Move over Monday, we're ready for Tuesday!

Hunter was on day five of being stuck at home.  After a few days of being sick, a cold and wet weekend, and a teacher workday today...I think he is actually ready to go back to school!

Some little artists at work:

It was game night for Hunter.  Even though the do not play the national anthem, Austin was ready for it.  Really he was staring at the kids playing.  He really wants to go out there and join them!

He has made a lot of improvements so far this season.  He is really doing well on defense.  He is player number 4 on the yellow team.

He likes to look over at us during the game...maybe to see if we're watching. 

My dad went home from the hospital today.  Austin and I will be there Friday!

Sunday News

Reading the Sunday paper:

Sunday paper wrestling:

Today Chris and Hunter were playing Maria Kart on the Wii.  Chris threw in the towel after Hunter beat him two times.  Hunter got 1st.  Chris got 12th.  aka last place.

Chris does not like to lose.

Rainy day...good day for a museum

Hunter playing Monster Jam on the Wii and Austin thinking he's playing as well. 

Tis the season for birthday parties...Hunter's weekends are booked with one party after another.  Today he went to a party for a friend at school.  It was at the science museum in downtown Raleigh.  They learned about animals and why they use camouflage to hide.  They got to pet a few different animals: a rabbit, snake, and an alligator.



When we got home Austin raided the goodie bag.  He could not figure out how to make the noise maker work.  He kept yelling, "do it, do it!"

My dad is getting better each day.  Every time I talk to him his speech gets better and better.  We're still not sure when he'll be able to leave the hospital, but once he gets home I plan on going to help out for a bit.  The first picture is Hunter and my dad from 7/2007.  Hunter was 17 months.  The second picture is of Austin and my dad from 7/2011.  Austin was 16 months.

Finally Friday...

Hunter stayed home with us again today, because he still had a fever.  This morning his temp. was around 100, but by lunch time it was back down to normal.  He woke up hungry.  He asked for a banana and carrots.  Austin and Hunter eating their breakfast...

Some how I managed to go all day with only taking one picture.  Austin didn't get out of his pajamas until bedtime when we put some clean ones on him.  I didn't really accomplish much, but I did make a really delicious white chili.  Here's the link to the recipe if you're looking for something tasty that was pretty easy. 

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/White-Chili-with-Ground-Turkey/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=75069458&prop26=DailyDish&prop27=2012-01-04&prop28=DailyRecipe&prop29=FullRecipe&me=1

After dinner Hunter ALWAYS asks for a dessert.  He remembered that we had all the "ingredients" for s'mores thanks to his MooMa.  So he came up with a great idea (his words) for dessert.  "We can make s'mores, because MooMa said so."  Well, I forgot and was talking to my cousin Fran on the phone...hiding out in the car, charging my phone and talking at the same time.  It was nice and peaceful.  I realized I had been out in the car for awhile when I saw Chris staring out the window trying to figure out what I was doing.  When I came in Hunter was more then annoyed about not having his s'mores...so, at 8:30pm instead of getting ready for bed we were eating s'mores. 

I was trying to take a picture of Hunter eating a bite, but he kept making weird faces.  When I uploaded them I thought the series of pictures were funny. 

Austin got a graham cracker and a play-doh ice cream cone.  (notice...still wearing his pjs from this morning)

My dad is doing a lot better today.  We had a nice conversation this afternoon.  He said to say hello to Chris, Hunter, and the daredevil...here is a picture of my dad first meeting Hunter when he was 3 1/2 months old in May of 2006.  The next one of my dad first meeting Austin when he was 2 1/2 months old in June of 2010.

Thursday art...with a little splash of a fever.

Hunter stayed home with us today because he ended up with the fever that has gone around to all the short people in our house.  We started off the day making some pictures and cards for Papa John.  Hunter wanted to paint.  So, I crossed my fingers...gave him some water colors on one side of the table and Austin crayons and markers on the other side of the table.  Well, it didn't take long for Austin to realize that Hunter was using something more fun and insisted on painting too.  It went better then expected.  He only spilled his cup three times.  He painted his paper, shirt, mouth, and the table.

Then a special friend came over to share some donut holes from dunkin donuts with the boys.  She had a feeling that Austin had never had donut holes before...she was right.  He loved them. 

Hunter started to get a little tired around 11 so I put on a movie for him.  Austin took the opportunity to cuddle with his "bro bro."  He sat and watched Harry Potter with Hunter for about 20 minutes.  I don't think he's ever sat still for so long.





Ella just loves to flirt with Cam.  She'll tickle his stomach and then giggle.  Winnie likes to hang out with Cam too. 

Thanks for all the positive thoughts about my dad.  He is doing a lot better today. 

July 26, 2011:

Long day...

This day has been so long...it started when I got up early to go hang out with Ella and Andrew and it's still going at 11pm as I write this post.

I took Austin, Ella, and Cam to the gym at Lake Lynn again.  Walking in with 3 kids two and under is quite the workout.  They had fun!  My friend's daughter, Gabby, had fun holding Cam today.  He's three years younger then her, but almost the same size!

Hunter got off the bus without his jacket on.  It was cold and I asked him why he wasn't wearing it.  He said because he had a headache.  (makes sense to me)  So he complained of a headache on and off this evening and I kind of ignored him.  He asked to take a nap when he got home and this is where I found him after we walked inside. 

Well, that lasted for many five minutes and then he was up and running.  At 7pm when he told me for about the 5th time I took his temp. and he had a fever of 103!  I gave him some motrin and within 30 minutes he was jumping off my bed.  Literally...so, we'll see how he is tomorrow!

Austin washing his hands...

Austin washing his head...

Hanging out watching a movie with my boys...

Thinking of my dad tonight, wishing I could be at home with him.  Lots of positive thoughts and a big hug from all of us!

Tuesday...even though it felt like a Monday

Austin plays basketball a lot during the day.  His new move is pushing a basket of toys close to the hoop, climbing in, and shooting from inside the basket.  He gets in and out...over and over.  Ella decided to help him out a bit today and was getting the ball for him.

Cam was so cute today playing with the big kids.  He seemed so proud of himself.  Ella loves him and likes to share toys with him.  I kept pulling his hand away from his mouth to take a picture, he would smile and then stick his hand right back into his mouth.

While Ella was busy playing with Cam...Austin was busy making a HUGE mess in his bedroom with his toys.

Then they started passing out hugs...

Andrew was downstairs playing while I was getting the other three up from their naps.  This is where we found him when we came downstairs.  Ella and Austin thought it was so funny.  Ella kept saying, "Drew Drew sleep...Drew Drew sleep."  They were both trying to wake him up.  He was out for the count.

Tonight was math night at Hunter's school.  He had a lot of fun and on our way home he told me today was the best day of his life.  :)

Austin, of course, found a ball in one of the classrooms.  Chris and I took turns chasing him down the hall after the ball.  At one point he was walking by a special needs classroom where there was a huge exercise ball.  He threw the small green ball he found and yelled, "BALL...orange BALL!!"  He's like a ball magnet. 

Remember my bald baby?  Look at his curly hair after a bath.