Seriously…when did my little baby grow into a 5-year-old kindergartener? If I blink again, will he be 10? Perish the thought! ;)

Last Friday was Logan’s very first (real) day of Kindergarten. The school held Preview night last Monday so we were able to walk around, meet his teacher and see his classroom. On Thursday, they held “Kindergarten Round Up” which is when the kids go to their rooms for about an hour and a 1/2, do a quick craft and read some books while the parents sit in a room and listen to the principal, assistant principal, speech therapists, reading specialists, the school social worker (our good friend Ms Kristin!) and the K teachers come talk. That day, you could have had me crying at the drop of a hat (in fact, some of the administrators were pulling out the tear-jerkers for sure…phrases like, “this will be the best day of your child’s school career,” and Kristin who said things like, “we’re a family here and we love your kids…from the minute they walk in our doors, we love them”.) Me = concentrating on the woman in front of me who had some FUNKY hair going on so that I wouldn’t start bawling right there.

Come Friday, I was feeling a little better (p.s. Logan took the whole Kindergarten thing in stride…unlike mom). Walking him to school, I managed to be proud and not think about how he’s going to be in college before I know it. ;)

Daddy had some meetings on Friday, so he worked from our area on Thursday and walked us to the school for round-up

Cutting through the back yard to school

Here is Logan standing in line with his class – off to do some fun stuff while I’m off to the parent’s meeting. 

Friday morning was the big day. I snuck into Party City Thursday night and got some decorations for the dining room. Logan kept telling everyone on Thursday, “this isn’t really my first day, it’s just round-up”. Friday morning, he came downstairs and you would have thought it was his birthday. His face, when he saw these decorations, was priceless!

I made a sign :)

I LOVE this guy (Domo). The boys have trick-or-treat bags with Domo on them from a few years ago and we have a Domo that we bought in Hawaii last year. I saw this birthday card at Party City, but changed a few words inside to say something about another great year coming at cha! I included a very “boyish” bracelet inside the card that Logan could wear. I told him that if he got lonely, to just look at his bracelet and remember that we were thinking about him and I would be back soon. As I am writing this (Monday afternoon – official day 2, I hope he’s doing OK. He was a bit shy in line this morning). Logan’s pick for breakfast was to go out to McDonald’s…so we did…and we sat inside which is like a HUGE deal (at our favorite “couch” table)…and I let them get orange juice which is SUPER huge.

Off to school on his first day! I might have dressed him in school colors on purpose ;)

They lined up outside (2 afternoon classes) and marched in. We were allowed to go with them only on the first day.

Having remembered my camera during round-up, I forgot it on day one so these are taken with my phone…not so good. Here is Logan outside of his classroom…

…listening to his teacher

Last year, I would usually watch Anne and Susan’s younger boys while they went to get their girls from school. This year I’m heading there every afternoon with them so it’s like a mini parade down our street around 3:15. Here are: Ella (1st grade!), Logan, Connor (1st grade!) and Mackenzie (2nd grade!). When Logan came out of the building and saw me, he RAN and jumped up into my arms. He admitted that he got a little lonely and sad in the line from the classroom and through the school with ALL the other kids (including over 400 kindergarteners since our school hosts the all-day kindergarten pilot program for the entire district). He was pretty happy to see me :) We went home to meet Grandpa and Memaw who came to take the boys out for ice cream. When they all got back to the house, it was time for TGIF – our turn to host…so it was like a big, ol fun day from start to finish!

1. Even a 10-minute, fast-as-you-can shower, can lead to disaster with three boys downstairs "watching TV and playing"

2. The carpeting that we bought a couple years ago that I deemed, "so dark and fluffy that I could actually lose a child in it," prooved effective at hiding spin-art paint stains (questions about why spin-art didn't take place at the table, as opposed to on the floor, could not be coherantly answered....instructions were given on using art supplies while mommy is showering...as in don't do it.)

3. Improptu lunch guests are awesome (ok...I knew that one already)

4. Five children with yogurt is a disaster...somehow most of the mess came from three kids in particular...ok...it was Logan...and he did try to help clean the mess...but it still required a mop later in the day

5. Olive oil is an excellent way to remove gum that is stuck in hair

6. Brady is very adept at saying "sawry mommy"...and he's so stinking cute it's actually quite hard to get mad at him...but somehow I still managed to yell a bit...ok...a lot.

