School Time

Back to School.

How did this happen? Didn't we just get out? Didn't the pools just open? This has been one of the fastest summers and what's sad and scary about that is that they will only get faster. Time is flying by (unless your talking about the arrival of this baby, then it feels like its creeping by).

This kid is a 1st grader, has his own desk, a new teacher, a classroom that is downstairs (isn't that where the big kids go?) and was very excited to start school yesterday. We're excited too. His teacher, Mrs. Fritz, seems great and was very friendly.

This kid is set for preschool. He has the same teacher as last year. And may have been more excited to wear his new shoes then to actually go to school. As outgoing and crazy as he is at home he seems to be much more shy and quiet at school.

We're slowly getting ourselves back into a routine. Bedtime is sooner, Trevor and I get more quiet time at night and are trying to go to bed before midnight (Ha!), we've had family breakfast and waking them up in the morning hasn't been to difficult (but they are looking forward to a sleep in day tomorrow!)

Bennett tried to take up a desk yesterday in Carson's class. He would have preferred to stay. And he was sad to see the boys go this morning. But him and I are enjoying our first quiet morning in 3 months.

We are blessed. We are excited for a new school year. And now it's nap time since someone thought 5am was a good time to wake up. Stinker!!

Daddy's Helper

Declan followed the entire way around the lawn.

I see a lawn business in their future. And if he keeps those cheeks they'll have plenty of customers.

Having fun at the farm

We spent the weekend at the farm. Our last weekend away before the baby comes. Now, it's time to relax, finish some things around the house and get ready for to be a family of 6! This all happens one month from today. Yikes.

Speaking of the baby....this is my view. That is one big belly. Though not nearly as big as it was with Bennett.

We played some Bocce ball. Bennett was my partner, not sure we won.

There was less screaming over the weekend. That was delightful. When he's not screaming he is quite cute, funny and entertaining....to say the least. I'd get a video of his quirkiness but he tends to clam up when I take it out. Stinker!

The boys did plenty of four wheeling.

They climbed into Papa's grainery.
The big boys were brave enough to climb to the top.

And we did alot of hanging out in the heat. Bennett is a sweat head....can you tell?

Being Two

Someone in this house is closing in on being 2. But as a veteran mommy of two year olds I'm here to tell you that the terrible two's start before they actually hit two. No! Say it ain't true?! Yep, it is and I'm happy to forewarn you. Your welcome! It's such a glorious stage, probably my favorite. In fact I love this stage soooo much that I can hardly wait to do it again in another 2 years(note the sarcasm please). Woo Hoo! Good times.

Since this is my third 2 year old I can shrug off alot. I don't go nearly as insane as I used to with Carson or even Declan (who by the way takes the cake in two year old tantrums). In fact I tend to ignore most of it or take pictures and video of it. I'm sure the patrons of these various stores we visited were none to pleased with the fact that I was taking pictures and texting them to not only my husband but my friends as well, instead of trying to do something to quite him down or stop him. Sorry to tell you though, not much is going to stop this and I have little to no energy these days to spend trying.

Sometimes I get lots of attention for said outbursts or maybe he does, I'm not sure. Doting grandmothers stop to try and cheer him up, cashiers try to pass off suckers on him or some just say, "He must be having a rough day." Ah, nope, he's just two is usually my response. Sometimes I even get the occasional stare or eye roll. I know what those people are thinking because at one point in my life I thought it too...."can't that lady control her kids?" Yes I can but I also pick my battles people and on most days it took alot to get us all out of the house and to our various destinations. Destinations that must be required or I wouldn't be there.And if I only went when no one was crying, whining, throwing a fit, hitting or talking back we'd be stuck at home every day.

Some days are more trying then others, like today, it was one fit from beginning to end. But we make it, we manage and we grow stronger because of it. I'm thankful for my husband and friends who let me vent my head off about how utterly annoying this stage it. It's a good thing he's so cute when he's not like this or he'd be up for adoption! Tomorrow is a new day! A fresh start.

Best part...

What is the best part of being under 2 in the summer when temps are hovering right at 100? Watch the video and you'll see.

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Summer

We are less then a month from school starting and I'm choosing to live in denial about it. People keep telling me that I'll be ready for it to start, that the routine will be good and it will finally get these kids (at least some of them) out of my hair for a good chunk of the day. Maybe that will be true as we get closer but right now I don't want it to start, I don't want the school routine to kick into gear and (at least at the moment) I don't want my kids out of my hair. Clearly I've lost my mind.

We've been enjoying our days and they've been busy. Carson doesn't nap anymore and if I can get him to lay down or rest for 30 minutes a day I'm lucky. He's not the greatest independent player so when he is awake he's busy having me help him with a project or showing me his latest Lego creation or asking me a million questions. Some days I want to pull out my hair but many times I've tried to really enjoy him because when school starts he'll be gone for most of the day and that quiet time we've been enjoying this summer will be gone.

He's growing like a weed too. Just since summer started he's gone from being 1/4 of an inch too short to ride the water slide to being 1/2 above the height minimum. And we can't keep him off it. He's swimming like a fish, he learned to ride his bike and we're busy learning to tie our shoes before 1st grade officially starts. 1st grade? I don't know how that happened.

It's been hot. Really hot! And humid. Mother Nature must have never been pregnant otherwise she wouldn't subject me to this sweaty gross weather. We've spent 6 of the last 7 days at the pool, the lake, running through the sprinkler or having water fights with our friends. Maybe one of these crazy boys will become a swimmer like their mommy.

I was at the doctor yesterday. The nurse went through my pre-op directions with me. While I was listening to her tell me "the rules" I kept wondering why she was telling me this information so soon. Then I realized that this baby will be here in just 6 weeks and 5 days from now. Yowza. We have done nothing to get ready for it. Nothing. Oh I got a diaper bag, if that counts. I think it does because after 3 kids I needed a cuter, more functional bag. So these next 6 weeks will go fast as we do some things around here to get ready for the baby.

So, if I'm not updating this then you can assume we're swimming, wrestling, getting ready for school. going to the movies, washing baby clothes, making a toddler bed for Bennett, trying to enjoy our last days as a family of five, grilling, trying not to sweat to death, having a BBQ, riding our bikes, playing at the playground and trying to soak up as much of summer as we can because these days are short and fast and the kids just keep growing.

Happy 4th of July

Independence Day is one of our favorite holidays. Fireworks, watermelon, tattoos on our faces, swimming, parades, park, football, family, bbq and really hot weather....what's not to love? And we crammed it all in.

Front row seat to daddy's firework show.




Tackle football at the park. Declan has trouble figuring out how far he can go with Bennett.

At the park we realized that we needed to do some hair cutting when we got home. Poor Bennett was a sweat ball and taking his shirt off didn't help much except give the mosquitoes easier access to fresh blood.

So all were cut.

Watching fireworks from the back of our car.


Hose drinker extraordinaire.

God Bless America!