Riding with No Training Wheels

While we were in Michigan Owen reached a milestone and successfully learned how to ride his bike with no training wheels! We noticed that he was fairly ready, when Grandma Sue took him for a ride on the bike, while Gavin was shopping for training wheels, but we put the training wheels on anyway so that he could keep up with his cousins.

The actual lesson to learn to ride was fairly spontaneous. I was sitting in my parents garage, relaxing after a fun-filled weekend with the whole family. Owen and Gavin were in the driveway playing. Owen came riding up the driveway on his bike, and with a second glance I realized there were no training wheels on his bike!

At first he could really only ride if someone got him started and he could only ride in one direction, but this didn't even last 24 hours.

The next day, I told Owen if he could ride the half mile or so to the ice cream shop we would buy him ice cream, so the next day he did it! After returning home from getting ice cream, Gavin got out my Dad's bike and took Owen for a bike ride to the Marina. When they got back Owen asked me to take him for another ride to the marnina.

The next day, I took Owen on a ride into Harbor Beach on the bike path. During this trip Owen got stopped by the Sheriff, no, he was not in trouble, he was caught being safe and received a coupon to McDonald's for wearing his helmet!

The following day, I needed to mail some things, so I took Owen for a ride to the Post Office. After completing our business there, Owen still wanted to go for a longer ride, so I took him through town and back home via the road just outside of town. This trip started to get a little long for him, but I explained we were making a big circle and that we were almost back and he made it! I was absolutely amazed at how fast he learned to ride and how fast he was able to take such long bike rides with us! Very proud moment for Mommy, Daddy, and Owen!

Let's Talk About it Now

As we were driving out of the church parking lot yesterday, Owen says to me, "Mommy, when I'm bigger, I am going to take the truck and Daddy can ride with Chris."

I replied, "oh really."

"Yes," he continued, "or I can drop Daddy off at his school and go to my school."

"mmmhmmm," is my response.

To this he says, "I will take the kids,"

"Who are the kids?" I asked.

"Well, I will take Max to school and you can take Lyla."

"Ok, well we can talk about this when you are 16," I suggest.

"No," he says, "let's talk about it now!"

And so the converstation continued for two more miles. I guess Owen has us figured out, we take a little while to get used to new ideas, so if he wants to use the car when he is 16 he better start discussing it now!

Shhh, Mommy's Sleeping!

Last night, we took the boys to the Port Hope Fireworks. It was about 11:00 when we arrived home, usually, we make sure Max is asleep before putting Owen to bed in the same room, but because it was so late, we needed them to both go to bed together. I opted to go to bed with them to ensure that they settle down and go to sleep instead of playing around until all hours of the night.

Owen was laying on a twin mattress on the floor listening to "Runaway," on the IPod, a song that both Owen and Max know all the words too even when the song is not playing, and Max was in the double bed with me, opposite where Owen laid. I had already sternly told them both multiple times to settle down and go to sleep, but the rowdiness was still in full swing. Both boys were singing at very high pitch to "Runaway" and no amount of nagging was going to stop the craziness. I decided the only way to get them to settle down was to lay very still myself and pretend I was sleeping, ok so I may actually have been the first to fall asleep in the end, but at that moment I was just pretending!

When Max realized that my eyes were closed and I hadn't said anything for a while, he tried to shush Owen. In a loud whisper, leaning over me, he said, "Owen, Owen, shhhh, Owen, Mommy's sleeping!"

Max in Time-Out

Max's new time-out spot is the stairs. When he is in trouble, it is usually because he is doing some obnoxious! Yes, sometimes it is also for hitting, but usually it's for running around at dinner time or screaming at the top of his lungs. When he is scolded, he doesn't laugh, but he gets this little twinkle in his eye, like he is trying not to laugh, as if saying, "I know I'm in trouble, but it was so worth it!
Here he is hanging out in time-out!


And here is the look I am trying to describe!

A Tear to my Eye

It came up in converstation the other night, when my mother-in-law was talking about the animals on her "funny farm," that the one eyed horse, named Kissie, had died. She was telling us how the pigme goats were pregnant and we were questioning her on how many animals there were total now. Her response to our teasing questioning was, "well you know Kissie died," I was shocked to hear this news.

Immediately, I told her that we had to tell Owen, because he was just talking about that particular horse the other day and I wanted him to know that she would not be there when he came to visit.

The following day, Sue worked it in to converstation with Owen, she told Owen that Kissie went to Horse Heaven and he responded, "well then she is with Papa Tommy!"

