Storybook Ball, Sand, John Deere Tractors and more

A couple of Saturday nights ago Maddox and I attended the annual Storybook Ball at the museum. This year, unlike last, we got to share the experience with three of our neighborhood girlfriends and their families, Grace, Maddie and Priya. We had a grand time just like last year.  Maddox was just as enamored with the Princesses as she was last year. She just followed Aurora around most of the evening and danced the night away.  

Katie, Grace's mom, and I.  Katie is in one of my bible study groups and a close neighborhood 'stay at home' mom friend.  

This year the partying gift was a little jewelry box that you got to decorate in the 'Think Shop' area of the museum. It is this room with little stations all set up with hammers, saws, nails, levels, and like every other type of hardware/tool.  The idea is for kids to go in and make creations with the help of their parents…and of course safety glasses!!  In the center of the room is this big table with several glue guns and like every 'thing-a-ma-bob' know to man donated by local community members. So sometimes you go in and there is a basket of old medication bottles and other times there are a bunch of buttons. Just all kinds of things. A fun spot. Maddox didn't spend long decorating her box as she knew time spent decorating meant LESS time dancing!!  She was quick to leave the Think Shop and head back out to the Great Hall. She is my dancer….!! But, oddly enough says she doesn't want to take dance next year :(   :(   :(  She is really interested in soccer.  I honestly think dance is hard for her and Miss Alyssa her teacher asks her to do things that require a lot of core, hip, knee and especially ankle musculoskeletal coordination.   I actually had her evaluated by a pediatric neurologist last week through the University of Iowa. Dr. Maxwell and her team come to Bettendorf once a month.   They didn't find anything significant or give her any strong medical diagnosis but did declare she is SEVERELY left legged, meaning her right leg is probably always going to lag behind. It's kind of the same philosophy as being right handed verses left handed. You can have a dominant leg too and in Maddox's case her left leg is REALLY REALLY dominant.  In addition she is extremely hypERmobile at her knees and ankles which can cause lack of coordination ( I"m sure you are thinking..well Laura must have her physical therapy brain on because I think Maddox is F…I…N…E…!!) So they basically said just keep doing what we are doing…. dance, ballet, gymnastics if she wants, and swimming. They recommended swimming because the water provides proprioceptive feedback to the joints to help her realize where her joints are in space….  Ok…I'll get off my PT box now.  She is fine but will likely always have a bit of lack of coordination in the right leg verses the left leg….not necessarily noticeable to the untrained eye.  :)  

Maddox sitting on Aurora's lap next to Belle. 

Maddox and Priya dancing with Peter Pan and her shadow.  

Getting a good bye hug from Aurora. 

Kennon and I still enjoy our solo play time at the  museum during Maddox's dance lessons. This day it was all about the firetruck. 

We have been steadily adding spring/summer gear to our wardrobe as the weather will warm here shortly and we'll be off to Florida soon.  I ordered a big box of clothes for Maddox a couple of weeks ago. She enjoyed trying everything on and modeling it for me. 

Kennon got in on the action too. He got a new sun hat!! Ultimately this particular one went back to REI but we just had another one delivered that is a keeper. 

Wearing her new duds to school. 

Thanks to our new church providing a night of babysitting for free, Eric and I went out on a real date back around Valentine's day.  The kids had a grand time at the church and we enjoyed ourselves as well. So nice to have some alone time. We are really likely our new church and the kids are too.  We have plugged into some small groups and continue to meet people. 

Craft project!  February was a busy month with birthdays in our family. We sent out homemade butterflies to all the lucky birthday people. 

Priya and Maddox in a John Deere tractor wheel at Deere headquarters in Moline. 

All three kids in a loader 'scoop'…I'm CERTAIN there is a more technical term but darned if I know it…. anyone?? anyone??  …Bueller??…..Bueller??….  oh wait I"m here alone. 

We met Grandma Jean and Grandpa Jim on Grandma Jean's birthday at the mall in Coralville. We had a great time shopping, riding the carousel and playing at the indoor playground on this cold day!  What a perfect little get away on President's Day, since the kids didn't have school. Happy Birthday Grandma Jean! 

We are wanting to put up some curtains in our family room.  I decided to take Kennon to Target with me to see if I could find something. You can see he is definitely haven't more fun than I!!  I came home empty handed, while he sent the 30 minutes swinging around the curtain rods as if they were swords and playing hide-n-seek behind the display curtains. He was actually well behaved…!! If some of you are reading this and thinking 'that is well behaved??'..trust me…for my rambunctious, stubborn, active  three, almost four, year old….THAT IS!! :) 

We joined Lula, Leo and Arlo ( in the stroller in the background) at the Rock Island Botanical Center last Tuesday. They bring in a pretty large pile of sand and allow the kids to play play play!! It is pretty warm and sunny in the botanical center itself and there are ponds with fish and turtles to feed.  It almost felt like we were on the beach…but oh wait…then we left, chins tucked, into a freezing headwind to get back to our cars!!  Thank goodness it looks like it is going to warm up next week. The boys did a good job of sharing all the toys!! We love our playdates with the Heuer family. 

mmm…sorry..somehow got these out of order. Kennon is sitting up in the digger. 

