T-Ball

Okay, this is the report about T-ball: it was rained out twice, really bad bugs twice, the coaches didn't realize both boys are left-handed (twice!) and, luckily, they hit and made real contact with the ball (on a stand) more than twice! Of course the boys both loved it! (and Owen too, who had to be "removed" a couple of times because naturally he wanted his turn). All in all a necessary first step into team sports; they had fun and we learned a lot as new parents (such as don't forget the water or juice for break as apparently $25 doesn't include beverages, don't bring the little one, don't talk too much to other parents unless you want 5 new best friends or a fundraising job, let Grammy take them if she offers). Happy Spring!

Acadia National Park

Last weekend we took the boys to Acadia National Park for the first time - they loved it! Sand beach, Cadillac Mountain, lunch at Epi's and a long nap on the way home - awesome day!

It's been a while!

Okay, it's been a while! Sorry if you've been wondering... what a difference a year makes! A little more than a year ago I remember writing a post on Mother's Day - I believe I had been painting one of the bedrooms and repeatedly folding and arranging clothes we had been collecting, lamenting the wait for one piece of paperwork or another. This year I spent Mother's Day surrounded by the love (and mess) of my three little guys, picking up from Owen's 3rd birthday party the day before and celebrating the quiet during my chosen activity - shopping (by myself) for a new bra (clearly only necessities these days)! And the day after that - Kindergarten screening for Sam and Charlie!

It doesn't seem possible - I know all parents say this - but seriously it seems like the boys have been with us so much longer than 9 months! Last weekend we measured and weighed them and compared the numbers to our first stats on the door frame - couldn't believe the growth! Since November 7th (first measurement date), which was 2 1/2 months after they arrived (so it doesn't account for initial growth which was dramatic) Sam has grown 2 5/8 inches, Charlie 3 1/8 inches and Owen is up 3 3/8 inches! We estimate at least a half an inch each for those first 2 1/2 months so that is amazing! Current stats on each boy is as follows: Sam 34 lbs./39 5/8 inches, Charlie 30 lbs./38 3/4 inches, Owen 25 lbs./33 7/8 inches (at 2 years, 3 months old Owen weighed only 15 pounds when we picked him up). Aside from eating and sleeping well and tons of love and exercise we give some credit to Pediasure supplements (as seen in photo) everyday!

Owen milestones:
turned 3 in early May, totally understood and loved his birthday party, favorite present Elmo puppet, loves animals (real, animated and on television/video), loves everyone and has a smile that lights up a room, is talking up a storm ("Mommy I don't like it!", "I see brown cow!" "Mommy, play outside, PLEEEEEAASE," and "I pee on potty"), yes - beginning to potty train - very successful at first, now some regression regarding number 2's, knows everyones name (finally) and uses them regularly, favorite books - Five LIttle Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, A Mother for Choco, Baby Duck's Blanket, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?, favorite toy - Playmobile helicopter, also loves boats (including ours - first ride last weekend - loved it!), gardening (with Grammy) and baseball (has his own bat/ball and hits super off a t-ball stand); basketball also a favorite, loves to help and is "asserting his personality" more everyday (first time out at daycare), wants to do everything his brothers do (and usually can/does), sleeps with a special blanket (still in a crib but should transition to toddler bed as soon as I'm out for the summer)

Charlie milestones:
turned 5 in April, favorite present - fire truck, loved the balloons at his party more than most of his presents, a master of taking things apart/tying things together/hiding things for another day, favorite color - green, favorite saying: "Why?", favorite books: Walter the Farting Dog, Disgusting, I Want to be a Firefighter, loves playing t-ball,...more next time

Sam milestones:
turned 5 in April, favorite present - police car, also a huge balloon fan, favorite color - red, loves all books - favorites are: Curious George Rides a Bicycle, Green Eggs and Ham, any "long one," favorite saying: "I have something important to tell you," expert bike rider, also loves playing t-ball,...more next time

Charlie and Sam turn 5!

No time for a post; hopefully the photos tell the story!

Fun in Pajamas!

I was putting together a folder of Easter weekend photos and suddenly noticed the boys were wearing their pajamas in every one! Saturday- an early morning and first ever skateboard lesson, complete with helmets! They all loved it! The older boys even tried standing up (no photos on account of my holding hands with skateboarders). And Sunday, a visit from the Easter Bunny, who left tracks and treat filled eggs outside - also family, fun and feasting!

Randon Musings

The older boys, and now Owen has joined in, love to help Daddy! Just today Charlie and Owen went with Daddy to pick-up the wood trailer (Sam was grocery shopping with me); they have also been throwing firewood through the window (for next year), installing an antenna in the attic, mixing up concrete, and demolishing part of the floor between the first floor and the basement (not Owen). The boys have also been to visit some of Daddy's new jobistes (thank goodness, people still are building houses in Maine), one site had a lot of large equipment - excavators, dump trucks, and more. Bob the Builder is favorite movie treat at our house these days. All of the boys are getting quite good at picking up - three boys working full force can make or clear a mess quickly! Mud season is here - need I say more...also, birthdays coming up soon. Sam and Charlie turn 5 in April, Owen 3 in May. New favorite toy, besides the bikes and trikes (outside, finally), a Spiderman punching bag, the kind that sits on the floor and pops back up after you hit it. Not that we necessarily condone violence, but Charlie is a master with a left hook on old Spiderman, Sam makes the best noise, something like a comic book "POW!" We make them use it one at a time and draw different colored legos out of a basket to decide the order of attack. On to medical news: Owen has had a couple of typical two's injuries and his first trip to the ER with me since India. Since he is fond of running lately (yeah!) is was inevitable he would eventually take a tumble and hit his face - this time nose- when he fell on a chair. It bled a lot, he was at day care, and I left work from across the street just to check it out. It had stopped bleeding by the time we registered; they checked him over, not broken, he was fine, and we were on our way. I still had one class to teach, last period, no sub available and everyone extra in the building at a conference/training; but I didn't want to bring Owen back to day care. So he came to school with me, read books and took a nap in my pile of beanbag chairs (we had ruled out concussion), ooing and aahhing as dozed off. The students were whispering their lesson, immediately hushing anyone entering the room (very uncharacteristic of my 6th graders), it was one of my most productive classes in weeks! Owen's other incident - choking while eating lunch - 911 was called - food was dislodged before they arrived (in 4 minutes, by the way). All of the boys are growing fast, Owen weighs about 25 pounds now, Charlie 35 and Sam almost 40! They are outgrowing clothes at an alarming rate, luckily we still have an impressive pile to pull from - friends and relatives handmedowns, thrift shop/on sale items and Grandparents. Instead of going to the mall we go closet shopping - thankfully - because these three guys together at the mall are a bit of a nightmare. Well, that's all for now - hope you are all enjoying spring!