Different...

What a different kind of week this has been!  Ben and Conner are staying with my parents for the week!  We will join them on the weekend to celebrate all of my family's July birthdays.  Even though I miss my little guys, Nick and I have taken full advantage of our time this week already.  Restaurants, movies, bars, house hunting.... we've done it all!  It's good to have this time to recharge and just do some fun things that we don't normally get to do!  The house is a little too quiet, while I'm quite sure that my parents' house is a little too loud!  I love that my kids get to have this week to stay with their Nana and Gramps!  I know that they are enjoying themselves and if they're happy, then I am very happy!

Air-Conditioned Activities...

It has been an indoor kind of week for us.  Temps have risen to the high 90s and it feels like over 100 degrees and with a child who does not sweat at the moment (side effect of Con's meds), being outside in this heat isn't the safest thing for us.  So we have spent the week finding indoor activities.  This morning we got out the new Do-A-Dot art paints and books that Great Aunt Jen sent for the boys' birthday.  We had a great time!  Thanks Hughsons for the awesome gift! 

We have resisted the lure of the television for most of the week, but after painting and playing marching band for a while, the boys started chanting "Movie!"   A couple of juice boxes, some cheese, and our favorite Curious George movie made for two pretty content little guys!

Pirate Sighting!

 I wanted to write about our pirate sighting today so that we will always remember it!  I was at HyVee shopping with the little boys.  We turned a corner and there he was, a nice old man with an eye patch.  The boys sucked in their breath and yelled "PIRATE!"  They pointed at him and said "Look Mommy, a pirate, arrrrrggggg...!"  So I quickly exited that aisle, continuing on to the next, hoping I would remember to go back later.  And wouldn't you know it, we saw that "pirate" at least 4 more times before we were finally done shopping.  Everytime the boys would spot the man, they would point, scream, and then turn to me and ask, "What's that pirate doing here?"  I answered them the only way I could think of saying, "Well, guys, pirates have to eat too!"  

After our exciting morning, a mediocre lunch, a decent nap, and a thermometer that read 97, we settled in the air conditioned house to work on our painting and cutting. 

  

More Slippin Than Slidin!

We got out the new Cars Slip N Slide today and it was hilarious!  In the first picture, Ben stepped on it and almost immediately fell on his behind so he was not a fan of this activity for most of the afternoon.  Towards the end, he finally stopped fussing and played in the water at the end of the slide.  Conner loved it!!!  He mostly crawled his way to the end, but he did his share of slipping, although it wasn't really on purpose!  He loved it when Daddy slid down and splashed him at the end!  It was very fun to watch them all!

After we went inside and I was drying the boys off, Conner told me "I love that slide, Mommy!"  Ben told me, "I got water up my butt..." 

Water Fun...

Nick and I saw this water cooler on clearance at ToysRUs so we had to get it! The boys were impressed.  Although it didn't last long since they kept knocking it over and spilling the water everywhere.  They weren't that interested in actually drinking the water, they would fill up their cups and then pour them out just so they could fill them up again!  I finally told them that I wasn't going to fill it up anymore so they moved on...

I put the water table together so we could have another cool activity.  They had lots of fun splashing each other!  It came with these little squeeze balls that could shoot water, but they were much more interested in throwing them (of course!)  After a few times of having to chase a tiny little ball down the street, we emptied the table and took it to the backyard, where it will remain!

Happy Birthday Babies!!!

Happy 4th Birthday to Conner and Benjamin!  The boys and I spent the day outside enjoying the beautiful weather.  When Nick got home, we went to Granite City for dinner and then the boys got to open some more gifts and blow out some more candles!  It was a great day to turn 4! 

  

Happy Birthday babies!!!!

"4"

I don't know when it happened but I feel like I missed something.  I have been here, with my children, almost every minute of everyday and I still cannot believe that they are four years old today.  It seems impossible.  This occasion is further complicated by the fact that we are planning on leaving the only house we have all lived in together as a family.  We are awaiting word of an offer after our first showing the other night.  Change is always hard and today it seems as though it is trapping me in this lawn chair I am sitting in while I watch my children play.  I can remember when I first brought them outside to play in the driveway so they could ride their new trikes around.  They needed my assistance in so many ways. (They still do, they just don't think that they do!)  This morning as Ben rode his scooter too close to the street and I said his name, he looked back at me and said "No big deal, Honey!"  After Conner took a rather hard tumble onto the concrete, he quickly looked at me and said "I okay, Mommy!"  When did they become so capable?

