The Princess is in the House

Mommy called Audrey a "silly girl" today. Audrey defiantly said that she was NOT A SILLY GIRL! Mommy asked, "what are you then?" Audrey said, "I'm a princess!" Mommy said, "who told you that you are a princess?" Audrey said, "I did!" Kids are so funny! So, here are some more pictures of our little Princess!

Halloween Fun

Friday night Daddy took Joseph and Audrey to the ward trunk-or-treat party. Our neighbors from across the street also went. Mommy stayed home with Katelyn because she had not been fever-free for more than 24 hours. The kids had a good time at the party. They ate some chilli, got lots of candy, and went on a hay ride.

Saturday night, we all went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. We live in a small neighborhood in terms of the number of houses, but when everyone lives on several acres, it takes a while to get around the whole neighborhood. The kids were worn out by the time we made our way around. The weather was fantastic though so it was a great night to be out and about. Now we have way more candy than we know what to do with. The kids have been asking for candy every day. Now, how should Mommy make the candy disappear?

Here are some pics of the little munchkins in their Halloween attire.

Princess Snootypants!


Young Anakin Skywalker

Don't they look excited about going trick-or-treating?

Finally...some smiles!

Our sweet Peppermint!

Flu

Katelyn went to the pediatrician for her 12 month wellness visit on monday, but she started running a fever that morning so it turned into a sick visit. The good news was that Katelyn didn't have to get any shots this time. The bad news is she has the flu. We're on day 3 now and poor girl is still running a fever and has lots of other nasty flu symptoms. She seems to be in better spirits now though and is smiling and playing a little between her long naps.

The weekend before last, we took all the kids to the Parkhurst pumpkin patch. Joseph invited his neighbor Braeden to come with. We all had a lot of fun. After the pumpkin patch, we stopped at Pops (a local hotspot) for lunch.

Hopefully Joseph and Audrey will not get sick and Katelyn will be well enough for all the Halloween festivities coming up this weekend.

First Birthday!

Joseph has taken to calling Katelyn by the nickname "Nu-Nu." Mommy and Daddy have no idea how he came up with it, but we like it. Today was our little "Nu-Nu's" first birthday. Mommy cannot believe that her little baby girl is now a year old. It doesn't seem possible.

Katelyn is the sweetest little baby. Mommy and Daddy adore her! She is generally a happy girl. Katelyn is close to walking. She cruises around the house holding onto furniture and walls.

This week Daddy was sick with flu-like symptoms. Luckily, Daddy did not have the dreaded H1N1 virus. Mommy has had a nasty headache coupled with feeling tired. It has lasted almost 2 weeks now. Many of the neighbors said they had the same type of headache and fatigue and that it lasted 2 weeks. Mommy cannot wait to be rid of this persistent headache.

For Halloween this year, Mommy decided to make home-made costumes for the kids instead of buying them at the store. Last year Mommy spent way too much money on Halloween costumes for just Audrey and Joseph. This year there are 3 kids that need costumes.

Audrey said she wanted to be a pink princess. Mommy whittled down an old prom dress of hers so that it is now Audrey-sized. Joseph said he wanted to be a Jedi-knight so Mommy made one from an old sheet, shirt, and pillowcase. Mommy also made Joseph a cloak from some clearance felt she got for 2 bucks. Katelyn is too young to say what she would like to be so Mommy decided she should be a peppermint candy. Mommy estimated that the total cost for all 3 costumes was maybe 10 bucks.

Tonight instead of celebrating Katelyn's birthday at home, Mommy and Daddy took the kids to the Fall Festival at Joseph's school. The kids had a lot of fun. Audrey and Joseph were not very cooperative as far as pictures were concerned so Mommy will have to try and get some better pictures of their costumes another time. There are a lot more festivities between now and Halloween so Mommy should have some additional opportunities.

Since today is Katelyn's birthday, here are some pictures of the birthday girl on her birthday!

Happy Birthday "Nu-Nu!" We love you!

2 Months!

Mommy cannot believe that it has been 2 months since she last blogged. Time sure flies. At the end of July, Mommy and Daddy took a trip to Belize to visit Mommy's Uncle Jason. We had a great time. The kiddos stayed at home. Granny and Aunt Neva graciously agreed to come and spend a week with the little ones. Mommy really missed the kids though and thinks that they will be coming on the next trip.

The kids enjoyed the rest of the summer. We've gone to numerous parks, gone fishing, and spent lots of time in the kiddie pool. Joseph started pre-K in mid-August. Things were a little rocky at first, but Joseph has decided that he likes school after all. He rides to school in the morning with his friend Braeden, and Mommy picks them up from school. Pre-K is only 2.5 hours so it's not too long. Audrey is enjoying time without her big brother. She learned to use the computer and to click the mouse and loves having computer time without Joseph bugging her.

Katelyn is growing leaps and bounds. At her 9-month check-up, she was in the 98th percentile for height, and her weight is above average as well. So, she is one big girl! Katelyn is our happy child. Mommy and Daddy adore her. Joseph calls her "nu-nu." We're not sure where he came up with the nickname, but we all like it. Katelyn is also pulling up on everything, stands on her own for short spells, and also walks if she has something to hold onto (like a walker or stroller). She'll probably be walking on her own very shortly. Katelyn also loves to climb stairs and get into anything and everything. Mommy has to keep a close eye on her. She is a sweet baby though and we are all thoroughly enjoying her.