Back to Reality

And I'm back to the life of a working mommy! Monday was my first day back from being on maternity leave for 11 weeks. It went surprisingly well for my first day back. I left Max and Lyla in the hands of my mother-in-law and didn't shed a tear, until Owen to throw a fit when I dropped him off at preschool, which made me teary eyed. I got finally broke away from his tight grip on my thigh and drove to work. I was very thankful that "It Won't Be Like this For Long," or some other song that sings to a mother's emotions, didn't come on the radio!

I got to work and immediately had to stop in the office, because I realized I had forgotten my keys! I had to dig out my sub folder to get the spare key. Other than that, the rest of the day went very well. I was a little overwhelmed with how my desk looked with piles of papers that I weren't sure what they were, but throughout the week I started to sort and throw away and my room seems to be getting back in order!

Not only was it my first week back, but it was teacher appreciation week. Throughout the week LaPetite was having special things for their teachers. On Tuesday, it was flower day, we were supposed to bring on single flower. So, inorder to do this, Owen and I had to stop at Smith's on the way. Surprisingly, even with this stop, I made it to work early enough to sit in the parking lot and finish the last few sips of my coffee before heading in! But then on Wednesday, I decided to start feeding Lyla at 7:00, and was almost 20 minutes late for work!!! Luckily, we are supposed to be to school 45 minutes before we pick up any students! Thursday, we had to stop and pick up candy bars, and I made it to work ontime! Friday, I was within the time frame, too!

I started an exciting unit that I created in one of my Master's classes, which is fun along with all of the end of the year things going on it is sort of a no stress transition.

Lyla, has adjusted well, too. She seems to be getting into a three hour eating pattern, which is better than how she was when I was home with her, although, on Friday, she had a no napping day!

Max has not complained at all about not going to preschool, I think he is enjoying his time at home with his sister and Grandma!

I am fully aware that the true reality of being a working mommy of three will not set in until the start of the new school year in August, when my mother-in-law is not around and I have to get all three children out the door, but I am trying my best to practice now, by getting everyone dressed in the morning and fed breakfast, and I'll figure the rest out in August.

It Won't Be Like This For Long....

I often say these words to Gavin, or "you're gonna miss this," when we are standing in the middle of 3 screaming children, usually around dinner time! I try to say it with a smile, but usually with tears in my eyes. These words are both comforting and sad all at the same time.

When I'm up at 3 am, or when I get kicked in the stomach while in a sound sleep because someone snuck in there, it is nice to think, this too will pass. But when I'm having an intelligent converstation with my 4-year-old, or hear my 2-year-old say, "I love you," in that sweet little voice of his, or when I see the two of them hug and kiss each other goodnight, or when I watch my 10 week old smile a little half smile, I find these words sad, because I want to hold on to those little moments.

I know that with each new phase brings even more fun and enjoyment, but I can't help but sometimes wish for time to stand still.

Last night we went to see Darius Rucker, and "It Won't Be Like This For Long," is just one title of many of his hit songs. Sometimes I feel like he is writing our life's theme songs, but really isn't that what country music is all about, the fact that everyone can relate to it?

Anyway, here is one song that brought tears to my eyes last night...



Another song, not by Darius Rucker, but by Trace Atkins, also brings tears to my eyes when I listen to it.

Grandparents

Growing up, I had the privelage of seeing my grandparents on a regular basis. I have many fond memories growing up with my grandparents living right next door. However, it wasn't until I moved so far away and had my own children that I truly appreciated the fact that I got to see my grandparents on a daily basis. My children do not have that luxury, as we live over 2000 miles away from our parents. Because my kids do not see their grandparents on a regular basis it makes it that much more special for them when they come to visit. Since interacting with their grandparents is not a daily occurence, I feel the need to take lots of pictures when they are here. Here is a video documenting the total of 6 weeks that we were lucky enough to have grandparents around.

Enjoy!
Grandparents

Sibling Photoshoot

Monday I decided to torture my children and force them to partake in a photoshoot! I got the boys dressed in their "Big Brother," shirts and Lyla in her "Little Sister," shirt. As I was getting them dressed I neglected to look at the clock and so round 1 of the photoshoot is with Lyla screaming because she was actually due to eat. I quick fed her and then started round 2 of the photoshoot, which went pretty well. At the end I got the idea to put Lyla in her bouncy seat so that she would be safer than with her brothers holding her. While trying to get a picture the boys thought it was just hilarious to stick their fingers in the hole of the bouncy seat where you attach the toys. When Owen did it the first time it really wasn't funny, he and I both thought he was truly stuck, but after I got him out they both took turns "getting their fingers stuck."

