Not So Wordless Wednesday: Third Kid Edition

So I had these photos on my phone from Thanksgiving. I was just about to delete them. I have a habit of sometimes taking several photos over a few seconds to get at least one with a good smile from everyone. Look who popped into the shot for the last four to make faces. Hilarious. And to think I almost missed it.

Wordless Wednesday: Beach boys

Minecraft Monday

To say that the Doodlebop is obsessed with Minecraft would be an understatement. His brothers love it, but the Doodlebop could talk about it all.day.long. (And sometimes does.)

The boys are only allowed to play video games on weekends for the most part. If we have a trip to Boston they get to play for the car rides. If there is a doctor visit or some other appointment, they get to play on the DS or iPad as well. Aside from that though, it's Friday after schoolwork is done - Saturdays and Sundays only.

The Doodlebop has had to find other ways to get his Minecraft fix during the week. I kind of love that it came out in the most creative way. I started noticing it little by little. Drawings here and there. Then one afternoon a few weeks ago he roped his brothers into making an entire village of sorts. The three of them spent hours on it and taped it all up to the Big Guy's wall.

This child even makes Minecraft masks ... or whatever they are. (Mommy doesn't play so she has no idea. And trust me when I say you can only listen to a kid talk about Minecraft for like an hour at a time before you just start to tune out, nod and smile.)

Throwback Thursday - in Video

Wordless Wednesday - Brother in the laundry basket edition

Thankful Thursday

Struggling with some things and haven't felt much like blogging, never mind thinking about what I am thankful for. Today my sweet boys helped me remember what I am always thankful for.
Thankful Thursday in photos.

                                                             Moments of pure silly.

           Being able to surprise the Big Guy with a new bigger boy bed like he has been asking for.

                    A family dinner and a walk around Waterplace Park to brighten up a gloomy day.

My boys.

 

 

                                                                         AND THIS.

I didn't even need to ask them to pose. They saw lions, ran straight toward the fancy restaurant (the one across from the not so fancy one we had just finished eating at) ... and they yelled take our picture! while doing this.

For these boys, I am thankful.

Wordless Wednesday: Screen door edition

Helping Daddy fix the screen door. That some toddlers we knew destroyed at one time.

Weekend love

Crazy busy weekend!

Errands on Friday afternoon and out to dinner with the family. Boys choice? Red Robin ... because they have the tower of onion rings. Of course.

Saturday morning we were at Bryant for a Special Olympics meet. We got to see our friend Nicholas before he competed in his first meet and spend time with our friend Ella while she competed for the first time. I loved every moment of it and teared up during the opening ceremonies. Watching every one's excitement? Contagious. The boys had fun cheering Ella on as she ran.

Both Nicholas and Ella medaled!

We can't wait to go back next month and watch Nicholas compete!

After the meet, the boys got changed and we hit Free Comic Book day - where the Doodle Bop is convinced he met the real Thor. How did I do on those costumes? (So very thankful for stick on felt and safety pins!)

Home to get changed - again - and out to a party at a friend's celebrating a First Communion. The Doodle Bop got his very first bee sting playing outside. Did I mention my friend is a nurse? I have never been more thrilled to have a kid with a bee sting at that moment. She jumped right into action for me ... and he seemed to calm down because he knew she works at a hospital. Too funny.

Track this morning, lunch with the family, and then Al took the rest of the wooden fence down. My yard looks all kinds of crazy right now. By next week though? There will be a new fence and not a single spot the dog can escape from. (The trick will be making sure he doesn't escape this week!)

We ended the weekend with a just past bedtime trip to Pinkberry - which the boys insisted we eat outside. And yes, we froze. The Big Guy thought it was absolutely hysterical.

The twins had to show me their I'm freezing out here faces.

Getting a little too good at giving me different faces I tell you. And yes, the Doodle Bop has started telling everyone who will listen to him over the last week that he is now indeed famous. These boys!

And that was our weekend!

Wordless Wednesday: Backseat edition

 

 

 

The adventures of Captain America

Yesterday just might have been the craziest day we have had yet.

Up at 5:30am, on the road by 6:30am...

two hours of traffic before we hit our destination. Talk about being tired before your day really even starts. Stress that comes with it aside, the day was beyond amazing. My face is sunburned from spending the day in the sun, but I am so thankful it turned out to be such a great day weather wise.

