Art Sparks

Our first trip this year to Art Sparks.......
Hayden had a great time and LOVES this place. This makes our third time there and although it is different I am surprised that given the choice of this or Kazoing or All About Kids he would pick this place every time. This is located in a local art museum and so it is designed to foster to kids creativity. Hayden and Landon both like to sit at the easels and paint and then they move onto the old cottage kitchen and sailboat. This time Grammy went with us which added to the fun and was a big help to me. This was the most crowded and overwhelming I have seen this place. I have learned not to go any where in the later weeks of May as school field trips are going on at every kids place and Art sparks was no exception. 20-30 six to nine year olds were running around this place that normally has about 5 kids quietly playing. So two hours was about all that we could do and then we went back to Grammys for pizza.
Grammy went with us to Art Sparks not as a help to me but to celebrate Hayden's accomplishment of getting his reward board filled with stickers (28 to be exact). In May he was having a hard time with his behavior and had resorted to throwing fits of rage or as some call them temper tantrums. He never really had these as a toddler but when 3 1/2 got here so did the arrival of this less than pleasant behavior. He was having them at paw paw and dedes alot and at home as well. They had gotten so bad that a total stranger came up to help Deanna both at the zoo and at McDonald's because he was so out of control. Even this did not calm him down. Only spying a police officer did the trick. So instead of having Deanna give into his demands to stop the outbursts I got some construction paper with boxes drawn on eagerly awaiting stickers. After earning 7 stickers a reward was given such as going to chick fil a or kazoing or the zoo and at the end of 4 weeks the grand reward was a trip to Art Sparks with Grammy. On days he didn't behave well he would get an ugly X on his board and he had to cover the ugly X with a sticker the following day if he was good. This system seems to work very well and in fact as soon as this reward board was completed we moved on to a sleep reward board to help combat night awakenings with screaming and crying needing me to be in his room with him to fall asleep and then several times throughout the night. I tell you what..... so far 3 1/2 seems to be the most difficult with our once good sleeper not sleeping well, having temper tantrums and just being irritable and dare I say moody. Don't get me wrong he still has sweet moments of unsolicited kisses and spontaneous I love yous. He can be the sweetest but then the next moment can be trying my last iota of patience. I am hoping with the approaching birthday in October we will be able to say "so long" to temper tantrums and frequent night awakenings and welcome back to the sweet, tender hearted Hayden that sleeps great and isn't scared of his room.

The Boys and their Toys

All three of the boys had their rides pulled out of the garage. Hayden and Landon were cruising the driveway in theirs avoiding any collisions and Jeff had his out to wash with 4 extra hands helping or attempting to help.

Picnic in the Park

Our second annual picnic in the park in honor of Dede's birthday was a success. A HOT one at that. With temperatures in the 90's by mid morning it was a typical humid summer day but the kids didn't seem to mind. We did the same as last year and got some KFC for an easy picnic and the kids played in the park. We ended the day with cupcakes and a couple train rides. It is neat to look back at last years photos and see how much the babies have changed. This year they were going down the slides and pushing their mowers whereas last year they were being pushed in their strollers. Last year there was 5 grand kids and this year there was 6 although Mason didn't make it. I certainly had no idea last year that I would be pregnant again and so I guess next year there will be 7 and I'll be back to pushing the stroller again.....

Operation Gingerbread House

This was Hayden's creation shortly after Christmas. As you can see I am still trying to catch up on the months long hiatus I took from blogging. Now that I feel human again I am hoping to get all the memories off my camera's memory card and onto this little blog which I hope to one day make into a book for myself. So for now I am still in January although there was not much picture taking and memory making in February and March so I am almost caught up....almost!

