Cousins in June

Thanks to the recovery of our lost photos, I have a couple of pictures of the kids with most of their cousins.  This is one shot that I always intend to get and I NEVER remember...another reason why I am so glad we were able to get these photos back!

It's tough to get a good picture of so many kids but I think we did a pretty good job...

Left to Right: My niece Erica holding her son Ben, Katie, Connor, Johnny, Riley...then my 3 in front of them.
Connor and Riley are Mike's sisters kids....Erica, Johnny and Katie are my brother's kids (oh and he has 2 more not pictured) Confused yet?

Besties

All 3 kids are becoming really good friends with each other.  Michael and Liam are, of course, joined at the hip most of the time but honestly, Chloe knows just how to work her way in.

Chloe is rarely left out of the scene.

She will find a way to insert herself into whatever land of make-believe the boys have placed themselves.  Sometimes, they kind of recruit her as a character.  For example, I had gone to the basement to grab some laundry out of the dryer and when I came up, Chloe was under the train table with her head sticking out.  I asked her what she was doing and told her to get up (it gets dusty under there about 2.5 seconds after I vac/sweep). NOOOO says Michael...Chloe is the MONSTER and that's her HOUSE...I look back at Chloe and on cue she says, "Raaaaaaahhhh". I wish I had a picture of that!!

At other times, I'm certain it's her charm and sweetness that wins the boys over
(especially Liam)

Sometimes, her presence is not requested.  In fact, it's downright annoying.  She knocks over lincoln log buildings, steals legos or kix cereal, drinks out of whatever sippy cup is closest (or fullest).  She screams in protest...she's even been known to give you a little tap on the head if your behavior isn't as she wishes.  And there was a brief biting phase too...
Michael and Liam get into their share of arguments and smack down matches with each other.  Rarely is anyone really hurt (well, not physically anyway).

Sometimes there are tears, sometimes there is so much laughter, sometimes everyone needs some space.  But somehow, these three little children of mine are forming their own bonds with each other...and it's so beautiful to see :)

I honestly have no idea what was going on here....and I'm thankful!

Memorial Thanks

There has been so much happening here in the past month.  And I really haven't documented it well AT ALL.  Here's a little catch up...

Both boys finished preschool for the year- Michael in particular had his LAST DAY!

We also got pictures with teachers but I'm not sure if they care about being posted online so we'll just show Michael leaving preschool for the last time.  I was at my interview so Mike did the honors of preserving this special moment.  Michael's preschool does not do a graduation ceremony because of the fact that not all the children in class will be heading to Kindergarten- either age related or because of some difficulty.  While I agree with the spirit of their thoughts, it is still a bummer that we don't do an actual "ceremony".  Michael did not seem to mind.
And yes, my interview (no photo taken).  I also did a phone interview with another manager who is located in Utah.  I should know something this week.  I have no strong feeling about whether I will receive an offer or not.

Chloe had her 18 month well check and she is right on track.  Stats were 32inches, 21.1lbs, and an 18.75inch melon.  She is doing great :)

We've visited farms and had pony/horse rides.  We've taken walks and played outside.  We've continued with swim lessons and speech therapy.  We've taken a few trips...it is starting to feel like summer around here, not just because of the temperature but also because of our schedule (or lack thereof).

Over the weekend, we traveled up to Connecticut to visit my father-in-law and family.  A few pics on that one later.  We always have a great time up there and it was a nice getaway.

Today we went to a pool/birthday party in the afternoon- where I took exactly ZERO pictures.  But the morning was our 2nd annual attendance at a local parade....a little hot but so much FUN!!

Now we come down off of the weekend high...back to praying for jobs (well, at least one full time job) and going to the few appointments that we have scheduled.  Why can't everyday feel like vacation?

I am thankful (and try to be mindful) of all the good things that we enjoy thanks to the sacrifices of many.  I hope that I am somehow passing on an overall feeling of gratitude to my children (not cynicism and negativity).  And hopefully these memory-making moments help that effort!

Memory Lane 2006

I'm on a roll here...Some of my favorite (early) shots of my little Michael Peter...
Camera quality=POOR so just bear with me!

My absolute favorite pic taken at the hospital right after he was born!

Our new little family!

I was so weepy going home- look at my face!

Bath, sometime around the 3 month mark

Little pumpkin...

One of my favorite pictures-taken by SEARS believe it or not!

My work trip to D.C.- the boys came along. Michael wanted to see the
president but schedules did not align...

I included this in our Christmas card that year and it was a hit.
I love his expression so much!

Now he approaching FIVE....how the heck did that happen?!

Memory Lane

Sometimes when I am bored at night, I stalk my Facebook friends' profiles/pictures or dig around in the archives of the blogs I read.  Such was the case tonight and then I ended up looking through all the pictures stored on this laptop.  One of these days, I need to actually get the pictures PRINTED. You know, kick it old school with a photo album or scrapbook.

I looked at a few photos that I don't think I've ever posted on this blog...photos from Liam's birth.  The most special thing about those photos is that we are all there.  We weren't expecting to go from the doctor's office to the hospital so Michael was with us and so he was in the room for Liam's birth.  I thought I'd include some of my favorites from the first day or two.  With both boys' birthdays approaching, I guess I'm feeling a bit nostalgic.

Giving Michael one last bottle before he becomes a big brother



Michael making sure all is well with Liam

 

Our family of four

The boys...

Ready to go home :)

A quick nap on the couch

Hanging in the papasan chair

The Witch in the Well

"The Witch in the Well"

A lovely game, best played during recess in your parking lot playground...usually between 2nd and4th grades.

One person is "the witch" and they stand over in the designated "well" area, waiting for their part.

One person is the "mother" and everyone else is one of her many "children".  The children stand in a line- we had a stone wall that we used to line up against.  The mother says the following while walking up and down the line, tapping the kids hands "one potato, two potato" style.

Mother says- in a sing-songy type way:
"I'm going downtown to smoke my pipe
I won't be back till Saturday night
Don't get into the CAAANDY"

Mother does a loop around the parking lot/schoolyard.  The children turn and pretend they are eating tons of candy in mom's absence.

Mom returns and questions the children three times, "Did you get into the candy?"
Each time they reply, in unison, "Nooooo motherrrrdearrrr" (hands behind their backs).

Then she says, "Let me see your hands" and they reply, "Daddy chopped them off with a butcher knife"
I think this part is asked/responded to twice.
(all of the above is said in sing-songy voices)

Mom then goes down the line, and one-by-one checks each child's hands and announces what type of candy that child has been caught eating (candy canes, m&m's, whatever).  Sometimes she might say something gross like chocolate-covered snails...

She then sends them all to the well to wash their hands.
(Cue the witch)
The children try to go to the "well' and the witch scares them and chases them away.

They come back 3 times and tell the mother "There's a WITCH in the WELL" but mom doesn't believe them because you know, they already LIED about eating candy and hands being chopped off...seriously, would you believe that line?

This is where my memory gets a bit fuzzy because the mom follows them to the well and sees that the witch is for real.  Then I think we would just start another round or move on to Chinese Jumprope.


This game was SO MUCH FUN and if you weren't asked to play, it was a serious bummer.
I don't think we ever thought about how odd it was that mom would be downtown smoking a pipe or that dad might chop off your hands.  WTH?

Now you really wonder about my education and upbringing, right?
I promise you it was nothing scandalous or crazy.

But hey, in the K-4th grade building recess yard, there was also a "Naked Machine"....some Catholic school, eh?  I'll tell you that one some other time.  In truth, it's kind of stupid and not nearly as disturbing as the Witch in the Well.