at our disposal! These little peeps didn't mind. Not one bit. They kept saying we want this. We want that.

Morgann did mind. She wanted him to leave. Furthermore, she does NOT want him in our house tonight. She did NOT want to participate in leaving him cookies. I don't blame her. It's not like he needed anymore. Per the Norad....something.... Santa tracker he had eaten over 75,000 cookies at only 8:30.

We invited E's parents and siblings over for Christmas Eve dinner. I used our finest china fiesta ware. Our table was pure red, green, white, snowflakes, santa, yummy.

After they left, Mason started writing. Or riting. Gosh, he's cute. And completely thoughtful. Leaving gift wrap for Santa!

These kids are now resting snug in their beds. And I, my bloggy friends, have some serious work to do. Time to make some magic happen!

A LOT OF MAGIC. Mason has been scheming to have Santa and the tooth fairy here on the same night. It worked! First thing this morning he went in the bathroom and yanked that first tooth out!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!!!