phone pics

The last week has been filled with fun activities as the summer comes to a close.  Here are some pics I grabbed through out the week.

Cliff and I took Aidan to the circus for a one on one date with him.  Going to try and start doing this every year with each of the kids.  He had a great time!

We went to a block party where we got to meet lots of new families in our neighborhood.  Aidan, especially, had a blast.  We will be starting a small group with 4 to 5 other families in the neighborhood in the next couple of weeks!

We finally set up our trampoline and jungle gym.  We hadn't put it up yet due to the heat but finally decided it was time.  Needless to say, the kids are enjoying it.  We go out first thing in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat.

Found Aidan like this in the bathroom.  Had to capture the moment to show his college girlfriend.

Always asking to go swinging.  She would swing for hours if I would let her.

Ordered some decor for my dining room.  All the kids' one year photos.

Pic of Ryla letting me know that she couldn't take her nap until all her babies were asleep.  Cutie

Noah is becoming more independent which also means that he doesn't like anyone to help him with his food!!!!

Getting into trouble!

Noah takes over the scale.  

One of the few moments when they aren't screaming at each other.

More climbing

Don't worry he was buckled.

A Day Off

We took a day off of obligations last Friday and it was awesome!  We took the kids to the pet store and they loved it.  Their faces were plastered to the window for about 20 minutes.  After that, we headed to the dollar store and let them each pick out a couple of things. Then we headed across the street for burgers.  They had a hand washing machine that the kids thought was really neat.  After nap time we spend the day lounging around watching movies.  The kids watched them in our bed which they always think is a special treat.  Altogether, a wonderful day!

Noah at 18 Months

          Noah turned 18 months on July 31st.  So weird to be getting out of the baby stage.  It didn't phase me much with the other two because I always had another baby but knowing he is our last makes it hard.  Last week, Cliff took the older two to Mo Ranch for the church retreat.  Noah and I stayed behind and I wanted to take the opportunity to have some good one on one time with him.  He had never been much into books because we could never get him to sit long enough to read to him.  However, without any distractions I was able to read to him a lot over the 3 days.  Now, he can't get enough books.  I would say we are reading to him about 2 hours a day right now.  

           He still is climbing ALL THE TIME.  It might sound crazy but we have decided to give up on keeping him from climbing on the tables.  Even when we would move the chairs he would just move them to the table again.  He hasn't fallen yet and am hoping that when he does it will serve as a self-learning experience for him.  

           I started taking his pacifier away and ever since he has been talking up a storm.  He has several words in his vocabulary now and is starting to put sentences together.  He also, unfortunately, has starting hitting. He is our first of the three to do this so Cliff and I have been trying to work with him.  He mainly does it when he wants to play.  He sees his older sibling wrestling a lot and thinks that is what he is doing.  However, to get another child to play with him he just goes up and starts hitting and then steps back and smiles thinking he is playing.  He also does it when he is really frustrated with someone.  He is slowly getting better as we work with him but we are hoping it will also be something he grows out of.  Here are some stats.

Size 12 or 18 month clothes

All 4 mollars and 6 other teeth

Size 4 diapers

Still takes a bottle but enjoys a sippy cup as well

Some of his favorite words include: MaMa, DaDa, Banana, Dank You, Please, Bye Bye, Quack Quack, Doggy, Dadan (Aidan), Wyla (Ryla), and ball.

Hates baths and swimming.  

Doctor appointment next week.  I'll come in and fill in his stats like I usually do.