Swimming lessons

Reese and Asher started swimming lessons last night.  We started them in the same beginner class.  As predicted, Reese did pretty well and Asher clung to Daddy and screamed like he was being tortured.  The classes go for 4 weeks and are twice a week so when they go back tomorrow night we're going to keep Reese in the instructor-only class and move Asher (and Daddy) to the Aquatots (kids 3 and under with their parents in the water) and see how it goes.  Not sure if we'll be able to continue the lessons after I go back to work in a few weeks as it took everything we had to get all 5 of us to the pool on time, the kids changed, Emily fed and R&A from screaming...but hey, it's a start, right?

Reese holding on to the edge and learning how to kick.  She wanted to be sitting up on the edge of the pool and was not thrilled with this.

 Reese's preferred spot.  Her instructor looked all of 15 but he was pretty patient with the kids.  There's definitely a reason it's worth paying someone else to torture your children in the water.

 Asher clinging to Daddy for dear life...

 Reese's first dunk.

Kid pics and Kindergarten registration (already?!)

Since returning from Arizona for Christmas we've been settling back into a routine.  The kids are happy being back at daycare with their friends (ok, the parents are happy to have a break as well).  Emily is still battling a stuffy nose/cold and so is sleeping best when held.  Great for her, not as good for Mom.  But I am enjoying these last few weeks with her and trying to appreciate the 1-on-1 time I have with her while it lasts. I go back to work on the 30th with a trip to Houston so it's coming soon.  

Michelle and Jeff got the kids some fun re-usable stickers that came with a bunch of different scenes to put the stickers on.  Reese, however, decided it was more fun to decorate the windows in our living room.

 I know everyone says you aren't as good at taking pictures after your first child and that has definitely proven true with #3 so I've been trying to get the camera out more often these last few days.  Here are some recent shots of Emily at 7-8 weeks.

 Reese and Asher love playing with, kissing, hugging and otherwise "bothering" their little sister.  As you can tell, she's a bit apprehensive now that she can see them coming but it's still pretty cute.  Asher, who is normally full speed run-into-you-with-full-force man actually slows down and gives Emily very gentle kisses on the cheek.  It's pretty adorable.

 Reese got a hold of CK's iPad a few weeks ago and we found 60+ self portraits on there.  Here are some of the best.

On January 2nd I signed this crazy kid up for Kindergarten.  Can't believe it's that time already but she'll be 5 in August so will just make the Sept. deadline.  Because the elementary school we live closest to is so small and hasn't grown with the growing population of the Northern Helena Valley, they don't have enough spots to accommodate all the kids who geographically qualify to go there.  There are 3 Kindergarten classes and they give preference to kids who have siblings already at the school (makes sense) so a class and a half of slots are already taken.  So...asking around we found out that you need to get in line super early to get one of the last coveted spots.  So at midnight on the 2nd I headed down to the school and stood outside in 7 degree weather with 20 or so other parents to try to get our kids in public school Kindergarten.  Nuts!  My efforts were successful, however, as I was #7 in line and the principal (who nicely showed up at 2am to start registering even though the official start time was 8:30a) said at least the first 10 were "good to go".  I had no idea I would be using those Krzyzewskiville skills 15 years later...

Christmas 2012 in Arizona

We just got back from a great week in Arizona with 30 Joynts!  The weather was beautiful and we got to spend a lot of time with family and enjoy the holidays.  Although CK and I were dreading the flight(s) down and back this was actually our best travel experience with kids to date.  I think Reese and Asher are finally old enough to amuse themselves provided we prepare with enough toys and "new" things and snacks to help (their LeapPad and Leapster certainly helped- thanks Nana!) and Emily is young enough that she pretty much slept most of the way.  All three of them were great on all 4 flights.

 Grace celebrated her first birthday on the 23rd and we had a fun party.  Here's Jeff and Michelle helping her blow out the candle.

 She didn't know what to think of the frosting at first...

 But a few minutes later she was "all in"

 Nana with the birthday girl who, by this time, had lost one ponytail and was rocking the single side pony look from the 80s.

 We even managed to get a family picture all dolled up for Christmas Mass.  Too bad the little "angels" didn't act this angelic once we actually got to church.

 Dan and Venus meeting Emily

 Sarah and Fred and Dan and Venus Christmas morning, managing to stay awake with some java

 Fred, Sarah and Emily

 Asher teaching Dan how to use his new power tools

 Steve, Fred and Sarah

 Mom and her brood, all sporting our white t-shirts (well, except Asher, not sure where his was)

 Family game day was a competitive adventure.  Here, Alison and Reese on their way to victory in the 2-man-2-legged race (yes, the other competitors were all disqualified but a win is a win)

 Alison and Nick showing everyone how it's done in the 3-legged race

 Jane took on babysitting duties (after cooking everyone a wonderful feast the day before).  She had to escape to Show Low after we all left for some well deserved peace and quiet :)

 Not sure what this move is called or what kind of bat that is...

 Asher and Reese loved going to the park and getting outside for some sunshine in December

 They were both disappointed when we got home to Montana and they couldn't head straight to the park.

Merry Christmas from Reese & Asher

Merry Christmas from CK LaFond on Vimeo.

