May catch up!

You want to know what happened to Freddy the speedy snail? I don't think you do... We were out in the yard and Duncan found another Freddy which prompted me to ask what happened to the original Freddy and Duncan said "I squished him!" and I asked how and he said "With my bike tire, I ran him over!" This is normal, this is normal, this is normal. To which Matthew said "You think it's normal until he starts killing puppies!" Ugh, gross. And snails are gross.

And this reminds me of when I had a couple pet slugs, for like a day, in the house. I don't even know if my mom knew about them. I think she did though. What a nice mom for letting me bring them in right? I said no to having a roly-poly as a pet because I don't know what they eat. Oh, and Duncan was on the deck thing in the garage and I saw a smear on the floor and he informed me that it was a bug and he squished it with his fingers. Barf. Better dead than alive though I guess.

Matthew and I did quite a bit of yard work in the last couple of weeks and we have a serious Freddy problem. Massive. We did in the other house a couple of years ago and we got things under control but they just moved down the street apparently and took up residence here. Matthew spread a bit of bait and hopefully they will go away soon. Though the empty shells freak me out too! Gross!

I am sure this yard looked absolutely lovely when they first planted all their plants several years ago but everything was totally overgrown and crowded. The ground cover was all over the place with lots of morning glory and snails living happily ever after. So we cleared a lot of it out. We need space to be able to tell what is a weed and what isn't and the ground cover did not work in our favor so out it came! When in doubt, pull it out! We turned a lot of dirt and now that it's been a few days and rained a bit I can see what kind of plants are still firmly planted and need to be pulled out. Time for a revisit.

Matthew also started with the yard lights and he buried the drain spout down under the sidewalk and out in the yard. He is so handy.

We got our grow boxes built and planted. Matthew built me three, though one is empty because I am not sure what to do with it yet! I think the kids and I will plant radishes and carrots. That could be fun. It's been a bit rainy but we will get them at least planted soon. In addition to that we planted cantelope, cucumbers, snap peas, lots of zucchini, butternut squash and spaghetti squash. We will also be planting strawberries and raspberries when we can figure out where to put them.

This yard has so many gorgeous trees there is no where for a peach tree for me! That makes me sad! I am hoping Matthew can figure something out but it really doesn't look good. Boo. Our neighbors have a lovely peach tree... There is quite a bit of great shade back there though which is nice. Can't complain about that.

Asher full on got his head stuck in the quilt rack. I mean STUCK. I couldn't get it out and I contemplated destroying it. He is the first of my kids to get their noggin stuck though I am not surprised that it was Asher. He is as mischievous as he is snuggleicious. with some pressure and some sadness we worked it out but sheesh! Guess that's what I get for being in the next room, no wonder why I can't keep up on the laundry! I can't leave them alone!

Dylan has been naughty about taking the bows out of her head. To this I say "Nooooo!" They are cute! And I make them! What would I do with all my spare time? Keep up with the blog I suppose? So I have left them out of her hair for a couple of weeks and we tried them again for the last day of school and she kept them in the whole time. Miss Chris and I were super impressed.

The peanut has cute all four teeth on the top. He has that nasty ugly bruise where the other fang was growing in and finally the tooth came poking through. Though not before the middle one on the other side came through so he has two really big teeth on the right side. So funny looking! He started clapping and surprises himself when he makes the clapping noise. It is super cute so I have him clap for me all the time... I don't think he understands what all the excitement is about. He is also scooting along now and getting all over. He was ont he tile and I was on the carpet stretchng for him, trying to make him come to me. Asher got fed up watching him fight for it so he walked righ up behind him and pushing him on the bum toward me, gave him a little boost!

Snuggling in Dylan's bed. I am sure I put Grey in there while I changed her and Ian hopped in for a snuggle.

May never get too big for a sink bath! 

My chaos, aren't they cute? Half in jammies, half not... and Duncan who is both! 

So totally stuck. I don't even know how he did it. Yes, I ran to get the camera and take a bunch of pictures. I am that mom. He even smiled for a couple but was mad by the time I got around to helping him! 

I took the little boys to the park where Asher threw a fit.

Twice.

They had the most fun playing in the sprinkler water though! It was fresh-ish, no diseases I hope!

