Twinkle Toes

Saturday was Allison's dance recital and we were lucky enough to have GG and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa come up for the occasion.  Allison was so thrilled.  They did a darling ballet routine to a song from Toy Story....When you love me.  They danced with their dolls and they were all just darling.  After the recital we headed to Panera bread for some bagels and smoothies and then a group of us took of for the MSU spring game.  Ella stayed with GG and Papa, but the rest of us, minus grandma headed for the game. We had a great time!

Walking down East Grand Rapids

Ready for the dance recital

Looking good

Watching the show

Connor enjoyed the dancing

Allison with GG and Papa

Grandma and Grandpa with Allison

Allison with Craig and I

Spring game with grandpa

Enjoying the game

Allison and I

Connor and grandpa

The family...minus Ella

Not Your Typical Easter Sunday

Ella and Allison get their toes painted

baby toes

The Easter Bunny was here

Connor loves his new "Bowser's Castle"

The scooter was a big hit and the dog was too

Finding some eggs

Ella found a bunch of eggs

Almost got it!

Connor with his new dog

The kids on Easter morning

It all began on Tuesday evening, when Connor complained of a "tummy ache" at Allison's swim practice. I handed him my phone and told him to sit for a while.  I figured that all the running up and down the halls after eating was making his stomach hurt a bit.  The rest of the night was pretty "normal" until 1 am when I heard Connor scream, "Mommy!"   I jumped out of bed and ran to his room.  He asked me to lay by him and was crying.  So, exhausted, I crawled into bed.  About 10 minutes later I had vomit all over my shoulder and EVERYWHERE in his bed.  I called for Craig to come and get him out of his pjs, which were also covered in vomit as I stripped the bed and took with some stuffed animals that were also subjected to the vomit.  After giving everything a rinse and then starting the laundry, I headed back to his room to make up a new bed of mostly towels and lay by him.  There is something very uneasy about sharing a bed with a three year old who is vomiting.  I jolted with his every move, ready to "catch" the vomit in the garbage.  After the initial episode, he managed to get most of the vomit in the garbage.  Wednesday morning I ran around trying to get out the door with a VERY sick child.  I drove Allison to school and ran into a friend who picked up some crackers and Sprite for me since I didn't think he could make it.  He spent the morning on the couch throwing up and tired.  At 11:30, we had to pick up Allison and I was dying for a coffee, so I put the kids in the car, picked her up and drove to the drive thru Starbucks.  Luckily I had the garbage, as he vomited in the car.  We rushed home and the rest of the day was spent on the couch.  Allison had dance practice (the last before her recital), so I drove to practice, put the kids in the double jogger and walked while she practiced.  It was cold, but I didn't want to expose anyone.  That night was rough, he was up a lot with a fever and vomiting.  Thursday was more of the same, although we did go to the playground for 15 minutes, but he wanted me to hold him after about 10, too tired to do much, but we all needed a little fresh air!  Then, the diarrhea started and he was in a lot of pain and spent the rest of the day on the couch.  Friday, Craig was off from work and again, we spent the day inside.  We left for an hour or so, so the cleaning lady could clean and Connor was asleep in the car and stroller. He felt TERRIBLE! Friday night I took Allison and Ella to Allison's swimming while Craig stayed home with Connor.  That night Allison woke up at 2 am throwing up.  At that point we knew the weekend was going to be spent in GR instead of spending it in Grand Haven.  Allison was super bummed that we had to miss Kathryn's birthday party and Easter Sunday.  After spending many days inside, we were all super bummed that our Easter plans were not going to be what we thought.  Saturday, Craig and I took turns taking long runs to prepare for the 25K in three weeks and my mom visited and we did a quick Costco and Bed Bath and Beyond trip while Allison stayed on the couch with Craig.  Sunday the Easter Bunny visited our house, which lifted everyone's spirits.  We spent some time outside pulling weeds and picking up sticks, but just as Allison began to feel better (Connor was much better), Ella started in with a fever.  All day Monday she had a fever and today she has a fever too.  What can I say, we are all so sick of being sick!!!!  The rain doesn't help much easier.  Here are few snapshots of the last week and our "Easter" this year.

