drew's parent free pass

drew was SO excited yesterday! during swim lessons his teacher gave him the chance to take "the swimming test". he had to tread water for a minute, then do a back float, then a front float, then tread water for 10 more seconds. he passed with flying colors! he was SO pumped! he got to wear the notorious pink wristband for the first time! now he can go down the waterslides and in the deep pool PARENT FREE!!! on the way home from swim lessons he wanted to call everyone he knew to share the news!

WAY TO GO DREW!!!

happy birthday aiden!

happy birthday little aiden!! we had fun coming to your party this weekend!! thanks for inviting us ;)

one year ago today i remember sitting and holding you and thinking what a special little gift you were.
it's so crazy to look at how you have changed and how much you have grown!!
you and alex are another example of how 2 little boys can be similar but OH SO VERY DIFFERENT :)
i'm so excited to watch you guys as you grow through this next year together!
i have a feeling it won't be long until the two of you realize that you can work together at getting into trouble, and our wausau visits are going to add a whole new element of fun to grandma's life!!

i can't wait!

we love you little man! happy first birthday!!

a case for a creator

if we were taking an "out of your 3 kids, which is the craziest" poll - ben would win hands down.

ben is fearless. (i.e. the other day he stood at the top of the steps in the kitchen and decided to just jump down to the basement instead of walking down the steps.)

HOWEVER ... to know ben is to know that there are many situations where he suddenly becomes very reserved.

and typically it is in those situations that drew takes the spotlight. it is in those situations that drew becomes our fearless child.

drew will ride any roller coaster. drew will ride behind a boat in a tube and regardless of how fast you are going he will tell you you're not going fast enough.

it was today, as i was watching ben trying to be brave in the tube, that i was able to decipher what makes them so different. ben likes control. when anyone else is in control - ben wants no part of it. he hates being swung around. he doesn't like many of the rides at MOA. and he has yet to really go tubing. BUT ... if he is in complete control he will do the unimaginable. drew on the other hand hates control. when learning to ride a bike, he became hesitant. when playing sports, he holds back. when faced with the decision of walking or jumping down the stairs - he walks :) BUT ... with someone else in control there is no stopping him. he has not a fear in the world!

every day i'm finding it more and more amazing that 2 little boys can be so very similar - yet SO very different.

every day i'm seeing more and more examples of how it's possible to be fearless and cautious at the same time.

i have 2 little guys living with me that make quite a case for a creator!! :) te he he :)

(anyone taking bets on what #3 will be like??)

only ben

so ... we are in wausau this weekend.

we left this morning so that we could get here in time for aiden's (my nephew's) birthday party.

we put ben in the 3rd row because he thinks it is fun to ride back there and then everyone had a bit more space.

in addition to ben ... in the back of our car we also had the pieces for a new crazy coupe for aiden. (we didn't put it together until we got here because it fit better into the car that way)

little did we know that by not putting it together we were also providing ben with 3 hours of entertainment. at one point we looked back to see the top of the car over the top of his head and the steering wheel between his legs.

ben, you keep us smiling.

some one year old fun

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting i thought i'd post this video so you could see how much fun one little one year old can actually have on a bouncing zebra. over ... and over ... and over again :) and .. so you could hear what he says nonstop around our house. all of the sudden he'll show up and "HI". ha ha.

OUR blog

well.. this is no longer MY blog. it is OUR blog. or perhaps DREW'S blog.

tonight he was talking to his friend on the phone. they were talking about something ben did and how we had a picture of it. his friend didn't believe him and drew said "i'm serious. check it out. i'll put it on my blog!!!"

so ... not only was i laughing that 2 six year olds would be talking about a blog. but ... that drew would even think to be using this blog as a way to prove something to his friend!

totally unreal.

i'm guessing it won't be long and he'll have his own google talk account as well!

drew the interpreter

i mentioned previously how drew has the amazing baby whispering gift. he thinks he understands all that alex says and constantly informs us of what will make alex happy.
HOWEVER ... i'm starting to notice a trend.
in some miraculous way, drew is getting alex to say the things HE wants.
for example ... alex has wanted to go for a bike ride for the past few days. in fact, when he screamed the ENTIRE way home from the airport - that's all he wanted. he was just telling us how badly he wanted to go for a bike ride.
so tonight we told alex (and drew) that we would all go for a bike ride.
amazingly enough, alex told drew that he would really like it if we biked to the park!

what would we do if drew didn't speak his language?!

the end of summer sports

today was ben's last day of t-ball and soccer.

so, what does that mean for us?!

