Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Funny words that come out of their mouths!

Cole went to visit with Nana and Pap Pap last weekend and when he returned home he informed me that he had eaten "chicken hands" for dinner.  I giggled and he then said:  "Oh, or maybe they were chicken feet".

Tonight Reid was telling Daddy about our trip to the pet store the other day.  He looked at me and said:  "I mad at Mommy" to which i asked:  "Why are you mad at Mommy?".  His reply was priceless:  "Mommy not let me pet the guinea pigs but the sign said it was a pet store".

Monday, February 24, 2014

Reid, Reid, Reid

Reid is quite a character!  The other day we had the following conversation:

R:  "Mama, you see my mad face?  You see my angry face?" (he certainly did have a look on his face!)
M:  "I see your angry face.  Why are you angry?"
R:  "I angry at you Mom but I still play with you"

The kid has been in tune to his emotions for awhile now.  Yesterday we hosted a get together with 11 kids and 10 adults and he asked me several times to put him in his crib with some books.  I was pretty impressed that a 2 year old was able to communicate feeling overwhelmed and ask to go to a calm down spot.

He is obsessed with dinosaurs and diggers.  He insists on playing a dinosaur info game on Andy's Ipad after the big kids go to bed.  He is also becoming interested in his letters and can recognize them and tell us the sounds that they make.

Tonight at dinner he was telling Daddy what we did today.  He stood up on his chair and announced:  "Daddy, we go to Wegmans and we get cinnamon".  The scrunched up look on his face and the inflection in his voice was priceless.

Some of REid's favorite things include snuggling dog dog, dino and Mommy; stopping at the grocery store to see the lobsters and the train; waving and running with the fish at the Science Center and at LL Bean; riding on his bike while i push; reading books about dinosaurs and diggers; instigating wrestling matches with Cole; playing make believe with stuffed animals and Gwen; listening to Don Alfredo Baila from music class (to which the other kids scream "NO!!!!") and drinking milk.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Catching Up

Every time I log on to look at my blog I feel completely overwhelmed by all that I need to do in order to catch up.  So...tonight I decided that I would add some monthly folders from July 2013 to current so that I would be able to slowly try to catch up on last year but not miss any of the current updates.

