Rolling...

Lil miss Ivy Dawn decided it's finally time to start rolling over. I can't believe it. AND I missed it! I am so bummed...atleast Daddy isn't too upset with me cuz he missed it too so now we both missed it because I ran outside for a sec to get something from a lady dealing with cub scouts and I come back in to see lil girl laying on her tummy SMILING! I couldn't believe it!!!! And now she won't stop rolling!!! She's getting way to big way too fast!!!!

Right on par...

We started lil miss on some Rice cereal on Sunday night. She had not been too satified with her milk so we thought we would try some. 1 TBSP in her 6oz bottle but boy does it make a difference. AND she loves it! She slams the bottle in about 4 min. now I think (well, those 2 anyway!) She's doing so great with it too! And, it's right on par with how the boys were...Right around 3 months. Crazy how alike but different siblings are!!! But she's doing fantastic!!! So, smiley and happy!! She's a good girl!!!

Apple Picking

What a great day today turned out to be!!! We took the kids apple picking! We had stumbled across an apple farm (Falcone Farms) the other day visiting friends, and since the place we typically go apple picking at lost a lot of their crop due to this years weather, we wanted to check it out! So, Sara kindly got us the info...(Thanks again!!!) And off we went...It was the best!!! The kids had so much fun!! We will definately go back again! In fact in a couple weeks, we plan on going back to pick our own grapes! Anyway, Here's a couple pics!

Apples

Dad Dollars

This has been the best chore chart ever I think!!! My kids LOVE it! As do we!!!!! I actually got the idea from a family fun magazine. And then I just ran with it! Here's the deal...we made 'Dad Dollars' on the computer with Tim's face in the middle!!! Then, I got a the biggest dry erase board I could find and then came up with a chart. It was some trial and error coming up with the right way to get everything to fit on it but I finally got it!!! I wrote out Eric's chores (age 6) and Alex's chores (age "almost' 3) , Overtime, and Mom's Market!

The way we do it hear (because I am not a morning person so I don't want Eric getting up and trying to do a ton of chores to earn Dad Dollars lol) They can earn $2 each in the morning by doing their morning chores and then $2 each in the evening by doing their evening chores. I don't remind them to do their chores either! And they are pretty basic (I don't want to make them not enjoy things either! But I will add more to their daily chores as they get older and what not) But they each have their own "Bank" (an envelope) and every morning (and evening) I just put their $2 on top of their envelope and lay it on the kitchen Island, They see it there and usually have already completed their chores therefore the money is theirs!

We also added in "Overtime" So, they can earn more money since the max a day they get are $4 from their regular chores. Overtime for instance If Eric reads to Alex he gets $1, if Alex listens to Eric's story he gets $1. Take out the garbage from the bathroom $1 each room. Vaccum living room $5. But they must finish their regular chores in order to do Overtime!!!

Then, there's the "Mom's Market" Where I made up some things that they can get if they give me some money. For example, Pop with dinner $3, Have a friend sleep over $25, Go to Chuckee Cheese $30, Have a movie night $8, Go to the movies $30.
If one child wants a movie night only the one child has to pay altho my boys wanted a movie night the other night and decided to split the cost so it was $4 each! I was pretty proud!!! \

O and each Dad Dollar is worth 10 cents. So, they have to give me $10 Dad Dollars for $1 real money!!!

I am completely loving this concept! It is teaching my boys so much already! Counting money, saving money, responesabilty, independence, and so much more!! Plus it's making it so it doesn't cost Tim and I so much money! Instead of shelling out real money each week or whatever It's only occasionally! It's so much nicer on our wallet that's for sure!!! And the kids just LOVE this!!!

Ivy's 3 months pics

These are the best pictures I swear they were taking Kate Golden and they are super!!! I am so in love with them! I have a couple more but gotta figure out how to share but just had to brag about how adorable my baby girl is and what a great photographer Kate is!!!! Thanks again Kate!!!!
http://agoldentouch.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/three-months-a-golden-touch-photography/

3 Months Old

Hard to believe my baby girl is 3 months old today!!! Seems like the time is just flying by way too quickly!!!!! She's growing great and getting bigger!! She is so close to rolling over now too!!! I just love my lil love bug!!!