School Schmool

When people talk about the last day of school they get the sadz talking about how their kids are growing up and "my baby will be in Kindergarten!" and all that but I found it was a little sad for a different reason. I think I will miss the teachers! How hard would it be to be a teacher of these kids for the better part of the year, most days of the week, and then they just take off? Wow... I guess some kids you are probably kind of glad to see go... but then you would lose the good ones too! If it were quieter, I might have gotten a little teary when Miss Chris told me how much she loved Dylan's laugh and how much she would miss her!

Ugh, sad!

Mrs. Davis said she sure loves my kids and I assured her that there were more coming! Alas - it is what it is and I guess this is what we will deal with every year since I remember it last year too. Fortunately Ian will get Ms. Millet and Mrs. Connie next year I think. (Hope!)

I think we got Dylan's school situation figured out after months... they are even registered and ready to go!

We have kind of been in limbo for the longest time because they needed to find the best place for Dylan. Whether it be in her school or another one, she need a little more care than someone who isn't quite as globally delayed as my princess. In the middle of all of it there was some changes in staffing on the district level and we were just hanging out.

The district called me back and they want to put her in the school that we are supposed to go to. The "tier 3" classrooms like they knew them are no more and they will be able to make things work at a regular school in the same classroom as Duncan. She told me that Dylan will have 14 hours of an aide, which, for half day Kindergarten is the whole time. Since this isn't what I had discussed with my inside sources I told them I would get back to them and promptly got on the phone with the ladies to get their opinion. They were pretty darn excited actually! They eased any nervousness I had about the new situation and I went on my way. I think there is a classroom still at another school for kids who are immobile, trached and the like, I think that was still an option if I pushed for it. We have a different situation though with her being a twin and having a slew of other brothers following in tow.

The next day I spoke with Dylan's special needs teacher and I think the new idea makes her really nervous! I got that impression... and it rubbed off on me! So I called the principal of the school... we are tight ya'all, getting that way anyway! ...and she told me that classroom visits as the classrooms are right now won't provide the information I would need since the classroom might look entirely different once they make Dylan accommodations. She seemed confident that they could figure things out. I made plans to meet with the special needs teacher at the pre-school on Tuesday.

When I went to go meet Lori I was ready to let her know that I was most nervous to have her around student who are supposed to be sitting at a desk but man... Lori has a take charge personality if I ever saw one! I mentioned Dylan didn't like sitting down and she said "Well, no Kindergartner does, I hate to break it to you!" Touche... And most of the conversation went much like that. She seemed like she was able to kind of anticipate what Dylan would need and maybe how they might work the classroom to accommodate.

Lori talked about having Dylan in the room with her aide for the first hour of class which is when they do the circle time, singing, playing and that type of stuff. Things she can be involved with. When the kids sit down for activities she would take her out to have a "walk and talk" activity where she would get one on one attention and they can play, walk around the school, she can show Dylan the classrooms and all the other kids. She was excited about providing lots of stimulus for Dylan because you never know what she might respond to.

She asked about Dylan's food and I told her that she might get hungry right at the end of the day and Lori actually offered to give her a small feeding a couple hours after school started to make sure we aren't waiting until the last minute. She was intent to not stress out the pickle and to keep her attention as best as possible while she had her at the school. Great idea, I am not sure why we don't do it now! Ha!

She asked me what my goals were and I was honest with her in saying that we are super easy. I want her to be around the other kids so they can enjoy her and she can enjoy them. I want her to be loved, I want her to be paid attention too, I don't want her to be left alone. Other than that, I am good... she is rewarding to play with and to work with and I hope everyone can see that and enjoy her too. I was assured that whether it be Lori or an aide, someone will be with Dylan at all times. Debi said it will likely be like that ongoing though when she is full time she will likely have a different aide in the afternoon than in the morning.

In talking to Matthew he said that he was hoping she wasn't all talk but let me tell you, she does NOT seem like the type to be all talk! And of course I know that if I am uncomfortable with anything I can always call a meeting to discuss it.

I liked Lori, wow, what a strong personality! Did I mention that? Ha!

And so it's done. They are registered. I talked to the principal again and she was very nice and excited I was going to meet Lori. I gave Lori all the papers needed to finish registration and there we have it. Lori will meet me in the parking lot to pick up the D's at 8:50 every morning and I will have the other kids with me to then go drop Ian off at preschool at 9:00. No more convenient handicap preschool parking and pick up service though with no Dylan with me! The D's school is far away too! They are bussed usually and we drive past three Elementary schools to get to theirs (attendance numbers maybe?) and I will have to be ready a bit earlier!

