Sometime last month, we started seeing Halloween costumes. Most notable were some super funny and cute ones at Old Navy. For some reason, we were in there a couple times in one week. During each visit, Brady would grab this cuddly-looking (and SO adorable) cheeseburger costume. He wouldn’t put it down. The second time we saw it, he kept saying, “it’s mine!”. A mom passing by said, “I so don’t mean to eavesdrop, but PLEASE let him be a cheeseburger for Halloween! He would make the cutest cheeseburger”. I had a really good coupon with me so I bought the costume. Brady even wore it that day to wake Brian up from his afternoon nap (too funny). However, about a week later, Bear started saying that he now wanted to be “sew-per man” (Superman). Each time I would tell him, “no…you’re going to be a cheeseburger, remember?” And to that, I would get something like: “NO! I wanna be sew-per man!!” This went on for at least 3 weeks. So…walking through Wal-Mart yesterday, I spotted a relatively cute, flannel superman costume. Brady did too and pointed and begged and said, “that one that one”…so we just went ahead and bought it (I can’t let my baby be sad on the best day of the year!) Logan picked out a crazy ninja costume and Aiden is going as Drago… who is a Bakugan (even though the boys don’t watch the show, they really like playing with Bakugans and Aiden LOVED the costume when he spotted it in Target…it’s like a dragon).

Before I take it back to the store, I needed to get some pictures of the cutest Halloween costume that never was…

I had to beg and PLEAD with Brady to get him into this costume. He’s mad about it so he’s making his “monster” face.

Ok…so I say this all the time about cute kids, but couldn’t you just EAT him?! Plus look how warm for chilly Halloween tick-or-treating! Oh well…gotta give him some credit for sticking to his guns on the sewper man thing.  

And finally, some brief thoughts on mommy’s pay back. From the beginning of this whole crazy “let’s have three (boys) as quickly as possible” thing that we 1/2 planned, 1/2 fell into, I’ve been saying “someday this is going to pay off…they’ll be close in age…they’re all the same sex so they’ll all play together and maybe like similar stuff…it will be great”. And you know what? It’s starting to happen more and more. In fact, the boys have all been getting along like peas and carrots lately. They make up games, everyone gets a role and they (mostly) have a great time. Aiden’s got Logan coloring, Logan has Aiden outside playing a game of soccer, Aiden’s making Lego creations for Brady to use…Brady will go along with just about anything or play with his trains. It warms my heart, it makes me smile and best of all, it gives me more free time…to do things like…um…plan their classroom parties, make camping costumes, help plan the school Fall Event…OK fine, it’s still all about taking care of them (which I love, don’t get me wrong), but it’s seriously SO awesome to see them getting along… just like I always 1/2 planned, 1/2 fell into!!

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to travel to San Francisco to meet my sister’s new baby boy! Obviously I was excited to see Denay, Tom and their 2-year-old cutie, Ryan as well! I left my house around 4pm Friday night, flew out of Chicago close to 7 and arrived around 10 Cali time. I returned this past Monday and got home at 9:15 PM…after my own babies were already asleep :( The only tricky thing was that Brian had to fly to London on Monday morning. Thankfully his parents were generous enough to help with the boys all day until I could get home!

Pictures from my weekend!!

Here is my new gorgeous nephew who tipped the scales at a healthy 9lbs, 11ounces the day of his arrival. Look closely everyone…he’s doing a very special trick in this picture that you won’t see often…he is opening his eyes! This kid is one sleepy baby (reminds me of Brady!) I bought him the little ugly doll on in his left arm on the way to San Fran. Monkey on the right is from Ryan’s first days of life (Den’s first baby). I call this: Nate and his crew. It looks cute, but it was actually helpful to still the ever-moving baby arms…you moms know what I’m talking about – that jerk reflex they do that looks like they are falling?!