Chicago, Chicago, You've Got Style

Sunday morning we packed up the car and headed to Chicago for a few nights.  We drove straight to Lego land Discovery Center, a few miles North of Chicago.  The kids had a ball building cars, making towers, going on the lego ride, walking through the lego jungle and just soaking in all things LEGO.

Craig, Ella, Allison and Connor at Legoland

Obama with Craig and Ella

After Lego land we headed to our hotel in downtown Chicago.  We met up with Craig's sister, Katie and her family.  We all went out for dinner at a Thai restaurant and then headed back to the hotel for ice cream and swimming.



Monday we got up and had an amazing breakfast, and then began walking and walking and walking.  We took the train for a bit and then walked a couple of miles to the Lincoln Park Zoo.  The first few exhibits were empty, but after that we found some bears, then the seals, tigers and a darling mother Gibbon and her baby.  After the zoo we caught a bus back to downtown.  We had some lunch at Water Tower and then went to American and girl and the lego store.  Allison and Ella each got a Bitty Twin.  They decided on twin brunette girls, with brown eyes.  Allison got a Hawaiian outfit for her American Girl doll too.  We headed back to the hotel for a bit of down time.  Ella hadn't slept a wink and it was 2:00!   We decided to go for a walk to the park and then head for dinner.  The kids walked another two miles or so and then we headed out for pizza.  Connor was barely awake during dinner and Ella was, a not a happy camper.  Connor was asleep by 7 and then Ella a bit later.

Going for a walk

Rosalee, Ella and I on the train

Enjoying the seals at the zoo

The Zoo

The Bitty Twins

Tuesday we got up, had breakfast and packed up our stuff.  We walked to Navy Pier, checked out the beach and the shops and then decided to take off.   Ella fell asleep in the carrier and then slept the entire ride home.  She was exhausted.

We had a great time and enjoyed spending time with Katie, Brad, Mary Violet, Rosalee and Genevieve!

Ella in the Ergo hitting the town

Connor, Allison and Craig skipping stones near Navy Pier

The girls enjoying popcorn at Navy Pier

Birthday Parties for Connor

This year we had two parties for Connor.  We had a family party on Sunday, his actual birthday and then a small kids' party on Wednesday.  We have such a large family, that having it all together has become almost impossible unless the weather is nice.  So, we had a great time with an egg hunt, pizza, salad, fruit, ice cream and cake and opening presents.  Tuesday we had a party with some of Connor's friends.  Very similar, just lots of playing.

Connor with mom and dad on his birthday

Family party: Cousins plus Ryan

The eggs are ready

Papa helps Ella pick up some eggs

John and Connor play with the Diego toy

Connor Turns 3

    Connor turned three yesterday and as I reflect on the last year I can certainly say that he has made a ton of progress.  He is now fully potty trained, loves to play with cars, trains, super mario bros, run outside, play with Allison and Ella and read books.  Although he is the roughest and finds himself sitting in time out at least once a day, he is also extremely sweet.  He will share his food and toys with anyone and almost always says thank you without any prompting.  He still has that extreme excitability that they lose as they get into elementary school.  The sheer joy of opening gifts is so apparent on his face.  When my mom walked in with his Mario and Sonic cake he held his hands to his face, then his head and had the biggest, most genuine smile on his face.  After each gift, he said thank you.  He took his time opening every present and just seemed in control despite having lots and lots of girls surrounding him:)    We had a wonderful family party on Sunday which included all of his cousins from the Alguire side (except Anna who was at a soccer game) both sets of grandparents, both sets of great grandparents and Courtney, Max and Ryan.  We had a great Easter Egg Hunt, play time, opened presents, had pizaa, salad, fruit, bean dip, cake and ice cream.  As we got the cake ready I realized I had no candles so Craig improvised with forks. The girls thought this was hilarious and they even got Connor to "blow" out the forks.  Connor will go for his three year appointment in a month and I will give and update then.  Until then, we are enjoying all that this energetic boy brings to the family.  He really is something else.

The birthday boy with Craig and I

Kathryn and Connor search for eggs

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Grandma and Grandpa with the birthday boy

Connor is surrounded

Ella is 18 months

18 months

Ella is enjoying all of Connor's new presents
18 months!

