Christmas Photos

Yup, I'm that far behind... at this point I figure I'll just throw some pics up here.  I NEVER have time to sit and type a blog entry these days.  

A Griswald Tree!

Both the Momma's straining lights on the tree!

Trimming the tree

Chloë & I went to see The Nutcracker - downtown San Diego

Chloë & Calista (a neighbor)

The girls meet the SugarPlum Fairy

(post show)

Meeting the stars of the show 

Christmas Eve with Mom-Mom & Pop

Daddy's girl

Christmas morning!!

Ninja Turtles!

A telescope!!

Momma & her boys

Finally- a hat like her older sibs!

Eli's big gift

Buzz Lightyear!!  

A Diaper-Free Household?!

Check out my Minnie Mouse undies!

I almost cannot imagine it.  I've spent the past almost-six years straight changing diapers (and even more if you count my nanny-gig that I had when I first moved to San Diego!).  Six years straight.  A good chunk of those six years involved having THREE in diapers at the same time.  Chloë was just over two years old when the boys were born so she was still in diapers at that point...and then the boys were only 20 months old when Ella was born...so there ya go!

Ella, who just turned 23 months (this is the last month I can quote her age by months, in my book...though I usually say "She's almost two" or "She'll be two in February"...but why do we always speed up our kids ages like that?  I don't say "I'll be 36 in August (what?!!)" when people ask.  Then again, no one really asks me my age...they better not, right?!  Ha!  And, to add to my side-tangent, I find it pretty annoying when you ask someone their child's age and they answer in months that are greater than 24.  "He's 38 months old."  WHAT?  Really?  Come on now.  And don't make me do that kind of math right now.  Lol.  So there you have it.  24 months is the limit.  Now where was I?)...So Ella, as I was saying, is 23 months old - she'll be 2 in February ;)  - has been showing signs of being ready for the potty for awhile now.  She was 16 months old when we did the potty training boot camp with the boys so she was quite aware and taking it all in at that point.  She still starts clapping for me when I come out of the bathroom.  There was a lot of clapping/cheering/stickers/treats during the long 3-day-train-the-twins long weekend.  Did I mention it was loooong?

Anyways, I just realized that I don't want to write all about potties and diapers for entire post...and you don't really want to read about it, either.  Then again, as I said before..SIX YEARS of my life.  Maybe I don't have anything else to talk about.  Sad.  Sad, but (mostly) true.

So today I came home from working out to find the large area rug rolled up and stored away and Ella running around without pants on.  Myke decided to go for it.  I wasn't mentally prepared for this...not the diaper-free-household-intended-outcome ...but the having to keep my eye closely on Ella all day to catch accidents.  However, she's sat on the potty probably 10 times today.  So far has only gotten herself wet once or twice (and only slightly) and even pooped on the potty.  On her own.

Oh man, why am I writing about this?  It's just so life-consuming.  Four kids is life-consuming, what am I talking about?  The best thing about Ella being the youngest is that all three of the older ones are very actively involved in the process and super-excited when Ella has a "success".  Everyone runs to the bathroom and cheers and hoots & hollers for Ella.  Imagine all 6 of us celebrating in a small bathroom.  Chloë grabs the stickers so Ella can put one of her reward chart, Owen gives Ella big hugs, and Eli burst into tears if he misses "seeing the pee-pee" before it's flushed.

Potty training is not necessarily a fun thing..BUT seeing the kids all involved and supporting their little sister and cheering her own is fun to watch...Not to mention the idea of not having to buy diapers, change diapers, etc sounds so WONDERFUL!!!   We aren't THERE yet...but we're on our way!

Water colors

Brothers :)

Ella and a kangaroo named "Brisbane"

The Holidays, Part 1: November

Just looked back to see what I posted last...and wow, it has been awhile, huh?  Well, it least it feels like it has since so much has been going on over the past couple months.  That's holiday season for ya, I guess!  We had a long stretch of visitors.  Two months and one day of visitors (with a few days in between the 1st and 2nd set...but whose counting, right?!).  ;)


 It was a GREAT holiday season...we were blessed to be able to see so much family.  Myke's grandmother, my parents, Myke's parents, my brother (came all the way from Santiago, Chile for my dad's 70th birthday and Thanksgiving with us in San Diego), my aunt Debbie and cousin Cam, Myke's sister and her family, and extended family, as well.  Not to mention getting together with friends throughout the season, as well.

