a mommy and a baby bear

Dear Connor,
You have so much energy! So much energy! Sometimes it just drives me crazy, your little legs are moving constantly, you are snuggling for only ten second increments, and you want to climb on everything. I'm trying to get better about letting you be but more times than not I lose my patience and hear myself saying, "CONNOR, STOP!"

We just got back from Olympia and you had such a good time! A few weeks ago Uncle Rick came down to visit us and you thought he was so cool. You were teasing each other back and forth which eventually led to Uncle Rick picking you up, holding you upside down, and shaking you out of your pants. At first you thought this was hilarious, and then about ten minutes later you went up to him and told him you didn't like that. Ever since then you've been worried about Uncle Rick shaking you out of your pants. He's promised he'll never do it again, but you're not so sure. When we got to Olympia and you saw Uncle Rick you burst into tears and hid down the hall. It took you a few minutes to calm down and even then you ran through his screen door. You eventually did calm down and you started teasing Rick. You were telling him to be on his best behavior or else... the list of  'or elses' was incredibly long, however you settled on tying him to a tree with rope and sticking feathers to him. We all ran with that idea and now you are so excited for the mandatory family BBQ in July so you  can follow through with this plan. Daddy has you all excited to send notes to Uncle Rick with pictures of him all tied up. We've been telling Uncle Rick that he has to play along, and to be honest all the adults are almost as excited as you.

On the way home from Olympia we stopped at the Tacoma Zoo. We went to the gift store first so that we didn't have to hear about it all the way through the zoo and you immediately saw a  giant stuffed polar bear and a matching baby polar bear that you wanted. You asked Daddy and he told you that you had to pick one. You were a little sad about that but you ended up picking the baby. Hunter picked a baby brown bear. On the way home from the zoo (about 6 hours later), Daddy stopped at Ellensburg and bought a giant brown bear that Hunter had asked for on the way up to Olympia. Daddy didn't remember that you had wanted a Mommy and a baby and when he bought the giant bear it meant that Hunter had a Mommy and a baby. You were SO upset. You were certain that Daddy didn't love you anymore, when in reality Daddy was just trying to show Hunter that he could still get the things he wanted even when he'd given up on it.... Daddy could phrase that much more eloquently. Anyway, Daddy talked to you about how he loves you and how he made a mistake and promised to make it right. As soon as we got home Daddy went to Walmart but no giant polar bears to be found so I ended up ordering one online for you. Then we printed out a picture and we told you that the polar bear was on the way. You are so excited!!! We're still at least two days away from the arrival of the bear, so hopefully you can make it that long!

The other day we were at a small park and there was a bathroom relatively close to the toys. I let you go up to use it on your own and you were so excited. For a minute. Then you came running out insisting that I come with you to help. To be honest, I was pretty annoyed. I'm expecting you to be a little more independent at four years old, which would include using the restroom on your own. I did go back with you though and you were acting terrified to sit on the toilet, which was making me even more annoyed because I didn't get it and I just did not want to be standing in a bathroom with you. Then suddenly the toilet flushed on its own, making a huge noise and echo, and you jumped off that toilet seat in a full sprint. As I was laughing hysterically it all started making sense, and I felt bad for being annoyed. It was so funny seeing you jump off that toilet though.

We have been having so much fun with you lately, listening to your stories and jokes and watching your imagination at work. You're still the sweetest little boy in the world. I love you so much.
Mommy

Bug Party

Dear Bubbas,
We survived another party. This party was just as fun as the last. You three are still very confused on how we can have a party and it's not a birthday party, but you accept that you don't get it and just enjoy the party anyway!

You three are enamored with the amount of food that comes through the door. I have to admit, we moms are pretty impressed by that as well. It seems that regardless of the play date the spread is fantastic! I even let you help me make the mud cups this time. You had a blast making them. In fact, you had so much fun making them that three little mud cups never made it to the party.

Grammy Darrlyn stopped by during the party to grab some blankets for our trip to Olympia that we were leaving on the next day and Hunter was so busy having fun with his friends he wouldn't even stop to say hi! Connor was concerned that Grammy had never had some of the bug treats before so he tried to load her up with all the yummy food to take with her.

Kaylee was insistent on going shirtless for the party. I fought it for a good twenty minutes and then gave up. Eventually she'll wear a shirt!

These random parties have been so much fun for us. I can't wait until the next one! I guess I better get planning! =0)

I love you three so much! My day would be so boring with out you.
Love,
Mommy

Little Girl

Dear Kaylee,
I absolutely love having a little girl. I thank God for you every day. Your sweet little voice, those big 'ol eyes just like your Mammas, and watching you dance are just a few of your qualities I just can't get enough of.

