Champion AGAIN!

Real brief update! So my last post bragged about my Champion children and now I am doing it again. This was a weekend I will not soon forget. Cameron received his first FIRST place - Championship at a wrestling tournament. It always seemed to elude him and this weekend with a huge pack of yelling fans cheering him on he DID IT. Not only did he win all three of his matches but he got THREE PINS!!! It rocked. To say the least I was SO PROUD.

The little kids try it out!

Clay, Cal, Kenzie!

The fourth place guy did not want his picture taken!

Champion!

Well I may not be keeping up like I promised but I will keep trying. Thought I would update everyone on the excitement in our house again.



Now that we have made it through everyone having bad colds we are on the road to health again around here. Amazingly Ben and I did not yet get what all four of the kids had. I also realized that this is the first time ever that Calvin and Clayton were both that sick at the same time. Wow did I feel bad for all of them.

This week was Catholic school's week and that means Cameron has been super busy with work getting ready for it. He did an essay on the benefits of a Catholic Education. He did a Religion Fair project on the Rosary and he did his first research paper on Bishop Callahan. Along with all of these things we had the St. Jude Math-a-thon and studying for the spelling bee which was this week. As if the list is not long enough Cam continues to have wrestling practice two nights a week and has been participating in some weekend tournaments. Sometimes I can't believe he is managing all these different things. He got to see how his hard work pays off this week as well. His essay won for the best in his class and he was the Champion for the 1, 2, and 3rd grade spelling group. As for wrestling he has taken 2nd place in all of the tournament he has been in and he is doing wonderful. Tomorrow Cameron gets to try his skiing skills out again (skied 1 x last year) up at Sunburst for Ben's work ski outing. Saturday he is going to a wrestling tournament in DePere and then has a friends birthday party on Sunday. Man just writing all this down makes me tired. What is it going to be like when the little ones are bigger and have social lives as busy as Cameron's?

As for Clay and Cal they are still doing wonderful. Clay is my super potty trained boy. He is doing great!!! I have decided that Cal is not going to be ready on his own so I took a new stab at this and we are just not putting diapers on him except for naps and nighttime. I went back to taking him potty every hour or so and waiting til he goes. I use bribes to get him to go or anything that works at the time. It seems to be working so I am keeping my fingers crossed. Today he actually told me 2 x that he had to go!!!!!

Kenzie is a crazy rolling little maniac and continues to be a super baby. She is usually happy just to watch what is going on. Before she got sick I thought she might eat us out of house and home but now she has slowed down a bit. She continues to sleep through the night perfectly even through her cold. This morning when I went in by her she had actually rolled over in her crib and then was stuck on her tummy and never even whined. When you put her on the floor she can roll herself all the way across the room. It is really cute.

Of course I will share some pics. Hope everyone is well.

Cameron Spelling Bee Champion!!

Clayton (Yellow coat) & Calvin going outside!

Clayton just playing!


Calvin's 'regular' smile!

Kenzie - Curly hair after a bath!

Kenzie just rolling around!

Kenzie being COOL!

Wrestling, Sledding & Cerel!!!!!

Lots going on around here like usual. Cameron had his first wrestling tournament of the season last weekend in Kewaskum and he did GREAT. Started off a little tough - lost his first match by 4 points but did avoid being pinned. Next two matches went great and he pinned them both. Ended in 2nd place and got a nice size trophy. This weekend was the Hartford tournament and wow was it intense. Cam won his first two matches and they were not easy. Last match up Cam got pinned by a really great wrestler and it was a huge bummer for him and for us.. He did end in 2nd place - Which is wonderful!! We are so proud of him and is he doing great. Next is Hustisford on the 31st.

Other then wrestling Cameron is super busy with school. We are approaching Catholic Schools Week and that means lots of projects and assignments and STUDYING. Cameron has a huge Religion Fair project, his first research project, an essay, and the big Spelling Bee coming up. This keeps him busy and it is keeping us busy too.

As for the twins - After their little New Years Eve crib climbing party Ben quickly got their big boy race car beds put together and we ditched the cribs. I thought it was so cute that I almost forgot that now they can get out when they want to and play!! They have been doing o.k. but some nights it takes a few visits to their room to get them to actually stop talking and playing and go to bed. We have had a few visits from one or both of them in the middle of the night coming in our room to let us know they are awake. It is getting easier as now they do seem to understand that they need to get back in their beds til it is light outside. Naps have also been a bit of a struggle but I am not willing to give up that fight yet. I think kids should nap til they start school!!! I know I need that time to stay sane.