that means the end of summer sports!!!! WOO HOOOO!!! drew has been done for a few weeks. but, ben still had t-ball and soccer every tuesday and thursday morning through park and rec. he had a lot of fun. BUT ... it will be nice to have all of our mornings back!!
because as crazy as it is - school starts in just over a month! YIKES!!

we still need to:

- swim more, go to the beach, go to the childrens museum, go the MOA a few times, go up north, go to chicago, go to wausau, swim more :), go to the splash pad, go to the free summer movies .... i could go on and on!!!

we better get busy.

he's one!!

well ... alex got the memo. he officially knows he is one. he has started these screaming fits. if i put him down when he doesn't want to be put down (which is basically always) -- he screams. when we had him in the carseat yesterday to take bekah to the airport and he didn't want to be - -he screamed (the ENTIRE way home). when he's done eating and we're not -- he screams. if he wants to be crawling and i want to change him -- he screams. basically, if i am 2 inches away from him -- he is screaming :)

love it ;)

we keep reminding ourselves -- this too shall pass :) (hopefully soon)

and until then ... if you're coming over ... either bring earplugs or a case of Mikes.

weekend fun

this weekend we had some fun visitors. first ... my sister, bekah, came on friday.
then ... on saturday my mom, larry, larry's son scott, and aiden came to watch the aquatennial fireworks.

as we do every year, we went down to the stone arch bridge early and claimed our spots. BUT ... as it seems to happen every year we were still invaded by some crazy people who show up 15 minutes before the fireworks and squeeze there way into our space. (IT'S CALLED A PERSONAL BUBBLE, PEOPLE!!)
we had a lot of fun :) thanks for coming guys :)

while there, a guy was out playing the accordian for money. drew informed us that next year he is bringing his guitar so he can make some money as well.

KA-CHOW!

babysitting

This is abby a. and abby c. we are at sarah's housebabysitting the boys. it's always an advenduture to see what they come up with. one funny thing of the night was when drew wanted to know our age. we said we were 12 and his face looked sad. when we asked why, he said he thought we were 16 and could drive him to get cherry's for the ice cream at target.ha ha

brain freezes

alex had his first popsicle yesterday. i know he loved it - because he ate the entire thing!!

however ... each picture that i got while he was eating it showed him with a face like the one above :)
ha ha :) poor guy.
i guess we had to teach him about brain freezes sooner or later!

**i should add ... ben took the 2nd picture. isn't he talented :) ha ha ha!!

the way i see it

every time i get starbucks, the first thing i do is take a second to read my cup. i FINALLY came across one that really is "the way i see it".

for those of you who can't see it (and don't want to click on it to make it bigger) it says

"when i wake up in the morning i want to know that my family, friends and fans know what i believe in and what i'm all about. that's what should be important."

(i don't know that i really have any fans ;) ha ha ha ;) but ... the rest of it can apply.)

more baby interpretation

alex was in the high chair today and was whining (what's new).

drew said "mom! alex is saying he wants to get out!"

after him pushing me enough i took alex out. alex toned down the whining as i took him out. drew looked at me like he was expecting me to do something else. i asked what the look was for. he said "well mom. he said thank you. you need to say your welcome!"

how could i have missed it.

our 'trilingual" child

"mom, alex wants his elmo"
"drew ... he just threw it on the floor."
"mom. he told me he wants it. and i speak baby language."
"oh you do, huh?!"
"yes. i understand what alex says."
"oh. ok."
"i speak chewbaca and english too. just not spanish."

mini golfing - barnett style

this weekend was the end of stacey's week of vacation. we thought about going someplace fun, random, and spontaneous. but ... we decided instead to do a bunch of different fun things right around here. (that way the boys still have fun but we can enjoy the few hours of peace & quiet after they're asleep - not in a hotel room!! how sneaky!!) a few of the highlights were bowling at the new bowling complex, breakfast at McD's for the boys, and going to see ratatouille. today we decided it would be fun to finish the weekend off with a round of mini golf. HOWEVER ... we decided to keep alex with us. this created a whole new objective. after about hole #3 it was no longer who could get their ball in the hole in the least # of shots (which i believe i was winning!) the new goal was to try to keep alex from stealing your ball (and, try to not hit alex in the head with your putter as he attempts to steal your ball.) the game got a little long for ben. but drew enjoyed it. he's practicing up. look out big alex ... he's gonna be hot on your heels in no time!!

according to maya angelou

i know .. this isn't about how crazy my life is ... or my crazy kids ... but i read it and it really made me think. about my life as a mom. my life as a wife. my life as a friend. i hope it makes you think too :)

** i should add ... i am not planning on up-ing and leaving stacey :) and i'm not part of a new feminist movement here in blaine :) te he he :) however, i think that although i hope i never have to have or know some of these, it is important that i am aware of them and know why they are important. it's a reminder to me that i am a mom and i am a wife and i am a friend. however ... i need to know how to function as someone apart from those roles.**

