Quick Takes

1) We got the kids school pictures finally. I think they turned out ok. Hunter's grin is fitting---very devilish and that is him lately. Jack looks cute! The quality is not good b/c I took pics of the pics with my cell phone. 

2) Nick is out of town and it stinks!! We decided to get carry out from Olga's last night and have a picnic. I asked Hunter where he wanted to have a picnic and he said the front porch. So the front porch it was. They had a great time. I felt a little goofy, but whatever. 

3) Last night  I was exhausted. I ran all day long and my feet and back hurt. I was ready for bed early and the kids were too. Confession: sometimes a 30 minute tv induced coma is not a bad thing. See below. We also baked mini-cupcakes which were a hit. Just to have 30 minutes of peace before bed was nice!

 4) This morning we made smoothies. They always play this game to see who can make the biggest "smoothie mustache". 

5) Yesterday we met my friend and photographer at Cobblestone for pictures of the boys. What a day for pictures--80 degrees!! Julie came along to help me change clothes, etc. Julie and Jack are below. I have next to NO pictures of her with the kids. I think this was a cute one.
I am beyond excited to see the pictures. I don't know how I"ll choose b/c I know they are going to look awesome....Jack with his cheesy smile and Hunter was doing the fake smile thing, but it is what it is. Can't wait!! I'm sure they will be our Christmas cards this year! 

 6) All in all yesterday was good. The boys were decent for pictures. They had a fun picnic, went to bed early, and I crashed early too. Tonight I'm going to dinner with a friend and tomorrow night we have a Halloween party. Nick has been gone a lot and I'm getting mad...he's been to Texas, Arkansas, Ohio, and is in Arizona now...all in the last month. I think I'm a married single mom and he doesn't get how hard it is! 

Have a great weekend!! 

EXCITING STUFF!

I mentioned a couple of months ago that the boys were asked to be in My Urban Toddler's fall clothing catalog. Well, the owner texted me and told me the catalog was in yesterday, so OF COURSE I drove to the store today to pick up some copies. I had asked a few friends to keep an eye out for them in the mail, but since they were sitting out at the store, I snagged 4 copies--ha! Nana had requested one and I wanted a few for us :) 

  Cover of the catalog

Jack doesn't look so great here, but oh well :) Hunter did great not giving his "fake" smile...I was proud of him! Hunter's sweatshirt was $60 and Jack's shirt $32. Not sure I can afford their clothes--LOL. I'm just cheap b/c they grow like weeds and ruin everything! However, as a side note, I did finally invest in nice tennis shoes for the kids. I ordered these adorable adidas ones for Jack and some grey/orange New Balance for Hunter from Zappos. They were $40 or so each which is a lot if you ask me, but not seeing Hunter in ugly tennis shoes and Jack getting quite possibly his second new pair of shoes (instead of hand-me-downs) has drastically improved my quality of life. Pathetic, but true. It was embarrassing. I never knew a cute pair of tennis shoes would improve 

 This was a full page--the only full page picture in the catalog and one of the best! 

 Another of Hunter modeling this shirts ($54 in case you wanted to know-ha!)

The most exciting thing about today....Hunter can read!!! He has been sounding out words and word building since last year, but he is really doing awesome now!! He got to bring home his first book from school yesterday. They send home a book, large envelope, and signature sheet that we say we listened to him read. He read it to Julie, Hannah, Nick and me. This morning he was SO excited to have daddy and mommy listen to him read the whole book while Jack was still asleep. Nick and I were SO proud of him!!! I hope he loves to read as much as we do. I have not been so proud of him in a long time and it's so cool to see how excited and proud he is! Guess what Nick said? "Well, this makes the tuition bill worth it. That principal told me he'd be reading like a second grader in kindergarten" ha! 

I can't wait for him to bring home more books and read to us all the time!! 

Wiard's Orchard

A couple of weekends ago we went to Wiard's Orchard. My good friend Hillary gave us passes...she works there with her family :) It's actually funny b/c when I first became friends with her I didn't put it together until someone else pointed out "Her last name is Wiard"...do you get it? Duh. Anyway, her hubby is on daddy duty ALL FALL LONG since she works a lot during the season. We met up with Frank and their kids to play for a bit. It was LOTS of fun! Hunter actually had a field trip there and his teacher said he was the "class leader" on the hayride telling all the kids what was coming up next. They all thought Hunter was so cool for knowing everything and I'm sure Hunter felt cool for knowing everything--ha! Although he said the best part of the field trip was riding the bus (supposedly the best day of his life too). 

 I'm proud that my kids are willing to try fun and sometimes scary things! They are always up for anything--Jack just wants to be like Hunter and Hunter will do anything! The kid is going to be a tubing maniac next summer on my parent's new pontoon boat--which goes super fast!! I'm worried just thinking about it!! 

 Playing on this treehouse thing. Gotta love the smile! 

We took the fire truck ride too. The kids loved the dog and the siren the best! 

