Monkey Boy

Seriously, this little boy loves to climb.  This is the precarious position I found him in today, with one hand activating the water on the refrigerator and the other hand pulling my kitchen towels out of the drawer.  The little chairs have since been relegated to the garage and will reappear a little later.  He really is my little monkey boy! 

There's no place like home

There really is no place like home.

After five days away from the house, at least 20 plus hours in the car and a visit to both sides of the family, we have finally arrived home.  Boy, does it feel good.  Of course last night was just emergency after emergency after we arrived home at 10:30 pm.  The kids were exhausted and in the worst kind of cranky.  Carter had spent some time at an Aunt's house who owns a cat.  Not a good idea.  Poor kid really suffers when he is around cats, so I need to make sure we have allegra for the brief times that he is around cats.  Then I realized it was freezing in the house.  Great, heat is out too.  But luckily as I write this, we have restored heat (the thermostat had a fried circuit and wasn't relaying information to the heater.)  So we spent last night running to the circuit breaker to flip the switch from running too many heaters (eventually we decided that Mike and I wouldn't have a heater in our room), checking on the coughing kid and the baby who alternated between being freezing cold and scorching hot.  But we are home.

Anyways, we had a little birthday party for my almost one year old. 

By the way we are all in pajamas because we had just worn our clothes into the hot tub!  We lead such a hard life, I know.

Funny face!  I think he is saying I want to open my present sister!

Jason and Tiffany, Bo and Grandma, Daddy, Carter, Mommy, Dawson and Ava

My first birthday cake

Yummy!

So for now, I better take advantage of this quiet time and get some unpacking done!

Learning Experience

Yesterday was a learning experience for us all.  I made my very first pie crust from scratch.  Carter was allowed to crack his very first eggs.  Luckily no egg shells were found in our pumpkin pie!  Today its onto homemade cranberry sauce, more pumpkin pies and cornbread, yum!

Thank you Meme and Bob Bob for the Steelers gear.  She's saying "GO STEELERS!"

Um yeah.  So the rule around here is ALWAYS SHUT THE BATHROOM DOOR.  Apparently Carter missed the memo, so as we were working on our pumpkin pie I wonder, "Where is Dawson?"  Answer:  On top of the stool in the bathroom!  Scared me to death!  Although I had my phone on me and managed to snap a picture of his daredevil ways.  Notice that he also got to the toliet paper strewn on the floor and probably dangled his hand in the toliet for awhile.


Busy day ahead!
 

Our Weekend

Once again, we spent time working around the house this weekend.  Do you know how hard it is to get anything done with a 4 year old, two year old and one year old around?  I'm suprised when projects get done at all!  Mike was working on painting and we even put up our christmas decorations!  I ran some errands with Ava in tow.  It is so fun getting to spend one time with her, she is talking up a storm!  Here are some of the little conversations we had:

• Out of the blue she asked me "Who's your favorite grandpa?"  Uh, well I like Bo and Grandpap Bob.
• She announced I will tell you a story and then proceeded to ramble for about ten minutes about Princess Cinnamon and Princess Sugarhead.  Princess sugarhead likes to eat sugar, but Princess Cinnamon likes to eat chicken.  Go figure.
• At the dinner table she announced "We are going on a pink baby trip."  We have yet to figure out what exactly a pink baby trip is, but it does sound like fun.

  This morning we got dressed for church and dolled up more than normal because Carter was going to be singing in church.  So I decided to take a family picture:

By the way, those are the boy's christmas outfits.  Might as well get as much use out of them as possible, right?  Ava on the other hand has a myriad of dresses.  We were so lucky to be gifted an entire wardrobe by a friend, but then Ava refuses to wear any of it because she wants to wear a dress!  So I've had to scour second hand kid shops for  warm dresses to make my mornings a little easier.  This little girl loves to dress up!

Carter's singing performance went very smoothly this morning.  He sang two songs with his class.  At one point he looked over at us and raised his eyebrows in a little Shadle greeting.  Mike and I just looked at each other and started laughing.  Currently the kids are watching some football with Daddy, although who knows how long that will last!  Family, we can't wait to see you all this week.  Wednesday can't come soon enough! 

Fall Fun

This week Dawson has been feeling a bit under the weather.  Runny nose and coughing, so we laid low today so he could get his naps for the day and prevent infecting anyone else.  We had a "major clean up day" as dubbed by Carter.  I kept that kid busy; he hung laundry, ran the vacuum, dusted, raked leaves and helped me make banana muffins.  His favorite game was pretending we were soldiers cleaning up.  I would give him an "order" and he would say "sir yes sir" and scurry off to complete the order.  It must have worn the boy out because at 7:08 he said "Mom I'm going to bed."  Sure enough he went right to sleep!  Four is such a fun age.

Here are some pictures of leaf pile fun:

This girl does NOT like leaves in her hair.  We had a few melt downs over leaves in her hair.  And by we, I mean her!

