Last Day of School!

It's official! Summer vacation has begun! Although, Alex keeps saying "It's not sumwer yet. It's still cold!"

What, Alex? You don't consider 65 and rain to be a perfect summer day?

Here is my soon to be first-grader (sniff, sniff, sob) on his last day of kindergarten.

Drew loved kindergarten, but apparently summer vacation has greater appeal than school.

When I asked him what he would miss the most about kindergarten he replied with a heartfelt "absolutely nothing."



Alrighty then.


Drew's teacher Mrs. Wallace was a gem, and he was so blessed to have her. She was the reason he loved school, and she instilled a love for learning in him.



Besides, anyone who can immediately quiet fourteen hyper 5 & 6 year olds by holding up two fingers gets my utmost respect and admiration.



We celebrated the beginning of summer vacation by going to get ice cream after I picked Drew up from school.









Bella, on the other hand, did not think getting ice cream was such a great time. She was awake the whole time we were inside eating our ice cream, and then proceeded to scream the entire fifteen minute ride home.


I can just tell this will be a peaceful, quiet summer.



What did the boys do on their first full day of vacation? They decided it would be fun to get up at 6:15 in the morning.



Seriously, boys. Give your mother a break!



They now have a clock in their rooms, with strict instructions to stay in bed until the first number is a 7. You guessed it, the last few mornings it's been 7:01 when two smiling boys come bounding the stairs.



Sigh.



I better just resign myself to the fact that this summer will not be filled with lazy mornings spent sleeping in.



Here's to summer vacation and early mornings!

Our Family

No, I'm not trying to abandon my blog. Yes, Mom, I'll start blogging more regularly again.

I'm trying to figure out how to navigate our new reality of three kids, dirty diapers, bottles, sleepless nights-and blogging.

No, it's really not that bad and I wouldn't have it any other way!

I'm very much a routine person (can we say OCD), and I'm trying to figure out what is the best morning routine for getting a 2 week old fed; a six year old fed, dressed and on the bus; and a three year old fed, happy and not feeling neglected.

I'm giving myself bonus points for getting a shower before noon.

My current tally is zero points, in case you're keeping track.

Here are some random pics of the last several weeks:

Bella's first trip to the doctor at 6 days old.

She looks impressed, doesn't she?

Almost as impressed as her brother:

Notice the change of outfits on Alex: apparently the "stoplight" look of red and green is in.

Goodness gracious, I think I'll be dressing him before his first date.

Before Isabella, there were only boy cousins on both sides of the family.

Here are all the cousins on Craig's side of the family.
Apparently, there were some disgruntled cousins that the streak of all boys was broken.

C'mon boys-it was time to add some pink to the family!

"The Boys"-Adam, Alex, Tyler & Drew

And what happens when you get four boys together for any length of time?

Tackling, wrestling, jumping off things, or a combination of all three of course! No, there's no baby under there.

Craig's parents

In other news around our house look what happens in 75 degree weather when the boys are cold from playing in their little pool:

I have no words.

Sweatshirts, lined pants and mittens.

Let's not forget the baseball helmets.

And those piles of dirt there by the pool? Yep that's what happens when the moneypit pool has a leak in the pipes beneath the concrete.

Needless to say, that's the hubby's Memorial Day project-I'll post more on that later.

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

While We're Waiting...

Nope, no baby yet.


Does it help that I have contractions all. the. time. or that I haven't been able to sleep more than 3 hours a night?


See, it's just like having a newborn around here-minus the cuteness, crying, feeding, and oh yeah-a real, live baby.


Patience...it's not a strong suit of mine lately.




So...here are some pictures of what we've been doing the last few days.



Drew had his first Tball game.





It was about 50 degrees and windy that night, but the cold weather didn't seem to stop the fun for the five and six year olds.



I love Tball!

Where else can you watch as the entire team runs to the outfield for one lone ball or see numerous players playing in the dirt?



Poor Alex has been rained out the last two Monday nights he's had games. He's convinced that he'll NEVER get to play Tball like his older brother.



I can only imagine how entertaining a team of ten three year olds will be.



The weather in our area was BEAUTIFUL this weekend, so I decided to rush the season a bit and get out the "little" pool for the kids. (Keri, Craig completely agrees with you about the warm weather!)

They loved it, but kept asking why we can't just uncover the "big" pool and go swimming in there.

Umm...probably because it's about twenty degrees in the water and your mother has funny ideas about her kids turning blue and getting frostbite.

