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Busy Fall Update....

As you can see we've been a little busy this fall. We've been to the pumpkin patch a bunch, Finley and Brody started going on field trips for preschool, we've gone to bonfires, we got to meet and loved our new baby cousin Presley, watched the Cardinals win the 2011 World Series, dressed up and trick or treated for Halloween, and had Thanksgiving! The kids are still loving living with Papa and Mawmaw but mommy and daddy are hoping to look seriously for a house after the holidays.

We're heading into winter now, starting to get cold outside, and I can't believe my Quinn Campbell is going to be 3 already! We've planned her 3rd birthday party for this sunday, it's a "Pancakes and Pajamas" theme. Everyone will come over for breakfast in their pajamas, she's most excited about the sausage! We took the binky away cold turkey last night and she did pretty good. There was some crying involved at first but then she slept through the night w/o issue and took a nap today w/o any crying. Hopefully tonight will go well. We're working on potty training also but that's going pretty slowly. Her favorite song right now is "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5. She also loves the TV show "Blues Clues." She is one big ball of loud energy at the moment. She doesn't walk anywhere and you always know where she is and what she is doing b/c she announces it loudly all the time. She's always saying "I Love You." So cute. She hates sharing but we're working on that. Her and Lennon currently have a love/hate relationship, they love to be around eachother but they also drive eachother crazy! If she says it's nighttime, he says it's not. That of course drives her crazy b/c she thinks she's the boss all the time! I hear her say constantly to everyone everywhere, "I'm the boss, I run this house!" And her favorite word is no, we may have a little problem....Needless to say we've spent a lot time in time out!

Then there's our oldest daughter, Finley. She's still 4 going on 15 and is the mother to everyone in the house. She says the funniest things on a daily basis. Still totally in love with Darla. In fact, her Xmas list for Santa consists of a Cadillac fully equipped with GPS for Darla! I guess Mommy needs to work 4 jobs instead of just 2! She loves dance and sometimes practices her dance moves. Her biggest challenge is eating and drinking her milk, although she's getting better with that lately. She loves to take her time at the table. She is an amazing big sister and she's great at school according to her teachers. There is a girl in her class named Kaylee who isn't so good and is always in time out. The other night while saying prayers, Finley said she wanted to say a prayer for Kaylee b/c, "Just b/c Kaylee is bad doesn't mean she deserves to be sick." She's really sweet and thoughtful like that. She also remembers everything, including names. She is very smart and very girly. Still couldn't care less about what she wears or how you do her hair.

Last but not least, our little man of the house, Brody. Brody has recently turned into a boy. He loves stomping around the house, roaring, scaring his cousin Lennon. He loves building stuff with Legos. He loves baby dolls like his sister and asked if he could get a carrier for his baby doll from Santa. Daddy loved that one! He talks a lot and loves to say the word, "actually." He loves learning about all animals. He loves fishing and has started to get more into playing catch. He is a great eater and loves anything hot and spicy, chips and salsa, tortilla soup, buffalo wing pretzels. The hotter the better, wonder where he gets that from?! He loves winter for a couple of reasons, Xmas decorations and feet "pajammies." He couldn't wait for Thanksgiving to be over so he could torment both Mawmaws into putting up their Xmas decorations. And he made Mawmaw look for feet pajamas in his size recently while shopping and couldn't wait until it was cold enough to wear them! The other night he told his mommy that he would "actually like to have a baby brother from Santa." I thought his daddy might fall off the bed! He asked Andy "wouldn't he love to have 4 kids?" Andy quietly replied, "I'm pretty content with 3...." Judging by the amount of updates I've been able to write on this blog lately, I'd say we're pretty content with 3 kids at the moment...or we should be anyway :)

1st day of school...

I can't believe another year has gone by already and it's that much closer to my babies being in school forever! Finley and Brody started their 2nd year of Preschool II at First United Methodist Church. Their teacher and the director of the program, Mrs. Jacobsen, and myself decided that this year it would be best if they were in separate classes. They did not agree of course so we were scared of how this might go, but as usual, they just went with the flow and it was no big deal. We had talks about it beforehand so they were prepared. So Finley has Mrs Serr and Mrs Henderson and it's a larger class. Brody has Mrs Basten. All of whom we all know and love so it's going to be a great year, I just know it! They were happy to report after the first day that they were okay being apart, "b/c we still go to be together at lunch and took our nap together!" Duh mom, what were you thinking? :)