Forgetfullness can be a Blessing

While one was busy getting cleaned up the other was deep into the trash seeing if there was anything good to eat. Back when this actually happened I had a horrible day and mentioned it to several people who said that my day was blog worthy and something I needed to write about or I would forget it. I thought that it was not possible to forget that day but as the months have passed I seemed to have forgotten the majority of it. I do remember it started with Landon falling off a two step stool and hitting his head on the corner of the bathroom drawer then slicing open his finger on Jeff's razor that was in the bathroom drawer where we didn't think he could reach it. I didn't even know he cut himself until Hayden came out to tell me there was blood everywhere and there literally was blood everywhere. Landon's face, clothes, the drawers, bathtub, step stool. It looked like an animal had been slaughtered but no one was crying. It took me a few minutes to figure out where the blood was coming from and then it took a long time to stop the bleeding as Landon was not thrilled having me apply pressure to his finger. Not that it hurt he just didn't want to sit still. Band aids are useless since he pulls them off although I tried several times. Then while trying to fix lunch I became distracted because Hayden came out to the kitchen soaking wet. He was trying to shave with a play razor thankfully. But while I was tending to him I burnt our grilled cheese sandwiches and didn't have any bread left. While cleaning up that mess and trying to figure out an alternate lunch I find Landon digging through the trash eating the discarded remnants from breakfast. I know there was several other eventful things that happened that day but this all that I remember months later. Probably was a good thing I don't remember it all. Sometimes the brain knows what its doing by allowing us to forget. Ahhh the joys of two little ones...... I know I'm gonna miss this once they are older.

Derby Day

It's great having so much family so close by and seeing them often. This year we did not have a Derby party but did spend the day at Jason and Danielle's which was fun. The kids had fun playing outside. Chalk, parachutes, bubbles and slides.... what else could a kid ask for.

Surprise!

This is why I have been missing since January as most of you know already. No this is not a picture of my baby but it is a baby at 16 weeks gestation.Who would think that something this cute and small could make an adult as sick as I have been when pregnant with these tiny little creatures. Even still I am ill although not nearly as bad as the first three months. This time around was a bit of a surprise although there was no counting days, charting menstrual cycles, purchasing pregnancy tests by the handfuls as in past pregnancy attempts this didn't exactly come out of no where as we do know what causes pregnancy. This definitely was on God's timetable and not mine. I have wanted three or four and Jeff has been fine with two but was open to three. I being the type A planner was thinking that maybe in another year or two we would have another. Obviously God was laughing that I would think I was in control. He knew all along that 2011 would be the year of baby #3. When I discovered I was pregnant I was five weeks and it was a Friday morning before work. I happened to have a left over test from when we were trying for Landon so I peed on it as I was fixing my hair not really expecting there to be two lines. So as I was walking out the door I glanced at the test expecting to see one line as I tossed it in the trash and was SHOCKED to see two. I even checked the expiration date thinking clearly the test was bad. I laughed, then cried, then laughed that I was crying. I then went to work and throughout the day couldn't believe I would be mom to three in the fall. I thought of all the reasons this was not a good time but yet excited that I had a new life busily forming inside. Headed to a concert at church that night I met Jeff at mom and dads. I had a headache and was telling Jeff I couldn't take anything for it and merely repeating this twice he knew what I was talking about. He had told me a week ago that he thought I was pregnant although I thought he was joking and I think he halfway was. Nothing else was said as we ate dinner and then headed to the concert. I wasn't sure how he was going to take this as he was content with the two kids we already had but as always he was fine even good actually. He said that this was all in God's timing and it would all work out just fine. After a few weeks I adjusted to the idea and mostly just fear my lack of patience. Seeing that I don't have enough to go around with a 3 year old, 1 year old, husband, and hyper dog I am afraid that you add a newborn to the mix and it won't be pretty. I continue to pray for this virtue daily and ask for your prayers too. After seeing the baby on ultrasound at 12 weeks I actually was more excited than I had been with previous ultrasounds just knowing this is the last time I will be going through this experience. At first I was hoping for a little girl to complete our family that will be comprised of 5 but now I really honestly can say that I don't have a preference in gender one way or the other. I know I will love another little boy just as I love the two that I have. Little boys love their mommies and are so much fun. I also know that if its a girl although it will be a completely new experience (and maybe a little frightening thinking of the teenage years) I will love nurturing her and seeing how a little girl fits in with all things blue in this house. My favorite color is pink after all and although I was never a fan of barbie I did enjoy playing house as a kid and now house is something I don't play anymore but something we take care of and manage. Cooking was much more fun when you were doing it in your little tykes kitchen with plastic food. I really am just praying for a healthy baby and am very excited to see who is going to complete our family. God does have good time even if we don't know it at the time!

