Schools out for Summer!

Baron just finished up 3 year old pre-K. He had crazy hair day on Monday and beach day on Wednesday. Since Wednesday was the last day, they got to spend the whole day outside playing and eating and Home Depot even came to the school to teach the kids to build little tool carriers. We gifted the wonderful Miss Lori with crazy daisies and a canvas picture frame that says "You are the apple of my eye". We had a great school year and will greatly miss Miss Lori!

 

 

 

 

I love all his new found funny expressions! And yes, he wore the same shirt on Monday and Wednesday.

Baron is 4!

Happy Birthday to the one who first made me a mom!

Baron has turned 4 and I can hardly believe it. How has it been 4 years since this amazing, funny, independent, smart and completely wonderful little man entered our lives?? He was really into his birthday this year and he should have been since we celebrated all week. Monday he had his birthday at school and he brought cupcakes, crackers w/cheese, special juice and balloons. He chose balloons instead of goodie bags and I was happy to oblige. Tuesday was is actual birthday but we weren't having his party until Saturday so we weren't going to do it up big......until he woke up telling me it was his birthday and he needed a birthday donut. Since he had an excellent point (who doesn't deserve a donut on their birthday??) I loaded everyone up and we went to get white donuts with sprinkles. We then went by Honey's and back home where he requested mac&cheese for lunch. He didn't have to take a nap and when the twins woke up we headed to the park to meet Uncle Trav and Brady where they played for over an hour. Daddy met us there and we headed home for dinner where Honey met us with cupcakes for his special day. Then he opened his presents from us with his favorite being his new helicopter. I would say he had a great day! Up next was his Lightning McQueen party on Saturday. We had pizza, caesar salad, watermelon slushy and chocolate cake. We lucked out and had great weather so the kids played and played outside almost the entire time. We were joined by Nana/Papa, Honey/Grandpa, Tara/Bailey, Trav/Katie/Brady, Tia, Uncle Rod/Aunt Carol, Dale/Sheri Neuschwander, Nate/Reid/Reece Neuschwander, Jason/Allison/Grant/Liam Medford and Chris/Donna Cox. We enjoyed a fantastic party where our boy was completely loved! He received many wonderful & thoughtful gifts and he has yet to take off the Lightning McQueen crocs he received :)

 

 

 

And to round out the night:

 

 

 

Puppy Love

I took a boy to school and I picked up a puppy. A pretty adorable puppy I might add.

This kid loves his time at "school". I'm sure there are those out there that wonder why, if I am a stay at home mom, would I send my son to school. He goes 2x a week for 2 & 1/2 hours both days and he has really blossomed in the past 6 months. He has always been a happy kid but he definitely went thru the "horrible three's" this past winter. He is a first born who has had to share everything, especially mom & dad, from a very early age (14 months) with two other little people and I think he got to a point where he decided he didn't want to share all his toys or be nice or take turns, or or or.....the list could go on and on. He now gets his alone time where he gets to play with kids his age, learn to listen to someone other than mom, take ownership in his special projects, pick out snacks for his snack day and comes home happy to see his siblings. He now greets the twins with a "give me a big hug" and then hugging ensues which is completely adorable. I can see his kind, caring personality shining thru once again for his siblings instead of just general annoyance (I mean they are siblings after all ;) There is more sharing going on at home, the boys are really starting to play together and bonding all around. Now I know this could be an age thing (he is almost 4 after all) but I do think that school has helped. He loves school and I know that he loves it when he says to me "guess what tomorrow is mom" to which I reply "what?" and I get an enthusiastic "school!"  When asked what he likes most about school his answer is very consistent: Miss Lori, a friends name and snack!

Meet Mr. Pre-School

Baron started pre-school the beginning of September and so far it has been a huge hit. School is two hours & 15 minutes twice a week and already I have mom treasures. Pictures are lining my board and I just can't bring myself to toss the yellow strips of paper he brought home that he cut up with scissors. When asked what he likes most about school, he usually responds with an enthusiastic "Miss Lori" followed by snacks and writing on paper. The twins and I are using this time apart to work on colors/ABC's/numbers/puzzles/reading, going for walks and running the occasional errand.

Early Riser

Baron woke up at 6:37 am today, so I had him climb into bed with me and here is how our conversation went down:

 

B: Mommy, can I watch Mickey Show & Tell?

Me: No, it's too early to have the TV on.

Silence - then we hear the train whistle in the distance

B: Was that the train horn honking?

Me: Yes (trying to pretend to be asleep/sleepy in hopes he will fall back asleep)

B: Mommy, why was the train horn honking?

