Joseph Plays Ball

Joseph played t-ball this summer, and enjoyed not only the game but also going out for ice cream or buffalo wild wings with his dad after many of the games.  He not only experienced his first home run, but also his first Wendy's frosty.  One night I told Joseph that he was doing a good job at tball and I was glad he liked it and do you know what his response was?  "How do you know mom, you have never seen me play?"  Said in a very matter of fact voice and not with any ill intention.  But I of course then committed on the spot to having us all go to the next game (with the girls) which brought a huge smile to his face but mine quickly disappeared when I realized it was going to be 100 degrees that day.  Fortunately the clouds rolled in at the start of the game and the rain didn't come until well after, and Hannah and Leah were only slightly unamused, and best of all.....that was the night he hit his first home run.  And we now know that Hannah also likes wings.  Leah however, does not.  I think our list of food that all three of them enjoy is quite small - pasta, pizza, yogurt, green beans, grapes, cupcakes and goldfish. But back to baseball....Jay also took Joseph to see the Pirates play for the Brewers at Miller Park and that was another crazy hot day...but they had a very good time and even got a few autographs and watched the sausage race up close.  Joseph is learning more about the sport, and Jay is learning that it is ok for Joseph to like more than one team!

Summer Vacation

We drove out to Ohio and West Virginia for a fun family vacation over fourth of July week.  The kids were super excited and we all had a great time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and great grandpap!  Everyone did great in the car...we watched movies, played the I'm thinking of game with animals and halloween characters (yes, we love halloween that much that we'd talk about it in July!), practiced ABCs and spelling, took naps, enjoyed a delicious lunch at Wendy's on the way down (seriously, the food actually is as good as the picture) and a not so great lunch at a Burger King off I-80 in Indiana (we will never stop at one of the rest areas off that highway again, all I can say is, dirty and slow).  Running around in sprinklers, playing in pools, golfing, visiting the zoo, taking tractor rides, picking raspberries, playing angry birds, and spending time with family was of course much more fun than the car ride, and it was really nice to have a break away from work and school.  And we met the latest addition to the family, Thomas Matthew Gould, for the first time!  On the way home we did a quick stop in Cleveland to visit our friends the Smiths and the girls were in princess paradise with costumes and dress up shoes.  This week we have been adjusting back to life as usual, and are trying to keep everything outside alive despite this never ending heat wave and no rain situation!  (I actually referred to 80 degrees as nice and cool the other day)

Another Fun Morning at the Zoo

We spent a morning at the zoo a few weeks ago, and were pleased to find the dinosaurs had returned!  Leah was a little frightened (recently she has become quite scared around dogs and apparently large extinct animals) but she kept it together for our walk through the exhibit.  Once we came upon the T-Rex she hopped into the stroller and chose the seat farthest away from the carnivores.  Hannah was very happy to ride the train (as was Joseph, after all it was his idea), and we all had fun seeing the bears play in the water (Jay and I could set up lawn chairs and stare at those bears all day long!).  After 2 hours we usually hit our limit as we approach lunch & nap time (though Joseph would prefer to call it quiet time and boast of how he doesn't need naps anymore...HAH!  He takes them on the weekend even though he doesn't at daycare. I am actually preparing to go convince him to take one now).  If only the zoo were open at 8am.  Then it would be even better!  Surely we aren't the only crazy people looking for something to do at that time?

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!