Connor at 18 months

Allison at 18 months

   Well,  our little baby is not a baby anymore.  It is hard to believe that the baby of the family is now one and a half years old.  She has turned into quite the young lady.  She loves to play with Allison and Connor and repeats whatever they say.  She calls Allison Al yeah or Alson (no i).  Connor is simply, Connor.  She usually says one or two words at a time, but lately we see her putting two and three words together.  Mama, want some, Connor r you?  At Meijer she and Connor picked out some fruit snacks and she was yelling "Bummies, want some".  Very cute.  She loves to play with the babies, Connor's cars, the kitchen and is happy just following Connor and Allison around.  Her favorite books are Where is Elmo's blanket? and Dancing Elmo.  Favorite foods are pizza and cereal.  She is super attached to her pink "banket" and takes a good two to three hour nap in the afternoon and is usually down for the night at 8:00.  She seems to draw a lot of attention wherever we go because she looks so small, but has such a strong and clear voice.

At 18 months:

23.6 lbs (35% ile)
30 inces (50%ile)

I have to take her back for a weight check in two months since she has not been gaining much weight.  The winter was not kind to her.  Lots of colds and ear infections which resulted in little weight gain.
She is definitely the smallest of the three.  We are savoring every moment with her.

March Madness

The time change has hit the Alguire clan hard.  The kids are having a hard time going to bed when it is "still wake up time" (Connor) and Craig and I are having a hard time getting up to exercise.  Just when I think we have all adjusted, Connor has gotten up way before the sun has risen.  Yesterday he ended up in our bed at 5:30 and Craig finally got up with him around 6:45.  Today he was getting out of bed and coming down the hallway at 6:15.  WAY earlier than I wanted to get up on a weekend, but he is feeling pretty lousy and when my kids are sick,  I am a sucker for bending the rules.

Last weekend we had a fun visit from our good friends, the Bruderlys.   We have been friends with them since medical school and for the last 5 years, they have been wonderful friends to Allison, then Connor, and now Ella.  We had a ball catching up, going to the library, having some other friends over to see them and then having pizza together!

Thursday I took the older two for dental appointments.  Although Allison has gone a few times, this was a first for Connor and I was unsure if he would cooperate.  He was amazing.  They took x-rays, cleaned his teeth, the doctor looked at his teeth and finally, he got a prize.  I was impressed, to say the least.  Allison has four teeth that are loose, including her top two.  I am hoping to get their pictures taken in the next week WITH her two front teeth:)

This week was a fun week for us as the Grand Haven Lady Bucs made it to the state semi-finals at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.  Although Craig had work, I decided this was worth going to even if I had to do it on my own.  So, as soon as Allison was finished with school I picked her up and we hit the road to East Lansing.  It was an amazing game and tons of fun for all us.  Thankfully, my aunt Donna and cousin, Amy saved us three awesome seats.  Unfortunately, they lost by one point!  After the game I let the kids run outside and then we journeyed down to Grand River to find some food.  We ended up at an old Ann Arbor favorite, Pot Belly's .  Then we were back in the car and headed home.  The kids were awesome and it really was a fun day.

Saturday morning Craig and I ran the Irish Jig.  It is a local 5K in East Grand Rapids that attracts thousands of runners.  It is amazing how may fast runners are at this 5K.  The top male runner finished in the 14's and the female in the 16's.  This is insane!!!  Craig finished the race in 18:32 seconds and I finished in 21:36.  Not too bad for our first race of the season.  It was a separate male and female start, so were exchanged kids at 9:20 and I walked to the start of the womens' race that started at 9:35.  After the race we walked to the library and let the kids play for a while.  We were back home by noon for Ella's nap.  Then we were off to Grand Haven for some time with GG and Papa, some pizza at Clover Bar with my parents and the Springers and then home.

Here are some pictures of the week or two:

Connor enjoying the drum at the Library

Owen, Connor, Allison, Ella and Charlotte

Silly faces

Ella at Java Gym

Connor getting his teeth cleaned

Allison waiting to get her teeth cleaned

prizes

Happy KID

St. Patty's day cookies at the dentist:)

Lady Bucs B-ball game at the Breslin Center

Connor

Magic Johnson and the kids

Saying hi to the Grand Haven Buccaneer

Allison with the Buccanneer

Allison, Owen and Charlotee