Me: To let cars & other trains know they are coming

Long Pause.....

B: Mommy, is Baron hungry?

Me: I'm not sure

Another Pause....

B: Mommy, is Baron very hungry?

Me: (giving up on him going back to sleep) Yep, sounds like it. Want to get something to eat?

B: Uh sure, great idea!

Imagine Children's Museum

While in WA, Shannon and I took the big boys (Hudson & Baron) to the Children's Museum in Everett. This was Baron's first time at a museum of this sort and he had a fantastic time. There were so many activities and things to see that we were constantly on the move for the 3 hours we were there. I would say the favorites were the rooftop play area, water room and ball area. Looking forward to going again......especially with such great company!

 

 

 

 

Napping Buddies

Blueberry Saturday

Saturday we loaded the kids & dog up and headed to a local nursery with the intent to buy berry bushes. Leaving the house it was decent weather, cloudy but dry. By the time we arrived at our outdoor destination it was pouring buckets and we had a sleeping toddler (which never happens anymore). Great timing, right?? So we sat in the car for awhile trying to wait out the wall of water that seems to be falling. When it became more of a drizzle, Grant and Baron ventured out while I waited with Maverick for the sleeping princess to awake. Mav "drove" while I sat back and took adorable videos/pictures (trust me it never gets old). He was especially mesmerized when it began to hail and I was just hoping Baron and Grant were under cover.....sheesh!

 

About the time it stopped raining and Maverick's patience wore thin, Elliott awoke and we were ready to go. So I loaded the twins into the double stroller (after almost being charged by a killdeer - apparently we had parked near her nest & if you didn't know, I have a slight fear of birds) and headed out to find the big guys who had been shopping for about 45 minutes at this point. We found them at the check out and I was slightly surprised to see how grown up Baron looked from a distance. He was wearing Grants beanie and with his jeans/sweatshirt combo pulling a cart, he looked much older than 3. He had fallen down at some point and was a little muddy but I just chalked that up to raising a boy and secretly it made my heart happy :) Dad and his helper picked out 7 blueberry bushes, a gooseberry bush, a granny smith apple tree, a hybrid apple tree and a hybrid pear tree. If all goes well, we should get some fresh fruit in another year or so and we are looking forward to it.

 

I do have to say that Baron may be overly enthusiastic about "digging the blueberries" as he calls it because I catch him outside with his Baron-sized hand shovel all the time digging around the blueberry plants. When I told him no for what felt like the 75th time yesterday, he responded with "Mom, I'm finding hidden treasure".  This kid is completely awesome. Dig on buddy, Dig on!.....just not in the blueberries.

 

Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of Baron and Grant. Something about the rain and not wanting to say cheese, etc. ;)

 

Coloring Eggs

Baron coloring eggs with Grant....I think he was a little excited!

 

Baron is 3!

Happy Birthday to my completely fantastic and wonderful son! It has been a whirlwind of a year and I am having a hard time actually believing that he is 3. We had a family party on Sunday and he ran & ran with his cousin Bailey. He then had a meltdown right before and during cake time (I should have sang "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to") and told me he wanted to go to bed. While we were singing I had to hold him (per his request) and he did the whole arched back, mouth open cry which I haven't seen in awhile. He then put himself to bed after we sang and everyone was having cake but I made him get up after about 15 minutes for presents and he bounced back ok. Was quiet during presents opening but warmed up with the help of his cousin. Ahh the memories we make!

 

On his actual birthday he got cake for breakfast and played outside with one of his new presents - a Lightening McQueen bubble blower. We then took him to see some baby chicks and rabbits at the store in town & rounded off the night with presents from us. I think he was a happy kid!

We love you little dude!

 

Great Wolf Lodge & Birthdays

A couple weeks ago Grant and Baron headed to WA and met his sister & her family at Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate our nephew Griffin's 8th birthday while I stayed home with the twins to celebrate my sister-in-laws 30th birthday. Baron had a blast and came home wanting to go back to the green & purple slides at the "big pool".  He apparently also loved the wave pool.  Our friends Adrienne, Kyle and Luke also went since Luke and Finn share their birthday. Adrienne watched Baron when he was a baby for the year I went back to work and she told me he was having her hand feed him pizza & that he had her trained. I would venture to guess he was loving being the youngest again ;)  Happy, Happy Birthday Finn and Luke!

 

I stayed home and had a pedicure with Katie (sis-in-law), Nicole (Katie's sis-in-law & my good friend from high school) and Sheri (Katie's mom).  We then went and had a yummy dinner at Trav & Katie's courtesy of Dale (Katie's dad). Happy 30th Katie!