While Scavenging around the garage trying to find something to entertain ourselves, we found these interesting balls.
Daddy got out this club and tried to teach us the finer points of this sport.
That was until he had me hit the ball at Mommy’s shin. Ya, I learned to run pretty fast.
Got our bikes out and went for a ride. We are thinking this should be definite Saturday Morning Ritual
We love the dudes’ nap time because that is when we get to have our “school” time. We love learning and trying out new skills. Just got keep growing these brains.
There has been a great video floating around blogosphere. If you haven't already seen (which you most likely have) it here it is ...wait you might want to grab a tissue or two...okay now watch.
T0night was one of those nights. But maybe I should back up and say, it has just been one of those days. We have not been to church as a whole family as much as we would like in the last several months due to one illness after another after another. Last night we told the kidlets that since we were all healthy and we hadn't heard of any plagues ravaging the community we were all going to church today. To say they were excited would be an understatement. This morning was actually fairly decent (and can I say that we are thankful that our church does not start until 1:30). Then during the first hour which is our worship service the kids were literally angels. Ryker was then so excited to go to Nursery and no one came to find us for any problems. Michelle was practically skipping to Primary and pretty darn excited that her favorite little guy friend sat next to her. After we came home, Luke and Max were happy and just enjoying life. We all worked together to make dinner, which turned out pretty yummy. Ryker was tired and asked me (now that is unheard of, he is so his Daddy's boy) to rock him and he fell asleep in my arms. Daddy and I each fed and held a baby while watching a movie. Then after the movie I fed Max one more time and realized Daddy and Michelle were missing. I went out on the patio and there they were enjoying popsicles and the night sky. She was cute and funny and having the time of her life just hanging out with us. It is one of those days that there is just peace and happiness. It was one of those days you just want to catch in a bottle so that you can enjoy it forever. It was one of those days that I think gives a glimpse into Heaven. It was one of those days...
Guest writer: Mommy
So we have been a bit MIA in blogdom. Now I hadn't thought much of it until I got a phone call from one of my closest friends who has recently moved away. She called to make sure everything was okay and that we weren't having anymore of our crazy adventures. Well, actually things are GREAT! But there are four major reasons that we have gotten a little behind in our chronicling of our family adventures.
Reason Number 4:
This is our Maxwell. He likes to make sure I am never lonely. He loves snuggles and eating and eating and eating and snuggles. He is probably the noisiest baby we have had, always telling anybody who will listen one of his many stories. Constantly gives us sweet little smirks and flutters those long dark eyelashes any chance he gets. Normal baby stuff you may say. Well that's not all.
At his 6 month well check he gave us a bit of a surprise. Can't be in our family unless you find a way to get a referral to a specialist. Our super amazing Pediatrician (who honestly deserves Sainthood after dealing with our family) heard a murmur.
REALLY?!?!
Well less than a week later Michelle's Cardiologist gave me a call and asked to bring him in that afternoon. Took this little man in and as soon the Cardiologist took a listen he said he heard two different murmurs but felt both were benign. But with our long standing history, he did an echocardiogram to make sure. Yep, no defects, his heart is perfect, just likes to make a few extra sounds.
Phew
He is already following the oldest two steps in learning to stress his parents. Good thing he is so stinking cute!
Reason Number 3:
Here is the Lukester. He also believes that I should never be alone. He loves to snuggle and eat and eat and eat and snuggle. He always has the biggest cheeser smiles. He might not be as talkative, but he can move! Already rolling over and trying to go for those things he wants. He is definitely our only baby that I can say has been rolley polley, and let me tell you, it is awesome! Again all normal baby stuff. Well that's not all.
At the 6 month well check I told our super amazing Pediatrician that he had been a little hoarse for about a week. But hadn't shown any symptoms (I promise). Well she started checking him out and said he felt a little warm, had the nurse check his temperature, and of course he had a fever. She then checked him out and last of all looked in the back of his throat and said "Yep, there it is."
What?!?!
She then preceded to tell me he had canker-like sores in the back of throat and that recently in the community there had been a weird viral infection going around that was like hand foot and mouth, but it affected only the mouth.
Nice.