We've always joked that you think you're older than you really are. Yesterday you proved that to us. Connor and Hunter got to go spend the night at a friends house and you were upset that you weren't going to get to go. I was explaining that you are two and you can't stay at friends until you're four. You interrupted me and said, "I not two! I Fwee!" I giggled so hard over that one.

You've started calling me Mamma instead of Mommy. I don't know why. It's sure cute though.
You talk all the time. You are constantly asking to call Grammy on the phone just so you can talk some more! You tell us all sorts of things that are important to a two year old- your favorite part of the candy, the funniest thing you just heard, the injustice that was just served. You really want to show me things all the time. "Watch this Mamma, Watch this!" You show me how you can stand on one leg, your newest dance move, how you can put your head on the ground, the way you take a bite with your spoon, the list goes on and on. I've tried explaining that you don't have to show me every little thing you do, but that just baffles you, so I endure.

You're growing like a weed! Last night you were crying because your legs hurt so we gave you some medicine. I swear you went from 18 month clothes to 4T in less than a year! I thought for sure you'd be in 3T by the end of the summer, but it's just the beginning and you're needing new clothes again!
Your hair is getting so long! It's absolutely adorable! I gave you piggies yesterday, and they were the cutest things I've seen ever! Your hair is just barely long enough, so they fall out really easy- but totally worth it!

Daddy made you give up your sippy cup the other night. You only used it in bed to have your chocolate milk, but he said it was time for you to drink your milk at the table before you laid down. This wasn't as upsetting for you as it was for me! You kissed your cup good bye and haven't looked back since.

You're completely potty trained now. For awhile you were having about an accident a week, and at this moment, I can't remember your last accident! Every time you go to the bathroom you think you get jelly beans. You're having trouble understanding that jelly beans were a reward to teach you and not a lifetime treat for pooping in the toilet!

You are the worlds cutest little dancer. Every time you hear music you start dancing around the room. I love to watch you when you're coming up with new moves because the concentration on your face is so adorable!

I love you baby girl! You make every day so exciting and fun. You are the sweetest, kindest, most loving little girl in the world- I'm sure of it.

Love,
Mommy

Watermelon Party

Dear Bubbas,

I love throwing you guys parties. It's so fun. You get excited about it for several days leading up to the party and it's all we talk about. I decided that I didn't need to wait for a birthday or a reason to have a party so we threw a just because party. However, all parties need a theme so we went with watermelons. It turned out super cute. Daddy helped me decorate watermelon cookies. My favorite part about the cookies was when you woke up on the day of the party. You saw the cookies on the table and you got so incredibly excited. Connor even told me that he knew it would be ok to take a long nap (go to bed) because he knew I wouldn't have the party without him, and I didn't! I love that whenever one of you is excited about something you run to tell the others as quick as you can! So as sleepy little heads walked down the hall Connor was letting you all know about the watermelon cookies on the party and that it was finally the big day!

At the very beginning of the party Hunter hurt his toe. I still have no idea how this happened. You all said you were looking for bugs under rocks. The toe is scraped up pretty bad and it was bleeding so Hunter, being able to see the blood, was screaming. I had to clean it up and bandage it before the screaming started to subside but he was very upset. I had to give him a cup of juice, let him sit in the recliner, and turn on Curious George so that he would settle. He eventually did settle down but the party was pretty much ruined for him. He sat outside feeling sorry for himself and eating all the yummy treats until the last twenty minutes of the party when he decided he was feeling better enough to hobble around and play.

Your favorite part of the party was the food, for sure! You loved the watermelon, the watermelon popsicles, the watermelon cookies, the pink marshmallows, the muffins, etc. I could go on and on about the delicious food that people brought to share that I watched you devour. Kaylee's belly was so round by the end of the party I thought I might be able to pop her with a pin!

Kaylee's favorite part of the party was the bubble refill station. We went through the first round of bubbles crazy fast and that's when I learned that the kids were trying to fill the bubble mowers with bubbles and that Kaylee was pouring herself some bubbles and then dumping them out so she could pour herself some more bubbles. I made a second batch of bubbles and instructed Kaylee to stop dumping them out. That's when one of her older friends showed her that she could pour bubbles and then dump them back into the bubble refill container. That made Kaylee's whole day and she spent a good ten minutes filling up her bubbles and dumping them back into the container.

Overall, our watermelon party was a success! You three had a great time. We're going to have another just because party next month and I think due to Hunter's tragic accident (that he's still limping from three days later, sigh, so dramatic!) we're going to have a bug themed party!

