Kindergarten Round-up

Adeline had kindergarten round-up tonight. We got there a little bit late because James had to work late and we wanted to all ride together. I think that I was thinking it would be like her preschool open house and all the kids would just be running around. But when we showed up all of the kids were with the kindergarten teacher and parents were in another room listening to Mrs. Kapanka (the preschool teacher), give information. Andrew was not allowed to be in with his Sissy so Daddy took him into the high school basketball game. When the information portion was done we all went into the Kindergarten room. And then Andrew was able to sit with his Sissy.
The kids made a fun bug jar that we will be saving to catch lightning bugs this summer. And then we were able to help Sissy make a little photo frame.

Andrew was a big helper handing us all of the bugs and flowers to stick on.

He looks pretty happy.

Hard at work. Hard to believe she will be in Kindergarten.

The completed frame.

Andrew found some toys to entertain himself with.

He is obsessed with putting things on his head.

And then at 8 pm all of the kids were given these beautiful, sugar filled cupcakes.

Our table was filled with some of our favorite friends.

I'm curious how school was for Mrs. Kapanka with all of the kids in the morning. I know Adeline had a rough time going to sleep and waking up in the morning.

Andrew made some new friends.

It was hard to tare the kids away from all the fun. But it was late and time for bed.

We had the Rudd boys over for dinner

Last Tuesday Daniel came over for dinner and desert (the Eclair he asked for). Then Betsey and I beat him and James in Euchre. This Tuesday Daniel and the boys came over for dinner (chicken tettrazini per his request) and mint chocolate chip ice cream for desert. The boys brought over their Star Wars books and we watched a couple of scenes from the movies. It was a really nice time.

Dinner at the Morse house...

It seems like it has been a while since we have been to the Morse house. I think that because I watch the kids once a week and it is cold out we don't seem to get together as much. The kids really enjoyed themselves and it was probably nice for them to have new toys to play with. Anna is much better at sharing her toys so there weren't any spats between the girls which was really nice. Phil grilled hamburgers and hotdogs with fries.

We gave all the kids a bath in shifts. The big girls were the last ones in.
The main event of the night was to watch Back To The Future (Phil's favorite) on their new big screen tv. Once the baths were done and the movie was over the kids danced to the music of the end credits.

Thanks for the nice night Morse family!

Snow Day= No School / Presidents Day= No Work

We spent about two hours outside today playing/shoveling the snow. The kids were both in good spirits and James and I took turns shoveling while the other played with the kids. We probably got about 8 inches which made it hard for Andrew to walk around. After we shoveled the sidewalk and some of the driveway he was able to maneuver around better.

James pulled the kids down the road
Adeline took good care of her brother, making sure he was safe in the sled.

I pulled out some old snow cone syrup that had been sitting in my cupboard and let the kids decorate the snow. They both had a lot of fun with it.

Big girl Adeline. She loved every minute we were outside. We even went to the backyard where the kids played on their swing set.

Adeline told me to wait until she was still and had posed for the camera and then I could take the shot.

Movie Night with the fireplace

The kids and James were playing downstairs when I came back from the gym and with the fireplace on it just seemed so cozy. So we ended up having dinner downstairs and then watched Aladdin as a family. It was a lot of fun to snuggle on the couch with both kids. Andrew has never seen Aladdin before and it has been a couple of years for Adeline. She used to have the book (scroll down if you click book) memorized.

Andrew was very interested in Abu and the Geni.

Our last night with Aunt Betsey.......

Boo-hoo-hoo....I have tears in my eyes just writing this. Yes, I am an emotional person and yes it is my time of the month. But it doesn't change the fact that Aunt Betsey's visit with us has come to an end. Three months, twelve hole weeks has gone by way too fast. Betsey has always been a part of our family, obviously because she is James' sister. But now, we consider her a part of our "Muskegon" Bean family. There was never a dull moment, never a tense moment (except the time she ditched me to run outside with JoAnn:-) ), it has been really nice. Dance parties, sledding, church, gym days, evening dinners, movie nights, Christmas activities, Trick-or-treating, playing make-believe, free babysitting, snuggle time with the kids, hugs and kisses, and I am sure Betsey's favorite...potty time with Addy. These are three months that we will never forget. Thank you Aunt Betsey, we will miss you.

Last night Adeline informed me that she was not going to eat her dinner until Aunt Betsey got home from work. She was very sad when I reminded her that Aunt Betsey wasn't coming back.

Naughty Boy!

With each day Andrew grows more and more deceptive. He is now a pro at closing his eyes for prayer and enjoys closing them while he walks around the house. A while ago he had dumped out all of the food from the grocery cart (play one) and I instructed him to put them away. He closed his eyes and acted as though he was trying so hard to find the food and then struggled to put each piece in with his eyes still closed. He would then peek with one eye and make sure I was still looking.

He also knows very well not to climb up on the coffee table but will still do it and cover his face as though by doing that I can't see him.

Happy Valentines Day!

So for Valentine's day this year the kids, Betsey (who had the day off), and I all went to see James for lunch. We surprised him with a card and balloon at work. Both kids were running to his office as soon as we came through the doors but Andrew immediately got sidetracked by the toy table right in front of James' office. Soon they saw the sucker jar on Daddy's desk and made their way in.

Game night

Tonight us girls played Princess Yahtzee upstairs while Daddy played with Andrew downstairs. I have kept track off all the times Addy and I play this game and she has always beaten me. This time Aunt Betsey played and once again she beat me but she tied with Aunt Betsey. Adeline had to give Aunt Betsey a lesson on who all the Princesses are. Adeline's favorite phrase during this game is "I'm kicking your butt Mom".
After Yahtzee we all played the Gingerbread game that Andrew won.

And then before bed the kids had some naked time. It was a fun relaxing evening.

Long work weekend for Aunt Betsey

Poor Aunt Betsey had to work all weekend. But as soon as she came home she had enough energy to play make believe. What a great Aunt.

Our attempts at a picture with Aunt Erin

We waited too long because each kid was in need of a nap.

After a few failed attempts we decided it wasn't going to happen.

Of course you'll always get a smile with Adeline.

But not quite with Andrew...next time we won't wait too long.

Aunt Erin getting some love from Andrew

As soon as Aunt Erin came into the door both kids were all about playing with her and showing her around. Normally it is just Addy who requires all of Aunt Erin's attention but this time Andrew was also wanting some Aunt Erin time. Aunt Erin got in late Friday night so the kids were on their way to bed but Saturday morning when they woke up they were all about play time. Before Andrew started playing with Aunt Erin with the basket I was sitting on the floor in front of the couch and Andrew brought the basket to me put it on my head and then climbed on top of it. And then he would fall off. Not very safe but he was sure having fun. He then moved on to Aunt Erin but didn't quite climb up on her head. She was lucky.