By the time we were on the road to head home again, it was past the boys bedtime and we still needed to stop for dinner. McDonalds at 8pm on the road was the best we could do.

We didn't get home till after 9pm. The boys burst into the door yelling Captain America's name. Followed by screams of Ewwww!

I'm saying it now. We totally had our reservations about leaving a puppy home for an undetermined amount of time. Though we are crating, knowing it would be a a really long day didn't seem fair to leave him in the crate when he's still getting used to it. Al made a huge space for him in the living room, complete with food, water, pee pads, toys, his blanket ... all enclosed by the big superyard we used to use for the boys. He called it Captain America's Palace for the day. And just in case he got out (though he assured me it was not possible) he blocked off the kitchen door.

Guess what y'all. This puppy hopped the superyard. He can barely hoist himself onto the couch most days, but he could hop the superyard ... which is Higher than then couch. Because of course. In fact, from the looks of the living room he may not have spent a full 20 minutes in that enclosure before going on to wreck the living room, pee on my sweater and cover half the room (himself included) in poop.

Oh.my.gah!

We got the kids to bed, Al started cleaning the living room and I dragged Captain America into the bath tub. This 22 pound puppy fought me like crazy and I ended up just as wet as him. I'm also sure he was not.sorry.at.all. Just upset he had to get wet. Look at this face. It says Mommy is torturing me.

By the time I finished getting him dry it was after 10pm. And I don't think Al finished cleaning till about 11. Don't even get me started on the issue of Danny's dream light that should not have been in the living room. (If anyone has any tips on how to clean THAT without ruining it, I would greatly appreciate it.)

I would like to say the night calmed down after that... but you know it didn't. This morning I nearly lost my ish on the boys - and the dog - none of whom slept in at all after getting so little sleep. The first thing I did after getting the Big Guy to school was get.coffee! And now I am trying to get caught up from yesterday.

Never a dull moment anymore with Captain America. Never.

Wordless Wednesday: Inventors and Heroes edition

I present to you, the most awesome Wordless Wednesday photos I have had in I don't know how long. The Big Guy went to school dressed as Clarence Birdseye (creator of Birds Eye frozen foods) for a project on inventors. I can't handle the cuteness.

The twins became upset when they realized their dress up day (for the 100th day of school) is not until Friday. Which means they had to dress up for the walk to school with the Big Guy. The Bunny Bee first settled on The Lizard, complete with his new winter hat. The Doodle Bop was Thor.

Add a last second costume change by the Bunny Bee and we subbed in Captain America for The Lizard - winter hats included. And yes, they walked into the school yard just like that.

I love my kids!

Wordless Wednesday - Backwards Baby Doll Edition

I am behind and all over the place this week - my apologies.

Wordless Wednesday is OUT OF ORDER!

I'm calling this one the Backwards Baby Doll Edition. This one needs a little explanation first. When the Bunny Bee was just 3, he and the Doodle Bop were in a 2 day a week daycare/pre pre-school program just to get out and play with other kids. Each time I would drop the boys off, I would notice as I was leaving that the Bunny Bee would go to this one baby doll in the class and pick her up. He would pat her back gently and walk her around as I left and it just melted my heart.

While Al just about had a heart attack, I took the boys to Target and we got three of the same little baby dolls (in pink outfits because it was all they had) and for a little while, the Bunny Bee loved her more than anything. The other two? Not so much.

Fast forward a few years and we have 3 naked baby dolls - defaced in some places with permanent marker. And when the boys do pick them up? It's to do this.

Turn their heads backwards and laugh.

Boys...

Battle scars

What a day. 

The Big Guy's cough of about a month now was stressing me out so I trucked the boys into the pediatrician.  Where I had to assure him like 100x that he was not there for a shot.  The breathing treatments didn't seem to be working and I needed to have his lungs looked at again.

I have never seen the office so empty during the day, not in the entire 6 years we have been there.  No one in the waiting room, just a few people getting seen inside.  Our doctor came in with a med student who was super sweet.  The twins loved her but the Big Guy was not having it and made it clear he didn't even need to be at the doctors. ( I love when my 6 year old diagnoses himself.)  Our doctor assured him he would not be getting a shot (just like I said) and told him she just needed to hear his lungs.  From there they took him to another room to have his breathing looked at on another machine.

Asthma.

