Soccer

Remember this:

This is Grant pretending to be nice when really he was just screaming because I would not let him out of his stroller during Ellie's soccer - because he just ran on the field.  (Also, notice how Spencer already has more hair than Grant at 1, and he's on Round 2 of the hair-growing business.)

Or how about last year, when I had to keep pulling him off the field during Meg's game.

Well, finally it was Grant's turn!!!!

He totally picked the ball up with his hands, just like Ellie.  I always forget to give the soccer rules speech to my sport delayed children.  But he was very excited that it was finally his turn to be on the field.  The girls were a little irritated I didn't sign them up this year.  Oh the tragedy of belonging to a family of siblings instead of a family of one!

GQ and a Public Service Announcement

Says GQ - after E made him a little paper dagger complete with a scabbard and belt:  "I am going to get rid of everything I don't like!!!"

***

Also, I think I am making my blog private.  It is mostly just the way I keep track of our memories now and E is getting old enough that I've decided to stop plastering her picture publicly.  (I'm more than willing to do it privately.)  So, I'll "mediate" comments and if you want to be invited then send me your e-mail.

I will just add you Mom, Libbi, and Paula.

Mother's have inspiration....

The Friday after school started, Justin had a get-together with people he works with.  Generally we don't make it to these outings because we have four troublemakers to deal with - but they were invited this time.  Before we left the house, I thought:  "I should check GQ's diaper."

I did not.

Upon arrival, GQ's shorts were completely soaked (okay, okay, so I am a slacker at changing his diaper... we're potty-training now).  I looked in the "Emergency Bag" which apparently has not been updated since M was GQ's age.

Hence the pink pants:

WITH flowers on the bottom.

What is funnier is that because my girls pick their own clothes and have so much amazing fashion sense, I had specifically picked GQ's and Baby S's clothes to look normal so that I could at least seem somewhat normal myself.  Yes, I apparently do still care somewhat that other adults don't think I pick outfits like the following:

I suppose I should get over it.

Yes, I meant to have four of them.

When people find out I have four children under 7, they are usually incredulous.  But one of the reasons I like having so many kids is because I was a loner at home.  My closest sibling is 10 years older than me, and all of my siblings grew up much more with each other than they did with me.  So, I love to see my own kids enjoying each other and loving each other and - of course - driving each other batty.

In the bathtub:

(In this picture, Baby S looks so much like E as baby that I hardly "see" it as him anyway.)

And loving on their brother:

He does look a little concerned in the midst of that squishy love-fest.

"Summer lovin' had me a bla-ast, summer lovin' happened so fa-ast....

met a girl "climbing a tree", met a boy cute as can be...."

We had one last lovely day before summer started and we had to get to bed at a reasonable time.  (Although why we try with M and GQ I am not exactly sure.  They prefer to throw blankets/books/dolls/ at each other until 9:30 anyway.)

This is E climbing the tree out front.  It hasn't occurred to her to go up higher than that yet.

New school/birthday outfit from Grandma:

Don't I look angelic?

Don't be fooled!!!!

GQ starts the day right.

Says GQ: Mom, I used E's toothbrush today because I didn't want my toothbrush to get dirty.

Swim Lessons

This summer my goal was to swim, swim, swim - and get my kids more comfortable in the water.  I think we have succeeded now that August has arrived, but M started out swim lessons in the same place I always hung out.... on the wall:

GQ jumped right in and often had to be pulled back to the shallow end because he was apparently not much concerned about drowning.

Testing out the waters.

GQ would often join M on the wall:

E is officially a better swimmer than me.  Maybe I can go across the pool, but she knows way more swim strokes than I do.  She also has "invented" a mermaid stroke.

Lately...

I completely forgot I had these awesome photos that Emily took of E and her Dad on Lake Cascade:

Obviously she is braver than me.  Yay for E!

This is the first time Justin had been water-skiing since a work trip when we were at Sports and Dance Camps (9 years ago!).  Apparently he was excited to get to meet me outside of the office, but very surprised to find out that I did not attend.  Ha!  Me and water-skiing??? Not so much.  