In addition to moving on to big boy beds the boys have started a new phase in their "relationship" with each other. I am not sure if it is because they are two or if it is just a sibling thing or a twin thing but wow do they get at each other. Sometimes I can not do anything but laugh about it. Clayton has become more aggressive then he ever has been. Now instead of taking Calvin's abuse when Clay gets mad he yells. Often he is yelling "I wanna bite him in the face" or "I gonna bite him in the arm". The best part about it is usually by the time he is done telling us he is going to bite we have had time to intervene.

As for the potty training update - I am happy to say - 1 DOWN 1 TO GO!!! Any guesses on who has conquered it first? I won't leave you hanging. It is Clay. He is now potty trained. He does wear a diaper to bed but not for naps. He is doing so great. Hardest thing is that you have to run him to the bathroom once he has he has to go because there is not usually a whole lot of time before he HAS to go..... Calvin is kind of starting over but I think I have to take a different approach with him and I am not sure what it is going to be just yet....

Kenzie is also doing great! She continues to be a SUPER DUPER baby. She sleeps and eats great, is very smiley, and just generally a content little girl. She is able to roll from her front to back and back to front but does not do this much because she is usually happy no matter where she is. We just started her on cereal and that was fun. Cameron got to feed her the first time and of course I took pictures. She had more cereal on her face then in her mouth but it was funny anyway. Other then that she is just a little dolly and continues to be the princess around here. Her brothers all adore her and they are super helpful with her.

It feels like once I start I can't stop typing. That's enough for now!!!

Kenzie and her first attempt at cereal!

Served by Cameron!

Cameron takes the twins sledding! (Cal - Front, Clay - Back)

Cal liked it - Clay was not so sure!

Calvin getting ready for sledding!



Clayton ready for sledding!

Calvin and Clayton painting!

Cameron's 2nd place win in Kewaskum!

Uncle Troy with all his nephews and one neice!

Calvin, Isiah, Clayton, Kenzie, Cameron & Xavier

Seriously - could she get better hair?

Mommy just can not help herself!

BIG BOYS!!!

Cameron build his own tool box!

(It came in a kit)

Calvin in his BIG BOY bed!



Clayton in his BIG BOY bed!

Clayton on the left and Calvin on the right.

GET BLOGGING 2010

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone. I of course got a bit behind with my blogging again. The holiday's kept us very busy around here. We had a wonderful Christmas. The kids got so many toys and clothes it took me the whole week to finally get them all put away. We are so blessed and SO SPOILED. We got to celebrate with my family on Christmas eve, Ben's on Christmas day, and then Ben's extended family on the 26th. It was three long days of Christmas and it was a lot of fun and great to be with all our family.

Unfortunately, we had a really tough spell after Christmas. On Tuesday, December 29th my Grandma Edna passed away. She was 94 years old and it was time for her to go and meet our God, but it is still hard for those of us left here. We will miss her a ton but I am glad to know she is in a better place now.

We decided to lay low this New Years and had a blast. Kenzie was the first in bed at about 8. The twins went to bed about 9 but decided to have their own New Year's party in their room! It started with Calvin climbing out of his crib repeatedly. Finally he helped Clayton to get out as well. I think it was 10:30 before they actually went to sleep. Ben, Cam, and I stayed up till 1 in the morning playing Monopoly. And Cameron even beat us!! It was a blast. WELCOME TO 2010!

Kenzie, Cameron, Calvin, & Clayton on Christmas Morning!

Santa came! WOW -- They must have been good!

Cameron and his new train set from Santa!

Clayton on his new bike from Santa!

Calvin on his new bike!


Kenzie thrilled about her presents!

OK, I found these pictures funny!

This is my dad and his 5 grandsons!

I am not sure who was winning. I think it was the boys!

And this would be my mom watching her 5 grandsons beat up on their grandpa, while she holds on to her only granddaughter. I think this is what would happen if they babysat them all at once!

This was our attempt at a picture with Santa and all four the kids!

(Calvin, Clayton, and Cam with Kenzie)

Family Christmas picture!

RECENT PICTURES - AS PROMISED

Kenzie sitting up in highchair!!!

Cameron helping Clayton decorate Tree #1




Calvin decorating Tree #1


Kenzie thinks decorating trees is funny!!

Cameron decorating Tree #2 (THE REAL ONE).

Clayton decorating Tree #2

Calvin excited about his St. Nick stocking!

