Escapee

I know I said I was going to try and be better, well I guess missing one day as opposed to several months is better. Laiken has now decided she is no longer going to stay and or sleep in her crib. She climbed out yesterday after her nap. She has done this before, but we thought we remedied that by moving all furniture away from her crib. She has now figured out how to lower the side, yes, you read right, she can lower the side on her crib. She climbs out. Not a big deal as she can't get out the bedroom door and nothing to hurt her in her room. Until yesterday that is: She walked into Mike's room after he was in bed and fast asleep. Opened the door right up. She then applied her newly learned skill to open her door yesterday after nap. So this morning bright and early I hear her talking to her monkey on the way down the steps. She won't take a nap today. We have put her in and she has gotten out now seven times. Looks like it is time to do some room rearranging and furniture purchases.

Morgan is still at my mom's for spring break. Austin and Laiken are beginning to miss her now. Logan went out with a friend yesterday who moved away and was also at his grandma's for spring break. Laiken spent almost the whole time looking for the bus.

The boys played outside for a little while yesterday and Laiken was determined she was going out also. After her nap I got her all bundled up and we went for a stroll in the driveway. She was determined she was going out through the grass. She took three steps and fell flat on her face in the mud. In we came and she hasn't asked to go back out.

Mike's dog Jake died yesterday. I guess he was our dog, but he was MIKE's dog. He had him long before we got married and Jake didn't mess with the kids much. He tolerated them and was never mean to them, but he never let any of us ever get too close to him. I think he saw us as obstacles in his way to Mike. We used to laugh because if a dog could stick out their tongue he would have done that to me every chance he got. That dog wouldn't listen to me for anything. We knew it was coming. He was almost 19 years old and hasn't been able to do much this past winter. He basically was kept in his bed because he was blind and deaf. Logan keeps asking how we know he is playing ball in heaven and Austin keeps hugging and kissing me everytime I sit down. I asked him why he is doing that and he said I was the greatest mom in the world and he hoped I wasn't going to die next. We've had all the talks with them and think they understand as much as any 4 and 8 year old can, but I'm wondering if there is something else I should be doing or if they need to work through it on their own now. We still have to tell Morgan when she comes home.

This stinks

I am such a horrible blogger. Yes, I know it has been since well before Christmas since my last post. I have been so busy that when I get a chance to be on the computer, not working, well, lets face it... I don't get the chance to be on the computer without working. I'm going to try really hard though. What is 10 minutes less sleep when I already get 4 to 5 hours right?? I'll try to give a quick update on each child:

Laiken: What a wonder. She is into everything. She loves to explore and pretend play. She loves her babies, her kitchen and her bears. She is about halfway potty trained and loves to try to dress and undress herself, which is the reason for pushing the potty training. She is talking up a storm, some understandable, most not, but that doesn't stop her. In some ways it is hard to believe she will be two at the end of June, but in other ways it seems like she has been here forever.

Austin: Happy birthday to my little man. He will be 5 in a week. I can't even believe it. He is my serious child. He is very stubborn. He is intelligent "world-wise", but not so much book. He really has no interest in reading, writing or anything yet. I got the kids a desk and hopefully he will want to "play school now". He is very aware of the world around him and how things work so is an endless stream of questions, such as: What is inside the powerlines. or I know what makes the grass grow, or I know how they make plastic cups, etc. Austin doesn't like to be alone much so is pretty much my shadow or Mike's when he is here. Laiken adores Austin and he plays with her all day. He even dresses in her silly hats, although he would not be happy if he know I posted that. He promplty quits playing when anyone else is around.

Morgan: My little helper. She is still likes to help with everything. She is my 6 year old teenager. She is quickly coming out of her shell and now enjoys interacting with people alone. She still doesn't like school all that much, but I think having afternoon kindergarten has a lot to do with that. She is too busy to stop and go to school. She is doing very well for showing no interest whatsoever before school. (Gives me hope for her little brother). She is crazy about her baby sister and is forever trying to help with her, not so well accepted by said little sister sometimes. She had such a blast helping out at pancake breakfasts this year.

Logan: Logan is enjoying scouts and still doing well in school. He is starting to settle down a little bit, but is still very easily roused. I am so proud of how he interacts wtih his peers in school. I am constantly informed that he enjoys helping the other kids and his teacher. He is such an inquisitive child and talks constantly, but guess it helps because he is still above average in all his classes.

All the kids will be starting T-ball and little league in the next few weeks, so that will add more to the schedule. I'm excited though because Logan did so well last year and really enjoys it. Morgan and Austin will be starting T-ball and will both be beginners so I am excited to see them try new things.

Short posts about each child becomes quite long when you have four so I'll try to include some pictures next time.