Bailey Family

…at least in the music room – which is really the only room we have room to decorate in (or places to put decorations on) Alee hasn’t taken apart the tree as much as I expected – honestly, the twins mess with it more than she does – they’ve already broken two ornaments this year. I want to beat them with switches or give them coal. Seth played his Christmas recital song for us while we finished decorating. Carolyn thinks she is Mrs. Claus or something with her tiara-topped Santa hat.

Carolyn made this super cute turkey at her friend’s house….she had a really hard time letting it go – but we convinced her (mostly b/c the pumpkin was rotting inside, not because thanksgiving was over) that it was time to let it go. (oh, and just another picture of her crafting…she LOVES crafts…can’t help herself – it’s in her genes!) Me cooking (try not to be in shock that there’s actually a picture of me posted) After dinner fun - The real guitar (we sang songs) The ‘fake’ guitars (yes, Rob convinced his parents to play the wii…I think we have bandhero (I might have the wrong band game…so many names) And some normal memere activities (Alee’s still thinking about liking her grandmothers…she’s getting better with each visit – she’s a little more willing to go to Rob’s mom lately over mine) Natalie finally grew to like them all…Alee will too.

(meaning the girls that aren’t the twins) Carolyn turned 6 and Alee turned 1 on the same day (which Carolyn still thinks as cool – that she got a baby for her 5th birthday and she now shares a birthday with her – I hope she keeps thinking that is cool forever). Carolyn got two invite two friends from the neighborhood over for a sleepver the Friday night before. I hope she enjoyed it because that “ain’t” happening again for a while. They weren’t bad…I just don’t know that I’m cut out to have 7 kids to put to bed…esp if three of them are best friends. (glad I didn’t have a ‘real’ sleepover with the rest of her friends from church!) The birthday girls share some sweets that afternoon (which happened to be a half day too at school – so I got to craft with Carolyn during naptime). that frosting face looks drunk with sugar! both of them! I had plans to make Alee a separate cake, but that didn’t happen – I’ve never been big on doing anything for the first birthday – ...

We walk to pick up Seth and Carolyn from school (partly b/c the car line takes as long as walking if you want to be at the front and still takes 20 minutes if you're at the back, and partly...mostly, so that I can make sure exercise happens!) It's about 1 1/2 miles round trip...mostly uphill the way there and mostly downhill the way back. On the way back yesterday, they were running way ahead of me (I hate when they do that - esp Kaitlyn - she should have been blonde - she is so clueless about what is going on around her - like cars driving by) - so when I saw Kaitlyn fall/SPLAT! several houses in front of me I thought, great, another fall....and I fussed at her for ignoring my instructions to stay close and not run...and told her she probably deserved to fall... ....just not quite this hard! (Yes, bad mother of the year moment...) She freaked out when she saw blood. By the time we were home, she calmed a little, but kept worrying about the doctor giving her a poke. W...

We are so proud of Seth – he was so ready for his special day – and was so good for it! His grandparents were proud too – this was the first of the next generation on all sides. And a fun party afterwards…probably some of my best cakes (cakes aren’t really my thing!), but these looked pretty decent! He really could have cared less about the cakes…he just wanted to play!

Peanut Butter and Jam (several said PB & Jelly…my reason for picking Jam…jelly has more letters to sew on) Dorothy, the witch, ballerina, and obi wan kenobi Alee the frog

The past two weeks were shapes and patterns. We did some workbook pages (by that I mean me and Kaitlyn…Natalie did not choose to participate), We read books on shapes (geometric ones), made shape cookies (halloween shapes), and did some cutting/pasting of shapes. We also played Hullabaloo – such a CUTE game (by the makers of Cranium). Then, for patterns, after the workbooks (yes, just Kaitlyn and I), we tried making patterns with food. They really liked this – and kaitlyn got it. Natalie just wanted to eat it…and make sure M&M was said no matter what the answer to ‘what comes next’ really was! They also ‘accidently’ found a pattern game on the game site they’ve been playing (PBSkids play…we have a free trial – I wouldn’t pay for it – they can play the free games when the free trial is over, but it’s cute and again, kaitlyn got it…I think Natalie started to get it later – if she’d listen and participate, she might get it faster – but no, she does what she wants… and usually figur...

