Amazing...

It never ceases to amaze me how different the three boys are and how similar - the things they do, the way they learn and progress.

Evan didn't walk until he was 15 months old, but before he walked he could climb a ladder.

Avery could stand, jump, bend over and pick up something off the floor before he was by around 6 months, but then didn't walk until he was a year old and when he did walk he walked all the way across the kitchen. Before he walked he had this great hopping thing he would do on his knees - I have never seen another child do it - it was hysterical and he drew crowds to him to watch.

In the last month Owen has started standing up in the middle of the room on his own without holding on to anything. I don't remember the other two doing that. We were at William Wurdeman's baptism and in the middle of the gymnasium he just stood up. I was thrilled that Alex and I were both there to see it. He is walking around holding on to items, but still has not walked on his own. He is standing more and more and for longer periods of time. Owen has been able to climb up the stairs for a few months now and every time he gets to the top he just sits there and smiles - he is so proud of himself.

They have ALL been climbers - climbing ladders, stairs, furniture long before they walked.

Gotta love 'em

Evan and I just had a conversation about the first day of VBS at our church. I asked him what his favorite parts were and he said the snack (1/2 a bagel & fresh fruit) and the story times - in the class room and in the breezeway. Then he went on to continue to say I was the best mommy, in the family - ha! Then he changed the statement to the Best Mommy Ever! Then he went on to say Daddy was the best daddy in the world - then changed it to the best daddy in the family - ha! Then we went on to discuss how we have to always love everyone in our family - but we don't always have to like them or all that they do. He agreed to that even though he as been stating quite the opposite frequently. He then went on to say he didn't always like daddy, but he did always love him (again - not what he was saying last night). Then he said he always loves me and always likes me - I said that I doubted that - but that it was ok to not always like me. I said sometimes I didn't always like what he does - he replied, "but you always love me" I said yes, always and forever and he said "all the way to the moon?" because I frequently say "all the way to the moon and back again". It is those moments that keep us going. The crazy moments are far to frequent with 1, 2 & 4 year old boys... but that one statement makes it all worth while! We are so very blessed!

The Things They Say!

June 3rd
Alex and I had to laugh this morning... Avery had on his cowboy boots and Evan helped him put in a plastic snake so then he had a snake in his boots! Hysterical for any Toy Story fans ;o) My how having kids changes your life - ha!

May 23rd
I am standing in the kitchen, boys are in the bathroom... I overhear Evan say "you're my best friend Avery, my best friend!" How sweet is that, just when you are ready to throw in the towel they do something like that.
June 6th
E: We are going to Gilbert's today e: Is Owen going? Is Avery going? Are you going? E: yes e: Is daddy going? E: No, he has to go to work e:why? E: Why does he go to work? e: because I am hungry.

E: Get dressed so we can go to Gilbert's e: Yay! I LOVE Gilbert! I am going to give him a big hug!

e: Are we going outside in the rain? E: Yes, to get to the car. You won't melt. e: Yes I will!

May 18th
Evan is currently obsessed with local honey in a honey bear! He has been eating a lot of peanut butter sandwiches it, some honey sandwiches and this morning... on his eggs! The label on the bear is on his tummy and Evan informed me that tags belong in the back! Such a smart boy!

May 17th
Evan "who is he?" Me "he is spraying so we don't have mosquitoes" e "but what is he?" E "an exterminator" e "he has a cool backpack! He is a GOOD sprayer" Just thought you would appreciate this review - ha!

Follow-up to this one - then when we went to the doctor's office there was a man with a backpack tool on and he said they are spraying for mosquitoes and I told him that this man was just blowing the grass away that he had just cut. Then Evan was concerned about the fact that the mosquitoes were going to come get him since they hadn't sprayed.

May 16th
 First words out of Evan's mouth this morning when he walked into our room "Why you here?" Me "You don't want me here?" Evan "No" Me "You want Miss Shannon?" e "yes!" Feeling the love - ha!

The boys and I are watching "Star Wars" because Mr. Potato head now can be Darth Vadar or a Storm Trooper... so Evan wanted to see who they were... Avery's comment "Cool airplane" to the X Wings and Evan just asked where the Power Rangers were - ha! I can barely keep my eyes open today and yet they keep making me laugh!

Dinner conversation "Evan, what was your favorite thing about today?" "Watching movies - Star Wars, because it was SOOOOOO COOL! There were bad guys" "so do you want to watch it again?" "YES!"

May 15th
This morning when we were getting in the car Evan refused to open the car door because it was wet. I asked him whose child he was and he replied "Daddy's, I like meat, Daddy likes meat. I love meatloaf, Daddy loves meatloaf and so does Bodaddy". Cracked me up! Aunt Diana better be ready for a talking to next time she is over because he thinks it is silly to not like meat and needs to tell you so in person - ha!

May 12th
Regarding our trip to Florida - String Break, camping, Disney...
Sitting in the kitchen - out of the blue Evan says "Thank you for the trip" I replied - "Did you like the trip?" e "Yes!" E "What was your favorite part?" e "The Dumbo ride!"