It has been a year of discoveries and firsts at our house.  I say it all the time, but my children truly do amaze me.  Yes, they are hyper most of the time, have a bit of a listening problem, and are learning many new ways to annoy Mom and Dad, but they are amazing!  Watching them puts a smile on my face and a happiness in my heart that does not ever fade.  Whenever some medical professional tells me that something else may be "wrong" with my children, I think to myself  "you have no idea what my kids have already been through and how much we have worked to overcome so many things..."  Doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. talk a lot about what an "average" four year old should be doing or should be saying.  My children are anything but average.  Their accomplishments will continue to amaze me! 

Ben and Con, years from now, when you read this, know that your mom and dad adore you.  We treasure you and consider ourselves truly blessed to be your parents.  Today, you are turning 4. Time just keeps speeding by and I don't know how I will ever be able to keep up.  But I will try my hardest.  It is moments like this when I want you to stay little forever.  

Conner, you are the most inventive four year old that I know.  You know exactly how to use your skills and your adorable face to get what you want.  You continue to be so curious about everything that you see.  I can see the gears in your head turning as you are constantly trying to figure out how something works.  I love that you are still the "sensitive" one and that you continue to need the comfort of Mommy and Daddy often.  Every new challenge that you face, you give everything you have.  I am so very proud of you.

Ben, I love how you live your little life in fast forward.  Barely even stopping for meals and naps.  You have no fear when it comes to trying new things.  All we have to do is open the door and you are happy playing outside morning, noon, and night.  You also have a sensitive side and it comes out when you frequently tell us that you love us.  You are becoming such a great little talker and one of my favorite things to do is just sit and listen to you.  I am so very proud of you.

What a year we have had...   Happy Birthday my loves.

" ______ Mama"

In case you couldn't quite make out what Conner was saying, he was saying "Hoochie Mama."  Yep... it was a proud moment... 

Scooters!

 We decided to give the boys an early birthday present today.  We got them scooters!  Nick had today off and it was such a nice day so we gave them the scooters today so they could have more time and sunshine to enjoy them!

Conner has ridden a scooter before in physical therapy, so he was very excited to have his very own scooter for home!  He did such a great job with it!  Conner tends to be a bit more dramatic than Ben, so I thought there may be some big tears to accompany the many falls he took today, but he sucked it up!  Just proving to me, I suppose, that he really is going to be four tomorrow!!!!

Ben hasn't ridden a scooter before today, but he quickly figured it out!  He also discovered how to coast along with both feet on the scooter.  The kid knows no fear!

We may have to invest in some helmets, but the boys love riding their new scooters!  It's all they wanted to do for the rest of the night!

Chuck E. Cheese

We took our annual trip to Chuck E. Cheese today to celebrate the boys' birthday a day early.  It actually turned out pretty good and the boys loved playing all the games.  It is very fun to watch them when they are so excited! 

We took a break to enjoy some pizza and the show!  Mommy and Conner got to snuggle a little and Ben showed Daddy some appreciation!

After lunch, it was back to the games!  Conner had to give Barney a hug and Ben wanted to ride the big horse!

It was a very fun time and the boys took a good nap when we got home!

New Toys!

I must admit that I love new toys almost as much as they do...  they are so excited to see how it works and this track kept them busy for a while yesterday!  (We lost power yesterday for almost 7 hours so keeping busy was a challenge!) 

Birthday Party!

We had a great Pirate birthday party on Saturday!  The boys were so excited that they boycotted naptime and chose to run around the house instead!  We had a really good day and we are very thankful that our families could help us celebrate!  We still have a few days until they are officially 4, but it was great to celebrate this weekend with the big bash!

Such a fun day!  Wish I would have taken more pictures, but it went by so fast!  I cannot believe that they are going to be four... 

House For Sale!

It's official!  Our house is for sale!!!  I can't believe we are actually doing this!  Hopefully we can find a newer and bigger house for our growing boys!

4 Year Pictures!

We had the boys' 4 year pictures taken and here are some of the better ones!  We fought for these pictures, people!  The boys sat down for the first picture and Ben immediately started crying and saying that he was done, so needless to say, our session was bru-tal...  but we got it done!  Our babies are almost FOUR!!!!

They sure can be cute when they WANT to be!!!  8 more days until we have two 4 year olds running around!