All about Annmarie

Note- the spell check was not working please forgive my errors

It has been a while since I have posted, and quite a bit has happened. Nothing too monumential so this blog is going to be about Annmarie.

Wow, people seem to tell you how fast kids grow up and you never believe them. Then one day your little girl with long baby hair gets it cut and then. . . so looks about 2 years older. Then she thinks that she needs to act that age too.

We have the before mug shots

Durring

After

It is amazing how people look when they get their hair cut. As most of you who live around vegas know I got my hair chopped as well. The quality is not the best but here is a shot of me thanks to Will our new camera man.

Will and Chris have also gotten their hair cut but theirs is about every month and not as drasic looking.

As I look at the photos from the post yes it looks like Annmarie and I have the same outfits on. . . well I like purple better than pink and it is too cold for just T-shirts (Will will dissagree on this one) And they are different days.

It is. . .

OK so it did not turn out as well as I had hoped. the background of my blog made it hard to see . It is of my eyelid. There is a yellow circle, no not bad make-up, Annmarie's head hit me really really hard. Yeah I know you were all waiting for that one. I almost did not put in the photo below, not a great thing to have a close up of your face.

Today I learned that I really need to get Annmarie private swimming lessons. Let me explain. Since October she and Will have been enrolled in city swim lessons. She really is to young but they let her in yeah!!! the latest section started last Monday. Annmarie and Will are in different classes, this is nice since she is his little copy-cat. But there are new teachers. They loved their old teacher, as did I. Annmarie lets say . . . is a lot like her parents, in many ways but stubborn is what is being shown here. She does not listen to her teacher and jumps off the steps. Each lesson the lifeguard has gotten off of her Chair and moved over within feet of where Annmarie is. Yes my child has no fear of the water. Which is why I really want her to know how to swim. But today she was standing on the bottom step and fell backwards into the water, OK more water with no footing. I look up (because I was doing my motherly duty of talking with the other mothers there) and see her under the water trying to swim. Her teacher was about 15 feet away with another student, and the other teacher a good 5 feet with his class. The lifeguard is running, which I though was a big no no at the pool, over to where Annmarie is "swimming." But the good news in this story is that Annmarie picked her head up out of the water on her own and took a breath, and then turned back towards the steps. By this time the other teacher was there, and Annmarie got a good talking to by her teacher and head guard. Was she fazed by this scary moment? nope she sat there as she was being talked to I'm sure thinking. "what did I do, I was just swimming, I'm not listening to a word you are telling me." I know this is what she was thinking even though I only saw the back of her head. How you may ask. . . . I think I have had similar talks with her and seen the looks she gives me. Isn't this suppose to wait until Jr High?

So back to the dilemma. . . private lessons will they help? is this behavior going to continue? Will it only get worse?

What is it

After trying to figure out what new has happened in our lives I have come up with a game. They have it on like kids shows. There is a really close up photo of something and you have to guess what it is. Well here is the photo guess away.

Remember how Will got a bike for his Birthday? well we finally pulled it out of Chris's car a week or so ago. It has been so nice outside, OK not the last few days, so we "taught" Will how to ride the bike.

Working hard to get up the hill

He really stayed in this position long enough for us to take the photo. he is not camera shy at all.

A Caucus - Careful Government Class material

Well today Chris and I participated in something we have never done before. A Caucus. It was an interesting experience. I am a huge fan of early voting so being required to show up at a specific place a t a specif time did not sit to well with me. But I was really interested to see how it worked. Mr. Olsen would be so proud of me for going. (HS history/ gov teacher by the way is he still teaching? and telling awesome stories anyone know?)

We showed up at the HS and then were placed into different class rooms by our precincts. Then we elected 10 delegates who are to represent our precinct at the county something or other in April. Chris was a lucky person elected. OK 10 people volunteered so they all get to go. Then 1 person for each candidate stood up and said why they thought their candidate should be elected. Then we filled in a circle on a piece of paper then folded it and turned in our vote. Then the "chair" read off all votes while the Secretary tallied the votes.

It was a really interesting experience. Do I prefer this way of voting. . . no not really but It was a neat experience. I always feel so patriotic when I vote. Not that my vote will change the world but hey at least I have the right to complain about how things are going because I voted.

Here are some old photos that I love. Jeffrey was pushing the kids around the front room. It was hilarious. He loved it and the other 2 though it was sooo cool.

I've been Tagged

If you didn't watch the video below skip this post and go to the next one

The RULES:
1. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
2. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog....

Here we go

1. I have gotten into the habit of going to the gym 5-6 times a week. I really do enjoy the classes, training, but I think most of all it gives my kids a chance to play in the cool play room, and be out of our condo.

