The Beat Box Boy

If you have small kids you might know that a new Electric Company just started on PBS. There's a lot of rapping and beat boxing. Sebastian has started to copy this and I had to get it on video.

The Pajama Party

Today was The Pajama Party in Kindergarten today. We have lots of really cute pj's for her to wear. Oh no, she pics the oldest, most worn out pj top that we have. Of course I couldn't convince her to wear a nicer pair so she went to school in them. As I got the camera out this morning to take a pic of Alexandra, the boys had to get into the act as well. I mean they were still in their pj's too.

Things heard in the Erbe house

I am just amazed at the things that are said here on a daily basis:

Sebastian wants to hug and kiss me everyday now before I leave. So he yells as we are leaving "Mommy, don't go. I have to kiss and hug you." So I wait, and kiss and hug him. Atticus comes and says" Mommy don't go. Kiss and hug." So I kiss and hug him and then he says very dramatically, "Go".

Alexandra asked me if she could get a frisbee at the coffee shop. I couldn't quite figure out what she was talking about. She meant slurpee.

Atticus is looking out the window and says he sees Daddy. Alexandra says that's not daddy, that's just some boring kids walking down the sidewalk.

I mentioned that I was going to get some medicine and Atticus lines up in front of me, like to get his ration. Also whenever I get the medicine, each of the kids sniffles and coughs. Sebastian will even say in a loud voice, Mommy I have a cough. I need medicine.

Horsing around

The twin mom's are hosting a contest over at 5minutesformom.com that's all focused around horsing around. Alexandra and I were bored one evening and so we used the camera to show off our silly side. Sebastian got into the act too with the kiss on the cheek. When Sebastian kisses, it's serious business.

Oh the wonderful world of Erbe's

A lot has been rattling around in my brain lately. The boys were sick this last week and I got it too. When you are in bed, you have a lot of time to think. I believe that although the decision to work part-time outside the home was a tough one, it was the best for me and our family. I'm liking what I'm doing and it charges me to be more productive with the kids. Alexandra has had a hard time adjusting to me not picking her up. I'm still doing afternoons at wayfm and that's going good. I'm enjoying using that gift. It gives me another good outlet. Every day I'm home in the afternoon with the kids. I've cut rest time to 1/2 hour for Alexandra and Sebastian so I can spend more time with them one on one. Atticus is still napping but I've cut it down to about 1 1/2 hours so that he'll go to bed better. We're finally getting into the new routine and the kids are doing good. I'm glad that I've never had the feeling that something is beneath me. I've also realized that the kids have taught me a lot in these last 5 years. They've taught me to be more patient and how to give more grace than I ever thought I could. I also don't mind interruptions as much. I mean come on with 3 kids 5 and under my life is one big interruption. I mean some days it takes me 20 minutes to do a sink full of dishes cause someone needs something or someone is hitting someone else. I've also grown to appreciate the little things, like a 5 year old who can carry her bowl to the sink without spilling it. I've gained so much from these three little people. I didn't realize it until I got back out in the world. I think that is pretty cool.

A busy day

I was wishing and hoping for a snow day today and I got one. I scheduled Sebastian's 4 year well child visit today and depending on how long it took I would have been late picking up Alexandra from School. It was good that she went with us because she got her flu mist along with the boys. The flu mist was pretty cool. To be honest I don't think I would have done the flu shots because they were shots. Sebastian did need 4 Immunizations so that's why I didn't want him to have another shot. We got home and I pulled the snow blower into the back room to try and get the belt back on it so I could clean out the driveway before we get more snow tonight. I have to admit, it was hard but I did get it. So, after the kids finish watching Arthur on PBS I'm gonna go try it and see if I got it right or not. It always makes me feel good when I can accomplish something like this because it's not a skill that comes natural. I'll update later to let you know if I did indeed get it fixed.j

Things heard in the Erbe house today

While making Brownies today, Alexandra says to Sebastian " I've been doing this for a long time, so I know how to do this very well." Remember she's 5.

Atticus says to me while I'm changing his dirty diaper, "Hi, Mommy". I reply, "Hi Attiucs". "Love you, Mommy". Just what you need to hear when you are changing a dirty diaper.

Sebastian comes down stairs after getting his jammies on and all his buttons are buttoned. I asked if he did it all by himself and he replied "No, my doggie did it." We don't have a dog.

No Hair?

Tonight the kids wanted to look at pictures of themselves as babies. I have all my pics on Snapfish.com so I pulled them up. Atticus was very uninterested but Alexandra and Sebastian were taken by the numerous pictures I have of them. We looked at Sebastian first and I showed him the pic of him in the cradle weigher (the one shown here) and he said, "Oh no, I have no hair". He was so serious, I start crying just thinking about it cause it was so funny. It was like he was disappointed and he just didn't seem like it was right that he didn't have hair. Some of the things he says are funny but also the seriousness of how he says them is so funny. It's hard to relate that but hopefully you get it.

A little crafty boy

And I don't mean crafty like doing art projects. Last night I was reading Sebastian a book and he started to pick his nose. I asked if he needed a tissue, he said no. I kept reading. He started to pick it again. I told him that we don't pick our nose. He stopped and I kept reading. Then he said he needed to get off the bed. I asked him why, his response, "I need to go away and pick my nose". I laughed so hard. He thought if I couldn't see him do it, I wouldn't be able to stop him. Now that's thinking....

