Monkeys at the zoo

4 little monkeys sitting on a bench. We are trying to take a picture when Graham wiggled off and

changed into an otter. Mommy called the zoo keeper and the zoo keeper said no more monkeys changing into otters.3 little monkeys observing a snake. Graham is trying to explain as Layne gets scared and slithered away and

changed into an otter. Mommy called the zoo keeper and the zoo keeper said no more monkeys changing into otters.

2 little monkeys not happy in their stroller. When Bryce escaped and changed into an otter. Mommy called the zoo keeper and the zoo keeper said no more monkeys changing into otters.

One little monkey looking all around the zoo. When Bennett spotted his big sister,Ella, running to

change into an otter. Mommy called the zoo keeper and the zoo keeper said no more monkeys changing into otters.

So, the 4 little monkeys stopped changing into otters and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon at the zoo.

Jump for Joy (but don't tell dad)

The kids love jumping off the back of the couch. Of course, I nnneeevvveeerrr let them do this on a regular basis but they love it so much and on occassion I have been known to cave in to their whims. So here are my monkeys jumping for joy...

Chasing girls

On the way home from school today I told Graham we were going to go to the park because it was a nice day. This is his reaction~ Word for Word!

G: I only want to stay at the park for 5 minutes because I was already real sweaty from playing outside at school.
Mom: 5 minutes, that's it?
G: Chasing girls is hard work. They make you sweat.

Layne's new phrases of the week: I am so mad! With hand gestures and all.
Brian likes to tease the girls and called them DUDES. Layne response is I not dude dad. I'm a chic, right mom?

Bryce's new phrases of the week: Layne Ashley, it is my turn. It is so cute how she calls her sister, Layne Ashley.
I am screaming and crying! She says this when I ignore her crying when she does not get her way and realizes that I am not paying attention to her.

2 days a week it is just me and the girls while Graham is at school. They have really started playing with each other. It is a different dynamic when it is 2 instead of 3. They have started playing tag with one another. They just laugh and giggle the whole time they chase each other. I hope I can get my chasing girls on video one day.

Home Depot Heaven

Brian took ALL 3 kids to the kids workshop Saturday morning at Home Depot. I was shocked that he offered to take them all. He has taken Graham in the past but this time I got a free Saturday morning. It was heaven for everyone.
This month they made football goal posts. Next month is fire trucks. Where am I going to put all these creations?

Transitioning girls

This has been a week full of transitions, not just for the kids but for me as well. I am no longer teaching part time so I have had to transition into being at home 100% of the time. So far so good but some days have their moments. Bryce and Layne have had many transitions this week. Some were expected others not so much.

1. They decided it was time to move into their big girl beds. I was not ready for this transition at all. They decided to attempt to climb out of their cribs. Luckily, I was there to witness the fiasco. Layne was able to get out "properly" but Bryce was about to topple on her head. So we converted their cribs over to toddler beds. Bedtime has been a breeze since the transition but naptime is disasterous!!! Everyday has gotten better but we definitely have some work to do. They have enjoyed their freedom of getting in and out of bed. I have caught them reading in their rocking chair, pulling stuff out of drawers, playing the recorder, climbing in and out of each other's bed, and the list goes on...I even caught Layne playing in Bryce's bed while Bryce was asleep.

2. The girls had their first day of preschool today. They were so excited to go. Their backpacks were packed and lunch boxes full. They walked right into Ms. Liz's room and took off. It was like Brian and I were not even there. So we left...not one tear, not one ~where you going mommy? NOTHING. NADA. ZILCH. I guess they were ready to start school, even if it is only one day a week.

3. Finally the hardest transition yet...the Paci Fairy visited our house today while the girls were at school. I had been preparing them for weeks about how the Fairy would be visiting our house as soon as the girls started school. I told them that since they are going to school and now sleeping in big girl beds that pacifiers were for babies and the Fairy needed them to give to new babies. Layne really got into NOT having one all afternoon. She kept saying she was a big girl and goes to school and did not need a pacifier. Bryce asked a couple of times for it but I distracted her from dwelling to long on it. However, both girls WANTED their pacifiers at bedtime. At first I thought this is going to be a rough night but after about 2 minutes of fussing they were asleep. I hope it lasts all night...

Bye Bye pacifiers...you will be missed more than you know!

Pre-K First Day

Graham was off bright and early this morning to his first speech class with Ms. Christina at 8:00am at the "big" school and then off to Pre-K at Rainbow Days to join the other 4 year olds. New this year is that he has to do everything by himself ie...unpack back pack, put away lunch, and the most difficult is that the parents just drop off at the door. I could not even go in. Graham had no problem walking into class all by himself. I was a little sad but not as sad as his sisters. They threw a huge fit that they could not go in with their brother. Hopefully they will get used to it because I don't think I can handle that much crying 3x a week. Thursday will be the girls' first day to join Graham at Rainbow Days. They will go only 1x per week, which means I get 5 whole hours to myself. I wonder what I will do with myself...

At the big school...going to speech.

On the way into his school with his sisters.

At bedtime tonight he described his favorite part of the day which happened to be in music class and told me about all his old friends and how he even met some new friends in his class. As you can tell from his picture above he already loves his new teacher.

Labor Day Love

Bryce loves babies in particular this baby...meet baby Bennett.

She loved having him at our house. She wanted to hold him, feed him, put the paci in and went hysterical when he had to leave. I know...the rolls of baby love. I could just pinch the screen.

While Bennett napped the others played and ate the afternoon away.