March 23rd

Last night Evan informed me that Bodaddy knows Santa and helps Santa deliver presents. I didn’t know you knew the big man – impressive! ;o) 
Bodaddy's response:

Thank you sooooo much for that terrifically important to me news.  I've got a special place where I'll save it. This kind of news is definitely a blessing to my heart.

Last day at Disney - The Magic Kingdom

We had reservations to have breakfast with Pooh and friends at the Crystal Palace buffet first thing. We got there around 8:00 and got right in. Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger & Piglet were all there. The buffet had an amazing assortment of foods including Mickey Mouse waffles, unfortunately I think the boys were all too excited to eat much. They were very smart and had plastic as well as glass plates. Unfortunately when they brought each of the boys a cupcake for their birthdays, they brought them on glass plates. Owen was very excited, grabbed his plate and threw it on the floor where it broke. Never boring anywhere we go. We loved getting to meet each of the characters & getting pictures and autographs with them. Alex had on his Tigger t-shirt and informed Tigger that he was his favorite! Then it was off to see more of the magic kingdom. First stop - Pirates of the Caribbean! The boys LOVED it - ha! That was where they decided they wanted to spend their birthday money. They each got a gun and a hook. Avery also got a Jake & the Never Land Pirates shirt (they only had his size) and Alex got a pirate shirt that stated "The beatings will stop when the morale improves". Upon leaving the store we realized we had missed seeing Captain Jack Sparrow's performance. So we noted the time of his next show and went on the cruise. We collected some more pennies and went to wait to see and hopefully meet Captain Jack Sparrow. During his performance Evan and Avery both got pulled up on stage to learn to be pirates. Captain Jack Sparrow said he thought he might be in trouble when he chose Avery - but he selected him anyways - ha! We got video of all of this. Next stop was to see the Country Bear Jamboree. Then Evan and I (Alex waited with Avery & Owen - Avery was asleep) went through the Swiss Family Robinson tree house (both of these last two things are things I remember doing with my family when I was little). Then the three boys and I went to fly on Aladdin's Carpet (Avery had woken up and pee'd on me - the joys of Motherhood - ha!). So then we asked Evan what he would like to do again and he wanted his brothers to see the Haunted Mansion since they had missed it the day before so we all rode it this time. Then we went to get seats to watch Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade. We wanted to get on the road to see Miss Ellen and meet Scott & baby Victoria so we gave Evan another option for one last ride. He selected Buzz Lightyear again. So we went and rode Buzz's ride, the got some more lollypops for Avery doing well with potty training then rode the ferry to get to the car. We had realized that Mr. Potato head was a different size from the one we had so we wanted to get another one and we needed to get some arms that would hold all of the Disney items so back to Downtown Disney. The boys were asleep so I stayed in the van with them while Alex went in search of Mr. Potato Head. The boys still had some b-day money and Evan had wanted a hat and we had promised him one so when Alex returned I went into one of the stores and quickly looked. I decided they needed hats to go with their guns & hooks and got them hats just like Captain Jack Sparrow had. Then it was farewell to Disney and off to south Florida to North Palm Beach to see Ellen and family!

Animal Kingdom

We got up early, ate breakfast in our hotel room and boarded the bus to the Animal Kingdom - it was an early entry day. We went directly to the safari as Becky had instructed. The wait was not long at all. We got to ride threw the African safari and see lots of animals. We then walked around and saw more animals. Next we boarded the train to see Rafiki.The boys all got to meet him and we all had our pictures taken with him. The petting zoo was a disappointment - as they were supposed to have many rare animals for the boys to meet and there were a few sheep... ok - we can go to Nana's and see sheep in Ohio anytime. It was then time to eat so we sat down and ate our sandwiches, apple slices and peanut butter filled pretzels. Then back on the train to go and see the Lion King performance. We were in between shows at this point so we went and saw "A Bug's Life" 3D. I absolutely loved it when any of the three boys would try to reach for something coming towards them in any of the 3D movies. It is soooo sweet. Next to the Lion King - this is what I REALLY wanted to see! Unfortunately you have to park your strollers quite a distance from the doors to the performance. Avery had fallen asleep and I had to hold him quite some time while we waited. Alex was carrying Owen who also fell asleep. As soon as we sat down, before the performance even began Evan was asleep. Avery woke up in time to see it. I LOVED it! Afterwards we decided to go back to the hotel. Obviously staying at the Magic Kingdom the previous day from 9:00 until the Electric Parade was over had exhausted everyone. We got another Mickey Mouse chocolate covered ice cream on a stick then left. We did stop by a gift store on the way out and got the boys each a book to hold their squished pennies we had been collecting throughout our Disney journey. We then boarded the bus and went back to our hotel. We relaxed for a bit then made our way to the 60's flower pool. Back to the room for baths then I went over to the food court and got us a Greek salad and pizza for dinner in our room on our special Minnie Mouse plates. We wanted to get to bed at a decent time as tomorrow was breakfast with Pooh & friends. Once the boys were asleep we packed up everything and Alex packed the van as much as he could ahead of time. Another fun day at Disney!