2013 Wellchecks

Part of the fun of having your children 1 day apart is that you get to have their yearly physicals at the same time.  When they were babies it was not so much fun, as both of them usually ended up getting shots and wanting Mom to hold them at the same time.  As they get older though it definitely gets easier.  Will has been pretty busy playing doctor ever since I was in the hospital in September.  So he insisted on bring Teddy and his doctor kit to his wellcheck this year.  Of course he melted every nurse's heart when he walked in. 

Kate and Will love putting on the gowns for their check ups.  Kate had a pretty easy year, walking away with only a flu mist vaccine.  Will on the other hand, NOT SO MUCH!  This was the big 5 yr. wellcheck full of lots of shots.  I didn't tell him about it ahead of time, because what's the point.  I knew he wouldn't like it.  He watched Kate get her flu mist in her nose and thought...."This will be easy breezy."  Then then nurse got out all the syringes and his mood changed immediately.  I had to hold his arms and body down while she quickly administered the shots.   Oh was he ANGRY.  In fact his response was "You will NEVER do that to me AGAIN!!!"   I took the kids to McDonalds for a special treat after their appt., but  Will  was so upset that he fell asleep in the car with his McDonald's chicken nuggets sitting on his lap.  Poor little guy wore himself out!

On a good note,  Will has finally made it BACK ON the GROWTH CURVE!!  Yea!! We are so excited!
At 5 yrs old he weighs 33 lbs, which places him back on the curve at the 3rd percentile!!!!
He is 41 inches tall...... placing him at the 16th percentile.   He has grown out of his 3T clothes and is fitting very well into his 4T clothes.   Our guy may be little, but his personality sure is MIGHTY!   He never meets anyone that isn't his friend and he loves to challenge his mom and dad on every rule in the book.  But we wouldn't have him any other way!

Kate continues to shoot up in height.  She is now 7 years old, going on 15!
She is 50 inches tall...... 80th percentile!
And she weighs 49 lbs........ 42nd percentile.  She is going to be tall and lean, just like I was at her age! 
Kate is so nurturing to her little brother and others around her.   She has such a big heart!  There isn't a day that goes by that we aren't proud of the responsible choices she makes and her hard work at school.  We LOVE You KATE!!!

First Days of School catch up.

School has been underway for a few months now,  and I am finally around to posting some pics from the first few days. Kate's school always starts the year with an Ice Cream Social to bring everyone in to meet their teachers, see their classrooms and most of all......figure out what friends are in their class.

In 2nd grade you get a locker for the first time.  Kate shares with a neighbor friend of ours named Annie.  She loves having a locker and requested a mirror and dry erase board for messages for her bday to accessorize her space.

Ms. Rothfus is Kate's awesome teacher this year!  Kate adores her so much.  Ms. Rothfus keeps a tight ship, but also knows how to have a lot of fun with her students.

This year she has decided she wants to be an Art teacher when she grows up.  Definitely didn't get those skills from me!

Kate loves riding the bus to and from school each day.  I think the fact of being able to ride with your friends without parents and without seatbelts makes it the BEST TIME EVER!

Will and I had a big change in our schedules.  Will has been going with me to work for the past 5 years.  His daycare was on the ground level of the rehab facility that I work part time at.  Many days, his teachers would walk him up to my office around the time I usually pick him up so he could hang out with me while I finish up.  Will LOVES coming up to my office and playing with all the therapy equipment.   So it was a definite change for us when he started 1/2 day kindergarten this year.  I now have 2 drop offs before heading downtown to my office. 

Will took cupcakes on his last day at the daycare.  His friends loved the treats, and Will Loved being the center of attention.

Will started 1/2 day kindergarten right after Labor Day.  This year he says he is going to be a scientist when he grows up.

Brett and I were so fortunate that Will got a spot in the kindergarten program at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church this year.  You pretty much have to put your name on the waitlist on the day your child is born to MAYBE get a spot 4-5 yrs. later.  Therefore,  I was shocked when the director called and told us we got in!!!  It is a fabulous program with a small class size of 13, which is exactly what my little firecracker -I don't want to sit down-son Will needs. 

Every day he checks himself in for attendance.

And then casts his vote for the book to be read to the class that day.

Will's bday fell on the 2nd day of school.  Mrs. Basler helped him fill out this wonderful list of favorites for a keepsake.

Like I said,  we love Mrs. Basler and the program Will is in this year.  He is learning so much and having a blast doing it.  Brett and I both feel like Will will be more than ready for full day kindergarten next year. 

Great Grandma Van Zee's Birthday Party

I'm a little out of order, but that happens sometimes.  Still catching up from the chaos!  When the weather was still nice and warm we headed down to Pella to celebrate Great Grandma Trudy's birthday.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day, so we decided to have a picnic dinner at a fun park in town. 

Birthday parties aren't complete without the hats!

Lauren loved playing and running around with all the kids.

Ethan was such a good baby as usual.  AND he is obviously in LOVE with his favorite Aunt!  Look at that cute smile!!

