Vacay and Teachers

Tom and I took a quick vacay to Arizona last week. One of his best friends got married down there and Tom was in the wedding. It was a lot of work leaving the kiddos behind, and a lot of work that our moms endured for us too. We decided it would be best to split up the three boys - the two older together and Leo on his own. Three is just a lot for 5 days, especially when you have preschool and a baby thrown in the mix. Everything went great. No one got sick or hurt. The weather cooperated. Bailey was put in a kennel. All was peaceful. I don't think I really started to relax until sometime on Thursday. I enjoyed the quiet and the uninterrupted sleep. And the meals out with no kids. And the adult interaction. But then Friday morning came and the news of the shooting got out. And my heart sank and I got a lump in my throat. And suddenly the only place I wanted to be was on my couch with my boys surrounding me.  I had to turn off the tv. I had to stop reading my news apps on my phone. I just couldn't go there. The few times I did really think about it, I started sobbing and I just couldn't do that. Not while I was away from my babies. My almost 5 year old. It breaks my heart. I can't help but see my children, or my friends children, in all of the victims pictures. What if. What if. Those poor, poor children. Those teachers. The parents. How are they going to recover from this? My heart is so heavy.

I love teachers, I mean I almost became one :-) But I love teachers even more now. Teachers love our children, they really do. Unless of course your kid is that kid. ha, just kidding. Teachers are so important in our children's lives. Think about it. I bet you can name every single one of your teachers - at least all the way up to jr high school when you started to have way too many. But even at that - I bet you could still name a handful of high school ones. We remember the ones we loved, the ones we didn't love so much. But they impacted us in so many wonderful, wonderful ways. Teachers, good and bad, love our children and impact our children's lives. And sometimes, as proven on Friday, they even save our children's lives.

Back to my intention of this post - our vacation....I took all of 3 pictures on this trip. HA! Pathetic. And not one of them is of me and Tom. I tried really hard to have my phone away the majority of the vacation. And I didn't even bring my nice camera with me. Tom got in a few rounds of golf. I enjoyed the spa one morning. And it was just a really great time hanging out with old friends who we don't get to see that much, especially sans children! But needless to say, I was ready to get home and see the kiddos. Jack gave me the biggest hug ever when we got home and I just missed him so much. And Finn, although he was too into the iPad when we walked through the door to even look at us, when I made my way over to him - he said MOMMY! MOMMY! I missed you so much!

It's great to get away. It was a much needed vacation for us. But it's so nice to be back and to get to hug my boys.

Tomorrow starts the Christmas festivities with Jack's preschool christmas program. He will have another one on Thursday with the younger kids and then let the Christmas gift giving begin! I'll try to take some video of the songs tomorrow. Should definitely be interesting.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Hooray for snow! The boys are having so much fun in the snow this year. Last year I think we went outside once when there was maybe an inch or two on the ground and that's it! Actually this morning, they were outside by themselves once Leo woke up. Not too shabby! Jack's preschool got cancelled this morning, which was good and bad :-)

We celebrated one Christmas this past weekend. And wouldn't you know it, Tom ended up in the ER with Jack. He fell off a slide and hit his head on the corner of a shelf. The wound was pretty deep, we weren't certain he would need stitches, but we thought better safe than sorry. So Tom and his dad went to the closest hospital ER and luckily it wasn't crazy busy or anything. They were able to come back and have some ice cream before everyone started to head home. Jack was a trooper and just ended up needing one stitch.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.

I'd like to title these next three pictures : THE DREADED AGE OF THREE

For the record, Finn wore this outfit of Leo's when he was 12 months. Leo is 5 months. 

Fishing for gifts

He's such a good oldest cousin

All of the Starkey MN great grandkids -8 kids under 5

haha

Starting him early

Leo at 5 Months

December 2, 2012 - 5 Months

Thank goodness for iPhones. I haven't had my nice camera out in FOREVER. Poor Leo is getting shafted. 

At 5 months Leo is still in size 3 diapers. His 6 month clothes are getting tight! He's eating about 7 oz every 4 hours. He has baby food once or twice a day and LOVES it! He still wakes up sometimes at night for his nuk and usually wants to have another bottle between 4-6 AM. I definitely don't remember feeding Jack or Finn this early of a bottle, but we've been putting Leo to bed earlier than we did with them so that's probably why. Leo has major napping issues. He HATES napping in his crib or the pack n play. But he'll nap in my arms no problem. Yeah, sorry buddy that just isn't going to happen. The other day I had so much to do and he hadn't slept all day long. Both Jack and Finn were napping, so I put Leo in the pack n play downstairs. He literally cried for over an hour. Obviously I was going and checking on him, trying to calm him down, giving him his nuk, rocking him, etc. And he'd doze off and the second I'd set him back down, he'd scream. Ugh, it's so frustrating. I think he's teething too (when aren't they teething their first few years of life...seriously). 

