A busy week for the toothfairy

This is a busy week for the toothfairy. Cory's tooth fell out during lunch time at school yesterday. He was proud to show off his award and toothholder (a tiny plastic tooth-shaped box) that his teacher gave to him. Unfortunately, the toothholder had popped open and he 'double lost' his tooth.

Andrew's surgery

Today Andrew went in for his hernia surgery. We woke up at 4:30 Am and drove to the Birmingham Children's hospital together. He loved the apple juice, one of the few clear liquids he was allowed this morning. We spent about 5 hours total in the one day surgery unit. Andrew was a good sport about the whole day. Here's his picture in his hospital gown waiting for the nurses to come and get him. He is still a bit tired, but should be back to his normal explorer mode soon.

Heavy, Heavy hangs

What's in the bags? (clothes)
Here come the good stuff!
Watch out trouble's coming!

Each birthday, we follow the tradition from Michael's family of each person holding the present over the birthday boy's (or girl's head) and saying "Heavy, Heavy hangs over thy poor head, what do you wish this person with a bump on the head" then the birthday boy makes a wish for the gift-giver. Andrew and Edmund could not voice their wishes, but I'm sure they went something like this " I wish that you will be gentle with your baby brothers" They each got several new summer outfits and a toy riding car. Happy birthday, little cuties! They are growing up so fast!

Birthday! What a great year

With such a busy morning, I made a simple chocolate bundt cake with chocolate icing and sprinkles for Edmund and Andrew's first birthday. I put in one candle for each baby.

They were excited to have so much attention paid to them, with singing from the whole family

They had different reactions to eating their cake though.
Edmund loved his cake!Andrew hated the cake.

He is getting his molars in, and he is by far having the hardest time teething of any of my children. He has gone an entire week without chewing anything, poor guy. Nothing has helped him except cutting everything into bites he can swallow, and even that does not always work.

City Fest

Today is Andrew and Edmund's birthday! It was also Auburn's city fest. Each year at Kiesel park, the city holds this event. There is arts, craft, and food vendors, live entertainment, and a huge 'children's imagination station' with the most blow-up bouncy houses and slides I have ever seen in one place. This is the first year we have been able to make it, but after today, it'll be marked on our calendar as a 'must go to event. Before we made it to the kid's section, the kids stopped at a catch and release fishing booth. Carissa and her friend, Clarissa were the only two to catch fish, and neither wanted anything to do with the fish that they caught. The kids had a great time running from one bouncy house to another. At first Patrick was running from place to place without regard for parent supervision or lines, but Aaron stepped in and helped Patrick wait (I was super proud of Aaron). After an hour or so of playing, we bought hot dogs and hamburgers from the Kiwanis Club and listened to one of the live bands. Then we took the kids to the park and rec craft booth where they made hats and weaved yarn. Then it was back to the bouncy houses and some cotton candy before going home. We spent about 4 hours at the park. When we left home, it was very cloudy, nearly ready to rain, so we thought the day would be cut short; instead the sun came out and everyone has varying degrees of sunburn.

Edmund, Andrew, Cory, Aaron, Aubie, Clari, Patrick and Carissa
Catching fish
Patrick's stylish hat
Aaron and Carissa weaving

Patrick's Field Day Shade

Patrick has a tendency to wonder off, and I thought today was no different,

so I started to pull the stroller backwards to go look for him.

it didn't budge!

He was under the stroller, seeking shade.

Field Day

Every year, the school has a field day.

All the kids get to participate in classic field events, like:

the 25 yard dash,

hula hooping,

moving water from one bucket to another with sponges,

Spinning around in circles with your forehead on a bat

(Cory)

Balancing balls on a toilet plunger

(Aaron)

And tug of war.

(Aaron in red)

They all had a great time!

Cory's field trip to the zoo

Cory's class went on a field trip to the zoo today! Here is his story:

First I went to the spider monkeys. Then I went to the alligators. Then I went to the birds. Then I went to the bears. Then I had lunch. Then I went all the way to the wild dogs. Then I went to the display about extinct animals, like the dodo birds. Then I went over to the playground. Then I went over to the tigers and lions, and other wild cats. Then I went back to the playground, and my teacher gave me juice.

