My Creative Side comes out

It's Monday night and I don't have a jewelry show, so I decided to get crafty after the kids went to bed. I saw (on another blog) this mom had made a bow board for her daughter. We keep Paige's bows in a jewelry box in her room and it's such a mess, we can never find the the bow we want, etc. or they are all over the floor. So, I have now solved this problem! I gathered my tools--below-- and went to work.

Yes, this is Steve's staple gun. I was having fun using it--feeling quite powerful. (It doesn't take much to amuse me!) And, yes, that is my boys' play tape measure. I was so eager to get my project started I didn't want to look for a real tape-measure. It did the trick!

So, here it is. Isn't it cute!

And, the finished project with Paige's bows! I LOVE IT!! Now, if I can hang it up and not have Paige climb the wall to get her bows down--that is the challenge!

Stay tuned in the next few days. I picked up more craft projects on my trip to Hobby Lobby tonight. So, I may be making more things during nap time today!

Thank goodness for Kids Day In at Westlink. Jaden and Paige went there today so I had all morning to get caught up on work and now I can play!!

Family Reunion Time

It's the Clifton get-together! I have to say, my mom and her siblings do a great job of getting together once a year. My brothers and I always give our mom a hard time about these get- together, we're so busy, etc.... This year, I was the only one able to go, but it was fun and my kids had a BLAST!!! Sloppy Joes (and MUCH more, but this is what my kids choose) for lunch, cupcakes, more cupcakes and pink lemonade! The park, the sand, volleyball, horseshoes, and new friends (cousins we haven't seen for a year.) The kids were dirty and tired, but they had a great time.

The 5 siblings: Uncle Gary, mom, Aunt Roxy, Uncle Mike, Uncle Brad.

This is Emmi, "little Gary's" daughter. She took right to my 3 kids and played with them the entire afternoon. My kids quickly learned her name and realized she would be their new best-friend for the day.

Our family. How cute!! We don't get very many pictures with Gma and Gpa, so this was nice!

The cousins: Rochelle and her husband, Chad. Tim and Tina. Me and Steve---and my side-kick Jaden who won't leave my side :)

What I have taken from this day--- I hope my brothers and I will stay in touch and hopefully see each other more than once a year. But, at the least, we do need to take a lesson from mom and her siblings and make it a point to get-together for fun and food. Family is so important and we often take that for granted. I thank God, that I have a wonderful family. In addition, I am blessed to have married into a great family as well. So many of my friends don't have good "in-laws", but I am grateful for mine. As, I am grateful for my parents. They are wonderful, supportive, and always there for us. Both my grandparents are gone now, but my grandpa and grandpa Balzer were at EVERYTHING us kids did. They were supportive and always there for us, and my parents continue this pattern. Friends will come and go, but family is here to stay. And, I am thankful for that.

The Mystery of Megan

I am SO THRILLED to have solved the mystery of Tyler's new Kindergarden friend, Megan. (This is an update from a blog last week.) I decided to email his teacher today, Ms. Williams, and ask her if Megan was a boy or a girl. I was a bit embarassed, but at least we know now! Below is Ms. Williams response to my email:
Megan is a girl, but has a very short hair cut and I have noticed that some of the kids think she is a boy. Today, I thought I heard Tyler saying something about “him” (referring to Megan). Megan always plays with the boys and yes, I would say that she is a tomboy. In fact, I have to separate her and Tyler at Circle time, etc…because they like to talk to each other a lot. Good question! Hope this helps!

Very Funny!! This still makes me laugh. And what is even more funny----I told Tyler I talked to his teacher today and found out Megan was "a girl" and Tyler does not believe me. He just kept telling me, "He's a tom-boy." I have tried over and over to nicely explain "tom-boy" to Tyler, but he just isn't getting it. OH my....to be 5 again! And, yes....we talked about when it is appropriate to talk with our friends at school. If the teacher is talking, you don't talk to your friends., etc. I have an email into the teacher about this---does Tyler talk to much. I am pretty sure (ok, positive) I used to get in trouble in school for talking too much. The next 12 + years of school with my kids is going to be so fun!

Kids Day In

This Monday, Jaden and Paige started Kids Day In at Westlink Church. Tyler did this when he was 3, followed by one year of actual pre-school before starting Kindergarten. I like the KDI program because it is from 9:30-1:30 and the kids take their lunch. So, it gives me 4 hours to work on Premier (or shop!!) --- I haven't decided which one yet! So, I knew I would send Jaden this year as he is 3 and ready for a structured program. I decided to go ahead and send Paige also. One, she would probably be bored at home with just me and two, I will use this time work on Premier and then I can play with the kids more the rest of the week. So, here's my cutie's on their first day of school.

Here they are showing me how Tyler wears his back-pack--not on his back, but with one strap over one shoulder. They want to be JUST LIKE their older brother. Jaden kept asking about riding the bus and I had to keep explaining you don't get to ride the bus until you are 5.