Lots of smiles from this little guy.

Leaf angels

Getting three kids to smile at the camera is a pretty impossible feat.

Especially when Dawson did not like the leaf pile at all. 

Most of the time he looked like this:

A productive day spent with my three favorite children.

The Latest (in pictures, of course!)

Breakfast Treats

(Mike I apologize in advance that you didn't get a single strawberry.  Those kids can polish off the entire pint in one sitting.)

I now get asked on a daily basis, Mom!  suprise me with a breakfast face!

Dockie HATES the car seat.

Ever gone out to eat with 1 child?  2?  even 3?  Try 15!  On monday we had a pizza party at a local pizza shop.  The kids got to make their own pizzas.  Of course, it was a little hairy keeping that many occupied and happy.  But overall I'd say it went pretty well.

Heard around the house: sibling rivalry

Yesterday at dinner time, Ava pinched Carter.  She was placed in time out, and a sucker she was currently enjoying was removed.  Mike looked at Carter's back, and sure enough there was a little red welt on it.  I began talking to Ava about possible punishments. 

Me:  Ava, I'm very sad that you pinched your brother.  I never want you to do that again.  What should we do to make sure this never happens again?  Should you not be allowed to watch our movie tonight or should I get rid of your sucker?  What do you think?

Ava:  Jus' get wid of Carter.


Wow.  That girl.  I really don't know what I'm going to do with her.

Busy Busy and hypothetically bad parenting

We had a busy busy weekend with a whirlwind last minute trip to Pittsburgh.  Mike could have potentially had jury duty last friday, but luckily he did not.  So thursday night we packed up and drove in on friday.  We were so lucky to have family watch the kids so we could go to.....

(Uncle) Joe Grushecky and Bruce Springsteen Concert!!  Mike and I were in the 7th row, and at one point we switched with my brother, who had first row seats.  I must say, I'm totally spoiled with any concert from here on out.  First row is definetely the way to go!  At one point Bruce walked past us, and brushed Mike.  All of a sudden I feel Mike wiping something wet on my arm and he said "That was Bruce Springsteen sweat.  You're welcome."  Haha!  We had a great time at the concert and two wine Tracey danced like a crazy woman.  It was also pretty cool to have all access passes to be able to go back stage and hang out with the band.

But back to reality....

Just some cute pictures for the grandparents.

Totter's Otterville kitchen.

Yes, that is my almost 1 year old playing at the table.

Dear Totter's Otterville,  My kids really love the face painting station.  I do not.  Do you know how long it took in the shower this afternoon to get this all off?  Sincerely Me

So I must tell you a story of hypotentically bad parenting.  Not that this would have happened to me!  Let's say there is a parent of a baby who would be needing a bottle away from the house.  When the time came for the bottle, the parent hypothetically removed the bottle from underneath the stroller and realized the bottle did not have a nipple on it.  But the baby has already seen the bottle and is throwing a fit screaming and spasming with anger, because he wants the bottle NOW!  So, channeling their inner McGyver this parent decides to dump out their water bottle and put formula into it instead.  Baby sucks happily on the water bottle, problem solved!

(Note to Dawson: if you have figured out that you are the hypothetical baby this happened to, my apologies.)

Heard around the House: Election Day

Yesterday I spent time with Carter talking about the importance of election day.  My best explanation included:  We are lucky to live in a democracy because we get to vote or pick our leaders and the laws in our country.  After dinner we had plans to meet Mike at the polls so we could both vote.  I wanted someone to help me wrangle kids, and I also wanted Carter to see the voting process.  This is what transpired shortly after our democracy and voting talk:

Carter:  Mom?
Me:  Yes?
Carter:  When we go to vote for our leaders, will you pick me?
Me:  (inwardly laughing, outwardly very serious) Well, you aren't allowed to be a leader until you are 18 years old. 
Carter:  (crestfallen) oh, ok.


Carter Shadle, 2025!

11 Months Old

Good Morning, my Dawson baby.  Right now we are sitting at the breakfast table, munching on some shredded wheat, bananas, formula (for you) and coffee (for me.)  I love this time of day because I get some purely baby time, until the other two wake up (usually around 8).  See?

Space ship jammies and bed head, pretty cute combination

Boy, the changes have been coming rapid fire lately.  Walking while holding onto my hands, cruising along furniture and crawling up our flight of stairs (with Mommy hovering behind you of course) are some of your recent accomplishments.  Also, if feels like you've gained 10 pounds in the last month!  Doubtful, but I'm sure there will be some major weight gain at your next check up.

Last night we had chili for dinner.  You loved the beans, tomatoes and corn.  Look at your face!  Cute but covered.  Thankfully the tub occured shortly after this picture was taken.

With the big 1st birthday around the corner, I've already got plans brewing in my head.  Time to start acting on them!  I love to make birthdays and holidays special for my little guys!  Love you my breakfast buddy!

Mommy