Soccer Kid

Soccer kid loved his soccer class!

Unfortunately Daddy had to miss the first class, but it gave me the opportunity to watch and take some pictures too.  It's nice being near a dome to extend soccer season a little longer.  He had a ball, and the silly grin on his face made the stress of getting him to soccer solo with the two littles in tow all worth it.

Blurry picture, but here is the silly little grin. 

    

A tale of Child Watch

Recently I joined the YMCA here in our area.  The kids are now taking swimming classes and a gym fun class there for a little socialization, fun and time away from Mommy and siblings.  I am enjoying the yoga classes and recently I decided to try a workout during the day.  I prepared Carter and Ava at home and while there was a little reluctance to go, I smoothed over their worries with the promise of a hot dog party in the basement.  Before we got to the Y, Ava told me "Mommy, when we go to child watch I'm going to be bossy."  Ok, Ava you do that.  Carter got a little teary eyed when we entered child watch, but was okay otherwise.  Then there was my little Dockie doodle.  He threw one of his patented doodle fits, screaming in a high pitch decibel almost high enough for a dog to hear it, but still audible with the effect of breaking your ear drum.  I tried walking out of sight for a moment to see if he would calm down, nope.  I tried sitting and playing for awhile until he was comfortable, no way.  Poor baby is in a very clingy stage, very typical for a child his age.  But it is probably excacerbated by all the changes that have occured in our lives recently.  There are times when he gets upset and starts crying because I walked out of the room!  If only I could find a way to permanently attach him to my hip, life would be so much easier.  Well, it would be easier for my ear drums, but not necessarily my back!  So, adios child watch.  We may try again in about a year and a half!  

Happy Birthday Grandma and Grandbo!

This weekend we celebrated the birthdays of Grandma and Grandbo.  We had a wonderful time with the whole Shadle crew.  There was plenty of laughter, yummy food, ping pong, and pin the tail on the donkey playing.  Here are some pictures:

Happy Birthday Grandma and Bo!

Ava was very excited that I let her wear her birthday dress.  Although it's more of a birthday shirt now.

Yummy!

Opening presents, grandparents with 2/3 of the grandcrew

Pin the tail on the donkey

Happy Birthday Grandma and Grandbo, we love you!

Four and a Half!

Our little Carter Beanie, you are now four and a half.  Everyday you are inching closer and closer to five!


The other day you gave me one of the sweetest compliments.  It was late at night, I had assumed you were sleeping, but apparently there was no sleeping without your pillow pet being a pet, not a pillow.  After I fixed it for you, you gave me a kiss and said "Thanks, Mama love bug.  I call my puppy that too."  Yes, it warms my heart to know that you love me as much as your little puppy.


Know what else I love?

Walking into the living room to find you engrossed in books. 


What's up with our little four and a half year old?  We don't have any activities going on, with the move and all.  We are going to wait until next year to put you back into preschool, but to keep you around other kids and learn some new things you start soccer and swimming classes next week.  We gave you the choice between soccer or T-ball classes.  Soccer was your first choice hands down.  


Some of your interests include: the planets, dinosaurs, anything superhero or army related.  You also love to build traps, and I find them laying around the house on a daily basis.  Pizza, chocolate milk, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, chocolate chip pancakes and ice cream top your list of favorites.  You love to play dress up, house, ninja and ride your bike.  In our new house you have your own room, and I believe you are really enjoying your own space.


I love the way you care for your brother and sister.  I love the way you build traps everywhere.  I love the way your little face smiles up at me with your one little dimple.  Never forget how much we love you!


Mommy and Daddy






     

My Boys

Today I walked around the corner and found this:

Keep in mind, there was also a camo vest, bed buddy (heating pad full of beans) and a walkie talkie hanging tenuously from his headphone cord.  I asked Carter to please take those things down.  He just looked at me and said "I'm sorry Mom.  I just love traps so much."  It looks like we have another Fred in the making!

If you are ever curious as to the location of Dawson:

1.  In the shower trying to turn in on.

2.  In the bathroom brushing his teeth.

3.  Hiding in the little cabinet in the toy room.

4.  Playing with whatever non-toy he can get his hands on:  my phone, the TV remote, the fan remote, the light button on the dryer, a calculator or Carter's walkie talkies.  Boy likes his gadgets.



