Dexter is 6 months old!

Dexter had his 6 month birthday yesterday. I wish he would stop growing and stay small forever. (or at least a bit longer). I can't believe we are already half way to his first birthday. He's about ready to crawl. He gets where he wants to by rolling there. The three huge bowls of cereal he eats a day are paying off in the growth department. We were going to start in on vegetables today, but he's been asleep all day after his shots. I'm sure he will be up, wide awake, ready to play at midnight.

He gained 4 lbs and 2 inches since his last appointment.
Height: 27.5 inches (from 55% to 85%)
Weight: 15 lb 13 oz (from 7% to 23%)

Kellan went back to school this week. We think Zoe is better off for it, her mood has been much improved. She's had a tough year and we hope she is finally turning a corner (seems like I have written this before). There's a rumor going around that Kellan's school is going to a traditional schedule. We've enjoyed the year round schedule that lets us travel at cheaper times. We can't imagine Kellan being home for three months straight. These last 5 weeks were tough for us as well as him. We'll see what happens.

I hope everyone is watching Spartacus: Blood and Sand, if you are not, you're missing a lot of explicit sex and gore. I had to keep my eyes covered for at least 90% of the show. Hopefully it will keep me employed for the next several years, so please watch, or better yet just DVR (if you have Starz/Encore or Netflix) and delete without watching, that works too.

From Jim - "Aside from pitchers and catchers reporting, February sucks." Otherwise said, we will be happy when baseball season starts up.

Videos - some things never change...and we are happy for that.

New Face

Not much going on these days. Trying to get the house in order with all the "stuff." Packing away old clothes, organizing X-mas gifts and clearing out every piece of furniture (sans his bed) in Kellan's room to make way for all his Legos. We talked about moving the Legos to the basement, but he really wants them in his room, and it's a nice place to be.

Dexter (aka Charlie Brown) has a new face these days...we think his first tooth may be coming in. He's still as cute as ever. I know I say that a lot but he's such a sweet guy. The whole family came and had lunch with me this week at work and he got passed around (Auntie would've had a heart attack). He loved everyone. His fist now comes out of his mouth, every now and then, only to be replaced by something else...





A small miracle happened this week. All three kids slept through the night three nights in a row. We all know I just cursed tonight and all hell will break loose. I think I just may have slept 8 hours, not positive, but I woke up on my back, drool coming out the side of my mouth and no ear plugs in to mute Jim's snoring. I never sleep on my back (can't say I never drool), so I had to have past out. Can't say I'm well rested for it, but that's OK. Had a great weekend outside with the kids. I attempted to shovel the snow that's been on the ground in our front yard since Oct. and ran around the park for two hours with the kids. Extra Strength Tylenol is in order.

I haven't changed the kid quote lately cause I still get a chuckle out of this one. I realized, and yes it took me awhile that referencing the kid quotes in postings isn't too bright after I replace them. One of these days I'll have to go back and remember them all and post them in one blog - anyone been writing them down? I'll start a section at the end of the next posting: "Last kid quote"...heck I'll go ahead and do that now:

Last kid quote:
Jim was giving Gma-Chloe a hard time for taking awhile to make her taco dinner...Kellan came to her defense.

Kellan: "Leave her alone, she's just an old woman. She's not a person like you."

Two more quotes while we're at it...I can't post them in the kid's quote area because I learned they were plagiarized, but hilarious at the time they were said to me (and still impressive in that Kellan is now quoting others). He was so serious when he said both quotes, interrupting me from doing the dishes...

Kellan: "Mom, did you get hurt when you fell from heaven?"
Mom: (laughing), "Did daddy tell you to say that?"
Kellan: "No" - with Jim in the background saying "no"

A little bit later...
Kellan: "Mom, are you from Tennessee?"
Mom: (suspicious) "?"
Kellan: "Because you are the only Ten I See."

Then I realized he was quoting "Suite Life of Zack & Cody" which basically tells me he's watched it too many times to quote a show and that I must watch it too much too since I recognized the quote.

Hasta

X-mas, X-mas, X-mas and more X-mas

Note: I started this blog days ago...it should have been followed by a Happy B-day blog to G-ma Sue on Thurs., but I am late on both accounts. Happy late B-Day G-Ma!

Is it possible to have too much Christmas? Yes.

That's not to say we didn't have a great holiday and really, really, truly appreciate all the generosity. It's just to say - man, our kids don't need another present...ever. I am officially putting a moratorium on Legos. We can no longer even walk into Kellan's room. They are taking over the house. Dexter has no choice But to love Legos.

All of the below almost didn't happen, cause it never fails someone gets sick right before we travel. I don't think Kellan has even been so sick the five days before X-mas - high, high fever, vomit, double ear infection, strep throat, bronchial infection. Poor kid was just so worried he wouldn't feel better in time to go and we had our doubts. After a couple of days of antibiotics he rebounded.

The holiday started early when G-Ma Chloe was in town and had X-mas with us over Zoe's b-day. Then we started 5 straight days of X-mas in CO with the Munhollands on X-mas Eve, X-mas day with just us and Santa, and flew out to CA X-mas night. We had a beautiful place in Newport Coast (thanks Papa Jim & G-ma Lawna) and the weather, other than one day, was gorgeous. The next two days we celebrated with the CA Munhollands: G-Ma Sue, Cam, Tiff and the girls on Saturday then all over again on Sunday with Papa Jim and G-Ma Lawna and the Brady's. Thanks to Cam and Tiff for lots of hosting and everyone for all the great food!!!

View from our place in NB

X-mas at Cam & Tiff's w/G-ma Sue

Cam & Tiff bought lots of fun things for us to do, remote control trucks, dart guns, and razors (which I needed a less on, luckily the kids and I didn't hurt ourselves but Jim managed to bloody his knee up)

The girls baking

X-mas at Cam and Tiff's with Papa Jim, G-ma Lawna and the Brady's

In the midst of it all we got to see Auntie Karen, Dougie Weaver, Devin, Dexter's new pal TK and Helenmarie. The kids enjoyed more gifts of course. The boys are just about 7 weeks apart. It will be fun to watch them grow up (unfortunately not together :( ) You'll get a glimpse of their first play date in the video.

It had been much too long to be away from "home", a year in January since we had last visited and the longest I have ever gone without seeing my little friend Kare.

We spent two days at Disneyland. We knew it was going to be crazy, but also knew we couldn't go to CA without going to Disneyland since it had been so long. Don't go to Disneyland at Christmas unless you want to be really close to other people and stand in long lines. I don't even think Zoe and Kellan will ask to go again at X-mas.

Dexter's first ride

View from our D-Land Hotel room

In Huntington Beach with the Watts girls

Thanks everyone again for everything!!!

TK & Dexter playing and Zoe at her happiest