Knee Deep In the Water Somewhere...

So-  another big thing happened this summer!  Thanks to Chris's parents, with help from his sister Stephanie, we were able to leave the kids for a few days to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary! 

This was the first time we were away from our kids (for more than an overnight), in four years!  It was much needed. We went to Secrets Silversands Resort, in Puerta Morelos, Mexico.  Since all we really wanted to do was relax and enjoy each others company, we thought this would be a great choice since it was all inclusive, and we didn't have to worry about anything.  We truly just slept in, relaxed by the pool, ate good food, drank lots of foof drinks, and decompressed.  And it was AWESOME.  Though both of us admit, that after  5 days of doing nothing, we had reached our limit of laziness. And Margaritas.

Here are a few pictures of the trip!

Radio Silence: Summer Camp Edition

Uh, so, I guess you can say that the kids have been keeping me busy?  Wow.  What a summer.  Michael and Molly have been out of preschool since the Friday before Memorial day, and Sam has been out since June 19th. 

We decided for my sanity and theirs, they could each do one camp per month (big kids), and then Ben would also do a camp at his preschool in August- kind of like a prep class.  Actually, by default, Michael and Molly got two camps in June, one before Sam got out, and one after (because they really wanted to do the one Sam was doing, but it wasn't offered earlier in the month).   So-  Gymnastics Camp!  They were a little uncertain starting it, because it wasn't terribly structured, but they really enjoyed it.  So much so- that Michael states he'd like to take classes.  Yay! We really want Michael to find something that he enjoys.  He did Tae Kwon Do for a while because Sam did it.  But he didn't really enjoy it...  He just wanted to do what big brother did.  And be a Ninja.  And then he really wanted to do Ice Skating lessons, but once he actually started, he decided that it really hurts when you fall.  And although he was super proud of the ribbon that he got for completing the classes, he said "he never wanted to skate again."  Since then, he's expressed interest in Gymnastics and we figured camp would be a good way to figure out if he'd actually like it or not.  Hopefully it will be something that he enjoys, and either way it will definitely be good for his strength and coordination.

The second camp that Sam, Michael, and Molly did was a farm camp at Frying Pan Park.  Michael and Molly really wanted to do it because Sam had so much fun last year.  Sam wanted to do it again, and as a special bonus, cousins' Will and Jack were going to participate too!  The problem was, Michael and Molly are in a younger age group- so their camp session was 9-1, whereas Sam's was 9-4.  Wow.  I severely underestimated how painful it would be making trips to the farm three times a day.  But they all had a fun time.  They got to milk the cow a couple times, ride on the carousel, and each day, the older group gets to cook a snack using ingredients from the farm.  Sam, the picky eater, really enjoyed the food they made-  cheese straws, pumpkin cookies (or muffins-  I forget), shortbread cookies, and oatmeal cookies.  The only thing he didn't like, ironically, was the ice cream.  The whole tonsillectomy has really turned him off from ice cream in any way, shape or form.

The month of July brought Lego Camp and Vacation Bible School for Molly.  Again, good in theory, but rough in execution.  Because Michael and Sam were in different age groups, Michael's camp was 9-12, and Sam's was 1-4.  Oh, and Molly's VBS was from 9-12:15, in a close, but different location.  So it was a tad hectic running between locations and getting everyone where they needed to be.  But they all seemed to really like it, and we only had one near miss on the W& OD trail where Michael almost got run over by a mean spirited biker, that proceeded to yell at him and tell him to "pay attention to the stop sign before someone gets hurt!"  He was too busy telling his siblings about what he had built that day to pay attention  to the stop sign.  That and the fact that he's five and can't read.  I was about to return fire, when another parent, a man, who was picking up his son said "What a Dick!" loud enough for him to hear.  He then tried to back peddle and make excuses for his behavior.

The month of August brought different camps... Sam was very excited to do his Catch Some Fun and Sun Camp at Lake Fairfax.  They did nature hikes, boat rides, and other activities in the morning but the draw is that they get to go to the Watermine water park in the afternoon.  He really enjoyed it again this year, but I think he'll like it even more next year, when his siblings are old enough to participate.  Molly, Michael, and Ben are in camp this week at M&M's old, and Ben's new Preschool.  I was very nervous as to how Ben would do, but he has really enjoyed it!  He hasn't cried once.  He marches right in every morning and seems to have fun.  He has cried twice- once because he saw Michael and Molly leaving the playground as he was coming on, and he wanted them to stay, and the other time because he didn't want to go inside when Water Day play outside was over.  All in all, I'd say very successful.  Michael and Molly have also enjoyed seeing some friends from school again!

