It's Fun to Play at the...

... Y. M. C. A!! (that was for you, Jason!)

Andrew had Speech at 11 and his hearing evaluation at 2. With speech done at noon, that left us some time to grab lunch before heading back to the hospital. Surprisingly, the boys finished lunch quickly (Noah is usually a very slow eater), which meant we had some extra time to kill. So... I surprised the boys with a quick trip to the Y.

20 minutes to run wild on the giant climber was perfect! They ran off some extra energy and had a blast. Last time we were there, Noah was hesitant and wouldn't go up the climber without me.

Today, he took off right behind Andrew and before I knew it, he was peering down at me from near the top! Both boys had a blast and I had fun watching them. And I was very impressed that when I said they could have one more time down the slide and then we'd have to go, and Andrew took his turn and came right out to get his shoes.

Noah, on the other hand, climbed as high up as he could get and refused to move!! I sent Andrew in to get him and was grateful that worked because I was not looking forward to climbing up there!

(and since you're wondering, Andrew passed his hearing test with flying colors, as we expected he would)

Light Entertainment

How do you keep a toddler entertained for quite a while, and at the same time provide a good laugh for the adults?

Put a flashlight in the toddler's hands!

Noah found the flashlight while at mom's and was immediately thrilled. He shined the light at various things around the room, smiling and laughing and pointing at it. However, the best part was when he cradled the light in his arms. He'd spot the beam on the ceiling, but of course, as he would turn to point at it, the beam would move. He looked like a dog chasing its tail. We all enjoyed a laugh every time he did it.

But, I think we better pack extra batteries for the flashlights when we go camping.

Helping

What are big brothers for, if not for helping you take off your shoes and coat when coming in from an afternoon out?

I followed the boys into the house, arms full of groceries and such, and before I could get stuff set down and take off my coat, Andrew had Noah on the tower to help him with his shoes.

They bicker and drive each other (and me!) crazy so many times a day... but then a moment like this makes all that seem not so bad.

Craft Time

The big boys made Valentines today and of course, Noah had to be right in there to make one too. He tries so hard to keep up with all of them and do what they do. I'm convinced he's going to be our first trip to the ER because of all his dare-devil ways of doing what he sees the older kids do. Today, I caught him trying to climb the outside of the bannister on the staircase!

The stickers on the craft were a bit hard for him to manage. They'd stick to his fingers and he couldn't quite figure out how to transfer them to his heart. So, we compromised. He put the stickers on, "just like the big kids," and then I would pickup a sticker, remove the backing and carefully reposition it just as he had it. He thought it was great and was quite upset when we were done crafting and had to clean up!

I guess in my planning, I'll need to pick activities for 4-year-olds that can also be adapted for an almost 2-year-old.

Hide & Seek

Somehow, hide & seek just isn't the same when your little brother runs along behind and points out where you are hiding.

The bigger boys were playing hide & seek this morning. Noah, of course, doesn't really understand it. He knows you stand and make noises. And he knows part of the game is to run and sit somewhere. And to find where everyone else went. He just doesn't understand that one person isn't supposed to do all of those things in one turn, which is what he tries to do.

One boy would count and the others would take off. Noah would follow along behind, as fast as his little legs would let him and then he'd point to where someone was hiding with a "there he is" sounding noise... Usually pointing before the person was even hidden.

How to win at hide & seek? Play with Noah and just follow him.

And, he's off!!

Andrew found his flag and was waving it around. Then, he grabbed his step-stool and decided he was the starter in a race. Even better, Noah jumped right in and played along, appropriately wearing his race car overalls. Andrew would wave the flag and shout "Go!" and Noah would run in circles around Andrew while making car noises. Noah would win the race and then they'd start again.

I do love seeing their creativity. And playing together is pretty fun to see, too.

Daddy's Shoes

Noah is a "mama's boy." Not in that kids-teasing-other-kids-on-the-playground way... 'cause, well... he's only 21 months old. He is just very attached to his mama. He needs to know where I am, gets jealous if I hold Andrew when he thinks HE should be the one being held, runs to mama when he's upset and all those typical things.

But, as he's getting older and gaining in his independence, he is realizing that Daddy isn't such a bad guy. He often runs to the door in the evening to greet Eric with a hug (tonight, I'm pretty sure he said "hi" for the first time, too). He asks for Eric to pick him up and hold him while we're in the kitchen fixing dinner. He'll sometimes sit on Daddy's lap, choosing it over Mommy's. And, from watching Andrew, he's learned that Daddy is also great for lift-jumping you high into the air.

It's only been in the last few months that Noah has started wanting Mama less and realized Daddy is okay, too. Of course, I've always thought his daddy is a pretty good guy. It just melts my heart to see him growing to understand Daddy's shoes are good ones to want to fill.

My Clown

Noah really is quite the character. Strong-willed, independent, fearless, loving, silly and so much more. One minute he's snuggling, head on my shoulder. The next minute he's tackling Andrew and laughing the entire time. He still doesn't have many words, but he most certainly knows what he wants and won't stop until he gets it.

