A Day In The Life- Georgia Style

Georgia told me that she wanted me to put pictures of her up. So we found some on the computer that I took recently, and I am following orders. This girl needs to be the CEO of something one day. She has got a lot of pent up energy to run something. And I would prefer that one day it is not me.
Georgia's life has changed quit a bit recently. When she is not at school, she is left with only Walker for a playmate.  She has found ways to adjust to this. It involves following him around and yelling at me whenever he goes anywhere near something she does not see fit to have him touch.

Georgia is an early riser. I can count on her to be out of bed even before me when the alarm goes off. She can hear it from my room. Or maybe she is in there awake until it does go off, and thinks that is permission to come out. She then goes to the kitchen where she would like to be served a buffet style breakfast. I will just finish putting the finishing touches on her whole wheat waffle with syrup AND peanut butter, when her mind will change and she would like eggs instead please. This does not go over well. Especially because it is in the midst of getting Wally and Will out the door.

We then get dressed and head out to the bus stop. Or not. Lately she has decided on many a morning that she would rather stay inside and watch a show instead. I was not so sure about this arrangement at first, but because the bus stop is right across the street, we were able to do a test run without me going more than a few steps from the door. And now I admit it is nice to have the option.

On this particular morning, she came along.

That means a bike ride while we wait.

And more than likely, a snack.

Then it is off to school for this girl. Three days a week.  She has been trying to negotiate getting out of her naps lately. I am not ready to give them up yet!  
So that means more play time with this guy.

He is a keeper.

And he is a blankie loving boy.

So there you have it. Throw in a doctor's appointment, a trip to one of the boy's schools, an appointment for church, or a trip to the store, and it is a full life for a three year old.

Back to the nap thing. At what age did you let the naps stop with your kids?

No Wonder Their Grass Is Always Greener

Georgia spent the afternoon outside playing hard at a neighbor girl named Natalie's house. When she came home, I put her in the tub. I told her to go potty before she hopped in the water. She said, "No, I already went." I asked her when she went. She said, "I went outside, in Natalie's backyard."  Horrified at what the neighbors must be thinking I asked her how she did that. And she proceeded to show me exactly how she squatted down in the grass and took care of things. I am truly raising a little girl in a household of boys. Good thing I am trying a new thing, where I pretend  things like this don't faze me.

Walker's Words

He is a smart cutie patootie. He thinks he can carry on a conversation these days. I think that is a good sign!

Happy Birthday Del

It is my very smart, very kind, and very patient, husband's birthday. Happy Birthday!

Holy Smokes!

This past Sunday at dinner Wally was asking why he could not go out and ride bikes like the other kids in the neighborhood that day. Del was explaining that we want to keep Sunday, the Sabbath Day, holy. So we try not to do a lot of the things that we do on every other normal day. After the explanation, Del tried to see how much of his little lesson actually stuck by promoting the children. He said "So Sunday is the Holy.....????" Looking for Sabbath.

Georgia answered, "Smokes!"

Speaking of Holy Smokes! My little gal started pre-school. She was so excited the night before, and the morning of, that she did not sleep at all, and acted like a total stinker all morning while I got the boys out the door. I knew it was just her nerves, and she calmed down as soon as we were on our way.

She loved moving from one activity to the next in the classroom. The one area she had no interest in? The little "play house" area. Aaaa, that is my tomboy for ya. I will be interested to see if following the lead of other girls there will spark some interest.

The water table is a big hit, and makes a big wet mess, as you can see from my pants, that were not spared.
Georgia has got a few areas to learn in. She was not very cooperative with the teachers. They said smile for a picture, she looked away. They told her to stop playing in the sand and line up, she continued until she was lead to the line, where she cut in front of other kids.

They told her to sit down in the circle, she stood, and then rolled around in the middle. Let's hope a little peer pressure goes a long way here, and she drops her tendencies to fight for what she wants. What can I say, she is the only "sister" in a house full of boys! I think pre-school is just right for this very strong willed little girl! It is funny because Walker was also being aggresive with what he wanted. He would crawl over to a block tower and knock it over, and try to get out of my arms the whole time. "I got a lot of the comment I hear ALL THE TIME, "Boy, you have your hands full."
You have no idea.
 We are excited. She keeps telling me that next time she goes, I have to LEAVE! I am glad that Georgia has her "thing." It is much needed.