7. Brady thinks that laying on the counter-top backwards over the kitchen sink getting the oil/soap washed out of his hair is enjoyable. Exact words: "dat feels nice"

8. Life with three boys keeps you on your toes (ok...I knew that one too)

Last weekend was the annual Chicago Air and Water Show. We took just the older boys last year to their first Cubs game on a Saturday, stayed in a hotel and then went to the beach to check out the show on Sunday. We really didn’t have any plans to go this year, but we DID have a party that was 1/2 way to the city on Saturday afternoon. I suggested that we try to find a room (a long shot during such a crowded weekend in the city). BUT…daddy worked his Marriott platinum status and got us a hotel in the same place we stayed last year. He didn’t find this hotel, however, until about 15 minutes before we were schedule to leave for the party so we RAN around the house packing…and forgot a couple important things (see picture comments)

Here are the boys sitting on top of the minivan after the party as we were getting ready to head downtown. We had to make a minor pit stop to get Brady some shoes since that was the first important thing we forgot to pack (he hates them so we usually just put him in the car and toss some shoes in after him…which didn’t happen…and we didn’t realize until we pulled up to the party).

At the hotel: there are these funky lights in the hotel that change colors and do a variety of cool patterns. The boys love them and insisted that they have their picture with them. Any time they would turn blue or orange, Logan and Aiden would yell, “Bears colors!” Are these kids brainwashed or what?!

A (very) late dinner in the room. There were far too many fun kids at the party to actually stop and eat so the boys had McD’s around 9pm instead!!

The next morning we got up, drove over to our old neighborhood (where we lived prior to kids) and had an amazing breakfast at Wishbone. Then it was off to the beach! See the plane in the sky?

The boys were having such a blast playing that we literally had to yell at them and point to the sky when something super cool was happening.

We don’t go to North Ave beach where the “main” show is held. It’s too crowded and the boys can’t play in the water. I honestly don’t know what this particular beach is called, but it’s perfect…located right by Navy Pier.

Daddy and Brady enjoying the show…Brady enjoying some italian ice.

“Look at that!!”

I think Logan is having fun…

Yep, it’s official…this is his signature “I’m off in a flash for more adventures” pose.

Just a candid of Aiden walking out of the water. He is carrying sea weed for his beach creation.

Thinking very hard about it too I guess. Oh..and yes his goggles are on upside down. And no…not sure why they needed goggles, but I always have very upset kids on my hands if I don’t have them when we’re anywhere near water. Blame it on swim class. I told Logan once that I never had goggles when I was a little girl and he was like incredulous. Couldn’t believe it…told all his friends like, “can you believe my mom didn’t wear GOGGLES?!”

The boys spent most of their time digging a big hole. Daddy built walls around it. I think Logan is doing some decorating here.

Blue face

Obligatory self-portrait

Our big hole…filled with water. Logan is working on a tunnel. Daddy and Aiden are creating these crazy sand castles that Aiden “invented” (he would take really watery sand in his fists then slowly let it pour out while rubbing his fingers around…hard to explain)

But this is what it ended up looking like. Reminds me of that magic sand.

After a couple hours of fun, we had hot dogs under our giant beach umbrella/tent and then headed home. I really wish we could have stayed longer, but I had a very red eye from sleeping in my contacts (saline solution was the second important thing I forgot to pack. I decided I would just sleep in my contacts…it’s Wednesday and I’m still wearing glasses to heal from that little decision!)

• 2 Diaper Genies
• About 1/2 a jumbo-sized pack of LUVS diapers (size 5)
• 2 remaining swim diapers
• About 1/2 a case of wipes (on second thought…I’ll be keeping those…they’re all potty trained, not anti-sticky-trained)
• At least 2 changing table pads
• At least 6 changing pad covers
• 2 training potties (I guess after 7 days of using those, we’re ready for the real deal)
• 1 fold-out changing pad

typing this list, I just realized that I gained a cabinet downstairs…off to find something to put in it!

Ok fine…quick update: Despite the “we’ll see” attitude of my last post, Brady has now FULLY potty trained himself. It literally took until last Friday and no accidents since then. He even wakes up with dry pull ups in the morning. Crazy cool!! Not only did it take him at least 1/3rd of the time it took the other boys, he did it fully 4 months earlier than either of them! It’s kinda sad for us though…no more babies :( :( This is coming from a mom who has been changing diapers for the past 5 & 1/2 years…3 kids at once for 3 months!!