Finally.  I knew he wasn't sick - or contagious.  But not knowing what that cough was drove me nuts.  At least now we knew.  My brother was such a severe asthmatic as a kid, I knew what that would look like... but I didn't know it could be like this.  All my guys have had on and off breathing problems, but the Bunny Bee is the one we have always been on that borderline asthma watch with.  Not the Big Guy.  So that was a surprise.

They showed him how to use his new inhalers that we will pick up later and I got a ton of forms and instructions.  The doctor thinks he will outgrow it in a few years which is great and he may only need this in fall and spring - not year round.  From there she asked if the boys had their flu shots yet.  I told her we hadn't gotten the schedule at school for the mist and that's when it happened.

She frowned and said with the new breathing problems, two of them can no longer have the mist.  They need the shot.  And she could do it then and there across the board for all three.  I took a deep breath and said OK as the Big Guy melted down crying and shaking.  Just at the mention of the word.  The twins were all its OK it will only hurt for a minute!  I couldn't believe how great they were taking it!

The nurse came in and the Big Guy flipped out so much they sent another in for reinforcements... so you know, it was the usual 3 of us holding him down to get one shot.  As he screamed bloody murder.  Then the twins realized they would be getting shots too and they flipped.out.  I had to grab them one by one so I just went age order and grabbed the Bunny Bee - who was swinging his fists at me like he was in a boxing ring, screaming and crying at the top of his lungs. 

Years ago I would have been on the verge of tears and not able to speak.  Now I just accept that this is the way shots for the boys go.  Chaos as usual.  Embarrassing yes, but I can now manage to laugh as I pick up kids and apologize to the nurses.  Again, 3 of us to hold him while he got his shot.  Then the Doodle Bop - who was braced against a chair kicking both legs out at me while screaming noooooooo!  I  managed to wrangle him as they marveled out loud at the strength of the littlest one.  By the time we were all done the boys were still hysterical.  I was suddenly thankful there was no one in the waiting room because they would have scared an entire office full of kids.

The poor med student was practically shoving stickers at the boys on our way out.  The Bunny Bee acted like he was doing her the favor by taking one through his tears.  Some days these kids drive me crazy I swear.  Getting into the truck was just as fun.  They all acted like they had been wounded in battle and needed me to gently put their car seat straps on so their arms didn't get bumped. 

We drove to Dunkin Donuts to get everyone a donut (for their pain) and those boys expected me to unbuckle their car seats too.  No way.  I made them do it.  It was almost hilarious the way they all walked in holding one arm like it was about to fall off.  

And here we are two hours later, the Big Guy holds his arm like its broken.  No matter what he does.  God help me.  Its going to be a long afternoon.

Where I've been

Crazy few weeks. 

Who am I kidding. Its always crazy and chaotic. 

As you can see from my lack of posting though, I sort of fell off the horse for awhile. That week that Julie was in the hospital, thinking the worst...not knowing she would actually get released cancer free and with an actual diagnosis... it was kind of hard to come down from. Things were OK again, but it didn't actually feel like that. And the Big Guy was sick...and then the twins got sick. And during all of that I tried to start a new diet and I was just beyond miserable.

Trying to balance two blogs, the kids, school, work, the Big Guy's weekly physical therapy he was fighting me on again, swim and baseball? I was beyond drained. I felt like I had so many things to blog about but I just could not bring myself to do any of it. I was going through the motions each day, doing the absolute minimum of what needed to be done and it was all I had. Oh yeah, and two full weeks of on and off migraines that seemed to come out of nowhere. 

And I can't forget injuries! The Doodle Bop and the Bunny Bee took apart their hockey net outside this week and as the Bunny Bee used a piece of the PVC piping as a periscope, the Doodle Bop thought it would be hysterical to smack it into his brother's eye. Close call let me tell you. I still can't believe he didn't need stitches - or damage his eye.

The photo does NOT do it justice. Trust.


I knew I had to make a change but I just couldn't seem to actually DO something about it.

Even now, I can't tell you just what it was, but I felt the change this weekend. (Which I am sure had a little something to do with the sun and finally much warmer weather.) Friday night I was down for the count with another migraine and I couldn't really function. Saturday morning I woke up to find it was actually gone. 