Quinn started her 1st year in the pre-primary room. This is her last classroom before she heads down to preschool this time next year. She hasn't been so happy with her school experience...it's made us wonder, is it the school? The teacher? Or is it just Quinn's general lack of liking anyone who tells her what to do? Clearly she calls the shots at home, so I don't know who they think they are trying to give her a routine at school! It's her world, we all just live in it! She has Mrs. Lesley and they are butting heads at the moment but I'm sure they will work it out. When I asked her at the end of the day if she liked school, she said, "No, Lennon hit me, he mean to me." So I asked her if she wanted me to have a conversation with his mom, or she could call her, she replied yes. We called Aunt Ni Ni and did report Len's behavior, I'm sure she was completely innocent (sarcasm implied). We'll see how next week goes...could be a long year!

Quinn Campbell - Ring Leader

This one is a firecracker! She starts off the day with a bang and never slows down until it's time for bed! She doesn't walk anywhere. Everything she does is done with passion. She laughs and smiles a lot but she can also give a dirty look like no other. Recently we got a note home from her teacher, the first note regarding her behavior we've ever received mind you....it said something like this: "Quinn opted out of craft time today, she preferred to stand in the corner and give me the "stink eye...." I couldn't disagree with Mrs. Lesley b/c I could totally see her doing it. She's not a bad girl, she's just very opinionated and a normal toddler so far. She gets so mad when you tell her no or that she can't do something. She is downright mean to her siblings at times. But she'll admit to the hitting or biting later, she's honest. She LOVES food. Really any type of food. She takes the biggest bites you'll ever see. She loves pizza, breakfast, fruit, milk, water, broccoli, pasta...there isn't much she won't eat. She loves dip of any type. She loves oreo cookies. She can have a full conversation and talks a lot these days. She has a lot of questions also. She loves babies, real of baby doll. Loves the play kitchen. Loves to read books and count. Loves dogs of any type. Loves one on one time, that might be her favorite thing. She has the most crooked smile, we joke that she's going to need a lot of orthodontia work, and she is. It's part of her charm for now though. She loves the lake house also. Loves her daddy, and more than that, loves Elmo's daddy. We have one DVD called Elmo's Potty Time. She for some reason calls it "Elmo's Daddy," it does have Elmo's Daddy in it. She loves Elmo's Dad's big eyes and eyebrows she says. You've gone potty on the potty a couple of times but no consistent interest yet. I think the last time was just b/c Lennon did it and got candy and you were bound and determined to push something out to get candy also. I joke and say she is filled with vinegar, but mostly sweet...

Brody Andrew - Still our Quiz Master

Brody is such an interesting character. He asks 1000 questions a day, but he also retains whatever you tell him. He remembers everything, and even the stuff you'd rather him forget. He is a wealth of knowledge on anything animal related. He loves fish, wildlife, really any type of animal. Loves shark week on Discovery Channel. Loves going to Aquariums. Not a huge fan of sharing anything, takes his possessions very seriously. Takes everything pretty seriously really. Wants to get dressed the minute his feet hit the floor in the am, and he has to pick it out. Still loves Batman and recently wished into a wishing well that he could actually go to the "real" Batcave. LOVES the lake, riding on the boat, fishing, swimming, everything about the lake house. Loves pretty much all food, biscuits and gravy are his running favorite right now. Drinks a lot of milk and water. Loves breakfast and pasta. Hates tacos, really doesn't care for mexican but likes the white cheese to dip chips in. He loves when you make up silly names for him. Loves playing games. Is into Transformers at the moment, we'll see how long this phase lasts. Loves putting coins into his piggy bank. He is a generally thoughtful and sweet boy when he's not whining and guarding his possessions. He's the first one to think about others and compliment his mother on everything from her wardrobe to her jewelry. He's very sensitive :)

