Wednesday, December 4, 2013

No Common Decency

Evan has decided he is going to do the Advent calendar every day even though the kids are taking turns... Sean could care less but he's doing it because it's his turn.  Gretchen set her alarm clock early today to get up and do it BEFORE Evan could since it's her turn.  When Evan tried to do today (and it was already done), Gretchen declared Evan has "no common decency whatsoever"..... Sigh....  

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Waterparkalooza

So we made the mistake of telling the kids about our annual trip to the water park.  This is the third year in a row that we've done it. The first year was a fluke, we only went one night to see how they would like it. Needless to say but they loved it! Last year we went there but didn't tell them and they were begging us to stay.  Evan kept telling me we could run to the store to buy some bathing suits (he's a problem solver indeed).  We told them we were just getting information so we could plan a trip in the future. When we pulled up and started unpacking the car, the shouts of joy could be heard a block away.  This year we told them in September so we heard about this trip for days and days. Evan actually slept with the water park brochure that came in the mail.  Evan was finally tall enough to ride some of the bigger water slides.  Sean was his typical self:  he enjoyed the splashing water for about an hour and was done with it.  He did however love the hot tub.  I have the dry skin to prove it since we had several trips to the hot tub.  The lazy river was a favorite for all of us since it was a chance to get away from the constant spraying water.....  My favorite is the wave pool but Gretchen scoffed at having to wear a life jacket.  Sigh.... she'll understand when she has her own kids someday.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Dub Step Babies

The boys really like dancing.  They learned a ton of dance steps playing Wii that frankly really only work for the Wii but we're not going to burst their bubble.  We can literally get Sean out of bed (where he is under his blankets and saying no to school) by turning on Skrillex.  I'm glad they are musical though.  Even though Gretchen is learning to play the piano, I see a musical future at the very least for Sean but probably Evan too!


My little gymnast

Lenore has been taking the boys to gymnastics for quite some time.  We took a break this summer from it but Evan spent a lot of time honing his skills.  I think because we were really impressed with his attempts to do cartwheels, he kept doing them for us.  I included a little video from the summer.

The boys resumed gymnastics this week and Lenore indicated that Evan paid close attention to the kids who could do stunts.  I will have to make sure he doesn't try flipping off the couch!

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Gruesome Twosome

Evan wanted to be Frankenstein and Sean wanted to be a skeleton.  I said okay but once I buy the costumes, there is NO changing.  They both assured me they understood.... until I bought them... then they wanted to change.  I said no so they agreed to switch... problem solved! 
Sean and Evan plus Gretchen and her girl scout friends
It happened to rain most of Halloween but I got this shot while it was just drizzling....  They got a ton of candy so don't feel bad for them!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Picture Day

Always a treacherous day for a parent.... did they mess up their hair, getting something on their clothes, smile nice (or did they use their fakey smile).  Steve always takes their picture at home when we know they look good.  He got some good shots this year!


Thursday, August 22, 2013

First Day of School

Sigh.... The first day of school was mixed results.  We had to switch daycare providers so it was a lot of change for the whole family.  While Gretchen had a good day at school, she got in trouble at the new day care for doing something to her brothers.  When she came home, she was upset and felt like it was hard to be in a new place.  Evan was sad and upset when he came home.  He doesn't like school or the new daycare.  Sigh.  I couldn't get a good reason out of him but it seemed like something happened yesterday since he ate so very little for lunch which is not like him.  Oddly enough, the child who has the most problems with transitions had no issues.  Sean was happy.  School was fine.  The new daycare was fine.  I was worried the most about him and he was fine.  His lunch bag is missing.  The new one I just bought cannot be found at daycare so I was not happy but he was so that's what's important.  Hopefully it goes better tomorrow..... 

Before all the drama of the day started.....

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Sean and Evan are five!

My boys turn five tomorrow.  It seems like yesterday that I was holding them in the NICU wondering when they would be stable enough to take home.  They were born 8 weeks early and spent 5 weeks in the NICU before going home.  It was a long five weeks that did not get any easier when they came home.  It hasn't been a smooth five years but it has been most gratifying.  I love my boys!