Here is sleepy Natertot laying on my legs during a back-yard BBQ at Tom and Den’s Saturday afternoon. Natertot is my personal favorite Nathan nickname…unfortunately it’s his father’s very LEAST favorite nickname…which actually makes it even more fun to say! By the way, Den’s kids are always thoughtfully and adorably dressed (unlike mine who miraculously manage not to clash as I hurriedly pick out three sets of cloths each morning). This shirt has an image of Small Paul (the monkey) and his friends on a rocket ship. It says in tiny print, “Small Paul is your friend…even in outer space”. So very Den…so very trendy (Den-dy…can that be a new word??) 

Another pick of Nate sleeping on my leg…this time during big brother’s swim class on Sunday.

Me and Nate at swim class. Afterwards, we had a delicious Mexican dinner…at a place whose name has now escaped me. I had the prawns…yummy!

Nate sleeping again…outside the airport before I took off for Chi-town (via Denver)

The three of us took a different picture first, but Nate’s head was like buried between our shoulders. This one is hysterical! Look at his face!!

Den and I did a little shopping on Sunday and then Monday morning for my boys. I brought back this awesome drawing book and stickers for Aiden. He did a couple pages of the book and then did his typical “play with stickers” thing for over an hour (he puts stickers on a page as he narrates a story about what is going on)

I brought back 2 packs: ice cream treats and monsters. The monsters were having a battle. The ice cream treats became the ships and weapons. I have to laugh because really…would a girl do something like this?! See the yellow monster on top with an arrow pointing down? Aiden told me, amongst a gazillion other things about his creation, that the spikes on the yellow guy’s sides were pointing down to attack the monsters below, but they had built popsicle weapons around them. Really?!!?!! Really. This thing eventually got pretty elaborate…and is now hanging in our art gallery per Aiden’s request.

Den helped me pick out an animal train for Brady. He LU-UVED it…for like 2 hours this morning!!

And here it is…I cheated a little. I really didn’t know what to get Logan! We were in a toy store and I almost grabbed some legos. Then I thought, “Aiden will be bummed if he doesn’t get legos too…and only this drawing book…he might be sad”. We had to rush out. I called Brian for advice. Brian said legos were the way to go…maybe just a small set so Aiden wouldn’t be bummed. BUT…we were in our car heading home and, honestly, toy shopping in San Fran is hard to come by! I asked Brian, who was then currently on his way to our local Meijer’s, if he could swing by the toy section and grab something. He got a very small little knights and catapult thing. It was in a bag on the counter for me when I got home last night. Logan loved it of course. Shhhhh…I swear I had my hand on something just like this while shopping with Den!!!!

A note on Logan’s sleeping attire: he likes to sleep in his boxer shorts only (the kid has been HOT since he was born!) In the mornings, however, I prefer that he put some pants on…even when it’s not really “time” to get dressed. To that end, I purchased him some “lounge pants”. Every morning, he grabs a pair of his pants and puts them on before going downstairs. Shirts are obviously optional.

This is such a sad side note (sad because it’s stuck at the end of a post and should be on it’s own), but I took some pictures at Logan’s karate class tonight. He has SUCH fun and it’s soooo much better than our attempt last year when he was in a class with MUCH older and way more experienced kids. In the previous class (at a different studio…we now go to our park district), he just sort of gave up, goofed around and rolled on the floor a lot. This time, however, he really tries, does well and has a ton of fun. Go Logan!!

Recently, with the on-set of our new Fall schedule, mommy has been given the challenge of entertaining 1 to 2 boys at a time while classes are taking place. It took a couple tries, but I finally struck gold with: trains for Brady and Magna Tiles for Aiden. Yesterday was our most peaceful hour-long soccer practice ever! Bear loves setting up his track on a blanket, on a table or even on the floor...wherever we happen to be. He has a little blue "pack pack" (that would be a backpack) that sits by the back door ready to go at all times.
Aiden and Logan have been using their school bags and fill them as necessary. Aiden's magnatiles (love those things!) have been: rocket ships, presents, the Millenium Falcon, hideouts etc. Logan's entertainment of choice? An old iPod I gave him or the set of "create your own space vehicle".

