Summertime, and the Livin' is EZ

Ok - so a new post will happen soon - I originally wrote this back in July, and it took until September to upload photos through June....So we'll get July - September and updates up pronto. In the meantime, back to July: 

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Well hello there! We're already almost a month into the summer and time is just whipping by! Time for a new blog post, I say, so you can read it by the pool or beach, or maybe just while you're sitting in a nice, air conditioned room. 

So what has everyone been up to? Well, we've taken a number of little car trips this summer. And let me refer you to the following post, lest you confuse our many car trips with a vacation: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/m-blazoned/vacation-or-trip-a-helpful-guide-for-parents_b_7789310.html

That little article may have brought me to tears (laughing). I'll try to find photos from each trip to post, although we took a trip to Columbus, OH and my camera apparently broke sometime before we left - without me knowing it - and so we're still in the process of recovering the pictures. 

Ok, so let's see, we went to the Double JJ lodge for my b-day. It was packed. Seriously. Going there right after New Years is a much better idea, and what we will do next year. We've made a couple of trips to Muncie to help Pamma pack up the Muncie house and get it ready for market. We drove to the Western edge of Illinois to help Damon's step-brother, Evan, and his (now) wife, Andrea, celebrate their wedding. What a great place to have a wedding! It was really beautiful overlooking the Mississippi River, with lots of things to do to entertain the kids. Even though the drive there was, let's just say, stressful, we were so glad to have gone! 

Next was our trip to Ohio to visit our friends from residency - Sheila, Scott, and Alli, and their three boys. That was a great time - we got to see COSI, the Columbus Zoo (which even though it was in the upper 80's when we went, I still vote that as my favorite zoo I've been to), the Ohio Caverns, and got to go to a Trader Joe's! Of course, seeing our friends was the real highlight, and the boys had a blast finding three more boys way too much like themselves :) :)  Let's just say there was a lot of underwear on head and jumping off of things time :) 

Then just a week ago we drove to Kansas City for a conference that I attended. Had I not had a nursing baby, I would have opted to go this one alone, but since we don't have a great store of milk for the littlest wolf, we all made the 10 hrs each way. Probably a good thing we did anyways since all three of them came down with a high fever and lethargy in the couple of days preceding and during the trip. Kansas City is surprisingly kid friendly though, there was a Legoland and a SeaLife Aquarium across the street from the hotel. The same hotel, I might add, that I stayed at with Scott (from Ohio) a week before Damon and I got married - when we were attending a conference there. It's a strange experience to visit a place you have been before but under such completely different circumstances. Especially when it really wasn't all that long ago! 

I think Damon and I have agreed to hold off on further trips for the time being...but we're both extra glad to have the minivan with a t.v. in it. Greatest invention ever. 

Ok, as for each child's most recent milestones or interests: 

Miriam rolled for the first time (back to front and front to back) in March - 3/25 to be exact. About a month later (sometime in late April) she started Army crawling around the house. I will say she's very motivated to keep up with her brothers! She just loves watching them and gets very excited when they're running around and jumping off of things. On June 1 she started to really crawl on her hands and knees, and less than a week later figured out how to pull herself to a stand. She was really determined to look in the bathtub. Another thing she Loves. She just loves the bath, and getting into the shower. Especially if it's wet. And especially if she has dry clothes or a dry diaper on. I think she waits until no one is looking, then crawls like a madwoman in there to play with my shampoo bottles or eat the hanging showerhead. I should videotape how excited she gets when she is found out. It's pretty hilarious. She also loves to chew on shoes. Seriously - loves them. I'm pretty sure that's how she got the fever virus that spread to all of them. But it's hard to stop her when there are so many shoes laying around!

