Neighborhood Playground

 The days seem MUCH longer when Kyle is home from school, so it's important for me to have things planned to fill our time.  Today wasn't the best day, as I'm still trying to finish house stuff and feel like I'm spinning my wheels, but we all had a much-needed morning break at the playground.  It's fun that the boys are old enough to play well together, and I enjoy watching their creativity.  Ryan also loves to try to do everything Kyle does, even when he's not quite old {tall} enough to complete the task with as much ease.  Here he is climbing up the chain ladder, and I love how older brother is cheering him on.

It wouldn't be a day at the park without slides!  Kyle LOVES them.  {I didn't get any pictures of Rhino because he was busy digging/rolling in some mud!}

Don't you just *love* Kyle's fashion sense?!

It really won't be that long before all THREE boys are up and running around at our neighborhood playground. 

New House--Kyle's Room

I've been wanting to post pictures of the new house and how we've been coming along, but it seems like every room is waiting on something.  Ever the perfectionist, I haven't wanted to post incomplete projects.  We are finally getting to the point where the finishing touches can be put on certain areas of our home, so I will be posting those rooms as soon as they become completed projects.

As Kyle's room also serves as the guest room whenever any of you lovely people come to visit, that was as good a place as any to get cracking on crossing off items from the to-do list.  I am happy to say that his room {and bathroom} are finally at a {good enough} point to post pictures!

Before:   

After:

I'm pretty happy with how it's come together.  We bought the bed frame, the bookshelf, and a curtain rod, but I believe everything else is being re-purposed from its place in one of our former residences.  

Now, for the bathroom, which this spoiled kid has IN HIS ROOM.  {Don't think it's helped him with night-time potty training......}

Before:

After:

The total cost for this project was $2.  I decorated and organized with items we already had, only needing to purchase a plastic basket to hold the bath items!

So, for all of you even considering making a visit to our neck of the woods....the bedroom and bathroom are ready.  Done.....and done!

I Still Live With My Parents

This guy does {I think he's jealous of the Evan getting the bumbo}......

but his parents do not! 

We've reached the one-month point in our new home!  I'm SO happy to say that we are about 94% moved in.  Furniture is {mostly} in and put together, shelves are lined, the kitchen and pantry are organized, the linen closets are done, the garage is set up, and we've even hung a few pictures.  All that is really left to do is to pick up and put together the dining room chairs, finish the boys' closets----mostly just organizing the next size of clothes for the younger two, hang pictures in Ryan's and Evan's rooms, hang pictures in the upstairs hallway, hang stuff in the office, finish hanging a few things in the living room and kitchen--when I get the money to buy some more frames, and finish organizing toys and games in the game room.

It feels so good to be getting so close to having the house set up the way we want it with everything in a place and able to have the space to hold everything!  I'm excited to have the move in process complete so that I can start working on projects that have been on the back burner for the last TWO years!

 It's amazing how even dealing with the headaches of all the little things that come up with the new house and all the work that it's taken to get everything as far as we've gotten are all completely worth it.  Working on something that is truly your own is so rewarding!   

Three Boys

 I haven't attempted taken a picture of all the boys together lately.  So, after a wonderful theme at church today about patience and families, I decided to put it to the test and set up a photo after church and before lunch.  {perfect set-ups for failure, right?} 

Well, it turns out that Kyle is easily bribed highly motivated by the thought of getting to play on Stephen's new iPad and Ryan was able to sit still for a few minutes because I told him he would get grapes after we took a picture. 

I started out trying to get the older 2 to smile, and whatever I said was pretty hilarious to them.  Evan obviously didn't get it. 

Finally, Baby Evan was in on the joke.  Kyle was over it.

Success!  Everyone is looking at the camera AND smiling---at least enough that it counts.

And one more thing I want to document:  Ryan is very expressive in his language and thinks he's having wonderful conversations with us, with other parents at Kyle's soccer games, and with strangers in the grocery store.  The problem?  None of it is English.  It's adorable until he's ACTUALLY trying to communicate an important point, which we don't understand, and it becomes frustrating.  He was having a moment yesterday--upset, but not able to tell me what was wrong, and that led to total meltdown.  When he finally came up for air, I said, "Ryan, come here and tell me what's wrong."  Kyle, just within earshot, came over and pointed out, "Mom, he can't.  He doesn't talk like us.  He only speaks Spanish."  Kyle then tried to demonstrate "Spanish," but realized HE didn't know any actual Spanish words, so he just repeated some Ryan-ese mumbo-jumbo and said, "See?"

I think we're all ready to understand our little Po.  Do you think Rosetta Stone makes something for that?  

On the D.L.?

 Kyle had a nasty fall at soccer practice last week.  He somehow managed to land awkwardly, his elbow crashing down on his soccer ball.  He was in pain all night, saying his arm was "broken," using his left hand for everything, and telling us he wasn't able to move the other arm very well. 

I assessed him the next morning, and he was NOT happy when I tried to bend his arm back.  Luckily, Stephen had a pretty easy day at work--in the outpatient center--and was able to talk to some of his peeps about doing a quick x-ray on the boy. 

I rounded up the whole crew, and we got to go to Daddy's work!  It was so fun to let everyone see the boys and to get to say hello to Stephen's coworkers.  A bunch of nurses played with Ryan and Evan while I went back with Kyle to get x-rayed.

Luckily, he had no fractures and was able to play his game and enjoy the summer sans-cast.

