First Half Summatime

Already we have surpassed June into July - halfway through Summer! Actually, probably just past halfway since school will begin back up in about 2.5 weeks now. It has been what we thought - blink and you miss a lot! It has been a lot of fun so far.

We began with a few play dates at our house. Nate had his friend over and we had a pizza and pool party.

The boys went with daddy to a special kind of Cub Scout camp - their last time to go together before Nathan separates into a different group. They were away for three nights and rode horses, fished, did archery...basically spent four days outside up in northern AZ.

Nathan took a babysitting class. Bless his heart, the only guy in the room. I have begun letting him "babysit" off and on for short periods of time during Preston's nap. He's a very responsible guy, it has gone pretty well.

Nate also began a weekly magic class. At the end of July they will have a magic show.

The following week both the boys went to Vacation Bible School in the morning.

In the afternoons that week, Aaron went to a cooking class.

We had a low key Father's Day - we went to daddy's favorite restaurant for breakfast but otherwise had a hang out kind of day. Pretty good reason probably - two days later we left for Hawaii!

21 Month Comparison

Just because I like to see how the boys looked at the same age! ;) 

Answers : A- Nathan, B- Aaron, C - Preston 

Aaron Turned 7!

Only just a little over a week ago did Aaron turn 7. The actual day I got bagels for breakfast, we just had lunch at home and he wanted to order pizza for dinner. He got some gifts that day so he spent the day just wanting to play with them, and a movie around dinner time. Pretty low key!

The end of April we had a birthday party for him - so glad he was well this year for it. 

The kids jumped in a bounce house for a bit, did a science experiment and we had kids bring water guns for a little shootout (turns out not all the kids liked that idea). Aaron isn't much into cake so we decided on sno cones - it was perfect since it had begun to get warm out. He had a lot of fun with his friends and family. 

Now, some Aaron facts....

--One smart cookie. Is in accelerated Reading and Math. Scores so high especially on the Reading. Both kids like to read books when they go to bed, and I think they sometimes read for up to an hour.

--Social butterfly. Always talking about his friends at school and Cub Scouts.

--Enjoying Cub Scouts! This is his first "official" year. He has sort of tagged along past years with Nathan but now is truly allowed to fully partake. Only outside school activity. 

---Still is his Mama's Boy. The only one I think. Out of nowhere he likes to draw me pictures and notes. Rather, I should say he is my Cuddle Bug. 

--He has stayed pretty committed to enjoying art and cars! Now add to it Legos. 

--Wears his little heart on his sleeve. Very quick to get emotional. 

--Good luck seeing the floor in his room. He's very opposite his older brother in that way. Night and day. 

--Pickiest and bird eater out of the brothers. I'm glad he continues to grow okay because a lot of days I worry about what seems to be lack thereof appetite. 

--Has his first loose tooth! It has been loose a while and doesn't show signs of falling out anytime too soon. 

--Prefers to play outdoors! As usual. 

That about sums up my guy - my little middles is getting so old!

Spring

Kind of hard to recall Spring Break...other than to remember we were here, and soon after wards was Easter so it felt like there was no school all month!

Right around Easter Nathan had his First Communion! As opposed to when I was younger, I think it is left up to the parents when kids get their First Communion now. We've actually been asked about it the last few years but only decided Nathan was ready this year. 

Right before Easter I had a girls weekend in Sedona with my sister-in-law from New Mexico- it was heavenly! We stayed at a boutique type hotel that served breakfast, sat in the hot tub, hiked, ate out, enjoyed casual drinks and chatter...basically a mom's dream weekend.

I haven't been away on my own, without kids and such for a while so it was really relaxing. Good company doesn't hurt, either ! ;)

New Journey

The last few months I have still been busy trying to expand my writing possibilities. I've had a few opportunities but none of them have come to be. It has been a bit bumming, but I always try to come to the realization that I don't get those opportunities for a reason.

This past week, the reason came. While I still write for a local magazine and the East Valley Mom's Blog, I will be training for another kind of job - a sleep consultant. I have talked on here in the past about having used a sleep consultant to sleep train some of our kids (Aaron, Preston). I'm pretty familiar with methods and realized it too, could be a somewhat flexible job that I could do from home (continuing to be with Preston but yet earning a little on the side has been my focus as of late). Also, I think it would be good for me to have more purpose outside motherhood. Motherhood, while an important role, has been my only role for so long that I've been starting to yearn for more.

