The Busy Life of 3 little GIANTS...

Well, where do I begin? It has been quite some time since I blogged, but as you can imagine, life IS busy with 3 little GIANTS!

So here's the update... October we enjoyed experiencing fall. November quickly came and it was time to celebrate our littlest GIANTS 1st Birthday! We were blessed with a visit by Daddy GIANT's Mom and youngest Sister. We really enjoyed our time together as a family. We had a nice party for Baby little GIANT with good friends and of course, CAKE (which he absolutely loved)! That weekend Daddy GIANT received news of a job transfer back to Arizona in 1 week. So we quickly packed up our house and our 3 little GIANTS and embarked on a 27hr road trip after attending the wedding of some dear friends on November 18th. We were able to stop at Daddy GIANT's Mom's for a few hours where the little GIANTS enjoyed playing with their Oma, Auntie, Great Oma, Great Tonta, Great Cousin and Second Cousin, while Mommy and Daddy GIANT slept. We made it to AZ early Sunday afternoon and got settled in. We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with family at Uncle and Tia's house. The little GIANTS had no problem making themselves right at home and making everyone their new best friend! That following Monday, the Princess little GIANT started school. We are now settled and developing our new routine.

So as you can see, even in this condensed version that leaves out a lot of detail and funny stories (because as you know, my little GIANTS do some of the funniest and say some of the funniest things, so much so that if I typed them all my hands might go paralyzed and the keyboard end up broken.) that we do Live a BUSY Life with 3 little GIANTS!

Finding ways to Untangle Christmas for 3 little GIANTS...

I found this book and it has so wonderful and practical ways to help enjoy Christmas a bit more. Hope it helps you...

<a href="http://untanglingchristmas.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.untanglingchristmas.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/TChristmas-125x125.png%22%3E%3C/a>

The little GIANT Princess turns 6!

Sunday night as I went to bed, I looked at the clock and saw it was 11:45pm, and then it came to me... 6 years ago at that time I rolled out of bed in labor. It was time to have our first child, a beautiful baby girl.

On October 3, 2005 at 12:33pm, Princess little GIANT was born weighing 7lbs 5oz and was 20 1/2" long. Fast forward 6 years and she is 62 1/2lbs and is 52" tall (4ft 4"). I can't believe how fast time really does fly and how fast she really did grow.
 

To celebrate our Birthday Princess little GIANT's big day, we packed it full of surprises. While the princess was sleeping we decorated the dinning room in her favorite colors, pink and purple. When we woke up we made her favorite breakfast, pancakes, eggs and turkey bacon. We put a "6" candle in her stack of pancakes and sang her "Happy Birthday". While our little GIANTS were enjoying their delicious breakfast, there was a knock at the door. The voice behind the door said it was the postman that had a special delivery for her. She was nervous to receive her surprise, so she hid behind the door while opening it. Finally when the "special delivery" walked in the door, she realized it was Gammy and Poppie! She was so shocked at first that it took her a minute to realize they were actually standing in front of her. Once she did, she had the biggest grin a little GIANT could possibly have as she went in to give her Gammy a GIANT hug.

The dining room

Princess little GIANTS's pancake "Happy Birthday" breakfast

The SURPRISE at the door

The Shock!

The excitement

We then enjoyed visiting and eating while Princess little GIANT opened her presents and got ready for school. She was so excited to go to school and take cookies for her classmates to help her celebrate her birthday. Princess little GIANT had Derek braid her hair for her and she even topped her outfit off with a crown. She was truly embracing the "Princess for the day" attitude!

Birthday Princess

After school was out, the birthday celebrations and surprises were back in full swing. First we stopped at Best Buy so Poppie could get a new memory stick for his camera, so he could catch all the  magic moments. Then, it was game on. First stop, Claire's to get Princess little GIANT's Ears pierced. We took a before shot out front and then in we went. Princess little GIANT went straight to the piercing station and had picked out the earring's she wanted in less a minute flat. When she knows what she wants, she knows what she wants! Then it was time to get the process started.

