Busy life and an independent boy

We've been too busy to blog lately.  Last weekend all the Eckerts had the flu...that was a tough weekend.  Emmy has been working on listening and following directions at her new school where there are a LOT of rules and expectations.  Bobby has decided that he must do everything by himself now and does not want to be carried or especially have me do anything for him.  Sometimes dad will get away with helping him but never mommy.  If I even open the door Bobby will come over shut the door and then re-open it again.  He really wears us out with this sometimes.  "No, Bobby do it!" has become a phrase we hear very often.  He loves to help Emmy and often brings her food or her toys without her really wanting him too.  I ask Bobby every night if mommy can put him to bed but most times he only wants Robb to do it.  Emmy often consoles me by letting me help her and by telling me that she is my best friend and loves me.  I thought I'd get a little more time with Bobby as "my baby" but he doesn't want any part of that!

Our big kids!

Today some of my students needed a patient to evaluate so Emmy stepped up and performed once again.  She passed all her motor tests and I thought this would be a good opportunity to measure the kids and check the charts to see how they've grown. 

Bobby stats:
34.5 inches (74th percentile for height)
32 lbs (92nd percentile for weight)

Emmy stats:
41 inches (86th percentile for height)
38 lbs (80th percentile for weight)

They are growing so fast now and I hope they continue to grow up big and strong......but also stay my babies forever.  I know that is impossible so I will settle for them just growing up to be strong, healthy, happy people!

Brother and sister love

Sometimes Bobby and Emmy really love each other.  Robb dropped the kids off at school today and as they sat down for breakfast Robb told Emmy to watch over her little brother.  Emmy scooted her chair in towards Bobby's put her arm around his shoulders and told Robb she would watch over and protect Bobby and that they would be sticking together always when at school so Robb should not worry.  When Emmy told Bobby that they would need to stick together Bobby said, "Yep!"  Then Robb gave out final hugs and kisses and Emmy told him that she would give him a hug but not a kiss and that he would then need to give Bobby a hug too.

What's new this week

We've started this week off great!  Emmy finished off last week at school being a very good girl and getting excellent reports from her teachers regarding listening and following directions without getting mad or frustrated.  She has learned a lot there already.  New songs that she sings to me and yesterday she told me that she was told by her teacher to never open the door to strangers and also that when outside you should not put your tongue on the fence or on the metal boat because your tongue will stick and when pulled off part of your tongue will stay on the fence or boat and your tongue will bleed (later she told me a little boy there at school had learned this lesson firsthand).  I made chocolate chip cookies over the weekend and she asked me to take a picture of she and her dad enjoying those cookies.  She continues to make me laugh all day long with the funny things she says and she always runs in to give me a hug or kiss should Bobby deny his poor mom! 

Bobby is still getting excellent reports at school.  He enjoys breakfast there and his teacher always is telling me he is a good boy!  Last week he ran full speed into the toy shelves and when I picked him up that day he had a nice scrape and bruise on his face.  He is a tough little boy though and so this didn't slow him down a bit.  He doesn't request pictures like Emmy does and so I don't take quite as many of our boy.  He loves telling me that he is "Mommy's boy" and then in the next breath he never forgets to remind me that he is also "Daddy's boy too!"

Rough start at preschool

We've had a rough start at the new preschool.  The first two days the report on Emmy has been that there are examples of times where she has thrown some fits about not getting her way.  Bobby on the other hand has been an angel!   Robb and I have had many discussion with Emmy about how she needs to behave at her new school but really feel she is testing her limits there as she is such a good girl at home.  Yesterday on the way home I gave Bobby and reward snack for his good report and could not give Emmy one since she got a bad report.  She cried and I had to try so hard not to cry too!  Parenting is really hard when it comes to disciplining your kids and I know it doesn't get easier.  I hope she start to adjust to all of the new rules and restrictions with the structured schedule of preschool.  We are not paying big bucks to have her go to this school where she has class every day and I just want my kids to be happy so I can feel content to work all day.

Future Rock stars

Emmy and Bobby both love to sing in the microphone Emmy got from Grandma Launa and Grandpa Kelly.  It is difficult to take turns and share but they do pretty well considering how much they love putting on a show!

Bobby's first trip to the Beach

 Bobby had never before felt the sand or been in the ocean.  He really enjoyed himself and did not want to hold hands when going into the ocean (I think we were holding him back from the wild time he wanted to have).

Robb took this picture or Emmy and I playing on the beach in the water as the sun was setting

The kids loved the beach! They ran and played until they wore their parents out!

On the Pier we saw this HUGE bird and Emmy was pretty impressed

Busch Gardens

 Our family went to Busch Gardens while in Florida and the kids had such a fantastic day (the adults did too).

 The kids went on some rides with dad

 Emmy and I made sure to get right down in the front for the Elmo show

 Emmy stood up and got a hug from Abby Cadabby.....this photo shows her face after she got her hug

 

 

 

New Years Eve was spent with my parents on the dock and on the boats on Cape Coral Pier.  It was a great time and we were able to meet all their Florida friends.  The kids were well taken care of and celebrated at home with a very nice babysitter!

Seashell factory

 On a sunny day in Florida we visited the Seashell factory.  This place was part zoo, part museum, part souvenir shop....and much more.

 There was an area where you could walk right up to birds, ducks, peacocks, turtles......the kids were at first apprehensive and then they were eager to get right up to these animals and we had to issue warnings!

 I think they most enjoyed the petting zoo where they fed the animals.  Bobby was so funny here because after being very brave and feeding the little goats he proceeded to strut his stuff down the aisle.  Suddenly the big goats came running over to get some food and Bobby ran to hide behind mommy's leg.  After watching big sister he decided feeding the big goat wasn't so scary and we finished off the day at the park and then sanitized well!

Florida trip

After the Christmas fun we took a trip to Florida.  Robb and I got some free babysitting and meals ;) and the kids had a blast in the pool.  Grandpa Kelly and Bobby bonded over basketball, trucks and constant chasing games (they would "roar" at each other but mostly Bobby giggled and wanted Grandpa to do the chasing until he was worn out).

Christmas Day

 

 

On Christmas Eve night we left goodies for Santa and put Reindeer food out in the driveway for Santa's reindeer.  On Christmas day we discovered that Santa had been to our house and eaten his snack.  We went to Grandma Launa's and Grandpa Kelly's house and had another great time opening gifts and being with our family.  Our prayers reflected how grateful we were for baby Jesus and Emmy sang Happy Birthday to Jesus (this made my heart so happy).

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Bob and Grandma Candy's

We had a great Xmas Eve at the Eckert house.  The kids loved playing with their cousins and opening their gifts.  They got everything they asked for and more.  Some favorites were a LaLa Loopsy doll, a Barbie make up kit, talking Yippit and Easy bake oven for Emmy and Bobby got lots of trucks, cars and his favorite.....a rolling suit case that he now takes with him everywhere he goes at our house.  Mommy got lots of hugs and kisses which is just what she wanted from her kids!

Switching daycares

Emmy and Bobby both performed in the their daycare Xmas performance in December.  Emmy got right up on stage and sang her hear out while Bobby ran over to me for some reassurance initially and then after once song abruptly got up and went over to the risers where the kids were.  He stepped up on a riser right in front of another little girl who after a few minutes decided she no longer wanted to be in Bobby's shadow so she gave him a good shove.  This made Bobby fall into another little girl who hit the floor hard and started crying.....whoops!  Both kids loved seeing Santa this time and were glad that Grandma Great Pearl and Grandma Candy were able to attend their show.  In January the kids will start pre school at Exploring minds which we hope will work out well for them.