4 years ago today....

Sebastian was born....I can't believe it's been 4 years already. I remember we had a scheduled C-section and it was late in the day. We went and saw the movie "Meet the parents" and I couldn't eat anything all day long. We got bumped to later after we got to the hospital because of an emergency C-section. Everything went well with his birth and with my recovery. He was a fairly easy baby, he adapted to our schedule very well. I just loved those chubby cheeks. He's really leaned out now and looks more like a little boy and not a toddler anymore.

Here he is with Uncle Charlie last weekend.

Our mini-vacation

We decided since Paul was off for a long period of time, we would take a little mini-vacation to a local indoor water park. We decided on Safari Joe's in Watervliet. I wondered if the kids would enjoy it since most of the time those places are really for older kids. I was surprised to find that they had a little kids area that had three slides and a lot of space for them to swim around. They also had a lazy river that Sebastian fell into and had to be pulled out of since the water was over his head. They also had two really big slides that Paul and I enjoyed while the other watched the kids. It was a lot of fun. Sleeping was a trip trying to have all three kids in one queen bed. We moved Atticus to our bed which caused him to through a fit for about 20 min and then once he got to sleep he slept for about 1 hour and then woke up in a state of half asleep and half awake. It took me a little bit but I got him settled down. People who travel a lot must have a lot more patience than me, they must have a lot more energy too. It was a lot of work to be gone for only about 24 hours. While we were gone, My Step mom and brothers came and ripped up our carpeting, moved all our stuff out and then had carpet installers come and install new carpet for us for Christmas.

It is so nice and we are so thankful for it!

A bittersweet day

Today was the last day of OT for Sebastian. You would think I would be so excited and in a way I am because Sebastian has made so many strides since we started with Joanne almost a year and a half ago. But it's actually pretty bitter sweet. I told her today that without her I'm not sure where I would be and I'm scared to even think about where Sebastian would be. When we started with Joanne, he wasn't really talking, he couldn't jump, kick a ball or ride a bike. Now he cracks us up with his comments and the questions he asks us. He also can kick a ball, ride a bike and we have to ask him to stop jumping so hard on the floor around the house. I'm not sure where I would be because I think the therapy was more for me than Sebastian. I pelted her with questions ever week. Like, "this is what he is doing in this situation, what can I do for that?". She would give me very practical ideas on how to work those things into our routine. She helped me to unlock Sebastian for me. I will be forever grateful!

The Cookie Makers

I decided to have the kids help me bake and decorate gingerbread cookies.
Although they had a great time, they did more eating then decorating.

A morning at the Beach

I think Alexandra wanted to counter balance the fact that it was freezing and cold outside by putting on her bathing suit and pretending her room was a pool. Sebastian followed "suit" (pun intended) a little while later. Atticus was really the only safe one with his warm footed pj's on.

Sebastian's Preschool Program

We braved the weather Friday morning to get to Sebastian's Preschool Program. After you watch it you'll see that it was well worth it. It was quite entertaining.

Can you tell Christmas is coming...They are crazy!

I'm not sure what is into these kids lately. Maybe the prospect of Christmas or how about not being able to go outside much. Whatever it is, it's crazy!

Growing up

Sebastian has been going through this phase where he wants me to be with him all the time. Tonight I was heading out with a friend tonight and Sebastian started to whine that he wanted to go with me. I told him that this was only for Mommies and that even Daddy couldn't go. Alexandra walks in and says to me, Mom he's not even a woman yet! Paul and I laughed so hard. Then Sebastian says, Mommy I want to be a woman. I laughed and said, honey you'll never be a woman, you'll be a man though one day. I smiled at Alexandra and told her good job knowing that you had to be a woman before you could be a Mommy! She smiled back.

Christmas Cheer thanks to Alexandra

Again, I find this hilarious.

Typical in the Erbe House

I witnessed this and had a hard time holding back my laughter. Thank God He gave me these kids. They are hilarious.

A return

Well, it's been a while and for good reason. About 2 months ago my mom's sister was put in the hospital and they determined she had cancer and some liver problems. After three weeks in the hospital, she spent 1 week at a hospice facility and then passed. I had the awesome opportunity to spend a lot of time with her and speak to her about spiritual things. I was with her almost every day and it was quite a journey. After that Paul and I were able to serve at her memorial service in hopes of bringing hope to those she left behind. Just after we made it through that a good friend of mine lost her daughter tragically. I think as a mom you think about being in her shoes and how she might feel but we really can't imagine. I also am back at WaYfm. I'm covering afternoons until they can find a full time person to do it. Things at the preschool are good but our next meeting with the licensing agent is coming up in Feb. I'm still working at the school and hanging in there until we hear about our property transfer request with the state. Whew...It's been a crazy couple of months. The kids are all good. We'll be ending Sebastian's therapy the end of this month. I feel good about that decision and Sebastian is doing awesome. Hopefully things at home and on the blog will get back to normal now, well whatever that is!