Cleveland Zoo

On May 26th, Andrew, Carson, Alex and I drove to the Cleveland Zoo to meet our good friends Karina, Anna and Tommy.  They had moved away from Mount Vernon in the summer of 2011 to New York.  We have missed them soo much.  We have fond memories of playing together at one of our homes, meeting at parks, going to the Columbus Zoo, the "indoor playground" in Powell and on and on.  They were planning a trip back to Mount Vernon to visit friends for this summer but we would have already moved (more on that).  

We were so thankful that it worked out to meet at the Cleveland Zoo.  We had so much fun with them and had beautiful weather.  

Here are 4 of the kiddos in front of the elephants.

I think we were having them look into the sun at us while trying to get a picture of them.  Check out how squinty eyed Andrew and Carson are in these next two photos.

So funny!

I wasn't able to capture a "good" picture of these four kiddos.  You know, the one where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling?!  But I LOVE this next photo.  These 4 have so much fun together!

Spring Soccer

Both Andrew and Carson played in a 4 v 4 league at Mount Vernon Nazarene University this spring.  They both enjoyed this league very much.  It is such a positive program, run by the University coaches and players.  For some reason I only have pictures from one of Andrew's games.  I might have more pictures on my phone, will have to check.  I know we missed a lot of their games for various reasons.  And I was often solo with the three boys for practices and some of the games.  Perhaps pictures weren't my focus, but three active boys were.

Here is Andrew kicking it in.

Taking it up the field

Kicking it in!  (maybe, I don't remember for sure.)

Carson's Birthday Party

On Nov. 5th, we hosted a family birthday party for Carson's fifth birthday. He choose a Cars 2 theme.  This year I opted (with Chad's suggestion) to have the local Pink Cupcake Bakery make Carson's cake.  Decorating birthday cakes stresses me out a bit plus this year I was not able to eat any of the cake with my diet for Alex.  It turned out really cute, Pink Cupcake did an excellent job.  

Carson opening a gift

 Cousin Emma holding Alex

 Carson was pretty adamant that there had to be a pinata at his birthday party.  Can you really tell a child no when that was his only real request?  So we got the Lightning McQueen pinata and filled it with candy.  We told him we wouldn't do other decorations in the house and he was fine with that.  The picture below Andrew walks away defeated after his turn at pulling a ribbon did not result in candy dropping.

 I believe Leah had the winning pull

 Gathering candy; kids + my Mom and Tric

Always lots of fun to celebrate birthdays with family.  This was the first year that we did not to a combination birthday party for Andrew and Carson.  Andrew wanted to have a birthday party with friends this year.  I told Andrew that he might still receive gifts from family members but this party was for Carson and he could open them later after the party, this party was about Carson.  But as soon as Carson finished opening his gifts he said "OK Andrew, now you open yours!"  So Andrew did.  Carson is always thinking about Andrew...if we go somewhere like buying groceries, I often let Carson pick out something.  He will always ask if he can get something for Andrew too.  Such a sweet thoughtful middle brother.

Happy Halloween

 Andrew dressed up as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle which also included a mask that he himself made in Art at school.  Carson was Batman.  Alex stayed at home with Chad and helped pass out candy.  Chad wasn't feeling the best that night (if I remember correctly) and Alex had had a rough day with spitting up and being fussy so staying home was the best option for them.

 Andrew is checking out how his mask looks in the mirror on Alex's exersauser!

 I made the boys pose for pictures before we could leave our house.  They were a bit distracted as they could see some of our neighbors heading our way Trick or Treating.

SPiDeRS!!

We had some freakishly huge spiders invade our home this past Fall.  They would just all of a sudden appear and startle you.  Here it is on the wall one morning.

Here it is with a comparison of the light switch it was near.  It is almost half as big as that cover!!

This particular morning the boys and I found this spider.  I quickly got out the vacuum (after stopping to take pictures of it) to sweep it up.  As I swept it up in the vacuum hose I could hear the spider and feel it go through the hose I was holding.  I let out a little screech cause it geefed me (is that a word? I never heard it before meeting Chad's family) and my screech then scared the boys....some running, yelling and jumping was involved from the boys.  It was quite funny but maybe you had to be there!

Our Fish

These two are becoming quite the little fish!  Here they are swimming in my parents' pool last weekend.  Carson always wears a Buzz Lightyear life jacket and has become quite daring this summer.  Andrew swims well (mostly doggy paddles) but he can swim when he wants to.

Carson had his legs wrapped around Andrew just prior to me taking this picture.  They looked a bit like conjoined twins. 

Swimming Lessons

Andrew & Carson had swim lessons the past two weeks, July11-21st.  The lessons were at 9:00 each morning, Mon.-Thurs. the past two weeks.  They both really enjoyed their lessons this year.  Carson is much more comfortable in the water this year and doesn't mind getting his face wet.  He actually willingly puts his face in/head under water.  And on the second day of lessons his group went off the diving board.  No complaining, whining, or fear from this one.  Just walked to the end of the diving board....

 and jumped!

