First complete sentence?

Proud moment at our house.  Peter’s first sentence (that he wasn’t imitating).  Drumroll, please…  “I juss poop”  (“I just pooped” in case your toddler speak is a little rusty)  The funny part was how he said it.  I saw him crouching in the dining room by a pile of toys.  He was looking so serious, and a bit concerned.  I asked him if he was okay and he looked up at me, kind of sad looking and said it.  It was so pathetic that it was cute.  Did he think I would be mad at him?

Before I had kids, I specifically remember a co-worker’s son saying to his dad that he needed his diaper changed.  I thought, “Seriously, if the kid can say that in a complete sentence, it’s about time he’s potty trained.”  Ha!  So judgmental!  The pre-parent me was a great parent.  In theory, of course.  :) 

BEST FIELD TRIP EVER!

Last week, we spent our family vacation time on an educational adventure for the boys!  We studied everything from Literature, Physics, Geography, History, Zoology, Cinematography, Nutrition, Map Skills, PE, and Math.  Where was this magical place with so much to see and learn that we could almost call it school?  Disney, of course!

Mr. Joe goes to Washington

Joe and mom got to go to Washington, DC!  It was Joe’s first plane ride of his memory.  His last plane ride was very memorable for mom… he was only two and he barfed all over himself and the plane wall.  But, enough of that gross memory.  On to some new fun ones!

Our first stop was to the Museum of American History.  They have the original “Star-Spangled Banner” – not the first one by Betsy Ross, but the one that was flying over Ft. McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote what would become our National Anthem.  They had a big demonstration in the main foyer while we were there.  They unfolded this huge flag and we all sang the National Anthem.  Very loud, very cool.  Joe wasn’t so interested in the First Ladies’ dresses, but we did tour the Civil War and Civil Rights part of the museum.  We haven’t really studied that yet, but I thought he was old enough.

Grandma and Grandpa met us there.  They’re super easy travelling companions.  (Plus, they were the ones that hooked us up with the tickets!)

Joe in front of the Lincoln Memorial.  He said this was his favorite part of the trip!

Crazy eyes!  We just learned that Lincoln’s hands are on fasces, a symbol of power from even before ancient Rome.

Yeah, he’s totally going to have to memorize that speech.  His teacher told me so.

On the other side of the Lincoln Memorial now stands the WWII memorial.  It’s fairly new and I had never seen it.  There are two big towers, one for the Pacific theatre and one for Europe.  We got Joe’s picture here because Granddad Carrol (his middle namesake) was in these battles: Saipan, Tinian, and I think Guam.

Further around the fountain, was where Grandpa Norbert fought (our would have if it weren’t for the end of the war)

On the other side of the Memorial, they have the European theatre.  Here is Joe and Grandpa by two big battles that Grandpa Elvin was in.  It was a very beautiful and fitting memorial.  Very well done.

Next Stop:  Air and Space Museum!  Joe got to touch a rock from the moon!

Couldn’t help myself after all of the balloon stories we read this year.

An exact replica of the first airplane!

Grandpa’s machine!!  For years, my dad took care of the “Flight Insurance” machines at KCI.  When the company finally decided to pull this segment of it’s business, KCI was one of the last airports to stop.  Dad was asked to carefully pack up his nicest looking machine to be sent to the Smithsonian.  He thought it would end up in storage somewhere.  He was quite surprised to find it on display the last time they were in DC.

Beautiful sunny day on the Mall.

Joe was anxious to show his brothers what the subway looked like.

So, speaking of WWII, on our trip to Arlington National Cemetery, we ran across a group from Honor Flight.  It was quite moving to see all of those men in wheelchairs paying their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

We had just studied the Colossal Heads of the Olmec, and there was a replica, right there on the lawn of one of the museums!

We ended out trip with Mass at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  What a beautiful place!

Joe got in on some picture taking (apparently)

What a great trip… I hope Joe will always remember it!

Urp!

Man, it starts early.  Yesterday, Peter ‘fake burped’ and laughed at himself.  Today, a brother burped and Peter pointed and laughed.

Little boys.  My life’s work.

Overheard

“Meenie Meenie mo, catch a tiger by his self.  If he hollas make him pay.  My mom told me to pick the very best and you are it.”  What Andrew learns on the playground at preschool

 

Andrew:  Who is the new Kolbe?

Dad:  Cate? (Aunt Shannon’s new baby)

Andrew:  Yeah, Cate.

