'Mallows

Oh how the days keep flying by! School is going well for the kids - at least I haven't heard otherwise. It's hard to get 3 year olds to tell you exactly what happened or what they did. Thankfully the teacher sends a short note home telling me so at least I can ask them leading questions. I've heard from the sitter that most school mornings, Drew tells her he doesn't want to go but has no problem when they actually get there. I hate to tell him how many more years of school he has:(

I recently took the kids in for UTI suspicion.  Kelsey had 3 morning accidents and struggled to make it to the potty on time a couple days this week. And Drew's morning "accident" smelled so foul, I wasn't sure if it was just concentrated urine. As I thought, there was no infection but while we were there (and already paying the copay) the kids were able to get their flu shot! This was also the first time they were examined where they didn't completely freak out so even though there was no cause for alarm, we won:)

Lately we've been starting little fires a couple times a week to get rid of some brush Craig is clearing out. And the kids are totally enthralled with roasting marshmallows since watching "The Sandlot" (there's a tree house scene where Ham says...'you put the chocolate on the graham, then you roast the 'mallow, when the mallow's flaming...' Kelsey repeats it to us all the time). Well trying to get 3 year olds to keep the marshmallow on the stick, not let it start on fire, or have the patience to let it "roast" is like trying to herd cats. I usually limit the sticky fun to 2 mallows each and anyway, who needs all that sugar so close to bed? Sometimes we just roast marshmallows but last night I decided to use Oreo's, then there wouldn't be any chocolate/graham cracker fuss. They were good! It was fun all around and as you can see by the pictures, it ended in bath time:)

Our Week In Pictures

Out Labor Day bike ride to the park

This is our first picture inside of school. Kelsey was very excited to hang her back pack up and get her papers ready to give to her teacher.

This is the first picture before we went into school. Kelsey cried because she wanted to go IN! I think there was so much hype about starting school that my pause to take the obligatory "first day of school" picture caused her anxiety. They had a great first week.

More kitty tackles...I mean snuggles! These cats sure put up with a lot.

We took this cute little guy with us to Indian Summer

And then we fought over who gets to push Benson in the stroller 

Drew petting a Native Indian breed horse

Lemonade and Indian taco break

Cousins!

The boys were all tuckered out after our nice day outside

Kelsey showing Benson her toys

And Drew giving rides

Best Friends and Sailing

Here we are September, which brings about some change for our family. Today is the first day of preschool. Tomorrow we are going to try gymnastics (Tiny Tumblers). Craig starts his 3rd year of school at ICS and another semester of grad school.

As of last night Kelsey told me she doesn't "have" to go to school and Drew just wants me to come along. The kids had a homework assignment to decorate the number 3 and bring it the first day, so at this point I have them excited to show their teacher their masterpiece!

And these two below...Kelsey is obsessed with the cats lately. It was like a switch flipped in her. She would start each morning laying on/hugging our biggest cat, Wriggs. He's pretty cool about it until he wants to go, so we are teaching Kelsey that if the cats wants to leave you have to let him.

 This went on for about a week and then finally the cats started to come to her! Below Kelsey is just waking from a nap, probably because this heavy cat was laying on her. But Wriggs just HAD to snuggle in close to her. This cat is already 11 years old so she might get another 8 years of snuggles out of him.

Saturday night we went to Discovery World on the lakefront for a sunset sail on the Denis Sullivan. It's a replica of a 19th century tall boat that would have hauled supplies up and down the Great Lakes. I thought it would be a fun family activity especially since the kids are so into boats and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Although the crew kinda looks down on anyone that compares their boat to a pirate ship:) We watched them raise and lower the sails, helped the captain steer, looked at the living quarters down below (most of the crew lives ON the boat for free), and enjoyed the amazing weather. The boat holds about 50 people with crew and it really is for all ages.

The S/V Denis Sullivan Tall Boat

This storm delayed our boarding by 20 min but at least we didn't get wet.

Hoping to see a fish jump 

"Someone" rang that bell...

Of course the boat has it's own dog. Here, Brody's owner, the first mate
is showing the kids how many tricks he will do for a treat!

The storm rolling out over the lake in Bayview

Oh Dear

I laugh at myself because I let this blog go for 3 weeks!!! Usually I feel compelled to post when I have collected some nice pictures of the kids doing something new or exciting but I didn't have anything substantial; I guess we could say we were "living in the moment" instead of taking photos of the moment. Anyhoo, I have a couple of cute pics of them over the past couple weeks.

Of course the kids have switched roles and now Kelsey is totally ready for school and Drew is telling us he doesn't want to go; that he is NOT a big boy. I figure the first week will be rough and then it will be part of their routine and they are creatures of habit! We had orientation last night, met their teacher (who is also the preschool program director/principal) and signed up for our volunteer days. Their personalities have switched AGAIN, and Kelsey was much more outgoing, waving good-bye to all the kids as we left yelling, "see you next week!" And Drew was clinging to Dad. Craig started his first day back Monday, mostly meetings for him until the students start after Labor Day.

Last weekend Craig and I took a long weekend jaunt to Vegas to celebrate our friend's birthday. For as quick as it was, we were actually able to enjoy the time away; took naps, ate great food, and couldn't beat the company!

We have lots of fun stuff coming up (first day of preschool, gymnastics, Labor day weekend) so I should have more to report soon!