Thanks Hillary :) I think I can repay her by holding Gabby at our MOPS meetings :)

 

Random cuteness from my boys

I live with four boys. A husband, two kids, and the dog. I need a girl--ha! We went to the mall on Sunday just to get out of the house. We didn't want to leave the dog alone since he came home Saturday morning and was still not doing that great, but we were a little stir crazy, so we just went out for a bit. Here are my boys drinking their smoothies. No one wanted to sit with me--not even mama's boy Jack :( 

They are a handsome bunch if I do say so myself! 

 Chopper came with me to work Monday and Tuesday. This is crazy, but Monday when he came in he went and sat next to my cousin, Connie who works here. She said "he can be my guard dog". I said that was a good idea in case this creepy client Mr. Smith (not his real name of course) comes in. He's 64 and asked her out--she's under 30. Yuck. She comes and hangs out hiding from him any time he comes in! I said Chopper could attack him. CRAZY PART? That client actually came in the next day!!! I could not believe it--we were not expecting him and it was a huge coincidence b/c it's not like he comes in often or anything. AND Chopper did NOT like him. He barked and growled at him. Dogs have a sense about things and I could tell Chopper did not like this guy...I knew he was weird and my dog confirmed it. I think I'm also psychic. 

 Halloween costume preview...our handsome little astronaut!!! I know I am biased, but Jack gets cuter by the day. He has this new cheesy smile he does every time I have the camera. Nick has pictures at the same age looking the same why--huge smile and eyes squinting. 

 We went out to dinner to celebrate my mom's bday last Friday night and everyone came back to our house after to play cards. Jack giving Gigi kisses before I took him up to bed. 

 I randomly pulled out the camera last weekend to take some pics of Jack. He's riding this thing around the house with no pants on b/c we are trying hard to work on using the potty. The kid is just not motivated to use the potty, but he only wears underwear at "school", so we were working more on it this weekend. 

 Seriously, if his face were not so dirty, he would be the cutest ever! I just love his smile, teeth, chubby cheeks, etc. I love this kid!!! 

 The super cheese...

 Smiling so big he can't keep his eyes open :)

Silly guy--I just love him so much and can't get enough of him. He's the sweetest...and knock on wood, but he's almost three with no case of the terrible two's! The worst thing he does is calls Hunter a "baby" and you'd think it was a swear word. He yells it at him like it's so mean...and it does make Hunter mad. Other than that, he's just the sweetest unless he's listening to his brother and doing things he shouldn't...but he's just trying to be like his older brother. 

Our week

Wow...TGIF. It's been a long busy week. The dog has made me emotionally exhausted. Yes, he's still there at the hospital. He MIGHT be able to come home tomorrow. He won't be able to be alone for a while, so that will change our plans. I've already come up with a plan to bring him to work next week if I need to. I can set up his crate and then be able to let him out all the time and keep an eye on him. We won't be able to leave him alone much for a little bit. I told Hunter we can no longer go on a Disney Cruise b/c of this incident. I don't even know the total, but I'm predicting over $5,000. That dog better live for a few more years after all this! Plus with our nanny, Julie, being off all week it just threw me off. My mom's bday was yesterday...I am a mean daughter b/c she worked at my house from 9-3pm on my basement. She is the type who works on a project and wants to finish it. I did not want her there working, but she insisted (and I wasn't going to stop her). She did an awesome job on my basement--it's perfect. And this is embarrassing, but it was a MESS. I have turned a blind eye for 3 years since we moved in. I don't think the steps going down there have ever been vacuumed. I just couldn't get over the size of the project. I think she spend 4 almost full days down there organizing, cleaning, sorting, setting up stuff, etc. She is awesome for this. I was nice to her for her bday this year b/c I was going to pay an organizer to help me for $60 per hour and now I don't have to!
Anyway, my mother-in-law also came yesterday to help us with the kids. I was supposed to take Hunter to a fundraiser for my mom's group after school and Jack had speech therapy, but Hunter was naughty at school and I didn't take him. The teachers knew he had to get a good report to go and they made a point to tell me at pick-up how naughty he was, so I couldn't take him and then have him go in the next day to tell his teachers that we went anyway. It just stinks b/c I needed to go, but had to make a point to my child (and save face with his teachers). Tonight we are going to a fun Japanese restaurant (where they throw food in your mouth as Hunter puts it) to celebrate my mom's birthday, so looking forward to that...
Have a good weekend. We will be hanging out with our dog hopefully at home!!

Dog Update

Well, yesterday after I posted, I thought Chopper was doing better. Nick went to the vet at noon and they had done more blood work and said his kidneys were improving. Nick even took him outside and said he was acting more like himself....but peeing every ten feet b/c they had given him so much fluid through an iv.
The vet just called this morning and said they are very concerned that he is not eating. They are talking about putting in a feeding tube. Then the vet said she wanted to run an estimate and call us back b/c we are racking up a pretty big bill. I told Nick to not even bother finding out b/c who really cares at this point. Honestly, it's not like we'd say, "ok well we already spend $3,000, so we're not spending more, just put him down". I just figure we're all in at this point b/c we just want our doggie to make it and come home!! Nick agrees, so I'm happy about that!! I guess we won't be finishing our basement--haha...just kidding. Nick is all in this "pay things off" mode, so I'm sure this is throwing a wrench into his plan right now, but oh well :)
Please pray...I was feeling good yesterday afternoon about things, but now not so much. I hate the thought of a feeding tube, but they said it's just getting to be way too long since he's eaten. They have been trying to entice him with yummy wet food and he's not going for it.

