Randomness

Friday night we went and played some Bingo for a United Way fundraiser my mom’s work was putting on. The boys had a great time. Jacob and Connor really got into it. Connor was the only lucky one out of our whole group, so lucky in fact, that he won twice. The first time he picked out a Hot Wheels matchbox car and the second time he picked another, but to give to his brothers.

There was a time when Connor, Nolan and I, and Jacob and Matt all needed N33 to get a Bingo. We were hoping it was going to get called so we could all yell Bingo.

The black out round, Connor was down to one number left……but didn’t win.

We woke up Saturday morning to this outside. I love the snow, but not the cold. The boys were pretty pumped though.

We didn’t get out at all on Saturday, but they were outside for quite awhile today with Matt. When you don’t have to do something for awhile, you sort of forget about it…..oh how I did not miss all the wet stuff coming into the house after playing outside, wet and sloppy boots dragging in snow and water, wet mittens, hats, jackets, and snow pants…..all going right into the dryer. It’s always such a process every night to get it dry and ready for them to be able to do it all over again the next day. ;)

I do enjoy and love the smiles and rosy cheeks it all brings. I also enjoy making hot chocolate to warm everyone up once they are back inside.

Nolan is into talking lately (though it’s hard to understand him) and has to explain everything. Many times he’ll start by saying, “I know why so and so…..mommy. Mommy, you why…..so and so?” and goes on and on. He thinks he’s pretty smart. ;)

He also constantly asks for us to ask him the states on this place mat that we have on our table. We will say a state and then he’ll point to it. He does a really good job with it (all the boys used to be into that, but Nolan still is). He wants us to ask him “plusses” too and only wants us to ask him problems with adding 100 to a number (pretty easy to know what 100 +15 is….!). It’s funny.

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Jacob is into putting things in Ziploc bags. He now has a book with a few football cards in it like his brother Connor (Nolan too) and thinks it’s so cool. He is having problems with going to bed right now because he’s scared. He can never tell us of what, but he needs to know where I am, he needs to have someone around, and many times tries to come into our bed early in the morning. We’re not quite sure what to do about it. Poor guy.

He went on a field trip last week and received a bag of goodies. In the bag were about 4-5 bags of sunflower seeds and corn nuts of various flavors (which of course he had to open up and put all together in a Ziploc bag. YEP). One of the flavors was Spicy hot. Matt and I told him that he might not want those because they are spicy, however he wanted to try them. He put some in his mouth and said in a very victorious voice, “Mmmmm…..those didn’t spice me up!”.

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Lucas is standing for a few seconds by himself, and waits to see if you are watching and applaud him. He just started walking behind his walker tonight and is SO proud of himself.

He is eating pretty much everything now except for milk. We’re working on the sippy cup, but he doesn’t quite have the hang of it yet.

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Connor is still loving school and doing well. He read a really good book over the weekend that his media specialist recommended to him. He has been reading it every minute he could since Wednesday. He couldn’t put it down and finally finished it Saturday night. Gotta love that excitement for reading already. He definitely gets that from me. ;)

Didn’t get a chance to get on here and post a Thank you to all of our Veteran’s on Thursday for Veteran’s day. Thank you to all of you heroes out there.

Have a fabulous week everyone!

He’s baaaackkkkkk…..

Our daddy and hubby is finally home after a two week work trip to Asia (Hong Kong, S. China, and Bangkok). We missed him and are so glad he’s home. He brought us home some terrific gifts.

The boys got these ADORABLE outfits, candy, cards, drawing pencils made out of real wood, a stuffed bear for Lucas, a bookmark….

AND these………..

(Oh brother…..literally. Not really what these rowdy, rambunctious, kung fu boys needed……but SO MUCH FUN! They loved them). Their faces said it all. Thanks daddy. We are so happy to have you home.

I like to act tough like I don’t need help and everything’s fine and dandy…..it’s hard for me to admit that I’m exhausted, or something is hard……well this time around that Matt was gone…….even with the boys being SUPER big helpers and good……I was exhausted (got sick), was lonely, and it was hard…… Boy do I appreciate my husband and the teamwork that we have. ;)

Thank to everyone that helped with taking Jacob to preschool, with dinner a couple of nights, and keeping us busy a couple of nights/days.

Weekend

I think I mentioned earlier that Lucas found the Tupperware drawer….and LOVES playing with it.

Natey and Diane brought us dinner on Friday night and stayed to play. They watched the boys for a little bit so I could go to my school for Activity Night for the end of First Quarter (which is crazy…where did the time go?). Thanks guys.