We have a little bit of school left because Dylan has ESY for the special needs kids and I went ahead and registered Duncan for the Kindergarten prep class to keep up his letter skills. I think we will see his teachers then too and maybe even Shelly for Dylan? We shall see.

Wish me luck this summer, lots of kids, not a lot of outlets!

Dylan is not smiling here but when I peeked around the corner she was giggling and laughing and yelling at Miss Chris. I am sad I didn't get it on camera because she was loving it and it was cute. I think she wanted to make sure people missed her because she didn't sleep at all the last day of school! 

Duncan didn't love these teachers at all did he?

Freddy the Speedster

As soon as it came it's almost over! The boys got their soccer pictures and trophies this week and their last games are on Saturday! Well, I lie Ian has a make up game next week but then it's all over. FAST. They can't decide if they actually like it or not... leaning toward the not, but the cool soccer trophy may have re-energized Duncan who is all about the treasures!

If you ask Ian if he wants to go play soccer he will flat out say no. (No is quickly becoming one of his favorite words anyway and soccer is just a way to exercise his right to use it I think.) He doesn't want to play or have anything to do with it. Once there he is okay for the most part, Matthew said the last game was the worst but he did get to throw the ball in and to kick it once. At the start of his kick my sweet boy ran right to the ball in the middle and then went to the other side of it to kick it to his own team mates. Adorable.

Duncan is just apathetic. He doesn't want to compete, he can't kick the ball enough because of all the other kids around it and he would just rather take his treat and new ball and go home. Matthew said "Now I know why my dad was the way he was with me and sports!" Meaning, he can now see how his dad thought he was a lost cause on the sporting front! It's hard work trying to get them excited about it and they don't like being there anyway. We will see how they feel when fall soccer comes around but it's not looking good... time to pick up an instrument?

Duncan and Ian found a snail in the back yard and named him Freddy. Ian was having a good time putting him on the patio and letting him crawl long enough that he would get sufficiently stuck enough to make a squishy popping sound as he pulled him up. I started feeling bad for this poor snail so I took out a spray bottle to give him a little bath which apparently made him Freddy the Speedy Snail because at one point when they were leaning in really close to him Ian said "Oh no! It is coming! Watch out!!!" Which is made so much more funny because it is a snail we are talking about here. Freddy the snail.

On Mother's Day at church they always have a few moms wrap themselves in sheets, cover their heads with a paper bag and come into the Primary class room. The leader then reads a little questionnaire about the mom and the kids in the room try to guess if it is their mom under the sheet. I got chosen to do this for the boys and I was second of six moms. Even as number two it got a little toasty in that bag... There were no holes to be able to watch so I had to rely on my ears which was pretty easy because at one point she said "Pay attention, this is a good clue! Her favorite sport or hobby is to play Mario with her boys." At which time Duncan yelled "Oh, OH, I like to play Mario with my boys!!!!" Oh my, so cute. So then they came up to see if it was me and were so excited. Ian said "Mom! I missed you!" and gave me a big hug and a kiss. I then got to watch all the other kids listen to the other mom's questions and the most fun was watching their face as they realized it was their mom. SO cute!

I was so super confused on the calendar this week it necessitated my mom ask me if I am losing it. I would say yes, yes, I am losing it. not only did I inconvenience myself but I had to loop other people into it as well. (Namely mom and Matthew) Oye.

As part of it I booked Dylan an appointment for new AFOs at the wrong Hanger location. It's in the same city and it was recently acquired as a Hanger and they recently had their name changed... It came up as the first on a web search and I just went with it. (They actually have a much better web approach...) So Matthew decided to keep the appointment and what did the guy say when he saw Dylan's AFOs? "Wow! Those are fancy!" So uhm... Yea. He still cast Dylan but was going to wait and see what Dylan's PT wanted to do. We haven't seen Mike in a long time (He didn't know about Greyson if that's any indication...) but I called him anyway to see what to do. He was kind enough to push things through the Spina Bifida group at the hospital without requiring a visit. He said he definitely wants her in those cool space age AFOs like she already has. We will need to go in AGAIN to the RIGHT place, REcast and have the guy who knows how to make the "fancy" AFO's make the ones that will work for her. They have the Carbon Fiber piece in therm to allow for some flex in the ankle. Back to the Orthotics place we go! Going to give it a couple of weeks though. My word.

