First Day of School....

Insert your own picture here because we don't have one. Why, you ask? It's not because I was an irresponsible mom and didn't get the picture. Nonono, that would be easier to accept. There is no picture because there was no first full day of school for Wyatt. The poor kid spiked a fever--AGAIN--yesterday afternoon after arriving at the dentist. I tried to chalk it up to a migraine from the stress of school starting and having your teeth poked at, but nope. The poor boy is sick with allergies. It's my own fault. He should be on Mucinex every day but I haven't been giving it to him because he hates the taste of it and had been feeling good. I really should know better and now Wyatt is paying the price by missing his first full day of school.

Poor kid.

Oh, What a Night...

It was, as Wyatt declared it to be, a perfect night. We went to the Kane County Cougars baseball game and had a blast. The rain that we have been having for the last 10 days finally held off and the game was held. We specifically chose this game because Birdzerk was going to be there and he always promises to be a good time and he didn't disappoint. LC loved it when he danced with the umpire and the boys thought it hilarious when he stole the 3rd baseman's glove. The night was topped with a huge fireworks display that the kids absolutely loved. And the best thing of all, the Cougars won 5-0 which absolutely thrilled Wyatt since, being a Cubs fan, he doesn't usually get to see a team he roots for win.

So, after we had our fill of hot dogs, nachos, cotton candy, elephant ears, and lemonade we headed home knowing we had had "The Perfect Night."

Little Fishy or Bathing Beauty?

We went swimming at my mom and dad's place today and Lauren can't get enough of the water. She was trying to do "kickers and scoopers" just like Henry and Wyatt do. The girl is worse than Henry in that she has absolutely no fear of the water, whatsoever. She loves being in there and dunking her head and jumping off the side, and she's in heaven if you are swinging her around while she is on her back while holding your hands. We will be starting her in swimming lessons this fall, which I fear may be too soon, but we're at least going to give it a try.

Forget Cell phones. Ban the kids...

So, today we are on out way home from a playdate at a park and the kids ask to listen to my Ipod. Wyatt asked first for his song, but then Henry piped up that he wanted "Lauren's song"--note, the kids have favorite songs. Wyatt's is Thanks for the Memoriesby Fallout Boy and LC's is Girlfriendby Avril Lavigne. Don't ask.

As I am listening to them bicker and trying to find the songs, I come to a stop at a stop light and then proceed on as if it was a stop sign. *sigh* "Ummm, Mommy. That light was red," Wyatt pointed out. CRAP!! I blew the red light. Well, not really blew it as much as disregarded it. Ughhh. I found the song and then said, "that's it. No more fighting about Ipod songs."

I swear...legislators want to ban cell phones and make it illegal to talk on them while driving. WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS?--yes I am shrieking--They are so much more distracting to me than anything else in the car and I suck at tuning them out or ignoring requests..."Mommy, I dropped my plane." "Mommy, sippy cup. JUICE." "Mommy, can I have #4 of the Cars Cd playing?" I'm just lucky the little buggers haven't ever told on me. Nope. I admitted to Todd myself that I was a law breaker today. He threatened to get me a chauffeur.

I'd rather have a cleaning lady.

Sensitivity...

So today Wyatt got some early homework in the mail from his new teacher asking him to put 5 things in a paper bag that represents him and his family. We went through all the suggestions, i.e. a baseball, a picture of he and his siblings, a picture of him and the Russian Sailors and I suggested his Star Wars book. Wyatt immediately piped in that he can't bring that because Star Wars wasn't allowed anymore. He then got that look on his face that he gets when he is trying to control his emotions. I asked him if that upset him and he said, "yeah, it's not fair because ALL the boys get in trouble because one person can't play nice." I told him that I can understand how frustrating that is and that maybe this year would be different, all the while he is struggling to not cry. Obviously this is something that has been bothering him since last year and I am now only hearing about it. Did I not talk to him enough? Am I unapproachable? Or, is he going to be the type of person who keeps it bottled up until it bubbles over. I really think it is the latter and I just don't know how to get him to open up more.

Now, Henry...he is completely another story. Oy Vey, that kid doesn't stop talking.<3

That is the biggest challenge of parenting, I am coming to realize. Altering my styles to fit the different personalities that are my kids.

Soon to arrive...

*A DIFFERENT PICTURE ADDED!*

*Update Below!!*


I was jarred awake at 3:05am this morning to be told that my niece has decided to make her arrival today. Heather's water broke and they headed to the hospital where she is now 6 cm and resting comfortably thanks to a handy dandy epidural.

I'll update when I get news...


*Update:

Olivia Marie was born at 1:02pmEST weighing 7-13 and 20.5"

Congratulations Heather and Justin! I am so happy for you and love you both!

Where does the time go?

Already it is August 7th and Summer is 2 weeks away from being "over." What have we been doing? Busy, busy, busy is how I would describe us. We have gone to Great America, went on vacation to Virginia Beach, started and finished swimming lessons, had a visit from Granny and shopped for uniforms and school clothes.

Great America was a lot of fun for the boys this year. Wyatt was tall enough for a few of the roller coasters so he decided to conquer The American Eagle and the Demon. He liked them both but I don't think he'll be going on The Eagle next year. It was just a little too intense for him but he was brave and tried it which I couldn't be prouder of. Henry loved the rides he could go on and couldn't get enough of ALL the water rides. He also loved the Whizzer and had to go on a second time in the front car. It is so much fun to take the kids to a place I grew up going to and riding the same rides with them.

Virginia Beach was also so much fun and a great vacation. We stayed with Aunt Heather and Uncle JJ and had a blast going to the Aquarium and touching the rays and the horseshoe crabs and some other ugly looking thing. The kids loved the beach and swimming in the surf although I think Todd could have done without the anxiety it created for him. We also saw Colonial Williamsburg which was right up Wyatt's history-loving alley. Henry loved the sea-shell sidewalks. It wouldn't have been a trip out there without the tour of Oceana NAS. Holy cow were the boys in heaven with all the FA18 flying overhead and being able to see not 1 but 2 aircraft carriers as well as a British, French and Russian Destroyer. Wyatt even had his picture taken with some "Ruskie sailors." For my military loving boys, it made the trip a huge success. I just loved being able to spend time with my pregnant little sister and LC doing girlie things like shopping.


Wyatt also finished up his first year of instructional baseball and loved being able to be pitched to instead of hitting off a tee. He wasn't the best player on the team but he has a lot of hustle and heart.


We went right into swimming lessons where Henry was jumped up a level and did WONDERFULLY. He is swimming so well and is trying his darndest to do even better. He started off hating the backfloat and in tears every time he had to do it. We progressed to no tears, but a loud "whoa" every couple of feet and today he actually was doing the back stroke with arms and kicks and no arguments. We'll start again in the fall on Saturdays with LC joining Henry in class while Wyatt plays fall ball.

Granny came for a visit last week and left this afternoon. The kids had a good time playing with her--Henry especially. She is probably glad to be spending a kid-free week at Uncle Don's since we ran her ragged while she was here.

We're almost set for school--uniforms are bought for Wyatt and so are outfits for the fall for the youngest two. Orientation is in 2 weeks and then school starts a week after that and we are back to the bump and grind of the school year.

It is amazing how fast the time seems to pass by. It seemed like our vacation was never going to get here and now here we are days away from my new little niece being born. Time really does fly when you are having fun.