Camden's last football game

Football season is over and what improvements we've made!!!! The team as a whole improved dramatically from the first game and ended up with a record of 6-1-1.

While Camden may not have quite figured out how to play defense, his offense became much better! Through practicing with Daddy, Camden ended up scoring some extra points in the last 2 games! We are so proud of him!

We decided to sign-up for the winter season, so we will keep everyone posted on the schedule.

Oh, like the blue faux hawk he had for the last game?

Taylor Halloween Party

Christian's parents, aka Burger King and Dairy Queen, had a Halloween party on Friday. The party was so much fun and included delicious soup (so nice for the cold night), a hay ride to a haunted house, and horse rides for the kids. We all had a blast!

My parents came as a nun and blind monk, but my dad's walking cane refelected the flash and looked a lot more like a light saber! Every picture of him was like this!

The kids were excited to wear new gloves!

Christian decided that for his costume he would be Richard Heene (the balloon boy dad). I think he really just enjoyed building his "craft." Because I could think of nothing else, I became his reporter! :)

Here is the balloon (which the had a little door in it where the kids could actually fit!)

The interview.

The kids enjoyed riding on the horse. Camden even conned the guy into taking him twice!

Thanks for the party Nana and Poppy!

Makenna's straight hair

For the state fair on Wednesday, Makenna needed her hair flat ironed. I was so excited to see what her hair looked like straight, and boy she looked older! This picture doesn't really show it that well, but I thought I'd share. I still like her hair curly though!

Schnepf Farms

We took our annual trip to Schnepf Farms this past weekend. We had fun...

face painting

...being sisters...

...climbing...

...helping our sister slide...(I swear she loved it, not sure why she has a sad face in the picture)

...riding bicycles...

...conducting a train......hanging out......riding the ladybug swings......the carousel......riding the "real" train...We went home for naps and the kids loved being goofy while they anxiously waited to go back.Then we at dinner in the car.Back at the farm...What a big girl! Delaney could ride on the airplanes!Camden LOVED flying solo!Ahh, the pumpkin patch...Our babies...We are so lucky!

Parent/Teacher Conference

I feel like a grown-up now. Before, I was just a child with little kids living in the house, but now I feel like the parent because I've officially participated in a parent/teacher conference...and I wasn't the teacher this time!

Makenna is doing just fine in her kindergarten class. They don't receive grades at their first report card, and even if they did, I don't think I will be putting them up on the blog. Down the road, she may not want people to know the first time she gets a lower grade or something! Not that we ever expect that to happen! Ha!

Academically she's ahead, but we are always much more interested in her social behavior anyway. We found out she's a little chatty (not too much the teacher said).

Not too much else to say, I just wanted an excuse to do a post on Makenna with this cute picture!

Our Favorite Parenting Ideas and Gadgets

These are the things we couldn't have lived without (or at least wouldn't have wanted to!) They might not be must-haves for everyone, but they certainly were and are for us!!!

Bumbo Seat

When Makenna was a baby, I discovered this on a parenting message board. Back then, they were only available through a website, not in Target and other chains like they are now. We actually bought ours off ebay. I thought this was the greatest invention. For a baby to be able to sit up unassisted and see the world was perfect for those curious little ones. All three of our children loved this seat. Makenna was especially fond of it.

Aquarium

All 3 had an aquarium on their crib, like many babies. I loved that they could entertain themselves if they woke up a little early, or use the light in the middle of the night to find their pacifier.

Personalized CD

Nanny and Gramps bought Makenna and Camden CD's with songs that included their names when they were very little. The kids still love these songs because it includes them. Christian's parents also bought Delaney her own, and we just recently started listening to this. Delaney loves hearing her name in a song, and the older two love it too! This is a great gift idea for baby showers too!

Leapster

An educational video game perfect in the car and for longs waits at doctors offices. The kids love practicing their reading and math while the wait, and they are learning while they play.

Clocks

This may have been one of our best decisions to ensure the kids don't get up too early. We have a rule in the house that you can't get up until the clock reads 7:00. This has been AMAZING because Makenna and Camden will stay in their beds until this time. (Delaney likes to sleep late anyways). When I hear so many other kids are waking their parents up at 5 and 6, I am so glad we have instilled this! They can read in bed, or just relax, they just cannot get up until this time.

Naptimes work similarly. We look at the clock when they lay down, and they cannot get up until 1 hour has passed (or more!). They can read or play quieitly with their animals, they just cannot get out of the bed until that time. It works!

I do think Makenna has a slight obsession with her clock, though. She sleeps with it right under her hand so she can check it at any time. :)

If I could pick one thing that has helped us the most, this would almost be it! (Whisper Mode beats it!)

Whisper Mode

This is something Christian invented....and it is by far our most helpful parenting technique. If the kids are being too loud, or we need them quiet for something, they go on whisper mode, where they can only speak in a whisper. The difference between this and just telling them to be quieter is that this is not a punishment. They can still talk, just at a lower decibel. They are really good at it! They just keep on playing, but in a whisper. When the time passes where they can talk louder again, they are "taken off whisper mode."

We have actually added a "silent mode" too, for when we need no sound. Also, there is a "restaurant mode" where they have to go into a restaurant in a whisper until we tell them they can go back to "talking mode." It's like a game! A VERY helpful game!

White Noise Machines

A must-have with mulitiple kids. We've never had the kids wake up because they heard someone else. Plus, Camden has a white noise machine that is also a clock!

Sunglasses

Starting early with these is definitely the key! Makenna wore sunglasses from a young age whenever we would go for a walk, and even for a car ride. Because of this, she got so used to them that she never took them off. We weren't as good at putting them on Camden early on, so he wouldn't wear them from about 9 months to 3, but now, he loves them. Delaney likes them as a fashion statement, but takes them off outside! :)

So here are just some of the things that have made our life as a family of five easier. Anyone have any other ideas that work for them? I love to get new things to try!