We Love to READ!!!

This is Aby reading stories to her stuffed animals, she lined them all up, and then picked out some of her favorite princess story books and proceeded to read(tell) them the stories. She will sit and read over most other activities. In fact just today, after looking at Monica and Tiffany's blogs I sent her off to play outside, and when I checked on her she had taken several books outside and was sitting on the ground reading them. I took a picture, and will post it later.

Kenzie is the same as her sister, this is just after I had cleaned all the toys out of the room for Brooklyn, and when i came back later she was sitting there with her butterfly wings and reading the books happy as could be. I am so greatful that my kids love to read. Mckenzie loves books and the library, in fact I think she would rather go there than most other places. I admit that sometimes I brib her to be good with a trip to the library as the promised reward. (hey works better than candy most times.)

Fun In a box

Aby decided that she wanted to be a dog, and is wearing the dog house around her neck.

Other than the fact that my kids are absolutely the cutest in the world. (sorry mo yours are cute, but mine are cuter (although I might be biased)). There is a story as to how my kids got this wonderful great big box to play house with. Notice the flash light or as Kenzie says the light light. They loved to have it dark and turn on the flashlights to see with. Ok on to the story.....Our new (ok the 2 year old) dishwasher quit working one day this is not good with me cooking and making dishes all day long. So after Ryan looked at it and determined that he didn't know what to do we called a repair man. 1 week later (this did not make me happy as I had to do all dishes by hand until then) Brian Jewett come and tells me that he can repair the dishwasher for close to 500.00 or we can buy a new one. (if anyone has looked at dishwashers lately good middle line ones are only 300-450) So we decided to buy a new dishwasher. That is why my children got a giant play box. I think that there are easier ways to get play toys for you kids by the way. I don't reccommend my method it costs too much money!!!

Up-date (a Loooooong time in comming I know)

Ok everyone can quit screaming at me now. I am sorry that I haven't written for a few months, I was a little bit busy having a baby and learning how to deal with three kids instead of two. It takes a little getting used to you know. So here goes the official update, with pictures and commentary to follow ( although they may be out of order.) We are doing fine, and getting back into a routine and the swing of things. Mom (me) had a baby girl (sorry no boys for us yet.) on Feburary 22, 2007. This was a week earlier that the doctor and I had planned, but I was praying to go into labor cause I hurt so bad. We named her Brooklyn Anne Sullivan, and she was born at 8:03 pm. I will admit that my recovery this time has been much harder than the other two kids. (don't tell Ryan, I am still trying to convince him that I am fine to start digging up dirt to build my kids a sandbox.) Ryan is still enjoying work, and the girls are doing great. Aby loves school, and friends. I am still getting used to the whole mom can I go to _________ house and play, or can they come here and play. My little girl is growing up on me. you will be able to tell that through the pictures also. She is now 4 years old. Mckenzie is busy as a bee and followes her sister everywhere that she possibly can. well I guess that I will get on with things and show you the pictures that you all want to see.

Christmas fun!

I have not had a lot of time to update the blog lately and I am sorry about that. We were very blessed this past Christmas to have time to visit with family on both sides. Thank you Monica and Aaron for bringing your family out to visit it was great fun. The following are just some fun photos from Christmas time Enjoy them.

Aby and Kenzie were given an old fashioned rocking horse for Christmas, and it was the first and the best thing discovered in the morning. Aby was the early one this year, and was up at 4:30 am. After trying to get her to go back to bed for 30 min. I finally gave up and came out to watch her discover the stocking gifts, and the horse. I cannot say that I was upset it was so great to see Aby's eyes light up and to hear the excitement in her voice. Needless to say after about 20 minutes of exploring she was ready to go back to bed until Mckenzie woke up around 8:00. (a much better wake up time for mom and dad.) Mckenzie also thought the horse was the coolest and best, at least unti we got to the other presents.

I love the face of Mckenzie in this photo, in case you cannot read lips she is saying WOW!!! This is one of the many new words that she has learned. (another phrase that mom is not so fond of is "I busy mom."

This is only one of the games that Aby recieved from Santa. He felt that we needed to spend more time as a family playing games that the kids could play with. funny how mom agreed with him.

A Visit with Santa!!!

The Batemans (Marlene Sullivan's Family) decided that it was time to renew an old tradition and have a big family Christmas party with Santa as a special guest. The party was great, and it was fun to meet everyone again. The highlight for the kids was when Santa came down the stairs carrying a bag of presents for everyone. Kenzie didn't know what to think, but Aby was right pleased and very excited to see the big guy. Each of the kids was given a present, and called up to sit on Santa's lap. Some kids liked this better than others. All in all the kids had a great time. Thanks to everyone who helped put it togeather.

Kenzie was not sure that she was ready to sit on Santa's Lap, but she did like opening the present with daddy later on. She was given a pretty scarf, and a set of colored pencils. Both have been put to very good use in the past week.

In complete TaLonnie fashion, my camara ran out of batteries just as soon as Aby got up to sit on the big guys lap. Ryan's brother Ken was kind enough to take some pictures for me, we just haven't had time to get them from him. So, as soon as i get them I will update and put those pictures up for you to see as well.

Aby's Pre-school program

Aby has been going to pre-school this past year, and they just did a small Christmas program. (I wish that I could show you some video clips, but I cannot figure out how to upload them.) Anyway back to the program, Aby and her class sang several Chistmas songs including Jingle Bells, Where is Santa, and Up On the house Top. She did great, and I was very proud of her for getting up in front of all the parents and not getting scared. She says that she was "very Brave like Karson."

Aby is the one that is hiding behind her "Santa" She loves this Santa and will constantly carry it around and ask "Where is Santa?"

Mckenzie turns 2!!

Mckenzie was very happy with the cake and ice cream part of the party. The only downside to her birthday was a very red runny nose.

Mom and Dad gave Mckenzie books (of course hello I am her mom) and a cool trycicle. She was more interested in the trycicle until we found the animal books.

Check out the grin for the trike!

Grandma Roundy gave Mckenzie "Winny Pooh" cards a coloring book, and some cool crayons! They have been the hit of the past few days.

Grandma Sullivan put all her presents into one giant bag, it was too funny and cute to watch Mckenzie fall into the bag and dig for her presents. Thanks grandma for the movies and the clothes and the toys.

Mom and Mckenzie at the start of the party. I would love to say that Mckenzie was so excited to be getting bigger, but she didn't really have any idea what was going on for most of the day. The first time she showed any excitement was when dad came home from the store with a balloon. You would have thought that he hung the moon. I am not sure that we needed to even have a party after that she was perfectly happy with the balloon. (oh well she got into the presents and was happy with them also.)

We had one other very big accomplishment..... on Friday December 1, 2006, Mckenzie went poop in the potty! She is really into sitting on the potty but doesn't really have a clue what she is supposed to do. It's just cool cuz big sister Aby sits on the potty. Needless to say I was very happy, and so was dad (we called him at work to let him know what happened.) There hasn't been a repeat performance yet, but I am hopeful to have her potty trained before the new baby comes in March.

We put up our christmas tree after Thanksgiving this year, Ryan had asked me to do a formal red tree instead of my usual mult-color tree. I said that I would as long as he helped with the lights (he must have really wanted the tree to be red because he did a lot to help with the lights.) It turned out great, Mckenzie and Aby had a hard time waiting until the lights were on to help with the ornaments, but they managed. When it was time to hang up the ornaments they were all energy even if it was 11:00 pm at night.