Here is Brady...playing while his brothers are in Spanish class. What am I doing? Blogging from my phone ;)

After an almost completely un-scheduled summer (the boys took tennis a few times, but even that was in our neighborhood at the clubhouse), I was sort of nervous to go diving back into classes plus school. I’ve already covered the first days of school, except for Brady who started his “Not Two Young To Learn” class this past Friday. However, I haven’t mentioned all the other stuff we’re doing yet.

Logan’s current activities include: Mighty Mites sports select class, soccer practice once a week plus a Saturday game, karate lessons, guitar lessons and Spanish (forced upon him by mom). Aiden is taking Mighty Mites, an art class, soccer on Saturdays and Spanish as well. Brady is doing his Friday class which incorporates a little Mighty Mites at the end. Once he turns 3, he’ll be able to do more of the other activities with the big boys. After Fall soccer is over, we’ll do indoor soccer for everyone and then probably start swim classes up in January. Just to get this whole act together, I had to create a folder full of sign-up forms, class catalogs plus a little graph of each day and each child. I have no idea how moms of more than 3 possibly schedule their kids – my praises to all of you out there! I have to laugh because, after all my time and efforts making a schedule, the current classes only go through October so I’ll have to do it all again in another month!

I’ll also have to do a whole post on our soccer activities since it’s quite the family affair these days. Not only are the boys involved, but daddy is playing in a Saturday morning adult league, helping coach Aiden’s team and…get this..daddy AND mommy are playing on a co-ed Sunday team. Crazy!

I have to admit that this new schedule is actually a ton of fun. The boys are trying out all sorts of new things and developing deeper interests in certain “subjects”. It’s a blast to watch their personalities continue to grow! I think we’ve got just the right amount of stuff to provide plenty of downtime plus the necessary “get out of the house before everyone goes crazy” time. Keep in mind…no one starts school until the afternoon and we don’t have homework yet…so lot’s of downtown right now for sure!

Here are some pics from Logan’s first soccer practice which was two weeks ago on Wednesday night. I didn’t want to post them until I had pics of Aiden as well.

Brady and Aiden were squirrely that night!

Lots of brotherly wrestling going on

At least they’re laughing about it!

Action shot…too much sunlight!  

Here is Brady on his first day of school. He was soooo ready after seeing the big boys have their first days. He got STRAIGHT to business playing!

Saturday was Aiden’s first Little Soccer Stars Class. Anne and Brian are the coaches…none of us understand the pink thing for a co-ed team, but whatever. Aiden is #3

Aiden and Daddy

Brian came straight from his men’s league (explains green socks). He is NOT the proud owner of a new pink shirt! 

Aiden was happy to discover that one of his best friends from school, Alli, is also on his soccer team!! We only had about 15 minutes of soccer that day. Check out the sky – ominous! The park district coordinator came around and hurried us all back to our cars. Everyone made it back to the parking lot and into vehicles before the rain came pouring down (12 soccer fields full of kids and adults!)

When Logan went to preschool, I usually snapped a picture of him and his classroom on the first day. I mean, it wasn’t the “decorate the dining room” kind of affair (although I always meant to do that, but never got around to it until Kindergarten). Aiden, having the good fortune of being born second and after seeing the to-do that I did for Logan, was wondering if he would be getting decorations for his first day of school.

Fair is fair!

First off, here is Aiden playing with some play-doh during “meet the teacher” day. He has a great teacher this year (very crafty…in fact she made the play-doh they are using). Her assistant just so happens to be the same wonderful assistant Logan had in his classroom last year.

Here’s Brady playing in the classroom…he is anxious to start his “school” this coming week.

Last Wednesday was the first day of 4’s preschool. I decorated the dining room just like I did for Logan (even got the same funny Domo card). Since the preschool doesn’t have official colors, I did what Aiden would like best – rainbow.

Balloons!

This is a little girl who was also in Aiden’s 3’s classroom last year. She was walking in with us and feeling a bit anxious so I thought I would try to “fun it up” by doing some pictures. She looks concerned poor thing.

Walking down the hall to class…

Hanging up his backpack in the #1 spot (the teacher did her numbering alpha by first name.

