I Love When...

...my boys are filled with so much excitement that they talk and talk. And their brother is sitting right beside him, waiting for him to take a moment to breathe so that he can start with his story!

My boys are doing the enrichment program, through our school system, this week. Austin is doing "Chef in the making" and Adam is doing "Adventures in Science."

Austin's teachers sent home an itinerary for the week. So, I knew that Monday they would be baking bread. Tuesday they were doing vegetables. They went to the Farmer's Market and bought the veggies then went to a restaurant to make pizza. They also made salad dressing to bring home. Wednesday was eggs. They went to a local farm to learn about chickens. Then they went back and made deviled eggs. Today they are working on Appetizers and Desserts. They are starting to prep food for the "meal" they are going to serve the parents tomorrow.

So, I knew that Austin went to the farm yesterday. When he got home I was asking about his field trip. He started to tell me about it, and Adam chimed in..."I went on a field trip too!"

My first thought was, "What?? Not according to the field trip paper that came home. You went to the recycling center, and on Friday you go to the park." So he started to tell me about it. He said that he dipped his fingers in some water and butterflies landed on his hand. Then he told me about this underground slide they had. I was pretty sure I knew where this was, but decided to ask his teachers today. I was right, then I found out that they also went to the arboretum and saw turtles and frog. What a fun surprise! Sounded like a great trip.

During this time, when one was talking you could tell the other was waiting for a moment to pounce in and tell more of his day. It was somewhat like a tennis match--back and forth, back and forth.

Then at supper, Adam said, "Let's play the food chain game. We will start with frogs" So we named an animal that would eat the frog, then an animal that might eat that animal, and so on" Then Adam said, "Now, what would happen if we took the frog out. What would happen?" I don't think he realized how much he sounded just like his teacher :) "There would be soooo many bugs!"

The great thing is that they boys are having so much fun, I really don't think they know how much they are learning.

Future Phlebotomist?

This morning Adam came up to me with a tourniquet. (You may be asking why we have a tourniquet--they are great for opening jars! ) He tied it (loosely) around my wrist. Then he proceeded to feel for veins in my hand. He told me that this is what people do when they are going to take your blood.

My question is: How does he know this? He had some blood drawn last October, but that was 9 months ago! Does he remember, or just have this knowledge?

He also took the picture :)

What War?

Saturday we had the boys birthday party. Austin's friend's mother came to pick him up. We were in the backyard talking to her. Carol came out with a container to watermelon for the kids to eat, and joined our conversation. A little while later, we looked at the container, then on the ground. There was watermelon everywhere! Adam was passing by as we noticed this, so we asked, "What on earth is going on?" He replied, "They started the Silver War, so we needed watermelon for ammo."

At that point I wondered:
Should I be upset for the watermelon food fight?
Should I be happy they are using their imaginations?
Should I be glad they are trying to re-enact a war??? History, right?

I decided not to be upset, and just tuck away the information that if I hear of a Silver War coming--I'm getting a Watermelon!

Father's Day Cards

With Austin's birthday falling on Father's Day this year, we made and gave Mike his cards last week. I had the boys work on this on their own, and had a lot of fun seeing what they came up with.

Austin's card looked like this:

transformers

Who is this? a mail or a femail. a guy who Likes tranceformers? He has Brown eyes and Dark hair and has Ben in emu for four years and he found a wife then she had babys and it was tough back than then another baby came they called Adam and Austin them I grew and grew into a toddler then I wet my bed some time's and that was tough. then I went to Kindergarden then 1st grad then 2nd Heading to 3rd, 2nd grade is harder than you think I hope that 3rd grade is not that hard. the end to Mike. W from Austin

I laughed to hard!! How does he know how "tough it was back then?"

Adam's card had a drawing of pumpkin vines with some pumpkins on the front that says Happy Father Day.

Inside he drew a picture of what the pumpkins look like now-cages and all. He wrote:

Mike

Happy

Happy

FoFR

Day

Mike

I helped him spell Father's Day on the front. I was very impressed how he sounded it out for the middle of the card.

My boys are at such different writing stages. It was really fun to see what they came up with on their own.

Austin is 9!

Austin is now 9 years old!

I looked back at last years post to see what I wrote about that might be a little different than what I wrote last year. Something that years down the road Austin (or more likely, his wife) will find interesting. Last year I had a picture of every year for Austin. This year I just found some that I thought were cute. I tried to have them in chronological order, but did not hit every year. They are just a glimpse into some of his life. At some point, I may do another post, that will include pictures of other year, just for fun.

I decided that I would revisit his late pregnancy/labor. Austin was born on June 20th. His actual due date was July 13. But, to tell his story, we need to back up to May 13th--Mother's Day.

First family picture, just minutes after delivery

We had gone to church that morning. Then went to have lunch with my parents as we usually did. After lunch, Mike and I went home and I was in our room changing out of my church dress. I had a horrible cramp! I remember bending over, and laying on my side on the bed and calling for Mike. When he got there all I could say was, "it hurts, it hurts..." Once it passed, I felt fine. Mike was not so sure. He made me lay on the couch and rest the remainder of the day. Monday, May 14, I got up and got ready for work. Mike asked if I should be going. I said, "Well, I'm not sick!" As the day went on, I started to feel bad. At lunch I called my sister, who had just had a baby 3 months prior, and asked, "Do you really feel this bad for the last 3 months on the pregnancy?" She told me no, and suggested that I call the Dr. office and talk to them. I called them, and they wanted to see me. I left work early that day and went straight to the office. They monitored me for some time, and found that I was having regular contractions, and that I had dilated to 1 cm (I was 30 weeks at this point). They sent me to the hospital for further observation. I went home, got Mike, called Carol to tell her what was going on, and ask what I should pack! We headed to the hospital.