Nolan’s new word…”totally”, and Natey started him on, or at least encouraged him with “bring it”. ;)

Never a dull moment

Writing about Nolan just does not do him justice. Man, he is spunky, a stinker, silly, way too smart for only being a 3 year old....and smart as in has a great sense of humor, sassy, and knows too much. He likes to push buttons, and definitely can keep up with his brothers. He makes me laugh daily. He either wakes up by himself and is in a GREAT mood, or is one that is crabby when he has to be pulled out of bed. He is great with Lucas, and loves to talk (though is hard to understand still). Even when he is naughty.....he's a stinker about it and I have to look away many times so he doesn't see me laughing. This cannot be a good thing and only mean trouble in our future. ;)

Anyways....a couple of things he has done the past day or two...

• Last night after the boys were in bed, I wanted to watch a couple of shows that I had Tivoed while I did some school work and could not find the remote. I tore the living room apart, looked under the couch and under cushions, even in places like the laundry basket with folded clothes, Lucas' toy bin, etc... just to be sure. I didn't have any luck and had to watch what was on, which was fine, but was baffled by the missing remote.

I even asked the boys this morning when we were all getting ready. No one knew where it was. However, Nolan wasn't in the room when I asked the question and it all comes together now because tonight when I asked them again if they knew where the remote was, Nolan said, "I do!It's in my bed.", like it was no big deal.

"What? Why is it in your bed."

"Because, remember mommy, I wanted to watch a show and you said it was time to go to bed. I took the remote with me because I wanted to watch a show."....with of course the adorable smirk he is so good at.

How I missed him holding on to the remote when I was snuggling with him and tickling his back I have no idea. Plus, I would have never thought he took it because he didn't make a stink at all when I told him no last night about watching the show.

• Tonight as we were getting ready to leave mom and dad's, Nolan was about to put on his shoes but was doing what we call the "potty or bathroom dance" and holding his butt cheeks.

I looked at him and said, "Do you have to go to the bathroom?"

"Yesh (how his yes comes out)", and he runs into the bathroom.

A couple of minutes later he comes out of the bathroom with his pants half way up, but you could tell the waist was too tight to fit up over his butt without unbuttoning his pants. I asked him what he was doing and he stops in his tracks, looks at me and says, "What does it look like? You KNOW. I was going poop."

Can we say SASSY?

• Connor got his card (for behavior) turned over twice in school today and was very upset about it. It was his first time getting his card turned over this year, and will probably be one of the few times it will happen all year. When I pick them up from Mary's I ask them about their day and they share as much as they want to, but at least two things. They take turns going first and Connor didn't waste any time and could hardly let me get in the van before he said, "Mommy, my day was only (and then put his thumb to the side...which means so so)".

"How come?", I asked, all concerned.

And then silence.....he had to look away and got teary eyed.....took a moment to be able to talk and then proceeded to tell me what happened. It was cute. I told him I was so proud of him for telling me and being able to talk to me about it. That is what I care more about. I wasn't mad. We talked about what he could learn from it and do about it next time. It's a good learning experience for him. He isn't perfect, and no one expects him to be. The things he got his card turned over for were very minor (not to make them OK because rules are rules and Connor is responsible for following them, but things that I'm not concerned about with him). Maybe that sounds bad, but it's true. Especially because we had such a great conversation about it, and he doesn't make the same mistake too many times.

• I mentioned the notes I write to him for snack in a previous post. In today's note I wrote, "Thanks for all of your help right now while daddy is gone buddy. You are a great help and I really appreciate it. Have a super day. Enjoy being a 1st grader."

Again, tonight in his planner where I need to sign, my note was turned over and he had replied, "Blah, Blah, Blah. It was nothing. Thanks though."

Gotta love this kid. ;)

• Jacob must be going through a growth spurt or really working hard all day because on the short ride from daycare to home, he has fallen asleep the past two nights.

Connor and him are becoming really good friends. It's neat to see.

• Lucas keeps smiling. It's hard to stay upset or stressed with his big blue smiling eyes and dimples. He continues to be a big eater. He is talking and making sounds in response to others. He has the most adorable giggle. He loves to be in his big brothers' business and stuff. He enjoys playing in the Tupperware drawer and with the magnets on the fridge. He is a great snuggler.

Happy Halloween from Mikey, Donny, Leo, and Raph…

The boys were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles this year. I love that they want to be something that they can all be. Who knows how long this will last. (BIG SHOUT OUT to Yaya who has been making the boys' costumes every year. Yeah, she's pretty talented! ;) THANK YOU!)

Lucas was Raphael

Connor was Donatello or Donny as his brothers called him.

Nolan was our Kowabunga Dude….Mikey (Michelangelo)

Jacob was Leonardo, or Leo.

We started the night off by stopping by St. Mary’s. The Knights of Columbus put on a Halloween party every year, and we’ve never been able to go to it. All you have to bring is a food donation. The boys had a good time.

