This blog post is dedicated to little video clips of the kids. Emmett has a funny little walk. Part of it has to do with his turned in foot. He also throws his arms back and looks like a little chicken to us. Alaina is teasing him a little in this clip. This clip is Emmett playing peek-a-boo with us. He still thinks we disappear when he closes his eyes. Here is Jason singing Clementine. He knew it all by himself but got shy with the camera. Here are the twins stacking cups. Did you know that this is considered to be PE? You did not read that wrong, the kids actually did a whole segment on how to stack cups. In P.E. The kids love it and are good at it, however, I'm not sold on the whole physicality of it. Here was Ethan doing the same routine. Finally, here is Emmett using some of his cool language skills. Yah, dat boy got skillz. :)

Here are some random June pictures.  

It isn't likely that this knowledge will ever be forgotten in any account of history regarding my children, but just in case the past becomes a little fuzzy, I'll put it down on the record - my little boys (and all children to be exact) love their Daddy.  Not in the usual way.  Not in the teenage-attitude, 'yeah, I love my dad...' kind of side comment that could also pass for a question.  No.  These boys REALLY love their dad.  I've come to grips a long time ago that I am just an acceptable replacement until the real talent walks through the door.  All day long the little boys are waiting for a tiny click that gives Robert away as we walks through the door.  If they happen to hear any similar noise they will race through the house screaming "Dada!  Dada!" When they realize they've been tricked they break down in a torrent of tears that is nearly inconsolable.   At random times during the day they will remember Robert and start asking for him.  They always seemed shocked when he unavailable.  When they wake up in the middle of the night they cry for daddy.  I'm actually quite happy with that one, but when Robert is out of town, the grief is almost more than those poor little souls can bear.    Out of town trips are tragic for us all.  I don't know exactly what black-magic voodoo the guy puts on them, but it is some pretty powerful stuff.

This has become one of my favorite pictures.  The dog and her boy.

Robert has been camping lately.  A lot.  This weekend was when he took both boys on a camping trip.  Alaina and I decided to have some serious girl time, so after the little boys were put into bed, we got in our suits and did some night swimming.

Or more precisely, night relaxing.  After floating around the pool with our cool water, we went in and watch girl movies.  Girls know how to party, I'll tell ya.

Our little messy eater.

You may notice that for the majority of pictures during this month, Jason is in some state of undress.  We have been potty training, to absolutely no real success.  The only way I can get the child to go to the bathroom on the toilet is to have nothing on his bum.  This doesn' always guarantee a potty victory, but it has proven to be the best chance I've got.   At this point, I'll take anything.  I don't know why this cute little guy is so reluctant to potty train but I have seriously tried everything else I can think of.  We've encourage with positive reinforcements, treats, sticker charts, new undies and lot of praise.  We've yelled in anger and frustration.  We've tried a little shaming ("only babies use diapers...are you a baby?!")  Not proud of some of those, but just being honest.  None of those have had the smallest impact on Jason.  Except of course, the nudity policy.  That has been a slight improvement.  Very slight, but at this point, I'm going to take what I can get.  

Jason, "Hey Mom!  Look whats on my bum!"

This is a picture we posted up on Facebook for our sweet little Navy who is fighting cancer.  It has been a tough road for this little three year old and it doesn't look like it is going to get any easier for a while.  My kids pray for her all the time and we really hope this treatment works for her.  

We were very lucky to get a visit from Tonnette.  She may be the kids' most entertaining aunt.  They love her so much especially since she so willing to play with them.  (I love her too!)  Having her here was a great way to start off our summer.

In the pool.

At the park.

On the tramp with Emmett.

Jason especially loved his time with Auntie T.  It's great to have someone who will read you a book whenever you hand her one.  Or play games.  Or basically be at your beck and call, 24/7.  It may not have been that bad, but Jason certainly had her wrapped around his little finger.  (Tonnette didn't seem to mind too much, either.)

Come back again soon!

Alaina.  This girl, I tell ya.  I.  Love.  Her.  