When we were moving we were specifically instructed that we should not be buying any more diapers (This by the people who moved us...) but guess what's $6 off a box right now!? DIAPERS! Our supply was actually dwindling... no kidding... and I have been in Costco several times to stock back up again. Boxes and boxes of diapers. I will always have one in diapers so it's all good. Unfortunately Costco only sells up to size 6. After that Dylan might have to ask for diapers for Christmas! Family should be happy to hear that we have yet to buy any toilet paper though...

Duncan and Ian had their first late night last week with Aunt Ami. She was very brave and decided to take all the boy cousins three and up for a fun filled night of... of... Well? Computers? Popcorn? My kids begging for treats? I am not sure, but WOW to the quantity of boy! Matthew went to retrieve them at 10:00 and Ian had SUPER tired eyes but he hung in there like a trooper! I am not even sure I can handle the amount of boy in MY house much less taking on all the other boys too! Kudos to Aunt Ami.

The boring stuff...
I am running again! I ran a mile a couple days ago and then last night 2.5 horribly SLOW, LONG, treadmill miles. After having not run at all for a couple weeks to give my hip flexors a break I am starting back at square one! Well, not square one since I have been doing other things every day but pretty much! Surprising how fast you can lose it but I am back on track again. It's a good thing because I have a teeny tiny little commitment the first weekend of the month. YIKES! I am not sure I am ready but as long as I am not last right? Have to start somewhere.

I have to stretch my hip flexor on the left really well a few times a day and start working on it a a little while before any treadmill attempts and then I am really careful to stretch it out after to make sure it doesn't get hurt again. I really wasn't sure if I was ever going to run again after how bad it hurt to walk!

I am happy to report that I found another sucker to do a color run with me in June. Someone was trying to unload their registration that they purchased early on and it was cheeeeaaaap so I took them up on it and suckered Traci into running it with me! Woohoo! She is totally going to show me up! Yikes!

Freddy the wonder snail.

I think this was right before he attacked...

Need. Sand box. Stat.

Ice cream? Who is charge here?

Same person that's always in charge! Muhahah!

This is another picture that just shows our crazy. We were getting ready for bed time. 

This is why I grabbed the camera in the first place. This little rocker was taking this concert VERY seriously.

Every boy in the house gets an  opportunity to play Mario!

We didn't get school pictures this Spring. Not only because we got the fall ones but also because...

This one is terrible.
I love her, I know, she is cute... I know.. I know. But I can admit when a picture is bad. Poor kid, she needed me there.

I am alive!

I did it! I survived! Matthew was out of town for ten whole days and I am alive (and I have a smile on my face to boot!). Originally when planning this work trip it was supposed to be for two weeks and I put the kibosh on that. Sorry, yea... Well, okay, not no (I can't say no, it is for work!), you can go but we need to get a nanny because 2 weeks might break me. A week might break me! He was able to work things so that he was only gone ten days instead of the full two weeks and off her went.

Eden came over a couple nights to help, Jenna came over for a long time one night. I am so thankful for someone else to be there during the witching hour! I just need an extra set of hands at bedtime! The rest I can manage! We give them a little money for it too even though, they would totally do it for free! They are so sweet. It seems silly just to have help for an hour or two but it's so worth it! Makes even the mornings easier when everything is well organized and picked up the night before.

Grandma Kathy has been working the heck out of her yard over the last couple of weeks and she keeps finding garden snakes! She asked if I would like for her to set one aside for the boys and I am crazy because I said yes. So what do you know but they find one and she brings over a container and left it in the porch. Uhmmm... that will wait for daddy!

The poor snake didn't like it's little box too much because as soon as Matthew lifted the lid that baby popped right out over the edge. It had been laying up at the top, on the handle, right there! Gross! The boys LOVED it! Ian just put his hands on it while Matthew held it but Duncan was a bit more brave and carried it around. He put it in the grass and picked it up, poor snake. Finally the snake torture was over and they all walked it across the street to set it free in our "country views".

