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Pick-up Sticks

We have a ton of sticks that fall into the grass on a weekly basis. Before EJ mows someone has to pick them up. Well, for 1 cent a stick, Owen is an eager beaver. Mason does it b/c Owen does it, but not b/c he really cares about the money. Owen on the other hand is highly motivated. I secretly do it to practice our counting/money skills. Works like a charm. Plus, EJ and I don't have to pick up the sticks! He earned $1 today, $1.75 2wks ago. Oh if only these meager wages would last long. Fortunately it hasn't occurred to him to break the sticks into multiple pieces. EJ kind of curtailed that by offering more than 1 penny for the big ones.

And yes, that is an obscene number of silly bands on his arm.

Roly Poly

Ryan is rolling over from back to tummy now! He woke us up a few times in the middle of the night last week b/c he had flipped on his back. Now he can flip himself back over. Phew!
Owen and Mason think its hysterical to watch him roll around. Owen laid next to him for quite awhile just babbling back and forth. Ryan loves the entertainment. He is quite a talker.

Today, I took him for his 4 month check up (2wks late).
He weighed in at 14lb 8.5 oz (50%) and 25.25" long (60%).

The way he was laying reminded me of his earlier days.
Good ol froggy legs. Much meatier though.

Signs of teeth appearing
Dr. said his gums look swollen

Big Dreams

Owen is looking for a new name. Evidently "Owen Fogarty" won't sound good when announced over the ball park intercom. And he isn't talking about little league folks ;)

Out Early

If you were to drive by our house between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. at least 4 days a week, this is what you'd see. Big Surprise! Now that it's not 100 degrees we could wait, but they are too eager. We don't have many morning with Owen left, so trying to take advantage.


I did, however remember to buy some tennis balls and now we can play real tennis. Well, not exactly real, b/c we are in the street and they can hardly hit the ball. But at least we don't have to use a beach ball anymore ;)

A Brother's Love

The combination of a broken flash on my camera and a 6 year old who hates having his picture taken equals poor quality options. Beggars can't be choosy. I think it's safe to say that Owen has fallen in love with his baby brother. If I got as many touches, hugs, kisses, pats and tickles from Owen as Ryan does, I think I'd lose my mind. Ryan eats it up. Thank goodness!
We haven't talked about school much, but I've been dropping hints this week. Owen knows it's coming. I think he is okay with the idea, but "excited" isn't the word I'd use.
I think he is really going to miss Ryan. They really won't get much time together once school starts. Probably from 4-5:15 p.m. and then again around bedtime. At least while Ryan is still taking a 3rd nap (can't remember when that stops).
Now don't be fooled. As much as he loves his brother, he is still constantly pushing the limits. He wants to pick him up (not allowed), tickles him too hard, talks too loudly into his ear and it will probably get worse the more stable Ryan appears. Poor little guy doesn't know what he is in for. At least he appears to be super flexible and laid back.

Hot off the Press

I recently read Finding the Way Home by Sarah Byrd. I got so wrapped up in the stories of Suzanne Morgan and Peter Stewart that I found myself "worrying" about them, wondering what would happen next as if I really knew them.
I remember a conversation with my friend Sarah, a few years ago, when she described the characters in her recently published book, as her friends. She couldn't wait to find out what they would say or do next. They were a big part of her life, even if they could only be found on paper. I found this peculiar seeing as she was the author. Didn't she know what would happen next?
Well, now that I have had the privilege of reading it for myself, I can better understand what she meant. She does an incredible job of bringing her characters to life as well as the beautiful countryside of Cornwall, England. I have never been to England but I'd sure like to visit now.
Congratulations, Sarah!

Warning: you will want consume large quantities of tea and scones during the reading of this book.

Mama said...

there would be days like this...

It was a beautiful morning for the pool. 80 degrees and sunny. After Ryan's morning nap we got our suits on, packed a lunch and headed to the van. Only to discover that Owen and Mason's booster seats were still in EJ's car (at work). UGH! Anyone who has ever packed 3 kids (or even 1) for the pool knows it is not an easy or quick task.

Okay, second plan. Go to Owen's school playground with our lunches.
After loading up the double stroller we forged ahead, Owen on his bike and the younger two in the stroller. As we were walking down the driveway I noticed the tire on Mason's side was looking low. Better turn around and pump it up. (Perhaps that should have been my clue)
Found the pump only to discover our new pump doesn't fit in the wide spokes of the tire. what ?!?!

