Back at it

Today was the first day back at it. It was our first workshop day. I am exhausted and stressed just thinking about everything that needs to be done yet. I thought I was ready coming into today, but I had a big reality check. The icky butterflies and headaches are back. I know, I know....all of you out there that have an 8-5 job all year are telling me to toughen up. I'm trying.
I was excited to pick up the boys from daycare though..... (Mary rented a blowup castle for the kids to jump in. She always tries to do fun projects and things this last week of summer vacation).

I forgot how crazy the evenings are though. Picking up the boys, getting supper ready (plus throw in nursing in there), trying to give four boys attention, taking baths, watching a show or playing a game, reading books, and then bedtime. Then it's finally our adult time. Breathe, talk, and work. Matt and I definitely have to work as a team in order to make things work.;) Not enough time in the day. I didn't want them to go to bed, but obviously they needed to with us getting up so early now.
Here we go again......

Oh yeah..... and we are SO excited about THIS. Woo hoo!

School Shopping

We took Jacob and Connor school shopping Monday night (thanks mom and dad for offering to watch Nolan and Lucas to make it a little more special for the “school” boys).  Connor is going to be in First grade and Jacob is going to be in Preschool.  There is something about First grade that just seems SO old and the fact that Jacob is going to school already, he grew up so fast…..

We went to a couple of clothing stores, out to eat, and then to get supplies.  We didn’t travel too far because of time, but tried to make a fun night out of it.  Matt and I just laughed at the boys trying on clothes in the dressing room.  They thought that was fun.  Jacob thought he was pretty cool trying on shirts and checking himself out in the mirror.  I think he actually said, “I look really cool in this” at one time.   They picked out most of the stuff, with some help from us.  However, they both picked out the shirt they want to wear for the first day on their own. 

 

 

Connor said, “Mom, let me take a picture with you in it.  You always take the pictures.”

It was entertaining watching them pick out their supplies too.  There were some very tough decisions to make. ;)  Connor had his list in hand and a pen to check off the things he put in the cart.  He went with a green theme.  He is an easy kid to please. 

 

It was a lot of fun and something I hope we keep doing the way we did, every year.  Nolan will join us next year because he will be in Preschool then.  It was nice to give Jacob a little more attention.  Matt and I have been talking about how he kind of got the shaft a little bit….he’s one of the “middle” boys, and he didn’t get much time to be the baby or the focus, because Nolan was born 13 months later.  Does anyone else find it hard to give that undivided attention to each child?  We have talked about trying to focus on that more.  Even talked about spending more one and one time with them.  

However, we do have so much fun when we are all together, and they do really do a great job with it.  I feel it will be a great quality to take with them as they grow up….having to share things,  and people with others.

 

Matt had all the boys in the bath one night while I was out and about.

These pictures remind me of a story that I wanted to jot down so I remember it someday.   Don’t read any further if it offends you because it has to do with Nolan’s “boy” parts.

He was in the bath one night and was playing with his “boy” parts, especially the two parts underneath.  He looks at me and says, “Mom, what are these?”.  I just tried to make it no big deal and told him they were just a part of his “boy” part (yes, we do use the real term, but didn’t want to write it on here, not sure if it’s appropriate!).  “Oh”, he said.  There was a little bit of a pause as he was playing with them and squeezing them…..and then, “Oh……I know what they are……they’re like those things that squirrels and chipmunks put in their cheeks”

“Um….Acorns? (as he nods and says yeah!). Um….yeah, I guess they kind of feel like that don’t they.  But they’re not……let’s get the shampoo out of your hair.”,  I told him, trying to move on.  :)

Minute to Win it

Anyone else watch Minute to Win it? The boys love this show. They practically have all the lines that the host says memorized. They have been practicing some of the challenges at home. They love to be creative and make them up for each other and count down. It’s pretty funny. Here they are practicing.

Brotherly love.

SCFF 2010

It was that lovely time of year again!  The Steele County Free Fair.  We LOVE the fair.  Almost too much if that is possible.  We enjoy everything about it, the rides, the food, the exhibits, the shows/music, the animals, etc…

We were there every day.  Two of the days we were there for about 9 hours each….pretty ridiculous. ;) Especially because it was hot out the last few days.

Grandma and Grandpa buy the kids wrist bands that allow them to go on rides all week any time.  Boy, did we get our money’s worth.  I couldn’t even tell you how many rides we went on.  Connor is starting to love the big kid rides.  Jacob and Nolan would go on them too, but they aren’t quite tall enough yet.  Jacob was pumped to be able to go on the Tilt-a-Whirl all by himself.  Nolan needed to go with an adult though.  Matt and I even had a little bit of an evening with no kids. 

Lucas was a trooper through all of this.  He was either smiling and taking everything in from his stroller, or from the carrier. 

 

The boys were really cute this year looking out for each other.  They would wait for each other so they could go down or on rides together.  They would hold hands, or put their arms around each other. 

    

We had fun with so many people.  Grandma and Grandpa….

Uncle Mattey and Aunt K (funny how we were with Kristin and Kelsey at some point every day and I don’t have a single picture of Kristin…sorry K), Uncle Natey and Aunt Diane (Diane’s parents were even able to join us for an evening).  The boys love going on rides with their uncles.

The boys enjoyed going with Kelsey and were pretty proud to be the big cousins, helping her out.  Sometimes even being a little too smothering and overwhelming for Kelsey…

We hung out with my cousins and their kids for a day.

I was able to go on a few rides.

Brothers….   

We met up with Connor’s good friend Noah and his family.  The kids had a great time going on rides together.  Jacob and Noah’s sister are going to be in the same grade also.  They had a blast. 

Connor was a really good sport going on the kiddie rides with the boys and Kelsey, but was super excited when he had people to go on the big kid rides with.

To end it all, Connor and Matt and Noah and his mom, went on the zipper for their very last ride.  Matt and Connor had been talking about it all week long.  Matt said he had to talk him through it at the beginning but by the end of it he was loving it.  He came out grinning ear to ear and skipping.  I think he liked it.

We were ready to go home last night and all faired out.  However, we’re looking forward to next year….

Matt and I are thinking about getting a wrist band ourselves! 

Pictures

I finally had the boys pictures taken (as you probably noticed on the side of the blog). I feel awful, I think I skipped Jacob's 3 year and Nolan's 2 year pictures. Well, I take enough myself, but didn't get any professional ones done at least. I decided it was about time to get some done for all the boys. Kelly at Portraits on Broadway did them. I am so happy with how they turned out. The spacing and sizing is a little off on this post, but I don't want to spend a ton of time fixing it. I just wanted to share. I know some of you have seen them on facebook already, but a lot of people aren't on facebook.

Now the tough part--choosing which ones to get. Thanks Kelly.