Finley Paige - 4 going on 15

Finley is still her same sweet self, but we've seen a lot of signs of early teenager moments lately. She thinks she's a lot older than 4 for sure. Aside from that, she's her usual funny self, she says at least two things a day that make us say either how smart she is, or how funny she is. Mostly she's very nice to her brother and sister and would give them anything. She still loves Darla most. She carries around a backpack constantly that is stuffed full of little things that don't really matter much but she just likes to collect. She recently has latched on to a tiny chicken finger puppet that she named "Chicken Dicken." The other day she said to her brother, "Hey Brode, remember when we were in mommy's belly, back when Daddy still had hair?" I laughed out loud and of course couldn't wait to tell Daddy. She is also a great story teller and has the most vivid imagination. She told Andy and I a story the other day that was something about a coyote eating her baby Darla right out of her belly! Who knows where she gets these things. She threw some coins in the wishing well this past weekend and 1st wished for a house, specifically one w/o spiders in it, and secondly she wanted a real, live unicorn. She's a fairly decent eater lately, still doesn't love milk but since I haven't given up on making her drink it, she's coming around. She loves fruit. Loves snacks of course. Loves going to the movies and eating popcorn. Loves horses and talks about them a lot. Loves bossing her siblings around. She loves teaching Quinn new things and loves to read to her, mostly the stories are made up though :). She still could care less what she wears, which is a beautiful thing for mom and dad. She will literally put anything you lay out on. Couldn't care less! We can't say the same for her brother so she makes our life easy in that regard. She doesn't really care about the little stuff. For the most part, she's as easy going as they come, just don't let her get to her tired point...then everyone's in trouble!

Downtown St. Louis "Staycation - Day #1

With saving money for a house in mind, we set off for a downtown StL "staycation." We dropped our stuff off at the hotel and headed out to lunch. After lunch we headed to the City Museum. It was so much fun there, almost too much to do, don't think we could have done it all in one day. I'm not sure if their favorite was the aquarium or the slides. Quinn was not a fan of the large blue macaw parrot, whenever it made it's super loud noise, she needed her daddy to hold her! Then we headed back to our hotel where the kids got to throw pennies in the wishing well in the lobby, who'd have thought that would be such a hit! Some of the wishes I heard were: our own house (specifically w/o spiders), to go to the "real" batcave and a real unicorn. We then put on our swimsuits and headed to the citygarden. What an amazing place. The kids had so much fun getting in and out of the fountains, swimming everywhere, and splashing all around in the bubblers. We stopped to have pizza and ice cream for dinner during our walk home and then we met "Chocolate"...he's a horse that pulls a carriage and we decided it was too nice of a night not ride on Chocolate and tour the city. So we went up to the room and showered the kids, put on their pj's, and headed back out to ride Chocolate. It was a beautiful night and a great 1st day of our "staycation." St. Louis has lots to offer right downtown that we never take advantage of. Tomorrow's agenda: Brody must try the hotel's biscuits and gravy that they offer for the free breakfast, believe it or not, it might be one of his highlights! Then maybe a quick tour of the arch, the zoo, lunch and then home. Mommy and Daddy are already exhausted!

My 1st baby got her ears pierced today....

So it all started a few months ago when I would come home wearing earrings and Quinn would say, "Mom, I want parkly purple earrings too." It was the cutest thing the way she said it and she just kept saying how she wanted earrings. So I sat both girls down and asked if they wanted them and explained that it would hurt for a minute etc. Finley immediately said she didn't want it if it hurt and that was the end of that. Quinn kept on saying she wanted it. So while we were at the mall today and I mentioned that we could go look at earrings and Quinn was immediately excited...Finley was not interested. I took them into Claire's and sat Quinn down in the chair, we picked out the earrings and the lady came over and started to talk to her about it and she immediately jumped out of the chair and said no. So we started to leave the store and Finley jumped in the chair and said she wanted them pierced! So I put her in the chair, she held her cousin Maleah's hand, and took it like a champ! Didn't even blink or shed a tear! So my first baby now has pierced ears! Definitely a sign of being a big girl...

Happy Father's Day

I'm sure you guys just about realize by now but you have the most amazing Daddy! He's awesome for so many reasons but I'll try to list a few. He never complains about anything! Well maybe about whining but that's about the only thing! He always wants to play and do all the things that mommy doesn't really want to do with you guys. He has A LOT more patience than mommy and probably a lot more than most people do. He loves you guys and wants you do be good and succeed at whatever makes you happy. He's willing to sit down and teach you how to play a game, fish, ride your bikes, play golf, swim, explain how things work...he'll even let his girls dress him up! He just loves to be around his kids and you can truly see that. He walks in the door from work and sits right down and starts playing. He loves to read stories at night and even makes up a few of his own. You guys are so completely lucky to have a Daddy like yours, but I'm really the lucky one that gets a husband like mine!

Happy 4th Birthday to our "first" babies....