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a set of screwdrivers,
a cordless drill,
and a black lace bra.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
one friend who always makes her laugh...
and one who lets her cry.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
when to try harder...
and when to walk away.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips,
or the nature of her parents.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...
but its over.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
how to live alone...
even if she doesn't like it.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year.

pop quiz hot shot

 

can you tell which brother spends more time in the sun with his shirt off??

my patient one year old

 

i know .. you're asking yourself ... how can patient and one year old actually fall into the same sentence?!

for the past 2 months alex has been such a trooper! between baseball and soccer we have had a sport at least 3 nights (or days) of the week. each time we go to cheer. each time alex sits on (or near) our blanket and patiently waits. he claps. he watches. he eats. and he eats more. :) he doesn't fuss. he doesn't "complain". he just patiently waits.

so ... i thought i should capture a picture of him sitting on the field watching drew at his last soccer game of the season. of everything he has done so far this summer ... patiently cheering on his brothers has probably consumed the majority of his time.

my life in 5 years (or less) :)

entertainment - boy style

today we discovered that when trying to occupy a few crazy boys -- finding a mcdonald's that is getting torn down and parking next to it can be quite entertaining.

(the only way to get the car more peaceful is to drive until they sleep :))

life lessons from golf

it rained today - from afternoon until just about bedtime - so the boys didn't go outside to play tonight. because of this, drew told us he was just having a not so good day. (in case i haven't previously mentioned it ... i love 6 year olds and how everything in their life is SO positive :)) so while laying in bed tonight he told me that today was just a bad day (all because of the rain). so i asked him to try to think of some things that made today a good day.

his response - "mom ... everyone has bad days. see, tiger woods even had a bad day today. it's ok for me to have a bad day too."

happy birthday alex party!!!

here are a few highlights!!!

different but the same

i thought it would be fun to look and compare pictures of the 3 boys - all right at one.

funny how they can look so alike - yet so different!

happy 1st birthday alex!!!

dear baby alex -
i can't believe that today is here! a year ago you were this itty bitty baby that i was SO excited to bring into the world. i held you and watched you and kissed you and was so glad that you were finally in my arms.
now today you are officially my one year old. you are so much bigger. you are so much smarter. and ... you are so much quicker :) it's amazing how much one little guy can change in just one year.
i love you so much little guy. as much as i want to keep you the itty bitty baby that i can hold in my arms, i am having so much fun watching you grow. not a day goes by that you don't bring a smile to my face. even when all else seems crazy and out of control, your giggles remind me how sweet each day is and how much i love that i get to spend each and every one with you.
happy first birthday little alex.
i love you.
mommy.

happy 4th of july!!

just a few things to note:

*it is important to point out sink holes to your children before allowing them in the water. because of the low water levels our friends moved their boat out 30 feet. well ... where the boat used to be there is a bit of a hole and ben found it :)

*which leads to the next point ... notice stacey's dripping wet clothes in his picture with ben -- he wins the award for fastest response time when emptying pockets of all electronics before attempting a rescue:)

the perfect pair

this picture is of drew and his friend, gordy. they were in school together and then ended up on the same little league team. they had so much fun together. (AND ... they are the cutest pair, aren't they!!)

anyway ... his last baseball game was this past weekend. it took up a lot of time. so for that reason i'm ready to see it end. BUT ... there are a few reasons i'm not ready for basebally to end:

*i got quite a giggle out of watching the coach's son throw a fit everytime he got out. (there is something secretly gratifying about watching a kid do something that you know your kid just wouldn't do:) ha ha)

*drew promising me that he was going to hit a home run before every game (even though all they could do was run to first base:))

*listening to the other parents who really think their kid might play for the twins someday.

*the dairy queen runs following the games.

and the #1 reason ... because drew really grew to enjoy it and i had a lot of fun watching him do something he really enjoyed.

splish splash

if alex could choose what he did all day, playing in some form of water would be one of the things on his list. anytime he hears the bath water (or the shower water) running he goes to check out who's in there and pulls out every cute trick he knows to convince that person that a bath (or shower) is much better when shared.

a new way to get from here to there

within the past few weeks alex has mastered pushing the crazy coupe car around the yard. he pushes it from the front yard ... to the back yard ... to the street ... up the hill ... down the hill ... all over. like a pro.
SO ... today drew decided that it was time for alex to face a new challenge. being the nice brother that he is he sacrificed his time to help alex meet that challenge. he climbed up on top of the car and had alex push him around.
so ... that's the new way to get from one end of the sidewalk to the other at our house -- make your baby brother push you there.