Our 9 Year Anniversary

Crafts a few weeks ago.

See Food!

Gus helped me make an anniversary card for daddy, August 4th was our 9 year wedding anniversary.

This could be the cutest thing I've ever seen!

This is (in order from L to R) Gus, Josh and me (he said I'm the skinny one) with wedding rings above our heads, because all three of us are married (according to Gus).

18 Months Old

Yesterday morning Wally went downstairs a few minutes before me, but it was just enough time for him to climb onto the island and start to eat Hazels breakfast.

This little cutie is 18 months old as of the 26th of August. He went to the dr for his well baby check up on Tuesday. His weight was 26# 3 oz, or the 75th%. His height was 32 inches, the 50th%, and his head circumference was the 90th%. Everything is on track with his motor and language skills. At his 15 month check three months ago his dr noticed that Walters left eardrum looked slightly retracted but it didn't seem to bother him. This can happen sometimes for various reasons and usually fixes itself. Our plan was to just wait and see how it looked at his 18 month check. 

Well... since then I have had to bring him in to the doctor twice since then, thinking he had ear infections because he was pulling on his ear so much that it started swelling and cracking the skin behind it. Poor guy! One night his left ear was so swollen that he looked like a wrestler with cauliflower ear. Well last time I brought him in for this new ear pain his dr finally referred him to an ENT specialist. And to add to his suffering both of his eardrums are now very retracted. He goes in on Monday afternoon to the ENT so I will keep you all updated. Worst case scenario is minor surgery to open up some parts of his ear, and possible tubes. It's weird that he would get tubes when he has only had one ear infection his whole life, but we need to address this. If its not fixed soon, it could start to impact his speech and/or hearing. I have procrastinated taking Walters pacifier away because his sucking on it might be relieving some pressure like when you chew gum. From what the doctor says, retracted eardrums feel like the pain and discomfort your ears feel when you are in an airplane and need to pop them. He'll be fine though. Just a small bump in the road for an otherwise perfect little boy.

Other than his ears, which make him a little cranky when they bother him, he is a pretty darn healthy and happy baby boy. He climbs on everything, runs everywhere, and loves dancing, bouncing and jumping. He copies sounds and words from our talking and songs on the radio. He can say ball, up, hot, mama, dadda, hi, Guh (Gus), Ehz (hazel), and he gives high fives, knuckles, and shoots his guns (fingers) and says "sheesheesheesh" like he is shooting little imaginary bullets at you. As odd is sounds, it is very cute. He eats with a spoon, fork, plates and bowls. He prefers sippy cups and straws but he can drink out of an open top cup if needed (if mommy doesn't mind a little spilling).

He sleeps great, naps awesome. Laughs all the time and is so silly. He cuddles, tickles you, and gives kisses upon request. He loves playing with his siblings and keeps up pretty good with them. He can throw a ball, builds with blocks, draws on paper with crayons, likes play dough, and bath time is his favorite time of the day. 

Basically he is perfect. He will have his 18 month pics on Saturday afternoon.

KC Zoo

August 31st. Look how much these kids have grown! Chaz (far right) and Lucy (front right) are children of my old adjunct friends from JCCC. It's strange that we moms, Ashley, Lindsey and I, started hanging out before any of us even had these children. Now look at us.

We discovered that it is really hard to get a 5 year old, a 3 year old, two 2 year olds and a 1 year old all to pose and smile at the same time. Pretty much impossible in fact.

Explorer Gus.

We were able to walk around with the kangaroos. I had to pick up Walter and carry him because he walked right up to one and almost touched its nose! It was very cool, but a little scary.

Feeding the goats. Every time they Baaaa'ed Hazel would giggle and say, "They burped!!!". Adorable.

Peek! Playing games with Lindsey while I took Hazel potty.

Best friends! Lucy and Hazel were so cute. Hazel also loved Chaz and for about an hour she and Chaz sat together on each others laps in an umbrella stroller.

What a fun day trip. I miss my friends from JCCC so much. 

Week Two of End of Summer Fun

As with the week before, I tried to keep the kids very entertained this week. Not only the zoo and a Royals game we have played around the house. Here is Hazel and Gus  hunting for "flowers" AKA weeds for me, which we put in vases around the house for several days.

One of our crafts this week: old cans, magnets, hot glue, a few buttons and other little nic nacs made this a pretty awesome craft.

Hazels last night of gymnastics. She did so great these last two months. We are going to have her try soccer and swim lessons this fall and then maybe gymnastics again in the winter.

Wondering why they can't go out and play with Gus. Now that he is five, we let Gus go outside with his friends in the cul de sac alone but the other two are too young, which Hazel is having a hard time wrapping her little mind around.

Dancing on my table. These little stinkers. Actually it is usually Wally who climbs up on the island but the older ones jumped in one day this past week too. I turned on music and let them dance around. Pretty fun for them, since it is usually not allowed.

Somebody is excited for kindergarten to start on the 15th! His school bag came in the mail a few days ago. Also in September we enrolled the older kids start Sunday school. Gus will start karate and swimming lessons hopefully this fall too.

Play dough never gets old.

We took the kids to a drive in theater last Saturday night. Double feature with Despicable Me 2 and Grown Ups 2. The kids LOVED it! It was so much fun to watch them watch the movie. Gus was the only one to make it through the entire kid movie. He is such a little man!

Sugar Rush!

Bunny ears on daddy.

Big screen in the background.

Go Royals!

All ready for the game mommy! Seriously can my Ladybug get any cuter?!?

It was college night at the game so it took a very long time to buy tickets. Hazel and Gus patiently rolled around in the grass and tackled each other while we waited.

Finally in our seats!

Wally was so cute!!! He was in awe and a little confused about where we were. But he loved to dance and clap when the music invited him to.

My boys.

Running the bases at the Little K. Go Wally Go!!!!

Making the Most of It

I had about 4 weeks (now 3 weeks) in between summer and fall classes, so I decided to make the most of it. Here is a photo diary of our first week together. Starting on Wednesday of last week, my last day of classes, we decided to have a pizza picnic on the living room floor (daddy had to work late so it was just me and kiddos).

Walter enjoying his slice of pie.

On Thursday of last week we went to a different park than our usual ones.

Trying to get some shade in a shelter house. Snacks and cool water.

On Friday I ventured to the neighborhood pool with the three kids. Somehow, for most of the 2 hours we were there, we had the pool to ourselves. Very fun.

Later that same day, Friday, at nap time. When I woke up, these two cuddle bugs were lying on each side of me. I love these moments.

Friday crafts after nap I had saved their McDonald's chocolate milk cartons and we decorated them with stickers and markers.

Sunday, after church, yet another park.

I took the older two grocery shopping with me on Sunday too. While I was putting away the fridge and freezer items, Gus and Hazel built a castle with the pantry items.

 Take two.

Monday I made two treasure hunts, per Gus' request, around the house.

X marks the spot.

Monday night breakfast for supper.

Just an adorable little lady. I didn't get pics, but shortly after this Josh and I played dress up and Chutes and Ladders with the older two.

Tuesday, earlier today, a scavenger hunt in the backyard.

Finding items to mark off the list.

I'm running out of ideas- message me some of your best, and affordable, activities to entertain these three over the next two weeks!!! Alright, gotta get a screaming child out of time out. Maybe I should snap a photo of that? ;)