I have added a few blogs that I had written a few months ago but never got around to attaching photos. I promise I will try to make my absences shorter in duration and will be adding posts from the happenings of our household in march and april although there really was not as much as usual since I spent alot of time divided between the bedroom and bathroom) Poor Landon thinks the potty is for puking and not for peeing. He goes in and stands over the toilet and fake vomits. I am trying to get this on tape and will be sure to post on here if I am successful.

We Have A Walker but Not A Talker

At thirteen months and a few weeks of age Landon officially become a walker. You know.. where he prefers walking as opposed to crawling. On Christmas Eve he had taken a step or two and on occasion after that he would take three or four steps, then got to five or six, but he was still a crawler preferring that due to his speed and comfort. However, a week and a half before turning 14 months he became a walker.... full fledged. He likes how he gets around the same as his big brother. He has the gleam of pride in his eyes and loves the independence that comes with walking. He now climbs... on everything. I found him in the bathroom attempting to get his toothbrush, that we just introduced, standing atop of Hayden's stool. He climbs on chairs, in cars, into laundry baskets, you name it if he wants to get in it or on it he will although maybe not gracefully. He loves playing with his kitchen that I brought upstairs. He loves chasing Linus and taking away his toys. (Linus likes the attention). He likes playing with the same toys his big brother is playing with (Hayden does NOT like this). They are learning to share which is a hard skill. Hayden has discovered he can take away a toy from Landon as long as he replaces it with something... doesn't matter what it is. Not sure how long that will last but it's working for now. Landon hasn't said any words yet. Hayden's was 'bup" for up... as in pick me up. It will be interesting to see what Landon's first meaningful word will be. Although he is talking coherently he is babbling and speaking what sounds to be Chinese. He is signing 'more' and 'eat'. Speaking of eat he likes to eat fruit and can eat his weight in Mandarin oranges and blueberries but does not like veggies of any kind. He has a very limited palate right now but I'm not stressing. That's the great thing about number 2. I stress SO much less now. I really don't worry like I did with Hayden. Landon is still sleeping great... 12 hours at night and 2 naps averaging about 3-4 hours total. Landon is pretty serious although you can get some loud chuckles with games of patty cake, peek a boo, and tickling. He gets so excited about yogurt melts, bath time and me. Some days he doesn't let me put him down or leave the room without the water works and vocal work out.
Written 2/8/11

Meet Leroy and Fletcher

(Leroy pictured above, Fletcher was not available for photo)

The elves are at it again. No they are not busy making toys at the North Pole, at least not these two. They are busy being mischievous and causing all kind of havoc at our House. This is Leroy's second year here but apparently he has learned a few things from his fellow elves this past year while back in the North Pole because ever since he arrived at the beginning of December he has been entertaining us with his shenanigans. From eating our cereal, to getting stuck in Linus' dog food container, to running down the hallway with toilet paper strung all about, to throwing Hayden's socks all around his room, to swinging from ceiling fans and drapes to toilet papering the Christmas tree. Leroy sure has been busy. This is Fletcher's first time here visiting Landon and he is much tamer. I think he is being on his best behaviour in hopes Santa will assign him to Landon again next year. I think the two elves have tried to make up for their mischief by building some sh'elves' for me in the laundry room. The shelves look great but unfortunately there was a serious injury. Poor Leroy lost a hand. He literally lost his right arm doing the job and it has been difficult for me to keep up with this hand the repeatedly spontaneously detaches from his body. We sent him to Grammy's and she was able to suture him up. Hayden has been upset as he can see his stitches and glue and would like them removed. I am hoping there are no further accidents in the final few days we have them here and hope they stay on their best behavior.