 

Joe:  “Mom!  My foot has fireworks!”

Mom:  “huh?”

Luke:  “He means his toes are sparkling”

Apparently, his foot had fallen asleep in our cramped car.  We appreciated the translation from Luke, though.

 

Andrew(looking at old pictures):  “I remember when we went to the pumpkin patch!  Hey, it’s time to take off my eye patch.”

Swimmer of the month!

Congratulations to Luke!  He is the swimmer of the month for our swim team group.  He won the honor by being a “good listener and a hard worker”

We’re so proud of your great effort, Luke

http://www.teamunify.com/TabGeneric.jsp?_tabid_=28587&team=ntsma

Spotty and Broccoli

Andrew got to bring home the class mascots, Spotty and Broccoli, two stuffed turtles.  He was very particular with them! 

He fed them breakfast,

made sure they were buckled into their seatbelts,

and treated them to a day at the park.

Post turtles?

While we were there, Peter enjoyed his first trip down the slide with Luke, then down the slide solo.  Not sure that solo trip was such a good idea.  He was slightly freaked out.

And what would a trip to a park be without a little danger.  The little creek provided a lot of entertainment, especially when the boys saw a few fish swim by.

Spotty and Broccoli just HAD to go to our family’s favorite treat spot, Yogurtville!  We almost had the place to ourselves, except for two ladies eating on the patio outside and some neighbor friends who joined us later.

Little Peter was strapped into his stroller outside stuck in a tangle of rod iron chairs and tables just being an angel.  I told Luke to sit with him for a second so I could grab a napkin at the counter (see above picture to see how far I traveled – and for the face that was in need of said napkin).  Of course, in the five seconds that I was inside, Luke joined me there, totally forgetting his watching little brother duty.  Luckily, the whole store front is glass, so I could watch Peter while I took my four steps back outside.

When those two ladies on the patio left, one stopped to let me know just how terrible of a mother she thought I was for “leaving the baby outside all by himself for someone to kidnap”  On and on she went about bad people in the world and how lucky I was that she wasn’t one of them and how awful I would have felt if someone snatched him.

Did I mention that this whole rant was in front of my neighbor?  It was such a lovely dose of humiliation.  There really was nothing I could say… I did leave him out there alone.  It wasn’t my best parenting moment, but I was never actually afraid that he was in danger.  Clearly, that woman had no children.  If she ever did, I think a good dose of Xanax might help her make it through.  Sheesh!

Andrew’s Favorite Song

What a singer!

He didn’t quite get those lyrics right, but he sang the whole song!  Plus, I think he’s WAY cuter than the mullet-clad Toby Keith is this weird video, but I had to post it so you knew the real lyrics.  Funny!

Creepy video of Toby Keith

My Camera

This is what I get on my camera when it is left unattended for any period of time:

Lego creations.  and more Lego creations.  and pictures of the same Lego creations, just showing all of the ‘features’ they built in (doors that open, wings that move…)

Legos cause a lot of fights in our home, but seriously, the boys spend HOURS playing with them.  Creativity, problem-solving, engineering and physics… Legos are one of the best ways I can think for them to spend their time!

Wonderful Wonder

Babies are wonderful.  Truly… Full of wonder.  Like Peter today getting his first bubble bath.  It was so precious to watch his eyes light up, to watch him examine his outstretched hand that was covered in bubbles.  It’s such a miracle to be a mom and watch these moments unfold in front of you.  Imagine… the FIRST time he’s experienced bubbles!  He spent the rest of his bath slapping the surface of the water with his open hand trying to pop the bubbles and laughing with delight.  During the moment, I wished I had my camera to capture it, but that would have meant getting him out of the bath to grab the camera in the other room.  End of actual “moment.”  So, while I can’t share the visual (it wouldn’t have done it justice anyway), you can see it in your mind’s eye.

 

After the bath and a clean diaper, I laid down on the floor in the living room to ‘wrestle’ with the baby.  Apparently, the other boys saw that as an open invitation.  They must have needed a little bit of wrestling as well, because everyone joined in the fun.  It got a bit crazy there for a bit, and mom had to remind the boys not to kick Peter.  When it was all said and done, Peter had a gouge out of his nose and two scrapes on his chin.  BUT NO TEARS!  He never even wimpered!  That’s how you get to be tough, right?  Four older brothers who don’t always treat you like the baby that you are.  He loves it.