She's finally 6...

I am happy to report that when Kate tells you she is 6, she really is!  After almost a year of pretending to be older than she is, it's finally official.  And wow, where did 6 years go?  

The festivities this year took place at Playdate PDX.  Her and her little friends(her first ALL Girls party) had a blast running around the place, sliding down the slide, and weaving in and out of the maze of obstacles.  

At 6 Kate can most often be found pretending to teach a dance or school class.  She has quite an imagination.  She loves arts and crafts and can spend hours coloring, writing her name, making jewelry and whatever else involves, scissors, markers, glue and glitter.  She loves tap and jazz and I think I have her slowly taking a  liking to ballet.  I have caught her a few times doing plie's pretending the entertainment center is her bar.  She also is a great little gymnast and cartwheels EVERYWHERE!  Kate is a wonderful older sister to Ryan and will play with him for hours.  She is my best helper!  She even helps Zach, especially with organizing and cleaning his room.  For loving to organize and clean though she can sure leave a trail of evidence of where she has been.  I discover empty snack wrappers and little pieces of paper, with her handwriting written all over them, scattered all over the house.  It makes me angry now, but I know I will miss finding these little treasures one day.   We love you Kate!  

9 Months...

Ryan is really starting to grow up fast!  He is learning to leave a path of destruction most places he goes.  For example, things like the entire roll of toilet paper sprawled all over the bathroom floor and what was at one point nicely folded laundry is now strewn in every direction, and wet in various parts from his slobber.  It's a good thing he is the sweetest boy.  He is learning to drink out of a sippy, and absolutely loves pasta!  He is finally sleeping through the night.  It took some crying out and a small move to his own room, but at least we are all sleeping now.  I forgot how much I enjoyed un-interrupted sleep.  He loves to snuggle and loves if you rub his neck lightly with your fingers.  He makes the best crunchy face and has discovered the stairs!  He loves when Kate and Zach get home from school, and has started to say "Da da".  He claps his hands and his new talent is pointing his finger at things.  It's hilarious!  His mouth full of teeth...not so fun.  We might be weening sooner than I thought!  Drawing blood is not normal right?!  Well I think I just figured out what he should be for Halloween.

A Whirlwind...

Wow it's October already!  What happened to September?  I can remember thinking that having a baby(Ryan) would be great because it would force me to slow things down.  I was so wrong.  If anything it has sped things up...in turbo mode at that too!  Seriously, I need a good solid month to catch up.  Don't even get me started about how many weeks pass by between deep cleaning my house.  You would be grossed out!    I need that sign that says, "Excuse my messy house, my kids are busy making memories."  So lets back up a bit shall we?

Labor Day weekend we had the cutest little visitor come to see us.  Our cousin Colbi!  Tyson, Jayne and Colbi flew in to see us for a few days.  It was so fun to meet this sweet girl.  She has the cutest "Ooooohhhhhh" and is just a little peanut.  She and Ryan would be the best of buddies if only we didn't live so far from each other.  

 Then school started.  Both Zach and Kate in school for a full day!  Freedom you think?  For just a moment, until I finally decide to catch up on what I held off over the summer.  And I have discovered that I have a hard time telling people no.  So anyone who asked me to help them with something this month got an enthusiastic yes from me.  I really should be better at being selfish if I am ever going to get the concept of truly slowing down.  

  Justin turned 34!  34?!  Its numbers like this that freak me out, especially when I realize that I have known this person for 15 years!  That's a milestone folks.  This year we bought him a Nike fuel band.  Little did I know it would light a slight competitive fire under his you know what to be active.  I just thought he would enjoy tracking his daily activity, not motivate him to do extra things to up his fuel points!  Needless to say for a guy who doesn't like wearing things around his wrist, its been a month and it has become a permant appendage.