He loves to laugh and to do things to make those around him laugh right along with him. He is well aware of when he is doing something silly-- spinning in circles til he falls or putting toys in his mouth and making funny noises with them. Tonight, he entertained by trying to fit the glasses for Mr. Potato Head on his face. Way too small, of course, but he thought he was funny and so did we.

I can always count on Noah to make me smile!

Toddler Taco

Andrew requested TACOS for dinner tonight and left us shocked with that request. He has never had a taco, never considered eating a taco and never asked for a taco. But, when it comes to new foods, if he's asking for it and willing to try it, I'll do whatever I can to get it for him ASAP, before he has a chance to change his mind. So, tonight was taco night. Andrew's had some meat, lettuce and cheese and he took THREE bites, no prompting, before deciding he didn't like it and asking for chicken nuggets.

Unfortunately, since Andrew has chicken nuggets most every night, Noah has started thinking he needs them too. Of course, I want him to eat a variety of foods, so we compromise by giving him one or two nuggets along with a full helping of whatever we're having. (and the boy has been known to eat 8 nuggets in a sitting, so 2 doesn't nearly fill him, leaving he rest of the meal to do that).

The problem with tacos is that they aren't very toddler friendly. The shells are crunchy and break into sharp, pointy pieces. Lettuce is a choking hazard. And with Noah, cheese is not allowed since he is milk protein intolerant. Not to mention, the spicy meat would cause a big reflux flare and make for a L-O-N-G night for all of us.

So, this was my adaptation to make a Noah friendly taco. I thought it looked so good, I snapped a picture of it. Ground beef, pulled out before adding the seasoning. Fritos Scoops corn chips, since they're softer than a taco shell and crumble more like a cracker instead of breaking into sharp pieces. Diced tomato. And diced avocado-- something I've found makes a decent substitute for cheese & sour cream in Mexican dishes. (though I do still miss cheese).

He didn't eat all of it (never touches avocado, no matter how often I offer it), but at least he had a plate that looked much like ours so he wouldn't feel left out.

Lunch Time

A typical Tuesday lunch scene for us. 5 boys, 4 and under, sitting around the table. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, since it does make things easier), our lunch menu seldom changes. These boys know what they want, have come to expect lunch a certain way and get quite upset when I try to change things up on them! But, it's only once a week, so no harm there, right?

Adam gets upset if we don't have corn dogs. Landon gets upset if there is no mac-n-cheese. Ryan isn't as picky, so he usually picks the fruit & veggie-- which do get varied. Andrew won't eat any of those, so he has pb on toast. And Noah can't eat the corndogs or mac&cheese because of the dairy in them, so he also has pb on toast. Sometimes, I can get away with chicken nuggets instead of corndogs, which is nice since all 5 eat those.

The best part though, once everyone has their plate and is settled in, is listening to the conversations the older boys have with each other. As they've gotten older and their vocabularies expanded, so have the mealtime conversations and topics. My recent favorite was when they were trying to make sense of the friend/cousin relationship they have with Cody & Caleb (friends of ours who are the triplets' cousins). They were quite convinced it meant they were ALL cousins!

It's hectic and even crazy, at times, but Tuesday lunches are always fun!

Mama's Lap

I know at some point, they'll be too big physically to fit. And, maybe even before that point, they'll decide they are "too big." I also know that they are both young enough they might not remember moments like this-- of both of them cuddled up together on Mama's lap, watching a movie.

But, I love times like this. These are the moments I treasure and will never forget.

Lunch Break

It seems that Thursdays always end up being our day to run errands. Probably because they're usually our only day of the week with nothing actually scheduled.

We've come to enjoy our trips out. Andrew loves going to Target. Noah likes trips to Kroger if we're doing some actual shopping so he gets to ride in the cart. (most places he's in the carrier on my back).

Today, we went to Costco, Kroger and Target. We didn't get much at any of the stores, but it was all stuff we needed that couldn't wait for a large shopping trip, so off we went. Costco and Target are both good for wandering and browsing all sorts of things-- perfect for a cold, snowy day like today.

We had a great time and since it was lunch time and the boys were hungry, we went to Wendy's as a special treat. Wendy's is fast becoming our favorite place for fast food (on those rare times we eat out). Andrew is even requesting there over McD. Food tastes better, value menu makes it cheap, and unlike the other place, Noah and I can eat their French fries since they are dairy free. And what good is a burger without fries?!?

Paci Addict

That's Noah. Our little pacifier addict. I try desperately to not let him have one except for nap/bedtime, but he is quite persistent so that doesn't always happen. Or, I'll take one away, only to have him find one hidden among his toys.

This evening, he walked in with one in his mouth and three in his hands! Look closely, and you'll see one of them is actually a nipple to a bottle. The other day he couldn't find a paci and was mad I wouldn't give him one, so he went to the drawer and pulled out a bottle nipple to use instead. How do you say no to such creative thinking?!?

