{October So Far....Strep, School Pics and More!}

A few things that have been going on in these parts:

 

1.  I got strep throat about a week and a half ago.  It was as bad as it sounds!  I got home from taking Luke to soccer and started feeling very achy and my throat was scratchy.  Within two hours, I was have the cold sweats, shaking and running over a 102 temperature. Chat was at school that night, so I had to do dinner, bath and bedtime for the boys all while feeling terrible.  Luckily I got through it and took two Nyquil and passed out that night hoping sleep would help.  The next morning was much worse, so I called my doctor at 8:00 am and was in her office by 8:30 getting swabbed for strep.  After a shot of steroids and a prescription for antibiotics I was on my way.  I actually felt about 90% by the next day and definitely 100% the day after that.  I was so happy I got help so it did not drag out all week!  And luckily the boys did not get it from me.  We dodged a huge bullet there!

 

2.  The boys had their school pictures a few weeks ago and I finally got them back.  They do a sibling picture too and was so shocked to see how good it turned out!
 

 

3.  Ben has decided he would rather color his body than any type of paper or coloring book.  I left him alone for about three minutes and came back to this.  I threw him in the bath very quickly so we could get all of this off of him and the water turned a deep blue.  There was that much blue marker on him!  Turkey...

 

 

4.  Before it got cool this past week, we were still dealing with hot, muggy weather with lots of mosquitos.  So the boys were a bit stir crazy and we ended up in Ben's room.  Somehow Ben got the broom out of the laundry room and it ended up on the floor.  So we played a little game called "run and jump over the broom!".  And it kept them occupied for almost 30 minutes.  I swear things that I would never even begin to think of doing are sometimes the biggest successes!  Here are some action shots (and that is change from their piggy bank on the floor):

 

 

 

5.  Ben loves cupcakes. 

 

 

6.  I took Luke to the doctor the other week because I noticed a huge swollen lymph node on his neck.  I called the nurse and they said anything over the size of a pea, I would need to bring him in.  So off we went!  Since he has no other symptoms it is a bit of a mystery, but his pediatrician says it should go away within three weeks.  It has been a week and a half and it is still there, so I am crossing my fingers it goes away soon.  Luke's teacher at school called me at home the other night because she had noticed and wanted to make sure I knew about it.  I guess I should have told her about it because you can definitely see it when he turns his head.  So we are waiting and watching.

 

7. Luke is in soccer again this fall and it is going so well (so much better than the summer did)!  He is in it with at least five other little boys he knows and his old coach and he is loving it!  The weather finally turned nice so it is actually nice to be outside watching too.  They typically do drills the first half of practice and then do a scrimmage between teammates the second half.  This past Thursday Luke finally made his first goal in a scrimmage!  I was so proud of him.  He typically just loves running around with the other kids -- kicking a goal isn't a huge focus for him.  So this was fun to see!  I am just happy he is enjoying it...goal or not!

 

 

 

8.  Last week the boys took a bath together as usual at night.  Ben wanted to get out early so I got him out and got a diaper on him.  Luke started calling for him because he needed to tell Ben a "secret" and this is how I found them...

 

 

 

Apparently they were scheming.  The secret was "to go tickle mama".  Except Luke doesn't quite understand that you whisper when you tell a secret because he was kinda screaming it.  "GO TICKLE MAMA!!!!"

 

9.  It was Molly's 2nd birthday last week, so we stopped by with a cupcake for her and a few dinosaur cookies for the rest of us.  Ben really enjoyed feeding Molly his dinosaur cookie.  These two...they crack us up!

 



 

10.  It seems anything I try to get Luke, Ben really takes to it instead.  I got these Kumon tracing books for Luke so he can practice writing/drawing.  Luke was into it for about six minutes while Ben sat at the table for almost 30 minutes having a high ole time...

11.  This guy is super excited about turning four already!  Sadly, he has about four more months to wait.  So we do a lot of talking about how he is three, but not for long!

12.  And lastly, brother hugs.  Cuz there isn't much better than those!

 

{Fall Has Finally Arrived}

We made it to the fall!  The hot, humid summer is finally behind us and we finally have cooler weather to enjoy!  The boys have been spending so much time outdoors which means one happy mama.  Seriously, the fights subside a bit and everyone seems to have a smile on their face.  Both Ben and Luke are so much happier kids when we get to be outside, riding bikes and have good old fashioned fun!  Just look at this one's face...

Luke is so into riding his tricycle lately.  He begs to go outside and he just rides seriously all day long.  He insists on not wearing shoes though....argh.  So that is one battle that we are facing at the moment.  Because there have been a few injuries and toe stubs.  But he claims he rides soooooo much faster without shoes.  He loves riding in the front yard too because our driveway is steep and he loves to race down it...giving me a few heart attacks as well. 

I am thinking we will get him a bike with training wheels for his 4th birthday since he is so into riding.   

 

I feel like Luke has gotten so much bigger lately.  He is so tall and acts like such a big boy (most of the time).  I can't believe he will be four in just four months! 

 

 

Ben is loving the weather as well, but spends most of his days running around and playing with his wheel barrow.  Give this boy a job and he will do it!

 

 

During the middle of playtime, daddy came home from studying and we had to give him hugs!  Nothing like seeing all of my boys like this....