(excuse the small font below...copy & pasted and don't feel like figuring out how to "fix" it right now):

Between early-November set of guests and our Thanksgiving guests (I think there was a 4 day gap in there) I ran my first half-marathon.  It was a big achievement for me as I've been following a training plan (via an iPhone app) since late Summer so I'd be prepared for it.  I really enjoy running; the relaxation and peace of mind that comes with it are so needed in my otherwise constantly-going world.  Running lets me have 30-60 minutes of time to JUST MYSELF (except on my long-run days during training..then I'd get 2+hours).  I'd usually set my alarm for 6am and head out the door then so I'd be back for the kids getting off to school.  So, yes, the half marathon was an achievement for me but I could NEVER have done it if I wasn't married to the most amazing and supportive hubby.  Myke always supported my goals and had no problem with me doing my longer runs on the weekend mornings and having to get the kids up and started in the mornings during the week on the days that I run.  He will tell you that he is the "morning person" with the kids, anyways.  That's his area :)  

Mile 3 Selfie

Site for sore eyes & legs during MILE 12

We're done!  Yay!

Thanksgiving consisted of a full house and 13 people sharing a table (and kiddie table) for the feast.  Quite a few of us made a dish or two but my Aunt Debbie ran the show and played Head Chef in the kitchen.  She made sure everything came out at the correct times and all was ready to go.  The meal was delicious.

The group w/o me

and with me

Post-feast baby bumps

More November Pics:

Aunt Debbie's birthday celebration

Chloë & Uncle Hale on the Oceanside Pier

Ella, Chloë, Aunt Debbie & Cousin Cam

Taking the train from Encinitas to downtown San Diego

Seaport Village fountain

Annual Surfin' Santa at Seaport Village

Ella didn't LOVE this...

Packers Game!

Chloë hiked Torrey Pines!

She did great!

Diner in Leucadia with my parents

GG's Visit to San Diego

We are about 20 days into our house-guest holiday season here at Casa de Hines.  We have visitors for two solid months with only a few days here in there between visits where we're on our own.  

The first visitors were Myke's parents and his 90-year-old grandmother.  It was such a fun visit...went way too fast!  It was so special for the kids to have time with their great-grandmother.  The last time they saw here was 3 years ago when we visited the east coast.  Chloë was only 3, the boys were 5 months old and Ella was but a twinkle in my eye back then :)  

We're hoping Gram will come back for another visit...maybe next Summer??  

Chloë & "GG" (Great-Gram)

Dinner

Watching "Frozen" with GG

The boys reading a silly book with Mom-Mom

Pop showing the kids something on his laptop

Smooches for GG

Story time

Maureen helping Chloë with homework

All done!  Ta-da!

Halloween Re-Cap in Photos

Pumpkin Carving

My Batmen :)

Shane (our next-door neighbor) & Chloë

Pre-Trick-or-Treating Pizza party in our drive-way

Ella's "costume"

I gave up trying to get her to wear a real one. 

Happy Halloween :)

Halloweeeeeen is here!!  I'm so excited!  It's my favorite time of the year...not only because Halloween is my favorite holiday but also because it's the kick-off to the holiday season...which I love all the more now that I'm a parent.  It's all the more magical when there are kids involved...maybe because I get to become a kid again...and I have a legit excuse to act like one.  I'm more excited than Chloë or the boys are to go trick-or-treating...and not just because of all the chocolate that I'll steal from their treat bags once their asleep tomorrow night...well, that IS a significant part of said excitement, but I'm also just excited for the whole act of trick-or-treating.  Like I said, it lets you be a kid again.

A few weeks ago Chloë announced that THIS year, her 3rd year of trick-or-treating EVER, and only her 2nd year of really understanding what is going on, she will be abstaining from trick-or-treating and will instead be staying at home to pass out candy.  WHAT?!?!  You are NOT my child!!  (Insert shock face).  I tried to remain calm and to access the situation (WtH are you thinking, child?!?).  After a quick interrogation I found out this was because her little friend who lives next door, no names mentioned...SHANE..., had said that he was going to be passing out candy and not trick-or-treating...  and she wanted to do what he was doing (on a side note, she also changed her Halloween costume to a Ninja Turtle after finding out that Shane was going to be one, too....so I had just spent $30 on this costume ...which she had pulled the tags off already...but assured me that she would "wear it next year" and that my purchase was not to be regretted).  Soooo, after a few quick texts to Shane's mother to see what was going on and trying to remain calm while we ironed out this "issue"..I (relievingly (is that word?)) found out that Shane was going to do BOTH trick-or-treating AND passing out candy.  He'll just be starting earlier in the evening in order to fit in both.  Phewwwww!!!  Halloween is SAVED :)

As for Owen & Elijah, they are splitting a costume.  That's a whole 'nother story.  From day one Owen has wanted to be Batman and from day one Eli has wanted to be Winnie the Pooh.  My sweet Eli :)   I started searching around for this costume a awhile back when he had mentioned it more than a few times and I knew this was "the one".... only to find out that most places only sell Winnie the Pooh costumes in baby sizes.  Not 3 1/2 year old boy sizes.  Most boys this age are into superheros/firemen/policemen.  There is NOT a big Winnie The Pooh costume market for anyone over the age of 8 months....are we surprised?  Not really.  Anyways, I did finally find one online and immediately went to order it (I am not a crafty momma, I do not make my kids' costumes, though I do realize this would be much more economical).