Oh wait.  I forgot the most well received camp of all.  Sam decided that he was going to have camp for his siblings at home!  We sat down and came up with themes, and with some help from Pinterest, picked a snack and craft activity for each theme.  He also found coloring pages online, a book to read to them each day that went along with the theme, and thought of a game or activity for each as well.  It was quite fun, and they all really had fun with it. Sam really enjoyed being in charge, as any first born does.  As I told a friend, Sam had the vision, mommy did the grunt work.  But it was a success!  Next summer, they each want to host a camp!  I wonder if Molly will have the boys dancing ballet for her week? I'll leave you with some pics from  Sam Camp, since that's obviously the only camp that i attended...

Monday:  Lego Theme

Tuesday:  Dog theme

Wednesday:  Bug Theme

Thursday:  Colors theme

Friday:  Under the Sea Theme-  which included the grand finale of camp-  the water slide!

I think they really enjoyed it!  And I verified that I could never ever have the patience for home schooling.  

The Captain is BUSTED!

So today was a nice lazy Saturday for a change, after running around to Soccer and Tae Kwon Do this morning, we had absolutely nothing planned for the afternoon.  Sam went over to play at a friends house, and Ben was napping, so I decided this would be the perfect time to go to the grocery store.  Chris was playing Lego's with Michael when I left and was going to go play with Molly in her room after Michael had his daddy time.

I come home from the store to find Michael and Molly outside in the garage with the refrigerator and freezer open.  I asked them what they were doing, and Michael said, "Mommy!  You're home!  We had our very worst nightmare come true.  We couldn't find daddy anywhere.  We looked all over, but then we found him in his bed having a rest."  I said, "so what are you guys doing out here?"  They had decided that they needed another snack, and were trying to reach the push up pops in the freezer.  After I assisted them with that, I carried the groceries into the kitchen, where I found an empty yogurt cup in the trash and a spoon on the counter.  I said "who had the yogurt?"  and of course, Michael said "me!"  I said "so what, you can't find daddy, so you just decided to forage for food?"  And Michael said "yes mommy, and if we didn't get our own push up pops, we might die!"  Chris came downstairs a few minutes later when I was getting the rest of the groceries inside and I told him that they had totally squealed on him.

On another note:  A special Congratulations to my hard working husband on screening for Captain!  Molly is excited for the impending pay raise (even though it's at least a year away), because she thinks we can use the extra money to go back  to Disney World.  I am excited because I can teach the kids to call Chris "The Captain."  So when they get upset because daddy won't let them do something, I can just say "The Captain has spoken!"  We love you Chris!

                                        Twin cuteness....  I didn't even notice they were holding
                                         hands until someone pointed out!

All things Michael

Michael.  He's such an extraordinary kid.  I feel like he often struggles to find his place in this family.  He has so much fun playing with Molly, but I've noticed lately, when they do arts and craft type material, he sees just how neat Molly is, and how messy his is, and gets frustrated.  This makes me certain that splitting them up in Kindergarten is for the best.  I don't want him to compare himself to her.

He wants to be JUST like big brother Sam. Whatever show Sam likes is Michael's favorite too.  Whatever Sam enjoys playing with, Michael plays with. Currently the favorite thing to play with is Legos.  But while Sam insists on building things step by step, and saving completed models forever (or until Michael or Ben crush them), Michael gets really bored building them.  He plays with them for a bit, but they inevitably break, and then he creates even cooler things out of the pieces.  He has such an unbelievable imagination.  A lot of the things that come easily to Sam, don't come easily for Michael.  He tried Tae Kwon Do, because Sam was doing it, but he didn't really like it.  He doesn't have a real desire to do any other sports, but when we went to Skate night for Sam's school, he really clicked with ice skating, and wanted to do it again.  SOLD!  We signed him up for lessons, knowing it was probably going to be challenging.  But it was something he was interested in.  I actually haven't gone to watch yet, because he really seems to enjoy his solo daddy time.  Chris says it's really hard for him.  But he's the most determined kid out there.  He cries when he falls, but he never gives up.  Of course Molly and Sam now want to take skate lessons.  I told Chris that before anyone else goes skating again, we need to let Michael get really good, so he can be proud and show off a little.