First of all let me just say that I cannot believe you guys are 4 already! I know I say this all the time but I just do not know where the time goes!? You are growing up right before our eyes! This year more than others, you were a lot more aware of your birthday and were very excited for it to say the least. We sort of had a week long celebration that started with your kindergarten graduation on thurs, your birthday party on saturday afternoon, and then a family birthday dinner on your actual birthday! People always give me a lot of trouble for going to all the trouble we go through to put on the birthday parties we give for you guys, but 1) I love doing it just as much as you guys enjoy it (I hope), and 2) I love seeing the joy in your faces and it's why I had kids. I just want you guys to enjoy life to the fullest, we may not have everything but it's why I work, so that at least once a year I can plan something that's just especially for you guys and there's no other day a year like that! Plus it's a time when all of us parent "friends" get to get together as well and enjoy eachother's company while our kids play. We love it too! So about this party....it was a kid's dream we think! Or at least that's what we tried to make it. We had it on saturday afternoon and did a Outdoor-Smores-Pull out all of the stops theme. We had it at 4pm and all week they were calling for a major storm so we were really worried but the day came and the rain held off and the day was perfect for you guys. We had a tent outside, balloon animals were being made just for you guys, a bounce house, a brand new swingset that Mawmaw and Papa bought and Uncle AJ and Daddy took 4 days to put together, and the simplest, kid friendly food ever! We tried to have anything you'd get at a carnival or something so we had hot dogs with all of the toppings, nachos, movie theater popcorn (Papa Greg went to the theater to get it especially for your party), smores, ice cream cones, cupcakes and lemonade. It was awesome! Some guests in attendance were: All the papas and mawmaws of course, Uncle AJ, Uncle JD and Aunt Meghan, Aunt Steph and Uncle Matt, Carter and Maleah, Jenny and Chuck, Nadine and Mike, Drew and Trey, Trish and Al, Avery and Addy, Leslie, Chris and Addison, Dave, Katy and Mason, Matt and Carrie, Grace and Faith, Charlie, Mason, and Jack, Chad and Dana, Ava and Connor, Casie and Dan, Reese and Kyan, Paola, Mike and Grant, Rachel and Marc, Ella and Izzy and GG Joan. It was quite the turnout! You can imagine all the gifts you got! Beach towels, swimsuits, water guns, Batman Batcave, sleeping bag for Darla, coloring supplies, board games, money and so much more. Among Brody's favorite gift was his Batman costume, which he has worn at least once everyday since he got from Mawmaw Vicki. He is also pretty in love with his Batcave from Uncle Matt, Aunt Steph, Carter and Maleah. Finley doesn't fall in love with too much but she likes dressing up as Catwoman, I think maybe just to please Brody but that's how she rolls. She loves her stuffed Pinkalicious unicorn named Goldie also. She also got a doll bed for Darla that she says Darla "can't live without...." All in all you guys are pretty spoiled rotten but so worth it in the end. Your behavior reflects that of good kids....MOST days! :)

Preschool Graduates!

Graduates for the first of many times to come hopefully! Today we are proud parents to not one but two preschool I graduates. We got to come to school with grandparents in tow and watch you sing songs in the church and then walk to your teacher and get your diploma and graduate teddy bear. Then there was a small reception in the church waiting area with cookies and punch. You guys were excited to run around with all of your friends, all girlfriends I might add, Maddie and Katherine seem to be the favorites! We are so proud already!

You also had your kindergarten screening this week and you passed with flying colors and you aren't even four yet! I'm always worried that since you guys just make the cut off to go to school that you won't quite be ready, but the administrator assured me you are going to be more than ready next year. You guys both excelled in all areas, she was super impressed with how well you articulate your words. The only thing Brody got points off for was b/c she told me that he didn't know his last name, to which I assured her he does know his name. She laughed and said that he told her his secret name was "Batman" and his real name was "Bruce Wayne!" I think he should have gotten extra points for creativity! She couldn't believe how well behaved and mannerly you both were. She was also impressed at the amount of words you can rhyme, apparently that isn't something you should be able to do until much later. She reaffirmed what we have always known, that you are so super smart already, and I'm not even biased :)

Easter Exhaustion 2011 and a lot of lately....