My favorite place to go was the bears. I saw them wrestling. I saw them eating. Bears are my favorite because it's my nick name (Cory Bear)!

The End

He's off. Oh no!

Andrew and Edmund have been making tenative baby steps for the past month. I've tried to get photos, but they think the camera is a toy, so each attempt has failed. Yesterday. Edmund finally really took of, walking at least ten feet. He was quite pleased with his accomplishment, and I was able to get some pictures.

Carissa has lost her first tooth.

Carissa lost her first tooth today. I noticed it was loose yesterday, but I thought she had a month or two before it fell out. Today, she tried to pry a Tupperware lid of with her teeth, but instead the Tupperware pried the tooth off of her. She was scared, but recovered after a couple minutes of crying.

Her is her dictated story:

Yesterday Mom noticed that I had a loose tooth. My bottom right tooth was loose.

Today I tried to open a lid with my teeth and I lost my tooth. I was scared and I showed Mom. I'm going to put it in a envelope and then put it under my pillow.

April 14-20th

It was a busy week.

We had plumbing work continues this week, and it should be entirely finished by Wednesday of this week. We've been waiting for an excuse to re-do our powder room, so we've stripped it down and ordered tile and a pedestal sink for it. (One of the wall and all of the tile in the powder room are visually crooked, aside from the 70's olive green style.) When the plumbers have finished it up, I'll be installing the tile, and then they will come back to set the sink and toilet.

Thursday was my birthday, so Michael and I left Carissa and Patrick with my friend and went shopping together and out for lunch. We bought and ordered things that we needed to finish the bathroom and kitchen. I'm hoping we will finish everything up during the next two weeks, but it might not happen with just the evening hours to work with.

Michael went canoeing with the boy scouts this weekend. It rained through the friday night. On Saturday, they canoed down the Coussa river. He capsized the canoe several times, the first of which the canoe bound up on a tree, leaving the canoe damaged. He came home, and said simply that is was an awful trip.

Carissa told us that her goal was to never, never get rid of the barbie. That made us smile. Patrick pitched in that his goal was to be a missionary. After that, the children tried to top each other with righteous goals. I hope their ambitions stay with them.

We walked to the 'turtle park' today instead of the school playground. Shadow, our dog gave into his Lab instincts, taking his first swimming after 2 ducks. He wasn't sure what to do when he got out to them, and the male started to chase and nip at him, so he just swam back. The kids thought it was very funny, and were even more thrilled that shadow would fetch a tennis ball from the water.

This weeks funnies!

One of the best things about preschoolers is the funny things they do and say!

This morning, Carissa was the driver and Patrick was the horse. A princess jump rope was the reins.
"Giddy up" Patrick understood the command, and they were off.
"Giddy down." (confusion).
whisper "Patrick, that means slow down"

Patrick was invited to play basketball with our 6 year old neighbor's preschool basketball hoop. He was so happy. He "Made it" every time. To bad for the NBA, the backboard doesn't count! Our nieghbor was desperatly trying to explain that Patrick had to hit the red part (the rim). So Patrick quickly adapted, again making his shot each time with much jubilation (throwing the ball upward toward the rim). "NO, NO, NO. That is not how you're supposed to do it! It has to go through the hole." Patrick aims up with a granny shot through the hole. instead of going down through the net, it goes upward. Finally, the sprot became a challenge when he learned the ball was supposed to go DOWN through the net!

April 13th, all tuckered out

We walk to the school playground every Sunday afternoon. Usually Edmund and Andrew get wheeled around in the stroller or stay close by Mom and Dad. This Sunday they were ready to explore! They crawled all over the fields, wood chips, and up the jungle gym steps! They slept peacefully during the walk home.

A new fun spot for Edmund, April 8

Look, MOM! These shelves are for more than just toys! Someone is going to have to clean the toys up!

Spaghetti Dinner

I've been away from the computer for a while, but here are a few photos from the past ten days!
Andrew and Edmund were allowed to feed themselves spaghetti on April 5th. Yummy!

Aaron's cub scout accomplishments

Last night was pack meeting, and Aaron came home with a handful of awards including:

his wolf badge

2 arrow points

a marbles belt loop.

Castle builders

Carissa and Patrick built block castles Wednesday morning