Whenever you do anything nice for Ian he says that you are his best friend. Unless Matthew is around, then only Matthew is his best friend. Whatever! His little mini-voice is so cute.

The other day I was getting a treat for myself and Ian totally busted me! He came up and asked "what's that? What's that?" And I said "nothing" and he kept watching and trying to get closer and said "I want to see that everything!" I guess he knew it wasn't NOTHING, so it must have been EVERYTHING!

Asher has been working on his alphabet and he is really good! That and numbers he has almost nailed! I am convinced it is the iPad since Ian was so early and cute with his letters too! Well, that and the other boys always running around naming all the letters and making the sounds has to help the little guys. All we talk about is what letters are, what they spell, what sound they make and what rhymes. He does not know W and J and a few others but I am surprised at which ones he does see to know just out of the blue. And the numbers really surprised me. Ian was wearing his soccer shirt and Asher pointed and said "three!" For a kid that doesn't say too much, it's funny! I even took him outside and had him read grandma's license plate.

Dylan has started the jello leg thing and it is so annoying! She seems to have gotten so heavy over the last couple of weeks and when you want to lift her to her feet so you can walk her she totally jellos out! Seriously? I have mustered enough strength to get you to your feet and I get no help? It is funny and it goes right along with her developmentally being between 18-24 months! Jello legs are no fun for parents at any age, silly girl.

All of the Kindergarten orientations have come and gone and we didn't know which one to go to! It is looking like Dylan will need to be in the Tier 3 classroom and the school district is moving that classroom around and we don't know what school it will be. Since I will keep Duncan and Dylan together... We are just waiting and waiting. No idea where they will end up!

Her needing the Tier 3 classroom and the best hands on care for the more globally delayed kiddos presents a little dilemma for us. Do we have her be in this more hands on care? Do we move Duncan with her? Do we keep her with Duncan where the neighborhood kids will go? Do we separate them? Oye! Of course pulling Duncan to go with Dylan will also determine where all the other boys go too! 

Ultimately she needs the Tier 3 classroom. It would not be fair to her or the other kids in the class for her to be unsupervised in the class with the typical kids. Poor teachers! The idea makes me laugh. Those kids trying to pay attention with a big 18 month old running around chewing on things? Yea... No. So we wait. I was advised to call the principal for the school they are supposed to go to but I haven't done that yet, maybe I will today.

Duncan and Ian have been doing well in soccer, it seems like they get better each game. Better by being more aggressive anyway... If Duncan wants to kick the ball, like ever, he needs to get in the pack. He is learning. Though their desire to kick the ball is in question. My nephew Thatcher got baptized on Saturday so Ian missed his game but Duncan went to his and since Matthew is the coach, it's a good thing. Tracy had been subbing for him in his travels. I missed it, I was home with the nappers. Maybe this week's evening games!

Dylan and Duncan also had their end of the year art show and program last week. My mom was able to go and talk about bang for your buck, the kids loved to have her there even though it was super short! There was a bit of moving up and about so not very many good pictures but trust me, Duncan was SUPER cute, a great little singer and dancer! Big thanks again to my neighbor Dana (who totally doesn't read the blog) for her help watching the littles while we went. We got to watch without our hands being full.

A lot of these pics are phone pics! Not as good of quality but more readily available!

Super cute pic from last week's game. Yes, likely the ball was in play here too. 

For good measure... 

He said it was SUPER smoggy. 

Dylie and Ms. Chris.

So tough to wait for the singing time!

"I am an astronaut, I go to the moon!"

Chicken dance

I love how Ian is kind of hiding behind Duncan!

This little peanut is looking at Grandma! 

And totally blog worthy... I so cut my hair off. Yup, that's what happens when you are left alone with five small children for 10 days. 

Soccer!

We started soccer this week! Yay for a whirl wind month of 4 games a week! It only goes up from here though right? I mean, there are four potential soccer players here!

Usually dad gets to do all the fun errands and he went to go get them all soccer balls (even Asher) so I decided to take the boys to go get shoes. We were so excited to go get soccer shoes! Unfortunately, Duncan's size was the smallest they had, fortunately, Ian had no idea what made soccer shoes soccer shoes so he just got a new pair of Cars shoes that light up! I got asher a new pair too because they were BOGO. In hindsight, I shouldn't have gotten Asher the same exact shoes as Ian though, lots of confusion! Ia was so excited about his new soccer shoes he wanted to sleep with them so we let him.