I love you three, so very much.
Mommy

Gummy Bear Trees

Dear Bubbas,

For Mother's Day this year I wanted the three of you to paint pots. In my head, each of you would have one color that you painted your pot with. That way, when we gave the grandmas our pots they would have three different colored pots. I visioned it being adorable! However, you all wanted to use the other colors. You know me, I don't fight the little battles and so you used all three colors. Except, you mixed your colors together and we ended up with a ton of brown pots. Highly disappointing on my end but you three had a blast. Hunter kept telling me that he was having fun, so it must've been one of your favorite activities.

Grammy Darrlyn came over one day and saw the pots on the counter drying. I didn't try to hard to hide them. Hunter came running into my bedroom to ask if he could tell her what they were. When I said yes, he asked what he was going to put in the pot. I just got out of the shower and to be honest hadn't given it much though. I said the first thing that came to mind. Gummy Bear Trees. Oh the excitement that created! Then I felt true panic. How on earth was I going to make a gummy bear tree? Well, luckily the craft stores have lots of fun things and we figured it out.

Last night we assembled the trees. You had so much fun. Your primary concern was making sure I saved a few for you to eat when the pots were finished.

They turned out pretty cute. I really liked how each of you did your own thing. Hunter wanted lots of bears, Kaylee filled the pot but didn't know how to hang the bears, and Connor made each tree one solid color.

I think your grandmas will be thrilled. Especially when they see the smile on your face over your creation. The pots are something they'll most likely keep forever, brown and all.
I love you! I love how you make the little things so fun and exciting. I love hearing you giggle over gummy bears.
Mommy

Money and Pajamas

Dear Bubbas,

We've been learning some hard lessons about money lately. We started giving you guys allowances for doing specific chores. You get a dime for going to sleep and taking a nap right away without whining. You get a dime for doing chores like cleaning your bathroom, vacuuming and dusting, and taking out the garbage. However, you also get fines. You lose money if you talk mean, if I have to find your shoes for you, and if you get in trouble at preschool.

The other day we were at Walmart getting plants for the garden. Daddy and I got you each a pair of gardening gloves but told you that if you wanted a tool it had to come out of your allowance. Kaylee and Hunter decided that was worth it to them. Connor did not want to spend his money. He wanted to save it.

Then the next night Connor wanted his firetruck pajamas. Unfortunately, he had ripped a hole in the knee so bad it wasn't repairable so I threw them away. He has lots and lots of pajamas so it wasn't a big deal. However, to Connor it was. He wanted new firetruck pajamas. There was a huge tantrum thrown when I said I wouldn't take him to Costco until he had enough money. Finally, when he pulled it together he did some chores around the house before bed and he earned some money. Then we called Grammy Darrlyn and she said she had some chores around they house that you three could do to earn some money, so this afternoon we went to her house and did chores while she was at work.

I think you guys like Grammy's chores. You got to dust, feed the dogs, check the toilet paper rolls, take out the garbage, and walk around the yard looking for garbage. What made me laugh was as soon as you got to her house you got a juice box. Hunter told me that "Gramma said we can have one whenever we need one."

After we had a juice box we got to work. You did a really good job on the chores. You fed the dogs especially well! Then when all the chores were done we looked on the counter to see how much Grammy left us. She left a dollar for each of you! You were thrilled!

Then it was off to Costco to get Connor's firetruck pajamas. There was ONE pair left. I was hoping and praying as I picked them up they would be a size that would work. They were! They were the perfect size. Thank You God! Connor was THRILLED! Hunter was upset because he wanted to spend his allowance but didn't have enough for pajamas because he bought a gardening tool the other day. He decided he would get a movie at blockbuster on the way home.

Kaylee was crying hard when I wouldn't let her get pajamas. She also didn't have enough money due to the gardening tool. She didn't understand, and I wanted to buy her the pajamas but I didn't want to take away from Connor's accomplishment, so I told her no. However, she saw a box of pop tarts so I pretended that she had enough money to buy those and that seemed to be a good idea to her. Until she saw the chips. Then she wanted the chips. That was fine with me, because I also wanted chips and they were cheaper so she really did almost have enough money!

We stopped at blockbuster on the way home and Hunter picked out his movie, and then it was home to show Daddy about our successful day. We were home only a few minutes before Connor was stripping down and putting on his new pajamas!

You three are so cute. I'm sorry it's so hard to learn about money, but we're making it as fun as possible! I think it's working too, because you three are all pretty proud of yourselves.

I love you,
Mommy