*****

This weekend GQ decided he wanted to try the whole "potty" thing.  So, off we went to purchase underwear.  Now, I have always said I think boy clothes are pretty lame-o compared to girl clothes, but let me tell you... boy underwear is much cuter than girl underwear.  We stocked up on Buzz Lightyear and Thomas the Train underwear and then waited, waited, waited for Monday. 

Then we began.

Then we stopped.

Says GQ:  "Mom, I want to be a baby like S.  I want my diaper back. I do not like going potty."

I considered forcing the issue since he is 3, but then I considered what forcing the issue would mean: yup, me cleaning up potties all over the house.  No, thank you! 

So, I folded up the cute underwear and put it away.  I am sure he will be potty-trained by the time he's 12.  Never fear!

*****

Since getting married, I have never lived anywhere longer than two years.  So, pretty much the idea that we are staying here is driving me insane.  I like so much to go through everything we own and try to THROW IT ALL AWAY.

This - by the way - drives Justin insane.

I told him that when we "really" move - after school - I am renting a dumpster to put outside our home so I can get rid of everything I want.

He said that is renting a Pod so he can put all of his stuff in it before I start.

(Like I wouldn't find the keys to the Pod.)

So, anyway, this summer I decided I would go through every room in my house and get rid of anything I possibly could.  Since swimming lessons are over, I began that this week.  I have currently de-garbaged the kitchen and the living room.  It is so nice.

Justin is concerned, and is hiding all his headphones. (Don't even ask how many that is.  And don't EVEN ask about the new pair he is saving up for.)

*****

I want a yard.

*****

Baby S has decided that whenever I lay him down and walk away I am doing a great injustice to the world.  Whenever he hollers, the image that comes to mind is from the A&E Pride and Prejudice when Darcy's lovely Aunt says something like:

"Is this to be borne? Are the shades of Pemberly to be thus polluted?????"

While the content is obviously different, the indignation is about the same.

GQ's Third Birthday!!!

GQ turned 3.  He will tell you that he is no longer 6 now.  Yes, we do lots of math at our house.  For GQ's birthday he got his hair cut.  He also got to go to WalMart and sit in the toys that I refuse to put quarters into.  This is the good life, I tell you what.

GQ wanted a Buzz Lightyear cake.  Until I made it, and then he just wanted the Buzz off his cake.  M convinced him he could have it after dinner, and since he always obeys M - things worked out okay.

Happy Birthday GQ!!! We love you!!!!

Cherries

GQ insisted he didn't have any cherries on his face.  Then, he pointed to all the parts of his face that were clean, which meant the cherry juice on his hands stained everything, everywhere.

Orders

For dinner we had spaghetti:

Mom: M, do you want red sauce on your spaghetti?
M: No. Just cheese.

Mom: E, do you want red sauce on your spaghetti?
E: Yes.

Mom: GQ, do you want red sauce on your spaghetti?
GQ: No. I want blue sauce.

Boys

Baby S has recently begun to enjoy laying on his tummy because then he can look around and see the world.

Sometimes when he looks around to see the world, he finds his brother.  If he is alone, and he sees GQ - he starts to cry.  GQ is not very good at boundaries.  If there are adults to act as referees than he is willing to smile and enjoy his big brother.

"What?  I shouldn't grab his head and rub it for good luck?"

On the day we took pictures of all the ballerinas, my friend Angie tended Baby S when I went to pick up E from school.  She just happened to take these adorable photos while I was gone.  Now if only I could convince her to do our family photos.  Apparently some crazy lady conned her into taking a bunch of dance photos and she is feeling slightly worn out.

At the Park

Bald baby getting swung by sister:

Boy with a stick:

Funniest face ever, even if it is fuzzy:

Check out that hair.  We've got to get this kid some Rogaine!

It's true, GQ is pretty much always whining these days.  But we still love him.