Total Disrespect

I wonder where the parents of the kids who did this to our car were Saturday night.I'm guessing that they didn't know where their kids were. FYI: those particular kids were not so smart. They evidently didn't realize they were on video when they also spray painted the concession stand at the park near our house.

A study in Toddlerhood

This almost 2 age is really wearing this mama down.

Jadon has decided that this week he is going from 2 naps a day to no naps at all. Monday through thursday he has napped a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes. That's all 4 days combined, and assuming that anytime he was quiet, he was asleep.

He's my first child to ever climb out of a pack-n-play.

I bought a baby gate for the first time ever last week, because JJ has taken to going to the kitchen cabinet and helping himself to whatever cereal or crackers happen to be in there. If he's not satisfied with those options, he'll pull the barstool up to the counter and climb up to see what's there.

The first thing he did after I put up the gate was move a chair over to it and climb on.
No amount of clips or straps or buckles will keep the child in a high chair or stroller.


Any door left slightly ajar is simply an invitation for escape. Try keeping every door in your house securely shut with a big sister and big brother around.


He discovered last week where the suckers were and had eated 3 or 4 before I found his stash.


This morning, he climbed up on the top of the changing table to get 2 of his pacifiers down. Apparently the 3 that he had just retrieved from his crib were not enough.


He'll sit for most of one softball game, but if there are 2, forget about it. He asks every aunt or grandma available to hold him, always with the intention of getting down just as soon as he's on a lap.
He loves his sister and brother so much, he has to do everything they do. He's often heard shrieking because he's just not quite big enough. But he loves to give hugs a chase the kids and play ball. So for now, I'll try to focus on that. Maybe someday I'll even get to take a nap again.

Another long weekend and a few more ballgames

We had another Rodie softball game on Friday night, it didn't start until 8pm after our already long day of movie watching and cousin playing. So Saturday morning we got a very sleepy start. Kevin's hip was hurting after the game Friday so he didn't get around to doing much. He won't even turn 30 until later this year, but you'd think he was already an old man. Chloe and Micah and I went down to Michelle's house with her and the girls Saturday afternoon. She and I spent about 4 hours painting her living room a dark red color. Although its kinda like the "horse of a different color" from The Wizard of Oz because it sometimes looks orange and sometimes maroon and sometimes really chocolatey. Whatever color it is, its really pretty and I can't wait to check it out when the room is put back together.

Anyway Saturday turned into another late night for the kids, so Sunday morning I actually had to wake Chloe up for church. We were only a little late(about 20) minutes. But that's what usually happens when Mommy has to get 2 kids a bath and dress the 3rd one (besides getting herself ready) so we can leave by 8am. I've not yet figured out how to do that when Kevin has to be at church at 7:45. Maybe someday we'll make it on time. But someday certainly didn't make it this week.

After church and a run to Menards, because we didn't have quite enough paint to cover the whole living room twice, we headed home to get ready for two more ballgames. Kevin and Chloe went down to the games early with Kevin's dad, while I stayed at home to let the boys get a nap in before the 3 o'clock game. Micah had a little difficulty going to sleep(maybe if he had stopped kicking the wall it would have gone a little better) but eventually all three of us drifted off, and didn't wake up until after 4. So much for game number 1. We did make it in plenty of time for the 5 o'clock game, which they won by 10 in the 5th inning(Way to go Tyler!). Then off to DQ for dinner and Aunt Shelly's for swimming. The kids had a great time in the pool and even JJ got in for a bit. This time, as soon as Micah got in he was ordering Kevin to "LET GO DADDY, LET GO!" Yay, Micah!

As fun as the rest of the day was, with ballgames and ice cream and swimming, the highlight of the day came as we were getting ready to leave. Kevin and the kids were in the kitchen and found a bug crawling around on the floor. It was only about 1/2 inch long and started jumping about 8-10 inches in the air! It was pretty funny, but what was even funnier was the crowd of moms and dad and kids all watching and laughing at this tiny little bug as it ran around the kitchen bouncing all over the floor. Jadon and Micah in particular got a great kick out of it. Who needs cable? We've got bugs. So when we were all bugged out, Kevin looks at Micah and says, "you wanna kill it?" Of course he does. So my question for you is this, "Is it wrong that it made me a little sad?

A Trip to the Movies

My girlfriend, Val, and her little girls came into town this week to visit her grandmother. She called me up the other day to see if my big kids and I would like to join her and Carolyn for their first big screen experience and go see Wall-E. Of course we said yes so Aunt Jody kept Jadon during naptime and we were off to the movies. Chloe had a great time. Although, by the time it was all over, she had a tummyache from too much popcorn. But Carolyn and Micah were a little disturbed by the loud music and the scary spaceship. Val and Carolyn ended up having to leave about halfway through. It was too bad, because it was a very cute movie. Micah climbed up in my lap and hid his face from the scary parts (he'll tell you there were 3 scary parts) but for most of the movie, he had a good time.

Every once in a while, it's nice to get to do things with just the big kids. And Jadon was still sleeping when we got back to Aunt Jody's so he never even knew he had missed out. It might be a few years until he gets to go, too. And when he does, remind me to bring some earplugs. I forgot how loud movies are!(I think I sound like an old woman)

Around and Around again

So we're back at it again. The sick parade, I mean. Jadon seems to be cured of his poopy problem. We're back to 3-4 a day instead of 7 nasty stinkies. You're probably all thinking "3 or 4?!" but that is life and we're happy to live it. Funny thing was, he needed more fat in his diet. I know, it doesn't make sense, but that's what it is. But anyway, now we've got more sickies runnin' 'round. JJ had a couple days of 103 degree fever. Then it was on to Micah, who we actually thought had strep, but it turns out is the same old virus as Jadon. Now Chloe seems to be feeling pretty off, headache and fever and such. They're surprisingly upbeat when you pump them full of Tylenol and Motrin. So we're hanging out at home for a few days anyway. At least it's a pretty calm week this week. Please pray for my kids.

Oh, and my van has no air conditioning, pray for me too. I don't think we're gonna pay $700 for new air, so until we can afford a new vehicle we're down to suffering through the heat if Kevin and I need a car on the same day. Not too bad this week, since we're not going anywhere anyway, but it may get pretty un-fun for the next couple of months.

(Hopefully we'll be all up and around soon and I can get to takin' some more pictures. You're probably all going through withdrawals right about now.)