Back To Reality....And More!

Alright it's almost the end of the January and I am trying to get all caught up on here! Nothing too crazy has been going on normal everyday stuff. Alyssa is back at school after vacation and all the activities have started back up.

The kids went down to Longview for a weekend and had a great time. Alyssa was a little concerned about only going for such a short time and that next time it needs to be at least five days. She is a riot!

Knox has started gymnastics at our gym once a week. He is liking that and the teacher is amazing and he knows her from the gym. There are also some of his friends in the class as well. I think the highlight for him is not the class itself but running over to the side and watching the guys play basketball in the other half of the gym. It cracks me up!
He is doing amazing potty training and has been staying dry at night but I just can't bring myself to not put a pull up on him because if he did have an accident he would wake up. Since my kids have always been good sleepers pretty much since birth I'm not ready to get woke up in the middle of the night!

In the next month I plan on getting him signed up for swim and possibly soccer or t-ball in the spring. This child has a lot of energy to burn off and since he hasn't napped for the last year and a half I need something else for him to do to burn some of that off!

Next weekend kicks off what I call Birthday Season. We will have at least one birthday party to go to until the end of March and one weekend we have two! I will also be getting Alyssa signed up for Kindergarten. She is so stinking excited about this. She will tell me everyday after school how much she loves school and to learn. Hopefully this will never change!

l have to say 2013 is going to be a busy and exciting year for The Simmons Family with the kids growing up and starting new adventures, Cory and work, and Me.

New Years Eve

I enjoy celebrating New Years but don't feel I have to stay up until midnight or get totally smashed as well. Since having kids my idea of fun has definitly changed. My good friend and I decided to get together and celebrate with the kids since both of our husbands were working.

All the kids get along so well its really fun when we get together. We decided just to do finger foods for dinner since the kids always pick and play. Knox and Mason had fun playing the drums, cars, and hunting wolves. The girls had a blast dressing up and playing with all of Alyssa's jewelry. Alyssa has finally found someone who is as girly as her!

The kids started to get somewhat antsy and the flashlights came out. They played and hunted for a good hour or so. We had fun watching them play and use their imagination.

Everyone left around 9, midnight eastern time, and the kids and I were in bed not soon after. It was a perfect way to ring in the new year

Nutcracker and Tea

We have started a fun tradition with us ladies that at Christmas we attend the Nutcracker and then go out for tea.  Alyssa just loves every part of it.  I hope this is something that continues for years to come.

This year was Alyssa, Grandma Gail, Great Grammy, and I.  There weren't too many dates this year for us to attend due to schedules etc. and they started a little later than normal.  We were able to go to the matinee on the last day of performance.  Not that it even mattered when we went because it was still very magical.

Alyssa starts talking about it oh I would say either after she sees the first commercial for it, Christmas stuff starts being out, or when we received the tickets which was in August!  This little girl sure has a passion for the arts and I love it!  She wanted to dance up on that stage so bad with all the ballerinas.

After the performance we went out to tea at the Queen Mary Tea Room.  It's not a very big place so you are somewhat cramped all in.  It's a pretty cool place to go if you ever get the chance.  My only complaint is the price, it can be a little spendy.  The main thing is my little girl loves everything about it and this day is always about her.

She was so very excited to get her hot chocolate, which she got her very own pot full of it.  When her food came boy was she thrilled.  I have to say she did great eating and even went for her fruit first.  Although I really don't have too much of a problem with my kids eating nutritious foods so that is nice.

We were there for a few hours before heading back up to Magnolia and then making the long drive home.  It was a very long day but fun.  We had a blast hanging out with Grammy and Grandma Gail and all the conversation.  Of course looking forward to next year as well.

Christmas Part Two

On Saturday Cory's parents came up and we went to the Christmas lights at Warm Beach that has become a family tradition.  We all love going there and they have a lot of fun stuff for the kids to see and do.
The weather really cooperated for us that night and didn't rain but was stinking cold!  I will take that anytime.  We were there for almost two hours and were able to do everything we wanted except for get the face painting that we passed and didn't go back by and the warm doughnuts.  That was OK.

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The kids were really excited for Sunday because it was Christmas number 2!  Grandma and Grandpa Simmons came over early that morning and we spent some time opening up presents.  The kids loved all their gifts.  They are funny how they go about it.  Alyssa wants to open every single one of them while Knox wants to open one play with it and come back for the others later. While they loved all their gifts they received that day I would say the highlight for Knox was his monster school bus and the ballet shoes for Alyssa. She also received a ballet necklace that I don't think has come off since. This girl has a passion for dance!