Storytime

Reading a story before getting tucked into bed... a nightly ritual shared with Daddy. And yes, it must be Daddy. Mommy stories don't work at bedtime.

Wii Time

After dinner tends to be Wii time these days. Andrew asks about it the minute Eric walks in the door (if he hasn't already been pestering me about it during the day). And it is a fun way to spend time together as a family.

Noah enjoys it, too. He squeals when he sees the Toy Story logo on the screen and shouts "Buh!" (Buzz) he also thinks it's quite fun to "play," using an extra remote, minus the batteries. It really is an activity the whole family enjoys!

Chef Andrew

We were at church this morning, as usual, then home for lunch. The boys played for a bit (Andrew still isn't eating well after being sick last Thursday), then we headed to mom's for the Colts game and family dinner. Dave, Kayla and Memphis were there too and the boys always have a good time playing together.

Andrew was excited to help Mamaw in the kitchen and even more excited he got to wear a special "chef's" apron to do so!

And, while my new year's goal is a photo a day (Project 365 for those wanting to search it online-- I've just modified my version to make it work for me), I just couldn't resist including this one as well, of Noah sitting on Mimi's lap while the two of them colored together. I think she was tracing his hands to make handprints.

Dolphin

Yes, I realize I am pathetically behind on the blog. If anyone wants to come entertain the boys for a day, run my errands, and shuttle Andrew to multiple therapies... maybe then I could get caught up. :)

So... we'll go from here forward, and hope that, in time, I can get to the back stuff.

We visited the zoo today for their annual ZooBoo event. Andrew was VERY excited to get to wear his costume and go trick-or-treating at the zoo! And Noah, as is typical, figured if Andrew thought it was cool, than it really must be. Although, since we were up early for church this morning, Noah fell asleep on the way to the zoo and continued sleeping in the Ergo for the first 30 minutes or so that we were there.

The entire afternoon was quite fun for all of us, though I think the highlight for everyone came when we were in the underwater viewing dome, checking out the dolphins. I was watching Noah laugh at a dolphin, then turned to see this:

Eric had the camera in his pocket, and I didn't want to spook the dolphin by running up to grab it, so I pulled out my phone and snapped pictures with it. Not the best pictures, since it is a little dark in the dome, but I'm not sure the regular camera would have done any better since the flash would have been off.

The dolphin stayed around for several minutes, nodding, turning & twisting, and basically putting on it's own little show. When it took off, a second dolphin came over and continued the show with more of the same antics. Absolutely amazing to see!! And makes you realize how fun the zoo can be when it is less crowded. It was near closing time when we were in the dome, and there was only one other family in there with us (that would be who the little fairy in the photos belonged to) ... so it was a much quieter place than it is on a Saturday afternoon!

The boys in their costumes, Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat:

And a trip to the zoo wouldn't be complete without a ride on the carousel!

Solo Bath

The boys were playing together while I was getting some work done.  I checked on them to find Andrew "reading" Goodnight Moon to Noah.  So sweet!

Noah had applesauce and pureed zucchini at dinner tonight.  He's not the best at eating veggies as table food yet, so I still puree some once in a while, just to make sure he's getting some in him.  Of course, after a few bites he threw a fit until I let him feed himself.

And that meant getting a bath.  Andrew insisted he didn't need one, and I only insist he takes one if it's been a couple days or if he's had sunscreen on.  Since he just had a bath last night, we let him skip tonight so Noah got the tub all to himself.  I'm pretty sure it was a first for him.

Noah LOVES the tub, so he was quite happy to have even more room to splash and play.

Pretty sure this grin sums up how he felt about it:

Softball Time!

Softball season has officially begun!  Actually, it started 2 weeks ago.  But, the first game was rained out.  And last week's game we didn't go to because we already had made plans for Father's Day.  So, today was the first game for Eric.

Noah enjoying a snack in his chair.  I love this thing and it's already gotten plenty of use!

Andrew was more interested in playing with his tee ball set than he was in watching the game.  He's much better at it this year and got some pretty good hits in!

After lots of hitting, he thought he should practice his throwing, too.

After his snack, Noah decided he needed out of the chair to play, too.  At first, he thought the bat was best for chewing on.

Then, as with most everything, he thought he needed to be like big brother.  Ball on the tee....

... and hit it with the bat.  He gets the concept, just not sure how to actually do it.  I'm sure it doesn't help that the bat is nearly as tall as he is.

And while Noah was playing, Andrew decided he needed to have a snack.  He insisted on sitting in the high chair, with the tray.  Thankfully, he's still within the weight limits.

I know we won the game... but honestly couldn't give too many details on what happened. It's hard to pay attention to the action while trying to keep track of the boys!

The Chair

Just because it's been a while since I posted a picture of the boys together in the chair...

Actually, it's been a while since I snapped a picture of them together in the chair.  They get up there together, but it doesn't tend to last long enough for me to even grab the camera.