Ten + on Someday

1. Laney came home from school the other day beyond excited to tell me that Liam has a crush on her. I asked her what does he like about you and she said, "because when I drew a house, it didn't have a roof." Innocent love.

2. Matthew is getting more vocal every day (for the good and the bad). One day he stole a half bottle of my spark and wow, that was a very vocal day. He was running around kicking everything. lol. He will repeat almost anything and loves to say hi to his friends. He is very stubborn though and if it isn't done his way, then you are wrong and he lets you know it (back to the vocal part). Here he is in Kohls throwing one of his many fits. I don't know what it is about that store but he always throws a fit there.

Dramatic much?
Look at the other shoppers...they were even used to his fits by this point.

3. Ella is doing great in first grade. Continues to be in speech and although didn't qualify (test wise) for reading help, there was an extra spot so we grabbed it. She loves this time and the students are jealous when others get to work with a special helper :)

4. Laney & Ella finished up their ballet and tap last week. I was honestly excited. Although they enjoyed it both were ready to be done and try something else. They had come a long way in their 15 weeks of classes but both have asked to do gymnastics. I have them in softball in the spring now that Ella is done with basketball. Jason has signed up to coach.

5. We booked a trip for Spring Break to Gatlinburg. A huge thank you to my parents for booking this for us as we were able to use some of their time share points. We were able to get a 3 bedroom deluxe which is fabulouso. We have done 2 bedrooms before but it is a little challenging. 3 will be great. We are going to be there Monday-Friday...now to figure out some things to do down there :)

6. AdvoCare has kept me very busy these days but the pay off has been great. I have a wonderful team of leaders in Cincinnati and feel blessed to have this opportunity. I love that my income averages out to what I made as a part time RD (with child care costs). Our friends, Troy & Jen, just hit Ruby which pays $80,000 a year. I share in their excitement! And boy do they deserve it!

7. The basement, the basement, the basement...is almost done! This week is the week for carpet. I am so incredibly glad to have a company here to do it all. They guys pop up every now and then with a question but other than that, are just down there working. What a great group of guys and I am thinking I might actually miss the activity they bring. But then again, when I am sitting in my warm basement, drinking some wine from the bar, I am sure I will be glad they aren't there..lol.

8. My best friends from college and I are headed to Indy in a few weeks for a reunion. We have 10 kids between us so it is tough to find a weekend that works for us all. I love girl time!

9. Ella sold over 200 boxes of girl scout cookies. A big thanks to my mother in law, Bettye, who probably sold over 100 herself (she was a rockstar). Ella enjoyed learning about sales, sorting money, delivering the goods, etc. She has a great Daisy troop and we were glad to help out. She earned a deck of cards, water bottle/bag, and a stuffed girafffe (I think??). We will be manning a cookie station at the Krogers in a few weeks :)

10. Matthew had a black eye and we kept asking him how he got it. When I first asked him, he said, "Laney did it." The second time I asked him, he said, "Ella did it." So J took a shot at it. Matthew told Jason, "trash can. bang, bang, bang (with corresponding punches). " Not sure if that was true but funny nonetheless.

11. As I was picking Laney up from school, her teacher pulled me aside. She said, "Laney told me something about you (always scary words to hear from a teacher...these kids know too much AND say too much). She said you give her a gift each day. But when I asked her if this happened  was every day, Laney said to not tell you." Hmmmm Laney...tryin to fool the teacher?

12. Ella's most frequently used saying is, "I have to tell you something." No matter what she is going to say, the first thing out of her mouth is, "I have to tell you something."

All from December (finally got around to adding them):

13. To go along with that Ella has come out with the saying, "I don't understand what you are talking about." Like on 12/31, Jason and I told her, "See you next year." We tried to explain that tomorrow was the next year but she just kept saying, "I don't understand what you are talking about." We then talked about snow. She asked, "When we will get snow?" Jason said, "Next year." You know what came next....."I don't understand what you are talking about."

14. Another funny school story from Laney: As we were driving home I asked her how her sharing day was. She said it was great and that everybody loved her trophy (which was mine from good ol' 1988). She then said she was the only one who didn't bring in their stocking. I thought to myself, how did everybody bring a stocking...coincidence? Oh no, I went to the calendar and saw that it said sharing day: bring your own stocking. I was cracking up because here everybody had stockings and Laney showed up with my trophy. Laney was loving it though. A+ mom, right?

15. Laney saw Santa twice today and the first time she saw him, she sat on his lap and told him what she wanted. She saw him again later tonight, sat on his lap and he asked her what she wanted. Laney said, "I told you this morning. One time is good enough." He said, "You can tell me again." She said, "Nah, you got it."


16. One night when my dad was over, my dad said he wanted to guess her new age. Here is the conversation:
Grandpa: Laney, I am going to ask you questions to guess your age. Do you put your own clothes on?
Laney: Yes
Grandpa: Do you get in bed by yourself?
Laney: Yes
Grandpa (after many more questions like that): You are 5!
Laney: I am Grandpa, now I am going to guess your age. Grandpa, do you get discounts at the movies (yes, my mom and I were giving her appropriate questions).
Grandpa: Yes
Laney: Do you get free drinks at Wendys?
Grandpa: Yes
Laney: Do you go potty by yourself?
Grandpa: yes
Laney: Grandpa, you must be....18!