Priya and Maddox in the Utility Vehicle….any guesses how much for this bad boy?? 

Carl, Priya's dad who is driving the kids in the gator, actually works in this building for Deere. He took us on our very own private tour of the headquarter building. So so so super cool. In the middle of the two buildings, named East and West, sits this fabulous botanical/garden area with all these beautiful trees and flowers!  Really cool to think we live this close to the hub of a major company like John Deere.  Go Green! 

Monday was March 2nd and Dr Seuess' birthday.  That means pajama day in the world of preschool!! The kids were so excited to go to school on Monday in their comfy PJs.  Can't say I blame them. 

Maddox sporting the leg warmers…those things have made a comeback haven't they? 

Maddox dancing with one of her new outfits on. 

We have dance parties in the family room almost daily.  Usually after dinner or after lunch to get the sillies out. 

Maddox didn't have school on Tuesday due to the ice so we filled the day with games, working on subtraction and addition with Maddox and name writing with Kennon. All in all a good day.  

Yesterday was peek week at dance class so we got the opportunity to see a bit of Maddox's dance routine.  She is doing pretty well just needs to get memorizing a bit. The tall, older gal she is standing next to is her helper. The cues in the background are being given by her official teacher. I know the videos are fussy when they get uploaded but hopefully you are able to see some of the routine. It is to a cute Winnie The Pooh song.  

Let's see what else.  If it seems longer since my last post, I think it has been.  Work is keeping me relatively busy doing chart audits from home. About 5-10 hours per week is what it averages out to be…which is just perfect!! However that usually eats up my blogging time.  I'm currently waiting for another batch of audits ( all the patients that fell at home AND went to the emergency room for evaluation or admission to the hospital) so I thought I'd quick get in another post. Tomorrow is Kindergarten round up for Maddox! We are so excited. She is too!! She'll get to go for a bus ride and meet all the Kindergarten teachers. Then afterwards she is going to Monkey Joe's for a birthday party!  A big day for Miss Maddox.  I just signed both Maddox and Kennon up for soccer this Spring as well as swim lessons at the Y.  And I'm already thinking about which summer camps they'll be attending, some through their current church preschool and some through the Bettendorf Parks and Recreation Organization…oh and the museum too.  There are a lot of good options out there.  It is best if I keep them in a routine of getting up and getting dressed and going for the day.  They loved most all of the camps we did last summer. 

Winter Fun

 This is Maddox's first official sentence.  She came home from school one day a couple of weeks ago telling me she could spell 'bat'.  So we went from there!!  She did a great job with very little prompting as she already knew the sight word 'the'.  This beautiful sentence now has a picture of a cat sitting on a mat to accompany it drawn by my little learner and has an award winning spot on our wall in the playroom :) Way to go Maddox. 

 Suck those smoothies...!! Smoothies you say in the cold winter....??  Eric and I are trying to eat a little healthier right now and have been swapping out sweets with yummy fruit filled smoothies. So far the kids love them.  Bring on more silly straws….and maybe a new blender…ours bit the dust tonight:(    

 My little helper!! Most Tuesday and Thursday mornings, while Maddox is at school,  Kennon and I run errands. He is generally pleasant and happy to join me. I even get him to help me carry in the goods from our excursions.  It's sad to think this fall I won't have anyone to keep me company on my errands. 

 The second weekend in January Davenport held its annual ice festival.  They hire a world renown ice sculptor to carve several ice sculptures and place them along the Davenport riverfront. Add some kids' crafts, cookie decorating, story telling, and music and you've got yourself a great morning activity. The kids enjoyed themselves and the ice sculptures were amazing. 

 Decorating cookies from one of Maddox and I's favorite bakeries, Oh So Sweet. 

 Kennon standing behind one of the ice sculptures. 

 This was the biggest and main attraction!! It was amazing.  You could actually go up and sit in the throne. HUGE. 

The ice sculptor is the dude in the maroon jacket. Apparently he lives in New Orleans, Louisiana...!! Odd eh' for an ice sculptor?? But, I guess he has a huge freezer.... ha ha!!  :) He actually has a huge building that is kept at a cold temp that he practices in and houses his sculptures/ice blocks before shipping them out across the country. 

 One of the sculptures just before the unveiling. 

 Eskimo Maddox with penguin brother Kennon

 Maddox and Kennon as taste testers for Carter's ninja turtle birthday cupcakes.

 Maddox trying on her dance costume. Just in case you couldn't tell she is a bumblebee!!  ;)  They are dancing to a song from Winnie the Pooh.  She is very excited and her dance skills have improved greatly since the start of the year.  We are anxious for her recital on  Saturday May 30th. 

 Kennon and Lula sitting on a John Deere tractor at the John Deere Pavilion in Moline.  Lula is the 1 year old daughter of one of my good friends and we try to get the kids together at least one time each week.

 Carter, Maddox, and Kennon having Carter's birthday dinner at Grandma Jean and Grandpa Jim's. 

 Maddox getting her snuggles in with baby Cashin. Now that Cashin has developed great head control Maddox does a really good job of holding him on her own.  She sure loves her babies. 