It has been a fun and busy summer. We are all looking forward to fun times in the fall. The weather has been so nice so we have been able to spend lots of times outdoors.

Mommy and Daddy at the Lamanai Mayan Ruins in Belize.

A catfish Joseph caught at a fishing pond.



A catfish Audrey caught on her new Princess fishing pole.



Daddy's future hunting companion.

Joseph looking a bit apprehensive on his first day of school.

We're in Arkansas!

Daddy got back from Norway late saturday night. After Church on sunday, Mommy and the kids drove with Daddy to Conway, Arkansas. After being here a few days, Mommy is ready to leave this place. Staying in the motel room is hard on the kids because it is rather cramped.

Monday, Mommy took the kids shopping for some flotation devices so that we could swim in the pool after Daddy got home. Since we would be out and about, Mommy asked the people at the front desk if there was a park nearby where Mommy could take the kids to play. The motel person said there was a small playground and pond just one street over from the motel. It was a horrible little place. There were two ancient swings and a dirty old pond...yuck! We spent most of the day in the motel. The kids watched Ice Age and Joseph played some video games since we brought the Playstation.

After Daddy got off work, we had dinner and then took the kids swimming later in the evening. The kids loved the pool! Katelyn had a great time splashing around as well. Later on, Mommy looked on the internet to see if there was somewhere fun we could go on tuesday.

Tuesday morning after dropping Daddy off at work, we went to Pickles Gap Village. It said online there was a Kiddie Land with rides and animals and a playground. When we got there, the village consisted of a couple of shops and a little area in the back (Kiddie Land). There were a few chickens, two goats, and a duck. There was also a couple of those dinky coin-operated Merry go rounds that you see at malls. The playground had two climbing domes...that's all. Joseph tried climbing on one and slipped off and hit his mouth. Mommy put some coins in the Merry go round which lasted all of a minute if even that. Needless to say, Mommy was rather disappointed in Pickles Gap Village. Mommy did take the kids to a fudge shop for some fudge and ice cream. That was the only redeeming part of the trip.

Today, Mommy drove the kids to Little Rock to the zoo. It was an okay zoo although Mommy thought it was a rip off that she had to pay $8.00 for Audrey and pay for parking. The Oklahoma City Zoo is much nicer and much less expensive plus kids under 3 are free. The most annoying thing was there were no signs that said you had to pay for parking until you got to the front gate. Then it said that you would be charged for parking.

We pretty much walked around the entire zoo in less than 2 hours. The kids loved riding on the zoo train and we did get to feed the Lorakeets (for a fee). Good thing Mommy brought some cash. Anyway, here are some pictures from Pickles Gap Village and the Zoo. Mommy can't wait to go home tomorrow!

The kids said the real bears at the zoo looked sad so Mommy took their picture at the bear statue instead.

Some neat giraffe statues near the front entrance of the zoo.

Katelyn's first train ride!

Joseph feeding the Lorakeet nectar.

Mommy did not have any nectar, but the birds enjoyed sitting on her head and back!

Farmer Joe!

Zoo Train Ride

At Kiddie Land in Pickles Gap Village

Summertime Fun

Daddy has been in Norway for the last 2 weeks and he gets back on friday. So while Daddy was gone, Yeh-Yeh was able to come visit for a few days which was nice. While Yeh-Yeh was here, Mommy saw a listing on craigslist for a play fort/swingset for $75.00. Mommy was able to negotiate disassembly, delivery, and set-up. The kids love it and Mommy loves it too because everyone is able to have a good time.

The kids have also been playing in the pirate ship Mommy bought last summer while Daddy was in Brazil for a month. Anyone notice a trend? While Daddy is gone, Mommy buys stuff to keep the kids entertained and to save her sanity.

It has been very hot...in the triple digits this last week. Still, the kids want to play outside every day! Funny how the heat doesn't seem to bother you as much when you're little.

Oh...Mommy almost forgot to mention that Katelyn is getting her first tooth. It's the left bottom tooth. I'm sure she will soon be looking like a hamster with two top and two bottom teeth. Once those teeth start coming, it seems like they come in fast. Katelyn is by far the pickiest eater Mommy has had to deal with, at least in the baby stage. Katelyn refuses to eat green beans and peas. She did not like carrots either. She will refuse to open her mouth and turn her head. She even started crying when Mommy brought out a jar of baby food. Mommy has not had to deal with this before. Mommy has started making baby food from scratch. Katelyn seems to like that better. Mommy thinks it is just because it is not in a jar.

So far, Katelyn loves sweet potatoes, potatoes, apples, rice cereal, french fries (bad Mommy), and freezer pops! She's also pretty much weaning herself...much to Mommy's dismay. Katelyn loves milk from a bottle and water from a sippy cup. She only nurses a little in the morning and some before naps...mostly for comfort, not for sustenance. They sure grow up fast.

Anyway, here are some pics of the fun times the kids have been having while waiting for Daddy to come home.