So, I was pleased that Preston's sleep consultant was looking to expand her business, and even nicer that she was willing for me to get trained first. I will have to complete a certification class. My main focus will be conducting workshops (that take place on my side of town) as well as in-home packages (if they take place on my side of town). I will also get some email/phone packages that clients choose. I'm excited, but a little nervous too. I'm hoping with my past experience I will catch on quick. I'm looking forward to helping other families the way sleep consultants have helped us! Oh and also learning in the process as I imagine I will continue to need advice as well ;)

I hope to be up and running in the next several weeks!

Boys Update!

Can't believe we're nearing the end of the school year! These guys have grown (mentally, literally!) Take a look :

Nate is finishing 4th grade. Next year he is hoping to play percussion in band.

The big news on the school front is that we will be moving schools - since Nathan started preschool we have gone to the same school, Hancock. It wasn't our home school but was still close and we have had good experiences there. The last several months, the boys have been talking about going to our home school that is in our development (mostly, they hope, so they can ride their bikes and walk to school). I have also wanted a bit of this change, as I have been checking out the school for a bit and have noticed all of the fun and different things they do that our current one does not. We've also   heard just as many good things about the school, so we don't feel like we're downgrading. One of the other benefits we discovered about moving was that both elementary schools will feed into the same junior high, so they should know more kids. It's still a bittersweet change. It's always kind of scary changing routine and then being around a lot of new people! I went to the school' s last PTO meeting and gave an on the spot nomination speech to be part of the board next year. It was an easy way to keep in the know and also go into the year with some mom friends!

Will write more about Aaron in another post! He just had his birthday and thankfully this year, a birthday party. No sickness this year!

Preston is a very big boy now. He definitely looks two! He is very tall and sturdy. More words. Just had his first dentist visit and has his first molar coming in! Becoming more independent by the day, too. He's starting to play some on his own. But, much like a toddler he is into EVERYTHING. Taking things down, wiping tables clean. It's no wonder this mama is tired on the daily. He has the terrible two tantrums.

We are gearing up for a busier Summer. In fact, perhaps our busiest Summer yet. I don't know that we have ever (with the kids) taken a big Summer vacation before but we are this year. The boys are enrolled in a few classes and camps. The boys are also going to a Cub Scout camp with daddy. In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to it being pretty busy!

18 Month Comparison

I guess technically Preston doesn't turn 18 months until next month, but here are some early shots of how the brothers compare to each other !

The more I look at these, the more I think they're all the same person!
A- Preston
B- Nathan
C- Aaron

Happy 10th Birthday, Nathan!

Ten years. Ten years ago I started this blog when our first son was born. I just can't believe he is TEN! Double digits. I still remember so many baby memories (as you maybe especially do with the first, experiencing parenthood for the first time?) He hated the car. I just prayed I could get through the Starbucks drive thru. I remember inhaling food like all of the time, trying to get something in my stomach before he would start to fuss. 

Now this guy is in 4th grade, is very responsible, follows rules to a T (thank goodness, such a relief), enjoys traveling, wants to be an airline pilot when he grows up so he's fascinated with learning about airplanes right now. He enjoys reading chapter books (currently he is reading the Diary of Wimpy Kid books), still likes to play outside and play with his brothers! He's very good at telling me or watching to be sure Preston isn't getting into trouble. (Generally he's good at watching both of his brothers in that regard!) He has been on the Honor Roll at school all year long. Still enjoys kid food the most :p He is up to my shoulders now in height! I pretty much treasure any hugs or snuggles he gives me because they are fewer and far between nowadays. He doesn't like to smile for pictures, or really have his pictures taken much anymore. Ugh. In general, I can just tell he's moving more towards being a tween! :( I can't even believe I just said that. He was a toddler just like his young brother only a minute ago I swear. 

For his birthday, Nathan wanted to get family and friends together to golf. We had a little party the day before his actual birthday.