Christmas Part One

The Thursday before Christmas my parents came up and spent the day with us and celebrated.  The kids were so stinking excited!

Alyssa got the doll house that she has been dying for.  Every time we went somewhere she would see one and wine about wanting one.  So when she opened this the excitement was pretty cute.  I should have video taped it but didn't. 
Knox got a drum set that he to was excited about.  This summer when he first sat down at a set and started playing I knew he had to get some.  After I decided this I thought what was I thinking but at this time have no regrets about it at all!

After a nice visit and dinner my parents left and went to the hotel for the night.  Alyssa and I headed to her last day of swim for the current session while Cory was busy putting together her new doll house. 

She did really good at swim and is swimming on her own.  Her teacher gave her many praises and just said she needs to work on her confidence.  Alyssa loved it because they got to go in the deep end of the pool and jump in and practice swimming to the shallow area.  She did great!   

When all was said and done she got her certificate and was excited to get home to see the progress of the doll house!  It was pretty close to being done and with a little help from me afterwards it was done in no time.  She was so excited and both kids played with it for awhile that evening.

My parents came back over the next morning for a quick visit before returning home.  I was able to get the drum set put together and that has also been a lot of fun for both.  Knox is a natural : )

Christmas Program

Alyssa had her Christmas program at school on the last day before Christmas break began.  She was so excited about it and I had heard her practicing the songs leading up to it.  Every time I asked her about it she said it was a surprise.  She did tell me she was the inn keeper though for their play.  I had no idea about that so was very surprised and curious.  When I asked her about it she told me that she had lines and recited them.  I could barely wait to see this!

The "play" which was them recreating the nativity scene lasted about five minutes.  Some of the kids were in costume and Alyssa just had to wear a vest.  It was stinking cute!  All the kids did very well and from what I saw there were no issues at all.After that was all done they sang about four songs.  I can't remember all of them now but again it was very cute.  I have some video of it but won't post it since their are children that I don't know in it.

After the performance they had a cookie / juice social.  It was fun to watch all the kids play together.  When I say that I mean Knox running around with all the boys!  Alyssa really seemed to enjoy it and was good at participating.  I asked her if she was nervous and she told me she likes being on stage.  I wouldn't have expected anything else from her.

I got a sweet picture of her teacher and her together.  Alyssa "loves" her so much.  I look forward to going to many more of these performances throughout the years!  Don't mind the mark on Alyssa's face it's from her sucking her thumb and drooling.  She tells me she will stop when she is five....hmm...that's two months so we shall see! 

Bellingham

The kids and I were getting together with a friend of mine and her kids and we decided to drive up to Bellingham for their Christmas festival that was going on.  It was Friday and a yucky day out until we headed North where the blue sky was out and what was a beautiful day.

We arrived at the festival and went in and looked at all the Gingerbread houses and started listening to some of the school choirs performing.  After a few minutes we had wondered away and asked someone when all the kids activities were going to begin.  They informed us that their website was wrong and the children's activities would be tomorrow.  Sigh...oh well we weren't going to let it ruin our day.

The kids ran around on the dock and it was truly a beautiful cold fall day.  These are my favorite.  We decided to head to Red Robins for lunch and then went over to McDonald's for a ice cream cone and to let the kids play in the play land.  I hate those places just because I think of all the germs.  Really are they any worse than some other places?!  Anyways when we were at lunch there was a quick snow shower but it didn't last too long and the snow came back out.

We had the play area to ourselves and the kids had a blast!  A three hour blast at that!  Kelly and I were able to enjoy some great conversation while the kids were playing.  We finally decided to head back to Arlington because we were going with our friends to a Christmas party that night at the hospital where she works.  The kids were pretty excited and Alyssa especially because she wanted to tell Santa something else she wanted.

It was a simple party with goodies, dinner if you wanted, fire trucks all decorated for Christmas, and of course Santa himself.  The kids sat on his lap, again.  I wasn't expecting much from the photo but later that week when Kelly brought it to me I was surprised in what I got.  First off I thought it was a pretty cute picture and then I got a 8x10, three 5x7's, and 4 wallets all for FREE.  That made me seriously reconsider where we go but I just can't seem to break tradition!