Emily at 1 month

It's hard to believe but Emily is already a month old.  As you can see from the pictures below (taken at the Pediatrician's office this morning) she's chubbing up nicely.  In fact, she weighed in at a hefty 9 lbs 14 ounces (75th percentile), a pretty huge growth spurt from her 25th percentile birth weight.  Even our pediatrician seemed impressed.  She measured 21.25" in height so she's well on her way to keeping up with her siblings.

Cookies and Asher's birthday

We started Asher's birthday by making Christmas cookies.  The kids sure had fun and it only took Mommy an hour to clean up the mess. :)

 Asher showing how old he is today.

 Think these two are excited for birthday cake?

 Asher blowing out the candles on his dinosaur cake (baked by Mom but designed and decorated by Dad)

 Asher got a lot of great gifts for his birthday but once this one was open...there was no going back.

Happy 3rd Birthday Asher!

Dear Asher,

Happy 3rd birthday to our little man.  You are getting so big and are super inquisitive.  You are definitely in the ask-a-million-questions stage which sometimes tries Mommy and Daddy's patience but is really pretty adorable.  You just want to understand everything and see how it all works.  You are so much like your father and you have a bit of me in there, too.  Here are some fun things to remember about you on your 3rd birthday:

-You are still a pickier eater than your sister and sometimes you just don't really want to eat at all.  Other times, though, you can polish off a meal and a half!  Your favorite is probably macaroni and cheese (you get that from Uncle Jeff).  You LOVE milk and prefer to drink only milk.  The doctor actually told us we needed to cut down on your milk consumption.  If only we could get your sister to drink more and you less.
-You are mostly potty-trained at daycare but refuse to go near the toilet at home, despite our attempts at bribery.  We figure eventually you'll give in so we're not pushing you too much yet.
-You still love your blankets and have two (the blue star blanket and the white polka dot one) that you sleep with every night and try to take with you everywhere.  You also sleep with Lamby (stuffed lamb that smells like lavender).
-You get frustrated easily when you can't get something done right away or without help.  You yell and scream and stomp your feet and we have to teach you to ask for help and not get so upset.  Yeah, you might've gotten that impatience from your mother.  Sorry :(
-You and Reese play together a lot.  You're also in a stage where you pick on each other and fight a lot, too.  It's about 50/50 love/hate right now.  You want to do a lot of the things she's doing (play on Daddy's iPad, hide and seek) but you also like doing your own thing, too.  You actually play in the play kitchen in the playroom a lot these days and often bring me cookies, cakes and hot chocolate that you've "made" for me.  You also like to swipe measuring cups/spoons, bowls, and spoons from the kitchen to make your "food" with so I'm often missing many things when I go to cook myself :)
-You've started to sing.  Not as much as Reese but you like to sing songs with her and you often sing to Emily.  You liked the 5 little pumpkins song you learned this Halloween.
-You're still obsessed with the vacuum and you're no longer afraid of turning it on.  Most times, though, you don't bother to turn it on.  You just drive it around and make the "whrrrrr" sound yourself.  It's pretty cute.
-You and Reese are in a routine where we read a book each night before bed.  It's about the only time you actually sit still all day (while awake). :)
-You and Daddy have started to "work" together in the shop and you love spending time down there with him.  You love everything mechanical and checking out how it all works.  You also like rides in the 4-wheeler and to sit on Daddy's lap when he's using the backhoe.  How cool is that?  How many kids get to sit on their Dad's lap and ride a backhoe around the yard?
-Did I mention you like anything with a cord, or parts that fit together or an on/off switch?  You even like to help me put together the breast pump and turn it on and off.  Reese could care less.

You've grown so much this year and now you're a big brother!  You like to remind us that you have two sisters- one big and one little.  I think you're going to be a great big brother to Emily and you can sure hold your own with Reese these days.  Happy Birthday Asher!
Love,  Mommy and Daddy

Decorating the Tree

Reese and Asher decorated the tree last weekend and then promptly "un-decorated" it that night.  Currently most of the ornaments are in a pile around the bottom.  Just reinforces why we didn't put a lot of effort into decorating this year nor did we take out the real ornaments- just used the nice, plastic ones from Walmart from last year :)

 CK managed to get the kids to sit still for a minute on the window ledge

 and even hold hands!  he must've bribed them with something good

 Asher loves to ride his "bicycle" around and yesterday decided to give his Lamby a ride in the milk box which he rigged to the back.  Is he his father's son or what?

 CK and Emily getting some rest

 Our little girl is starting to make eye contact and loves to watch the lights when we lay her down

 Her hair seems to be sticking around at least for now.

 Frosty, our Elf, has made some fun appearances this week.  He even picked up all the ornaments that were laying around the tree and threw them in his dump truck.

New traditions

The kids have been begging us to hang up the felt Christmas tree since they saw I was working on it a few days ago.  Our first attempt with double sided tape failed miserably so CK went straight for the glue gun direct to wall approach.  It seems to be working and they were busy decorating this morning.

 Reese was very proud of her decorating skills (she did this all by herself while Asher was helping Daddy fix the pickup in the shop) and wanted me to take a picture of her in front of "her tree".  Why won't she pose like this when I want her to pose for a picture?

 We also started a new tradition this year.  We read the Elf on the Shelf book and our elf, who the kids have named Frosty, came to visit for the first time last night.

Reese told the elf that she wants a toy flower for Christmas.  Asher keeps walking by him and saying "he's watching".  Will this actually translate into better behavior?  Ha!  Only time will tell...