What is a typical day like in the Stamps household these days?!?  Well...I have 5 year old twins and an almost 2.5 year old little guy so we still are on the move.  The kids usually wake up around 7:00 am and on school days (M-R) we need to leave the house around 8:15 am in order to get to PreK by 9:00 am.  Reid insists on wearing a dinosaur or digger shirt every day.  Cole could care less about what he wears so I just pick something out for him and lay it on the ground so he can put it on himself.  Gwen is extremely picky about what she wears.  She insists on wearing dresses but is bothered by dresses with sleeves.  So, yes, I am the mom who drops her daughter off at prek with sleeveless dresses in the middle of the winter.  I finally decided that it is not worth arguing with her about what she wears.  If she is cold the natural consequence would be for her to be cold and realize next time that she should wear layers so why stress over it?  When it comes to feeding my trio they all have yogurt first thing in the morning and then I try to load them up with protein because Cole is a bear if he doesn't have the protein to balance out the carbs.  When I say 'bear', i mean he will start hitting/kicking/screaming/temper tantruming etc. if he does not eat properly every few hours.  Reid survives on cows milk at this point but wants to be held and snuggled most of the time when he drinks it.  I swear if he had been a long term nurser he would still be nursing every few hours!  So after everyone is fed they do their "jobs" of brushing teeth, watching faces, brushing hair, putting on shoes/coats etc.  Then we get into the car and usually there is some kind of disagreement about who is going to sit in each of the carseats.  After Mommy declares that may be late if we continue this fight things usually get settled.  Once I start the car Reid immediately wants his milk and a packed breakfast and Gwen insists that I need to pull over because her carseat strap is too loose.  Cole is not happy with the song selection mainly because Reid insists on listening to his new favorite music together song, Don Alfredo Baila, at least 15 times each day.  Somehow we usually manage to arrive at school early which is good because Gwen and Cole are obsessed with using the bathroom there even if they just used it before leaving home 30 minutes prior.  I usually try to entertain Reid outside the bathroom door while the big kids go but if i need to wipe a bottom or two, Reid just makes himself at home by coming into the stall and trying to flush the toilet which usually ends with Gwen or Cole yelling that they don't like him flushing it when they are on it.  If i can convince Reid to stay outside of the bathroom he plays in the water fountain and ends up with a wet shirt (and sometimes pants).  On the way up the stairs to the classroom Reid refuses to walk and usually fusses until I carry him.  Yes, I admit that carrying him is so much easier than holding his hand and trying to convince him to walk with the group.  I love getting kisses from Cole and Gwen before they run into their classroom where their teachers, Mrs. M and Mrs. Kamon welcome them by commenting on their smiles, outfits etc.  After drop off I usually chat with a Mommy or two on the way out of the church/school and then Reid and I have all of 2.5 hours to shop/play etc.  Some days we go grocery shopping.  Reid loves the lobsters and the train at wegmans.  He also enjoys buying yogurt and eating it in the kids section especially if some of his little friends meet us there.  Other days we head to playdates with friends or just enjoy the weather as Mommy and son and still other days we head home so Mommy can get some housework done while Reid enjoys having all of the toys to himself.  At pick up there is usually fussing on Cole's part because he is starving (they only get a small carb loaded snack at school).  I try to have some fruit, veggies and protein ready for my big guy to munch on in the car but getting to the car is often difficult as the kids want to say goodbye to all of their friends and then they push and shove to be the first one in the car and the first one to get to the bottle of sanitizer.  After everyone is strapped in I get to ask my big kids about school and they love to tell me:  "we don't want to tell you, Mommy"  It is like they enjoy having a little secret between the two of them but after a few minutes I usually get an answer out of one or both of them.  When we get home I make lunch for everyone while they run around the house loop (kitchen, family room, hallway, dining room and REPEAT).  On a good day I only have to stop a few times to help with boo boos or pull one of the boys off of another child.  After lunch I head upstairs with Reid to give him a breathing treatment and put him down for his nap.  I love snuggling him during his breathing treatments.  He always holds a dog dog and sometimes Dino his dinosaur or another small plastic animal like orange frog are in his other hand.  After he goes down I try to get the big kids settled with quiet time.  Some days that happens and other days we end up playing games or crafting together and if i'm lucky one or both kids will help me prep dinner.  When Reid wakes up from his nap he is usually very needy.  He likes to be held for awhile so we usually end up having reading time as a family.  Gwen and Cole seem to understand the basics of reading but they have no interest in reading by themselves--they much prefer for me to read to them and i love having all three kids snuggled close and calm.  They ask 1,001 questions while i'm reading and ask the same 1,001 questions the very next time i read the same story.  There is usually a fight over my lap at some point and there is always some crying on Reid's part because he thinks we should just read his stories and his always have to be read first.  Afterwards we eat our 3:00 pm snack (If cole misses this he becomes a grouch/bear etc.!) then we try to head outside to play.  These days going outside means getting everyone in snowpants, boots, gloves, hats etc.  This is quite a process because everyone needs help at the same time but once we're outside they usually enjoy shoveling, digging, blowing bubbles, stomping in puddles etc. Once we're finishing up our outside time, Daddy comes home for dinner.  I rush to get dinner on the table while the kids clobber Daddy.  All three kiddos are very active in the evenings so it is often difficult to keep my cool when they are running around like little crazies and we still have to baths, snack and calm them down for bed.  REcently Gwen and Cole have been going to bed around 7:30/8:00 pm and Reid has been going down with a breathing treatment around 8:30 pm. Cole often goes to bed and then comes downstairs several times to tell us that he is scared and wants to sleep in our room.  He then helps himself to the toddler mattress in our sitting room or to Daddy's side of the bed.  Reid continues to wake up 1-2 times a night begging for milk and a few nights a week Gwen wakes me by saying "mommy" in my face because she needs help finding her lost bunny or blankie.  Cole sometimes ends up at the foot of our bed.  BUT one of my favorite parts of the day is when I wake up in the morning hearing Reid singing "MOmmy, Mommy, Mom.  I want you, mommy" and then I bring him into our bed to join Cole and then Gwen comes in and we have everyone together and semi calm for a few minutes before starting our day :)  That about sums up a day in our lives at the moment.  Oh except on Wed. when Gwen has dance in the early evening and I try to entertain the boys for an hour while she dances.