 Evan over the years!
Sean Over the Years

Friday, June 21, 2013

Everybody Wants to Rule The World

At night I have to cuddle the boys before they will go to sleep.  I try not to talk too much because I want them to get sleepy.  The other night however, Evan was chatty and we had the most interesting conversation:

Me:  What do you want for your birthday?

Evan:  A hundred dollars

Me:  A hundred dollars?!  What are you going to do with a hundred dollars?

Evan:  Take over the world with it

Me:  Why do you need to take over the world?

Evan:  So I can right the roller coasters without waiting in line and so I can be in the first car.....  Good night Mommy.....I'm tired

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Apologies

I have a bunch of posts that I didn't publish so if you are getting stuff from 6 months ago, it's because I never published it.  I meant to revise it or add more then I forget.  Also, I will be consolidating the blogs this year sometime.  It's too much now to keep up with.  After the boys 5th birthday in July, I will have a new combined family blog.  I started this combined blog 3 years ago but haven't done anything with it yet.  I will very soon!

Base Runners

We did our annual baseball game as a family this past weekend. The kids sit pretty well through an entire game if we keep feeding them....  We had ice cream, hot dogs, pizza, french fries, cotton candy, pretzels, Teddy Grahams, licorice and lemonade.  Though this particular time Gretchen and Evan were motivated to stay the whole game so they could run the bases.  Apparently Wrigley has a thing on every Sunday game in April/May were kids can run the bases after the game.  Sean wasn't as interested in staying as Gretchen and Evan. Though when it came time to run it, Sean wasn't going to miss out.  You can see in this picture Evan is standing there waiting for his brother and sister (he's in the blue shirt/red shorts). 

Monday, April 29, 2013

Preschool is almost over and then KINDERGARTEN

We had the boys' IEP meetings last month and it was confirmed that they will be in regular Kindergarten next school year.  We weren't sure because frankly Sean still has less speech than Evan and transitions are tough for him.  Evan seems very caught up to his classmates but he still needs fine motor work and some speech.  Both of them will continue to get speech and OT which I hope continues to help.  As much as I want Sean to be as conversational as Evan, he really has come a long way in the last school year.  He talks and talks and talks... Sometimes it's reciting a story he loves or sometimes he's answering your questions from an hour ago but he does talk more than ever now!  Anyway, today was C Day in the end of Preschool Alphabet Countdown.  C for Cowboy... and here are my little cowboys


Sunday, March 31, 2013

Spring Break Rules!

We surprised the kids with a trip to Dollywood over spring break.  First though we went to visit our friends in Hendersonville NC.  We didn't tell the kids where we were going after but then we drove to Pigeon Forge TN to stay in the Dells of the south!  Dollywood was very cold but a very nice amusement park.  Clean, affordable and a nice selection of rides, I would love to go back when it isn't 45 degrees.  After that we traveled to Lexington for a visit with more friends and then to Indianapolis to the Children's Museum (we did that last year and they asked to go back).  It was a long and exhausting week but between the cabin in Pigeon Forge and the hotel visits and uncle Todd's drum set, it was the best vacation ever according to the kids!


Monday, February 25, 2013

Long Winter

Winter makes for some long weekends in our house.  We stay busy but soon, because we want so badly to get outside, cabin fever will rear its ugly head in our home.  Maybe, just maybe, the Wii we got two years ago will start to pay off.  Apparently the boys daycare has a Wii that the older kids play in their free time.  Evan likes the dancing game and is now playing it at home.  All three kids are really starting to get into the Wii games we have (which is not much:  Resort Sports, Just Dance and Music).  Their love of video games started with our smart phones and Kindle and now with the Wii (Gretchen likes playing games on the computer but the boys are not there yet).  I never really thought we would be a video game household but in some small way, I think it's better the passive TV that passed as entertainment in our house.  We do it together as a family but I already see an emphasis in Evan to "win".  This might lead to some fighting... sigh....