Testing from the phone!!

Downloaded the app since I take so many pictures with my phone!  Here's hoping it works!!

Happy Birthday to the best daddy and husband around!!! 

2 months...

Well...2 months flew by!  Kids are busy, mom and dad are busy.  Life is good  :)  We have had some tough personal loss in the last couple of months and are hoping for better, more positive news from loved ones!!!!  Noah is soaring through kindergarten, Ryder is LOVING daycare and is signed up for 2 morning a week of preschool, Parker is a talking machine (and sassy at that).  We finished swimming lessons (Parker did Parent/Child but those pics must still be on my phone).  Busy busy busy!

2016!

Well...the last 6 months have been CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!  Regular schedules have not happened and I feel like I have to start keeping track of thing better because time flies so fast! 

Christmas 2015--Christmas program--Noah as a wiseman, Ryder an angel and Parker a sheep.  Noah had a line--I bring you gold!  Ryder had a line--And on earth peace.  Parker...a great wandering sheep!  Christmas Eve was a day spent using the iPad for the Santa Tracker apps.  Christmas Eve church service and our tradition of reading, "The Night Before Christmas," watching the Polar Express adn matching Christmas pj's for the boys.  Noah woke up at 6:15 and came running into our room, "Santa was here!!"  Great day!  Christmas with the Rokes Christmas night; Christmas with Conklin side on the 26th--we had special guests Santa and Mrs. Claus!  VERY cool!!; Christmas with the Connolly side on the 27th in the morning and night.  Super great weekend. A HUGE snowstorm on the 28th meant we were stuck at home until the 30th.  It was a great break.  Scott unpacked a ton and we reorganized a lot.  Settled in our new room and bring on 2016!

Life...

2 months later...life.  We are slowly getting settled.  I will update with house stuff over break (3 weeks till Thanksgiving).  Noah has started school, Ryder and Parker are getting settled without Noah at daycare.  Scott is in his 10th year of teaching!!  Everyone is ready to have a break.  Had our first Trick'O'Treating in Dike last night and it was a riot!!  Pics to come!!

Life changes...

Well...we moved!!!!!!!!!!!  That is why it has been almost 2 months!  It's been CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!  We have been busy unpacking and unpacking and unpacking.  But...I will write about that later.  I wanted to do kid updates!

Noah--finished up t-ball and loved bible school.  Getting ready for kindergarten and shopping for school supplies was a crazy.  So far he has had 2 days.  Enjoyed it so far...tired but learning new things!  I picked him up today (early out for a few days in a row) and we have had a GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!

Ryder--getting adjusted to the new house.  I think he has had the hardest time.  He asked for a few weeks when we would go home. We lived with my parents for 3 weeks.  We has crawled in our bed quite a few nights.  But...he is getting there.  He is now one of the "big kids" at daycare!!!  In the last 2 months...a lot of baby talk has gone away.  I know that is supposed to happen...but it is sad for this mommy. 

Parker--what a riot.  He is a moving, climbing machine!!!!!!!!!!!!  We have to take down the ladder to Noah's bed or he climbs up the entire thing.  He also climbs up onto the dining room table as well.  He says, "uh oh, up, daveeeeeee, vroom, out, da (for daddy), jos for the puppy at daycare, woof"  He is a happy guy and loves to give kisses and hugs!!

Mommy and daddy are back in full swing so it is a big overwhelming.  So much to do at the house and at home and we are pooped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh well...grown up life!!

Monthly Update!

We have had a CRAZY month.  Softball started, our house sale fell apart, the house had to be picked up and reorganized, and games started.  Well...we have regrouped and begun again.  At the end of the day we have a home, food in our fridge and money in the bank...more than many.  Frustrating and emotional and overwhelming, but we move forward.  Here are a few fun pics and updates of the boys:

Noah--tball is in full swing.  Bible school starts soon.  LOVES being outside, playing on the swing set, playing in the water, anything with a ball.  Some days he is so grown up.  Such a helper...I am so proud of him.  Some days he will spend 15 minutes on academic stuff (letter writing, numbers, etc.).  Other days it is like pulling teeth to get him to do it!  He has his FIRST loose tooth!!!!  He refuses to take a nap...and some days he still needs it.  Many days he gets along great with his brothers, other days it is a battle of wills.  We start swimming lessons soon and I think we are going to do private lessons again to keep him caught up.  Going to be 6 soon...crazy!!

