Note to Readers

Another note: I have added a few pictures to previous posts (mostly posts from within the last month). Just thought that you might like to know you can browse back and see some of the finer photographic moments! And because I could find no other way to post this priceless photo...

This is my Unka Jimmy after the Horan family Christmas celebration and many Christmas Crackers were popped all over the Living Room floor!

James's Aunt Day

Today was James's Aunt Day and I was a little nervous at first. I mean I hate taking him to the mall so I thought why would my sisters want to take him there. But then again there are three of them and no other kids. They had thought about taking him to one of those indoor playground/gym type places but we went to a birthday party at one of those places recently and he had some over stimulation issues. So we decided that he would have the same "day" as Kayla. So they came and picked him up and took him to the mall and he had a great time!

Guess what he made? Go ahead, I'll give you a minute to think about it...... Give up? He made a Shrek. Which makes perfect sense to me (though my sisters were a bit confused at his excitement). He has been watching Shrek almost everyday for the past week or so and loves it. When I say watch though what I mean is that he puts the DVD in and starts the movie and then does other things while it plays in the background. But I digress. So he made his new Shrek (which - if you have never been to BAB - takes about 5 minutes) and they told him that he could pick out some accessories. Well here is what he wanted... Not clothes for Shrek but a Shrek baby! It really was cute the way that he told me all about it.

Now I have to say that I had my reservations about this as well because the first time that we took him there he took about two steps inside the place and had a visual over stimulation meltdown like none we had seen before. But my sisters said that he did great. Next they took him to ride on those eat all your quarters mechanical rides. That may not seem special except that we NEVER let them do that. Instead we let them play on the "mat" - one of those interactive advertising things. (The mat and projector respond to the places that you step.)

After that they took him to the toy store and let him pick out a few things. This is also where the beauty that lives inside my Minis comes through. I must say that I can't remember what he chose for himself but this is what he got for Kayla. A Tinkerbell Inflatable Chair. She was so excited she really couldn't contain herself. The very next morning the first thing she wanted done was to have me blow it up. (Thank goodness we had one of those balloon pump things or I might have passed out!) It is currently displayed proudly in Kayla's room. And she will gladly tell you that her brother got it for her. I know that he can be a huge pain to his sister but I also know that deep down he loves her, he just has a hard time expressing it.

Then he got to go to Wendy's and get a Kid's Meal and eat or not eat any or all of it! I can only imagine what was going on in his head as his aunt's didn't make him eat his chicken but instead let him eat his oranges first and then his french fries and nothing else! But let's be honest he got to make a great memory and we got a day with just 2 kids again!

We are the Pirates who don't do anything...

... we just stay at home and lie around.

We took the twins to see their very first movie in the theaters today and what a great first it was. We went with the Tulumalos and took up like half the theater! In case you couldn't figure it out we saw The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. We all had fun - it is one of those movies that has added humor for the parents too. (Can anyone find the Terminator reference?? Chad and I did.)

After, the Tulumalos came over for pizza and FUN. So the junk food count for the day was:

1. popcorn
2. lollipops
3. pizza
4. potato chips (regular AND bbq)
5. chocolate chip cookies

I think tomorrow I need to get to the store and load up on fresh fruits and veggies.

Crazy, Crazier and Craziest

Dave's Grandpop has been really sick - he has been in and out of the hospital a bunch of times over the past couple of months. (PLEASE PRAY!) So he and his dad decided to take a trip to FL to visit him (perhaps for the last time). (= a little crazy) Dave flew out at the ***-crack of dawn on Friday morning. Thankfully Kathy (Dave's mom) was able to come Friday morning to help get the twins ready for school. And God love her she did a ton of laundry! Oh, but I forgot to mention that I didn't get to bed until about 2 am Thursday night and was up at 6 am with James. (I'll help with the math. I got 4 hours of sleep.) Then while the twins are at school John broke through his first tooth. (Yea, the screaming should subside for awhile.)

Kayla has had this cough for a few days but what Preschooler doesn't have a cough from November through March??? So when she had trouble sleeping we weren't surprised. (= a little crazier) But then Sunday night she got up at about midnight complaining that her ears hurt and upon further investigation we found that her throat was swollen to almost twice its size. (= even crazier) She wouldn't go to sleep without my sitting by her side so at 2 am when she was still awake and I was practically falling asleep sitting up I took some cushions off the couch and slept on her floor. I got about 4-5 hours of sleep.

While all of this is going on in her room... I can hear John wailing in my room with David. I want to go help but then I would have a second crying kid. The next morning I found out that John had cut his second tooth! (The twins got most of their teeth early and in pairs, too.)

I took Kayla to the Doctor yesterday morning and the rapid strep test came back negative the Dr said he thinks that it is a viral infection which will probably get worse before it gets better and will probably take 4-5 days to clear up. She showed a little bit of fluid in her right ear but no infection. We are waiting to hear back from the throat culture (on Wed) whether or not it really is strep throat (which is very uncommon at this age). So Kayla will be home probably all week from school trying to get better. (=craziest)

Though it may sound strange please pray that she might have strep because then it can be treated with antibiotics and can be healed faster.

Note to Readers

Just a note to my faithful readers (read: family and friends):

First: This is a photo of David taken on Christmas Eve Eve while preparing for the various crazy events that were coming down the barrel. Those are reindeer antlers that James made in school.

Second: I am trying something new on my blog. You will notice in the lower right corner of my blog ads will begin to appear. This is in an attempt to get some revenue from this fun adventure that we are on. Click or don't click, just wanted to let you know.

Sweeter Words Were Never Spoken

Kayla really is shaping up to be the most compassionate and considerate child ever. On Friday David had pretty much reached the point where he couldn't continue to work he was so sick. So he called me to say that he was leaving work early to go to the doctor. He was home by the time that Kayla got up from her nap and she was excited to see him. Later that afternoon when I was making dinner I asked Kayla what she wanted to eat. Her response to me was, "Maybe Daddy should have some soup. That will make him feel better." She made a point of making sure that David knew this idea. He and I just looked at each other with amazement.

Then today after I picked the twins up from school I put John down to sleep. I then came out to the kitchen to empty the dishwasher. Well, of course John decided that he wasn't really asleep. So I went back in to the bedroom to help him back to sleep. Next thing I know, I hear these little feet pad into my room. Then Kayla says, "Mom, can I empty the dishwasher?" "Sure honey, but remember just the plastic things." When I came out of my bedroom she had placed every plastic dish and cup on the counter and was starting to "put away" the silverware.

My question is if this is the core of her spirit then where does the whining come from???
Don't get me wrong I am super grateful for her compassionate spirit I just wish that this was her attitude when her brother wants to play with her doll house.

(This is a photo of Kayla and my cousin Nicole at our family's Cousins' Christmas Party. When you have this many cousins you need to have a special party!)

4-Month Old

I took John to the doctor this morning for his 4 month check up. As usual he was his regular charming self. He had the nurse and the doctor cracking up. The great part is that John is now 13.5 lbs and 25 inches. This coupled with the fact that he has excellent neck control and can put things in his mouth on his own means that he is a good candidate for solids. So we will probably start this weekend. I am excited because that means he is growing up. I know that most people say, "Oh if they would only stay this small..." but I really enjoy watching them grow and develop.

On another development note John is teething... big time. He is an absolute drool factory and loves to jam his entire fist into his mouth. Can't wait... I'll try to take pictures of it when it comes in.

Oh, and I almost forgot, John is almost completely rolling over from back to belly. Most of the time he gets to his side and decides to stay and play but sometimes he will go over completely. Crawling here we come!