Up until very recently, Michael has kind of tolerated Ben, much like Sam tolerated him when he was little.  He mostly sees him as a lego breaking, drawing crumpling, glasses grabbing, pest.  The funny thing- is that they are *so* much alike, personality wise.  The past couple of weeks, Michael has started playing with Ben. And Ben LOVES it.  He is totally soaking it up. He follows Michael around and does exactly what he does.    If Michael walks across the room and steps on a pillow along the way, Ben is sure to step on the pillow also.  If he stands up on the couch and jumps off, so does Ben.  It's so cute to watch, and I'm so happy that Michael is finally embracing him.  I'm thinking we're in trouble when Ben is a little older and the two put their minds together.  Surely it can't be worse than twin powers, right?  We'll see.

Anyways-  I'll close with this, which was my whole reason for initially starting this post.  Michael's favorite breakfast treat is Banana Bread, heavy on the butter.  I usually comply, because, well, I used to eat pats of butter from restaurants as a child, so who am I to judge?  He was eating some today, just randomly nibbling, and this was what was leftover when he was done.

I mean, is that a pretty good Virginia or what?  Maybe I should sell it on ebay.  What an extraordinary kid!

Update on Sam

So, Sam's surgery went great on Monday, all things considered.  He was a little nervous to begin with, but I was allowed with him in the surgery room until he went to sleep (along with his trusty pal Mud Bud- who got his tonsils out too, as far as Sam knows).  The surgery was over in about 30 minutes and we were allowed to see him 5 minutes later.

The first thing he said to us was "when are they going to take out my tonsils?"  He didn't even realize it was over.  Then he snuggled up on my lap and went back to sleep. The only thing that bothered him was the iv in his hand.  He slept for about an hour and a half until he stirred when the ice machine woke him up.  He was fine when he woke up and wanted to try every flavor of popsicles, per doctor order.  He had two green and one blue when suddenly it was like we were in the recovery room of horrors.  Supposedly, the older you get, the harder it is on you.  Across from us was a teenage girl who couldn't stop puking.  Then they wheeled in a teenage boy.  He was quiet for a bit, then he just started screaming, "MY THROAT HURTS!" It was about that time, that Sam said "I'm ready to go home!" The nurse said he was the cutest patient ever, and she'd like to take him home with her, but we wouldn't let her.

Since then he's been convalescing.  Day one was the easiest, it's hurt gradually more each day.  Day one he was starving.  He ate about 4-5 yogurt sticks, a vanilla frosty, and some jello.  Day two he was already tired of the soft food and begging for rice krispie treats, etc.  He settled for a pancake, more yogurt, another frosty, and some marshmallows.  He is drinking more water, which is a relief.

Day three, today, he is feeling the worst. I can't get him to eat anything, but he is drinking water, so I guess that's what is most important.  Hopefully he'll eat something in a bit.  From what I read, day three and four are the worst, and then it starts to improve.  I hope that holds true for Sam!

Who needs em' anyways?

So- Sam is getting his tonsils and adenoids out on Monday.  This is great!  We've been trying to get this done since he was three.  Not that I want him under the knife or anything, but he gets strep throat ALL the time ( eight times in the past year), misses school,  and generally feels miserable.  Then the antibiotics cause tummy troubles, and even after he's feeling better, he's a different kind of miserable.  I can't wait to start a hopefully healthier chapter in his life.  People caution me and say that he could still get Strep. Hey, I'm cool with that.  If we even cut down the cases in half, it'd make such a huge difference.  

He's not really nervous about the surgery at all.  I, on the other hand am slightly freaking out.  For one, it's kind of bad timing.  I know it's a good idea to do this over spring break to minimize the number of absences from school, but, what was I thinking?  That also means, Michael and Molly will be home from school.  I'm worried about how Sam will be able to rest, and heal, with those two running around.  Luckily, my mom is coming to help me, and will at least keep Ben occupied.  I may have to bribe the other two.  Second of all, it worries me that Sam is such a picky eater.  And the vast majority of what he does eat is crunchy.  So the soft food diet for two weeks, is going to be challenging.  He'll be eating lots of yogurt, ice cream, popsicles, bananas and pancakes, I have a feeling.  Any other ideas?  Please share!  I'm really sweating this.  And finally, NEVER, I repeat, NEVER google tonsillectomy in 7 year old.  You don't want to read the horror stories.  I'm probably not going to sleep until he's at least two weeks post op.

So, in conclusion, for those who do, please say a prayer for Sam and our family, that the surgery goes well, there are no complications, and the recovery is quick and as painless as possible.  I'll update when I can.

The Ooo's have it!

I love toddler talk. Ben currently ends almost every word with oo. Here are a few examples...
-col-oo for color
-show-oo for shower
-buh-oo for bubble
-wah-oo for where are you
-cer-oo for cereal

It's adorable. What's not cute is the fact that he decided to climb out of his crib yesterday. Not ready for that at all!