 Sometime in late April it really sounded like she was saying some variant of mom, it was like 'omma' for a couple of days. But then that stopped, so my hopes of having a child say mom before dada were shot down. UNTIL about 2 wks ago (7/3) when she DID start saying mama and up! Yeah! Finally a kid who says mom first!!! Can you tell I was excited? And now she's getting her first teeth! It's somewhat bittersweet - I know it's the end of the baby smile, and nursing safety. But I love watching each child grow and change into the unique little individual they are. And don't worry, I won't miss that baby grin TOO much ;) 

The boys have been up to their usual antics. Adlai is talking way more now. He has also discovered that he loves to do puzzles. I mean, Edison used to like puzzles, but not to the extent that Adlai loves them. And he's really good at them. That has been pretty interesting. Edison is doing great with swimming and riding his bike, and just being the crazy, creative kid that he is. He graduated from preschool in the spring, and is (kind of) looking forward to starting kindergarten in the fall! 

And with that, I will leave you with the following quotes!

Adlai picks up Miriam’s arm and starts hitting me with it. 

A: Miriam! Stop hitting mommy! Stop, Miriam!

E: Mom, what is the Easter Bunny’s real name? 

Me: What do you mean? It just The Easter Bunny. 

E: No, I mean his first and last name? 

Me: I think it’s just The Easter Bunny. 

E: No, I think he has a different name. Like Easter Summer. 

E: Mom! Why is it that you get to have a piece of chocolate, and jelly beans, and I only get this ONE piece of candy? 

Me: Because I’m twice as big as you. 

Me: Adlai, stop kicking around. Just let me brush your teeth! The Easter Bunny is watching you. 

A: The Easter Bunny is watching YOU, mom! 

(while at the Muncie house, sorting through things)

E: Mom! Guess what?! I just saw your horses! 

Me: What?! Really?! Where?

E: April Fools! I didn’t really see your horses. 

(people who know about the 'lost' horses will find the humor in this) 

(Edison is making comments in the car on the way home)

Me: Well, you’re just being quite the sass-master there, aren’t you. 

E: No, I’m the Jedi Master. 

E: Mom, what are you trying to do? Just make yourself sick?

Me: No, why do you say that? 

E: I see you’re just eating a whole bunch of cookies there. 

A: No! It’s MY birthday, daddy!

Me: I’m not daddy. And it’s not your birthday. 

A: Yes you ARE daddy, Daddy! It’s MY birthday!

A: I’m Miriam, me have weenus!

M: I have a penis. 

A: ME have weenus!

M: No, I have a penis. 

A: Mommy have weenus?

M: No - you don’t say ‘me have weenus’, you say ‘I have a penis’. 

A: You have a weenus!! 

M: No! I don’t have a penis! 

A: (talking to Miriam) Me baby Miriam, this baby Adlai. Baby Adlai have weenus!! Mommy have weenus!

Mir: Wah wah wah wah!!!

A: Miriam! What are you saying Miriam?! Wah? Wah wah wah? 

I’m sitting on the couch, Adlai cuddles up next to me: 

Adlai: I love you, Mommy. 

Me: I love you too, Adlai. 

Adlai: Edison hates you, Mommy. I LOVE you, Mommy. 

Damon: Edison! Did you just kick your sister!? 

E: No. 

D: Edison, you better not have kicked your sister. 

E: I didn’t kick her. 

D: Then what did you just do with your feet? 

E: Hugged her? 

At Meijer, Adlai has to pee, so we go over to the bathroom. Edison is dressed as Anakin Skywalker. 

E: I have to pee too. 

Me: Ok, can you go and open the door while I get Adlai out of the cart? 

E: No, someone’s in there. 

Me: How do you know someone is in there? Can you hear them? 

(me trying the door and it’s locked)

Me: How did you know that? 

E: I used the Force. 

Me: (laughing at Adlai)
A: Mommy! Put your teeth away!
Me: Hahaha! What?
A: Mommy!!!! Put your teeth back in your mouth!!
Me: Hahaha!

The moment I realized just how long it has been since I bought new clothes:
Walking into a dressing room with the three kids:
E: Mom, what is this place? What are we supposed to do here?

E: I wish I could have a hundred ice-cream cones every night.

D: You’d get sick.

E: Then I wish I wouldn’t get sick.

E: What is an expert?

