Mohawks!

We were cutting off the long hair for summer, and we thought this would be fun. 

Colin rocks his.  Kevin doesn't look as natural, but he still likes it.  He keeps telling everyone, and can't wait for his friends at school to see it.

Colin's birthday

Colin turned 4 on Monday!  He is so big, and is turning into a sweet, joyful little man.

He had a birthday party with his friends the weekend before.  At first he only wanted Noah to be there, (they are inseparable) but we convinced him to invite a few more friends.  For the first time in a while, we had the party at our house.  The only thing Colin wanted was a pinata, and he actually found an Optimus Prime one!  I think he was very pleased, since his cake was also Star Wars.  Gotta love that kid!

With his Bumblebee poster.

Gwyn did not like being put down for daddy to get the pinata up.

Lined up for the pinata.  We were lucky we cancelled the park.  It was so hot!

Optimus' legs.

Optimus' head.

Opimus on the front door.  Since the party was a week before his actual birthday we told him this could stay up until he turned 4.  Our neighbors might think we are crazy, but that little man loved coming home and seeing that for a week.

Mother's Day

I had a lovely Mother's Day this year.  We went on a family bike ride.  The last time we were able to go for a ride through Creve Coeur park was when Gwyn was a baby.  This time we were all on bikes.  The boys each got a new bike the day before just for the walk.  (Colin got his for his birthday, Kevin's was actually purchased a month ago, but it had been sitting in the garage.)  Kevin went made several trips the previous week just to make sure we were ready for the ride.

First of all, the boys are much faster on these bikes - especially Colin!  He spent the entire time talking, just like last time, too.  He told me that the plants were his friends, and then said hi to the plants.  And he spent a few minutes just yelling "Batman! Batman! Batman! Batman!" over and over again.  I think he entertained the people on the trail.

Gwyneth liked riding behind me, but nothing compared to when she got to ride next to her daddy.  When Kevin would pull up next to me, she would kick her legs and squeal and talk.  She did babble some and the people around me seemed to like her.

Kevin was very hesitant to ride his bike at first.  He was nervous about the wobbling from the training wheels.  He also fell over at one point and scraped his knee, but he kept riding!  He ended up having a lot of fun, and he got fast!

There was more to the day, like shopping for me and then my favorite dinner.  (It was supposed to be grilled salmon, but I left the salmon at the grocery store when I bought it, so it turned into Mexican night!)

Riding his new bike in the neighborhood.

In the car, ready to head to the park.

She loved her new chair!

Break time after the ride.

Gwyn seems to think that if you give her food, she can eat it out of your hand.

Kevin found that funny.

She loved not being in a chair - anything to be like her brothers.

Funny faces at lunch.

Gwyn's 1 year stats

Enough about Gwyn turning one, I know.  But Kevin would like her stats posted.  I don't know why, but has nothing to do with another girl's 1 years stats being blogged. 

She went to the doctor 6 days after her birthday.
Weight: 21 lb 15 oz (64%ile)
Height: 30 in (77%ile)

Addendum to her cute stories.

• She loves to grab books and then sit in your lap.  She has only ripped one page so far.  She usually wants the books her brothers read. 
• She has grabbed me by my hair and pulled me off her favorite pillow.  I need to work on the word "gentle" with her.  I felt like I was in the movie Mean Girls. 
• We had to buy her a new blanket.  She loves corners on blankets, and only one of her three has corners.

 Bonus pictures:

Walking around without her dress on.  She wanted her top off when her brothers took their shirts off.

On the darn pillow again.

Kid Art

 From Colin:

Monster Tent

For some reason these all loaded sideways, but I am going with it.  This is his house with three ghosts.  

 From Kevin:

The Easter bunny.  The face is on the left, tail on the right, and feet on the bottom.

Just tracings, but he said that the clouds spell his name.

If you click onthe picture, you can read what he said about it.

Birds, camel, and lizards.

These two pictures are the front and back of his Earth.

"Mommy and Kevin"

St. Louis Marathon

 Last Sunday Kevin ran the St. Louis GO! Marathon.  The weather was less than perfect at about 75 degrees.  Well, it was great for spectator, but terrible hot for running.  Anyway, Kevin finished at 3 hours and 7 minutes.  I brought the kids to the finish line to see him, with the help of DTG.  The boys were very proud of him and brought their signs from the last marathon.
 

Waiting near the finish line for daddy.

Here he comes!

What recovery looks like with the boys.

What recovery looks like when Gwyn wants to be with daddy, too.

Kevin made sure that he held his daddy's hand when they walked to get Kevin's gear.

Gwyn wanted to walk too.

Colin wore the medal... like a sash.

Taken around mile 12 by a friend. It is Ridiculously Photogenic Kevin.

Gwyn turned 1!

Colin took this picture of Adeline.

Ryan going crazy with balloons!

Trying to eat a balloon.

When Colin lets you take a picture, he can be so cute!

Picture of Parker, taken by Colin.

The smile quickly turned to frowns.

Best picture of all the kids.

Here are a few things we find adorable.

• She has staked claim to the large blue pillow in our living room. If anyone (usually daddy) lies down on it, she walks over, whining, shaking her hands, and will try to push or move you off. Then she will sit on the pillow for a few minutes. She also likes to sit on it when ever, and she will just lounge.
  
• She likes to have her shirt off when her brothers have their shirt off.
• She is not afraid of the water. She went swimming during Kevin and Colin's swim lessons, and would try to dive in, and walk into the deep end on her own.
• She grabs Kevin and Colin's clothing and will walk around carrying it. Do not try to take it from her.
• She hands me the dust bin every time she sees me sweeping. Then she tries to carry the broom around.
• She screams and squeals very loud for the most random things. Trying to get a blanket that she is also sitting on? Squeal loudly. Want to play with the laptop you are using? Cry like her arm is being ripped off.
• She loves getting her shoes on. She will grab them and then go sit down on the bottom step waiting for help.
  
• She loves baths. She gets into the bathroom as fast as possible and starts to play in the water while the tub is filling.
• She loves to dance. She will dance to the radio, or to music she makes with instruments, or to you just clapping a beat.
  
• Since I have started this list, she has sat on her pillow three times already.
• She is learning to talk, saying words for mom, dad, brothers, Pepper (cat), and a couple more.

That is all I can think of for now! I included some pictures from her birthday party.