Dentist pictures + 1 cousin:)

Kaarin & Esther - cousins who are about 5 weeks apart in age!

Kaarin just got to lay on the dentist's lap.:)

Annika, doing a great job at the dentist!

Kellen finishing his cleaning.

Doctors and Dentists

The kids went in last week for their 6 month dental exams. It didn't go as well as their first exams because:
1) Annika had to get x-rays since she hadn't last time (she wasn't 3), but I didn't know this & had not prepared her for it;
2) Annika had wanted Kellen to go first, but since he had x-rays last time, she had to go first;
3) The dental hygienist poked Kellen's tongue with the electric toothbrush while brushing his teeth, so he didn't want her to finish -- but he did eventually let her;
4) Annika wasn't nearly as gung-ho to get into the chair after Kellen - she is wiser now;
5) Kellen had 2 cavities.:(

Kaarin also got a check-up, & she did great.:) After the appt., we went to get a Little Caesar's pizza & Toy Story 3 from Redbox. That is what we did last time, so it will probably become our 'tradition.' Overall the kids did great, but it was not with as much excitement as last time.

Then, the next day, we headed back to the Dr. for a check-up for everybody due to lingering colds & coughs (coughs that were inducing vomit). Turns out Annika had a double ear infection!!:( Poor baby. Antibiotics are helping her feel better.:) The other 2 were fine, but good to know.

2nd Santa attempt

Kellen did this puzzle completely by himself - no one helped him! It's 60 pieces! And, he hadn't done it with help since he got it for his birthday in July. Great job!

The girls are playing "nigh-nigh." :) Doesn't Kaarin look cozy?

Our 2nd attempt for a picture with Santa...Kellen refused to get out of the stroller. We get one more chance, when we go pick up the picture (next week) they will do a retake for free. Watch for an update...;)

Last night we went to Barnes & Noble because they were celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Polar Express. They were going to read the book, have hot chocolate & cookies, Christmas crafts, etc. It was a BIG disappointment.:( The gal who read the book was a terrible reader, had obviously not brushed up on the book, & was extremely hard to hear. Plus she didn't do a very good job of showing the pictures. Then, they brought out the hot chocolate about 3 pages into the book, so she decided to take a break for hot chocolate. Not really a good idea when you have 25 1-7 year olds already sitting nicely...she should have just finished the book. Anyway, my kids didn't really sit for it, but mostly because I led them astray.:) Kellen went to play trains & the girls looked at books & loved on stuffed animals.:) Well, mostly Kaarin did that.:) The 'Christmas crafts' that they had were coloring Christmas dittos. No thanks. The only thing that was great was they gave each child a 'polar express' bell. The kids were VERY excited about that.:) But everything else was a bust.

And our 2nd attempt at Santa didn't go very well either. Apparently we only have 2 children this Christmas.:) Kellen flat out refused to get out of the stroller, & totally freaked out if I tried to move the stroller closer. Not even the bribe of a present from Santa could lure him there. Hmmmm. It may have helped if I had known that he was sick (he'd had a runny nose, but after his nap that day he had a fever of 101), we probably would have gone a different day. We have one more chance: when we pick up the pictures we can do a retake - AND go straight to the front of the line!:) I don't think it will matter, he already has his mind set against it. But I am always willing to try!;)

Well child exams

I took the girls in for their well child exams yesterday. Kellen was supposed to be at school, but he had been running a small fever (101) the day before, & they wanted him to be fever-free for 24 hours before he came back, so he was with us too. Annika kept telling me, "I don't want to have a check-up." I would then tell her that it was not a choice, & then she would say, "No, thank you." Ha. Sorry, you still have to go. So here are their stats:

Annika, 3 yrs. old: 40 inches tall, 30 pounds (EXACTLY the same as Kellen at age 3)
Kaarin, 19 months old: 31.25 inches tall, 19 pounds. Runt.

Annika & Kaarin each got one shot, & we decided to give Annika's first so that she wouldn't see Kaarin cry & then not want to have it. So, she got her shot & CRIED & WAILED & went on & on. Kaarin got her shot, said, "Oooowwwww." Then went on her way.:) Too funny.

*A little side note -- Annika is still doing AWESOME without her binky. We are so proud of her! And SO HAPPY to be binky-free!:)*

Updates

Christmas program at school - Kellen is a modern-day shepherd.;)

Apple Cup 2010...Huskies won, so they will wear these shirts again next year.:(

Annika's first day with no more binkies! She is resourceful!

