Roarin' round the Forest

One evening I happened upon the kids in the stairwell putting on a show with their flashlights. They like to watch a show on PBS called Dinosaur Train. One of the main characters, Buddy, is a T-Rex and does a song with his shadow in the background. This is the kiddos version. I thought it was very clever of them to use their flashlights.

This is the song they are singing:

T-Rex, I'm a Tyrannosaurus. I'm the biggest carnivore in the Cretaceous forest. Roarin' round the forest. Tyrannosaurus Rex. Stompin' round the forest. T-Rex.

Roarin' Round the Forest from Melissa Jarrett on Vimeo.

Popcorn, Painting and Tent Making

These pics are actually from December. (I'm SO far behind) Gramma Ginny got the kids an early Christmas gift of the Veggie Tales, Saint Nicholas video so we had a popcorn and movie afternoon. This was the first time I pulled out the popcorn maker for them to see and they loved watching the process of the kernel popping into the fluffy, white popcorn we love to eat. I think the pictures below speak for themselves!

Nothing better than popcorn and a movie

A little bit of art time. I love how their artwork shows off a little bit of their personality.

Hailey is usually very precise, and draws in little, tiny areas. She does this with coloring as well. Of the two girls, Hailey is more reserved, quiet and plays more independently. (Thats not to say that she doesnt roll rough and tumble with the rest of them.)

Brooklyn, on the other hand, fills in every inch of space on her paper with full, wide strokes. She is the more adventerous of the girls, always into EVERYTHING, and gives you this cute little smile when she knows she is in trouble!

Dylan always colors in one spot, over and over. Whether its with poster paint or water color, he usually wears a hole in the paper. Dylan is very tenacious, wants everything done perfectly and wants no one to help him. Usually things need to be done "just so" for him.

This particular time, Connor only wanted blue. He does not seem to have one particular style which he gravitates towards. Connor just enjoys life anyway it comes and laughs his way through things.

Needing a new distraction, we brought out a blanket and tipped over the furniture a made a tent.

Not only did they have this cool tent, but it was a new place to play with their much loved flashlights.

Over the river and through the woods...

TO GRAMMA'S HOUSE WE GO!!
Ok, so we didnt go over the river, or through any woods, but we did go to Gramma's house. The Wednesday before Christmas Gramma was a brave soul and had ALL the grandkids over to decorate Christmas cookies. Thats 19 grandchildren, give or take a few who couldnt make it. Anyways, it was alot of kids decorating cookies and running around the house. And definately alot of fun!

Gramma handing out the cookies for the little kids table as Hailey, Micah and Brooklyn look on.

Dylan is eager to get a the cookies and frosting

Hailey and Micah creating their masterpieces

Kiley, Dylan and Hailey hard at work

Dylan got a little frosting on and was ready to gobble it up!

Connor finally let go of Papa and decided to give cookie decorating a go

Connor and Abby

Brooklyn approves! Yummy cookies!

Hailey gives the thumbs up too!

An exhausted Hailey conks out in Gramma Ginny's lap

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

After waiting a few days so Brittney would be home to decorate with us, we finally got the ornaments out and on the tree. We cranked up some Christmas music and got to work.

Each of the quads got their own new ornament to hang on the tree. They already have a stuffed animal that corresponds with the ornament. Connor has Pooh Bear, Dylan has Tigger, Brooklyn has Piglet and Hailey has Eyore.

They were so excited and dove right in. I had to quickly step in and pull out the ornaments not suitable for the kiddos to hang. In hindsight, next year I will pull out the ornaments before setting the box on the couch and letting them "have at it".

Hailey and Connor were the best ornament hangers. Which doesnt suprise me. They are more focused and spent quite a while hanging the ornaments. Where as Dylan and Brooklyn are more active and cant be bothered to spend more than a couple minutes putting some ornaments on a tree when there are other things to be done.

Hailey

Hailey found one particular branch and decided to hang ALL her ornaments there.

Connor was very particular about where he put his ornaments.

Brittney showing the little ones how its done!

Brooklyn taking a moment to hang an ornament.

Brittney showing her sibs the art of placing an ornament in the exact right spot. (Not just on the lower branches. Ha Ha.)

Dylan caught on to the idea, and after spending most of the night flying the airplane around the room, decided to put it at the top of the tree.

Four hard working little elves.

Group pic around the (partially) decorated tree.

Deck the Halls

Its that time of year again. I LOVE Christmas time! So the Saturday after Thanksgiving the kiddos and I pulled out the tree and some decorations and got busy decking the halls. We keep the Christmas tree in the front closet which is also storage for diapers, wipes, toys, puzzles,...you get the picture...quad stuff. So the kiddies see the tree all year long and are always pointing out to me that thats our Christmas tree. Needless to say, they were very excited to FINALLY get that thing out of the closet!

Hailey, Dylan and Brooklyn helping to bring the tree in.

"Looks good from this side Hailey. How about your side?" Dylan

Connor, Hailey, Dylan and Brooklyn all lit up for Christmas.

This string of lights kept them busy while I worked on putting the lights on the tree.

The kids love hearing the Nutcracker Suite and were sooo excited when this nutcracker came out with the decorations. They took turns having it "bite" their fingers.

Some Cheap Fun

We got some of these balloons a while back at a birthday party and the kiddos had such a blast with them I looked around and found them at Walmart for 2 for $1. They are great to pull out and blow up when having an off day or when we just need something different to do. They throw them, catch them, roll over them and Dylan has even gotten good at punching them. (Which is what you are supposed to do with the rubber band around your finger.) In the video below they have figured out they can bounce on top of them as well when holding on to the couch. Oh such simple pleasures!

Halloween Happening's

Dylan the Giraffe

Brooklyn the Kitty Cat

Hailey the Leopard

Connor refused to get in his costume!

The day before Halloween, Brittney's work had a trick or treat session for all the residents, so we dressed up the kiddos and headed over for some day-before-Halloween fun.

Connor and Dylan eating up the attention from the residents of The Lakes while big sis Britt guides them around.

An attempt at a group shot. At least Brittney knows how to stand still and take a good picture.

Another attempt at a group shot with Papa, Cousins Devon and Logan and Uncle Steve.