 Maddox, Cashin, and Reid....could that be any cuter...??  

 Yep!!....add another dark eyed Knowles boy and we achieve super cuteness! 

 And wait...add a blue eyed light brown haired Kies boy and we have achieved the ultimate cuteness.... Love these kiddos!!  And...!! They are all looking at the camera :)  well I guess Cashin isn't but we'll cut him some slack since he probably can't see the camera yet!! 

 Kennon a.k.a  Captain America and Maddox enjoying their Ninja cupcakes 

 So a friend of mine whipped up these adorable turtle hats in like 24 hours after she found out we were headed to a turtle party.  I think they are absolutely adorable...and you'll see in some pictures below that my kiddos keep requesting to wear them.... 

 Ok...now we are back to struggling to get everyone to look at the camera :) 

 Last Monday the kids didn't have school since we got 14 inches of snow on Superbowl Sunday.  The house was starting to get a bit small so we broke out the paper mache.  The kids enjoyed it and were excited to POP their balloon after the glue had dried. I made a crucial mistake and didn't apply a good layer of newspaper before the tissue paper. Ooops. So basically the balloon stuck to the tissue paper and sucked the pretty eggs in as it shrunk...which still worked out to be a pretty cool 'trick' as I called it. 

 This past week I got to spend some time with the Knowles family in Waunakee. Tyler was on a trip down in Florida for work, so I thought I'd head up and lend an extra set of hands.  Luckily Eric was able to take a couple of days off of work to stay home with Maddox and Kennon and keep our ship a float.  I had a great time playing hide and seek with the boys, taking Carter to school, doing puzzles and games, and getting in extra long snuggles with Cashin and Reid. Eric got in some extra special time with Maddox and Kennon taking them to the museum and out for lunch and playing in the snow in the warm temps. I think it was a 'win win' for everyone. 

 Cashin and I snuggling while Brooke was outside playing in the snow with the big kids. 

 I took advantage of being in the big city of Madison and stopped by REI.  I picked up some new board shorts and swim shirt for KTK.  Most of you know ( everybody but Maddox and Kennon) we are headed to Florida to the beach later this Spring!!  I am so excited.  I ordered Maddox a new suit from a company out of England :)  Excited for it to arrive.  I figured we needed some new gear for this vacation. ....the kids' first experience in the white sand. 

 Man has it been warm this weekend :) !! Maddox and Kennon have been outside everyday since Friday.  Friday they built a snowman with Eric, yesterday they shoveled and cleaned up the driveway a bit from all the snow last week ( Kennon loves to dig!) and had Eric pull them around on the sled and then today they built a fort.  Sunglasses and lightweight hats were needed today it was so warm. 

So let's see what else is going on….  We just got back from church….our new church that is.  We left Adventure, the church we got married in, in December and have been on the hunt for a new church home ever since. But, cha ching…I think we've found one:)  It is called Heritage and we are really enjoying getting plugged in. Tonight we attended the first of 6 weeks of a marriage class called imarriage and it was really good and the best part…childcare was provided!  A LOT of the classes at Heritage provide childcare which is right up our alley.  Kids Are A Big Deal at Heritage..and I write that with capitals because that is their slogan for kids.  They have a ton of kids activities and marriage empowering classes.  Your kids are only as strong as your marriage and it is apparent this is one of Heritage's philosophies.  Tuesday night the kids will go to Awana for the first time…a bible study designed for children ages 2- 6th grade.  And then Friday the youth group is putting on a Christ Fit Kids Night out/Date Night.  So Eric and I get a date night and the kids get dinner, a workout, and a Christ centered fun night.  The kids REALLY love to go to Heritage which we are so excited about. It certainly doesn't hurt that the church has a jungle gym and a bouncy house right in the lobby!!  But I"m really impressed with the curriculum they use for the kids' teachings and there are lots of home applications facilitated through an app for the iPhone. We'll see where the Heritage path leads us.  

Maddox has not only started writing sentences, she started reading the last couple of weeks!  I have a great video of her but am having trouble uploading it.  She is quickly learning sight words through Bob's books and seems to be enjoying it.  We had her conference at preschool last week and she is right on track if not a bit ahead educationally but does need to work on her social skills a bit….primarily on compassion and kindness. 

I am working quite a bit.  At the start of the year my boss emailed asking me if I'd take on a bit of permanent work.  I was happy to get his email!!  It is all still from home, from the comforts of my couch, and doesn't have extreme deadlines so it fits the kids' nap schedules perfectly.  I end up doing about 5-10 hours per week which is just about perfect. 

Reid going down the slide at the park.  I was a bit surprised when he decided to go backwards for the first time. He had been going just 'regular style' up until I started filming!!  It was belly first after that…he was having so much fun. 

We have been playing the Wii a ton since Papa Dick got us some new games.  This basketball game is on the Wii Resort Sports disc which also has a wake board and canoe game!! They are so fun.  I was wake boarding with Maddox yesterday and broke a sweat. Such a great physical activity during the winter months. But the kids don't even know it, they are having so much fun. Sorry I just realized this video is sideways.