Valentine's Day

This week we've had a little guy stricken with a stomach bug.  You know there is something wrong when your 14 month old wants to only lay in your lap and not move.  Just look at his little face in this picture, so sad. 

By the way, that's what my entire house looks like this moment.  Random things littered everywhere, like the stroller in the living room along with Ava's abby cadabby tin and my shopping bags.  Oh well, it will take time.

It is amazingly awesome to have a great sledding hill in your backyard.  I was able to take this picture from the warmth of the house with Dawson.  The big kids had a blast!

The sunroom has amazing light.

My Valentine cuties

Honesty: Yesterday was a really off day.  I had a headache that would not go away.  Dawson was still sick and clingy.  The big kids were tired of being at the house for so long.  We made brownies and bowls were spilled and flour played in.  I was really grumpy.  But then my wonderful Dad sent me a big bouquet of beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day.  Thanks, Mom and Dad, it really made my day!  I'm pretty sure it was the only time I smiled all yesterday afternoon.

We Made It!

Well, we have arrived in our new home and our belongings have arrived as well!  We really couldn't be happier!  We had a week of "camping out" at the new house.  But as of yesterday everything has arrived and we are settling into our new home.  First and Foremost I owe some huge thank yous!

• Thank you to Bo and Grandma:  It was wonderful spending a week with you.  Thank you for welcoming us (and all our chaos!) into your home.  We couldn't have gotten so much unpacking accomplished this weekend if it wasn't for you guys.  Thank you Bo for watching the kids so I could go to the inspection.  Thank you so much!
• Thank you to Meme, Grandpap Bob and Nana:  Thank you for letting us crash at your house for a week as well.  Thank you Dad and Nana for watching Carter and Dawson while I met with the moving company at our old house.  Thank you Nana and Meme for all the wonderful meals and clean laundry.  I was so spoiled, I wish I had personal assistants all the time!  Thank you!
• Thank you Aunt Tiffany and Uncle Jason:  It was wonderful to be able to go house hunting with no little guys.  Aunt Tiffany, I know that was an exhausting day and it really meant so much to us!

Yes, I know I should be writing thank you notes to each and every one of you.  I know this is not a good substitute, but with all that is going on right now I know that I won't get to it.  We love you guys so much!  

But onto some pictures:

Our very first meal at our new house:  deli rotisserie chicken and some raw veggies. 

Wouldn't you know that the eating on the floor thing didn't work out very well, so we ran out the very next day to pick up the table I had been pining for.  In case you are wondering, Carter wears his sunglasses whenever and wherever the mood strikes him.  And also, the coffee was for me, not Dawson.

As soon as I find my good camera, I will be taking pictures of the kids in their new habitat.  I bet it is with the remote controls for the TV and Carter's walkie talkies.  Oh, the joys of moving!

Some funny tidbits about our new home:

• Although we are living in a neighborhood with close access to plenty of shopping, our new home is more rural than our last home.  Recently while driving around we passed a field that had been newly fertilized.  Oh, the drama!  Carter was hyperventilating and yelling "Nobody breathe in, only out!"  Ava was yelling "It smells like a dog that pooped it's pants around here."  I was laughing so hard!
• This new home is (obviously) not child proofed, and it is actually very difficult to do so.  We are still looking for a cost effective way to block off the bottom of a stairway that is close to 13 feet wide.  But Dawson has been loving all the newfound freedom.  Anytime he is out of my vision he will crawl up the stairs as fast as his little legs will carry him to check out my shower.  He is obsessed with all the buttons and sprayers in there!  (Just like his Dad!)
• Lately sharing a room with Ava and Carter has not been working out.  Ava is a night owl and wants to party while Carter the morning bird wakes her up too early, resulting in one cranky girl.  So tonight they are spending their first night apart in a year!  I'm happy to report that night one was a success.

Well, that is it for now.  I really should be unpacking, organizing and cleaning.  But instead I'm going to go enjoy a glass of Shadle cranberry wine and my hubby!