Dance class...she's a natural.

Vivian did fantastic at dance class on Wednesday night.  She listened to her teacher, followed along, sang, paid attention.  She was wonderful.  Dan had the video camera rolling and still managed to get several great pics of her too - see below!

We didn't end up going to the Enchanted Forest tonight cause Henry has a nasty cold and was up most of the night with an awful cough.  His colds always settle in his chest.  I figured it best to keep them inside and out of the cold so they could go out for Halloween, which is supposed to be warmer than tonight.

Friday we are supposed to head to a Halloween party with Jeremy, Jenn and Avery...but only if the kids are better.  We really want to go so we can see them, but Jenn gave strict orders that kids need to be healthy.  I am going to call Jenn tomorrow to feel her out on my kiddos going.  We are carving pumpkins with the kids on Saturday night.  Plenty more pictures to follow!  Happy Halloween!!!

Busy, Busy Busy Week!

Well Dan's trip to Chicago was a success and I guess they are already planning for next year...San Francisco. There is talk of the wives going on the next trip, which means we shop and the boys golf and drink! Sounds good to me!

Last night Vivian and Henry were racing to the car in the driveway and Vivian face planted on the driveway. She's got a pretty good shinner (pics below).  Wednesday is parent watch night at dance so the neighbors are watching Henry so we can both go and I think grandma Carol is coming down to watch too.  Hopefully I should be able to get some pictures of her at class and post those later in the week.  Thursday night we might head up the street to a park that is decorated as the Enchanted Forest for Halloween. 

Friday night we have a costume party for the kiddos at Nikki's house.  Nikki is Jenn Christiansen's best friend from college that lives here.  Jenn introduced me to a group of girls that go to dinner once a month at various places.  We decided for Oct to have it at someone's house and have kids and hubbies go with.  I will be going without Dan since he's traveling Thurs and Fri and won't be back until 7/8 ish.  We are excited to see Avery, Jeremy and Jenn too!

I am taking food over to Jeremy and Jenn's house tonight.  The girls that I do dinner with once a month put together a schedule to take food over to their house, since Jenn doesn't cook at all.  It's kind of a running joke among our group!

Saturday night we are carving pumpkins and then Molly, Vivian's best friend is coming over on Sunday to go trick or treating.   Should have some great pics of the kids in costumes later this week.  Really???? Halloween already!!!

The Week Begins Again

Well Dan made it through the weekend without a hitch and mom had a great time in Omaha.  I saw several old friends who I haven't seen in years and their kids. I shopped with my mom and more importantly I slept until 10 a.m on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday.  Jamie, my mom and I went shooting out in Fremont, NE with my dad.  He always asks us girls to go and it's hard when we are back and have the kiddos...so since I was kid free...off we went (see pics below)

Jamie is having two girls!!!  She just found out today.  She's so screwed! ha! ha! I was hoping for at least one boy so Henry had a male cousin closer in age, but guess on the Sazama side he will be the only boy.  Both babies are growing and all seems to be looking good. 

Vivian got a package in the mail on Monday from her cousin Paige. It was some hand-me-downs and a princess lamp (see pics below).  Vivian had a follow up dr. appt today for the small bumps on her eyelid that she was born with.  All looks good and the dr said to come back in a year or two.  Her appointment was during preschool, but it was over soon enough that she made it to school for the puppet show. 

Tomorrow, Wednesday, we are going up to the Lenexa Community Center (where Viv takes her art classes) for their open gym in the morning.  Viv's friend Janae and her mom are meeting us there.  Janae's mom, Gwyn has a sister that lives in KC.  Her sister has twins (a boy and girl) that are 4 weeks younger than Henry so they are meeting is there too.  So far this week we haven't done much cause mom is dealing with allergy sinus issues and feels like dirt.  The kids will be excited to run around and burn off some energy. 

Dan is heading to Chicago this coming weekend with the boys!  Fred, TJ and Joe from college.  Should be an interesting weekend for them.

Pumpkin Patch

We had a great weekend! Which is a surprise considering how our week went.  I had a short parent/teacher conf at Vivian's preschool. She assured me that Vivian is very social and very quick to answer questions, almost too quick cause the other kids don't get a chance to answer and are looking to her for answers.  Guess it's her and Simon that are running the show in class.  The teacher asked me about any concerns.  My concerns weren't school related but more so some issues we are having at home.  Vivian is a very strong willed, stubborn,  short tempered, defiant child who will test the limits and boundaries everyday on EVERYTHING.  The teacher laughed and said she has one of those too (her daughters are 21 and 24).  She suggested parenting classes and a few books.  Well I went out on Friday and picked up "Setting Limits For Your Strong Willed Child" and boy am I glad I did!!  Vivian is the poster child for that book.  I only wish that book had been around for when I was growing up...might have saved my parents alot of frustration and stress!  Guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.  But let me assure you Vivian has inherited several of Dan's qualitys as well.  Dan+ Vicki = Very Strong Willed Child. 

