Day care, round 2...

Friday didn't turn out as I had expected...

On Thursday Scott called and asked if I could take Kyler and Ella for the day. I had a date with Mandy, but decided I could take the kids with me... sure. I'll take them.

Friday morning came bright and early. Megan dropped the kids off a little before 8:30. Shortly after my cousin, Jen, called. Her daycare lady was missing in action. She asked me to watch her kids for a few hours. I did some calculations and figured I could still make it to lunch with Mandy. Sure, bring them on over. 

There are many reasons that I didn't go into full-time child care as my profession. It is hard work! I had two 18-month olds, a 3 1/2 year old, a 5 year old, and a 7 year old. Wow! We played, cleaned up, played, cleaned up, then it was snack time. That is one way to ensure quiet - feed them. In 20 short minutes we (they) downed 5 bananas, 3 apples, 1/2 bag of raisins and 1/2 bag of cheddar bunnies. Holy cow.

After snacking with the big kids on the blanket, Grace realized that the boy had helped himself to her high chair. She climbed up saying "all done."

Overall it was a good day. We did make it to lunch with Mandy, albeit 1 hour late, but we made it. I love having a house full, but am glad I don't do it everyday. I was exhausted by that night. 

Unloading...

How might this happen to a usually organized drawer? There is a certain little someone at our house that hears the dishwasher opening and says "I help you."

Don't blink...

or you might miss her. She's so fast. If you click on the picture it will zoom in so you can full appreciate her flowing mullet. Shannon snapped this picture when the girls were running through our living room. I can't get over the look on her face. It's almost like she is saying, "man,I'm fast" and "uh-oh, how do I stop?" all in one expression. Classic.

Happy birthday, uncle Drew...

Tuesday was Drew's 30th, so to celebrate we headed out to the Spaghetti Factory for a fun dinner. The restaurant was still celebrating its anniversary, so the classic menu was 40% off. Fantastic.

Shannon and I went early to make sure we would have a table at 5 when the other party goers arrived. I was the first person in the restaurant and put in my name for a party of 20 (8 of which were high chairs). When we met our waitress she told Shannon and me that she had been standing in the back thinking, "they have 8 high chairs... EIGHT!" We reassured her that we had pretty good kids, and would do our best to control them.

Keeping Grace and Sophia happy at the beginning of the evening involved letting them draw with ball point pens. Evidently, Gracie isn't so good at hitting the paper. 

Once everyone was there, we ordered right away. Even though we met for an early dinner, the kids seemed famished. Tigist practically licked her plate clean, and Sydney couldn't seem to get enough food in her mouth at once.

Sophia loved her spaghetti with chicken (aka meatballs).

Cheese.

There were three other birthday groups in the banquet room, so the whole place was singing. 

Marisa and her kids - plural. I'm still trying to get used to saying that. 

Uncle Drew and three of his favorite kiddos. 

Back at the house the kids played and played.

Sydney's socks looked more like hand puppets to Sophia.

The birthday boy and his family.

Three sleepy girls. Night night

Happy birthday, "u-key Dew!"

PJ day with mama...

We had a really fun day at home... in our PJ's. All day!

We started our morning with cheerios and bananas... finishing up by drinking the left over milk. Ahhhhh.

Grace practiced using the potty... her sticker chart is getting fuller every day. 

We stayed warm by standing near the vents.

Gracie is truly turning into a monkey. 

On your mark...

After Bible study, Kim and Shannon came over to play. We fed the kiddos some lunch and then let them bundle up and run outside. Shannon lined the girls up on one side of the yard and would say "on you mark, get set, GO!" They would scream and run, run, run. It has been so great to have such nice weather and get some sun and fresh air.

Welcome to the world...

Elijah Grey Coleman

Born January 16, 2009, 5:26 am

8 lbs 7 oz, 20 1/2 inches

What a handsome little man.

The big girls watching the baby.

Shannon holding baby "lijah" (as Sophie says).

He is so sweet and snuggly.

Once she was used to him, Grace kept saying "hold it." 

The Brownlees (plus one). =) 

Wow, he seems so tiny... and yet Grace was almost three pounds smaller. 

As we were getting ready to leave Sydney came in with her aunt and uncle. It was fun to see her interact (briefly) with the baby. She also got a new baby doll today and seemed slightly more interested in her baby than mamma's baby. 

Congrats Drew, Marisa and Sydney. We are so happy for you guys!

Three big girls...

Kim, Shannon and I met up at Magnolia park today. I was packed to go to the zoo, but when I got the call from Kim I decided the park would be much easier. It was fun to watch the girls playing, climbing, swinging, running, throwing, and talking. They are all so big. It is hard to believe how fast this first part of their lives has gone - but we have had SO MUCH FUN!

This is the first time swinging alone for both Sophie and Gracie. I think Soph was a little more excited about it. 

Baylie loved climbing up all the different ladders and stairs and then zooming down the big slides.

This picture kills me. Baylie grabbed Sophia's hand and drug her around the play ground. Of course Sophie didn't mind at all.

Another crazy round of blogging...

I am once again caught up. I don't know what has been making me get so behind lately. I wish I could say it was because I've been getting all sorts of things done around the house, or that I'd been reading a few really good books. 

Anyway, just do you don't miss any of our big adventures...

Jan 14 - A vacation... - Maui!!!

Jan 13 - Vitamin D... - a trip to the park with Sophia.

Jan 7 - Oh poop... - adventures in being a big girl!

Jan 6 - Disneyland... - our upcoming trip with Merrick's family!

Jan 5 - Comfy... - snuggled up and watching TV.

Jan 4 - Go, ducks, go... - a fun Oregon vs. UCLA game.

Jan 3 - Slicing, dicing, baking, broiling... - playing with her new kitchen.

Jan 2 - Enough already... - no more snow!

Jan 1 - Happy new year... - celebrating the season with family in Newberg.

Dec 31 - Ringing it in... - New Year's Eve at the Burch's house.

A vacation...

Merrick and I have been talking about taking a vacation, and we are finally doing it. We just booked tickets and are heading to Maui in March! I can't wait. We even found a few excursions that we can include Gracie for free. We are really looking forward to relaxing, reading, snorkeling, hiking, sunset viewing, and just hanging out together! I'm sure there will be lots of posts about our upcoming adventure! 

Oh, and if you have any favorite things to do, places to see, restaurants to eat at, we'd love to hear all about them.

Vitamin D...

Taking advantage of the sun in January, Shannon and I took the girls on a short walk to a little park in their neighborhood. These pictures pretty much sum up our afternoon. We spent the morning at pump-it-up with Brooke and Nicole, so by the time we got home, Gracie slept for over three hours. I think Merrick finally woke her up at 6:15... sleepy baby.

Oh poop...

Does blog etiquette allow for celebrating pooping in the potty? Well, we are celebrating either way. Good job, Grace! You are such a big girl.

Disneyland...

...here we come! We are heading south at the end of April with Merrick's family to spend 5 days at Disneyland. Tonight we booked the tickets and it is all official. I can't wait! We will be there for Brennan's, Kyler's and Merrick's birthdays. 

Comfy...

We have been letting Gracie watch short clips of Planet Earth once or twice a week. I thought she was pretty cute all snuggled up on the couch, so I snapped a quick picture.