Father's Day and Other Fun

Joseph picked his favorite breakfast spot for Father's Day (Cafe
Hollander) and we went to the playground at Hart Park to
 run around and play in the sand. The kids all worked on their 
balancing skills and we headed back home before it got
really hot and crowded.  Lots of 90 degree days this week!

Jay took Leah and Hannah strawberry
picking in Mequon at Barthel Farm one
Saturday morning, and they had a great
time finding fruit with friends. They
brought home enough for all of us to enjoy
them all week long.  That same day Jay and
Joseph went to cheer on the Pirates (and
Brewers) at Miller Park.  Joseph has a new
Pirates jersey and is very proud to wear it,
but he likes the Brewers too.  He is after all
born and raised in Milwaukee!

 

And we all had some fun at Legend Lake with our friends the Eckerts.  It was really nice to be out on the water, and Joseph took his first wave runner ride.  He's getting more comfortable with swimming, and I've committed to the girls that when they are three they can go to swim lessons like Joseph.  And so the activity madness will begin!

Joseph Graduates 4K!

Joseph finished his 4K school year last week, and enjoyed singing his ABCs and ZYXs, The 12 Days of School, and I've Been Going to Grandma's House (all the whole year long).  The girls kept asking "is it my turn?" and "time for cake?"  This week all of the kids started going to the center closer to our house, and have handled the change pretty well.   Jay and Joseph made star wars shaped cookies to share with his new class on Monday, and Joseph even asked his teacher to share the cookies with the girl's room so they enjoyed a special treat as well (this was an original Joseph idea which is quite impressive).  Joseph misses some of his friends that he grew up with over the past 5 years, but is starting to play with new ones and enjoying time on the playground with the "big kids" and getting to share the playground with his sisters at the end of each day.  It's also been nice to be able to walk to school some days, and the teachers seem to have caught on quickly to who's who with the girls.  It helps that Hannah's hair is longer, but personalities also become a distinguishing factor.  One of the teacher's noticed that Leah is the "bossy one" and Hannah is the "happy one".  Turns out they both love pink, so it's not just Hannah that sports that color anymore.  They are all growing up quickly, and adjusting to new people and places, and before you know it the year 2025 will arrive and we'll be watching Joseph graduate high school! 

And We're Back!

It's been a while since the last post....sorry for the brief hiatus.  We've been having lots of fun but have also both been busy at work so the three day weekend came just in time!  Saturday I went to the farmers market in Madison while it was raining in the morning and Jay and the kids enjoyed a new movie, and after I arrived back with herbs, bacon, cheese, tomatoes and other yummy items the sun was out.   We took everyone for a walk to a new park not far from the house, then circled back for dinner at a cafe down the street, and couldn't resist stopping in for gelato before heading back home.  Sunday we did another walk, this time to the bakery for donuts and drinks, and then we stopped at the park at what will be Joseph's elementary school this fall.  Later we enjoyed a fun cookout with friends in our old neighborhood, and outside again this morning for more fun in the sun with bubble guns and water play in the yard.  We all had a great time, except for maybe Rosco who was forced to have a bath once we were done with the play pool.  Girls are now tucked in bed, storms are in full swing outside, and Jay and Joseph are putting together the lego imperial v-wing star fighter.  Oh and did I mention that Hannah and Leah are potty trained?  They are still in diapers at night, but for about a month now have been in underwear and going to the bathroom on the potty!  No more swim diapers!  And Joseph has started spelling!  Today he did spider, ball, and mint.  He was wearing a spiderman shirt, is signed up for baseball this summer, and made mint chocolate chip ice cream with Jay and I today.  And now I'm debating....House or The Big C?  We already watched the Modern Family and Office season finales, and I caught up on my drama viewing (I cannot believe they left Grey's Anatomy with so many open questions....it was like the Empire Strikes Back....only with doctors and dreamies instead of star ships and stormtroopers)  Actually the more pertinent question....Frog and Toad or Sir Cumference?

