Speaking of George and the owies...

Last week, both Cael and Brennen had their well-child checks. Cael is right on for 12 months. Happy, well nourished, and doing all the age appropriate things. Brennen is four now and is also right on track. Now that he's four, we opted to have his "kindergarten" immunizations. (Yes, we immunize according to our pediatrician's schedule, but we all agree it's easier to give shots to an enthusiastic -albeit unhappy- four year old rather than waiting until he's a bigger 5 year old.)

Well, at this appointment he gets to pee in a cup (fun). He also gets a finger stick (interesting). When the hematocrit is too low, he gets another finger stick (slightly less interesting). Then he gets 5 (yes, five) immunizations (not at all interesting- rather upsetting, truth be told). Cael then gets his five (really). When Brennen's hemoglobin comes back too low as well, we get to go to the lab. Brennen gets his blood drawn. He's completely unimpressed by this point to put it mildly, despite the promise of a blizzard from Dairy Queen.

He was such a good boy and was a brave as he could be. A cotton-candy blizzard in hand soothed the day's trauma. Two bites later, he was overcome by a nap and his siblings happily finished his treat on the drive home.

(The lab results were fine. He's just got to eat more spinach... Yeah, right!)

Walking owie

George has owies all over. All the time. He also always has left-over Band-aid stickies all over. I buy Band-aids whenever I am at Target. Antibiotic cream, too. Amazingly, he's never broken a bone, needed stitches, or been to the ER. Whew!

See the three dots on his side (down from the little boy armpit)? Those are the owies that worry me. How does a four year old get three puncture wounds there without coming to me for consoling? He can't even tell me where they came from...

Gonna be great mommies one day...

When Kenna was here, we also had baby Kellan come play for a few hours. Kenna and Kjersten would have been thrilled to be left in charge of the babies. Both love the babies and do a great job playing with them. I really think my diaper changing abilities are the only reason the girls would keep me around, had they a choice!

Friends

The kids had some lifelong friends over the other day. With our family schedules and such, we don't see them often enough. We all enjoyed their time here!Kenna, Keaton, Kjersten & Rhys

A boy and his ball- just like his brother!

Cael is an awful lot like Brennen. A lot! He loves balls already. They are his favorite toys. He plays catch with anyone anytime, even himself. He'll toss the ball, go and get it, giggle, and begin again. Very, very funny!
There's the tongue (inherited from his daddy's family). Whenever he's happy or concentrating or drinking or, really, anytime, it's hanging out.

Cael and his food

I love to take pictures of Cael eating. He's contained and relatively still then so it makes it easy on the mama!

Another cupcake (leftover from the birthday). What a mess!

He loves grilled cheese. (Thanks for reminding me, Michelle!)

New blankie for Cael

Carol, Bret's mom, made Cael a beautiful and very soft blankie! (She may have done it because I've been eyeing Bret's and commenting on how very nice it would be to have one like that (hint, hint...) and it worked!!) We love it!!! Thank you, Carol!!!
I don't think of myself as a "teddy-bear" person, but these little bears make me laugh! They remind me of Cael & Bret- little buddies!

Mystery rash...

After four kids and too many rashes to count, you'd think I'd be an expert. I'm not. I still debate- do I take him in? Do I wait and watch? What if it's the beginning of some terrible childhood illness? What if...

Looks a lot like a light sunburn all over with no bumps. His skin looks a little mottled, like a newborn whose body can't seem to regulate temperature quite yet. He's his usual happy self despite cutting 2 teeth.

So, what do YOU think it is?

Grandma's fondness for noisy toys...

Fisher-Price Cement Mixer toy.

Cael loves his new truck. As you can see, he loads the noisy balls into the mixer and pulls down on the green lever. It spins the balls around making a great racket! Thanks great-grandma!

A boy and his cake...

Well... now he's had a party! It's official- Ole is one! Here's the cake Kjersten and I made while the boys were gone camping. I'd like to say it looked better in person, but it didn't. My frosting was just too soft. Didn't seem to bother anyone!

Had to make some cupcakes as that one cake wouldn't be enough. Knowing that I am odd man out by not liking chocolate, I acquiesced and made devil's food cupcakes.

