A Fun Friday in January

This morning we met some friends at the Children's Museum, and the kids had a great time playing. Although the kids didn't always want to do the same thing, we were able to hit most exhibits together, which allowed Teri and I to get some nice conversation in too. Thankfully, the boys' friends (Ethan and Tyler) were very flexible... I think Jack was the most difficult one in really wanting to do certain things, like driving the fire truck or playing with the balls. But he's getting easier now that he's almost three.
We always fly the airplane first...
Emily was in a great mood this morning

Kicking back, relaxing on the plane

Jack liked driving the crane. Andy used it too, he's getting really good at navigating it, I just didn't get a picture.

Andy and Jack on the fire truck

All 4 boys playing at the fire truck...

Emily likes having toys to hold and look at now... I have to remember to put more in the diaper bag for her.

Jack and Tyler enjoying the water play area. Their shirt sleeves got pretty soaked despite the raincoats... next time an extra shirt would be a good idea, especially in the winter.

I think Jack could have played here all day

Andy and Ethan thought it was pretty cool when they climbed into the middle of the water table.

After a short nap, Emily was awake again right before we left. Happy, but soon to be hungry & needing a diaper change, so we left around 11.

Andy enjoying a quick snack before leaving. You'd think I would learn to pack 2 containers of goldfish for the boys... the sharing off the bowl was way too much drama.

We picked up some lunch on the way home and had a nice afternoon playing at home. The boys played downstairs while I ran & Emily napped. We played legos, read books, and got all of the kids' baths done this evening. Andy combed Emily's hair after her bath, and I enjoyed trying another hairstyle :) Here she is sporting some pigtails...

Playing in her crib for a little bit this evening...

Emmy's First Ponytail!

I put Emily's hair in her first ponytail after her bath last night. She didn't mind it at all :) Andy picked out the elastic color (blue of course!) and both boys thought she looked cute. Jack laughed at the ponytail - it does stick straight up, pretty silly! I also learned that once she's had a ponytail, there aren't any other hair-do options for the next morning (it was sticking straight up, even without the elastic) But that's okay :)

Ooops, these jammies are looking a little tight...

reading a book to Emily

Andy took this one, and even though it's a little crooked, it's the best one of her smiling.

Pretty cool that she can have a ponytail at 5 months old :)

All dressed for the day this morning

SMILE!

Emily - 5 months old

Emily turned 5 months old last Sunday (big football game day, hence the football t-shirt in the pictures) - I can't believe how fast she is growing. All of a sudden, she is full of motion, trying to move her body. She has rolled over both ways. But it's not too graceful. When she goes from back to tummy (usually to turn to see what the boys are playing somewhere else in the room ) her body gets kind of twisted up and her elbows don't always make it all the way under her. Her legs are getting stronger and she likes to stand as you hold her, she also likes the Jumperoo now.

She's eating 1 solid meal per day. Some rice cereal and a fruit or vegetable. Here's what she's tried so far: sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, bananas, apples, pears) She really likes bananas and apples. Her sleeping continues to be awesome - usually 8-10 hours at one stretch, then she wakes up to eat very early morning like 5:00, then back to sleep until 7 or so. She takes 2 naps per day -one around 10 am another around 2pm. She still loves sleeping in her swing, or in her carseat if she has fallen asleep in it in the car. She continues to be good natured during car rides to and from her brothers' school. We call her Emmy and Emily pretty equally. She is starting to grab onto toys, is chewing on her hands like crazy (no teeth yet), and likes looking in the mirror. Her full head of hair and her chubby cheeks are her most commented on features when we're out :) She smiles a lot and laughs especially when tickled. she's still in 3-6 month clothes, but I could move her up anytime now... she's getting so big!

Playing with toys on the floor
Looking in the mirror at herself (and probably also the football game!)

Looking stylish on Monday - the boys wanted me to put the bow in her hair. (Thanks for the cute outfit Aunt Jeri, Uncle David, Kylie and Alec!)

Andy making Emily smile before we head off to school today.

In other news, we signed Andy up for kindergarten on Monday. He got to tour the school a little bit and really liked the computer lab & gymnasium. It'll be a new adventure for him!! He'll be going from 8:15-3, but will get out at 2 on Fridays. It'll seem like a long day at first I'm sure - for both him and us! Jack had a really great second week of tumbling class today. He had taken a nap this afternoon and woke up in a super good mood. He was a little funny guy in class, laughing and saying silly things. He did great doing teacher-assisted flips on this roller-log thing, and also liked the balance beam.

Here We Go Steelers (and Packers) Here We Go!

It's a big football day here today! We're rooting for the Packers and the Steelers, big time! I am the lone Reinsel family member wearing green today, but that's just because everyone else has great Steeler clothes to wear. We are definitely cheering for the Packers too :) Here are the boys playing some pre-game football...

Daddy with the younger Steeler fans...

Go Steelers go!

Silly faces from Andy and Jack. We even found one of the boys' old Steelers shirts for Emily to wear. (I did look for something Packers, just to even things out, but couldn't find it.) We may be conflicted if both teams win and go to the Superbowl. Well, Chris won't be and I won't be, but we'll be trying to influence the kids in each direction :)

To make the day even better, Grandma Reinsel came up to watch the games with us. We made Steelers & Packers cupcakes too, It's almost game time!