Stats

We recently had Makenna's 9-month check-up and the twin's 3-year check-up. They are big kids and definitly following more after Brian. Here are their stats:

Makenna:
20 lb. 3 oz (50-75%)
28 1/2 inches (75 - 90%)

Alli:
36.8 lb (90%)
39 3/4" (95%)

Nick:
41.6 lb (>97%)
39 3/4" (90%)

I've spent more time at the doctor's office than I'd like in the last couple of months. Makenna has had two ear infections, we've all had pink eye and colds. Not to mention Nick's whole sickness (remember that?). I took him to see the specialist a week ago and she thought the last episode could have been giardia and the other periodic vomiting could be migraines. More lab work and follow-up visits to come, yay!

Overall though, I feel blessed to have such healthy and happy kids!

December ... So Far

Just like everyone else, we have been busy getting ready for Christmas. The cards have been sent, the food has been purchased, I'm almost done with the shopping (only 2 more quick things to pick up), and I wrapped presents last night. Brian finished working for the week and I'm looking forward to some family togetherness, both with the immediate family and my extended family. We are going to take our kids to a movie, zoo lights, and swimming sometime between now and the New Year. We are planning to spend Christmas with my family. My brother David and his wife Natalie are coming to town and we are all going to spend a couple of days at my grandparent's house in Berthoud (unfortunately, without grandma and grandpa, they are wintering in Arizona...we will miss them). So, besides preparing for Christmas, here's what we've been up to lately.

Makenna had the privilege of opening the first gift of Christmas (with lots of help from her brother and sister). It was a Little People Nativity Set. I've wanted our family to have one since the twins were her age. They all play with it every day and its kept the curiosity away from my Nativity.
















We celebrated Brian's birthday! I brought the kids to have lunch with him at Red Robin and we had a small family get-together later in the week. Our tradition is that we make a cake for each other on our birthdays. He picked a chocolate malt ice cream cake. It was a 3-day process to make, but delicious. I also let the kids each pick out a present for him. Alli chose a bubble set and Nick chose a Doc (from the Cars movie) night light...haha

Makenna was all dressed up in her Christmas dress on Sunday. Adorable, if I do say so myself!

Poor Nick. Alli has been REALLY into dressing up lately (in fact she is getting two more dress-ups for Christmas...shhh). She sometimes convinces Nick to dress up with her. Here he is in full princess/butterfly gear.

Hope that you all have a Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It was my turn for Tot School again last week and the theme was Thanksgiving. We did lots of things - read stories about Thanksgiving, made finger puppets, made turkey puppets, pretended to play instruments in a Thanksgiving parade, and dressed up like Pilgrims and Indians. We also had a mini-Thansgiving snack and another "turkey food" snack (rice krispies, raisins, and cheerios) and pretended to eat like turkies - so silly!

Nick's Truck Party

Ever since Nick started playing with toys, he has been obsessed with toys that have wheels. Especially big construction-type trucks. When I gave him a few party theme choices, I wasn't surprised that he picked a truck party.

His party was an hour after Alli's, over lunch-time. We started out playing with toys and coloring truck pictures. Then we had hot dogs, chips, and fruit (Nick's favorite). He also got to have 3 friends at his party (since he is 3). After lunch he opened his presents and then we had cake. I made him a dirt cake with trucks on it. He loved it and wanted the trucks off of it as soon as he saw it.

Brian made him a sandbox for his birthday. It was a cool day, but just nice enough for him and his friends to go outside and play for about 20 mintues.

To finish off the birthday (and to give myself a break) we went to Red Robin for dinner. We let them pick what they wanted off the kids menu. Alli chose spaghetti and Nick chose macaroni and cheese. The servers brought them ice cream sundaes and balloons and they sang to them. It was a really fun day!

Pink Princess Party

Alli and Nick recently turned 3! I was hoping to be able to have another combined party, but Alli was very insistent on having a Pink Princess Party for about the last two months. I didn't think Nick would really enjoy this theme (haha) so I decided to have two small parties on the same day.

We started out the party morning with getting ready for Alli's party. I decorated Makenna's room for Alli's party since her room is painted pink. We gave Alli a present right before she needed to get dressed - it was a new pink dress-up dress with a matching crown and earrings set. She was so excited!

I wrote on the invitation for the girls to wear a princess dress. They were all adorable. Alli got to have three friends since she is turning three. My mom and sister also came (BIG help!).








They decorated crowns, colored a princess picture, danced, opened presents, and had cupcakes and a special pink fizzy Kool-aid drink. Alli loved all her presents and loved playing with her friends. I can't believe she is already 3!