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Monogram Of Snowflakes Holiday Card

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National Read to Preschoolers Week

This week Hazel and Gus's school took part in the National Read to Preschoolers Week program. Over 100 people from KCKCC campus and the community came in and read various books to the kids each day this week. Gus has been talking nonstop about all of the different things he learned in the stories. Here is the KCKCC softball team with the kids.

Gus was a hit with these ladies.

This is the only pic of Hazel (other than the first one) that has been floating around campus.

Even the sheriff of a local town came and talked to the kids. He read a book about what to do if you get lost at a store. Gus told me all about it. Really a wonderful topic for the kids to learn about.

We try very hard to read at least one book to our kids each day. It doesn't always happen, and I don't always want to, but it is a wonderful way for kids to begin to appreciate learning and grow their imaginations. Make it your personal goal to read to a child this holiday season- you own, a niece or nephew, a grandchild.... And if you are short on gift ideas, books are gifts that last a lifetime.

This week has been busy at the preschool center. Yesterday Josh and I had lunch with the kids for Thanksgiving, and later today we have their teacher conferences. This is our first parent/teacher conference so I am excited to see how that goes!

Kitchen Drums

A new game to play while mommy is making supper is "Let's take all the pots and pans out of the cupboard and bang on them with spoons!". Even Wally has started to join in on the headache fun.

All Laughs

9 Months Old

Wally is officially 9 months old. Here he is at his first professional sporting event, a Sporting KC Soccer game. I missed his 9 month appointment, but Josh took him while I was teaching. His stats were 88% for weight (22 1/2 lbs), 50% for hieght (28 in) and his head circumference was 75-90% (18 1/4 in). He is such a good baby.

His summary:

• He can say mamamama and dadadada and ball.
• He can shake his head no and nod his head yes and he opens his mouth for more food.
• He loves to cover up his own face, have you say Peek A Boo, and then repeat the whole process about 20 times in a row.
• He loves to eat all kids of food, especially toast, yogurt, goldfish, and pizza. Oh and of course he still loves his bottles of formula.
• He has 7 teeth officially showing! He is teething constantly so I feel bad for the little guy.
• He has some hair! Just a little, but it is brown like his eyes.
• He can easily go from standing to sitting, and vice versa.
• He is crawling everywhere and can cruise along furniture. He can balance while standing alone but takes no steps yet.
• He loves laughing and playing with toys. Bath times is one of his favorites.
• He loves when Gus and Hazel give him attention.
• He sleeps through the night, and likes to sleep in in the morning.
• He has the happiest personality and is such a laid back dude. Such an easy baby.
• He is starting to go through separation anxiety if we leave him in a room, but that is expected for this age.

Sure love our little Wally!

Las Vegas

Last month I went to Vegas with Kate and Steph Dingel. It was nice to get away.

The Flu is No Fun

Here is Wally. Surprisingly happy, smiling, and unknowing that later on during this day, he would start to get the flu. This is Wally with his Nanny Ty, on Halloween. She dressed up like an Angel. He was a monkey, but didn't wear his costume during the day.

Hazel was a lion and Gus was an Alligator. We all had the flu last week- ALL of us- so we missed out on many of the Halloween festivities at work and school. It was a horrible week. We did go to a party at the Y the weekend before (above) so that was good. Hopefully I will be getting pics of that day soon, still waiting for them to be sent to me.

The day before Hazel got sick, I was sick. Here she is trying to make me feel better by painting my nails.

"I know I'm sick but can I please go play outside?!"

Some tackling, er, cuddling. Brotherly love. Oh and I don't have a great place to post this, but Hazel is potty trained and has been for a few weeks. She fought me hard on it for a week or so, but once she realized I wasn't giving in, she stopped fighting it. She isn't even wearing pull ups most nights. So at 2 1/2, we got her trained (which is good cause 2 in diapers was driving be bananas!). I do have to say that the stomach flu was not fun with a newly potty trained little lady... yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

Family baths. Probably the reason why the kids all got sick...

Flat Stanley

Last week Shae sent us a visitor. His name was Flat Stanley. He played with the kiddos over the last few days and learned about KC and then we mailed him (and some pictures, KC info, and a letter about his adventures with us) back to Shae's school yesterday. Gus and Hazel had a nice time taking him everywhere, from Target to shop, to school to meet their teachers, and even in the bathtub. Hopefully Flat Stanley had fun!

Bieber Fever!

Kennedy and Lindsey went to the Justin Bieber concert in KC a few weeks ago.

The next night he was in St. Louis so Kacy, Shae and Avery went also.