D: Someone who is really good at something. Your mom is an expert at understanding how the human body works. A baseball player is an expert at playing baseball. A Jedi is an expert at using a light saber and the force...

E: I’m an expert....at using toilets!

E: Look how big my penis is.

M: Uh huh, stop playing with it.

E: Why, is it inappropriate?

M: Yes, when you do it in front of other people.

E: But I can do it alone?

D: Yes you can, but look at all the toys you have to play with.

E: Can i pretend they’re my penis?

M: No, you can’t play with the shaving cream, go put your pajamas on.

A: Fine, I’m leaving you with Mr. Manchas, and a Polar Bear. (Zootopia reference) 

Just look at that belly!

Edison orchestrating

These fish look oddly interested in my children...

The only photo we have of all the boys together in Ohio...so far

Turtle Power

Le fleur

Adlai enjoys the wedding reception

Miriam also enjoying the reception

Well, this could have been worse...

No holes in one here...

Grandpa Lonn gets the Bjorn and a 20lb passenger

I'll let you guess who was and was not enjoying this ride

Hahahaha

Beachwear and Iron Man

Senior PGA Tour in town - Edison's not excited, the floor is just springy

Getting an early start on the fountain for the summer

A page from Edison's school journal

Creative writing

Edison's end of year preschool party

Last day of preschool!

The Bounty Hunter has arrived

Crazy hair day at school (it's a mohawk!)

Post Mother's Day brunch photos

6 months old!

And a 6 month photo with me on Mother's Day

They're like little otters!

I'm Martin, and I'm Chris!

The Egg Chair

After Edison's b-day party

Edison's birthday party at Bounceland

Assembling Poe's x-wing

Star Wars themed cake(s) for the b-day party!

Posing with Aunt Lauren

Trying to get a nice photo of siblings....

Well, there's one at least

Oh Ema, you're so funny

Hmmm, I definitely have some work to do with my cake decorating....

Attacking the Death Star

I believe Yoda's got this

The birthday boy

Isis finds a warm place to sleep

And another 

Here we are, trying to get another photo of siblings...

This one almost works, if only for that scowl....

Lake Michigan with Uncle Clint

Daddy and the boys at sunset

Look over here, Pamma

Miriam learns her letters

Relaxing on hotel pillows

Legoland Detroit display - Adlai loved this

And Edison loved THIS

Adlai's first 4-D experience. Let's all be glad he took off the glasses - the bugs flying at him were just a little too close for his comfort

The Easter Bunny delivers with a blue lightsaber

Cute little guy

Finding Easter eggs!

Well, we'll take what we can get

Trying to pose for Easter photos

Story time at the library

Mom tries to go out for an evening

Edison did this - a lot

Miriam in her super cute bathing suit that only fit for a minute

This is a photo of ME, brother!

That is a very blue eye

Someone hopped in the baby bath while I was drying Miriam...

Watch me Swim day at preschool

Watching from behind the safety of the glass

Miriam enjoying her new beard

Hanging out with Grandpa Lonn

Fraggledison

This just doesn't need a description

Conked out

You better be smiling, brother!

I'm guessing it probably wasn't really that warm that day

Making snow-dog angels

Miriam takes a selfie

Smile!

Man down

Standing on a frozen Lake Michigan

I think we all see who's running the show here...

Sledding on the dunes!

Snow sleeping by moonlight?

I had nothing to do with this, really

Sledding in the backyard (there's a lot less snow than the last couple of years)

Can't you go any faster, Edison?

Birdfeeder activity at Sarrett with Scout, the preschool mascot

Oh, tell me more Nurse Debbie!

The Millenium Falcon (aka the Millenium Salami)

Getting to watch Star Wars!

What IS this place?! 

Ice harvesting

Adlai holds still for 2 seconds

And for more than 2 seconds

Daddy FINALLY gets to go to the casino buffet for his birthday!

Will you get off the phone so we can take this picture!?

Adlai contemplates the jump....and subsequently had to be rescued by the lifeguard (from the diving board)

Sarrett winter scavenger hunt fun! (And yes, that is a baby under my jacket!)