Spinning Spiders

This is how we beat cabin fever:

Baby Pictures

Is there anything more fun to take pictures of than baby blue eyes?

Or baby legs?

or a baby entranced by his mobile?

If there is, I sure haven't found it.

Air Forest Museum

I've been so busy the past couple of days, I haven't had time to post pictures of our outing this past weekend to the Air Force Museum (or as Carter calls it the Air Forest).  But the kids are sleeping in this morning so instead of unloading the dishwasher or doing laundry, I'm going to put up the pictures instead.  Clean clothes are totally overrated anyways.

Dawson Robert and Robert Francis

Brendan, Carter, Nelly, Riley, Aunt Margie and Caesar

(Nelly and Caesar are puppets visiting from preschool)

Brendan, Meme, Ava, Carter, Aunt Margie, me and Riley

Just look at the Riley's face, hilarious!

Meme and Ava at story time

Aunt Margie and Carter at story time

Daddy and Ava

Carter checking out an air plane

Ava too!

Once a month they have a family fun saturday, with a story time and craft for young children and stations set up for older kids.  This month they were talking astronomy.  Story time was about sammy the satellite and then they got to make a satellite.  If you ever happen to be in Dayton, you must go to the Air Force Museum.  It has hanger after hanger of various airplanes throughout history and you can even go in a decomissioned Air Force One (the actual airplane that LBJ was sworn into office after JFK was shot.)  The kids love seeing all the airplanes and missiles.  Bonus: It is a TON of walking so the kiddos are super tired afterward and best of all it's FREE!  I'm sure we'll be going back again. 

Three and a Half

Today at preschool they celebrated Carter's half birthday.  As silly as it sounds, I was excited!  With a birthday of August 22nd, his birthday will most likely be during the summer or possibly one of the first days of school.  This may be one of his only chances to celebrate his birthday at school!  So, we made star sugar cookies, bought spiderman fruit snacks and went to preschool.  I have also been waiting for a day to volunteer in Carter's preschool and today I had the opportunity to do so.  Mike stayed home from work for half a day and I got to spend the day with my little three and a half year old.  What a fun morning we had!

Can you tell he was a little excited?

Juice, cookies and fruit snacks.  How much better could life get for a three and a half year old?

Miss Diane and the class singing Happy Birthday

Riding bikes in the muscle room, one of his all time favorites.

To my little three and a half year old:

You are coming into such a fun age.  You love engaging in dramatic play (such as being a scuba diver, fireman, astronaut, doctor and pretending to ski with car racing tracks).  I can't believe how fast you race around on your new Lighting McQueen bike.  This summer it is going to be so fun to take you to a park and watch you riding bikes.  Carter, you are sweet and loving with your baby sister and brother.  You have told me on many occasions that Ava is your "bes friend."  Recently you and Ava began sharing a room at night to alleviate some of your fears.  It has worked out better than I could have expected.  I love hearing your whispers and giggles as you talk your way into dreamland with your sister.  Although on occasion we do have to bring out the sleep nazi voice to get you two to settle down.  Some of your current interests are:  Spiderman, Scooby Doo and astronauts.  Your favorite foods are blueberries, sunbutter sandwiches, carrots, cheese sticks, raisins, pizza, yogurt and of course, ice cream.  Right now you are driving me crazy with your pronoun usage.  If I hear you say "her want milk" one more time I might scream, but we are working on it.  One of these days you'll get it straight. 

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be.

From I'll love you forever   by Rober Munch.     

Sleep Deprivation

I want to preface this story by saying that I love my children and I love my life and I wouldn't have it any other way.  But...... having three kids under three is not easy and there are times when I wish for a room far away from my house with a big soft bed and silence.  Instead this is how Monday night went:

10:00     Go to bed
10:15     Ava wakes up crying, she has a cold and is coughing and congested.
11:30     Ava wakes up crying again, so we bring her into our bed to sleep
1:00       Ava is kicking me in the back, give her some vicks vapo rub
2:00       Dawson wakes up.  Feed him, change him and back to bed.
3:30       Carter wakes up crying and scared so I move Ava back to his room (she is his protector)
5:00       Dawson wakes up again.  Feed and change him.
7:19       Carter wakes up for the day.

Let's just say that it was a looooong Tuesday.  But Ava is feeling better and life is back to normal with only one wake up in the middle of the night instead of seven.  It's amazing how one little cold can make my life a thousand times more difficult. 