Then we stopped by to see Great Grandpa Skala and Uncle Steve.

Trick or Treating started at Natey and Diane’s house. They let us crash there for a little while and go around their great neighborhood.

Four turtles and a monkey…..

I walked up to them doing some type of ninja brother power thing……

Grandma and her monkey and Uncle Mattey in the spirit of dressing up….

Our pretty monkey…. the boys fought over holding her hand….

We had some tired tired boys, but got all of our stops in. We even got Connor’s sorting Halloween candy math assignment done. We were only 1/2 hour past normal bedtime. Pretty good for all of the festivities that took place.

Dog Sitting, Door to door, Getting boo-ed and Company

Nolan concentrating on something...not sure what it was.

Natey and Diane had a wedding so we got to have Chloe stay at our house. The boys love her. She is such a good dog. Here's Lucas checking her out.

I know I have mentioned before how awesome our neighborhood is. It truly is. We were "boo-ed" by someone and in return you have to hang up the sign in your door and then secretly go "boo" two other houses. Connor was pretty pumped to go on a secret mission to deliver our "boo" baskets

The older three boys and I walked around a couple of neighborhoods and helped pass out handouts for our friend Kory Kath on Saturday. They really got into it....

Saturday night Mattey, Kristin, and Kelsey brought dinner over and got the boys the Little Rascals movie for Halloween. I used to LOVE this movie. The boys really enjoyed it and got some good laughs out of it. We had a movie night with sleeping bags and all, but not until after we took baths.

What a fun weekend.

Goose egg, Notes, Smiles

I still don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I think about this. ;)

We were in the car in the garage and Jacob was talking to Matt on the phone (he can’t unbuckle the bottom part of his car seat yet). I helped Nolan unbuckle, and then Lucas was crying and has been pretty clingy the past few days, so I got him out of his car seat. Connor was sitting in his seat just hanging out with Jacob while he talked to Matt. My arms were full with Lucas, diaper bag, and backpacks. I opened the door to the house with quite a bit of force and heard Nolan scream. I had hit him in the forehead with the doorknob. There was an IMMEDIATE goose egg. I was really worried because it was so big and I could see the blood inside the skin. I had to put Lucas down, and he immediately started screaming. I was trying to get ice on Nolan’s head and get him situated on the couch.

Meanwhile the phone rings and I wouldn't have answered it except I noticed it was Matt. Apparently Jacob hung up on him with my cell phone in the van. I’m talking to Matt, getting Nolan situated, picking up a screaming Lucas, and I hear screaming from the garage. The lights had gone out in the garage and there were noises being made from the wind. Jacob was freaking out and bawling because he was scared and couldn't get out. Connor was calling for me because he couldn’t unbuckle Jacob’s car seat and didn’t want to leave him, and couldn’t get him to settle down…oh it was quite a site and all happened within 5 minutes. It would have been entertaining to be a fly on the wall. I had to sit down for a few minutes after everyone was settled in the house.

whew….

I started writing Connor a note to go along with his snack every day for school way back since the beginning of the school year, and just continued doing it because he talked about how much he liked it. For awhile there he was having a hard time saying good bye in the mornings, so I figured it was a really good idea. Well one day he came home and told me he loves getting my notes, but wondered if I could write a little more in them. I told him I would see what I could do, if there was enough time and all.

The other night I get a message on face book from a friend who is the mother of a boy in Connor’s class. Apparently the boy asked her if she could pack his snack and write a note like Connor’s mom does. I guess they play a game with my notes. Connor gets out my note and reads it to himself and then the kids (he said the group gets bigger every day) pick a letter, Connor counts how many of those letters are on the note, and the classmate gets that many points for the day. Glad my note is getting some good use. ;) We have to check and sign his planner every day. Well, yesterday’s note I talked to him like he was Donatello, the Ninja turtle that he is going to be for Halloween. I wrote, “Have a great day Donatello”…..etc. When I went to sign his planner, there was my note with a note on the back from Connor. It said, “Thanks April (who is the girl character in the Ninja Turtle movies), I hope you had a great day also.”

I had the opportunity to go join Jacob’s class for some Halloween fun at the end of the day yesterday. My prep time is at the end of the day, so I got to leave a little early. Even though I was only there for about 15 minutes, it was worth it. We don't get to do this a ton as teachers. Jacob was so surprised and excited to see me there. He was telling everyone, “My mommy’s here.” He would wave to me and smile. Definitely glad I made that decision. We then got to go get Connor from his class also and I was able to take them home. I don’t know if you remember me saying how much I enjoyed being able to do that during my maternity leave last year, but it was the best. I was so glad I did that.