Anyways around seven we headed back home after the long day and the kids were wiped, as I was too!

Santa Pictures

We made our annual trip to the downtown Nordstroms for our visit with Santa this last week.  Every year we talk about going somewhere closer to home but I don't think either one of us can break tradition.  So as long as the kids are getting pictures done with the jolly 'ol man we will be making the trek.

Since this is a popular location we have some rules that we follow.  First off we only go on weekdays and secondly we try and get there as close to opening as we can.  We were successful on both of these.  I was very curious to how Knox was going to do with Santa.  He wasn't interested in him last year at all and the first Santa we saw this year the only way I got him to go was because I went as well.  I have to say he was very excited.  Was that because his sister was?  Or because I kept talking about he would get a candy cane afterwards?  Im not sure but whatever it was it worked!

When we got there we had about a ten minute wait which was nothing.  They were all excited and Alyssa brought the Target toy catalog with her so she could show Santa exactly what it was that she wanted..  This is no joke.  She had been talking about it for weeks, since it came in the mail pretty much around Halloween.  Anyways after they took the pictures and Cory and I were deciding which one we wanted I heard the kids talking with Santa and it was so cute.

Santa was saying "So Alyssa you want a computer huh?"  Alyssa, "Yes, and this.." as she opened up the catalog and proceeded to point to all the toys on the pages that she wanted.  Im not sure what Santa thought but he humored her.  When he asked Knox of course he said "Race car!"

Like I said in a previous post when I get all our Santa pictures back I will put them together.  I will have four when all is said and done!  Alyssa has kind of questioned it but doesn't push it. Thank goodness!

Afterwards we headed back over to Pacific Place where we parked and got some coffee and pictures by the nut crackers.  When we were all finished we headed on up to Magnolia to visit Grammy.  The kids were so excited to see her.  We hung out and visited and the kids were jabbering and running amuk when Grammy offered to watch the kids and let us go out for a bite.  It's hard to pass an offer up like that!  I think Cory and I were out the door before she even finished the sentence. 

We told the kids goodbye and they probably could have cared less.  There are very few people they will truly do this with.  They are good whenever we leave them but Grammy is one of those that they barely look up when we say goodbye!

Cory and I decided to stay close since Grammy's house keeper was coming by soon.  We ended up going to this dive bar in Magnolia, the Boxcar.  Cory had been there before for drinks but I don't think he had got any food before.  I wasn't sure exactly what to expect but to my surprise it was actually a pretty cool place and the food was amazing!

After being gone for two hours we headed back to the apartment.  The kids were hiding from us when we came in.    We visited for a little while longer before leaving late afternoon.  Both kids were exhausted!  Im not sure what Grammy is doing to them but whatever it is I need to drop them off more! 

I got some really cute pictures of the kids at Grammy's on my camera that I haven't put on the computer yet that I will have to post another time.

Potty Training

The last four months Knox has been showing interest in potty training in one form or another.  I haven't pushed it too much because honestly I'm busy and didn't want to deal with it really.  I wasn't buying diapers any more and had switched to pull ups to kind of get him used to that, the pulling up and down of his pants.  I probably didn't have to but I did.  We had read books and of course he watches all of us go.  He loves to flush the toilet and my one rule has been the person who puts pee or poop in the toilet gets to flush.  This kind of upsets him but on the same hand has encouraged him as well.  He also is interested in doing everything his big sister does and I tell him until he is potty trained he can not. 

Well there have been days when he would go here and there in the potty.  When we were down in Longview I got him to go several times along with pooping.  He was having fun.  I decided when we got back we were in it full force.  I got rid of our diaper pail and he is wearing underwear full time now.  At night tho I will still put him in a pull up, I'm not ready to deal with that part just yet.  He has woke up several times dry but one thing at a time for me!

Several friends have told me that with boys it takes longer and that I should wait, especially considering his age.  I get that but also think it depends on the child as well.  Mine showed interested and so why wouldn't I go for it!

As I write this we are in it full force and he is doing great!  I'm so proud of him and he is so excited as well.  His big sister has also been helping and it's so stinking cute to watch them.  They will go to the bathroom together.  I have a potty chair he will use or he will sit on the toilet or stand.   It just depends on his mood.  It's kind of funny.

I will say that after doing diapers for the last four and a half years I am done!  I have several cute pictures of him but wont post just because of the nature.  Im sure will have no problem though using for blackmail later on in life, haha!