Jason gets "hold the birthday kid" duty. All the practice "blowing" over the weekend was wasted. He simply would not make an effort. Could be the distraction of 20 people singing at him...

Mmmmmmmm... Good cupcakes, mama!

Carol made the boys the cutest shirts. I desperately wanted to get a photo of them together in their shirts. Ummmm. No. We tried and tried. Mothers of twins have my sympathies. What a pain! You'll have to make due with separate but cute shots. Here's a few of our attempts...

Here's Bret and Carol.
Cael and his shirt. Aren't they just so stinkin' cute?!Brennen got his very own shirt. I love it! He does too! (How does a perpetually happy child manage to look so melancholy? Perhaps it was camping for 3 days and coming home to birthday chaos? Actually, he was in a great mood. Just a bit tired here, I think!)

More than $10,000

Yup! We've passed that milestone with our debt snowball. We've payed off $10,013 in about 9 months. Keep in mind, that's as well as cash-flowing some massive car repairs and medical bills as well as everyday big things like propane tank fillings, family trips & Christmas. As you can see from our ticker on the right, we have a long ways to go, but we are going to get it done.

Ask Rhys when we get to go to his favorite Chinese restaurant again and he'll tell you:

First, we have to pay off our "debt snowball"

Then, we get to call Dave Ramsey and yell, "We're debt free!!!!" on the radio

Then... we get to go to dinner...

Isn't that funny? True... but funny! We've taught
him well

Teaching her "class"

Yes, they're imaginary. That doesn't mean, however, that they don't need their work corrected! She will play like this for hours. And, other than the fact that she uses any and all of my school supplies she can find, it really is funny to watch her teach. She emulates me and her other co-op teachers. It's very cute!

(Note: my very cool solution for my white board. I have no available wall space for it. Even if I did, I'm not sure I'd want it permanently on my dining (school) room wall. But we use it all the time, especially for math and spelling. So... I set it on the windowsill. It's easily movable and yet it's quite stable. I do have suction cups with hooks keeping it securely in place. How smart am I?)

Wanna see him walk?

Here's Cael a few days before his 1st birthday. He's far more efficient and much faster now. It's now his prefered mode of transportation. Now, he's moved from the "infants" to the "walkers" at church. ::: sniff sniff :::

A glimpse of him crawling...

When he crawls, he turns his chubby hands in and his rear swings from side to side. We think it makes him look like an alligator....

1st temper-tantrum

This milestone was initiated by Cael being set on the floor without Cael's prior approval. Kjersten and I couldn't help but laugh. He's cute even when he's really really mad!

From baby to toddler overnight!

I knew it was inevitable... I knew it was coming... I knew I would love him being a toddler... I just wasn't ready...

Things Cael learned the week he turned one...

• how to remove the diaper (hence the photo above)
• how to grow teeth (has his first and is working on four more...)
• how to blow (should come in handy tomorrow with candles on the cake)
• how to walk
• how to get up and going in the middle of the room
• how to run (waddle really fast)
• how to drink from a straw (smoothie at Costco was the motivation)
• how to throw a ball and toys and food...
• how to say "no-no" by shaking his head
• how to use a spoon
• how to have a temper-tantrum

No wonder he's wearing me out!?

Roly Poly Ole turns one...

Here he's opening a gift from Jack and his parents. We are HUGE Fisher Price Little People fans! Even the older kiddos around here play with the little people toys. Looks like Cael loves them too!

Here comes the rain...

And George is ready! It rains so infrequently here, it's not funny! And when it does... it's for an hour or so... Maybe a day once in a great while. It's been raining for five days now. It's glorious! My humidity reads 98%. It's 46 degrees. It's finally spring!!!!! I love it! I wish it would rain until June!

Of course, it's clearing up today. It has never rained like this in the 14 years I've lived here. Hopefully I won't have to wait another 14 years for it to rain again. It is my absolute favorite weather and I've enjoyed each and every drop. (Unfortunately it's washing out my road...)

Where is spring? Really... Where did it go????

Note the temperature. Note the (lack of) humidity. Note the date! Argh!

Whole milk.

Thought we'd give whole milk a try. Not real impressed but... any port in a storm...