But they are worth every single sleep deprived moment.  It took three kids, but I've finally come around to liking the taste of coffee.   

Sleeping like a baby - as if!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

Here are some of my current "loves"

Movie night cuddles on the couch with my kids.

Cousin Giggles

Avery and Riley watching baby Dawson's mobile.

Soft Baby Skin

Hey, what are those girls doing in my bed?!?

Suprising my kids with Valentine's day trinkets, love notes and books.

Hair Bows

I may need to go to hair bow rehab.

The kids greatly enjoyed their Valentine's Day suprises, now off to make a heart shaped meatloaf for dinner.

Carter's Love

This was a paper Carter did at school yesterday.  As you can see he loves his Grandma.  I thought you would like to see this!  Although I noticed that Grandma is missing legs, so we might need to have a conversation about that.  Today Carter is feeling under the weather, and was running at 102 degree temperature when I put him down for his nap. 

Grandma and Bo, I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip.  Enjoy the sunshine and we will be missing you like crazy!

Ten Years

Today is a big day.  It was ten years ago today that Mike and I began dating.  We have been dating, engaged or married ever since.  How different our life was ten years ago.  So here is a ten year recap in pictures.

This was the earliest picture of us I could find.  It was January 2002 and we went to the Air Force Museum with the Shadle Family.  We were in college at WSU.

November 2003

We are engaged!  I love how in this picture you can see the road stretching behind us, kind of symbolic of our life beginning together.  Jason, I'm sure that is exactly what you were thinking when you took this picture.  Come to think of it, the next time we make the trek to Northeast Ohio we should go back to this covered bridge and retake this picture with the whole family.

November 2004

We are married!  Mike is working on his masters degree and I'm teaching first grade.

June 2005

Camping at Mohican Campground

Mike has graduated and has begun working.  We moved down to Cincinnati and I began teaching preschool.

Easter 2006

We had also just recently purchased our first home.

August 2007

Welcome Carter  boy!

Gatlinburg, August 2008

Carter is 1 and Ava is on her way!

April 2009

Our family of four

December 2010

Welcome Dawson!

Mike, thank you for being my best friend and biggest supporter.  I love our family, I love our life and most importantly I love you.

Bad Hair Day

Bad Hair Day

But adorable baby.

Go Steelers!!!

Even though they are Brown's fans they are still adorable.

Play Group

Carter 3, Rachel 2, Wyatt 2, Avery 1, Colby 8 months, Dawson 8 weeks, Hannah 4 weeks

I'm so happy that Carter and Avery have such a great bunch of kids to grow up with. 

The Latest

Here's the Latest and Greatest with the kids:

Carter was in 7th Heaven because he was able to wear his pajamas to preschool today.  We've started calling him Hef because we have to beg him to get out of his pajamas most days.

Ava decided she loved her Uncle Jay so much she wanted to put his initial on her forehead.  How did she accomplish this?  By tripping and falling head first into the molding at the bottom of the stairs.

Carter's favorite new game is still pretending to be a scuba diver.  (I told you he loves wearing his jammies all day.)  Just in case you were wondering what was up with the gas mask and bookbag wearing.  He's also very disappointed that he can't fill the house with water.

We did have a nasty ice storm, but it melted and everything is back to normal here.  Just very very cold. 



Two Months Old

Two Months Old

Dawson, all I can say is you are so loved.  These past two months have been a crazy whirlwind, but I

 am thankful every day to have my crazy bunch of kids.  Here is what has been going on in the past month:

• You rolled over from your tummy to your back
• You have a thousand nicknames including:  doc, doc a doo, itty bitty and bitty baby
• Nights are getting much better, most of the time you sleep from 9- 2.  You are also much happier in the evenings and not as fussy.
• You love your mobile and have started to track the animals as they go around.
• Smiling!  First baby smiles are the best and of course you saved it for Mommy.
• You visited the Newport Aquarium and had your first long period of time away from Mommy and  Daddy while Grandma and Bo watched you.  I was so happy that you took bottles easily.
• I've gotten out your playmat and many different toys for you to look at.  Right now the playmat is your favorite spot to have tummy time.

Weather wise this has been a crazy month with snow and ice.  We've been stuck inside the house with many snow days.  But it has been really nice to slow down and enjoy all this time with you.  We Love You!