Well we spent the next week fighting high fevers and making sure he was hydrated, good thing he likes to eat and eat and eat. But even with all of that, he was still super sweet and cute and smiley and of course, snuggly.
Reason Number 2:
Now there is no forgetting about our Ryker-Boy. He has a style all his own. He loves to move and jump, to throw things and kick things, to mow the lawn, to work with tools, he is depressed we want to sell our SUV, but is willing to look at muscles cars. But at the end of the day he still loves to snuggle.
No crazy things have happened with this one...yet. We are waiting though. He likes to jump head first off the slide at his cousin's birthday party. He has decided to test Daddy's refluxes by jumping off the top bunk. Thought we would get him Pop-Its for the Fourth of July for fun, he then starts popping them with his bare fingers and we catch right before tries to pop one with his teeth, sigh.
But he also amazes us. One day, I told him we were going to have a visitor and asked who he thought would be fun to have visit. He sat and thought and then told me he would like Jesus to come to visit. Me too Buddy. He has recently learned to pray almost all by himself, which means we bless our food several times a meal, and it takes several prayers before we can go to bed at night. And the things that he prays for, well they are very sweet. He has also taken to singing and sings his little heart all the time. And it is anything from Twinkle Twinkle, to A Beautiful Day by U2
So even though I am waiting for the moment to run him to the ER, I love every minute with the this little man.
Reason Number 1:
And of course our Marvelous Michelle. She is definitely the princess of this home. She loves the color red, ice cream is its own food group, dresses and skirts and anything twirly makes her day, Mommy Number 2 is one of her titles, and we are not allowed to forget that she is almost 5 and will be going to start Kindergarten this fall. Oh, and need I say, that she loves her snuggle time.
We have many adventures lined up. In the next few weeks she will be having surgery to release her Tethered Cord. Hopefully it will be a quick easy recovery, cross our fingers. Then come September we are going to take a cross country trip. Now we are natives to the Pacific Northwest and love the many Children's Hospitals here, but we have the opportunity to take her to a facility where they specialize in Airway Abnormilities. So Cincinnati Children's Hospital here we come. I can not tell you how much time we have spent on the phone trying to coordinate this, and how much more time it is going to take. But it is the right thing to do. We have prayed and feel that going we is important. Whether they can surgically repair her trachea or not, we will at least find out the answer and be able to move forward.
Then there is the part where Mommy has lost her senses. I have found this totally awesome charter school in our area. I feel it will fit our family really well, but the thing is...it is a program to help us Homeschool. Yep, we are becoming one of those families. There are many reasons we have decided to go down this path, and we are excited. I know there are many horror stories out there where it has gone so very wrong. We have heard them too. And we did not make this decision lightly, and we feel good about it. It means a lot of work and responsibility for Daddy and I. Heaven sakes, I can't tell you how much time and effort we have already put into this and all the meetings and paperwork we have already had to do. But this is right and boy is Michelle so excited to start.
In Conclusion:
We are busy enjoying life! There is never a dull or quiet moment here in our home and it is only going to get louder and more exciting. And yes there are days where we feel very overwhelmed and tired. But we strive to enjoy and focus on the happiness that comes from all four reasons. And yes, we love our snuggles!
This last weekend we were able to go to one of the best places on earth. Papa and Grandma’s house.
We got to spend time with Cousins.
Be wild and crazy!
I guess wild and crazy is kinda normal for us though.
Mommy learned to not leave her camera unattended when our aunts are around.
I learned a lot of important life schools.
Like coaching someone else on while they pump up the pool I want to play in.
Mommy went in and checked this place out.
Something about fresh produce in an organized fashion makes her happy.
We also learned the pool made a great cooler.
The little dudes didn’t appreciate being the thermostat though.
Mommy manned up and went down the slide with some of us bigger dudes.
And a little dude took a rest on Daddy in the shade with a cool breeze
There was eating outside.
Which led to this intoxicated feeling.
Mommy also learned to not leaving the little dudes unattended when the aunts are around.
And I learned that Pineapple makes a delicious treat.
And the jumpoline and soccer are wonderful together.
I got to spend time with my Tino gal. My first true love.
She went ahead and began training the little dudes the finer points in sumo wrestling.
Yep, one the very best places on earth.