Kenzie is thrilled with her stuff from St. Nick!

Cameron enjoying the snow!!!!

Calvin bundled up!

Clayton bundled up!

Christmas is coming - Ready or Not

Well Christmas is coming!!! As I was finishing my Christmas cards I realized that without my yearly Christmas letter I did not spend any time thinking about how much things have changed again since last year. So instead this year I was just glancing over my old posts on my blog. Sometimes I wonder if I am wasting time with this blog. Tonight I realized that it was really fun for me to look back and see what we were doing even just 6 months ago. I hope I can keep up with this because it will be a blast to look back on years from now and see how much things have changed. I also wish I had more time to record more of the things that happen in our house on a daily basis. I don't think a day goes by lately that I do not have to stop what I am doing and just LAUGH. I can not believe the things that come out of Clayton and Calvin's mouths. I decided that I will take terrible two's any day as long as they also come with the talking of two year olds. I remember when Cameron was that age and I thought he was soooooo funny too but now there are two of them.... And I am not kidding the laughs never end. Don't get me wrong - they are two and they can be a handful but every time I think I can't stand it, they say something that makes me wish they never had to grow up.


So now that I went off on that little tangent I will get to my goal tonight. My updates!!!


As for Ben and I were are the same as always. We are starting to adjust to me working. Ben has had to take on a lot more and is doing GREAT with this. He is a super daddy and husband and I am sure I don't tell him that nearly enough. On top of all his extra duties - the snow. How fun!!!


I am loving my new job so far. I love the people and the work is very fun too. I know it is new yet but Big Brothers Big Sisters just seems to be a good fit for me. I also realized that as hard as it is to leave the kids to work I am appreciating my time with them so much more. I have really stopped to pay closer attention to them in the last couple weeks. I am seeing things I was missing before when I was with them all the time. Besides I think they like the break from me as well.


As for the kids - everyone is super.

Cameron - Just started back up with wrestling and is looking forward to doing some tournaments again this year. He is doing great in the 3rd Grade at St. Peters. He loves just about every hobby you could ever have. He wants to do everything from building models to collecting cards. Cameron is very creative and likes projects although they often do not get completed. He is doing very well in his new room downstairs and is just growing up way to fast.


Clayton - Is our thinker. He can be a very calm child who can play with the same toys for hours on end. He can also be SO emotional. It reminds me of myself. He wears his feelings on his sleeve and when he is happy you know it and when he is not you really know it. He does not like to be bugged much and still likes to have groups of the same things. Clayton loves to talk and often repeats himself until you are listening to him. His newest phrase that he says to everything is "NO WAY". We are still working on potty training and Clayton was doing great but recently took a little step back and won't tell you until he goes, then it is tooo late.


Calvin - His nickname of "The Animal" still fits him well. All you have to do is check out his hair (natural Mohawk - that won't go away) - it says it all - He is the wild child. Definitely a little more challenging at times. Cal tests every limit. He laughs at being put in the corner and just loves attention; positive or negative. Fitting to his personality his new phrase is "WHY". In the last 2 days I think we have heard it a million times. Cal is always trying things out and exploring. He loves to do anything you do and loves to help with everything. He runs to get Kenzie a diaper or bottle, throw things away for you and help set the table. He is also my hugger. He loves to cuddle up and be close to you. Calvin is doing GREAT with potty training. He has recently starting telling us when he has to go and is even making it through nap times dry. Oh, they are growing up so fast.

Sometimes it is hard to believe they are even twins. They are like polar opposites of each other on most days. It is just way to fun to watch them growing up together!!!

Kenzie - SUPER BABY! Honestly she is so amazing. I am not sure how we got this lucky again. Kenzie is a very calm baby and at times you can forget she is even there. She goes with the flow all the time and just likes to watch what is going on around her. She just turned 4 months and is starting to laugh which I LOVE. Kenzie is very ticklish and loves to be held in the air. She is very close to rolling over and I am sure she will be on the move very quickly. All around she is a great baby and we just adore her.

Funny how this is our busiest year yet and I am further ahead on my Christmas stuff then I have been in years. Cards are done, just waiting to be mailed, Shopping is nearly done and even some wrapping done already, two trees up and decorated, all outside lights up and working, St. Nicolas Villages are up, Christmas cookies will be done this weekend, and finally blog is updated

Well that is it for now. I spent more time on this then I was going to and I still have to post some pictures. Then I have to get the rest of my Christmas decorations up before Christmas is here and gone!!!