Saturday, March 23, 2013

Fire Station


This year, Sadie is participating in a co-op type preschool.  A group of moms from church rotate teaching 7 kids.  It's a lot of work on the weeks I teach, but, I enjoy the days off!  Additionally, I'm enjoying less of a strain on my pocketbook!

Last month, we took a field trip to the fire station.  I'm getting fuzzy on the details, but, aside from the fire equipment, this particular station is one of the FEMA support stations and has 2 semi-trucks fully loaded at all times, ready to head out when needed.  And, they have a hallway near their living space covered with pictures from all the rescue efforts their team has been involved in.  

Of course, the kids didn't care about that.  They just wanted to climb in the fire truck!


The firefighters all got a kick out of Carson's leash!  


Sadie was bummed she couldn't reach the pedals!


Carson loved wearing his fire hat!

Big Boy Bed

Ever since we moved into our house (almost a year ago now!), we have kept Carson's future (i.e. toddler) bed next to his pack-n-play in his room.  Mostly because we didn't want to store it in the garage, and, I'm a big believer in getting rid of the crib quick.  I don't like the baby phase, and, it's a constant reminder that there's a baby in the house.

Every night at bed time, after scriptures and prayers, I take the girls into their room and read a chapter book with them and Brian takes Carson into his room and reads a book with him.  Don't know when or why this "tradition" started, but, we all love it.  The girls and I have read numerous classics from Roald Dahl, Beverly Cleary, and others.  Recently, we've been on many Flat Stanley adventures, and Morgan can't wait to take us into the world of The Magic Tree House series, by Mary Pope Osborne.  Brian and Carson are still reading Goodnight Moon.  But, I digress...

Apparently, without my knowledge, Brian had been allowing Carson so sit on his big bed for his story, then use it to climb into his pack-n-play.  So, what I thought was Carson starting to show interest in his big bed at nap time, really was him wanting me to allow him to use it for climbing, like Daddy does.

So, one night (Feb. 8th, actually), Brian decided to see if Carson would sleep and stay in his toddler bed one night.  And, the rest is history!




My favorite part about Carson and his bed:  he still doesn't know he's "allowed" to get out on his own, so even after 2 months, he still sits on his bed and waits for Mommy or Daddy to come get him!
My least favorite part about Carson and his bed:  he thinks that we have to physically pick him, his blanket, and Fillmore up after he climbs down.  Then, he expects us to carry him and his entourage down the stairs!  Sorry, Dude!  Not happening anymore!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Q-Fest and Papa Dale's Birthday

Last month, the kids and I went up to San Dimas for a day trip, so Brian could study.  Grammy and Grandpa were getting together with all their BBQ friends. 

Since it wasn't a competition, Grandpa Dale didn't have the back of the trailer filled with "BBQ", as the girls say!  So, the kids decided the couch and futons made a fantastic jungle gym!  They loved wrestling and climbing all over the place!




And, it happened to be Grandpa's birthday, so we brought up German Chocolate Cupcakes (which, he only likes the frosting, so next year we may just make him a batch of frosting and nix the cupcakes altogether!) and sang to him.  It was too windy for candles, though.

Trains, Trains, Trains!!

I love that my kids love playing with trains.  I love when they can talk their daddy into building a train track that takes up the entire living room, too!  

A couple months ago, Carson really started to show an interest in playing with the trains.  Now, almost daily, the box gets dumped out and he starts building away!  




(I love how he sticks his tongue when he concentrates!)