Before

The process started by attempting to clean Princess little GIANT's ear with an alcohol wipe. Princess little GIANT was plugging her nose because she didn't like the smell. As she got closer, Princess little GIANT got nervous and put her hands over her ears. My mom had the lady show Princess little GIANT what she was going to do on her and she still was nervous, so Derek let her sit on his lap so she wouldn't be scared. As soon as the girl got close, she started to get upset and covered her ears again. The girl stepped away and said she'd give us 2-3 minutes to talk with her and see if she still wanted to go through with it. About 10 minutes later and after much discussion of how it wouldn't "hurt" and it would just "pinch" and the "pop" noise from the gun would mean it was all over, she decided to do it. The girl came back and cleaned her ears, Princess little GIANT giggled and said it didn't hurt and that it tickled. Then she marked her ears and Princess little GIANT was surprised not even to feel her make the dots. Then after a couple looks from me and Gammy to make sure they were centered, it was TIME. The girl asked Princess little GIANT if she'd like her coworker to do the other ear at the same time so it could be done at once and over faster, she gleefully, said yes!!! So while in Daddy's lap and holding Gammy's hands, the girl's counted 1-2-3 and POP! Then came the tears and the heartbroken cry from the realization that the "pinch" we described in her opinion really did "hurt". After a few minutes of straight sobbing, she calmed down and Gammy took her to pick out 3 pairs of earrings to wear once she healed, which made her feel better real fast! By the time we paid and left we had a happy little GIANT who claimed that her ears didn't hurt anymore and she's happy she was brave!

"That stuff stinks!"

"It's cold and tickles"

1-2-3

"OWIE!!!"

sobbing

inconsolable

Brave, happy girl

To finish off the celebration, we took the little GIANT's to Out of This World Pizza. We had never been there, but heard it was a lot of fun and to be honest I am Chuck E Cheese'd out and could not handle going there again. By the night's end, it was clearly a great choice as fun was had by our littlest GIANT all the way up to our BIG GIANT (daddy) and the rest of us in between. It was basically a McDonald's play structure on steroids, with Bouncy Obstacle Courses, Rock Climbing Walls, fun little cars to ride, a toddler play area and smaller slides and play structures for younger one's. Derek, myself and Poppie joined in the fun. We climbed our way to the very top, went down the swirliest slides, maneuvered the bouncy courses, and even took a spin around the track. After our workout's we were starving and it was time to eat. To our surprise the pizza was actually quite delicious (waaaayyy better than Chuck E Cheese's) along with really good salad's and cheesy bread. We all ate a ton, with the exception of Middle little GIANT, who was too busy playing to eat. :)

Just to get an idea of how big this thing is, that's Derek standing in the middle who is 6'3"

little GIANT'S off to conquer space

Princess little GIANT and Poppie climbed inside and up to the wavy slide

Middle little GIANT and Mommy riding the cars

Baby little GIANT enjoyed the little play area

Daddy GIANT fit and made it down the tallest slide

Poppie followed suit

Princess little GIANT and her friend

Weeeeee!

C'mon Poppie, you can do it!

Even Daddy GIANT managed to fit and baby little GIANT joined me for a ride

We headed home as all were tired even though Middle little GIANT would've stayed, ummm...forever! The night ended with our little GIANT reading one of her new books on the couch with Gammy and Poppie and her new Barbie. A successful day of surprises and celebrations, I'd say, all while maintaining her bedtime!

So tonight as I sit here and look at this clock reading 11:45pm, I feel the same joy in my heart as I felt 6 years ago when I held Princess little GIANT in my arms. She has grown to become such an amazing, smart, beautiful, funny, caring, loving, creative, thoughtful, generous, helpful, independent, determined, witty, athletic, quick thinking, and joyful girl! I am honored that God called me to be her mama and feel so blessed to be Living Life with this little GIANT!