It’s made me nostalgic. I had Logan and Aiden pinky promise me tonight that they aren’t ever going to be too old to kiss their mommy. When they’re 15, I’m totally going to remind them that the PINKY promised!!

It’s been a while since I posted, but Brian and I were on vacation last week (whooo-hoooo!!). The boys spent the week with Nana and Papa at our house. They basically had their own vacation as well…they went to the zoo, the aquarium, a cute little Swiss town in Wisconsin, made fun treats, watched Papa launch soda geysers and had more than one trip out for ice cream…lucky guys! I’ll post some pics of their adventures after I get them from Nana (oh by the way…Nana…please send me some pictures!)

So meanwhile in St. Lucia:

Here are Anna, Anne and Kristin pool side while husbands Joel, Jeff and Chad float in the water. I’ll admit that I posed Anna for this shot, but the other two were already sitting that way!

Here are the three men who “ran the gauntlet” (ie: drank one of every drink they had on the pool bar menu during our 6-day stay). That is the drink tray that Brian and I packed as a surprise for everyone else…it may not seem like much, but it certainly came in handy!

…like when we were handing out in “our pool”…a bit of a walk from the main pool and the swim-up bar. This is where we (Brian) invented our version of “tub thumping”. It’s where someone launches a few (we got up to 5) pool floaties and then someone else jumps off the top of the hot tub to see IF they can stay on their feet. Anne and I (mostly Anne) won for the girls..not sure about the guys…in all fairness, it was sort of a girl’s sport.

One of Brian’s many attempts.

Our grandest adventure: zip lining – so cool!!!! We did 11 lines ranging from 25 feet up to 250 feet up. The gear is dorky, but the experience was amazing!

yours truly coming off of one of the lines. I tried to go as fast as I could by pulling my legs up. I found out the next day that it’s an excellent ab workout!

The girls at dinner Thursday night – Italian restaurant at the resort.

The guys…

I can’t believe we didn’t discover the raspberry daiquiri until our last day. I think we were in the pool/ocean for about 7 hours that day…and then we did some more night swimming after our final trip to the resort buffet for dinner.

last night shot

Here is the outside view of our room. It was at ground level, right next to everyone else, mere steps from “our pool”…so super fun!!

None-the-less, it’s always good to be back home. I sure missed our little men!!!! Here they are wearing the shirts we brought back for them…and mostly refusing to look at the camera. Brady was examining a lizard fake tattoo that we brought back as well.

Monday it was back to me and the boys. It was so nice to hang out with them again! They played with color changing cars one morning and I just had to take a picture…for no reason…

While we were gone, my mom reported that Brady was often tagging along with his older brothers for potty breaks. He decided, late afternoon on Monday, that he wanted to put on underwear. So be it I guess. His first pair had star-wars guys on it so I kept warning him, “don’t pee on the force!!” To date (Wednesday evening), he has not only peed on the force, but also on Thomas, Diego, Lightning McQueen, the living room rug and in the pantry…where’s the respect?! We’ll see how this attempt goes…he’s right now mostly interested in the rewards…

CANDY!

The week before we left on vacation, Brian brought home our garden’s first harvest” several small tomatoes (roma we think), 2 “8-ball” squash and some of our basil crop.

Here’s what I picked today: green peppers, LOTS of tomatoes, squash, jalapenos and yes…some green tomatoes (Brady picked those!)  

Our bumper crop for the year is basil! Don’t be surprised when you all get home-made and canned pesto sauce for Christmas this year…maybe home-made salsa too…gotta figure out what we can do with those tomatoes! Here is a (small!) portion of the basil that I picked today!

Today, long story, the boys ended up playing with a sprinkler on the driveway (I was “power spraying” spider webs off the front of the house…the water was making streams down the driveway…they were chasing the streams too far into the road…I suggested the sprinkler and voila. Oh, and by the way, they were in bathing suits because I had set up water-world for them in the back yard…I was only coming around to spray the webs while I thought they were staying put, but they followed me. Oh and p.s.s – I got like 3 spider bites while spraying! I’m not kidding…I think they were jumping on me and punishing me for ruining their homes!). I told the boys that we used to point the “rainbow” up in the sky and run through it. Logan pointed it straight out and said, “this is how we’re gonna do it mommy”. Boy do I love that kid!!!!