Kyle and I decided to make a big plate of cookies to say thank you for the nice doctors and nurses who took good care of him {and us!} 

Supposed to Be Sleeping--Take 2

I was right about Ryan not pulling the toilet paper trick again.  The next day was much, MUCH worse--so bad that I didn't take a break to photograph it because I had to start tackling it right away.  The next day I found Ryan spending his {supposed to be} nap time painting the upstairs in toothpaste.  He got into Kyle's bathroom and found a tube of only 3-week old toothpaste as a glorious, fruity, blue, sticky medium for creative destruction.  Not only was he covered from head to toe, there was toothpaste ALL over the bathroom--counter, rugs, stool, cabinets, and floor.  Then, he moved the smearing onto Kyle's carpet, down the hall, and back to his bedroom.  By then, the creative juices must have ended because I'm guessing he took a break to meditate and look out the window.  I had to clean toothpaste off blinds and the windowsill.  When the outdoors failed as inspiration, he turned to a few books.  I just finished wiping traces of toothpaste off what seemed like every book on his shelf!  I had to get down on his level and follow the path several times, but I think I finally scrubbed every nook and cranny with blue stickiness.  

Oh, the two-year-old toddler!

Speaking of....
Ryan had his 2 year well-check on Monday.  Everyone at the office LOVED him.  He kept the office staff's attention the entire time we waited to see the doctor--from the minute he made an entrance, to his "conversation" at check-in, to his interactions/flirtations with the other patients.  He's definitely a social butterfly and enjoys making people laugh.  The doctor enjoyed trying to speak to Ryan, too.  She can't wait until he actually learns English!

2-year-old Stats:
Height: 32.5" (8 %)
Weight: 25 lb. 8 oz. (18%)
HC: 48 cm (31%)

In case there was any doubt--YES! He's small.  He's also a ball of energy and destructive capability.  And we love him!

While You Were {Supposed to be} Sleeping

 Every mom knows the most dangerous sound in the house--The Sound of Silence.  The nothingness swept into our house once more this week, while Ryan was supposed to be in his room, asleep, but was instead making mischief of one kind and another.

The silence was interrupted by a door shutting, our Buzz Lightyear telephone making its noises, and little steps tiptoeing down the stairs.  When I called Ryan's name from the kitchen and asked what he was doing out of bed, he ran back up the steps.  That usually doesn't happen, so I needed to investigate.

Knowing I'd probably find something blog worthy, I took the camera along.

Oh, there was much to see.

Of course, a child favorite--unrolling a BRAND NEW, FULLY ROLLED roll of toilet paper into the toilet and all over the bathroom.   

 Caught in the act

 Thinking it's a great trick

 Realizing it's not so great

It's amazing how different Ryan's personality is that Kyle's.  I really just had to give Ryan "the look," and sternly tell him, "NO!  This is NOT a good choice."  He cried and cried, but quickly hugged me to let me know he was sorry, and all was soon right again in this happy little guy's world.  I would be very surprised if he tried to pull this trick again. 

First Cereal

 In honor of him turning 5 months and one week old on Friday, Evan got to celebrate with first first taste of solid food--some cereal!  And just like his brothers before him, he loved it!

Earth Day Weekend

 We've had a busy Earth Day weekend around here.  First, any celebration wouldn't be complete without the proper attire.  2 out of 3 boys wore recycled AND organic cotton clothing.  Thank goodness I didn't have to find something fitting for Kyle, since he was just in soccer gear.   

We had a Saturday of soccer between getting pictures in the morning, Kyle being team captain for the afternoon game, also bringing the drinks and treats--in our reusable grocery tote bag.  {I felt SO earth-friendly--my uncle would be SO proud.} 

**Game update: Our team of misfits lost AGAIN.  At game time, we barely had enough players to start, and one of them didn't have her jersey because she hadn't shown up to practice OR team pictures to get it.  Other players slowly trickled in, causing multiple foul-ups in the line-up/rotations.  The other team was being coached like it was life and death, their coach saying "good job!" when his players were kicking the ball like crazy, even when our goalie had her hands on it inside the net.  {Stephen would've handed out AT LEAST a yellow card, and possibly several reds.}  Kyle also got scratched and pushed down by a kid who was ticked.  This "fun" soccer crap is about to kill me.  Even if they are 4 and 5, we can still try to teach them right and wrong, the actual rules of the game, sportsmanship, etc.  You can positively tell a kid that it's not "good job" to kick a goalie or throw the ball to YOURSELF.  Coach, if you're going to take the game seriously enough to give your 4-year-old goalies gloves, then you should probably take the time to work on a few fundamentals, too.  And our team--care a little, people!!!  I know it's basically recess we're paying for, but WE'RE PAYING FOR IT!!!  At least act like you care a little!  I never even played sports, for goodness sake, but I've still got the competitive spirit.  I'm not one to sit back and take this idea of making everyone FEEL good and not hurting SELF ESTEEM and making sure everyone gets a trophy and is told what a winner they are and how awesome and wonderful it is to not care enough to show up to practice or games or try to teach the kids how to play a game that has actual rules.  But, time for something positive:  At least we don't have to do it again for 7 more days!

On Friday, Mother Earth decided to throw her own party.  We had one heck of a storm!  Stinging rain, hail, thunder and lightning, and no power for almost 3 hours.  I got to run out in the rain to get toys and boxes and all kinds of trash being blown all over our yard.  I was SOAKED, and Kyle thought it was HILARIOUS!

After the rain, what better way to get GREEN than by getting out and playing in some mud.  These little hippies decided to throw their own woodstock in the back yard.             

Yes.  We are THAT family.

The boys were running around in the yard, naked, splashing in mud and puddles.  They were in heaven. 

The Baby Bumbo!

 What a great investment this little seat has been.  Evan is now the 3rd Cooper boy to enjoy chilling here.

Kyle really wanted to take a turn in the Bumbo, but settled for sitting next to his baby brother and posing for a picture.