I decided to create a whole video of this photoshoot, because I think although only a few of the pictures would be considered frame worthy, the actually photoshoot is pretty comical! Apparently my camera wasn't impressed with this photoshoot either, because immediately afterward it died, time to upgrade!

Enjoy...
Sibling Photoshoot 3

First Day of Freedom

What did I do the first day home with all my kids when I didn't have to squeeze in homework too? Well I:

~Danced with my boys in the kitchen
~Rearranged the contents of the kitchen cabinets
~Tortured my children with a photoshoot in their sibling shirts (more on that soon).
~Went on a playdate
~Organized/sorted some stray papers
~Played Uno with Owen during Max's nap
~Nursed my baby without having a laptop on my lap at the same time.
~Chatted with my Grandma on the phone
~Laid on the floor with all three kids for "tummy time."

Sure it wasn't all that picture pefect, I did break up quite a few fights, but overall it was a great day! It makes me really look forward to this summer.

Easter Recap

Outfit number 2 for Lyla, she loved wearing her little dress for Easter, the hat however, she was not overly impressed with!

This is the best I got for a sibling picture, I didn't even try for a family one!

Both boys enjoyed another Easter egg hunt at "Grandma" Della and "Papa" Rob's house! You may notice that both boys are wearing Halloween socks, their choice certainly not mine! I also really wanted Max to wear his blue polo shirt, however, he strongly refused and insisted on his airplane shirt. I really, really, really, hope my daughter doesn't tell me in two years that she will not wear a dress!!










We had a great Easter and hope you did too!

Happy Easter!

The Easter egg hunt was as entertaining as always this morning! This was the first year that Max was really into it and he found a few on his own. I told Owen before we went downstairs that he needed to let Max find some too, to my surprise, Owen would find one and give it to Max. Then together they opened all the eggs and shared the loot!


I managed to get a sibling picture this morning, although no one is looking at the camera. Hopefully, I will be able to get one with them all in their Easter outfits later today!

And one last photo of the Easter bunny having her morning carrot, I mean Lyla having her morning bottle!!

More later on the Easter egg hunt at Rob and Della's and hopefully a picture when they are not in their pajamas!

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Here is the latest cake I made. I ran out of frosting and had to make my own for the pink part of the bunny, but I think it turned out pretty well. Hopefully the kids will enjoy eating it tomorrow!

This is not Lyla's Easter outfit, but I thought it was fitting for the Easter weekend! I thought it was adorable on her.

Max wanted in on this photoshoot, as well, although he really wasn't cooperating for a nice picture. I think this picture is just hilarious though. They seem to have the exact same expression on their faces!!

Hope everyone has a great Easter tomorrow!

So Proud

Owen and I have been making a weekly trip to the Library for the last few months. He likes to pick out DVD's and they are only allowed out for one week, so we are forced to go on a weekly basis. Anyway, in the middle of March I noticed a sign advertising a reading incentive program for ages 4-12. If a child read 5 books they would receive a free hamburger or cheeseburger from In-n-Out. Well, Owen is 4 and loves In-n-Out so I got him a card and had him help me pick out 5 books. We took it home and he and Grandma Sue read all the books. The next week we got 5 more, and 5 more after that.

We turned in the card last week and this past weekend we cashed in one of the certificates. Before we left we snapped this picture, he couldn't be prouder of this gift certificate! When the lady at In-n-Out asked him if he wanted a hamburger or cheeseburger he replied, "I want a hamburger with cheese!"

Happy Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day I thought I would list the things that we do or have done in our household to help our planet.

1. Recycle
2. Use Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
3. Drink out of reuseable water bottles
4. Use ceiling fans so that the air conditioning doesn't have to be so high
5. Purchased window coverings that are energy efficient
6. Gavin carpools to work
7. Get carwashes at the carwash where they reuse the water, instead of washing it in our driveway.
8. Use reuseable grocery bags
9. Purchased energy efficient appliances
10. Reuse our sandwhich baggies, instead of throwing them away daily

Those are things we do, take a moment and think about things you do. Consider starting a new earth friendly habit today.

Really?

Gavin and I went to lunch yesterday at Red Robbin. I had been craving a burger from there for weeks and we had the day to ourselves with Lyla, since they boys were at preschool.

We walk into the restaurant and the host asks, "just 2?" Gavin lifts up the baby carrier and says, "well, 3 if you count her." The host continues and asks if we want a sling for the carrier or if we just want to slide her into the booth. We ask for the booth. He turns to get the menus and mumbles to himself that he will give us a children's menu just incase. As he turns to lead us to our table, I can't refrain from smiling, in response to him giving us a kid's menu.