On a different note---Tyler is going to be our "preppy/stylish" boy and Jaden is going to be our casual "who cares" boy. I tried to get Jaden to wear a cute collared shirt to school and he was not having it. So, I just let him pick his own shirt, finally, and he choose his t-shirt!!
I thought Tyler's backpack was big on him---wow! They both got new backpacks for school and of course, they think they are hot stuff. Even if they can't walk with their back-packs on their backs. The school asked for regular sized back-packs---or I would have sent them with more appropriately sized bags.

And, here they are...best buddies, ready for school. As I was taking their pictures, Jaden just leaned over and put his arm around Paige and smiled. Of course, I melted and yelled, "stay there, how cute!!"

They both did great their first day of school. They BOTH loved it! They brought work home and Paige (2) told me she glued "red circles --apples" so I was impressed. Jaden had trouble with eating his lunch. His teacher, Mrs. Roth, said she kept telling him to eat and he wouldn't so when lunch was over she took his food and he threw a bit of a fit. (I think a LARGE fit!). I told the teacher his dad and I have trouble with him wanting to eat EVERY night. So, we are hoping if Jaden learns nothing else this year, he will learn how to eat his food in a timely manner.

Another Flashback--Paige's 2nd b-day

YES!! I just did a blog on Jaden's July birthday--but 3 weeks before that, June 24th, Paige turned 2. Jaden and Paige are 11 months apart and we have always called them "the babies", but I guess at 2 and 3, I probably need to quit calling them "the babies". With birthdays so close together, I have to plan 2 FUN parties back to back for basically the same aged kids. So, for Paige's first Princess party we went to Watson park. Not sure that was "princess" aroma, but she and the kids had fun. I figure there are many more years left to have "girly" princess parties with dress up clothes and tea sandwiches!! (I had one friend tell me that it was one of the most fun kids' parties she has gone too---that made me feel good!!! ) This time we invited friends and family to the same party!

Here's Tyler and the birthday girl. It's really hard to get a picture of anyone without Tyler in the picture. He "jumps" in every picture he can.

Paige's friends: Uncle Davide holding cousin Mason, cousin Taylor in the chair and Braxton Thompson in the lawn chair. Braeden Thompson and Tyler, Paige, Hallie Wilkinson, Alexis Thompson, Leah Wilkinson, cousin Annie Kruse, and Jaden! I was impressed to get everyone looking at the camera!!

Paige and her "GIRLFRIENDS"---Leah Wilkinson and Alexis ThompsonThe princess cake with real princess figurines!! I tried to keep the cake out of the heat, but it was QUITE MESSY by the time we had hotdogs and hamburgers and opened presents. The cupcake/cake was melting!! But, the kids loved it. I guess that's all that matters.

Then, we were off to ride ponies and go on a train ride around the park. Paige wouldn't ride the ponies. But, her brothers and friends had a great time!! Grandpa Balzer tried to walk beside the pony with Paige, but the workers would not allow it---not even for a princesses 2nd birthday.

I just LOVE this sweet picture of Jaden, waiting PATIENTLY for his turn on the ponies. I think Jaden got to ride 2 times!

And, here's Jaden and Paige watching the ponies through the fence . Aren't they cute!

And, here's the Birthday Princess---with her birthday girl ATTITUDE!! She's only 2....what will 14 be like?? We love you Paige and you will always be our little Princess. You are so sweet and lovable, even though you do have a little girl attitude. You love Princesses, you love playing with your kitchen, you LOVE your brothers, you LOVE dressing yourself, you love shoes and you pick out your own shoes, you are such a girly girl!! We love you!

Barney comes to Jaden's b-day

Flash Back to July--Jaden's 3rd Birthday Party!!

Jaden has loved Barney for over a year. Last year, he wanted a Barney b-day party, but I couldn't find any Barney party supplies in stores and I thought he would soon be over Barney. So, I talked him into a Pablo birthday party. Well, he still LOVES Barney. So, this year I got on-line and bought all the Barney party supplies. But, we also invited Barney to the party!! I was SO excited about this. (Our friend from church was the lucky one to be Barney.) I prepared Jaden for a week about how big Barney was----so he wouldn't be afraid. We talked about how Barney loves kids, etc. etc. But, oh no.....Jaden was terrified. He literally had a death-grip on my neck for the first 30 min. of his party. Barney came in the side fence gate to greet this kids. Here's a group picture. (Most of the kids were afraid!) Taylor also LOVES Barney and she was as afraid as Jaden. The 2 biggest Barney lovers in the WORLD, were afraid.

Here's Barney trying to talk to Jaden, but Jaden didn't let him get too close.

The kids had hot dogs and cookies on a stick. Here's Barney sneaking behind Jaden so we can get a picture!!

Finally.....at the end of the party, we got Jaden to stand beside Barney for one picture. This is after Barney has come inside for presents and brough Jaden a present, Barney has sang the "I love you song" with all the kids, he sang Happy Birthday to Jaden, he played "Peek a Boo" 25 times, and on and on....

And, finally....the cake.

The kids also played on a water slide at the party. It was lots of fun!!