Ryder...every day is an adventure.  He is talking and talking more and more.  Some of his phrases are wonderful.  "Mommy you are my best friend"  "I turn phree (3) and no more paci's"--has not happened yet.  Starting to give us thumbs up like a big kid.  Knowing his colors and we are working on numbers.  OBSESSED with water...we have a water table we haven't put out yet because of the move, but since that is a mess, I think we will get it out this weekend.  Mostly potty-trained, but since we started packing he has had quite a few night time accidents...back to sometimes doing diapers at night.  Hugs are your neck with his little arms are the best.  Still falls asleep in an instant...his breathing make me very relaxed...I love snuggling him down to rest.  When he is unhappy with a decision he lets you know...he gets super angry.  Sometimes throws stuff, kicks and punches...also a new development.  I think the packing has had an impact on that as well.  Here are a few great pics of Ryder:

Parker--what a little man he is becoming!!  He tries so hard to keep up with his older brothers!  He crashed when he needs to.  Still needs 2 naps a day, but doesn't always get them.  He fluffy hair curls after it dries and it is ADORABLE!!  My dimpled boy is so sweet.  He has started to learn how to kiss...open mouth on your cheek or on your mouth, it is great.  He says "dag, woof"--dog.  "da"--daddy.  "mm"--mommy.  arms up"uuuhhh"--up.  He understands bottle, we say "baba" and he knows it is time for a bottle.  We only do them at night or nap time.  He is mostly on a sippy cup of milk or water.  He eats mostly table food...doesn't like mac'n'cheese or green beans.  He eats fruit back daily, sometimes 2 a day.  Size 3 diapers still, 12-18 months of clothing.  Parker gives GREAT hugs, sweet arms around your neck are great.  He is still a hot body and prefers to sleep on his own, but I think might be getting more teeth as he wakes up crying in the night.  Still on a paci.  LOVES playing in water as well.  Here are a few great pics of Parker:

Other great pics of the kids:

HILARIOUS pic of the boys above!  Next up BIRTHDAY party recap!

Birthday month!!!!

And...another month flew by!!!!  Parker turned 1 and Ryder turned 3!!!!!  I can't believe how fast it has gone :)  Parker turned 1 on May 7th which was a Thursday.  We celebrated with Parker's favorite food--PIZZA!  We had the traditional cupcake from Scratch and it was EVERYWHERE!  He started full time walking the first of May.  He was walking and crawling and by the end of April/beginning of May no more crawling.  He still does bottles of whole milk at night/nap time with us.  He is on full time sippy cups at daycare.  Parker is a CLIMBER...ugh!!!!!!!  We have to take down the ladder in Noah and Ryder's room because he will climb up to the top with no fear.  Everything has to be bolted down.  He has a wonderful fluff of hair...curls at the end and his dimples are the best.  He weighed in just under 20 pounds and is in the 24% for weight and 64% for height.  We love his little busy personality!!!  Here are some pics:

Ryder turned 3!!!  He had a rough birthday week.  We are trying to move (that is another post that I
not feel like writing about) and our life is in boxes and confusing for the kids.  He had MEGA mega
meltdowns in public (he hasn't done in months...).  We drove to my brother's house for our nephew's
birthday party and then back on his actual birthday.  We order Ryder's fave---PIZZA.  Rented Scooby
Doo (also a fave) and had a riot.  Ryder would tell people he was turning 3 and "no more paci's"...
it is hilarious :)  He is a balls to the wall little boy.  Sweet to his little brother...loves his older brother
and fights with him at a drop of a hat.  Tells mommy and daddy, "you are my best friend (friend is
fwiend...too cute).  He is still a napping kiddo...nothing better than snuggling with him as he falls
asleep.  Loves to play with a ball and RUN and CLIMB.  Still a love of superheros, ninja turtles and
anything that moves (trains, cars, tractors).  Here are a few pics from his birthday, May 23rd (on a
Saturday):

Noah had his last day of preschool.  He learned a TON!!!!!!  He has really grown as a student and
with kids.  I worry about him moving on to kindergarten where a lot of kids already know each other from preschool, but hopefully everyone branches out to make friends.  Here is a few pictures:

 First day of preschool!!!

 The crew!!

 First and last day with Miss Linda (head teacher).

 Last day of preschool!!!!!

The crew!!!!!!

LOVE them :)