We get to the table, Gavin slides Lyla into the booth, she is clearly visable to the host, who looked at her, laid the kid's menu on the table, and said, "I'll leave this in case you want to get her anything!"

Apparently this young male host, has not been around children much, I laughed outloud when he left our table!

We are Blessed

Tomorrow at midnight I will officially be done with my Master's classes. My degree will not be official until May 21st, but as far as I am concerned I am done.

Lately, I have been thinking about all that Gavin and I have accomplished/been through the past three years while Lesley has been a part of our lives.

~Gavin started his 22 month Master's program when Owen was 14 months old. He attended an entire weekend of classes once a month, leaving me home to tend to Owen. Owen at the time was a very demanding toddler and after just two months of Gavin starting his Master's program I became pregnant with Max, making staying home with a toddler all weekend long with no help even more exhausting.
~I started my 22 month Master's program in August of 2009, when Max was 5 months old. Gavin was not going to be finished until December 2009, so we spent 5 months with Gavin being gone one weekend for class and me another. During this time frame we were also working on selling our first home.
~At the start of the 2010-2011 school year, Gavin enrolled in 32 credits in order to go over two columns on the payscale, while I was still working on my last 16 credits of my Master's.
~In October we had an opportunity to purchase a new home, that needed a lot of work. Gavin spent every spare moment for 8 weeks fixing up the house, while I took care of the kids, again pregnant.
~We moved into our new home two weeks before Christmas.
~Lyla arrived two weeks early on Valentine's day.
~Now, I am finishing my Master's and gavin will be done with 16 of 32 credits next weekend.

In just five short years of marriage we have lived in six different apartments/houses, moved over 2000 miles away from our parents, become parents ourselves to three beautiful babies, stressed over our finances, and earned two Master's degrees. We have juggled all of this and I can still only count on one hand the number of major arguments we have had. Sure we have done our fair share of bickering, but arguing not so much.

We make a great team. We are both hard workers, who have the same vision for what we want out of life. We encourage each other; when one of us feels like we are drowning in obligations the other lends a hand. We make sure we always take time after the kids go to bed at night to regroup. And now more than ever we make sure that we go out at least once a month on a date night.

I know that no matter what life hands us we will tackle it together. I am proud of our accomplishments and of our relationship. They say that having a child, building/buying/selling a house, or working fulltime and going to school, are all things that can put stress on a marriage. We have done all of these things simultaneously and have not only survived but have strengthened our relationship.

I am not going to stress over whatever else life has in store for us, like the current proposal to not pay teachers for Master's Degrees. I know that together we will find a way to survive, because each night when I tuck my babies into bed, and hear them tell me they love me, I am reminded that we are blessed.

Baking with Grandma

Owen loves to help out in the kitchen whenever I am baking. While Grandma was here this trip she decided to let Owen help her make me some peanut butter cookies, since I can't eat chocolate. The cookies were delicious!

Playing Games with Papa

Before my dad could escape to the shower one morning, Max suckered him in to a game of Hungry Hippos. Or was it that I pawned the task of playing that game to my dad, so that I could shower. Either way, I am pretty sure both thoroughly enjoyed themselves!!





And since it was his first time playing, Max let Papa win!

A Morning at the Park

Across from our house, we have a nice little grassy park with two different sidewalk routes that the boys can ride their bikes on.
Owen loves to go over their and ride his bike like a race car around the "track." Max likes to come along and gets around pretty quickly on his little motorcycle. After playing in the park for a while and watching the lawn mower cut the grass, we decided to get out of the lawn mowers way and ride around the block.
This was the first bike ride where both boys were riding! Maybe soon Max's legs will be long enough to ride the tricycle.

I'm so Happy

We took a little drive this morning to HomeDepot to price out some things for our backyard project. The HomeDepot, we shop at is conveniently located by a Kohl's, Target, BabiesRUs/ToysRUs, and now a Michaels!!!

At Last

Finally after living here for 4 months, we can get both cars in the garage!!!

Next, sorting and filing 2 years worth of papers!

A Cold Day in Vegas

It was a little chilly on Sunday morning, so I couldn't resist dressing Lyla in the handmade sweater that she received as a baby gift. It was a little big, and when I put it on her she looked at me like, "it isn't that cold out." I thought she was adorable in it, I think she will get to wear it more on cool evenings in Michigan this summer when she is a little bit bigger!

Tummy Time

I laid Lyla down for some tummy time. I told her she needed to stay there for 10 minutes. She screamed for 7, then fell asleep.