We had a lot of fun with Barney and I would have probably said that day --it was worth the $$ to get Barney to the party, even though Jaden didn't play with him or interact with him as we had hoped. But, today, 3 months later, I would say it was DEFINITELY worth our money. Jaden still talks about Barney coming to his party and he wants to see pictures of Barney on the computer. He talks about the next time Barney comes to his party----I hope he's not too sad when Barney can't make it to his 4th b-day party!!

Boy/Girl/Tom-Boy

I just have to share this funny story about Tyler, 5 1/2. Every day we discuss his day at Kindergarten and talk about the normal things: playing super-heros at recess (the park, he calls it), riding the bus, music or P.E., what friends he sat with, etc. This is his 3rd week of school. He is just learning kids names and starting to be able to tell me kids' names. So, today we are talking about Megan. But, he keeps referring to Megan as a "he". Finally, I ask if Megan is a boy or girl (thinking Megan was a girl name.) Tyler first says, "he's a boy. Explaining that "he" means boy. Ok, yes...I know that. But, I am still thinking Megan sounds more like a girl name. So, I ask if Megan has long hair or short hair. Tyler responds, "long hair." OK.... Then, Tyler says, " Megan says he's a tom-boy." OH....... I just died laughing. I asked Tyler if he knew what a "tom-boy" was and he said no. I told him it was girl that acts more like a boy. I asked Tyler if this made since. He matter-a-factly told me in a louder voice...."Megan is a BOY. HE told me HE was a Tom-boy."
So, I just left it alone. There was no arguing with Tyler about this.
I can't wait to meet Megan in person.
Oh to be 5 again :)

The First Day of School

I can't believe Tyler is going to school. Our first born. Now, I have always been one to say I would not cry when my kids went to school. I was going to be happy. (Don't get me wrong--I love my kids dearly. But, I just thought it would be fine!) Well, I teared up at Meet your Teacher night. Then, the first day of school, Steve and I (and Jaden and Paige) took Tyler to school and walked him to class. YES! I cried this day. I took Tyler into his class found his seat and then when I left I stayed and peeked in the window of his class. I would have stayed MUCH longer, but I heard the teacher say to the kids. "is there someone looking in our window." I took that as my clue I had to leave.

Here's Tyler. I think he's ready to go. He's waiting for the bus on the 2nd day of school.

His Spiderman backpack is as big as him!!

Tyler, Jaden, and Paige sitting on the front steps patiently (or not) waiting for the school bus. **This has become a morning ritual. We all wait for the bus on the steps--everyone in the pj's but Tyler. I wonder what we will do when it's snowing outside. I am guessing Jaden and Paige will still want to go outside to see the bus.

And there he goes. Getting on that GIANT bus. And, I teared up again....as he got on the bus and I waved good-bye. It's just so hard not knowing what he will be doing. Will he make friends? Is his teacher nice? Will he ask to go to the bathroom? Will he be scared on the bus? I don't think Tyler had a worry at all. But, I did.

And, he's gone. We sure do miss Tyler in the mornings. It took Jaden and Paige a few days to figure out what to do without Tyler. Now, they play great together, but LOVE watching for the school bus at 12:10 every day.

Visitng Grandpa Cordray

Grandpa (Paul) Cordray is the last grandparent alive for both Steve and I. Grandpa lives in Marceline, Missouri. He has lived there for 25 years in the same house. Grandma Cordray died in October of 2004. Grandpa Cordray has lived alone since then and is ready to be moved to a nursing care facility. We decided to make a weekend trip to see Grandpa this August, before Tyler started school. We stayed the night in KC Friday night and then Sat. drove to Marcelline, MO. It was suppose to take 2 hours to get there, but with road construction it took us a good 3 hours. When we got to Grandpa's, we went to Sonic to get the kids some lunch and then took Grandpa and the kids to the park. Grandpa had so much fun watching the 3 kids run around.

Steve and his grandpa at the picnic table!

Grandpa and the 3 kids. He just loved holding little Paige. The kids were SO cute. The minute we walked into grandpa's house, they started calling him, "Papa" and never quit. Jaden and Paige had never met Grandpa Cordray before, but you would have thought they saw him on a regular basis. Jaden was actually named after Grandpa Cordray-- Jaden Paul Roth.

Now, tell me he doesn't look relaxed. I think Grandpa liked the park.

Of course the kids loved playing at the park. You can't tell from this picture, but the kids were fairly high on this climbing thing. So, I would step back, take their picture and then put my hand out to make sure Paige didn't let go and fall off. Then, I'd take another picture, run back to the equipment. But, it actually turned out pretty cute.

After eating lunch and playing at the park for a few hours, we headed back to Grandpa's house and then back in the car to KC. We ate dinner at Rainforest Cafe and that was fun and we shopped at the Children's place outlet (where I got the major bargains!). The kids had a great weekend and Grandpa had a fun Saturday afternoon. Steve and I....well, we can't wait until the kids are older :) Traveling, missing naps, eating out all our meals, hotel sleeping with 3 kids, ..... But, the kids had fun---so it was worth it!!