We took the boys to Cranston's annual Family Safety Day and they had such a great time. New bike helmets and water bottles... and they got to meet police, fire fighters and paramedics. In the afternoon the boys and I met Julie and the girls at Oakland Beach to enjoy some sun. I can't tell you the last time the kids got to really play, it has been about 2 months (and they ask almost daily when they can play). 

That night Al and I took the boys shopping at Old Navy for some summer stuff and they left totally happy with a few new shirts each. (Yaay for Gap gift cards that can be used at Old Navy that I forgot about ... from 2007 that still worked... coupons and sale items! It was like a giant FREE shopping haul!)

Today we spent time at Al's parents house to celebrate Ana's 27th birthday tomorrow, then went to the Big Guy's baseball game. Giant entourage for that kid. There were 9 of us! Al's parents, sister, my mom, her friend the boys call Nana Lyndia, Al, the twins and I.

And the Big Guy did so well he was given a game ball at the end by his coach for 'crushing that ball'. The boys are now outside in the yard playing with a giant bucket of water and squirt guns.

I guess I have to say it's been a really great weekend. (And 2 days headache free now. Crossing my fingers!) I think I'm starting to lose some weight so that rocks. And next weekend one of my oldest and dearest friends is getting married and I'm so excited to be there. For now I am trying to get out of this funk, get back to regular postings on both blogs, and be thankful for things.

Like this:

Did I mention I was that cool mom at practice this week who let her kids get soaking wet in puddles?  While all the other parents freaked out?  (One even changed her kid before practice started after he got wet.)  I mean, come on!  They were going to get dirty anyway!

                                                                              See???

Horrible lighting but I love that it is a photo of the eight of us, with the sun streaming through.

And things like this make me melt.  I love that they all love each other.  And they make quite the gang of kids out in public.

Crazy boys and not so silent Twitter screams

So one day last week I had a bad bad day.  The exact day of the week escapes me.  I think I blocked it out.  No one around to talk to, husband home too late to really spend time with us in between his jobs...worst day in months with the boys.  Was this close to sitting on the floor and crying.  Or cracking open the wine. 

But you can only do that so early. 

Just kidding. 

You can't do that during the day at all.  (Can you?)

The only way I could let out my silent scream was on Twitter.  If I knew how to screen capture my tweets this would rock right now, but for the life of me I still can't get that to work correctly.  I went back and copied and pasted a few tweets for your enjoyment, to get a sense of what the day was like:

having a *day* today. omg. boys are in from outside, bowling IN the house - in my workspace no less. needs an office.
It wasn't even like 9am here.

this is the most unproductive week i have had in a long time. 3 days of getting nothing done and fast. want to tear my hair out.

come on school!

Oh yes.  I prayed for school to start.  (Sadly no magic bus appeared.)

what's that old song... 'i am slowly going crazy... 1 2 3 4 5 6...' yeah. that.

wth. i am watching my children throw wooden blocks at the screen door... and yet they are insistent they are *not* throwing blocks. whyyyy

How is it I can see all 3 boys throwing blocks... the screen actually being hit... and yet they all stand there and say No Mommy, we didn't do that.

Got a 4yr old refusing to wake up from naps. Bedtime tonight is going to be fun.

It was AFTER 4pm mind you.  And spoiler alert, he didn't want to sleep at bedtime!

Will this day not end. Asked the boys not to touch my work, then I find it all over the floor. Best part?

No one touched it #likelystory

Uh huh.  They all claim that not one of them touched a thing.  I think one of the twins even mentioned something about how maybe it was a ghost.  (A ghost!!!)

Just stopped a 4yr old from balancing a porcelain piggy bank on his head...u know, to 'prove' he could be careful with it. #winning

This?  This is the best right here.  I didn't want to take down the Doodle Bop's piggy bank because I was frying eggplant in the kitchen (because there wasn't enough chaos after dinner that night).  Didn't feel I could turn my back and trust him to not accidentally break it.  He begs and pleads that he will be so careful.  I turn my back for all of 20 seconds to check the eggplant, turn back around and there he is.  With it on his head.  No hands.  "Look how careful I can be Mommy!  It's NOT dropping!!!"

and kids are crying. throwing in the towel now and calling it a night. dear tomorrow, please go easy on me.

It was like 2 hours after bedtime here.

Wednesday!  It was Wednesday!!!  (OK, so Twitter told me what day it was.)  Thank the Lord the next day went slightly better.  But then after a day like that, how could Thursday not have looked better. 

Things I should probably not question.