He continues to be the happiest baby in the world, despite his sleeping issues. I mean honestly, the day when he didn't sleep one wink all day, he was all smiles when being held or talked to. Seriously, he hates being left alone. He needs to be front and center on all of the action. But in all honestly, the kid is never fussy unless he is tired, over tired or hungry. He might wimpier and whine because he misses his brothers up in his face 24/7, but the kid doesn't fuss. ever. The other night when we were purging some of our toys, Tom was like we should just get rid of all the baby toys. Leo isn't going to need any toys because he has his brothers to keep him occupied. It's true, but I'm still not willing to part with the baby entertainment stuff. Can I just also complain about how much room the baby stuff takes up!?! ahhhhhhh. I'm going to have a party when we give away all of this stuff!

He loves his carseat and usually falls asleep in the car. He's a great companion to take shopping or whatnot, as long as he's been fed. He still isn't a huge fan of tummy time, which is quite annoying since he flips over to his stomach the second you put him on his back. We haven't really worked on the whole sitting up thing. I don't even remember when that happens. Probably in a few months? 

With the holidays approaching, and the boys birthday, and a wedding - we are staying quite busy! But it's fun and each year the holiday season seems to get more and more exciting as parents.

I'm excited that tomorrow is Friday!

Video

I can't believe I never put this video on the blog. I made this when Leo was just one month old. It's pretty fun watching it. My favorite part is at about 2:18, seriously I tear up. I love my family.

Frosty Thomas Clark

We bit the bullet and got an Elf on the Shelf this year. The boys named him Frosty Thomas Clark. Don't ask. ha ha.

So far, Tom and I have been loving this tradition. Throughout the day, the boys will go up to Frosty and tell him everything they want for Christmas. Then they say goodnight to him before naps and bedtime. They are extra careful never to touch Frosty, or his magical powers will be gone. I see on Pinterest all of these crazy ideas to do with the elf. I don't really understand the concept of having the elf be naughty and get into mischief. Although it might be funny for the kids to see, I don't really feel like encouraging naughty behavior. Anyone else feel that way? Like, sorry my elf is not going to spill flour all over the kitchen floor. Or dump a box of toothpicks out. Sorry, Frosty. You are going to be a good little guy.

I FINALLY convinced Tom to buy an artificial tree this year. I know, I know - how scrooge-like of me. But come on. I can't handle all of the needles everywhere. And watering it. And stringing the lights on it. BLAH. So after months and months of begging and reasoning, we finally picked one out. And it's a beauty. And how glorious that we don't have to string the lights. And they are all even and perfect. And no needles. No watering. It's heaven. Oh and what about the smell of a real tree you ask? Well don't worry, I bought a huge candle that smells just like the real thing. haha. Why yes, I think I've crossed over to the dark side. And I love it.

Last year, I made a wreath at Alissa's house. I knew exactly what I wanted, I just wasn't sure how to get there. With my trusty old glue gun and some youtube videos, I made this beast. Tom about killed me when I got him. Actually I think our text messages before I left Alissa's went like this:
Me: Picture Sent and - it's a tad aggressive, huh?
Tom: A TAD Lloyd????

haha. The thing barely fits on our door. But go to Target this year in the Christmas section and every wreath you will see will resemble this one. I win. Sure mine might not be all even and perfect. And there may or may not be a styrofoam back to this wreath - but it's handmade with love. And it looks fabulous. It looks even better when our multi-colored Christmas lights are hanging from our house that match the wreath.

Getting Leo started early on Toy Story

Second batch of Christmas Cookies. DELISH!

Happy Hump Day!

Best Christmas Movie Ever

Because if I don't find something to laugh about today, I will cry and I won't be able to stop.

When it rains...