We have really been working o the pep talks around here. Making sure they aren't to be the whiney kids out there. If you can't do something you keep trying, if you fall down you get up, if you start bleeding you rub some dirt on it and keep going! (I think the dirt thing is a baseball thing?) It seems to have really sunken in though because we didn't have any major episodes. Woot.

When we got to Ian's game all the kids had their own balls and were practicing and Ian didn't know what to do because we didn't have a ball for him. We have a ball, but it was in the bag with all the other soccer balls. I plan on bringing one Saturday so he can practice too. I felt bad (rookie soccer mom mistake!)

He pretty much held his own back there in the back of the pack (and it was a pack!). Didn't get near the ball one single time. But he absolutely loved chasing the other kids and running back and forth. Since he was at the back his coach kept grabbing his hand and running with him to go find the ball. It was so cute and nice of her. Her little girl was the crying kid this game! Poor thing.

There was only one narrow escape of a throw down. All of a sudden I see Ian throw down and land face first in the grass just off the field. And I mean face down, that's where he stopped and stayed. The game continued... So I hop up and run around to the end of the field and I said "Ian, hop up! Rub dirt in it!" And he just gave me a big huge grin, it up and went running off!

Duncan was actually a bit better at getting in there that I expected! Soccer is the perfect start to competitive sports because you just have to kick the ball, that's it. I mean, it helps if you know how to turn it around or get it to and in the net, but let's remember who we are here and start off easy! Matthew was supposed to be coaching but he can't for these first few games so Tracy was subbing.

I have the hardest time watching Duncan not stay focused. The amount of directing (and redirecting) that we have to do around here is insane and on the field is the same problem. Someone needs to just tell him to go find the ball about every other minute. If not... Well, he is sitting, pulling grass, punching Tracy in the bum... You know, not playing. He kind of lost interest about 3/4 of the way through the game.

There was one kid on the other team that was just throwing elbows when they were all around the ball. I kind of felt bad for all the other little black team mates because he was a little bully but I guess they just need to learn to get in there and throw them back!

I was proud of Duncan for staying with the pack and having fun, he had a blast! Yay soccer!

It was cold too! Brrrrrr! And I do NOT fit in with those soccer moms, especially since I have been trying to get my work-out in during nap time! I better buy some make-up or... something. Ha!

Now we just need to get outside and practice which sounds fun but actually getting outside with the boys is a little tricky!

I had a battle with Asher this morning, Matthew said he imagined it was quite the scene with stubborn fighting stubborn. He is getting a bit more defiant and testing his limits and he did NOT want to put his train up so he could eat lunch. He finally just threw his plate! What? Oh no you didn't! So I took that train and every other train I could find and they went down the stairs (where they belong anyway, they were just slowly creeping up!). He just kept peeking around stuff to give me the stink eye. Then it happened, I saw the side of his mouth twitch like he might smile to try and warm me over again. He came up to the counter and started eating like a normal human being and was super cheery after that! I don't think he has any clue why I don't want him to have the train and what started the battle though so I am sure we will revisit!

Granted, I didn't start the morning off all that great because I was battling it out with Dylan's pump! Already rushed in the morning I don't have time to slowly syringe feed Dylan's whole breakfast but alas, it's what I found myself doing. What a pain. Thank goodness a new pump was delivered by the time she needed her second feeding!

Duncan said "mom look at me, I am dancing in slow ocean!" And Ian, observing me changing Asher's diaper the other day said "He's poopy? You don't eat poop, not Asher's poop, not dog poop, not Mushi's poop." Yes sir, good job mister.

Duncan also told me how to have another baby... He told me I needed to eat lots and lots of food and get really big and then a baby would come out. I told him I was going to stop eating which, to someone who wants 150 more siblings, this sounds like a terrible idea!

The sans Asher picture was blurry. Asher is bombing this one. He LOVES my shoes. He goes and gets them out of the laundry room and wears them, well... usually one since he can't walk in two... ANYway. Cute big soccer boy ready for his first game!

Pulling grass. Yea, the ball is in play... 

Graceful! 

Other cute big soccer boy ready for HIS first game! 

Making friends!

He gets stuck but doesn't learn his lesson. Must be fun.

Handsome baby! I love this face! Look at his fuzzy head!