March of Dimes Walk III

On April 12 I will be walking in my third March of Dimes walk in St. Cloud. I know you know the reasons I walk.  Our team again this year is Our Lucky Ducks. If you would like to join my team and collect support from others, please let me know. If you would like to walk with me and hopefully the whole family this year, please feel free to join us. If you would like to financially support my walk, that would be greatly appreciated! You can find all of my information for the walk at www.marchforbabies.org/Disakay

Thank you so much for supporting us!

Taylor and me at the walk last year.

Oliver

I think we have decided that Oliver is our handsome dresser. He loves to wear his tie to many different places. And the other day I over heard him say as he went to the mirror, “Let’s see how handsome I look.” However, if you comment on his handsomeness he gets very bashful and doesn’t want the attention put on him.

Just a few examples of his handsome dressing up:

He chose to wear his shirt and tie to our ECFE class one morning.

We were going to a friends superhero birthday party, Perfect event for a shirt and tie.

A cold Monday morning at home, why not wear your tie with a polo shirt and your winter hat?

A lazy pajama day at home, but you must look good with a tie.

And… today, this is what Oliver chose to wear to church. He is so proud of his choice!

Pirate Day

Yesterday was a good day, I felt like a good mom too. It was Taylor’s third day of no school this month. The temp was –20 and a wind chill of –30 or more, so definitely no going outside for this crew. It gets to be quite challenging and tiring coming up with creative things for five kids to do everyday, just to help keep everyone sane, but like I said it was a good day, I had energy and a creative moment.

The morning started with all four boys playing a nice game of Candy Land together while Addi and I painted our finger nails.  We baked banana bread. A friend and her son braved the cold and came over to play for the rest of the morning.

Trying to show off our purple painted finger nails.

 

 

 

 

 

Once ASOM went down for naps I asked Taylor to help clean two things in each of our bathrooms and he willing chose them and did them without complaining. I could just stop right there with the day being good and I think it would be enough, but it continued…

Taylor has this book he got for his birthday that he really wanted to use today.

It’s a great book with most of the things you need are already in your home, so you don’t have to purchase much before trying things.

Actually he checked this out at the library this summer and loved it, so we gave it to him for his birthday, so he could do more of the projects.

 

 

 

Today he wanted to make a pirate sword after I convinced him to make five of them, he got started while I was able to finish cleaning the bathrooms.

His finished products! With a little help.

 

 

 

 

 

While the kids were sleeping I found our pirate books, and created a treasure hunt for the kids. Using a brown paper bag to write their treasure clues on. Each time they found a pirate book we would sit down and read it, then they would continue and find some “loot” to put in their piggy banks, and it ended with finding a treat and a pirate movie in the family room. Everyone had a blast, there was NO fighting and we didn’t spend the entire day in front of the TV. Because they were on a treasure hunt, they didn’t even use the swords for fights. They had a mission instead. That is a bonus. I loved it too! Too bad everyday can’t be this wonderful!

Arrggh, look out Me Mateys!

Too Much????

On Saturday (December 28) I think we experienced a little too much of our Christmas festivities. I am pretty sure any parent can relate, but it may have just been exaggerated with four overly tired 3 1/2 year olds.

Let’s set the scene…below zero temps, snow, wind, and we need to get out of the house or at least one adult might go crazy. We decide to venture to the local Cabela’s for the kids to see the animals and fish. We had been talking about going for a couple of days, so the kids were very excited. They did great for almost an hour and then we could tell they were starting to get tired and hungry. Time to go. We leave and decide to go to McDonalds (Old McDonalds as the kids call it) for lunch and play on the play place to make sure they are extra tired and take a good nap. We rarely go to McDonalds, in fact this was the first time ASOM got to play on a play place. After they ate their lunch they were able to go play. Everyone was playing so nicely, Trevor and I decided that if we ever win the lottery we would build a play place and this is where the story changes.