"All By Myself"...with 3 little GIANTS of course!

Derek went to California this weekend all by himself to attend his Uncle Rick's wedding. This was the first time Derek has gone out of town without me or any of the kids in the last 6 years of marriage! I am not complaining by any means, with the help of my dad, I planned the trip for him and with all of his hard work and support, he deserved it. It was just different being (queue music) "all by myself".... with 3 little GIANTS of course!

So, in order to keep us all sane and getting along, I planned a pretty busy weekend. Friday morning I cleaned the house while the kids watched their morning cartoons and Baby little GIANT napped. We dropped Princess little GIANT off at school, ran some errands and then home for lunch. A friend of mine came over to do a craft for a Bridal Shower we're hosting and Middle little GIANT sat at the table and colored with us as Baby little GIANT napped again. Then it was time to get Princess little GIANT from school. After that we had a skype date with Daddy, Oma (Derek's mom), and Uncle Wake-Up (Derek's brother). We then headed to the pool for a swim date with our new friends from the neighborhood. After that, we enjoyed having our friend Alyssa over for pizza and a sleepover. We blew up the air mattress, brought their mattresses out and had ice cream while watching Finding Nemo. It was such a good time!

Saturday morning after Alyssa left we prepared for the days events. Princess little GIANT's bf from school, Elizabeth, came over for their first play date, while Elizabeth's parents moved. They had a good time even with the pesky little brother, Middle little GIANT, bothering them. Middle little GIANT isn't quite used to his sisters friends not being his friends too and having to leave them alone while they play. After Elizabeth left, it was time for Middle little GIANT to have some fun, we went to Big Al's Bowling for Tobin's (his first "guy" friend in Portland) birthday. Tobin turned 5, but is actually shorter than my little GIANT, which is no real surprise. They get along great even though the age gap is 2 years. The party was a BLAST! Then we headed home to wind down and watched a Wertfam favorite, Despicable Me. (It's So FLUFFY!!!) We had dinner and I got the kids to bed a bit earlier than usual since they had a late night and busy day.

Saturday night was what I felt to be the most unusual with Derek being gone, which shouldn't have at all. I'm used to being alone with the kids, taking them from here to there, feeding them dinner and putting them to bed all on my own, even watching TV alone once their asleep is common for me to do with Derek working nights. What was weird was knowing that he wasn't just in the other room asleep, that he wouldn't be waking up in a little bit to join me on the couch, or that he wouldn't be there to hear how the day went and the funny things the kids did or the challenges I had.

Sunday we went to Church, came home, had lunch, skyped with my parents, and played several different games while watching football on TV. It was actually one of my favorite days with them while Derek was away.

Now, you may be reading this wondering what my point is and thinking I sound really pathetic considering Derek was just out of town for 3 days and I planned for him to be gone, but it's not that at all. I just found a new appreciation for single mother's out there that don't have the father in the picture. My little GIANTS behaved so well while he was gone and we really had a fun time. I just realized how much I missed sharing those moments with their dad and how I can't imagine as a single mother, how much they must long for someone to share moments with. I think we all can understand that they must long to have someone help with the cleaning, the laundry, the discipline, the sicknesses, the homework, the late nights, the early mornings, but my heart can't help but think of the loneliness they must feel to share moments.

Obviously this is only my perception of what a single mother must feel and each situation and person is different. I just can't help but feel after my weekend as a "single mom", blessed and so thankful that God gave me my husband to share every moment (the good and the bad) with, as we journey together Living Life with 3 little GIANTS!

The First Day of School for 2 little GIANTS

Today began a new "normal" for our 2 oldest little GIANTS. Princess little GIANT started Kindergarten while Middle little GIANT and I embarked on home pre-schooling.