 

 

{New Cousin: Jack!}

Luke and Ben got a new cousin this month!  John "Jack" William entered this world on Thursday, October 3rd at 5:06 pm.  He weighed in at 7 lbs 3 ounces and was 21 inches long.  I was able to be in the delivery room when he arrived and it was the most beautiful delivery!  

 

Jack joins big sister Molly (who turned two this past Thursday!)...so this is my first nephew!  I am nervous about all the naughty things my boys will teach him one day :).  Sorry sis!

 

It is amazing how little they start out and how much love you immediately have for them.  We are so happy Jack is here and joined the family!

{A September Update}

Wow...so didn't mean to drop off there for several weeks.  Now I will try to play catch up and since my memory stinks, I rely on my camera phone to jog my memory!

 

First off...Ben.  Oh Benny, what can I say?  You have been...challenging these last few weeks.  You are either super happy or super ticked off.  And I am never quite sure which I am going to get.  For instance, this picture was from a trip to the store to buy new shoes for you and Luke.  By the way, you are a size 8 1/2 at just 21 months old.  You have very large and wide feet.  But back to the point.  You were a stinker.  A BIG stinker.  So much that I had to capture the moment...

 

 

I was quite sad to see you go through these emotions since I thought we might miss the terrible 2's since you were such a sweet, gentle baby and toddler.  Not so much!  But at times, you are still just a doll and try to cry but can't because you just can't stop laughing. You are such a cuddler and just a big lover.  You just throw your arms around me and I just melt every time.  Thank goodness for those times because otherwise I would not be so sure we are going to survive the terrible 2's. 

 

You are also very particular about what you wear.  You have definite opinions and pretty much have to pick out every outfit....which is usually consisting of a blue shark shirt I got you from Target.  The fact that you care what you wear is hysterical because Luke could care less what he wears, so this is very new for me.  It is also a bit frustrating because you have lots of fits if you don't like your outfit.  Exhibit A.  You sat and pouted for about 20 minutes because you did not want to wear a red polo shirt for picture day at school. 

 

 

We have figured out you like to dress up as well and have a fascination of shoes.  You particularly liked the high-heeled ruby red shoes that your grandmother got for Molly your cousin.  You saw those, insisted I immediately put them on you, and walked all over the house for an hour.  I love that you have your own style no matter how frustrating it can be at times!  Although you do have the nickname "Fancy Boy" now by your dad and me.  We love our Fancy Boy though!  



 

One more thing about your shark shirt.  It is not just shirts, you seem to have a fascination of sharks in general.  And it blew your mind when you got one painted on your arm at a restaurant one night.  You were constantly sticking your arm out to show it off.  You were quite adorable!

 

 

Luke was there too and he got a tiger!  Face painting sure has come along way since the days of a single heart painted on your cheek back in the 1980's. 

 

 

Speaking of Luke, he is doing well.  He is going to school three days a week and seems to be really enjoying it.  He brought home the following artwork one day.  Most kids said things like "Because my Mommy and Daddy love me" or "Because Got made me".  But you?  No, Luke is special because of trains.  It has been this way since he was about 20 months and has not changed.  He is still obsessed as ever!  Only one other response was better.  It read "I am special because....of the kitchen". LOVE IT.  I wish I was there when that kid's parents read that. Ha!

 

 

Luke has never been one to sit down and color independently, but lately he is starting to do it more and more.  Here Luke is decorating his 'family leaf' for school.  They are studying families the month of October so we had some homework we had to do.  I realize that we barely have any family photos where all four of us are in it because I had to dig this one up from last Thanksgiving.  Hoping to change this over the next few months! 

 

 

We have some exciting news that the boys are getting a new nephew tomorrow!!  My sister Courtney is having her baby boy tomorrow.  She is about two weeks from her due date, but she has low fluid so it is time to get the baby out.  We have been helping watch Molly during some of her doctor's appointments over the past few weeks.  Here we are going on a 'treasure hunt' (aka a walk to keep the kids out of the house since the housekeeper was trying to clean downstairs at my parent's house). 

 

 

At times, they drive us all crazy and we have to distract them with a little show.  After our treasure hunt, we stuck them all in this bed and turned on the TV and they zoned out for a few minutes so we could figure out our next plan of action with them!  Note Ben's shoes.  He he! 

 

 

We had National Night Out last night and we hosted it for the second year.  It was still 90 degrees and so hot.  Luke and Ben were drenched in sweat but we all had a good time.  The neighborhood constable came around and I got Luke to take a picture with them before he went running for the bounce house!

 

 

Like I said, it is still very hot!  This was two nights ago.  Eating popsicles almost naked outside at 7:00 pm.  Cooler weather please come soon!

 

 

Luke opted for clothing.  I swear this picture looks like it is in the middle of the summer. 

 

 

The boys have discovered the shower!  They have always been bath boys, but they love the shower now and will play 30 minutes in it.  They like to blow fish faces on the door....

 

 

I thought maybe showers would make it a bit easier and quicker at night.  Sadly it has turned into quite a production now and it is almost more work than a bath.  But they sure have fun!  The only problem is now Ben wants to get in every time I shower.  He sees me and starts trying to take off his diaper.  I don't think I will ever get to shower alone again!

 

Here are the boys laying in Luke's bed.  They were pretend sleeping.  One day, probably in a year or so, they will share this room.  They are still either loving each other like crazy or fighting like cats and dogs.  They are the most precious things to me though.  I know I will look back one day and miss these crazy days...