Lake Geneva

Our Labor Day was spent at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, with the Tyson family. We decided we better try to hit a beach one more time this year. We ended up getting a bit of a blustery day, but after a few rain drops, we were in the clear for some fun. The kids can't get enough of the beach, and loved racing around on the water on the Tyson's boat.

Lake Geneva has got charm to spare! It is a lot of fun checking out all the houses clustered around the lake. It is so fun to go up, even if it is for Walker's Dr.'s appointment, which was our last purpose for a visit. Boating does beat that.

On the Lake.

On the beach.

So sad to see Summer go! It seems like we just waited all Winter long for it. Now we start yet again.

Riding A Bike Is Fun To Do

Yesterday was a milestone day for Wally! He has not been able to ride a two wheel bike without training wheels, no matter how hard he has tried. Del pulled out two bikes that a family from church gave us after their boys outgrew them, and told Wally he could try one out. Wally hopped on the bike, and took off! We could not believe it! He rode it perfectly without anyone even running along side him. I guess when something finally clicks for Wally, it is all or nothing! That silly kid. Ride, Wally, Ride!

 So we spent the evening riding bikes, and eating Wendy's on the front lawn. We even got ice cream from the ice cream man. Yes, I am riding Wally's bike's twin. But I figured after the ice cream man assumed I was a child, I might as well live it up. No, really he did. I went over to the truck with Del and the three older kids to pick a treat, but then went back to Walker on the front lawn when he cried. The man gave Del an ice cream bar and told him to give it to the little girl. Meaning me!  Ha!

So then Del had to show me how it is really done!!

Go Baby

We have good news about Walker this week! He has made so much progress in just six weeks with his helmet that he now only has to wear it for naps and bedtime! During the day he is free to roam without the restriction of that hot thing on his head. We are thrilled with this. I love that when I absentmindedly kiss him on his head I get contact with his actual body instead of of mouthful of plastic! He is also doing much better with the Torticollis. He will be going to physical therapy every other week from here on out!
He looks oh so confident pushing his cart in the picture above. That is actually not the case. He fell over right after I took it. But we will not be surprised if he does try to walk soon. He already maneuvers his way around on the edge of the furniture.

Georgia was such a cutie yesterday. She was SO excited when I told her that we were going to Dad's office to eat lunch with him. We don't get down there very often because it is not very often that Del or I have that much of a break in our day. Georgia first said a prayer that she could eat restaurant food with Dad, ( she has become quit the prayer giver lately, she covers everything from asking that Walker will never cry again, to blessing Dad to "moo" the lawn.)  then she picked out her "Mexico dress" all by herself, let me curl her hair!!! (holy cow, that is progress) and then she even wanted to take a picture of how pretty she was before we left.

Of course the minute we got there, and she started to get any kind of attention from everyone at the office, she turned back into a clingy, shy wallflower. She had so much fun going to the office, but this girl is so ready to go to preschool. She needs to have something that is just her "thing." We are looking forward to the first day of school next week.

The Boys Are Back In School

Here are the official first day of school pictures for the boys. Wally is in second grade this year. He really seems to be taking to second grade well! He is very enthusiastic about going this year. The picture above is not an accurate portrayal of this. He is excited about school, but not about getting his picture taken.

And the backpack shot.

Will is in Kindergarten. FULL day! It has really been so strange not having Will around during the day. Georgia is a little lost without her bestiest friend.  I will be so thrilled when the boys are on the same bus next year! Yay for minimizing bus stop visits! I spend my life there it seems.


We were talking about being good boys at school around the dinner table and how much the teachers would like the boys if they tried really hard to be good. Will got a big smile on his face and told us, "Yeah, my teacher is going to say, "Wow! This is one awesome Will!"
I am sure that she is going to think he is "one awesome Will."

 Georgia goes off to pre-school next week. It is hard to see them go, but I must admit that I love not having to get a babysitter to go to all of the doctors appointments and therapy for individual children. Or, the alternative, hauling them all in with me and having the doctors want to shoot themselves! There is something to be said for that bit of freedom.

Walker Is A...Crawler!

Oh Boy! Now we are in trouble! We took this video last week, and he has perfected the art of crawling since then. He is all over the place and pulling himself up on everything. It sure is cute, but it is time to get out the baby gates! Please excuse Georgia's outfit, or lack thereof in the video. That is another story.