Austin, 2 months old

Once we were at the hospital, they started a medicine that helped to stop the contractions. (As I remember, the medicine worked really well at stopping the contractions, but made me very shaky! ) My mom had stopped at Carol's after work, and Carol told her that I was in the hospital. I did not take her long to come and see what was going on! I was only observed there for about 4 hours. They sent me home with orders for strict bed rest. This meant that I was not allowed to do ANYTHING except to stay in bed and rest. I did have the privilege to use the bathroom, but that was it!

Austin, 5 months old

About 2 hours after arriving home, I told Mike was tired of this! But, I knew I had to do it. Mom and Dad brought over a twin bed to put in our living room. It was quite a bit more comfortable than the couch. Mike had several little tables around so that I could have the phone, books, the lunch he would pack be before work, the gallon of water he would prepare for me, etc. The days did get very long! I was more eager than usual for Mike to come home from work. I just wanted someone to talk to! Mom would stop by after work and help with house work. I remember my hips hurting so badly, from laying, laying, and laying! I would sit up for just a few minutes to give my hips a break, Mom and Mike would both yell at me to "LAY BACK DOWN!!" I would feel like crying, telling them how badly it hut my hips.

Austin, 9 or 10 months old

On June 18th, I was told that I was far enough along in my pregnancy that I could stop taking the medicine, and Austin would most likely be fine. I looked forward to June 18th. That day I was trying to clean the house, I would do the dishes for a bit, then I would need to go rest. It was amazing how quickly I got tired, but then again, not surprising since I had done nothing but lay around for about 6 weeks.

Austin, 15 months

That evening we had a birthday supper for my sister at my parents house. Mike and I came home and I remember watching "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" (hosted by Regis Philbin if that puts a date on it at all) in the basement (was that because it was cooler--I'm not sure). As I was watching this, I remember timing contractions. At some point in the evening I was laying on the couch upstairs, and Mike had called his brother for his birthday on the 19th. As they were talking, I was timing contractions and I heard Mike tell his brother, "Yea, she is having contractions, but it will probably be a week or two." I just laughed!

Austin, age 2

I went to bed for about 2 hours, then I had to get up. I remember being hungry, and eating a Pop-tart (of all things--ugh). I sat up the rest of the night timing contractions. I wrote this information down. (Funny thing was I found this piece of paper some time later. Ahhh...memories) At 6 am on the 20th I called my mid-wife and she told me to head into the hospital. I was checked in, and when I got to my room, I was met by a Labor and Delivery nurse that went to my church. It was nice to be greeted with a familiar face.

Austin, about 2

My labor went as most do. Nothing too notable there. Mike and I gladly met Austin at 12:43 pm that day.

Austin, about 3

Austin had his party today. He invited 1 friend to come to his "party." The most interesting thing about this is that, this friend's mother, is the nurse that first took care of Austin when he went to the nursery. It really is a small world.

Austin, June 2010

Happy Birthday, Austin! We Love You!

Our Feathered Friend

Today the boys ate lunch in the treehouse. Adam was out longer than Austin. When he came in he told us that he found a bird's nest. My first thought was, "Oh No!"

Last year we had a bird build a nest on out outside light at our back door. Any time we went to the back yard the Momma bird would squawk and squeal at us. We had to be sneaky in order to get to the back yard to play or hang out clothes or even take the trash out. I did not want to have to do all this again!

Adam was very eager to show someone, anyone this nest. He wanted a picture of it. So, I grabbed the camera and followed Adam. We went to the treehouse and found this...

This Momma is much smarter than last years! She built her nest away from the house and away from our traffic.

The boys have agreed to stay out of the treehouse for a while, so they don't scare Momma off. She did not seem scared today, I'm glad I got a picture. Adam was so proud of finding this bird!

This Time of Year is Great For...

POPSICLES!!


They are cool and refreshing after a long, hot day! The boys have certainly enjoyed them.

What are popsicles good for??


Turning your tongue colors, of course! Austin had a red popsicle, so he had a very red tongue and lips. Adam had a multi-flavor popsicle, so his tongue turned a funny shade of brown--I'm sure it was tasty, none the less.

This year we are trying something new:

PUMPKIN!

Last fall, we had a small pumpkin on our table. When it was time to get rid of the pumpkin, the boys came up with the idea to save the seeds and plant them so we would have more pumpkins this year. I did this, whole heartedly!

I saved the seeds. Then I even composted the dirt (I learned more about composting in the past 7 months than I ever thought I would). Then about a month ago, we planted the seeds. We have watched, watered, and tried to protect these plants from the bunnies. (I have something like milk crates over them while they are small) Adam and I have been measuring the leaves, so we can see how much they have grown. We started this when the leaves were almost as big as his hand. Today we saw...

Our leaves are bigger than his hand. This has been a fun learning experience for all of us. I do hope we get at least 1 pumpkin out of it!