Once they figured out they could still have water fights, they both decided the "little" pool wasn't all bad.

Which of course, inevitably leads to someone crying, lots of "it's not fair" and finally the famous "I'm not playing with you ever again."

Right.

Saturday night we decided to have a special family night with the boys, since we'll never be a family of just the four of us again. (Well, eventually we won't).

We took the kids miniature golfing and then went to their favorite restaurant Hot Rod City.

They have lots of automobile memorabilia and old cars that the boys love. The food is mediocre and you definitely pay for the atmosphere, but that's a completely different story.

Of course we would have picked the evening when they had a live Elvis impersonator performing a show the entire time we were there. To say it was loud would be an understatement.

Every time he would start another song Drew would put his head in his hands and cover his ears.

I honestly can't say I blamed him.

No, Alex didn't fall asleep, he's trying to find his ball in the pipe (I think).



The true test of whether they had fun (even with the Elvis impersonator)? Both boys were asleep by the time we came home and didn't wake up till the next morning.

I wish I could say the same!

Picnics and Parks

The weather was beautiful in our area today. Nearly 70 degrees with NO clouds in the sky. Ahh springtime, I have a love/hate relationship with you.

I love you on days like today where you excite us with visions of flip-flops, capris, and ice cream cones.

Then, in a few days you'll mock us with temperatures barely reaching 45 degrees, requiring cozy socks, jackets, and a cup of hot chocolate.

Stay with me, people. There really is a point to this post. (I think).

My to-do list today consisted of things like vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, laundry, dusting. Yawn.

I just couldn't do it. The forecast was inviting, I was tired of sore, arthritic joints from cleaning, and have I mentioned I'm anxious to meet this baby?

I realize that last sentence had nothing to do with our plans for today, other than the fact that I'm tired and grumpy and very pregnant.

So the boys and I packed a picnic lunch (ok, let's be real: I packed some cookies and grapes, Subway did the rest), and spent the afternoon at the park.

Now of course, nothing ever goes as planned. The park was muddy, it was chilly and windy in the shade when we tried to eat, an older elementary class completely monopolized the playground when my boys were trying to play (I'm still bitter about that, they have their own playground equipment at the school), and of course somebody always ends up getting hurt.

But you know what? All of that still didn't seem to matter in the end. Both boys keep telling me what a fun day they had, and both have asked me when we can do it again.

One of the best parts for me? I even got to read a whole chapter in a book while the kids were playing AND I got a sunburn.

It's the little things in life. I didn't get very many pictures, because, well, I was trying to read my book. Thankyouverymuch.

Before I show you the few pictures I did get, I need to point out that really Alex does have a whole closet full of clothes and shirts. I think I've mentioned before that little Alex is quite particular in what he wears. In fact, currently, I think we have about five shirts that are deemed acceptable to him, and three of them are tank tops. (How in the world he found the box with the summer clothes in them I'll never know).

So, the pictures of Alex are of him wearing Drew's old Tball shirt again. I think that orange shirt is IN EVERY PICTURE I HAVE OF HIM. The good news is Alex's Tball games start next week, and he'll get his very own shirt and hat. Can we all just say a little prayer that he is not on the orange team?

"Really, Mommy? Another Picture? I'm trying to eat my cookie!"

"If only Mommy bought me more clothes, I wouldn't have to wear this shirt again..."

What would a picnic be without ice cream on the way home? Alex ate his whole bowl in about 4.2 seconds and promptly fell asleep for the rest of the drive.

Ahh, parks, picnics, ice cream and naps. Now that makes for a very good day.

Reason #5117 I'm Glad I'm a SAHM

This is what I saw when I woke up the other morning:

I'm still laughing (and yes, they picked out their own clothes). I think Mr. Drew may need a little help in the color coordinating department.



Can you tell these two are excited for T-ball season to start?

Things I'm Loving...

Goodness, where does time go? I haven't blogged for over a week???? What in the world!


Here (in no particular order) are some of the things I'm loving right now...


1. My favorite mug filled with steaming, hot coffee

Ironically, I intended to post this several days ago, and after I took the picture I broke the mug. BROKE. My favorite coffee mug! I have to say, coffee has not tasted the same since...but I still decided to put it on my list. I miss you old friend. And now, I need to get a life.

2. The weather.

The day I snapped this picture, it was 54 degrees. The past two days the temperature reached in the mid 70's. Hallelujah! Could spring actually be on the way? Never mind that today the temperature is in the 40's.

The boys have been having a great time playing outside, and I've been having a great time letting them get out all that excess energy that has been stored in their little bodies all winter!