When it rains....it freaking pours. Wednesday was a rough day. The day just dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. But there was light at the end of the tunnel because I was getting my hair done. My hair took three hours! Way longer than I had anticipated. But anyways, Tom and I still had a nice relaxing night before Thanksgiving. We were cleaning and heading up to bed when all of the sudden I heard a blood curdling cry from Finn. I went into his room and saw he had a huge pile of throw up in his bed. Oh great I thought. I was cleaning up and getting ready to move his mattress into our room by the bathroom when Jack started freaking out saying his throat hurt. I just thought he was over reacting so I gave him some water. 5 seconds later he was hurling his dinner over the side rails of the bunk bed. Jack slept on his mattress in the hallway, Finn slept on his mattress at the end of our bed. Jack seemed totally fine after he threw up. Finn continued to throw up multiple times that night. Our Thanksgiving was a blur. Jack seemed to be perfectly healthy for the most part, so Tom took him and Leo to my parent's house for some turkey. Tom came home a few hours later and I got to go over there for the leftovers. Long story somewhat short, Finn was puking well into late Thursday night, early Friday morning. Leo developed pink eye, no shocker there. I did about a bazillion loads of laundry. Went through an entire bottle of lysol and had sympathy nausea all freaking weekend.

There is nothing worse than seeing your kids sick in any way shape or form. But it got me thinking, I deal with these things a handful of times throughout the year. Think of all the people who deal with their children's major illnesses, not just stomach bugs all year long. I cannot imagine seeing any of my babies in a hospital on IVs dealing with things that I can't even fathom. So as much as I hate the stomach bug and pink eye and nasty colds, deep down I know I shouldn't complain because we have got it good compared to so many others. It makes my heart hurt just thinking about how badly I was feeling for myself this past week. But to be honest, it was a brutal, brutal week and I'm glad I can start over this week. I just wish sleep would be in my near future. Seriously it's UNREAL around here. And don't even get me started on the terrible three's. I forgot how unbelievably terrible they are. Finn whined/cried for two hours straight this morning. That is NOT an exaggeration.

Happy Monday!

Thanks for Thanksgiving

This week when we haven't been rubbing our pink eyes, we've been talking about things we are thankful for. Here is Jack's list: Food, vegetables, Preston, school, you, daddy, bailey, myself, Finn, Grandma and Grandpa, Brendan, Leo, computers, lifetime, milk, Rio, rainbows of colors, games, restaurants, chocolate milk, Molly, dollars and coins. HAHA - I couldn't have made these up if I tried. 

Here is Finn's list: Milk, Tristan. Ok then. Thanks Finn.

Finn and Jack look THRILLED to be a part of this family. At least Leo is digging it. 

I have so much to be thankful for this year. I have a wonderful, loving husband who provides for our family and supports me in every way possible. I have three beautiful, handsome, healthy boys. I have the best parents in the world. I have wonderful in-laws, including an awesome brother and sister in-law, a niece AND a nephew. I have an amazing brother who is so inspiring to other people. And I have the best friends in the entire universe.

This week has been challenging to say the least. I've wondered numerous times how we are going to survive Christmas vacation and summer vacation - good LORD. But it's times like these when I need to remember just how good we've got it. I remember only 3 years ago my brother and mom were coming home from Craig Hospital. It's amazing to think of how much my family has grown and adapted in three years. Just this past year, our family has been connected to so many families dealing with spinal cord injuries. And it brings us all right back to that first year of recovery. It breaks my heart reading all of these CaringBridge entries about the daily struggles of the person injured and their families. If there is one thing I could tell all of them is that in time, things will calm down and people will adapt to the new normal. It's not something you can see when your in the rut of everything, but just hang on and have faith. Life is good and God is great.

Classic

Gobble Gobble. Happy Thanksgiving.

Right on time

It wouldn't be a true holiday week if the kids weren't sick, right? Pink eye has struck this house. We've never had pink eye before, thankfully it doesn't make the kids feel crappy and is just more annoying. And let me tell you how much fun it is to put eye drops into an almost 5 and 3 year old. UGH! Two times a day! Yesterday after naps, Finn's eye was practically glued shut with goop. I knew right away what it was, even though we've never had it. Jack had a blocked tear duct when he was born and everyone and their mother would constantly come up to me in public places and tell me that my baby had pink eye. UGH. It was so annoying. But to be fair - it did look the same. I'm just not sure why strangers insist on sharing their opinions with other strangers. Anyways...after I saw his eye, I looked at Jack's eye. And voila, crusty tear ducts. Perfect. I really didn't feel like bringing the entire crew to the dr.'s office. I figured I'd bring in the sickest looking one, hope we get the drugs, and just give the drops to everyone that needed them. We saw a great doctor, got Finners diagnosed with Pink Eye, healthy ears (I had her check them because Finn has been out of control cranky lately), and she even gave me a refill on the order just in case the entire family gets the goop. This is amazing because I really don't want to pay $25 or bring in more kids to tell me what I already know. Plus I think you can buy pink eye drops over the counter at Target nowadays. So yes...here we are cooped up inside today so we don't germ up anyone else.