 With his friends Riley, Mons and Ben

The actual day of his birthday he asked for donuts for breakfast. He wanted to attend Sunday School yet that day because he knew it would be kind of a bonus day - he would get something for his birthday AND Valentine's Day. After that, he used some money he got and bought something for himself at Target. He proceeded to play with it that afternoon for a while before going on a bike ride. That evening, we went out to his favorite pizzeria for dinner. The boys played some more and he ordered something online using more of his money, and that was pretty much the day! 

Happy 10th Birthday, Nathan!

A Cabin Christmas

Just moving right along! We decided this year, since we have never done so, to spend Christmas up north in my sister's cabin in Flagstaff. We mainly did it because we wanted to have a white Christmas for the first time (at least for me and the boys!) While normally there would at least be snow on the ground, this year has been very dry and warm and the city hadn't even had it's first real snow storm yet. That meant...no snow. No snow falling and no snow even on the ground. There wasn't even snow on the high mountain peaks. Dry, dry!

While we were disappointed with that (guess we'll try again another year!) we were happy that we did get the other part of what we wanted, which was a relaxing holiday. We're used to bouncing and rushing around both days, so it was really nice to be planted in one place the whole time, and in our pajamas nonetheless! It was very laid back.

The day we got there (day before Christmas Eve) was the only time we had any kind of plans, which was to see lights at a nearby zoo that night. However, Nathan was under the weather a bit so we just stayed back.

On Christmas Eve, we did go to the store to buy what we needed to cook for dinner that night and Christmas Day. Otherwise, back to the cabin we went again just laying around, the boys played...on Christmas Eve we watched Home Alone together. We made a gingerbread house (which we proceeded to take apart and eat).

We made hot chocolate and had the fireplace going...

Mommy had nice baths in the jet tub with spiked eggnog that daddy made!

That night for dinner I made lasagna, something different and easy to put together. Once the kids went to bed, Josh and I stayed up and watched more Christmas movies. I don't remember the last holiday where we have taken the time to do that. Cabin vibes, I guess! 

Bringing up gifts was tricky, but thankfully it worked out and the kids didn't know we brought any up (wrapped gifts in a suitcase). We just brought what Santa gave them because of space. 

Christmas morning the older boys patiently waited for Preston to wake up. I heated up cinnamon rolls for breakfast. 

Because we weren't having a big meal until dinner, it allowed us to have a relaxing (how many times have I said that word?) morning. We opened gifts, took our time with breakfast, actually just got to sit and watch the kids play with their new things while wrapping paper, bows, ribbons and such were everywhere...it was wonderful..

Early afternoon I began prep for dinner. I made pomegranate glazed prime rib, garlic red pepper broccoli rabe, and truffled gratin potatoes. I'm used to and enjoy having prime rib for Christmas but I wanted to play with a different recipe. 

The following morning we left to come home. We opened the gifts we got the boys (rather, that we said were from us) the day we got home, opened gifts with my family the following day and just last night, gifts with Josh's family. While I know it means having to get together multiple times for some people, it was nice to have some of the craziness (and all the gifts) spread out over a period of time, versus being overwhelmed and hectic in the 48 hours. Now we are just enjoying the rest of Winter Break and having daddy totally off of work for a bit! 

Thanksgiving in NYC!

This is the first year we have gone away for the holidays! We had this trip planned to NYC since last October...patiently waiting for it to come around. It finally did and went very well! We left the littles at home with my family while we went from place to place (literally)with the older boys the whole time. It would not have been a very friendly trip for Preston having been on the go the majority of the time! Let's see if I can remember to go day by day...

The day before Thanksgiving, our departure. Our first time traveling around a major holiday.
It went pretty smooth, even at JFK - though, getting into Manhattan took at least an hour- hour and a half. We rented an apartment which also went very well! We didn't have much time that evening before we wanted to go out and see the Macys Day Parade balloons nearby. We got dinner and began I think at least an hour's wait weaving in and out of different lines. The balloons had already been blown up, they were just tied to the ground (so in other words, get there during the day if you want to actually witness them being blown up!) Once we were done doing that it was just time to get back to the apartment and collapse since we were going to be up early the next day for the parade!