The image of them running around with no shirt and just shorts is priceless. Although I'm not sure what they are going to do when the temperature reaches 80, if they're already taking shirts off at 70 degrees.

3. This pregnancy.

Although, I cannot remember EVER being this tired with the boys, I am trying to savor the home stretch of this pregnancy. I'm trying to enjoy these last weeks of having just the boys and myself at home during the day.

I know it sounds sappy, ok? Spring break is next week, with both children home ALL DAY EVERY DAY. Depending on the fighting, I may be changing my tune! ha ha.

And I'm trying to enjoy being able to sleep all night long without feedings. Not that I'm actually able to sleep all night long anymore, but that's a completely different story...

Never mind the fact that I'm also almost 34 weeks, and this baby is STILL TURNED SIDEWAYS, or the fact that at my last visit my doctor estimated the baby to be around 8lbs. at delivery.

Goodness. I've been having talks with this baby, but judging by how well the other two listened to me, I'm probably out of luck.

4. Friday Night Lights (the TV show).

A friend I reconnected with recently on facebook hooked me on this show. I am now completely addicted.

Thank goodness for Netflix, where I can watch seasons 1 and 2 instantly.

Don't worry, The Office still holds the #1 place in my heart, much to Craig's delight (said with sarcasm). This is the same guy who fills up the DVR with American Logger and Ax Men. Need I say more?

5. These guys.

Goodness, they make me laugh (and make me want to cry sometimes)! They are awfully good at keeping me on my toes!



And see that cute little one on the left? (Alex). He is a master charmer, but exasperates me to no end in the mornings! Honestly, sometimes I think he should have been a girl. He is VERY opinionated on the clothes he wears. He has a whole closet of clothes (most of them Drew's old clothes), but only wears a couple "special" ones. I decided to let him start picking out his own clothes, in order to save myself the headache and frustration.



Oh nooooooooooooo. That caused quite the crisis. Apparently, I need to pick out clothes for him the night before, put them on his chest, so he can decide the next morning those "are not the wight cwothes." Most mornings, his room looks like a hurricane after he has emptied out his pant drawer and pulled about ten shirts off his hangers.



This is the same child that informed me he likes the cheerleaders the best at high school basketball games. "Because they're pretty."



I told you he was a charmer.



A very fashion conscious, well-dressed, charmer at that.

What We've Been Doing...

Snapshots of the last 24 hours.....

And to think I just had a conversation with my friend Jeanne on Friday where I hailed the praises of flu mist.

I knew I should have kept my mouth shut.

Sigh.

I think I may need a coffee night soon. (hint, hint friends).

*Jeanne-I am in now way comparing this to what you went through last week! I know you had it much, much worse than I do!! God bless you, girl. :)

First Snow!

Winter is officially here in our part of the world.

Tuesday morning the kids were beyond excited to see a dusting of snow on the ground.

I think I've expressed my feelings for winter and snow previously. I AM working on that, though. Really. But, honestly, I just don't like being cold. Aren't you supposed to be hot when you're pregnant? I'm ready for those hormones to kick in anytime.


The kids know that "mommy does not like snow." Poor Alex, somehow has associated snow with Christmas. He keeps asking me in a sad little voice "But, but...are you still going to come to Christmas?"


Oh, my dear Alex. Yes, mommy will be here for Christmas, and all the other days of winter. Mommy is just whining. Please tell me you won't be in counseling for this in the future.


Bear with me, there is a point to this post. Somewhere.


The kids had a great time playing in the snow, and were convinced they had enough snow to build a snowman.

Notice the dusting of snow in the background. Needless to say, there is no snowman in our yard. I promised them there would be more snow in the coming months and then we daddy would build them a HUGE snowman.

There was however, enough snow to shovel the deck.

Yes, Alex, I will be coming to Christmas. I promise.

Maybe, just maybe, by the end of winter I'll actually be enjoying the snow.

It's good to have goals, right?

Leaves!

Last Friday was a beautiful 65 degree and sunny day. Now it's cold, windy, and 30 degrees. But I digress.

Craig decided to tackle the HUGE amount of leaves we still had in the yard. First, though, he made a big pile of leaves for the kids to play in. They had a blast!

What I didn't know was that Drew was actually sick while he was playing outside and had a temp of 103.

Oh, great. One more thing to feel guilty about. I should have been suspicious when he wanted his winter coat and it was 62 degrees outside.

Why can't fall hang around for just a little longer?