2. I need my afternoon nap. Will is 3 1/2 and still naps. This is mostly because I need one. All 3 of my kids take a nap at 1pm. So I nap as well. I know what am I 3.

3. I am addicted to a few TV Shows - NCIS, Amazing race, Bones, House, Mythbusters, and the Office. I choose not to watch new shows so I do not add onto this addiction

4. Speaking of great inventions. DVR has to be in the top 10. needless to say I have about 50 episodes of Little Einsteins, Backyardagains, Mickey's Club House, and Super Why saved. side not. I really enjoy watching Backyardagains. I love the music and dancing.

5. I hate American Idol. yes I know it is that time again. Really I think most people watch so they can have something to talk about at work etc. . . I have boycotted since the end of Season 2 when the wrong person won. But I do own a Carrie Underwood CD. I like some of the music that comes out I just hate the show, plus it normally sends NCIS into reruns since it is on at the same time.

6. I love to spend time with my family. I love when Chris is not working and we watch a movie during the kids nap (yes some days I do forgo a nap) I love to watch Will learn new things and see how excited he gets when he learns something new. I love to hear Annmarie Laugh. I love to see Jeffrey smile. He has a great smile, it is even better when he is walking towards you with his arms out.

OK who do I tag. . . well I think most people I know who read the blog have been tagged before etc. . . anyone who reads this and has not been tagged before. I know That kind of kills it but whatever.

Family Night

Well this is what we did for family night tonight. Just in case any of you were wondering. Will calls pretty much everything a front flip.

Also want to send out a Shout out to Clara Sherwood. Happy 1st Birthday Tomorrow!!!! Can't wait to meet you in July.

Back to normal

Well there is nothing too huge to report this week. Big events are Will went into Primary yesterday for the first time. Wow I cannot believe that he is that old. In our church the year after you turn 3 you go into a more organized class. Primary is it. He seemed to love it but he really missed the snacks. We now go to Church at 1pm. Not the best time since all 3 of my kids nap then but hey they were all sound asleep by 7:15 last night so I guess that I cannot complain.

Small updates on everyone

Chris actually has 3 whole days off this week!!!!!! yeah I don't know what to do. well I guess since Wed he goes back to work I better take advantage of it. (his regular schedule is W - Sat 6am -4pm but he tends to get a lot of overtime which is a double edged sword.

Karen (me) I have been going to the gym very regularly for the past 2 months just got a personal trainer (who kills me once a week) but I actually noticed progress today!!!!! I could actually make it through a set of an exercise that I have never made it through!!!!! This is huge for me and I am so excited that little could make me have a bad day. Plus the one treat a day things is working great. I actually look forward to figuring out what it is I will make my treat. OK sorry this is a little Karen heavy but once wont hurt right? I guess if you all stop reading this will be a sign.

Will other than going to Primary he is pretty much his same old self. Loves to run like crazy. His new favorite movie is Meet the Robinson's I must say I really like this movie except there is one part where Goob (yeah nice name) says "Stupid Stupid Stupid" ONCE!!! and Will picked it up and has started saying it which means so does Annmarie so we are trying to nip that one as quick as possible by pressing Mute when it happens, and other things.

Annmarie . . . How to say things in PC terms so later in life she will not kill me. She is becoming more and more "set in her ways" since it is not PC to say Stubborn that's what we shall say. Her favorite thing to tell me is NO. repeatedly. There are very few things that effect her as punishment so we are willing to hear all ideas in this area.

Me What could I do wrong?

Jeffrey he has discovered a new place to play

The problem is that he gets stuck and the lid closes on him and he gets really really mad. but this does not seem to stop him since the lid has closed on him 5 times in the last 2 days. He is walking everywhere and looks kind of like Frankenstein because he puts both arms out in front while he walks.

Resolutions

Here they are our family's resolutions, and Jeffrey walking because I have no new photos. I love that he just wants the camera.

Karen

1. Work out 4+ times a week

2. limit my candy/ sweet intake to 1 treat a day. I know if I eat a whole carton of Ice Cream it still counts as 1 treat. just kidding

3. spend more time enjoying my kids

Will

1. become potty trained at night

2. stop sucking my thumb

Annmarie

1. become potty trained

2. stop throwing tantrums on a daily basis (can you tell who came up with their resolutions?)

Jeffrey

1. Learn to run away from the others

2. stop drinking a bottle

Chris

thinks he is perfect the way he is. . . OK so he is working and did not give me an answer but I did not want to leave him out.

1. Sell our condo