Caycee K. turns 3 today! Happy birthday Caycee!

Visiting the cousins

Why don't they make kids with handles?

Lynzee having a very serious discussion with Dexter

Four kids smiling, one looking at the camera

All smiling, four facing the right direction, one looking at the camera

Only one real smiling, but everyone's looking in the general direction of the camera. Close enough.

Christmas

We had a crazy-busy Christmas (does anyone have a relaxing Christmas? I don't think so). Christmas Eve started with a quick stop at Uncle Michael's house for the extended family, then we were off to see Granny Smith & Papa Fred & John's family.

Dexter got to chill with Auntie Anna. (Anna didn't even know what was coming! But more on that in another post...)

Cooper loved his new guitar from Auntie Anna & "Uncle" Pat. (It just made everyone else in the room feel old because the toy guitar plays instrumental versions of Wild Thing by the Troggs, Message in a Bottle by the Police, Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen, Love Shack by the B52's and All Star by Smashmouth.)

Christmas morning was spent at home. Even though we left out cookies & egg nog for Santa & talked about him all day Christmas Eve, Cooper still wasn't expecting him. He slept 'til 8:30 & didn't really get what was going on at first.

Cooper was very excited about his stocking.

And judging by this picture, Cooper would have been happy if Santa stopped at just the stocking. (But what fun is that?)

Dexter, as you can see, was equally thrilled with his stocking loot.

Hmm.. I bet you're wonder what this is...

Dexter is intrigued too... but you'll have to wait for another post.

Cooper and his Thomas train, the one thing he asked for from Santa.

Dexter was tuckered out from all the excitement.

Then it was on to Grandma & Grandpa's house.

Things were mostly a little crazy. Not surprising considering there were 5 kids 3 years & under and (only) 6 adults. Why do we still feel outnumbered? (Gift opening was particularly crazy, which is why I don't really have any pictures of that.)

But there were a few calm, relaxing moments.

Dexter & Lynzee checking each other out.

Since Adam couldn't be with us for Christmas, we tried to get a good picture of all 5 kids together.

We quickly decided it didn't have to be "good", they just all had to be in it, even if they all look like deer in headlights. (I swear, no children were drugged in the taking of this picture.)

This is seconds later.

Dexter, once again, tuckered out. (He was actual awake when John sat him up, but sitting on Daddy was just too relaxing & he fell asleep.)

Catching up on life

Okay, so in between having a sick dog, finding out my brother is leaving for Afghanistan, starting my new Avon business, and having a new niece, some other stuff has happened that I haven't posted about. I keep meaning too, but the pictures keep piling up.

Update on Dora: Thanks everyone for all your comments & everything. I really appreciate it. Dora had a single dose of chemo & is on steroids. Her lymph nodes have gotten back to normal & she seems to be perfectly healthy. She's in remission & you'd never know there's anything wrong with her. She has a huge appetite & drinks water by the gallon (side effects of the steroids), but otherwise she's her normal self. She visits the oncologist again next week for a check up. We're hoping her remission lasts as long as possible.

So, here's our life recently - in pictures.

John showing Cooper a chick at the Iroquis County Fair
(where, by the way, my mom won 2nd place for her Around the World quilt, and was totally cheated on her map quilt)

Geez, Mom, let the kids have a turn!

Caycee's birthday!

Children of the corn!

Cooper found heaven - and climbed in.

Yeah, Coop, I agree.

Visiting day

I dropped Cooper off with his Granny Smith today for a couple hours. She got a package in the mail today - this quilt from my mom. If you follow my mom's blog, you've seen it before, and if not you can get the whole story here. Beautiful, isn't it? Cooper seemed to love it - he hopped right on the couch.


And while Cooper was playing with Granny Smith, I went to the hospital to visit Dayna & the new baby. Zak & Caycee were not pleased to see Cooper was not with me, but they eventually forgave me. Luckily, they had their new sister to pay attention to.

Look how chubby Lynzee is!

Welcome to the world Lynzee Ann!

My niece just couldn't wait & decided to join us a little earlier than expected. Mom & baby are doing fine.
7 lbs, 4 oz and 17 in long.
Congratulations to my brother Justin & his wife Dayna, and to the new brother & sister, Zak & Caycee!

Zak & Caycee's birthday bash

The giant Zak-turns-3-and-Caycee-turns-2-and-Justin-turns-30(-but-don't-tell-Justin-'cause-it's-a-surprise-for-him) bash was this past weekend. We ate a ton of food & cake, baked in the hot sun, & watched the kids open (or attack) presents.

Caycee was MIA when it came time for cake. Dayna found her in the pool... in her dress.


I hope these aren't breakable...


And another entry (see the first here and here) for the "most ridiculous present for children ever" - a two-seater Power Wheels fire engine.

And since I know you're wondering.. yes, it does have a siren and it shoots water. And it goes very, very fast.

Justin making sure the kids make it back to the house (Zak wanted to drive around the neighborhood).

I've been busy sewing...

I've made a ton of stuff recently (probably why I have not been blogging as much as I should).

A sock monkey with a heart tattoo on her (?) arm:

Matching shirt & onesie dress for Zak & Caycee:

A police hooded towel for Zak:

A Brobee hooded towel for Caycee. I know, it's totally creepy, but that really is how the character looks (he's from Caycee's favorite show Yo Gabba Gabba).

Here's a picture of the character:

Happy (belated) birthday Zak!

I'm a horrible aunt/godmother. Zak's birthday was over the weekend & I'm just now posting about it. Zak turned three (which means no more binkies & no more diapers - lucky mama Dayna!). We went to his house for a "small" celebration.

Zak was nice enough to share the spotlight with Caycee (not that she gives him much of a choice).

Sadly, I didn't get a picture of the two of them licking the cake when we didn't move fast enough to cut it.

The ankle- (and face-) biters

A dog that intends to bite does not bare its teeth.
-Turkish Proverb

I learned this one the hard way. Cooper's bitten me several times, but not recently and usually just when he's teething. I think he's bitten John once or twice. He's never bitten another kid. Until last week.
We spent a few days with my parents, Dayna, Zak, & Caycee. Within hours of me & Cooper arriving, he & Caycee had a small tiff & suddenly she was screaming. I had no idea what happened until I saw her face start to turn red. Yep, he bit her on the face. What is wrong with my child? He bit several more times, & made several attempts. Time-outs didn't work at all (he laughed & played), so he got swatted on the butt a couple times. That seemed to get the message across at least. Luckily, Zak & Caycee (& Dayna) were very forgiving, although Zak & Caycee did yell, "Don't bite me!" when Cooper would chase them. I guess I can't blame them.

Coolest park ever

Caycee having fun, despite the large bite mark on her cheek.

Caycee & Zak with "babies" just like their mom & aunt