New Years Resolutions?

Every year I ask myself if I should make a New Year's Resolution. But who are we kidding. I know that I would be really good about it for a few weeks but eventually it would slow down or stop completely - you know the same thing that happens to all my good flossers out there ;)  But this year I did challenge myself to make some changes. Little things that if they don't happen every time I am not devastated.  So here they are and how they are going.

1) No snacking all day.
        This has been especially hard for the kids. My kids love to graze - never eating a full meal and then being done. Especially with dry cereal - they could eat cereal ALL DAY EVERY DAY!!! So we have been working at having a good breakfast and then making it to lunch time before we eat again. I admit I do give in a few times but make sure it is a piece of fruit or something else that is a healthy decision.

2) No "pipe" for Kendall except for bed.
        Obviously this has been the hardest on Kendall. She loves her pipe. But we have found she really doesn't need it during the day - just chews on it. Or she uses it to calm herself down. That part has been the hard part for Keith and I. It is much easier to throw in her pipe when she is crabby than it is to deal with the crying. But she is getting pretty good at it now. As soon as we wake her up in the morning she takes it out and puts it on her night stand. When we bring it back out or hand it to her she runs straight to her bed :)

3) Family dinners
        For the longest time Keith has worked his 2nd or 3rd jobs in the evening. But at the start of this year we looked at our priorities and we came to a decision that Keith was going to cut back on the extras. So that encouraged me to step up my cooking skills. It is so much more fun making a dinner for more than just me. So when he would work I would feed the kids and just graze myself. So now we sit down every (90%) night and eat as a family. I have been doing really good at coming up with different recipes (thanks Pinterest). And I have loved seeing my family grow closer and hearing the conversations we have at the table. Looking back this was vital to my family growing up and I want this for my family. And I know it is sticking with the kids. Last night Keith and I were talking and out of the corner of my eye I saw Cohen and Kendall sitting at the table - holding hands - saying a prayer before they ate their fruit snacks :)

So these are not necessarily resolutions but they are challenges for our family - challenges that I hope will make our family stronger in 2013!! I would ask as you read this that you will pray that we continue to strive to be a family that is focused on each other and on Christ!!

With love from the zoo 

First Food!!

Tonight we introduced Kirsten to food!! And she loved it!! She has to learn to swallow a little better but she loved it and like a little bird kept looking for more. Cohen wasn't a fan of rice cereal at first but after a few tries loved it. Kendall NEVER liked baby food!! So if this continues it would be amazing!!

First bite

That wasn't so bad

This is Fun!!!

Enough pictures now!!

with love from the zoo

Co Co

I feel bad that I haven't posted a lot of Cohen updates recently. He has been doing awesome in school!! He loves everything about it. This week he had his first snow day and he was devastated that he was missing school :) His class uses a reward of system of colors and clips. Each student has a clip and when they make good choices it goes up on the color chart. When they make bad choices they are moved down. So every day when I ask Cohen how his day was the first thing he always has to tell me is where his clip is :) Another thing that he has been saying lately is when he makes different choices he will tell me " Mom, do you know why I made that choice? My heart told my head that that would be a good choice." I love how his little mind works. He has been just awesome as my little helper with his sisters. He and Kendall are the best of friends and is always quick to tell me "serve girls first mom" I can't believe how big he is getting and the new things he is learning. This week he read his first (that I know of) word. I was bending down helping him tie his shoes when I heard him say RRRRR UUUU NNNN - Run! I looked up at him and said "what did you just say?" He looked at me and his face lights up and he says " Your shirt says Run." My mouth hit the floor - I love it!

NEW BOW AND ARROW

PLAYING SCHOOL

NERF WAR

PLAY DATE WITH A FRIEND

FIRST ACCIDENT AT SCHOOL :(

With love from the school

Changes for Kendall

So last week I had the entire week off. So Keith and I decided that it was time to move Kendall to her big girl bed. We figured if it didn't go well at least I didn't have to lose sleep and go into work. But surprisingly it went really well!! The first night when we put her to bed she looked at us like "Are you serious? I get to sleep here?" The next night wasn't as good. She asked to have us put her mattress back into the crib :( So after a few tears she fell asleep. The past few nights she has done well - she likes to play with her babies and move all of her clothes from her drawers to the empty crib :) 

Oh boy!

My little helper

First night in my bed

And we thought while we were at it we thought we would step up the potty training. She has been using her potty for a few months now but still using diapers. This week we started using underwear. She has been doing pretty good -  Cohen is definitely a big help - constantly asking her if she has to "go potty and get some chocolate" ( her reward for staying dry and going on the potty)

Love those little buns :)

With love from the zoo

Oh how I love you

My sweet baby Kirsten! Today we had your 5 month Dr appt. 16 Lbs and 25.5 in long!! You are getting soo big!! But I just love all the new things you are doing! You now rub your eyes when you are tired, love to grab your toes and try to eat them, light up and smile every time someone shows you any attention!! You are starting to enjoy spending time on your belly and love your play saucer.

FIGHTING MY FIRST COLD- LOTS OF SNUGGLES WITH MOMMY

NEED THESE TEETH TO COME IN - I CAN'T STOP DROOLING! 

ME AND MY FRIENDS

SO BIG!!

HOW DOES THIS TASTE?

With love from the zoo

Special day with Patriot

 While we celebrate Kirsten being 5 months, today I was reminded of where it all began. On August 10th we welcomed Kirsten into the world but she was immediately taken to the NICU for breathing problems. As we sat and looked at our little princess hooked up to breathing machines and in her oxygen tent we happened to glance over at another couple also looking at their little one and trying to get answers from their dr. Later we found out that the other couple was a sister of a friend of ours. Today she asked me if I could take care of Patriot. It was a fun day to look back/reminded of these helpless little ones grow up into these healthy, happy babies!!!

You look familiar?

Beautiful Babes 

L.O.V.E

Do your fingers taste better?

Kendall in all her glory - 2 BABIES!!!!

All this catching up makes me tired!!! :)

with love from the zoo