Princess little GIANT's first day went great aside from a couple little hiccups and things forgotten. She ate breakfast and watched some cartoons until it was time to get ready. Once she had her outfit picked out to match her new shoes, she got dressed. We went to put the new shoes on and guess what, our little GIANTS feet had grown and they were already too small (surprise, surprise)! So after she got over being super bummed that the shoes we had only bought 4 weeks ago did not fit, we picked out something else to wear. While I chatted on the phone with a girl friend, we continued getting her ready by doing her hair. First we started with a french braid on top, once I was almost finished, she had changed her mind and simply wanted pigtails. Two brown hair ties, done and done, pigtails! I then proceeded to get Middle little GIANT dressed, Baby little GIANT dressed, and saved myself til last. I threw on some clothes, some powder, blush and a hat to cover up the sunburn peeling scalp from the beach trip 2 weeks ago and called it good. Once I said goodbye to my friend we had exactly 10 minutes to get to school before it started. So, after putting on her backpack and grabbing a hug and kiss from dad, we rushed out the door with only my keys and cell phone. While in the car, I felt as if I forgot something and then it hit me, I am officially the worst mom ever, I forgot to feed my child lunch before school!!! To my defense, we usually don't eat lunch until 11:30am, so at 11:00am my brain was not thinking lunch! So, I apologized to her and promised her macaroni and cheese (her favorite!) to be waiting for her as soon as she walked through the door. We pulled up with 5 minutes to spare, took her pic right in front of the grass (her idea), walked to her class and went right to her cubby to put her backpack away. She then gave Middle little GIANT a hug, Baby little GIANT a hug, and me a hug goodbye. We snapped one last picture of her at the table she chose and were out the door as she made it very apparent that she did NOT need me to stay like the other parents.

So Middle little GIANT,  Baby little GIANT and I went home, I remembered to feed them lunch, and then laid Baby little GIANT down for his nap. Once Baby little GIANT was asleep it was time for preschool to start. Middle little GIANT was so excited! I moved the furniture around in their room to make a special preschool spot for him and even made a big bulletin board on the wall. He chose Airplanes for his topic this month. We started off by singing a few songs (where is thumbkin and the abc's) then did the calendar. We talked about what month, date, and day of the week it was. We did a couple worksheets about the square shape, did alphabet flashcards and then same or different flashcards. We counted to 10 and then read a Bible story about The Beginning. We ended pre-school time with a craft where we built a wooden model airplane (and I also cooked Princess little GIANT's mac-n-cheese). While coloring the wood and putting it together we talked about all the different parts of the airplane, what airplanes are used for and what animals are like airplanes. By the time we finished, Baby little GIANT was awake from his nap and it was time to run out the door and pick up Princess little GIANT.

We picked up Princess little GIANT from school and she cam running out saying "Hi Mommy, I made a friend and her name is Elizabeth just like my middle name!" She got in the car and proceeded to tell the boys and I about the rest of her day as we headed home. She scarfed down two bowls of mac-n-cheese and a brownie once we got home and enjoyed entertaining several phone calls from the grandparents and uncle.

The lessons I learned about caring for little GIANTS:
1. Don't buy little GIANTS anything more than a week in advance.
2. Try on little GIANTS outfit the night before so any changes can be made prior to save time and any    argument that may come along with it.
3. Don't talk on the phone while getting little GIANTS ready for school so, they have your undivided attention.
4. Take your wallet and ID while driving little GIANTS around, just so you're prepared and responsible for the possible unexpected stop or pull over by law enforcement.
5. Leave early for little GIANTS to arrive on time with more than 5 minutes to spare so you can teach them good habits for the future.
6. FEED little GIANTS before school, so they can focus on learning and their little GIANT bodies can continue to grow and be healthy!

So aside from the lessons I learned, winning the "Mother Who Starves Her Child Award" and having to drive back to the outlets that are an hour and a half away just to exchange some shoes, I'd say my little GIANTS first day of school was a GIANT success.