Any sane person would take this as a final hint and stay home. But not me. After all, the kids are eager, lunch is packed and Ryan is already buckled in.

Third plan. Mason will ride his bike with training wheels as far as he can. If we can't make it all the way to the playground, I will think of another plan. We can have a picnic anywhere, right?

Mason did great. I got too nervous to take him and the stroller and Owen through a traffic light on a busy road. So we ditched his bike behind a tree and he rode in the stroller the rest of the way. The tire held up and everyone was happy (although the boys were a little nervous to leave his bike).

Owen and Mason had fun at the playground. Ryan did not. So after all that work I had a fussy baby and no quick exit. He and I paced around in the shade. Then we gobbled our lunches and started the trek home. Ryan took a quick cat nap in the stroller and was much happier when we got home.
At least we all got some exercise!

Another one BITES the dust

Owen lost a second tooth this week. I wish he would agree to a picture. It's just too funny. The poor thing is having a hard time eating. The four top front teeth are missing and the two bottom front teeth have grown in about half way.

Checked Off

2 "brochures" for church and an invitation for EJ's grandmother's b'day

Not Far Behind

It's not just Owen. Mason, by default is loving baseball too.
J-Roll, if you are out there, your biggest fan is only 3 feet tall. And he has memorized your pre-swing routine. And takes on your name when he steps up to bat.
Oh, perhaps its contagious, I definitely know the nickname of the Phillies Shortstop. What in the world !?!?

Mason definitely mentioned Joe Blanton at lunch. He pitched last nights game. I am so sure.

Eat. Breath. Baseball

How at the age of 6 is my son so obsessed with baseball? He has got it bad. It's almost all he talks about. He likes watching Phillies highlights in the morning or at least checking the score of the game. We are out in the yard most mornings by 8:30 playing some form of baseball, t-ball, catch etc. He talks about the Phillies players, their injuries, their schedules, who is pitching the next game. The list goes on and on.
I had a frightening realization this weekend. Owen had a classmate over to play. The little boy is the 5th child, he has 4 older sisters. When we took him home there was a huge gaggle of girls at his house. EJ and I drove away feeling slightly sorry for this little boy. Then the thought occurred to me. My 3 boys plus all their friends would leave me even more outnumbered. Yikes! Just something new to digest.
My sister and I grew up spending a good deal of time with my mom's 3 nephews. We were all close in age. Memories of my childhood have recently started flooding back when I look at my sons. My cousins helped prepare me for my boys. We played countless hours of wiffle ball. We watched the fishing channel and hours of baseball. We attended some of their baseball, football, tennis and basketball games. Some of my best childhood memories were with those boys and now its a little deja vu.

Preoccupied

I have quite a few graphic design print projects I am juggling. Hence my lack of blogging. Fun stuff, just keeping me busy. I have a feeling that the rest of this month before school starts is going to go by in the blink of an eye. We don't have much on the calendar but it just feels busy.
We had a good weekend. Nothing too exciting.
Owen lost a tooth at some point. We just happened to notice it was missing. No idea when or how. He wasn't upset and thought it was funny. I teased him about needing baby food with 4 teeth missing.

4 Months

We are definitely enjoying more smiles and chuckles from this little guy. He is becoming more and more aware of his surroundings. I shutter to think what it will be like trying to nurse him in another month. He would much prefer to see what Owen and Mason are doing. Today, I put Owen to the task of reading a story to me and Mason while Ryan ate. This kept Owen out of trouble, Mason entertained and Ryan ate in peace.

We've got a mover and a shaker on our hands.
I included some blurry ones just to show his "moves."

I am thankful for all the naps he still takes.
Life is going to be even busier when those extra 2 are dropped.

Almost every time I am out with all 3 boys and sometimes at my wits end, a woman (similar in age to my mom) comes up to me with her hand over her heart and a nostalgic expression, to share with me that she has 2 or 3 sons who are now all grown up. In these moments, I am reminded of my truly precious 3 gifts and I stop long enough to take a mental picture of my boys. I know I will be that woman in the blink of an eye. Oh, and I don't ask her if they call home. I know the answer b/c I am married to one.

