Thursday, November 3, 2011

Back to Blogging

  So, I have been a horrible blogger! But seriously, do you know the monkeys I write about?? They are two very demanding angels and them playing sweetly together while mommy blogs is not on their agenda for the day! How am I doing it now?? Unfortunately my fibromyalgia hates me right now and I have no other choice but to sit in my recliner on a heating pad :) The last time I blogged was in July, so I have quite a bit of catching up to do. I will just hit the highs and lows of each month.

  August- We moved at the end of July to apartments which was a big transition for us all. Harlee took her first ever trip to Alabama with out mom and dad!! She had never been away from either us for over 24hrs, so I was very nervous. We had so much to do with moving, I didn't have time to sit and worry. She did great and had lots of fun with Nana. They were gone 4 nights and then I met Papa half way and got my babies and my mom! Mom got to spend the week, she was suppose to be there to help get the apartment together, but of course I had it done and decorated by the time I picked them up!! The kids didn't do so well with the transition. They really liked the apartment and loved their rooms, but they still wanted to go back home to their old house! It broke my heart that they didn't understand why we had to move. I knew with a little time, they would feel at home in no time :) Harlee, unfortunately developed a potty mouth this month! Don't worry, it's not what you are thinking! She started talking about her "pirate area" (private area) all the time. Yes, it sounds funny, but in the middle of the grocery store, not so much. She likes to wait until it's quite and she screams out " My pirate area"!! She only does it because she thinks it's hilarious and to get a reaction from mommy and daddy! Got to love kids and the things that come out of their mouths!

  They loved swimming in the month of August! Abram went from being horrified and hanging onto us from dear life to swimming with his floaties on across the pool by himself! Harlee was never scared and actually attempted a back flip one day after seeing another kid do it! They loved that we got to walk the dogs throughout the day. They are always happy outdoors ;)
                                       Playing tee ball at the apartment
                                          Swimming with Daddy
                                        Making cookies with Mommy
                                      Visiting the Johnsons in Gulf Shores
                                        At Lynn Meadows Discovery Center





   September- The month of September the kids were pretty much transitioned to apartment life. They had already made friends with all of the maintenance guys and made a habit of taking a different toy everyday to show one of our neighbors as we walked the dogs. This month the kids really started getting into crafts. They wanted to make something everyday. We eventually ran out of room, so I made something for their rooms to display their work. They loved to show off something new everyday when daddy got home. Papa and Mama Sandra came for a visit at the beginning of September and the kids loved that. They got to see them swim and play at monkey Joe's. The kids enjoy everything that much more when they have an audience! The kids and I went back to Alabama for Amelia's 1st birthday. We went down early and Stephen came later. The kids loved spending time with their cousin. They went to mimi and papa Dan's one day and got to hold a teeny tiny kitten and feed the chickens. Abram attempted to spend the night, but he wasn't feeling to well and wanted his mommy :) They spent the week playing outside and having lots of fun with Amelia, Nana, Papa and Mama Sandra. On the 24th we went to Amelia's party and they loved it. They are so proud of their little cousin! They got to see a lot of family and their other cousins Sawyer and Mack! They love all of their family so much!
                                       Abram and his crocodile enjoying a swim
                                 Five Generations of the Minshew's at Amelia's 1st Birthday
                                    Amelia Jordan Walton on her 1st birthday
                                       Mr. Mack at Amelia's birthday
                                                    Sweet Sawyer at Amelia's Party


  October- The month of October is always a busy and fun month! The kids were excited to decorate for Halloween. Abram made ghosts to hang up all by himself. They made pumpkins to hang up and many other things throughout the month. Abram is showing more interest in learning about things he actually needs to know, which is a relief. Unfortunately, we found out he is a lot like me in many ways. He is very hard on himself when he can not get things "right". One night while writing his name, he just could not get his m. He did it over and over again, even after we told him to stop. We kept encouraging him and letting him know how great we thought it was. He had us both almost in tears. He was so upset with himself that he was crying and telling us to stop telling him it was good. I told him he needed a break and that he could try again the next day. He of course got his m perfectly the next day, and he was so proud!
Harlee invented another new word this month. Of course it's a word she finds hilarious and knows will get her in trouble. Here it goes.... boobysocks and boobyguts!! If you are wondering why those words, I'm still wondering too!
 
  We did lots of fun things and had lots of guests in the month of October. We went to a small festival called the Mullet Festival and Abram did a mullet throw. He threw it 27ft. We got pumpkins from the church down the street and decorated them two different times. The paint washed away easily, so they did it twice. Stephen turned 27, so the kids got balloons (their favorite) and made him cards and picked out his cake. Paw Paw and Kathy visited us for the first time ever and the kids were so excited! Aunt Amie, uncle Dustin and cousin Sawyer came to visit for the weekend and they had a lot of fun. We went to Kangarooz and a small fall festival. They loved playing with Sawyer and he had a lot of fun chasing them around! The next weekend Nana, Papa, Aunt Tada, Uncle Dustin, and cousin Amelia came to visit. We went to the park and the beach and trick or treating! Amelia had a lot fun playing with Abram and Harlee, she thought she was just as big as them! The kids had so much fun trick or treating. Abram was Thor, Harlee was bumblebee, and Amelia was a chicken. Harlee almost didn't go. She screamed for an hour, and refused to put on her costume. I finally grabbed her while she kicked and screamed and dressed her. She of course ended up having a great night. We went around the apartments, but there were not too many people handing out candy, so we decided to go to our old neighborhood. The kids got lots and lots of candy and had so much fun! I was so proud of our babies. While other kids were running through peoples yards and grabbing the candy and running, our kids walked on the side walks said trick or treat and thank you. I know sometimes they misbehave and get a little rowdy, but they really are great well behaved kiddos, and that makes me proud! We finally ended the night around 9 and the kids were asleep by 10. They actually slept until 8!! We ended the month of October on a great note!

                                    Making Halloween door knob hangers
                                        He made this ghost to hang up
                                       Throwing a mullet fish- 27ft
                                                  They picked out these pumpkins!
                                       Daddy's 27th birthday!!
                                      Harlee was excited that Paw Paw came to visit!
                                                        Sawyer at Kangarooz
                                        Chicken, bumblebee, and Thor! Halloween 2011
                                                  Hammer!!!!!!!!!!!!
                                                         Cutie bumblebee