How does one get up on the window sill?

Hmmm, anything you can do I can do better!

Playing games at our friends' block party

And then enjoying an ice cream sundae

Making s'mores in a purple sequence dress, complete with matching tiara

August Already

I've really got to sit down and research cameras. The camera on my phone just doesn't cut it and are sub par; I feel I'm missing some memories.

Two weekends ago we went back to Craig's hometown for the annual softball tournament. It was such a nice time with family and friends, minus the fact the boys didn't get home until after 10 Sunday night.

This past weekend we went to a wedding on the west coast of Lake Michigan. The kids stayed with our awesome sitter and we left Friday night so we could spend Saturday with old friends we haven't seen in a while.

Now we are in full swing completing preschool registration, school supply lists, and preparing the kids for us to not be with them during school. They change their minds between wanting to be big kids and go to school and just wanting to stay home! Oh well, I figure as soon as they see the other kids, they will forget I even brought them:)

Arlene sent these pictures to us Friday as we were sitting in Chicago traffic for 2 hours. Above Drew (in the blue) is petting an armadillo. And below Kelsey is petting a wallaby. She took them to her library. Apparently it was exotic pet day and Kelsey has let her braid her hair more than me!

Where, Oh Where, Has the Summer Gone?

The days are somehow going faster! I couldn't believe 2 weeks had passed since the last post...and then I thought back to everything that happened since the weekend of the fourth, and WOW - where did those days go?

We were able to visit with my dear friend and her 1 year old son, who now live in Colorado. Our other high school friend came with his family, including his 2 year old daughter. It was super cute to see the 1, 2, and my 3 year olds all playing together and how our lives have changed so much! My friend's mom ramped up her grandma mode and had all 3 kids following her around the yard so the adults could spend time chatting instead of chasing little ones. We were so busy talking, we didn't take any pictures :( boo. Then the next day we celebrated our favorite boy twins' 6th birthday. You can't argue fun when there is a bounce house, pinata, and Lego candy/cake/favors!

When the kids were younger, it was pretty obvious that Kelsey hit the "milestones" before Drew. Sometimes he would be a week behind; sometimes months. As they get older, it hasn't been as noticeable. Until recently... Drew had been driving me nuts with his incessant talking, mostly about nothing but words were constantly coming out of his mouth! I looked over at Craig as we were driving and said, "remember a couple months ago...Kelsey was doing the SAME THING!" I just thought it was her personality, not necessarily a phase some kids go through.

About milestones...the potty-training thing happened at the same time for them. Of course the first month or 2 they had their accidents, but overall we felt they had it under control. They both refused pull-ups for nighttime. Which is okay for Kelsey but Drew continues to wet the bed.every.morning. He just doesn't wake up to pee, even during nap time. I put pads under his sheets to protect the mattress and mattress pad so I'm only washing pads and sheets. It is now a rare occurrence for him to wake up dry. We take away any liquids after 5 so that his last pee before bed should be all that's left but that isn't helping. I'm not mad at him; I understand his system is still immature but it is getting very old with him waking up soaked in urine.

Sometimes the couch cushions work better on the floor

At the ZOO! and rare pic together

First carousel ride!

I said, "oh, Drew's shoe came off." She said, "oh no, again?"

She's such a mom - helping Drew put his Croc back on

Keeping cool this past weekend

Small Town 4th

The past weekend was just one that I would bottle up and save for "rainy days." I took the kids back home for the local parade and picnic. Craig almost always has to work on the 4th, since the pool also hosts a 4th of July party. So I prefer to head home and spread the love around with my family :) The kids were up late the night before playing with sparklers and jumping on the trampoline with the neighbors, which made Drew a little whiny before the parade - he wanted his daddy, he wanted to go home, he wanted his blankie. We headed down to the parade early to get a spot so I was trying my darndest to keep Drew busy and it ended with him curled up on my lap...on an 80 degree day. So thankfully we were in the company of the fam and Tara was more than willing to sit in the street with Kelsey, watch the parade, and get candy! I hired Uncle Matt to pull the wagon up to the park for the picnic. The kids were totally zoned in on the jump house and inflatable slide. It was their first time on "rides" so the second time they went in the bounce house, I had to go in after them when their time was up :( They are use to the neighbor's, where they just play in it until it's time to go home or eat! I know they were just having a good time and didn't want to stop. We ate hamburgers and popcorn and after a couple hours decided it was nap time. I wanted them to be able to stay up to see fireworks so taking a later nap was ideal. Tara and I put the kids down and headed back outside to relax on the patio, wait for Craig to come once work finished and the rest of the family to saunter back from the picnic. The weather was gorgeous. To watch fireworks, we headed over to my cousin's house with a whole mess of other little ones to play with. Kelsey and Drew are finally at the age where they play with other kids. Listening to the giggling, the yelling as they ran around the house with glow sticks, the ooh's and ahh's over the fireworks was totally worth the small bits of whining and tears earlier in the day.

Heading up the big slide

Getting ready to slide down

Pile up at the bottom

Kelsey going by herself (about half way down she looks totally petrified but
always had a smile when she got to the bottom)

Getting ready for the parade (and wearing a pony tail - FINALLY)

Waving to the firetrucks

Checking out the loot

Mr. Benson, rocking his first 4th