Thirty minutes later the kids have been given their five minute warning before we get ready to go. Times up, Seth and Addi come down the slide first and we direct them to their shoes as we go round up the others. Mistake. They both sneak back up the play place. In the meantime Micah is at the very top and will not come down, we are not sure if he is scared or just doesn’t want to. Oliver comes down the slide and gets his boots and coat on without a fuss. Good job Ollie! Seth and Addi come back down the slide and we nab them again, this time not letting go. Maama (Trevor’s Mom) wrestles Addi into all of her winter gear, while I am on the floor wrestling Seth into his things. Both of them are kicking and screaming the entire time. Too bad there are two or three other families there having to hear this. Trevor takes Seth to the car and I am trying to get Micah down, Taylor has gone to the top to help Micah down, but he will not move. He says he wants to come down himself, but is not moving. I decide to play the good bye Micah trick and take Addi out to the car. Addi is screaming again, but not because she is done playing, but because she is worried we are leaving Micah (“Don't leave Micah, don’t leave Micah,”she screams the entire way to the car.) Oliver is still waiting patiently with Maama and Papa. Trevor’s turn to try to get Micah so he tells Taylor just grab him and get him down. Micah is crying and Taylor starts crying because Micah is so upset. In goes Papa (Trevor’s Dad) to the rescue. He had to climb to the top of the play place to get Micah down. When we left McDonalds we had four of the five crying and naptime was had by all! Not sure if we will be returning to a play place for a looooooong time. What would we have done if there hadn’t been four adults there to help. YIKES!

Despite the crazy day at McDonalds, we had a wonderful Christmas with both sides of our family. Everyone was healthy and our travels were safe. We hope all of you had a Wonderful Christmas and your New Year is starting off well.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Checking out the gifts from Santa.

All the cousins in Grand Forks.

For all the Red Pepper fans out there, Three Generations of Grinder Lovers!

They even got to watch and wave at the garbage men in Grand Forks.

The dreaded McDonalds play place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Another Big Transition

After 3 years of four high chairs taking over our kitchen we are finally done with them. It was with mixed emotion that we get rid of them; another sign that ASOM are no longer babies, no more going to the bathroom in peace when I know they are buckled safely in their chairs, but also NO MORE WASHING HIGH CHAIR TRAYS! I think that fact alone out weighs any of the sad feelings I have been having. If I never have to wash another high chair tray, I won’t be sad at all!

So long high chairs!

Welcome built in bench (constructed by my dad) and dining room table. As you see, we did leave one high in the corner just in case someone has the wiggles or needs a time out. We haven’t even needed to use it that much. I have four favorites about our new bench. My dad making the bench for us is first and foremost of the favorites, eating together at the table has made meal times quieter, the entire bench has storage (one can never have too much storage, especially with 5 kiddos), and our kids are actually arguing about setting the table, clearing the table, and washing dishes. Arguing in a good way, they all want to help (it’s great!) I love having help in the kitchen!

Our first dinner with the new bench. It fit the seven of us and my parents perfectly.

It also fits ten kids pretty well.

So long high chairs welcome new stages(with mixed emotions).

Happy New Year!

Seth

I think that Seth is part Hobbit. Every weekday morning he gets up when Taylor comes down to have breakfast and sits with Taylor at the kitchen counter. He sits there waiting, hoping big brother is not going to finish all his breakfast and most mornings Taylor doesn’t finish all his breakfast. (Taylor, like his mom, doesn’t care to eat right away in the morning). As soon as Taylor leaves the counter to brush his teeth, Seth eats any and all of what Taylor leaves behind. (Actually, I think Taylor purposely doesn’t eat everything now, so Seth can have some.) About a half an hour later when the rest of the kids are ready to eat, Seth is right there enjoying his second breakfast of the day! No wonder he is becoming such a big boy!

Everyone is spending a little time with big brother before he leaves for school this morning, but look at Seth. It looks like he is just eyeing Taylor’s cereal.

First Breakfast for Seth – eggs and oranges big brother didn’t finish!

Last Ride?

On Friday, November 15 it was warm enough to get out for a walk with the kids. As I was pushing the 50 pound stroller, plus 123 pounds in kiddos I began to wonder if this would be the last time I push them in this. While we were cleaning the garage this weekend we put the stroller up for the winter, so I know it will be the last ride of this year, but will I even be strong enough to push them again when spring comes around in 2014? Will they even fit? Will they be content to sit in there for our regular 30 minute stroll around our neighborhood? I am betting not. It has been a wonderful stroller for us. (Thanks to our entire neighborhood for coming together to give us this stroller three years ago. It has been well used and loved!) I wish I could tell you how many miles I have put on that stroller. I know it is way into the hundreds. It makes me a little sad…another phase has ended. I am grateful in some respects that they are becoming more independent, but I do miss some of those younger phases too. ASOM are no longer babies anymore.

 

November 15, 2013

So long quad stroller. You helped me to get the kids out and about more that I ever thought. You kept me in shape. We would have been lost without you.

Now I will be doing a lot more running/chasing the kids on bikes it guess. I better get in shape this winter so I a ready!