written 12.20.10

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and

Happy Birthday Jesus. Hayden was so looking forward to Christmas Day.... Jesus' Birthday. He and I made a cake for baby Jesus complete with candles and sprinkles. The countdown had begun and finally the much anticiapted three day event was here. We had family gatherings planned for the three day weekend with the first celebration starting Christmas eve at 1 with our church service which Hayden was allowed to attend with us instead of Children's church. He has become quite the negiotator and has a powerful persuasiveness when it comes to attending mommy and daddy's church as opposed to his but more on that in a future post. After a wonderful worship service we went to Grammy and Peepaw's. Hayden was tired and was battling pink eye which started the day before while visiting Monica. He had started on drops and although his eye did look better in 24 hours he wasn't acting his normal self. After taking a cat nap on daddy, Jillian and Travis arrived and we had our tradidional family dinner together which was delicious. After cleaning up it was time for presents, we all had opened a few and then Hayden started with a fever and an episode of vomitting. We then packed up early without opening the rest of the gifts and made a stop at our local walgreens for the aresonal of fever reducing medicine including tylenol and motrin. Headed home and prayed he would be better for Christamas. He got up and was still running a fever, was lethargic and less enthusiastic about Christmas than a well version of him would have been. Santa is always watching and he knew Hayden was feeling well so there was some indecision as to wether or not he would leave gifts or come back another night. When we all woke up Hayden noticed that the gifts under the tree had been opened and he blamed this on the elves, Leroy and Fletcher, although it really was my and Jeff's gifts that we opened the night before. Hayden then noticed our stockings were all missing and a search of the entire house ensued. He found them finally in the basement with all the gifts Santa left behind including his new motorcycle. Normally he would have been so excited but poor thing just didn't feel well. After a team effort of unwrapping I walkedc into the playroom and Landon crawled in right behind me to discover a train table and set. He was able to show his excitement since he wasn't sick yet. Hayden showed his entusiasm with a smile. Since he was still feverish grammy, peepaw, pawpaw and dede come over instead of our original plans. We had a delicious dinner grammy prepared and then sang happy birthday to jesus and then Hayden ate a few bites of cake but since he prepared the cake and blew out the candles no one else had any. Hayden didn't enjoy his cake for long as it soon came back up. On that note everyone said their goodbyes and the little ones went to bed. The day after Landon and Jeff went to his parents for their family's Christmas and Hayden and I went to urgent care where he was diagnosed with an ear infection and was still running a high fever. This was the worst I have seen him... lethargic, sick, feverish, tired yet unable to sleep. We spent the day laying around and much of Monday. His fever finally broke Monday afternoon and he started getting his energy back by the end of the week which is when Landon started with pink eye and then a double ear infection just in time for new years. As much as I hated that my kids were sick over the holidays I am ever so thankful that it was just fevers, ear infections, and pink eye. Health is one thing I don't ever take for granted. You hear first hand how three year olds are diagnosed with autism, toddlers with leukemia, young adults with cancers that typically affect the elderly. Everynight as part of our nightly prayers we thank God for our good health and pray for continued health and safety. We are able to provide food for our family, warm beds for our kids, the medicine they needed to get well and the basic neccessities that a large part of the world doesn't have access too. We are blessed to have these things but even more blessed to have recieved Jesus and accept the gift of eternal life that he provided for us on the cross. Several months have passed (4 to be exact) since we celebrated Christmas but the gift we received when He was born we continue to be thankful for. Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and fully embraced the reason we celebrate.