"Mom, ovals have none things sticking out." - Natalie (she means angles) We've been reading books on shapes and she's now watching blue's clues shape searchers...funny how after I dwell on a subject with activities they kind of gravitate toward shows/computer games that teach the same concept - as if i had planned for them to do so.

We skipped the state fair last year (it’s so expensive!), so when they asked, we decided to make the money for it this year. yikes…ok, now that I’m past the cost – they did have fun. (And we went on an early-out day after school, so no crowds/bedtime issues to deal with.) They rode 2 rides each, looked at and touched all kinds of yucky animals, ate greasy (yummy) foods…(especially the funnel cakes – oh, we ate before touching the animals!), and looked at displays (the kids loved the crafts building as much as I did!). I believe this was a first “roller coaster” for the kids…at least for the twins.   We love animals….we wish we could have a bunny, how about a fish, …no pets?? Should have just skipped to this ride to begin with! They loved the cars – I believe we have videos of me and my brothers riding these kind as kids (you know, the cars, boats, and motorcycles). Now we’re all tired (and we probably smell like some of the animals they touched!)...

hmm...my last post was Brown Bear Brown Bear, so colors...I think I'm behind on posting! last week we did directions (up, down, under, over, on top of, behind...etc) we took some pictures using those words (one directing and the other being the subject...then switch) used toys (like little people) to do the same thing (put the cat in the house) a bunch of workbook pages while i worked on some overdue projects and they watched pbs kids (I know, that's not preschool stuff...I'm just saying, we were slack, so that's what they did) learn to play some computer games on pbskids.org (they are a little hard for them since they haven't learned all their letter sounds, but they really wanted to play specific characters, so they're figuring them out) And I had a bunch of stuff going on, hence our slackness! The big hit though, was yesterday - they loved the Book, "My lucky day" by Keiko Kasza, and have been "acting" it out (and were disappointed that I ...

These are just from this week... Natalie: How do you get a baby in your tummy? [I glance at Rob...short pause.] Carolyn: You get married. [We smile and nod as this answer works for a 3 year old.] Natalie: I never ever ever gonna do that! another night.... Carolyn (to Seth): I can't believe you like those [little green peas]. [I give examples of well loved foods I don't like - peanut butter and chocolate ice cream - to make the point that what one person likes another doesn't.] Natalie: I like Macy Rob: We're talking about foods; Macy is a person; you can't eat Macy. Seth: Isn't Macy a restaurant? Beth: No, Macy's is a store. [They want to know what Macy's sells.] Rob: [explains what they sell; Beth helps explain, includes perfume in description of a department store] Carolyn: Mom, Can I have perfume from Macy's??! Beth: No, but I'll get you some perfume from Walmart. :)

I don’t write too many “feelings” post…at least I don’t THINK I do? But I’ve been feeling like I’d like to…just so you know how we’re doing…and it’s long – but I put in some pictures! WAIT – don’t X the page …I’m not going to get all mushy and bragging about me and my kids and how I’m super mom, etc…although they are brilliant, I know. * They still have plenty of little meltdowns, tantrums, slammed doors, stomping out of rooms, looks that could kill, and monster voices from the prettiest little faces.   :)  (My monster voice still comes out too often too…) Since we moved here a year ago… I’ve been playing ‘catch up’, trying to get as much done as I always have (in my mind) in a bigger house and pretending that having 5 kids is just as easy as 4 and control my temper (shocking – I’m not a perfect a mother as some seem to think) :) . (I was told repeatedly that this should be easy after twins. Let me tell you now… having the 5th kid is a challenge no ...