February 2014

February 2014

January 2014

January 2014

December 2013

December 2013

December 2013

December 2013

December 2013

December 2013

November 2013

November 2013

November 2013

November 2013

November 2013

November 2013

October 2013

October 2013

October 2013

October 2013

September 2013

September 2013

September 2013

September 2013

September 2013

August 2013

August 2013

August 2013

August 2013

August 2013

July 2013

July 2013

July 2013

July 2013

June 2013

6/24/13- Please Touch Museum

On 6/24/13 the kids and I met up with Nana and Pap Pap for a fun day at the Please Touch Museum in Philly.  It was a day filled with lots of smiles and fun.  

 Let the shopping begin!
 Waiting patiently at the check out
 Now that's service!
 Row Row Row your Boat...
Our little duck hoarder

6/22/13- Kids Race

This summer we signed Gwen and Cole up to run several races.  They were too nervous to run by themselves but they seemed to enjoy running with Daddy by their side.  

 Posing before the race
 This kid always has a funny look on his face in pictures.  I can take 4 pics of him and he somehow manages to have different but equally silly faces in each pic.  sigh
 At the start line
Reid enjoyed watching the race and also liked the balloon animal from the clown.

Playing House and Oley Farm

Gwen and Cole love pretending that Reid is a baby.  Here they have him perched on a doll high chair drinking a bottle.  Notice that as always Cole is the cat and Gwen is the Mommy.


Hungry animals.  Reid is not scared to feed them at all.
Relaxing in the play area on their own "double bunk"

Sesame Place June 12, 2013

Our second annual trip to Sesame Place was a success.  Each time we go on outings like this it is a lot of work preparing for the day but we end up having a ton of fun.  AND Andy and I are always surprised as to how long the kids last.  Reid snoozed in his stroller for a little while and we were able to spend about 7 hours at the park followed by a quick dinner at CFA.

 Bed Bounce

 Waiting for the parade
 Reid loved the water attractions
Feeling special to be spending time with Daddy

Dirt Digging to Dress Up June 2013

I have several friends who get a kick out of the fact that Gwen insists on wearing dresses and being fancy even when she is digging in the dirt.  Here is yet another pic of her sporting a dress and rain boots while making leaf soup for the ants.


 Reid loves being able to pretend with the big kids.
 Gwen's first attempt at climbing a tree. She was pretty proud of herself!
We got all cleaned up and decided to play dress up.


Our Butterflies June 2013

Oh the excitement of watching our caterpillars grow into butterflies!  And of course we had some added excitement when one of the butterflies escaped (see pic below).  

Daddy trying to catch the escapee


Reid loves dinosaurs and even set them up to check out the butterflies.


Ready to free the butterflies.  Notice how baby had to be included in the family pic.

Chasing newly released butterflies is quite fun!

6/1/13- Aunt Erienne's Wedding

We celebrated Aunt Erienne and Uncle Dave's special day on 6/1/13.  Unfortunately, I don't have any pics of the bride and groom but I did snap a few photos at the reception prior to Reid puking up milk all over my bridesmaid dress.

Cole and his buddy
Parents of the Bride


Daddy's sweet dance partner

Hanging out May 2013



 We love to dig in the empty lot next door.  We use garden tools and buckets to dig homes for bugs and get very messy in the process.  Cole isn't a huge fan of being dirty/messy but he is slowly coming around to the idea.
 When inside, Reid loves to snuggle with his 'O-piss" and dog dog (not pictured)
Gwen snuggles bunny every chance she has.  Bunny has lost her ears and is close to being decapitated but she is still very much loved especially in the car and at home.  Gwen puts her and blankie on a spot on the carpet in the family room and becomes very upset if she cannot find them when she is ready for a snuggle.


Quiet Valley Farm May 25, 2013

We discovered a fun farm that is open to the public a few times a year.  Gwen is most definitely a little animal lover and enjoyed petting all of the baby animals.  Reid especially loved the chickens and we got plenty of smiles from Cole as well.  






Reid Celebrated the Last Day of Preschool...

by looking for bugs in the grass before pick up.  This kid loves being outdoors and it is not uncommon for the two of us to spend time outside the church where Gwen and Cole go to school before pick up.  Reid especially enjoys going across the parking lot to check on the ducks in the pond.  He takes my hand and pulls me in that direction.