A Team Week 69: Routine

January 11-17, 2016 = A Team Week 69.  It was a simple family week with the regular routine.  We did enjoy playgroup on Wednesday followed by an afternoon with the Laillets visiting for nap time while prospective buyers toured their home.

Avery enjoying his very first sucker (ever) on Wednesday after nap time.  He kicked back and relaxed enjoying the sweetness with his little piggies resting on the dining room table! 

Brothers playing together...Don't touch the Lava!!

Wrestling with Daddy!

Video: My Milkshake Brings All the Boys to the Yard

Well...in this case just one.  Eric made me a surprise milkshake while the boys were taking baths on Thursday night.  By the time he delivered it to me Avery was out and acting as cute as could be to get some.  I tried to get a video, but it isn't great.  Turns out holding a camera phone and a milkshake while trying to feed baby and keep him from spilling it everywhere is a difficult task.  Meanwhile, we hid the sweet treat from Asher who was acting crazy and way overtired...there was no way he was getting a milkshake before bed!

Video: Dancin' Fool

Avery showing Daddy his moves on Friday night.

On Saturday morning I was very productive and among other things I was able to get the whole house swept and mopped.  Emma drives me crazy following me around and licking all my dirt piles as she searches for food.  This is what she gets.  A sticker stuck in the hair of her face right between her mouth and nose.

Avery loving his new toy from Grandma & Papa

Asher got on a "cutting kick" this week as he used the scissors he got for Christmas to cut every piece of paper we would give him.  Being that he is a total lefty, we debated if we should teach him to cut with his right or left.  We did teach him both ways, but even if he starts cutting with his right hand, he almost always ends up switching to his left minutes later.

The most exciting (not in a  good way) event that took place this week was on Sunday afternoon.  After church, we headed out into the parking lot to get the van and drive home.  I was running with Avery in tow, who was screaming his little head off.  I thought it was just because it was VERY cold that day and the wind kept blowing his hood off.  When I got to the van, I forced him into his seat, still screaming and fighting to get out, which is pretty much par for the course these days.  We drove our two blocks home and went into the house.  Avery was still screaming.  I thought he was just hungry and tired, so I worked to get lunch ready as he clung to me and insisted I hold him.  Nothing I did made him happier.  He just kept crying and crying.

When our lunch was ready, Eric put him into his high chair and while doing so somehow realized that he was't using his right arm.  Three times Eric would pick up his arm and let it fall.  Avery wouldn't do anything about it, but every time he would start screaming again.  At that point we took him out of his seat and continued to test the situation.  We held his left hand and offered him food.  He wouldn't reach for it.  Then I offered him a sippy cup.  (Anyone that knows Avery well would know that he LOVES to drink and will continue to do so until his diaper is gushing and his pants are soaked.)  He looked at it longingly and just started crying again, knowing that it would require his right arm.  :(  At that point, we decided to load into the van and head to Urgent Care as we were convinced something was wrong with his arm and that either his shoulder or elbow was out of socket.  We drove a few miles to the hospital and when we arrived he had fallen asleep.  We got out of the van and Eric tested his arm again.  This time though, everything was back to normal. There was no more crying, he had no problems using it and he was thrilled to suck down his entire sippy cup of milk.  So...we loaded back into the van, headed home and took naps and all was right with the world again.  Still don't know what the problem was (our best guess is that putting him into his carseat again forced everything back in place as it should be), but he has been fine ever since and that works for me.

Video: Got My Cheese Whiz Boy?

Yes, that is correct...Eric introduced the boys to cheese-in-a-can, better known as Cheese Whiz on Sunday night.  Although I cringed at the idea, the boys were pretty excited by it.  (please don't judge)

Klingenmaier Family Christmas

On January 9th, my family all got together at our house for a late Christmas celebration together.  It was a fun afternoon of tasty food, presents, pictures, more food, Happy Birthday to Mom and more food...

Everyone enjoying some late morning munchies of sweet rolls and fruit.

The kids table.  It is funny that Micah (now 6) is now old enough that he wanted to sit with the adults instead of being "stuck at the kids table"!

When everyone showed up at our house, Avery was taking a nap.  When he woke up, Eric got him and let him walk into the kitchen on his own, not knowing that we had company.  He stepped into the kitchen took a look at everyone sitting at the table and then turned back around heading back to Daddy in the opposite direction.  He had to wake up before he warmed up to everyone, so when we seated him next to Aaron to eat he wasn't to sure about him.  It didn't take long for him to warm up to his Uncle though as Aaron quickly became his food supplier and new best buddy!

The newest Klingenmaier (Gabe) was much more interested in sleeping than partying!

Family reindeer stockings (4 kids on the bottom + 6 grandkids above)

Looking out the window with Grandma

Asher's 2015 Christmas Keepsake Ornament: "Happy Campers" from Eric & I...to remind him of his first camping trip this past summer and sleeping in the pop-up with Daddy.

Avery's 2015 Christmas Keepsake Ornament: "Hop on Pop" from Eric & I...to remind him of his baby love for reading and wrestling with Daddy (two of his favorite things)!

Papa snuggling with Gabriel

Asher & Avery coloring their pictures to finish Uncle Aaron's gift for Papa.

Papa reading with Avery & Hudson

Eric introducing the boys to BB8.

Doing what boys do...

Strong arms.

Before we let the kids open their presents, we forced them to take some pictures.  They were surprisingly good!

All 6 cousins!

6 boys with Grandma & Papa

Two of my favorite guys

When we were all done torturing the boys with pictures, they finally got to open their presents.

Gabriel really wasn't in to opening presents

Papa made a busy board for Hudson & Gabriel like the one he made for Asher when he was a baby.

1 year later, the fart blaster is still a big hit!

Grandma & Papa opening their gift from Asher & Avery

When the boys were done opening their presents, Eric headed out to get some pizza and the boys headed out to play...even though it was cold and rainy.  At one point two of them were pushing toy lawn mowers, Asher was playing with his new weedwacker and a fourth was pushing the toy snowblower. It wasn't fast enough to get a picture.

When we were done eating our pizza, we headed back into the living room to open our stockings (all made by my awesome mom!)  Again, we forced family pictures and again everyone was surprisingly patient.

When dinner had been eaten, all the presents opened and the stockings emptied, we headed into the dining room to play a few games with the boys.  Rather than them exchanging presents, we get them some small "prizes" and play games.  This year we played Snowman Bingo, Reindeer Toss and Pie Face

When we played Pie Face, the three oldest boys played started with Micah, then Caleb and then Asher.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, Asher doesn't do well with things that surprise him and catch him off guard.  When we got to his turn, no one had been hit yet and we all just knew it was going to be him.  Before he went I pulled him aside to explain what might happen to him to make sure he still wanted to do it.  He decided to do it and on the first crank was hit...he was NOT impressed, so I called him a "Winner" and gave him a prize! :)  I was proud he had done it, but am pretty sure he'll never play again.

Next up was Micah...Again, no pie face...he was bummed.

Finally!  Such a happy boy.

Finally, to end the evening we had dessert...a birthday cake for Mom/Grandma's upcoming birthday.

Grandma and Papa playing with the boys in the dining room while Aaron, Erika, Eric and I hid in the living room.  Coincidence?  I think not.

So, that was our Klingenmaier Christmas.  It was more than two weeks after Christmas, but the warmth, love and joy were all there.  It was a great day and a great time as a family!