McWeekend September 2012

I know, FINALLY!  The Kerr's blogged, and I mentioned it, but I wanted to still include some of our pictures.  These are the ones from the best pumpkin patch in the world.

On the turn, right before Kevin falls.  (He is in the lead!)

He is no longer in the lead.

Colin and I rode the tractor over to the pumpkin farm area, where you can pick out a pumpkin.  In the distance is part of the play area.  There was still more than that!

Some of the logic puzzles for families.  You had to walk certain paths to solve them.

The best picture I have of all the kids.

This kid flew across the wall!  We need to get him climbing!

Gwyn Update

Here are some updates on our big girl:

She says a lot of words.  I tried counting, and it has to be close to 100.  Some of her (and our) favorites are: Colin, Bubby (which is both brother and Kevin), strawberry, blueberry, Corduroy (the bear), bus, airplane, cheek, chin, nose, mouth, eye, hair, mummy, daddy, noooooo!, fish, moo (what most of her animals say), jacket, bean, bear, meow, doggy.  She is not only saying mulitsyballic words, but also putting words together.  Mostly, it is words with please.  The most common one is either "book please" (which sounds like "bu eeeee) or "up please" (ba eeeeee).  For those two words sounds kind of iffy, you would be shocked to hear how clear her bigger words are!  (Although jacket is still ya-eeeee.)

Her stats: weight- 26 pounds (85%)  height- 34 inches (95%) 9 teeth (FINALLY one came in in the back, but still waiting on the others...)

Her favorite books: In A People House, He Bear, She Bear, Goodnight Moon, a book on colors with textures and smells, and Sleeping Beauty

Her favorite foods: bananas, beans, ham

Her favorite activities- reading books, taking care of stuffed animals/dolls, reading books, play peek-a-boo, read books, dance, snuggle, suck thumb while holding her corner of her blanket (each blanket has a special corner), play with brothers

She is a strong-willed girl.  She lets you know what she wants!  She yells a lot already.  Often, very often, she squeals loudly, and laughs loudly.  She is our loudest child.  But they are happy squeals, so it is hard to get mad at her.  She has to do anything her brothers do, and doesn't like to be told that she can't do things.  She loves to chase her brothers around and scream with them.  The boys are PHENOMENAL with her.  They often stop playing to chase her and run around, or wrestle.  She is so happy she screams.  They both take care of her as well, and Kevin gets her down from her chair in the kitchen, and Colin keeps her in the grass when I pick them up from daycare.  When she fusses, the boys are sometimes there before Kevin or I even ask for help.  They look out for her!

Blog Update (And Explanation)

It has been way too long since I blogged, but there is a reason.  We can not find our camera.  We had it coming home from the Kerr's, but we haven't seen it since.  And posts are not fun without pictures.  And there are a lot of things that happened in the last month.  I will do my best to update you.

McWeekend
We went to the Kerr's a few weekends ago.  It was a blast.  We all went to the BEST pumpkin patch I have ever been to.  It was huge.  It has a huge orange thing to jump on, a bunch of slides, several trains for kids to ride on, bike racing for kids and adults, logic puzzles, zip lines, a climbing wall, animals, duck races, wagon rides, and more.  It was huge.  Kevin and Steve races on the bikes, and Kevin was totally kicking butt, until he fell over on the turn.  The picture is pretty funny because he is falling and Steve is laughing while passing him.  Just imagine it.  The Kerr's have some pictures posted on their blog here.  Steve also introduced us to Gangnam Style and the game Yikers!  Needless to say, it was an epic weekend.

Marathon
Kevin ran the half marathon is the Rock and Roll Marathon here is St. Louis.  He did amazing!  His time was 1:19:42, and he got 2nd in his age group.  I got all the kids up at 5:45 so we could cheer him on twice.  It was pretty easy.  We just hopped onto the MetroLink and got off at the Grand station.  The race went right over it.  Then we got back on for one more stop and the race finish was three blocks away.  The boys played in the leaves while we waited for him to finish.  A big thank you to my mom, Downtown Grandma.  She not only helped me with the kids all day, but she let Kevin stay at her loft downtown the night before.  It makes the morning very easy when all he has to do is wake up, eat, and then walk to the starting line. The only snag was that the race started 10 minutes late.  Apparently, the Packer fans thought that all the roads were closed to make more room for their tailgating. 

Soccer
The boys had their last soccer game today.  We are so happy.  It is exhausting.  Kevin didn't really enjoy it, but Colin did.  Colin actually didn't really do much until the second to last game.  The first halves of his last two games were the best he played all season.  I think he lost focus the second halves.  Pappy Grandma came to the last game and Colin kept explaining things to her instead of playing.  He told her what his number was and what Kevin's number was.  Then he explained that he was going to sit over there on the side when he was subbed out.  Adorable.  It was better than when my dad, stepmom, and brothers came to watch.  A storm moved in and the game was cancelled.

Update on the update
I told Kevin to look under the seat in my car.  He found the camera.  Pictures to follow, and more blogs!  I'm back, baby!