Put to Work

Mondays are tough.
I am loving the summer, but I am running out of ideas!
This morning I put the boys to work.
We washed the van.
EJ will be excited.
I even vacuumed.

Captured

Owen wanted to use my camera. He posed us.

He also wanted to be in a picture with Ryan. Very rare!
Too bad Ryan wasn't looking.

Art Lesson #3

Mason did not nap on Friday so he joined us for the art lesson. Good thing it was a simple one. We talked about "abstract" art, the artist Kandinsky and how different colors can create certain emotions. The jury is still out about the later, Owen found this hard to believe.
Anything involving a glue stick is fine with Mason. And the oil pastels were a special treat. Too bad they fought over each color.


Owen had his face painted (like a pirate) earlier that day at a grand opening of a Chick-fil-A. It was CRAZY! Fortunately, Aunt Lissa was with me to help keep an eye on the boys. We didn't mean to go for the opening. Oops.

Lots of Lovin

My weekend (already a week ago) with the Barn House girls spoiled him rotten. Ryan has never had more attention in his life. He hasn't been the same sense. Not quite as content to just sit. I think he is also becoming more aware of his surroundings. Hard to believe he will be 4 months old on Monday.
My friend Kate, took so many awesome pictures of Ryan last weekend. I LOVE them ALL and here are a few. Her blog has some great pictures of our weekend as well. I am so thankful, b/c I really didn't take any. She captured some great moments.
THANK YOU KATE! I will treasure these.

Coffee Break

I am often the last one to sit down for breakfast. Big surprise there! Sometimes everyone has eaten and have moved on. It's not because I've slept in ;) It usually means laundry is going, or Ryan slept late, or an accident of some sort had to be cleaned up, etc.
On those mornings I like to pretend I will have a few quiet moments and so I make myself coffee. It's never still warm when I finally finish. But I remind myself that someday I'll miss this, right?
Well, today was no exception to the rule. Instead of a few quiet minutes, Mason came with his Bible in tow, and said "I am going to read you The Bible." Not just 1 story, the whole thing ;)

This boy LOVES to read and be read to.

He reads before he falls asleep at night.

Lately he has been reading instead of napping :(A pile of books stays IN his bed while he sleeps.

He points to the words as he "reads" although not always from left to right.
He makes up some pretty funny stories and "real" words are not a requirement.

Rockin Out

The boys stayed with my parents during my reunion weekend. EJ met up with them for a sailing trip on Saturday, but had to work on Sunday. The boys had a blast. We are all still recovering. They put on a show for me on Sunday so I could hear/see what they had be rehearsing.

Thanks Grandma and Sir!

Art Lesson #2

Last weeks lesson was a Blind Contour Drawing.
We talked about how important it is for artists to learn to draw what they really see versus drawing what they think they see. Assuming it's a suppose to be a realistic drawing. So Owen practiced drawing his soccer cleat without looking at the paper. He could only look at the cleat. Technically your pencil doesn't leave the paper, but considering he is 6, I wasn't picky.
He didn't like the idea of not looking. He wanted the drawing to "look" good. It's not suppose to look good. It was really hard for him to not worry about what it looked like. As soon as I let him, he drew one while looking at both the shoe and the paper.
Ah, a good lesson for life too. Not everything looks good. It doesn't have to be perfect. Taking control of something doesn't usually help. Letting go is usually best, but oh so hard!

All Talked Out

I have been on the verge of tears most of the day. Overwhelmed by God's goodness. He has blessed me with the most precious group of friends.
My junior year of college at JMU, I had the awesome and crazy privilege of living with 7 other girls off-campus in the "Barnhouse." 11 years later we are still good friends and get together almost every year.
This was the weekend we all got together. It went by too quickly, we vowed to make it 3 nights next year (although I haven't told my parents or EJ).
It was like we hadn't spent a day apart. Each of us are very different which makes the weekend all the better.
We talked and talked and talked and talked some more. There was tears and laughter (the awesome kind that makes your stomach hurt). There was lots of yummy food. Lots of kisses and hugs for Ryan. I think he is going through withdrawal too.
I didn't take any pictures. I just needed to enjoy with my own eyes. I knew pictures were being taken and good ones too. So I have stolen a few from Courtney's blog.

A private dinning room and delicious dinner

Kate, Mary, Michelle, Courtney, Christy, Kathy, Becca and me

Thanks for the memories!