Girly Girls

I have been trying to post this picture for over a week now, and can't seem to get it to upload the right way no matter what I try and have spent way to much time trying, hence the sideways view of Hannah and Leah hugging last weekend.  They are quite the girly girls.  They love dresses, the color pink, having their hair in two braids or two pigtails, getting their nails painted, wearing different kinds of shoes and hoodies with pockets.  And when Hannah runs she kind of bounces with her hands out to the side by her hips.  Hannah is brought to tears at any hint of a stern tone, and Leah frequently needs hugs to feel better.  I know they look like me.....but I'm not quite sure they act like me (at least not as it relates to being pretty in pink).  And I don't think Jay liked dresses or shoes when he was younger either (I don't think I even need to ask that question!).  Maybe they are the kid version of the adult version of me? (minus the pink....even as an adult I have a hard time with that color.  Though I took a big step this weekend and purchased a shirt with a "coral" stripe in it).  They can of course be whatever they want to be and like whatever they like to like.  Right now I think Hannah would choose to be an Elephant and Leah would say she was going to be a Rhino when she grows up.  Pink ones of course.

Joseph at 5 Years Old

Height: 43.5 inches (61%)
Weight: 40.6 lbs (49%)
Favorite Color: Red
Future Occupation: Hockey Player (or a super hero)
Favorite Things: Pizza, Angry Birds, Scooby-Doo, Spiderman, Legos, Star Wars, Goldfish Crackers, Pears, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Dr Suess books

Spring Sprung and then Sprang

We went from 80 degrees and sunny to barely 40 and cloudy for last weekend's egg hunt in our neighborhood. We had fun with Jay's Dad and Pam watching the kids quickly go dashing after their eggs and counting off ten to put in their baskets (the girls can actually count to 6 or so, whereas Joseph would have counted to a hundred if we let him!). Good thing we didn't pack away our winter coats just yet....I think tomorrow with be hats and mittens for Joseph's birthday!

I don't think it's ever been this nice on MY birthday...

And that would be because it hasn't. 80 degree record breaking temperatures and it was awesome. Jay and I took the afternoon off work, ate outside at a cafe down the street from our house, went back for Rosco and headed out to play bocce ball in a park at the end of our street, picked the kids up and had dinner outside at a restaurant in the village. And then, home for baskin robbins ice cream cake and presents. Was one of my best birthdays ever!

Daddy Makin Me Grumpy

That's what Hannah says whenever Jay is stern with her, it's quite amusing really. Jay tells her "no", and she makes that face from this picture and chokes out the words "Daddy Makin Me Grumpy". When Leah gets upset and she's ready to be over it, she says "Leah needs a hug". Girls. They are so ridiculous sometimes.

I Knew They Were My Children When....

Joseph started singing "Party rock is in the house tonight. Everybody just have a good time" while playing in the kitchen
Hannah did a happy dance at the dinner table when her food was placed in front of her
Leah gave a smirk when she thought she was about to get away with something

Underwear Test Drive

Hannah asked to wear underwear the other day and we told her if she kept pooping in the potty that we would let her try it. So every morning for four days in a row she went to the bathroom and asked if she could wear underwear and finally on Saturday we let her and Leah put on their pretty princess panties for the first time (Leah has also been practicing on the potty). They were both quite pleased with themselves, and stayed dry for the two hours they had them on (we switched back to diapers for the zoo and naps). This morning they started out with underwear again too, both said once that they had to go pee, and then both proceeded to pee there pants by lunchtime (not bad for our first run at it. For now this is only going to be a weekend thing, when we aren't in the car, when they aren't sleeping, when we aren't going somewhere. An underwear test drive if you will) Before Jay left for his trip he played tackle with everyone one night before bedtime. The kids have a blast (as does Rosco), and it may have ended with Leah and Joseph bonking heads, but everyone had a good time. Maybe Jay should get some pajamas with footies. Then it would be a really cool photo.

Strike a Pose

Hannah has been striking some interesting poses whenever the camera comes out. In the picture with Leah smiling Hannah is yelling "Cheeseburger!". Joseph may actually be saying Cheese in his pose with the soccer ball, and Leah is just giving me the "You're crazy mom" look when I was trying to capture the kids having fun in the play tunnel. This weekend they had lots of fun playing with Bubbie and Poppa (ah hah hah ha haaaah - which is what the girls came up with, like a little joke that no one else gets) while we helped Aunt Gina load her things onto the Uhaul to move back to Evanston for her new job. They made brownies, did some artwork (and if I'm not mistaken they did this without Leah coloring her tongue and Hannah tattooing her hands and feet which is usually what happens when I let them color while helping Joseph with his homework each week), Joseph did some connect the dot alphabet exercises, and of course there was some Scooby Do. (it would not be a weekend without any Scooby Do, though today Hannah expressed her desire to watch Spiderman instead). Jay's got the new tv all ready to go in so we're going to wrap up the weekend with a family room viewing of Megaminds with some popcorn and lemonade (which is Joseph's favorite drink, when we make it he stirs and then sticks his nose in the pitcher to see if it "smells ready").