**photos to follow, once I figure out how to get them off my cell phone**

how can GIANTS be little?!?

Welcome to my new blog. I chose to kick it off by explaining exactly what I mean by "Living Life with 3 little GIANTS."

First, let's start with some facts... The average 5 year old girl is 40 inches tall and 39.6lbs. The average 3 year old boy is 33 inches tall and 33lbs and the average 1 year old is 28-29 inches long and 22lbs.

So now on to the real facts... Our daughter (Princess little GIANT) that is 5 years old is 52 inches tall and 59lbs. She wears girls clothing size 8 and girls shoe size 3 1/2. Our son (Middle little GIANT) that is 3 years old is 40 inches tall and 39lbs he wears 4t/5t and toddler shoe size 10. Our 9 month old son (baby little GIANT) was measured at 8 mo old 29 1/2 inches long and 21.5lbs. He is wearing 12mo/18mo size clothing, diaper size 4 and no longer fits in an infant car seat. So needless to say, my kids are above average. In fact they are little GIANTS!

Although, to many it is not a surprise that our kids are so tall due to the fact that Derek, my husband, is 6'3" and I am 5'8", the rapid growth and height, was not expected so early on in life.

Throughout babyhood, Princess little GIANT was always wearing the age appropriate size in clothes, her weight was in the 50th percentile and her height about 80-90th percentile. Her "off the charts" growth was first noticed at age 2. We took her into the Dr. for her annual well child visit, while there the Dr. took her measurements and entered them into the computer. She went to pull up the 2 year old growth chart to share the results for her height and Princess little GIANT's indicator dot was nowhere to be found. She scrolled to the 3 year old growth chart and nothing, then onto the 4 year old growth chart and finally, a dot. She was the average height of a 4 year old at age 2! We were shocked to say the least. Each year she continued jumping charts. At age 3 she was the average height of a 5 year old and at age 5, the biggest jump yet, she was the average height of an 8 year old. She has a birthday coming up and we are very intrigued to see what growth chart she lands on this year and what age she is the average height of.

Middle little GIANT hasn't grown as fast as his sister little GIANT, but they do say boys grow slower and later in life than girls, but even with that, he is still off the charts. As a baby he ranged in the 90th percentile for height and 80th for weight and at his 3 year check up he leaped off the 3 year old chart and found himself the average size of a 4 year old.

Baby little GIANT has been our biggest baby yet! He's been in the 95th percentile for weight and 99th percentile for height. He's jumped clothing sizes so fast and has most commonly worn a size 3mo older than his actual age.

Our prediction is that when all grown, Baby little GIANT will be the tallest of the 3 and Princess little GIANT and Middle little GIANT will be close in height, but all above 6' of course!

Having kids taller than their average for their age has brought it's challenges and will continue to I'm sure, but so far our kids have actually embraced them and dealt with them pretty well. Princess little GIANT takes it all in stride, learns from it and is actually a very independent, smart, and extremely self sufficient 5 year old. She does get the occasional stare when throwing a somewhat age appropriate temper tantrum (we are dealing with those behavioral issues separately) and at times she is held to an expectation that is beyond her age. The boys haven't experienced much of that as of yet since they are still so young, but will in due time and we will cross those bridges when they come.

The best reactions to our GIANTS are the comments by random people such as the shocked "oh, you're how old? I was going to say 8!" when people talk to Princess little GIANT and find out she's 5. Now when she meets people she tells them, "I'm 5 but people think I'm 8 since I'm so tall" and then giggles. And then there's the, "oh, wow, he's tall for 3, I would've guessed he was 5!" when people meet Middle little GIANT and of course, "oh, my, he's a big boy, he's only 9 months?!?!" in regards to baby little GIANT.

Yes...we get it... we have little GIANTS and we love living life with them!

Princess little GIANT (left) Age 5, Derek (center), Middle little GIANT (right) Age 3

 baby little GIANT Age 9 months