Christmas morning

We had a great Christmas, full of joy and fun!  This is the reason people love large families!

Daddy daughter date

Ron took Violet to the Nutcracker Ballet.  She has been enamored with it (aren't all little girls?) since she saw it last year on a field trip with her kindergarten class.  Her teacher was a former ballerina with the Joffery Ballet.  This production, while not as opulent (or nearly as expensive) as the Joffery's, was well put together and a tad more intimate.

Violet enjoyed her grown up night thoroughly and fell asleep in the car in the way home.  So tuckered out was she, we managed to get her out of her fancy dress and to bed without her waking.

Maybe the start of a tradition?

Our annual visit to Santa

Halloween 2012

V w/ Aidan in the background

Ben & Georgia

We went trick or tricking with Aunt Sharon, Uncle Jim and Aidan in their neighborhood.  They live in a picture perfect area well suited to trick or treating with the vast majority of houses participating with gusto!

Violet wanted to be Cleopatra, Jack a jaguar and the triplets, I was still able to steer, and I found these adorable wolf and little red ridding hood costumes at my resale.

Dashiell & Georgia

The kids had a huge bounty (each!!) so we instituted a policy of 2/night for a few days then we dumped in all on the kitchen table and had an all you can eat gorge fest.  They were excited, but really ate surprising (or maybe not) little, and mostly took a bite, spit it out, and decided to try something else.  The rest I shipped off to work w/Ron.  I have found memories of being in control of my own Halloween candy in my bedroom, and trying to convince my sister to give me some of hers when I inevitable ate all of mine right away while she judiciously doled hers out.  I currently can't conceive of turning the kids loose with a bag full of candy in their rooms.   (Shudder)

Violet is 7!

Violet's big day started with a party in her room!  While the kids slept, we filled her room with balloons so she would awake to fun.  In reality it just bred confusion, but I got I kick out of it!

I made her a "7" shirt, but since she has only worn it on her actual birthday day and never again, maybe she is getting too old for the that tradition?  Too bad, I plan on making her one (and having her wear it!) forever!!

We had her party at a neighborhood art studio called One Strange Bird, and I have to say they did a fantastic job.  The kids all made a painting on canvas and then created the most deluxe masks I have seen from a birthday party (this is a pretty popular activity).

Violet is growing up to be such an amazing little girl!  I am proud to be her mom and I hope she has a big life!

Get in there V!

Violet starting playing soccer on the lakefront this fall.  I find I have to restrain myself from "coaching" from the sidelines, who knew?  In case it is not clear, Violet is the one in green.

Everyone's in school!

Violet's first day of 1st grade!  Claims she wants to be an artist when she grows up.  She loves school and is very excited to get back in the swing of things.  She is at Disney Magnet school and her teacher is Mrs Baker.

Jack's first day of kindergarten!  He says he wants to be a veterinarian.  He is looking forward to his first day "in real school" and is not at all nervous.  He is attending Edison and his teacher will be Mrs

Alt.

Georgia, Benjamin and Dashiell's first day of preschool!  They are going to Stockton, yes for those of you keeping score, that is three different schools!  Looks like the start of a busy year!

The butchers bill

Another casuality in the Payne household.  Georgia stood up in the slippery bath and came crashing down on her chin.  5 stitches and 2 hours later, she is her usual goofy self.

Georgia, Benjamin & Dashiell turn 3!!!!

Georgia

Benjamin

Dashiell

We had a pool party for the Paynelets at the house to celebrate their 3rd birthday.  The weather was gorgeous and everyone had a fun time.  Uncle Jim's birthday is a few days after the triplet's and happened to be on the day of the party, so he got in on the cake fun!

But not before they had their chance!

I tried to ask each of them what kind of cake they wanted to which they would each reply "cake".  When I would try to clarify what design they wanted Dashiell took it a step further and would say "chocolate".  Guess they could not care less!

Look Ma, only 2 wheels!

While visiting Uncle Luke and his family, we schlepped out the bikes to take advantage of the fantastic bike path behind their house and the wide suburban sidewalks.  Violet, almost turning 6, had been reluctant to take off the training wheels.   With Jack, still 4, taking them off wasn't on the radar.  Aunt Sarah was in town and she managed to convince V to give it a try.

Success!

Steady...

Jack filling a burst of confidence decided he wanted to try too.

In an effort to get current, I am going to whip out a year's worth of stuff this rainy morning - assuming the kids give me some space... big if!

Back to the scene of the crime

This is the equipment Jack fell from to break his arm.  Back to his old ways, fully healed.  He has a pretty wicked scar though.

Father's Day 2012

                 

Happy Father's Day to the hardest working Dad I know.

Me and my shadow...

In a heartbeat

Today at the park, the unthinkable, the unavoidable, the inevitable happened.  Jack fell from the playground equipment, landed badly, fractured his humerus and dislocated his elbow.  We knew right away that is was broken, from the way Jack was crying to the ghoulish way his arm was hanging.  Neither one of us saw the fall, but I was the closest.  From all the dangerous, risky things the kids do at the park, this was just a freak accident.  Jack was no more then 3 feet off the ground and basically just slipped.  I think he thought his feet where going to catch him, so he stuck his arm out to touch the ground but fell on it instead.  Luckily we where both there.  Ron scooped Jack up, carried him home and put him in the car for Children's.  At the ER it was found to be a bad break, almost a compound fracture with the bone jagged instead of cleanly broken and some tendon and muscle tearing.  They decided he would need a open reduction, surgery to set the bone, and we thought they were going to to operate in the morning but he was having an unequal pulse, so that decided to go in immediately.  He had to spend the night in the hospital, on a morphine drip, hence the hazy eyed picture above.  The doctor who operated is one of the best children's orthopedists in the country, so grateful for that.  He said that if this would have happened to an adult, they would be facing months in a cast, but because Jack is a child only 3 weeks!  He does have a cast all the way up his arm tho.

He is a tough kid and back out there tearing it up.  So thankful he is ok.

Summer beckons

Last year the wee ones could barely hold cones, looks like this year it won't be a problem.  Tastee Freeze, you are not going to know what hit you.

Georgia, Georgia what I am going to do with you?

 Every once and a blue moon, Ben, Georgia and Dash take a nap, at the same time!  On this day, Dashiell wandered down first and I seized the opportunity to hang out just with him.  Seriously like an hour later I decided I had better check on the other two...this is what I walked in on.  Georgia had stealthily raided my makeup cache and decided Ben needed some adornment.  I think a bit too much rouge Georgia.

Birthday Boy

 Jack's 5th birthday has come and gone.  We had a party for him at the house with a monster theme.  He invited his preschool classmates to celebrate with him and we had a great animal trainer come in  with all sorts of "monster" animals.  It was a fun party and most importantly Jack had a good time hanging with his buddies.

Jack has grown up so much this last year of preschool.  He is charming and funny, still loves animals, but now tells me he is going to be a scientist when he grows up.  He is quite the daredevil; constantly in motion.  I can't help but see him as I imagine he will be as a teenager.  Hopefully he will keep hold of his spirit.