FOOTBALL!!!

Monday night football started tonight! Bills vs Patriots. All three kiddos are dressed for the occasion!!!

Getting ready for FOOTBALL!!! GO BILLS!!!

Chilling and watching the bills with Daddy!

Football knocked her out!!!

Ivy's Cardiologist Update

Well, we had her cardiologist follow-up apt. yesterday. I was very hopeful going in as the ped. doctors said they couldn't hear the murmur anymore. (but we did see a different doctor last time, from now on we are only going to see Dr. Kita) Anyway, we go and the Cardiologist...Dr. Menon listens to her and his words were....."I don't think I hear it." and then "No, it's not there" So, me....I'm about to burst I'm so happy but we have to get an EKG and another Echo done again to see for sure. Ivy did so great!!! She was just laying there talking to me and she was helping the tech use the sonogram thing. she was so cute!!! I was so proud of her, she never once cried or anything even when they pulled the sticky stuff off....AND bonus....they were looking for a pacifier to give to her because they thought she would need it for the EKG to stay still....NOPE...no paci here...just needs her mama's touch! The lady was impressed (and quite honestly~ I am too she is such a great girl!!! She is really a good baby!!!) Anyway, so the doctor came back in and told us that everything still is there. I don't quite understand how it can all be the same and them 'not hearing it' but I'm not a doctor....but he said he doesn't want us to come back till May (8months from now) and then if it's still not closed we are looking at having surgery around her 1st birthday. Dr said it's not major open heart like it used to be, some how they would go thru leg somehow. But it still freaks me out. I have decided tho, that I do want to get a second opinion. While I am sure it's there and bla bla bla.....she's my baby and if we can avoid sugery then that would be great. It's been alot to take in as I've never had to deal with this sort of thing before and she is my baby. And no matter what anyone says it sucks and I don't have to like it at all. I know that it's not as big of a deal as it could be...but to me it is huge and I feel like I did this somehow and I should have done something different I dunno. BUT I all I can do now is pray that there's a chance that it could still close on its own. So, that's what I will do!!!

1st Grade!

Today was Eric's first day of 1st Grade!!! He was so excited to go!! He is such an big and independent boy!!! I tell ya, it definetly was quiet here from 12-3:45pm. As that is when Alex went to school too. It was weird! But Ivy got a great lil nap in while Mama here cried over going thru more boy clothes! (I'm still trying to part with their clothes!!!) So, our school day starts with Eric geting on the bus around 8:30am and he got home around 3:50pm. It was late today and I'm sure like last year will get earlier as the days go on. He should prob get home around 3:30pm in a couple wks! Alex gets on the bus around 11:50am or so and gets home around 4:30pm I am sure that his bus time in the afternoon will get quicker as well. But today was only the 4th day for him! Eric's 1st grade teacher's name is Mrs. Crupe. I will hopefully be able to post pictures soon but can't right now as I have no way to upload them from my camera. Tim said the motherboard on the laptop crashed and the desktop that I'm on right now, it's so old and there is no way to put a disk in it. So, I hope that I have enough room on my camera to store some pictures! I know I take a lot but hey...this mama wants to remember all these special moments!!!

So, it's official now...I have a 1st grader, a pre-schooler, and a newborn!! I'm a proud Mama!!

Alex's 1st day of Pre-K

Today was Alex's 1st day of Pre-K. He did so well! I was so proud of him. He was not scared to get on the bus or anything!! He marched right up onto it like he has been doing it for years! He let the aide buckle him up and left Mommy with a big cheesey smile before he left. His bus picked him up at 11:55am and he got home today about 4:25pm. I asked him what he had for lunch and he said he had "nana's" (bananas) but I think he also had sketti lol (leftovers but who knows) He came home wearing the same outfit he went in which is HUGE because that means NO ACCIDENTS!!!! I am so proud of my lil big man!!! I can't believe how fast he's growing up. It truely is bittersweet. He said he had alot of fun at school today, so that made me really happy! He was a little bit of a bear this evening. But I was completely expecting that as it was a long first day for him! And yes Mama did cry but he's my baby.....

Alex's 1st day of Pre-K

Off to his first day of Pre-K!

Alex's 1st day of Pre-K

Welcome home Alex!!!!!