I started putting some of the practices in the book into play and WOW what an amazing difference....hence a great weekend!!  I'm half way done with the book and I am handing it off to Dan to start reading.  Guess it's making an impression on Vivian cause this happened on the way home from Home Depot.  Henry was doing his typical screaming over and over again for who knows why, cause the boy doesn't talk.  So I turned around and very stearnly said "Henry if you scream one more time I'm putting you into time out when we get home." Yes we have started time out with Henry because of his screaming and I really didn't even know if that comment would work.  Well it did.  He didn't make a peep the rest of the way home.  After I said this to Henry, Vivian said "Bubbs she means it. Mom means it." Of course Dan and i were both looking out the windows to stop from laughing.  Then Vivian said " you mean it don't you mom."  I replied "Yes I do."

Plenty of pics from the pumpkin patch below! Enjoy!

My Baby is Growing Up....

Well it's official no more babies in this house...Henry is now sleeping in his toddler bed.  I'm sure you are all wondering how this came about.  Henry is not climbing out of his crib, but when we put him in his crib he screams bloody murder.  Doesn't cry he screams over and over and over again!  So Tuesday afternoon I asked him if he wanted to sleep in his toddler bed and he shook his head yes.  I put him in the bed, covered him up and left the room and I didn't hear a peep out of him.  Tuesday night Dan put him in his crib for bed and same result so Dan move him into his toddler bed.  It was a rough night, he was up at 1 a.m and 4 a.m which meant mom was up too. Luckly for my kids I am short and I can fit in the toddler bed so I layed down with him in bed waiting for him to fall asleep.  So tonight is night #2 in the toddler bed...stay tuned.  This is good news for Jamie cause she is taking both of our cribs for her babies. 

We are heading to the pumpkin patch this weekend so I will post some pictures later this weekend.

Eventful Weekend!

Well we started Friday morning with Henry waking up at 4:15 am and deciding he didn't want to go back to bed. Mom is not a morning person so Hank Money better realize that if he wants to get up that early it should be when Grandma Jackie is visiting! I tried to "nap" while Henry was sleeping Friday afternoon but proved unsuccessful cause I had a little birdie in my ear most of the time. :-)  Friday night I was in bed by 9:30 p.m.

Our water heater of 18 years, according to our seller's disclosure, went on the blink this weekend.  Guess they are supposed to last about 7 to 10 years (if that), so not surprised that we had to get a new one.  Dan managed to install it himself, which was a first for him! Go Dan! We've got very hot water in every facuet in the house!  However, I did load up the kiddos and dogs in the car while he was messing with the gas....just in case the house went up in flames.  We came back when it was all clear :-)

Saturday morning we loaded up the kiddos and headed to Weston, MO (30 mins north) for the annual AppleFest.  So I know what your thinking apple everything...right....wrong.  I was expecting Apple Pie, Apple Cider, Apple Fritters, Apple Donuts, Apple Coffee Cake, Carmel Apples...loads up fresh apples.  Nope.  There was one booth with apple pies and one booth with apple butter and cider...but that was it.  I was a little disappointed.  Vivian did get a giant pickle on a stick at 9:30 in the morning so I guess it wasn't a total loss (see picture below).There was also a parade.  When I told Vivian we were going to a parade she said "so I can get candy?"  It's a neat little town and I would like to go back when the festival isn't going on and hit some of the stores on the main street.  Jeremy, Jenn and Avery met us there, but they got there around 11:30 ish and we had been there since 9 ish so our kids were starting to get fussy and ready to leave.  We grabbed lunch with them and chatted, then we were on our way home. 

Sunday was laundry and grocery store.  Dan went to the driving range for a little bit and when he got home I went to the gym.  Dan and Vivian played outside most of the afternoon.  Oh, Dan has now run cable into the garage so he was more than happy to be out there watching football while Vivian played in the driveway.  I fear I may not see much of him now that he's got cable out there....something I'm not sure I will every figure out.  Guess it's his mancave...so whatever works.  I'm pretty sure the neighbors think he's crazy. 

We bought Henry a robe and he was happy to have it on after bath tonight. It's pretty darn cute and a little big, but he'll grow into it.  See pics below. That's our weekend in a nutshell. Kids are in bed and mom and dad just opened a bottle of wine,  greatly anticipating our sunday night shows.