So…I totally spaced the fact that the first day was “bring your favorite stuffed animal to school” day. I had to mad dash back to the house (good thing I had Logan set up at a friend’s house for lunch and bussing to school!!) When I got back, they were still “introducing” their animals so – crisis averted.

Here is the teacher welcoming Aiden. He had NO problem leaving…skipped off and away he went. When I got back with his animal, he was happily chatting with someone else on the rug (I’m thinking he was supposed to be listening, but whatever). Go Aiden!!

A week ago this past Saturday (8/28), Brian, the older boys and I were lucky enough to go to a pre-season Bear’s game together. Brian and his friends have season passes which include all the pre-season home games. They usually don’t go as a 4-some, but it was a perfect opportunity to take the boys (that and two other factors 1. they couldn’t sell them to anyone else and 2. the 4-pack of tickets that Brian has for “his” use this season are the day after Christmas…cold and lousy for kiddos!) Poor Brady stayed at home. He’s still just too little to sit still for longer than 10 minutes and the guys only have 4 seats anyway. I wonder what will happen when he’s bigger…maybe a free afternoon for mama once a season? :)

This was the second time Logan has been to a game, although he was lucky enough to tail-gate before hand last year. This was Aiden’s very first game…he got stadium pizza and a football keychain for his backpack to honor such a momentous occasion. Since the game didn’t start until 7ish…we got back quite late – around 11:15. Brady, who was supposed to be at home, was actually at Memaw and Grandpa’s (we discovered this as we snuck quietly inside). It was a good thing since we were all able to sleep in a bit the next day.

Here are the boys walking with daddy through Millennium Park. The only bummer about the outing was the parking situation. The guys didn’t get a parking pass this year (lottery system) and the closest lot is over a mile and a 1/2 away.

We took the scenic route by Buckingham Fountain (see the giant wedding party behind us? There were 13 little girls dressed like mini brides running around plus a little boy in a white tux…it was part cute and part totally fascinating in an odd way).

The boys were more interested in the fence than in the fountain.   

Aiden lost the pep in his step before we got even 1/2 way to the stadium (shocking! …the kid complains that the 2 block walk to school every day to get Logan is, “taking toooo looooong” and that he’s, “tooo tired to waaaaaaalk”.)

Daddy was nice enough to carry him on his shoulders; I took a couple turns as well. On the way BACK to the lot after 1/2 time (we only made it for 2 quarters, but the game wasn’t going well at all anyway), both Brian and I carried one of the boys almost the whole way. We had some major back-aches going on the next day for sure!

Here are the boys, snacking on stadium pizza and getting ready to watch some football.

A view to the left of the seats. That’s Lake Michigan behind the giant screen (hard to see as it was starting to get dark)

I am just super fascinated by flags that require at least 120 people to hold them.  

“Look guys…it’s a giant bear spitting out players into smoke machines and fireworks!” How super cool is that?!

Mommy came equipped with many treats in her bag. One of which was bags of cotton candy courtesy of the Target dollar section (not bad stuff I have to say!)  

Me and my Aiden: I’m not at all sure why my hair looks totally yellow…time to color or strange stadium lighting…I’m going with #2…

The other day I came across a train that was probably the first one Logan ever had (when he was about 2). It was retired into a toy bin in our laundry room after the expiration of Logan’s train love. Since Aiden never had a “train phase”, I all but forgot about it. When I saw it again, I knew instantly that Brady would LOVE it (being that he is currently WAY into Thomas). The boys weren’t here at the time so I replaced the batteries and set it aside. I also found a couple train conductor hats and a whistle.

When the boys got back, I gave Brady the train (and tried not to mention that it was yet another hand-me-down). He was SO happy. He kept saying, “you got for me?!! Thank you mommy!!” He also asked where it came from…I just muttered something incoherent. This experience has me wondering what else I have around here that could be wrapped up for Christmas or a birthday… ;)

That’s one happy kid.

Logan was suddenly re-living his love of trains and helped Brady build a tunnel.

The next day the boys set up a train with their chairs. They also went to the basement and did some GeoTrax that afternoon…that hasn’t happened for a while!