Thursday, January 30, 2014

He's Here!

Reuben Jay Flamm was born on January 14th (9 days early, good boy!).  He weighed 8 pounds and was 19 inches long.  Here are some quick phone pictures.  I will add better pictures and the story someday when I have more time!!!


Phone Pictures

Here are some random phone pictures that I forgot to post from 2013.

Mommy and Adeline - March 2013
Adeline is wearing a hair clip for the first time; it stayed in for a whole 2 or 3 minutes before she ripped it out!

Peter built a P out of pipes at the Children's Discovery Center in Hammond.
March 2013

Rigby playing with the train at the Children's Discovery Center in Hammond.
March 2013

Adeline playing with an Easter egg. 
April 2013

Rigby petting a tortoise at a birthday party.
June 2013

Adeline riding a tortoise at a birthday party.
June 2013

Peter built this castle at his back to school night.
September 2013

Adeline - September 2013

This was Peter's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip (October 2013) that I was able to go on with him.  
Marcus, Peter, Kalon, Alfonso

Giant Trampoline

Tire-Horse Zip Line

Tractor-Cow Ride

Adeline kept opening and shutting my door one morning, so I asked Rigby to put the vacuum cleaner in front of it so she could not move it.  Instead he decided it would be easier for him to lay in front of the door, and he ended up falling asleep.
November 2013


Here I am at 34 weeks with Reuben (December 2013).  Proof that I carry crazy high and the baby crushes my lungs making it really hard to breath!  Good thing I love you my kid-o's!

Peter was chosen as the "Terrific Kid" in his class for December (2013).  He got a pencil, certificate, and badge.  Parents were able to come and eat donuts with the terrific kids for breakfast.

Peter and Mommy

Adeline, Peter and Rigby

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Top Ten Memorable Holiday Events

#10 ER Visit
Rigby got strep throat (the kind that causes scarlet fever) over Christmas break.  We thought it was just a virus until Saturday night when all of the urgent cares and doctor's offices were closed, so we got to enjoy a few hours at the ER.  The poor boy got a penicillin shot, but it helped him feel better in no time. 
  
#9 Potty Training
I would call potty training a memorable event, but not an enjoyable one.  This is the 3rd attempt at potty training with Rigby.  The first two attempts lasted for one day each with a 90% miss rate and a 10% success rate.  Take three has been more like a 50% miss rate and 50% success rate; so, it is slowly getting better.  I wish it was done, but we are still working hard to make it to the toilet.  Here is our potty training recipe:

One darn cute, almost 4 year old.

A sticker chart and tray of treats for each success.
(not the entire tray, just one slot each time:)

The "Wheel of Fun" for each sticker chart completed.  
It includes piggy back rides, dancing, stamps, playing ball, frog jumping contest, reading a book, paper airplane contest, and swinging (or target practice with nerf guns if it is raining).  The boys LOVE the wheel of fun.  I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Miss Adeline decided to join in the potty training fun the other day by wearing the toilet seat ring.  This is super silly/nasty/cute little girl!

#8 Sleeping
Ahhh, glorious sleep!  I am going to miss sleeping late in the mornings!


 


#7 Decorating the Tree
I love seeing the kids get excited about the Christmas tree.  However, I hate playing the "ornaments all over the house game."  Peter is old enough to leave them alone, but Rigby and Adeline had the game down pat.  Rigby would take them off and play with them in one location while Adeline would take them from that one location and leave them ALL OVER the house.  Being 8 months pregnant, I struggle to pick things up off the floor, so half of the ornaments ended up on the top half of the tree and the other half ended up in a ziploc bag.  They did love it though, so it was worth all of the hassle.  Peter loved putting up the ornaments he made at school, Adeline loved turning on the lights, and Rigby cried when we took the tree down.  Christmas is so exciting with little kids!




Ugh. I am looking forward to Reuben vacating my body so I can lose the swollen-face and acne look!

Here is Miss Adeline earnestly talking with me about something important. 

#6  Target Practice
Santa Claus gave the boys Nerf guns for Christmas.  After testing them out, we realized that they are still a little young for Nerf guns, so they have become a "Daddy & Boys Activity."

Their target was the Grinch:

I LOVE Peter's goofy/focused face in this picture.  This gun was hard to pump, so the boys needed Scott to help them pump it inbetween each shot.

Rigby is such a daddy's boy.  I love this picture of them together.

Playing dress-up and transformers at the same time.  That would be our Little Miss Adeline!

#5 Holiday Traditions
For this reason I LOVE staying home for Christmas/New Years.  Here are some traditions we have been able to establish over the past couple of years:
  • Scripture Advent Calendar during December
  • Christmas Eve Dinner:  Bruschetta (super easy, my kind of cooking!)
  • Traditional Stocking Stuffers:  Lindt Milk Chocolate Truffles, orange, & fortune cookies
  • New Year's Eve Dinner:  Cheese, Crackers & Sparkling Cider
  • New Year Time Capsules:  list of favorites & memorable events from the past year; list of at least one goal for the new year; ribbons cut to each kids' height & hand cut outs for comparison to next year
#4 Christmas Morning

Two excited boys and one VERY grumpy little girl.

The only way we could keep her happy was by letting her snuggle with Mommy while unwrapping gifts.

Peter was an unwrapping maniac.
 

Rigby looks unhappy, but this is just his "focused look" or what I call his "furrowed brow look."

 

Peter's Favorites:  Bumblebee Transformer & Angry Bird Game from Gma & Gpa Flamm

Rigby's Favorites: Angry Bird Game from Gma & Gpa Flamm & Blister, the dino/helicopter transformer (the most fought over toy by all three children)
 

I would have chosen her dang cute Melissa & Doug dress-up skirts to be her favorite, but she had other ideas.

Adeline's Favorites:  She really likes her Minnie Mouse Toothbrush Holder/Cup & her picnic basket from Gma & Gpa Stewart & Aunt Marissa


Rachel's Favorites:  Scott let me order a panoramic picture of the Tetons for which he will build a picture frame.  He also made me a topaz pendant.  He made me the same topaz pendant our 1st Christmas after we were married, but I lost it a few years ago.  I have the most thoughtful hubby!

Family Favorite:  Baby Reuben coming soon & family coming to visit in April for Reuben's blessing!

#3 Skyping with Grandparents/Family
We are so thankful for the technology to share a little bit of Christmas with our families.  Wish we could be there with everyone.  We love and miss you all!

#2 Spending Time Together as a Family
No school for Peter and no work for Scott for two entire weeks!!!  All of us have needed and enjoyed having fun together as a family.  We have gone to Chick-fil-a a couple of times, ate out at Outback Steakhouse (thanks for the gift card Mom & Dad), played games, watched movies, taken a walk, played outside, relaxed, etc.   

#1 Remembering Christ 
As always this should be number one on the list.  This year as a family, we looked up a scripture about Christ each night, talked about it, and glued on a piece of our nativity puzzle.  The kids loved doing the puzzle and hopefully they got something out of the scriptures.  My goal is to do even better next year on a family and personal level.  Here is the Scripture Advent Calendar/Puzzle we did this Christmas:



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!