Easter was very busy this year...and also really rainy and cold. The weather made hunting for eggs a very muddy and messy process, but it didn't stop you guys nonetheless! We went to church in New Melle this morning and then came back to Grandma and Grandpa Auping's house for brunch. Then down to Gigi Jo's for dinner. It was a lot of eating and a lot of fun with the cousins, but you guys were dirty and tired and definitely suffering from post easter candy stress when you got home. You were spoiled rotten as usual by Mawmaw's and Gigi's, Aunts and Uncles. You have so much candy it should last until next Easter but the way Quinn eats it, it may not last until the end of the week! We have to watch that little candy junkie! Easter was fun this year but you all missed Mawmaw Julie. She was having a much needed visit with cousin Hadley in TX!

I haven't blogged in a while and a lot has happened in the last month. We've now been living with Mawmaw Julie and Papa Greg for a little over a month now. Things have been overall smooth. Brody seems to have had the most difficulty with the transition but he will adjust eventually. He is our most routine child, he must do his waving/goodbye routine or everyone will suffer. He is obsessed with Batman at the moment. Cars are running a close second but it's superheroes for the moment. He has a shirt with a Batman cap attached to the back that he wants to wear everyday. Needless to say I have to do a lot of laundry to keep up with his needs! He has to get dressed as soon as his feet hit the floor in the am. He still likes to eat eggs, turkey sausage and potato bowls for breakfast, he still loves mac n cheese, he loves breakfast for dinner. He hates taco night and grapes, otherwise he'll eat almost any fruit. He still loves milk and water. He loves his "shooting gun" as he calls it. Trains have taken a backseat to batman, cars and dinosaurs in that order. He doesn't share well but we're working on it. He's a master aggravator to his sisters. He likes to take showers now instead of baths. He LOVES riding his bike around the court. He is VERY whiney at the moment, he doesn't adjust well to change. Papa has currently convinced him that he does in fact have superpowers, he follows Brody around with a laser light and whenever he points his finger, Papa points the laser light at wherever he is pointing. Thus convincing him that he has superpower! Last week he even asked God in his prayers if he could keep his superpowers forever! So cute! He loves TV, if we would let him, he would watch it all day long. He is very into the show "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" right now.

Finley is hilarious and so so smart. She loves to sing to the songs that mommy listens to the radio. Daddy says she will go along with anything....as long as it's slowly. She likes to do everything slow....eat, get dressed, brush your teeth, get in the car, she is always last in the car and last at the dinner table. She is pretty agreeable though. She'll wear whatever you set out, she'll do what she is told, she is such a great big sister to Quinn. She loves to teach her new stuff and read to her. She is a great sharer for the most part. She'll give her siblings anything they ask her for, with the exception of Darla of course. That is a deal breaker! She is hilariously funny. I laugh out loud at least once a day with stuff she says and I'm consistently impressed at how smart she is and how much she picks up on. She loves dance class. She loves to cook and help in the kitchen. She still loves purple and baby dolls. She is a sweet tooth junkie. She loves showers and had to have her own loofah! She loves get her fingernails and toenails painted and would go weekly if I would take her! She'd really like her own bed to sleep in as she currently shares a full sized bed with her brother. He is a bed hog! She falls asleep at the dinner table a lot lately since we took away her nap. She's tired but if we give her a nap, she's up until all hours.

Quinney where do I start? You are the sassiest thing in the house for sure! You are talking up a storm and can say everything now. Conversations are so cute with you. You have the funniest facial expressions and get so excited about everything! You still love to eat and sleep. You dive into your bed for naptimes and bedtime. You love to be read to. Love to play outside. Love to be held and talked to. You have zero patiences and will not wait for a minute for anything. You love to help do stuff. You are fearless. You love stair races on your belly with your siblings, you are probably the fastest at it despite the runburn on your belly! You fall all the time and just right back up and keep on running! You love pretty much anything your brother and sister love, but you will not watch TV. You love Elmo movies, specifically Elmo Goes Potty featuring Elmo's Dad. You think he's hilarious, but you will still only watch the movie for about 10 minutes. Lennon is still your best friend. You love babies and you're starting to be like your big sister always wanting a baby doll to take care of. There is a much littler girl in your class named Anna that your teacher tells me you help take care of. Everyday when I ask you how school went you say, "Anna yittle" (Anna little), as if to remind me that it is your job to take care of her. Another mom told me the other day as we were walking in that you help her dress her daughter Nicole every morning. Such a mother!

April has been a busy, rainy month. We've seen several movies, been to the park a few times, dyed easter eggs, played with water balloons with Mason, and so much more. You guys sure keep us hopping but we do it b/c you guys are just so darn cute!