Thanksgiving Day - all I can really remember is that we were up early and got to our standing spot two hours before the parade began, 9AM Eastern time. I purposely had booked an apartment near Central Park and the parade route and I was ever so happy I did that - all we had to do was walk down our street and down a few blocks and bam our standing spot. We brought books, etc for the kids to read and do while we waited. Having been in NYC for New Years Eve, this was a MUCH MUCH better experience. I think since the parade is stretched out over a few miles, it gives more space for people to spread a bit, where as NYE is only in one prime spot. Once the parade got under way, the few people in front of us were kind enough to let our boys to the front of the viewing area. I was really stoked for them! Not only did they have prime viewing but they also got to interact with people in the parade. We were also around a lot of other pleasant people, which makes it nice :p I think the parade lasted somewhere around an hour and a half. It was great to see all the floats up close and just pretty surreal that I wasn't watching it on TV. After it was over we went back to our apartment for the most part of the day, to relax, and watched the parade again on TV :) We had reservations at a restaurant in Central Park for dinner, so we got to Central Park a bit early and explored in there. We walked around, rented a boat on the lake...it was a nice way to spend Thanksgiving afternoon.

A typical Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixin's!

Ever so glad we brought some things for the boys to do, as our meal was just about three hours long. Josh and I would have enjoyed that had it just been the two of us, but antsy kids make for anxious parents!

Friday - After sleeping in and having breakfast out, we decided to take the boys to what they were most excited about doing and seeing - the Statue of Liberty. We also visited Ellis Island but didn't get any pictures there. 

Statue Island at sunset 

Waiting in lines and doing both activities took all afternoon into evening. We stopped on the way back to a bakery, called Magnolia Bakery, to pick up an early birthday cake (while in NYC, why not pick up an early cake near your birthday, especially from a delicious place?) 

Saturday -   We saw the Empire State Building! We had tickets to get to the observation deck outside.

It was neat to see the city from high up. 

That afternoon we had Broadway tickets to see Aladdin in Times Square. By far, was that the busiest area of the city!

We did some shopping in some of the stores in the area afterwards. I was so relieved to get out of that part of town and back in our quiet, more secluded street near Central Park! We were tired from our day out so it was dinner back in the apartment. 

Sunday - More of a chill out kind of day. We went back to Central Park for a while, just to let the boys get some energy out running around. 

I have to just say, Thanksgiving time is a wonderful time to be in Central Park - leaves are red, orange and yellow. It was nice to see some Fall color! For being New York our weather was mild and I think we lucked out on temperatures, too. Daytime was in the 50's or so. 

We had a late lunch reservation at Serendipity 3 - mostly for their frozen hot chocolate, but I wasn't able to make a reservation if we didn't promise to buy food, so we got a little bite! 

Aaron opted for the hot version, too

We decided to go to Brooklyn to see the bridge and had dinner at the original Patsy Grimaldi's (we were not impressed and missed ours at home!)

Monday -  Our last day! First we visited the Museum of Natural History. We were there for about two hours when the boys got tired so we retreated back to the apartment for a bit. We went to Macy's and got to meet Santa that evening. I also had a ticket to see a taping of Seth Meyers, but didn't feel up to going. 

The following morning we woke pretty early and headed home! We were thankful for a reliable, early ride back to JFK and a smooth flight. The only bad thing about our apartment was the lack of ventilation - if anything we were taking clothes off! Here I was worried about us being cold. 

The boys would say their favorite part was seeing the Statue of Liberty. Mine was getting to watch the parade and having a really nice Thanksgiving meal out, something we never do. 

The boys were also overjoyed with all the different modes of transportation they got to use that they hadn't before -- taxi's (which, thank you to all of them for not driving like crazy you know what's and for not cussing, yelling, or even honking their horns when we were in them!) subways, a ferry.... that seemed pretty neat to them. One time Aaron was so excited to go down the platform of stairs to get to the subway that he slipped and fell down the whole flight! :( He was okay though. 

Going to NYC to watch the Thanksgiving parade is something we think we could do again (versus like going for NYE!) I think sometime we'd like to go back and bring Preston. We're really happy with everything we saw and did, the boys got the true NY experience I think!