 The lifeguards were always there to catch him and pass him off to the next lifeguard to help him swim to the side.  I asked him if he could go off the diving board at Grandma and Grandpa's and this is when the fear and apprehension set him.  I told him someone would be there to catch him too.  He's still not too sure.

Andrew loves the water.  Loves going off the diving board, doing all kinds of crazy jumps and swimming to the side.  Here he is doing a canon ball.



A & C chillaxin' on our bed watching TV

Slip N Slide

I feel bad for Andrew & Carson this summer.  Last summer we would go to the pool a couple times a week or go play at a park.  But this summer that isn't happening too often.  I'm not stupid brave enough to take these three boys to the pool.  Alex does not need to be out in this heat and sun.  Chad has taken them to the pool several times in the evening or on the weekend.  He gets to be the fun parent.  :)

So I got them this slip n slide.

They think it is pretty fun.

Getting a running start

 sliding on their knees

 Carson wins!!

 Andrew won this time and is kissing the trophey

 They enjoyed crawling back up the slip n slide and trying not to get wet by the sprinkler.

 And drinking from the spray of the slip n slide

Last days

Here is Carson on his last day of preschool, in one of his two favorite shirts, on June 1st.  He had a great first year of preschool and looks forward to going back again this fall.

 Andrew's last day of school was on June 8th.  Chad was home for lunch before Andrew left for afternoon preschool and posed for a quick pic.

 Andrew waiting for the bus, looking all tough.  When we picked out his clothes that morning he said "Don't you think I should wear soemthing nice for my graduation?" 

 Here is Andrew running to get his certificate at graduation.

 We stopped at Coldstone after Andrew's graduation for a sweet treat.  Andrew had some blue icecream with chocolate chips and Carson had chocolate icecream with M&Ms.  We noticed as we were eating that each of their ice creams matched their shirts...and yes Carson is wearing one of his two favorite T shirts again.

After seeing this picture Carson says "I wish I could have gotten that Chocolate Meltdown" ~ see image in window in this photo.

Crazy Forts

I know I have mentioned Carson's love of making forts and mentioned seeing something called Crazy Forts at Barnes & Noble.  Well I found the same Crazy Forts on Amazon for much cheaper and ordered them.  And has an added bonus I had an Amazon $5 gift card from Swagbucks....have you heard of that?  I honestly can't figure out how it works, but it is an Internet site that I visit daily.  I do a few different things (answer a poll question, click on their survey site, attempt to refer people and search) all to gain Swagbucks and then I redeem these Swagbucks for Amazon gift cards.  Crazy I know, but if you are interested let me know and I can refer you.  Anyways, we gave them to Andrew & Carson "from Alex" for being such good big brothers. 

 Here is Chad building the first Crazy Fort, an igloo fort.  (ignore Carson, who looks like he is shooting at me)  All it is is these balls and sticks that you use to build the fort walls and then put a sheet or blanket over it.  One bad thing about these is I thought the boys would be able to build them themselves but it is a little too difficult but they can definitely help build.

 Building the second layer.

 And then put a sheet on top!  All done.  Carson peeking out from inside the igloo fort.

 I wanted to get a picture of the boys inside the fort.  I asked them to look at the camera...

then I asked them to look at the camera without Andrew giving Carson bunny ears...

then I asked them too at least look happy!

 and these crazy grins is what I got!

Chad even climbed inside for a minute, but I think became a little claustrophobic and quickly climbed out.

Andrew & Carson have had fun with these forts.  They have even pulled sleeping bags inside and slept in the fort overnight a couple of times!

Big Brothers

These two big brothers are the best.  They love little Alex so much.  I love the sweet way that they ask how Alex is doing.  Or how they are eager to help grab a diaper or a burp cloth or pick out his clothes - in fact they sometimes argue over who's turn it is to pick out his clothes! 

The picture on the left is from the day we came home from the hospital, May 5th & the one on the right is from the 6th.  Just 3 & 4 days old.  One day while my mom was here with us, Carson was holding Alex & sitting next to my mom in a chair.  Alex started fussing a little bit and Carson said "Here Alex, hold my finger, that will make it better."  For the first few weeks if you asked Carson what the baby's name was, he would consistently say in his sweet little voice "Alex Joseph".  Carson was also very disappointed when he had a bit of a cold and we told him it wasn't a good idea to hold Alex.  Just devastated that he couldn't love on his baby brother.

Here is Alex in his bouncy seat just 4 days old.

 

And the biggest brother Andrew with baby brother Alex.  Andrew has shown some concern for Alex.  Some friends of ours lost their 5 month old daughter this past November.  Andrew is very concerned about this.  He will often ask how Alex is doing when he gets home from school.  And has said "I hope Alex makes it out of being a baby."  So much for such a young boy to think about and process.  The first few weeks whenever Alex started crying Andrew was sure to point this out to me right away.  "Mom, Alex needs you!"  I'm not sure if he felt bad for Alex that he needed something or if Andrew just didn't want to hear him cry.  Even last night, Andrew & Carson were in bed and Alex was having his fussy streak (but then proceeded to sleep from 9:45ish until 6am!!!!).  Andrew said something like "Hey, doesn't anybody realize Alex is crying?"

Love all three of these little boys!