Let's Go To The Beach

We spent our last few weekends of the summer along Lake Michigan taking in some sun and playing in the sand.  Joseph and I went down to Evanston last weekend to visit Gina and meet up with my parents.  It was pretty hot, and the water was much warmer to the south in Illinois, so we enjoyed getting burried in the sand and swimming in the water.  Today Jay and I took everyone a bit to the north, to Harrington State Park where the beach is beautiful but the water was freezing!  We still got wet, but Joseph is the only one who went under.  We spent most of our time building sand castles and water tunnels.  The waves were pretty impressive, the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac apparently.  The kids all thought we were at the ocean, but they are slowing learning that it is really just a lake.  Well, not just any lake.  A great lake.  A great, HUGE, lake!

Joseph Lost his First Tooth!

Joseph lost his first tooth on Saturday night!  He had his friend Drew over and while they were getting ready for bed I walked into the room to find Joseph in the bathroom with blood pouring out of his mouth.  It took us a minute to realize that his loose tooth was no longer loose....it was gone!  Drew showed us wear they were playing, and in the sea of toys and shaggy carpet we all got on our hands and knees to search for the tooth (and quickly devised a backup plan to write a letter to the tooth fairy in case we couldn't locate said tooth).  Amazingly we found it, and Joseph was quick to place it under his pillow and hop into bed and fall asleep so the tooth fairy would arrive. He asked if it would be like a big black scary thing and I said no, less like a Halloween monster and more like Tinkerbell.  Sunday morning at 5:40am he came running into our room waving a dollar in each hand and very excited to tell us that he now had two more dollars to add to his truck bank to save up for a monster lego set that he has his eye on.  I just like looking at his smile now with that big space, so cute.  Just in time for senior kindergarten and school photos!

Cuz So

Each time the question "Why?" is posed to Hannah or Leah, the response is "Cuz so."  Leah why are you pulling your skirt up to your chest?  Cuz so.  Hannah why did you shove half a burger in your mouth?  Cuz so.  Leah why are you drinking the bath water?  Cuz so.  Hannah why are you sucking your thumb?  Cuz so.  (real question to that should be something having to do with us taking away her pacifier or something to do with the fact that her sister sucks her thumb).  I believe the response Cuz so is derived from the longer response I frequently use "Because I said so".  I will have to find a new response.

Latest Developments

I think it's been a while since I've done a recap of our latest developments and funny things about the kids.  Everyone is a bit on the "emotional" side, and I wouldn't want to call one out in particular, but lately Hannah has been running around screaming and crying each night chanting "I don't want to go to bed, I don't want to go to bed".  We have actually had to catch her and scoop her up and bring her back to her room as she dashed away screaming (we could really use some outside locks on those doors!)  Other things to mention about Hannah, she would prefer not to wear pull ups anymore though we sometimes still put them on at night, and while we have stopped giving her the nuk, she requests it on a regular basis and has been seen sucking her thumb in replacement.  She can count to 9, but then for some reason skips to 14.  Though her favorite number is 5, and Hannah insists she is turning 5 this fall (not 3).  As she watches the Olympics she tells us "I know how to do that" (uttered during diving, swimming, trampoline), and she is quite the dancer.  Leah also enjoys dancing but it's more of a marching style and hip shake approach while Hannah is more on the hip hop side.  Leah it seems is the one most content with playing by herself, but only demonstrates this when not around the other kids.  Everyone stayed at home different days this week with a stomach virus, and since Leah was the last one to fall victim to it she had a whole day at home with me by herself, and I now know, she is the easiest one to have at home while still trying to get other things done.  She just wants to be in the room with you while she plays with blocks or markers or dolls.  (Joseph will only occupy himself for short bursts, unless it's some sort of electronic entertainment)  Leah may actually enjoy going to bed at times, as it allows her the opportunity to hold her Bear and suck her thumb, and she wakes up quietly doing the same.  She is getting quite good at puzzles and has been a master at the tricycle for a while, and every chance she gets she tries to sneak up onto Joseph's bike.  Joseph doesn't ride his bike that much lately, but he has had a great time with t-ball and swimming this summer.  (Hannah insists she can swim just as good as Joseph and both girls cry when he goes to swim lessons).  We have been trying to explain to him that things cost money, and that if he wants something he needs to save up his own money to buy it (as we get  100 requests a day to do something, or buy something), so today when we went to get his feet measured for back to school shoes and he passed by the lego store, he decided to use $7 of his truck bank money to get a green swamp monster lego set.  We told him different things he could do to earn money back into his bank, and 4 hours later after being sent to his room after he calmed down, he took it upon himself to put away his laundry so that he could collect 50 cents!  (I hope this was not a one time deal, as I would LOVE to put away less laundry each week)  Brushing teeth has turned into such the battle that we have offered him 25 cents every time he does it without being asked.  So this morning he woke up, put all the toys and books away in his room, then put all of the toys and books away in Hannah and Leah's room, and brushed his teeth! (all without being asked)  I really really really hope he keeps this up (spoken like Hannah....as in I really really really want to go swimming or I really really really want some ice cream).  And last little bit of news.....Joseph has his first loose tooth! We'll see if he starts elementary school this fall with one missing, he checks each day to see if it is still there.

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?