The park had great paths for the kids to ride their bikes on.

A huge wooden playground kept Will super busy making friends and playing games.

Blowing out the candles....... WAY TO GO GRANDMA!!

A yummy fried chicken dinner with all the great sides and birthday cake for dessert.  I think we all left yawning with full tummies!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!   We love you SO much!!

More Birthday Fun.

Since Kate and Will's birthdays are only 1 day apart, Brett and I make a BIG deal about each of their special days so they don't feel like they have to celebrate their bday's together ALL THE TIME.  They each got to pick where they wanted to have dinner on their special days.  And of course.....they both picked "Old McDonald's" as we refer to it in our house.  Nothing like fried, greasy food 2 days in a row!!

We always sneek into each of their rooms the night before the big day and decorate to start their bday off with a bang!

Kate chose to have a sleepover with a couple of her friends for her bday.  Friday night was crafts, pizza, movie and popcorn.

And presents of course!  She got the jeep for her American Girl Doll.  So excited!

The following morning I took the girls to the Iowa School of Beauty for Hair, Make-up and Nails!  Here's  the BEFORE.....

Getting the beautiful UP DO!

And here is the AFTER!!!  Lots of pins, hairspray, colors and fancy nails.

Will chose Chuck E. Cheese for the 3rd year in a row.  He's a little over the top about it, and I am a pro at planning a
Chuck E. Cheese bday party if anyone is seeking a party planner.

Friends, pizza, games and cupcakes.  Can't get any better than that!

Will was a bit nervous about the guy in the Chucky costume.  So he spent some time hopping from Brett's lap to my lap during the show.

Kate and a few of the "older kids"  had a great time too.

We of course got our 3rd inflatable bday crown.

And an inflatable guitar too!

We had a spiderman theme this year, however, Will picked out "Under the sea" cupcakes for his dessert.  It's his bday, he gets to pick out whatever he wants I guess.

The fast blowing air in the ticket blaster still intimidates Will.  So his brave sister stepped up to the plate and did the blaster for him again this year.

Go Kate Go!

The kids had a great time once again!  I'm guessing we'll keep our record going next year.  I might as well book his 6th bday party for next year now.  Maybe they'll give me a "Valued Customer" discount?   Never hurts to ask, right!

Kate & Will's Family Birthday Party 2013

Flashback to Labor Day weekend everyone!  We had our annual bday party for Kate and Will.  Hard to believe my little girl is 7 and my little boy is 5!!!   Where did the time go!

It was a beautiful day!  The kids had tons of fun on the waterslide and tire swing in the backyard. 

My Aunt Cindy and her granddaughter Sienna were able to join us.  Sienna loved seeing baby Ethan, the newest addition to the family. 

Yummy burgers, chips and fruit were the kids' choice for the menu.

Like I said, it was a beautiful day to be out on the deck. 

Will thought it was hilarious to stuff his cheeks with grapes and run around making monkey sounds during the meal.

Kate was just silly most of the day.

Lauren just loved hanging out with all the kiddos!!

Kate & Teagan don't get to spend near enough time together!  They both get so excited any chance they get to have fun girly time with one another.

We had to have a pre party talk with Will about not asking "When are we opening presents??"  100 times during the party.  We told him that we wouldn't do gifts until after dinner.  Well, it worked!  In fact, my Mom even commented on how shocked she was that Will hadn't asked about the presents yet.   Little did she know about the BIG talk we had before anyone arrived.

Kate got a new puppy "Honey" to go with her American Girl doll.......SUPER EXCITING!

All the kiddos sitting for a picture.

And all the desserts to pick from!!!  WOW can I say sugar overload!!

Krispy Creme's and chocolate Cupcakes were the big picks for this year.  I have to say,  the donuts are such a HUGE hit every year.  I think the family may get disappointed if Kate or Will ever changes their mind.



"What will I wish for this year??"

Blow Will!!!

Possible Xmas card Pick?  Maybe not with Papa's crutches in the background!!

A little history here....... Way back during my college days in Springfield, my  Mom and Aunt would come down to visit Brett & I for long weekends here and there.  During 1 of their awesome visits, a Krispy Creme shop opened up.  I had never had a krispy creme, so we were pretty pumped to go on opening day.   After our visit, we posed outside the shop with these same silly hats on to remember the fun experience.  So when I pulled the same hats out at the party, we had to repeat the picture.   We may be 10 years older, but still look pretty awesome in the hats if you ask me!!

So.... we made everyone pose in the hats,  starting with the great grandmas.....

Then Papa and Gary.......

and finally Grandpa and Aunt Becca!

Sienna had a ton of fun and ate lots and lots of sugar.

And so did Ms. Lauren!!

Will was super excited about all of his new superhero and Jake and the Neverland Pirates toys.

He convinced Papa to get down and open and play with his new toys with him.

The night ended with a game of Pop the Pig!  It was another successful bday party at the Van Zee house!