So, Chloë and Owen both had their store-bought costumes for days as Eli waited and waited for Pooh Bear to arrive in the mail.  Every day he'd go running outside to the mailbox or look for a box on our front stoop.  "Pooh bear??  Here yet???"  FINALLY, it arrived and I was super excited for him to get home from school to open the box, as I know how much he had been excitedly anticipating this day.  We made it a BIG deal, opened the box, pulled it out (and I was actually really impressed with the quality of the costume...for $12 (and $5 shipping) I expected a step up from two pieces of cloth sewn together with yarn)....and then we tried to put it on.  It's an over-the-head costume.  We pulled, we tugged, we strained...but we could NOT get the costume over his head.  Eli's whines turned to tears as we desperately tried to get his beloved Pooh Bear costume over his head.  When his large noggin finally popped through the collar of Pooh's shirt was up to his mouth.  Obviously, this costume was WAY too small for him.  I checked the tag and, sure enough, it said it was for 2-4 year olds.  Eli couldn't get it off fast enough.  He cried and cried as we tried pried his head back out and, moments short of having to lube him in vaseline for the extraction, his head popped out.  And that was it.  He was not longer going to be Pooh Bear.

He was now going to be Batman.

Like Owen.

(Lucky for us, Owen's Batman costume has a body suit AND an over-the-the-eyes mask, head piece and cape.  Owen does not want to wear the body suit, only the cape/eye mask/head piece...and Eli will wear the body suit, but does not want anything over his head following his Pooh Bear trauma...so there we go.  They will SPLIT the Batman costume.  I'm feeling very economical right about now!)

We later attempted to put Ella in the Pooh Bear costume 

and HER HEAD WOULDN'T FIT EITHER!!

She's 20 months old!!

So either all my kids have giant heads

 (which they do according to all their pediatrician visits)

OR this costume is not accurately sized.  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!  

My Big Kinder-Girl :)

The little sibs waiting for big sis to come out of her classroom 

It's rest-time here at the Hines Household....though the only person actually sleeping today is Ella.  I'm actually laying here on the floor of the boys' room because they won't even stay in their beds at rest time unless one of us is in here....so that's fun!  Elijah has outgrown the nap pretty much but Owen still needs it so we still at least attempt quiet time where he can fall asleep if he needs to.

Chloë is on Fall Break this week and last so we've had her home from school...which has been GREAT!  I'm really enjoying a break from the pick-up and drop-off commute to and from her school. I'm REALLY enjoying that we don't have to be out the door by 7:35am, too!  It's much more relaxed around here.  Haven't had to pack any lunches, haven't been as strict about enforcing the 7:30pm bedtime, etc....  Oh well, better not get too used to it.  I'll just enjoy it while it lasts!

We are a full two months into her kindergarten year and it's still hard for me to believe she's a kindergartener already.  What happened to my baby Chloë?  She's so grown-up looking now.  No more baby curls in her hair. No more pudgy cheeks, legs and arms.  The baby fat has left the building (hers, not mine...mine is sticking around!).  Her school photos came in and I just look at them and her classic, beautiful smile and I still see my little 2-year-old Chloë in her face...and am so proud of her.  She's really blossomed into such an amazing little girl.

Kindergarten Photo- Sept 2014

The past year she has just changed so much, both physically and just overall.  Physically, she has sprouted up and thinned out.  Her hair has been cut to a short chin-length style.  As for her temperament/personality, I guess they always say 5 is the "magic number" where things get a bit easier.  Chloë was never an "easy, go-with-the-flow" baby or toddler, so we definitely welcome this "magic" age :)   I have always openly and honestly said that ONE Chloë was more difficult than having twins...for both the baby and toddler stages.  She's always been INTENSE.... and she still is...But, again, the past year has really been different.  She's calmed down little bit.  Chloë is such a nurturing big sister and friend.  Watching her take care of her little siblings and look out for them when we're out and about just makes me glow with pride. 

(hours later...)

Agh! As usual, my blog entry and train of thought got cut short.  I need to hit the hay so I'm just going to throw some pics on here and call it a day.  

Chloë's T-Ball Team

Eli at Pumpkin Station

Owen

Tea Party!

Chloë got to join Ella at her baby tumbles class since 

she's on Fall Break this week!

Play date with a friend from kindergarten

The boys are SO into games right now.