It's only been a day and a half with Jack not having preschool and I'm already losing my mind. The TV has been on a ridiculous amount. They won't stop snacking. They either play fantastic together or are fighting like cats and dogs. The only thing I've got going for me is that I can work on getting Leo on a napping schedule. He's been challenging us at nighttime, I don't know what to do. I wish he'd just stop waking up. It's just so easy to feed him to put him back to sleep, but I'm not sure that's the best answer. Then again he's only 4 1/2 months.

Speaking of sleep. I'm in a dilemma with Jack. I can get him to nap every week day after lunch. However, this makes bedtime SO challenging. When he doesn't nap during the day, bedtime is usually a breeze. But when I don't make him nap, he won't do ANYTHING by himself. He won't sit for a movie, he gets up and wants to play something with me. He won't read books by himself, he wants me to read them to him. If I am cleaning, he insists on helping me. If he's playing with his phone, he insists on asking me how to spell everything under the sun. I can't catch a break. I need to find something that will keep him busy and quiet and give me the break I need.

I'm Ready

I'm ready to start writing again. This past weekend I was looking through some of my old blog posts. This blog (not this exact website, but i did upload my previous blog here so it's all in one spot) has been with me for over 4 years. I started when Jack was about 1. I've documented two pregnancies, two births, my brothers tragic accident leaving him paralyzed, and countless hilarious stories about being a stay at home mom, a wife, a daughter and a friend. I'm not ready to throw in the towel. It's been a good solid year that I've taken off and I'm ready to come back at it. Maybe not in the same way, like posting my updates on Facebook, etc. Although maybe I should think about cutting my Facebook viewers down now that I think about it, too. I absolutely love reading other people's blogs, why not put some of that energy into my own? And I love being on the internet and putting my family pictures together and feeling all organized like I have my life together (when really, I know I don't, as much as I wish I did). I'm thinking of challenging myself to a little cookie bake off for the holiday season. That will help me get back into blogging and will also give me something "wild and crazy" to do during the day, I mean with all of my spare time! HA We are going on a 5 day trip to Arizona in December, so I'll have to factor that into the equation when deciding exactly how many recipes I'm going to attempt!

Random quick story from church yesterday. During the quietest part of mass, Finn starts SCREAMING! Then he proceeds to yell "I have to go POOOOOOP!" Oh my word, the entire parish practically busted out laughing and if you've ever been to a Catholic church, you know how quiet and reserved we are during mass. Ummmm, completely mortifying. HA.

Happy Monday

Finnisms

Finn has been saying some pretty funny things lately. I wanted to make sure I documented them:

I posted this on Facebook a while ago - One morning I asked Finn what undies he wanted to wear. He replied, I want to wear my hero Buzz Lightyear. I about died when he said hero.

In the car when it's bright and sunny, Finn has started saying "Mommy, the sun is tickling me!"

Do you notice that sometimes kids don't use proper grammar? Finn is HORRIBLE with this. He's constantly saying things like "Oh yes he do" or "Where it be mama?" or just pronouncing words incorrectly. Jack wasn't nearly as bad as Finn is. Obviously we always correct him, but it can be pretty fricken hilarious too. 

Leo is not cooperating with his morning nap today. Frustrating.

Here's an older picture. My hair is out of control, Tom apparently didn't want to tell me to fix it. I put a few of these on Facebook way back then, but obviously not the ones of me. ha. Happy Weekend!

Picture Time

I wish Jack was in this picture. I'd blow it up in a canvas for sure.

The next series of pictures is called Thunder. Leo has some of the biggest thighs I have ever seen. And if you take off his diaper he's hiding about 5 more rolls. I'm not kidding! I love it.

Are you done laughing? haha.

Extreme Close Up

Rolling

Over

Talking to his hanging friends

Wud up Mom

Slinky wanted in on the picture taking

Haha. Seriously. Where's his neck?

Finn's fever finally broke last night. Poor guy just did not feel good. He was so warm. This morning he woke up ready to go though. Hopefully he takes a good nap today too. I got Leo to nap in his crib this morning for a good 45 minutes. And he's napping again right now, as are the other boys. I'm nervous for next week having zero preschool will be challenging. Good thing it's a "short" week! I better hurry up with my Black Friday shopping lists!! Toodles.