Updates:

Annika: We had decided that Annika would give up her binkies when she turned 3, since they were starting to be a hindrance to her, & she wouldn't leave them alone & only use them for sleeping. We came up with the idea that she would give them to a baby, since she is now a 'big girl' at 3. We have been talking about it for a few weeks, & at first she was really excited! I think 2 things happened: 1) she thought she'd feel different when she turned 3, meaning she was now a big girl; 2) reality hit when she actually turned 3, that now she was going to have to give them up! I finally talked to a friend with a baby who said we could bring them over & we set a date to do it (today). I told Annika that we were going to give her binkies to Baby Sophie, & she said, "No, I want to give them to the baby where I jumped." Huh?! I finally figured out that one of the places we had the conversation about giving the binkies to a baby was at our small group, where there is a very little baby who was crying & needing his binky, & then later Annika went out & jumped on the trampoline.:) So we decided to split the binkies between Baby Sophie & Baby Aaron.:) Last night we put them all in a box, & today we delivered them! She did AWESOME! We celebrated by going to McDonald's afterwards. At nap time she did cry for her binky, but if you see the picture above she figured something out.:) I don't think she'll use her fingers as much as she used her binky, so I'm not too worried about it. YAY, ANNIKA!!!! ( I am SO glad to be rid of binkies!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you have any of ours at your house, throw them away immediately!;) )

Kellen: Kellen had his school Christmas program last night. He did well. He did not want to wear a costume, but he went up on stage with his class. He didn't sing either, but at least he was up there - & we did see him almost crack a smile a few times.:) Maybe he was just laughing at his friends who were dressed like shepherds & angels, or maybe he actually was having a bit of fun. Who knows, but I'm just glad he didn't freak out about the whole thing! He is doing more & more at school each week. His goal is more peer interactions, & last week he threw a ball back & forth with a friend, played in the sandbox, & also moved away from the art table (BIG deal) to play with legos & make a collage. He is moving right along. Another year of pre-school will be a plus for him

Kaarin: Kaarin may very well be our 'ham.' I think every family has to have one, right? She is so funny.:) We were at K-mart the other day, playing in the toy dept. They had a 'Dance Party Mickey Mouse' that played music & moved its arms & legs to 'dance.' She kept pushing the button, & DANCING along with Mickey! It was hilarious. I wished I'd had a video camera! Maybe she's on closed-circuit K-mart video.:) She is getting very independent, & really wants to do a lot more by herself. She also wants to do what Kellen & Annika are doing. Her favorite words are 'hi' & 'bye.' She says this to everyone she passes!:) Kellen even said to me yesterday: "Kaarin says hi a lot." :) She cracks us up.:)

Another funny

Today we were getting ready to go pick Kellen up from school, & after that we were going to go see Santa. Annika was wearing a red/black/white plaid skirt (which she didn't want to wear) & started putting on her pink floral tennis shoes. I told her to put on her black shoes because they matched better & she said, "Miss Kathi (Kellen's teacher) love these shoes, that why I want to wear them." :) Miss Kathi has told Annika how much she loves those shoes & that she wishes she had some just like it. Cute.:)

As you can see in the photo below, our visit to Santa was not a success. Kellen refused to get out of the stroller, even after the promise of a treat. Annika was ready to go & she got her candy cane. Kaarin just looked at me & CRIED. Hard. I think we'll try again next week on a day that Kellen doesn't have school so that we can go earlier. I will also think about wrapping up a small gift for each of them for Santa to give to them if they cooperate. That might be more enticing than a treat.

More pictures

Chasing in the snow

Tacoma Children's Museum

Children's Museum

Our first attempt at a photo with Santa - Annika was the only one who cooperated. We'll try again next week.:) Kellen told me that he didn't want to see Santa today because he hadn't decided what to ask Santa for for Christmas. Good reason, I guess. Kaarin just CRIED.

Fallin' in the leaves.:)

Birthday photos

Birthday ice cream.:)

Lite Brite!

Her presents.

Happy Girl at Charlie's Safari!

At her birthday party.:)

Kid funnies

A couple of funny kid things:

Mommy: "Annika, come here & let me comb your hair."
Annika: "Why? I beautiful."

Tonight I was reading Kaarin stories before bed, & she was tooting up a storm.:) Finally I said to her, "Kaarin, where are all these tooties coming from?!" She pointed to her bottom & said, "Der!" LOL.

We rode the Light Rail to the Tacoma Children's Museum today, & then walked down to the Learning Sprout toy store (we had some make-a-plates to pick up, & Annika has some birthday $$ to spend). We ran out of time today, but we will go back when we have more time to play. Anyway, Annika was so cute: she got the kid-sized shopping cart, put the things that she wanted into the cart, wheeled it around the store, then when it was time, she wheeled it up to the counter, took her things out & put them up on the counter to pay.:)

Kaarin is starting to be a bit of a pain to take grocery shopping - she is small enough that she can slither out of the buckle in the cart, & then she thinks she can get out (she has already fallen out once!!:( ). When we get to the check out I let her get out & she & Annika help me put the stuff on the belt. Then she likes to look at all the candy, which of course is right at her level. She takes on in each hand & then takes off running down the store, as if she can get away, they're hers to eat. LOL.

Kellen is totally in to legos these days (the little tiny ones) & is getting really good at building things all on his own! He builds diggers & dump trucks & cranes...without any help at all! I am amazed. He is 100x better at building than I am.