I gave the poor child my genes.  The ol' Stickler genes.  That means that while all those little girls in gymnastics are bending and flipping about like rubber bands, my child is straining to touch her toes.  Stiff joints - the family curse.  It happened to me and I did what every normal kid would do.  I shrugged my shoulders and said, maybe gymnastics isn't for me.  This child of mine, however, got a good dose of Rob's genes as well.  That leaves her determined and stubborn.  What?  My body doesn't bend?  Forget about it.  I'll make it bend - through sheer will.   So.  She's in gymnastics.  Every single class she walks up to the teacher and says, "What do I need to do to move out of this class."  Every time.  I'm not exaggerating.  Well, the teacher keeps saying, "you need to be more flexible."  So I tell her, "don't worry about it.  Your body is never going to be flexible.  Maybe gymnastics isn't your thing."  She ignores me (as she should) and decides to stretch every single night.  The girl is determined to do the splits.  It's been a slow ride, but to my absolute amazement, she has gotten closer.  Much closer.  It's shocking what persistence will do.

In June her gymnastics club did a competition.  Every girl had to do a routine in each area.  Vault, beam, floor and bar.  Alaina did so well.  I was proud at all the work she put into it and just how far she has come this year.  I couldn't keep my eyes off her. 

The vault.

The floor.

The beam.

The bar.

Getting her award.

Now, every girl got an award.  This isn't the real competitive level, but more of a practice competition.  It did bother Alaina that in her group of 4, she came out in 4th place.  She also figured out that they did groups in order of skill, so since she came in near the end, her group level was one of the lowest (that may or may not have been true, but I think we can all agree that she is too smart for her own good.)  So, she was a little bummed to come in last.  Ethan sensed that she was feeling a little down and he caught up to her to walk her to the car.  Sometimes he can be the very most sweetest child on this good green earth.

The twins graduated from Elementary.  I don't want to admit to myself that all three big kids are in middle school, so I won't.  :)  This happened to me when I first dropped them off at kindergarten as well.  When Ethan first went to kindergarten I was excited for him, but one year later when the twins joined him, I realized that all my kids were suddenly in school.  Having all three kids only one year apart makes everything happen just a little too abruptly.  Thank goodness I have the two little boys to help ease the shock of three middle-schoolers.  

Speak of...here they are:  two kindergartners and one first grader.  (was it a little out of focus?  that might have been my tears fogging up the lens.  *sigh*)

Mrs. Owens

It was a long one for the little boys, but we made it through the entire program.  I wasn't able to manage to get pictures during the ceremony (full hands) but I have put enough up on this blog of the two of them to make up for it. 

The kiddos.

The little boys were both so tired afterwards.  

But not tired enough not to play peek-a-boo.

May 30th, 2015

Today was the twin's 11th Birthday.  11 years old.  Crazy.  I just love these big kids so much.  Both of them have become such amazing young people.  They are talented, smart and sweet.  I love the joy that they bring to our family.  They make us laugh all the time and pretty much amaze us with their creativity.  Both of them have already had their share of trials to work through and challenges to overcome.  From their very early and traumatic birth to their own personal struggles, they have both shown such strength and tenacity.  I adore and admire them both.  They teach me to be a kinder, better person and I feel so lucky to know them so intimately.  I'm a lucky mama.  I can't take credit for their good hearts and loving nature but I am happy to watch them grow into impressive pre-teens.  I'm excited to see what this next year will bring.  I love you my sweet twinnies.  Always.

The Twin's Birthday Party!

Our little twinnies had a swim/lego Birthday Party.  It was a good compromise between the two of them.  I'll let you guess which kid picked which theme.  (however, if you get it wrong, you've never met Austin before.)  I let the kids invite a few friends each and before we knew it we had a gaggle of kids coming over.  I have to say, that besides making the crazy cake, it was absolutely the easiest party I have ever thrown.  The kids came and swam in the pool and jumped on the trampoline for the majority of the party.  Then Robert BBQ'd a bunch of hamburgers and hotdogs which the kids all ate OUTSIDE!  Yeah!  On the tramp, even.  (clean up was hosing off the trampoline.  Why have I never done this one before?)  Then, right before parents came, we cut the cake and passed it out.  Boom.  Party over.  The twins had a blast and the kids all loved being together, just playing.  Good choice, twinnies!

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Besides one nasty bee sting on Laina's back...it was all a huge success.

Here is the silly lego cake I made for the kids.

 

Alaina and Austin made the utensil and paper goods holders.  So clever. 

I made three different levels, each with their own color and then cut them up into squares.  Once I mixed up the colors, I stacked them up so that the cake became a checkerboard of colors.

It turned out pretty darn cute, if I say so myself.  And I do.  :)