Family Fun in February

We had lots of fun this weekend playing in the snow with family. The Goulds and Groggs were here and the kids were super excited for Grandma and their cousins to arrive. We did our first snowman and sledding of the season, and while we have had a few big snowfalls we actually didn't get too much of the white stuff this year so this was our first time taking a run down the small hill down the street and putting up Frosty in our yard. I found Joseph in the living room after lunch today, on the couch staring out the window singing "Frosty the Snow Man" which he said would get our Frosty to start talking. He was so happy to be outside having so much fun with everyone, and Hannah and Leah seem to have warmed up to the wet stuff too. They've also all had some pretty funny quotes lately. Last weekend when we made Joseph clean up a few of the rooms that had toys everywhere he said in a quite serious voice "Arg you guys are making me do all the work" and later exclaimed "No way am I picking up girl socks". And I can't remember exactly what we were doing but he told us one day "I'm wearing super hero clothes so I can go super fast" (Joseph is very into shirts with super heroes on them, and since acquiring all kinds of fun spiderman, captain america, and scooby shirts over the holidays and getting a few pep talks from Jay, has been doing a great job of getting himself ready every morning. He even seems to pick out things that match....though none of the nice striped or solid color shirts mom likes, and definitely not any jeans.) Leah and Hannah are quite particular about their clothes as well, and have started battling over who gets to wear what color or which pear of shoes. I think we have worked out a rotational system with the pink shoes that seems to work though. Leah will sometimes however get so distraught over this or other things that she goes into tantrum crying mode, and after one time out Hannah turned to me and said "Can I go give Leah a hug?". And actually, hugs and kisses do work with Leah, and for the moment we have figured out that this is what will make her snap out of any sort of fit. She will even ask Joseph or Hannah for a hug when she is sad (very cute). There was also another time when Leah was crying in the car on the way home from school (probably due to her fingers not being in the right spot in her gloves or me not giving her the purple mittens to wear) and when she paused for thought, Hannah turned and said "You all done Leah?". To which Leah responded with "Raaaaar" (as in, a Lion). The "raaaars" tend to make Hannah cry, and she is quite emotional and her feelings are easily wounded by any tone from her siblings or mom and dad that is anything less than butterflies and roses. And of course Leah isn't the only one to loose it at times, but lately she has had the most memorable moments that end with something so humorous that you can't possibly forget what occurred. For example, both girls, unless totally exhausted, don't go to bed so easily. Leah will look at you quite cleverly with a smile pretending to put her head down on the pillow (but not quite) and then when you walk out of the room the whispering or giggles begin. The other night, I had hung the girls square baby picture announcement things back on their wall above their beds, thinking they had outgrown the phase where they were pulling things off the wall that fell into their reach, and then later went back in to find Leah in bed with hers to which she said "Leah broken it. I broken it again". And so the wall things are back on the shelf out of reach. Also out of reach for the moment are cups for Leah. She literally spills her cup at almost every meal or snack. And she used to feed the food that she didn't want off her plate to Rosco (but now we keep a close eye on what is going on and try to keep Rosco at a safe distance....not only to prevent Leah from feeding him all her unmentionables, but also because sometimes Hannah has accidentally dropped an item that was still desired, which Rosco would then snap up before we could get to and Hannah would then burst into tears). Hannah is better with the drinking, but seems to struggle with staying in her chair. She quite frequently falls head first out of her chair, unless strapped into a booster seat, so we are still using both boosters at most dinners. Joseph also has a problem with staying in his chair, but it's not clumsiness that is his downfall, just ants in his pants and a small tendency to not listen. Right now he is staring at me with his hands pulling down his cheeks waiting for me to finish on the computer so that he can have some fun with Nick Jr. And since I can also hear the girls giggling and "boinging their butts" (as Leah put it...Hannah explained to me that it was jumping off their beds) which means they are awake from their nap, and since Joseph doesn't have any strikes at the moment, it seems my writing has come to an end and his game playing will begin!