Colin Finds A Worm

While Daddy and Kevin were practicing soccer in the backyard the other night, Colin was playing in the dirt pile.  (This may not be an athletic kid.  He prefers to play imagination games or go hunting in the dirt.  He is like a little hyper, giggly spark everywhere he goes!) He was so excited that he found a worm!  He dug it out and put it in his bucket.  He asked a few times if we could keep it, but figured out I wasn't going to say yes.  About 10 minutes after these pictures were taken, I saw him sitting in a chair outside crying.  He had dropped his worm in the grass and couldn't find it.  It was very sad.  We had to explain that the worm was probably happy to be back home.  

He is so stinking cute!  Look how happy he is!

Soccer Game

Kevin and Colin both had their first soccer game this weekend. (They are luckily on the same team.)  Although Kevin managed to randomly score a goal, I suspect these two are the worst on the team!  It was quite comical.  Don't be fooled, the pictures can make them look great!  But there is a story behind them....

I do want to say that the boys had fun, although Colin is not sure if he wants to continue.  Kevin is excited to practice at night, and is enjoying it!

Gwyn spent most of the game eating and drinking.

See?  It looks like he is running to try to kick the ball.  Nope.  Everyone was yelling "Run!"

Kevin (#4) looks like he is in the play.  Nope.  He likes to run around them.  But we have been practicing in the backyard this week, so I think he will be more aggressive.  All the other kids have played before, so he does have a disadvantage.

Yup.  He is on his own goofing off.

Here he is watching the play go by him.  Zero concern for the game.

All the guys after the game!

Big Brother Colin

He has been wanting to read a book to Gwyn.  I got a picture!  She is a bit too big, but he was determined.

Catch Up

I know the posts are few and far between now.  That is what happens when summer ends!  Here are some updates on the kiddos.  No pictures though.  They are still on the camera, and the camera is all the way over there...


Kevin
He started Kindergarten on August 8th, and loves it.  He has even made a friend.  The little boy rides his bus and is even in latchkey before school with him.  And he lives on our street!  Hopefully, he can be Kevin's Suzanne.  (My Suzanne was the friend across the street who I did everything with.  Sledding, making up a bazillion games, marking our houses in the street in tar, ice skating routines on the carpet.  Normal kid stuff.) He has gotten a smiley face every day, and is proud of that.  His teacher said that he is quiet in class, but participates and follows directions.  I know that is shocking, right? He told me on Friday that his teacher asked him to count as high as he could.  He started counting, and counting, and counting.  (He reenacted it all for me.) Around the 50s he said with a sigh "This is going to take a while."  Then she told him "You can just sop now."  (I think she only wanted to see if he could go to 20.)  Tonight he started writing down math problems.  (1+2=3, 2+2=4, 4+3=7, stuff like that.)  I asked him if he is doing math at school and he told me all they do is count right now.  I think the kid will be good at math, like his mom and dad.  Woo hoo!

Colin
Apparently, he has been holding back.  Who knew?  I have been worried about him being without Kevin at Pappy & Grandma's on Monday and Tuesdays.  He has never been there without Kevin.  I thought Gwyn would bore him. Same with school.  Nope, not even a little.  He marched into Pappy's and told them that he was going to sleep downstairs (where Kevin napped) since he was now the biggest.  During transition week, which usually is over 5 days, he went into his new room on the first day and said good-bye to his old teacher.  He ate, napped, and moved his stuff over.  Even his teachers (old and new) have commented on how active and lively he is.  I guess he was just waiting for Kevin to leave!  He loves it!


Gwyn
She has been the child most upset about Kevin starting Kindergarten.  She cries most days.  He is dropped off before preschool, and knows he is not there.  It is kind of sad, but more adorable.  Something for therapy later.  She has started talking more in the last few weeks.  She has animal sounds for dog, cat, cow, and elephant down.  She speaks more words every week.  She is now trying to say Colin, but hasn't tried Kevin other than sign language.  She says go, more, DAYEEEEEEEEE! (daddy), brother, ma-eeeeeeeeeeeeeee (mommy), fshhhh (fish), ba ba (up up), bir (bird) and probably a few others.  She still signs as well, which is adorable.  She goes up and down stairs on her own (walking), has figured out how to climb up on furniture and most other things, and dances whenever she hears music, especially in the car.  She also tried to do Itsy Bitsy Spider, but she sucks.  All she does is put her hands up.  She doesn't twist her wrists at all. 

Folding Laundry

Whenever I fold laundry, Gwyn tries to help out.  It starts with her helping get the clothes out of the dryer and then sitting in the basket, then she sits in the basket and hands me clothes (while unfolding everything) and then he sitting in my lap handing me clothes (while unfolding everything).  She has added a step.  Now she picks out clothing (mostly her brothers') and puts it on.  Last night she had on a blue skirt, Colin's pajama's, two pairs of the boys' underwear, and one of Colin's favorite slippers from Aunt Kelly.