Please pray for our dog (Chopper)

Our poor dog is in the emergency hospital. Long story, but he had some dental work done two weeks ago (they cleaned teeth, cut back gums, and removed his bottom front teeth). This is all pretty common stuff for boxers. Well, things have gone downhill and we took him in yesterday....turns out it's BAD. He's in kidney failure, liver failure, white blood cells are up, body temp is down, he's dehydrated, and has an infection all over, etc. They are concerned he won't make it. I went in to visit him this morning. He seemed a little better, but they said he had an allergic reaction to an anti-biotic last night, has been puking, etc. I am so worried about him and so is Nick. We love Chopper and I have to admit I'm even surprised at how upset I am about this. Maybe b/c I don't want to have to deal with talking to the kids about it and I know how heartbroken Nick will be if he doesn't pull through this. They are doing more blood work today at noon to see how his kidneys are functioning. We are still looking at a few days there which is going to cost a small fortune. Anything for our Chopper though!! He's lost 15% of his body weight since surgery, so this is not good. 

When I left it was so sad, he was just staring at me like "why are you leaving me in this place!?!?"

 They unhooked his meds before bringing them to us :( I'm sure he's wearing a cone too b/c he is trying to pull out the iv's. He's in the pet ICU with a critical care doctor, so I know they know it's serious and they are doing the best they can for him. I didn't even know they had a pet ICU! ha! 

Please pray he recovers from this. We still don't know if it's from an infection or from a BAD reaction to meds....poor guy, we just want him to come home!!! 

 

Funny stuff

We had a good weekend (even though we are already at Wednesday). Saturday Hunter had a t-ball game and did really well. Then we went to a party that a MOPS friend was having. They have a company that has bouncy houses, photo booth, snow cone machine, cotton candy...and yes, a stripper pole. I think that was meant for the after 8pm party where kids were not welcome. The kids wore themselves out and slept in great Sunday morning! Then we went to Wiard's Orchard on Sunday (pictures coming soon)...they had a great time there too. Thanks Hillary for the passes...just one of the benefits to being good friends with her--JUST KIDDING. I would love her even if she wasn't part of the Wiard family!!! ha!

Yes, our boys practicing their moves on a stripper pole. Cool. At least they have their clothes on! 

This morning Jack was up at 5am. I was not happy. I got up to shower and came back in our room to find this.....lovely.  Nick probably reading about Hitler or WWII and Jack watching Curious George. Our kids are too spoiled with their toys.  

 After Nick left this morning I had to dry my hair and Jack had to be close to me so he brought the ipad into my closet. I don't like him sleeping in my bed, but I'm so tired that I just don't care. Hunter has NEVER slept in our bed and I fear that I'm creating a monster. He has to be on my pillow and if I turn my back to him he will grab my face to turn me back towards him. It is cute and I have to admit I love cuddling with him. Hunter is not a love bug like Jack. He likes to be with me, sit on my lap, hold my hand, lay on me, etc. Since Nick cuddles more with Chopper, at least I have Jack!! So cute :)

Jack LOVES to look at pictures and videos on my phone. We were goofing around the other day...he's so silly! 

Hope you are having a good week :)

Finally a post about my 5 year old!

Here are some pictures of his actual birthday (Thursday 9/20) and party (9/23)...

 He got this hot wheels track thing. I have to admit it's pretty cool! 

Banana cake on his birthday! His request...

 We went to Three Cedars Farm on Sunday afternoon to celebrate with some family and friends....it was a lot of fun! We had a private hayride out to a pumpkin patch where the kids were able to pick their own pumpkins. Jack, Hunter, and Alex (he lives down the street)

 Matt (Hunter's godfather and Nick's cousin), Jacquelyn (my friend from high school and college) and their daughter Alana who is ADORABLE! I have to point out that I hooked them up and they got married....so awesome!!!

 Hunter's Uncle Mark, Aunt Brandie, and Gammy Dori on the hayride

My cousin Joe, Heather, and their son Tyler. 

 One of my BFF's, Amber. We've been great friends since the 10th grade! I treasure our friendship and she is so good with my kids :)

 Our good family friends. Mike (right) and Nick were college roommates. His wife Jacque and I have become good friends too. They have two boys and Michael is Jack's age. Their boys are so stinkin' cute!!  

 My friend Deanna's daughter, Gabby. She is so cute and I love this picture of her :)

 Being silly on the hayride...

 This child would not take a good picture with Nana. Little stinker! 

Hunter's cake....of course banana cake again! 

We had a nice day and it was a great time. We were allowed to have 30 people and I think we ended up with 36, so we did good! The cider mill had lots of play places, cider, donuts, hayride, pumpkins, etc. I have lots more pictures, but didn't put them all up here :)