Sleep only lasted long enough for me to take this picture, then she screamed more! She absolutely hates tummy time, but I know we have to keep trying, because we don't want her to have to wear a helmet like her older brother Max had to do.

Final Day with the Cousins

Monday was the final day for cousin bonding in Vegas. Finally, the weather cooperated for the midwesterners and they were able to spend time at the pool. Owen and I joined them for a little swim. Owen was scared at first when he first jumped in, being that this is the first time he was in water since last summer, but once he got used to it, he swam all around the pool, jumping in, ect., with no help from me, which left me available to snap a few pictures.





Later that afternoon, Sarah and the kids came back to the house while Nate gambled with Papa. Graham was taking a nap and Lyla was content so we decided to take the older boys back to the Dinosaur Park. After that it was time for another yummy home cooked meal then out for U-Swirl frozen yogurt before saying goodbye!



We had a great time with the Roberts family. We can't wait to spend more time with them this summer!

End in Sight?

For the last several months, Gavin has set his alarm on his cell phone and gotten up with Owen at 12:30 am to take him to the bathroom. This seemed to eliminate the bed wetting issue. Throughout these several months we have had a multitude of discussions as to when we would be able to stop this process and he will just get up on his own. I jokingly have commented, "It has to stop sometime right? It's not like his college roommate or wife will be waking him up at night!"

Well, two nights ago, he was standing at the end of our bed crying, when we woke up we discovered he had an accident at the end of our bed. We were not upset about this, infact, we were thrilled, because we realized he woke up knowing he had to go potty, he just didn't make it to the potty.

Last night, he woke up twice on his own and got us to take him potty. For now, the alarm will still be set, but I am thinking that there may be an end in sight for this process!!! And his eyes twinkled this morning when I had him give me a double high five for being such a big boy!!

Day 3 with the Cousins

On Sunday afternoon, after the younger boys were up from their nap, we decided to take the whole gang to the best place on the strip (in my opinion), the Bellagio Gardens and Fountain.

The Gardens were gorgeous as always, but a little confusing for four and two-year-old since it had a Ferris Wheel and Carousel that was not rideable, but we did manage to get some pretty good pictures of the kids together.



The kids really enjoyed looking at the butterflies and everyone was in awe of the fountain show. After that little excursion we headed home for a home cooked meal, followed by sleepy boys vegging out infront of the TV.

Lyla is 2 Months Old

I can't believe that our daughter has already been a part of our lives for two whole months. These past two months are pretty much a blur to me. Lots of sleepless nights make for days that just sort of blend in to one another.

Today was the first day in over six weeks that it was just the five of us waking up in our house. Which meant it was the first day that I had to take Lyla with me to take the boys to preschool and we made it!

I enjoyed a little quiet time with her this morning when Lyla laid on the floor for a half hour or so and smiled and cooed at me.

Lyla had her 2 month well check today. She weighed in at 11 pounds 1 ounce and is 22.5 inches long. This is the 50-75th percentile for both height and weight. It says on the paper from the doctor's office that you can't spoil a baby in the first 6-8 months, but I think we already have a spoiled baby on our hands. She sure does love to be held!

She also had three shots today and was not pleased about that at all. This evening she cried for over an hour, finally after a bath, a dose of tylenol, and a feeding, she is happily sleeping in her swing.

I am looking forward to another month of watching her grow, develop, and hopefully start sleeping better!

Day 2 with the Cousins

On Saturday, the Roberts' family went sight seeing at Red Rock Canyon. They arrived back at our house in time for Max and Graham to take a nap. Since they were napping Sarah and I decided to take the older boys to the Dinosaur park at Aliante since Caleb really likes Dinosaurs! First, they dug for dinosaur bones, while doing this they decided to bury their shovels, they did this so well that we lost one!

Next, they did a lot of climbing and sliding on the big playset, while Aunt Sarah and I chit chatted.

Then after a long wait, they were able to take a turn on the swings. Apparently, Aunt Sarah is a better pusher on the swings, because when Owen requested her to push him and I pushed Caleb, Caleb asked for his mom back! Finally, we headed home so that the adults could get ready to go on a date without the kids, Grandma and Papa volunteered to watch all 5 of the grandkids.

That evening Sarah, Nate, Gavin, and I went to dinner at Vino's in Aliante. It was really nice to be able to chat with them, without being interupted by screaming little boys! While we were out, Grandma and Papa treated the boys to Happy Meals, while they had Chili's, then the boys had a Pajama Party watching Toy Story 3. All was quiet when we got home, (Max had gone to bed already) but once we were home the boys got their second wind....




Everyone had a good time and slept well that night too, especially Grandma and Papa!