June 15, 2006

7:15 Drop off

7:30 Crib nap

8:20 Wake up

8:30 Bottle

9:00 Adam, Ariel and I walked to Starbucks while Jeremy took Alex to Summer Camp. Alex was going on all morning about how he hated camp (same place as preschool, which ended 2 weeks ago). Jeremy literally had to drag him out the door. Anyway, Ariel sat with Adam in the stroller, it was very nice not to carry her, even though it was only 85 deg today.



9:40 Lovely Starbucks. I just bought 7 of 7 for my next free one!

9:50 We stopped by the park. Adam dug in the sandbox, Ariel played with the toys in the stroller. I enjoyed my drink.

10:10 Walk home.

10:35 Get home. I called Crissy and we decided that I should come over to her house before I picked Alex up from camp.

11:00 Arrive at Crissy's. Marcus had to show me the frame he made for Adam's two year picture. Isn't it sweet?



11:15 Crissy gave Ariel a bottle. Ariel thanked her by spitting up on Crissy's dress and couch.

11:30 Ariel took a nap on Crissy's floor. Ariel's moving around enough that I don't trust her on a bed anymore.

12:40 Ariel was still asleep, so I took Adam and went and got Alex from camp.

1:00 Pick up from camp. Alex, of course, had a fabulous day. They had a guest speaker come and show them animal skeletons and furs. Alex really liked it, especially the bunny and beaver skulls. Seems he forgot all about hating camp just five hours previous.

1:20 Ariel had just woken up (or was just wakened, whatever the case may be) when I got back to Crissy's. The boys didn't come in, I just grabbed Ariel and we all went home.

1:30 Home

1:45 Ariel had a jar of carrots while Alex ate half an apricot and Adam didn't eat his second attempt and PB & J.

2:30 Bottle

2:45 Crib nap

3:00 I tried to put Adam down but no take. And we had a surprise visitor, Grandpa! He did puzzles with Alex.

3:45 Ariel woke up. This was right before she spit up all over Grandpa's shorts.



4:00 We all went on the front porch to wait for Becky. Alex brought Grandpa lots of rocks hoping for some identification. Adam brought Grandpa lots of rocks because Alex was doing it.

4:30 Pick up.

June 14, 2006

HAPPY FLAG DAY!

(and Happy Seven Months Old, Ariel)

7:10 Drop off. Becky warned me that Ariel slept through the night and probably wouldn't want to nap today.

7:20 Adam and I had been hanging out on the couch, Ariel was still in her carseat. I looked over and her eyes were drooping, so I put her in the crib.

9:05 Ariel woke up, bottle.

9:30 We left for our Wednesday morning activity, walking to Starbucks and the library. Ariel dozed a bit in the bjorn.

10:00 Get to Starbucks. I had my new speciality, tall Java Chip frap with 1/4 regular base and the rest light, no whipped cream. And for the record, it's been a while since I've been to Starbucks, maybe close to a week...

10:15 Story time at the library. Ariel sat and watched the kids listen to the books.

11:00 Another bottle.

11:15 Walk home.

11:45 Got home. It is hot today. My thermometer said 95 deg when we walked in the door. Thank goodness I have a/c.

11:50 Ariel split some sweet potato/apple sauce with Adam.

12:15 Ariel's 7 month pictures (Becky, use number for ordering purposes):

005


006


008


010


12:30 Pictures wore Ariel out, I put her down for another nap.

2:05 See how hot it is?



2:10 Wake up. She had 1/2 a bottle but wasn't that interested, so I changed her clothes and took more pictures:

024


025


026


029


I dare say that girl looks good in a hat.

2:35 Guzzled rest of bottle.

2:45 Ariel hung out in the bouncy chair while I proofed her pictures. Yes, I was on the computer during the day. Bad me. The boys watched a Bob the Builder video. Jeremy's not coming home until after dinner (apparently he thinks it's perfect weather for a bike ride) and I'm not going to make it today without TV.

3:45 Ariel hung out in the exosaucer.

4:15 Pick up

7:30 And here's the collage:

June 12, 2006

7:05 Drop off

7:25 Crib nap.

Everyone is ever so slightly sick. My boys had slight fevers Friday and Saturday night, and very mild cold syndromes. Not enough that that they can stay in bed, but just enough that they are very whiney and irratible. I suspect Ariel had/has the same bug.

8:20 Ariel woke up. She helped me hang the last of my wash. And speaking of hanging clothes on the line, why do dryer sheet (heard of those Laura?) commercials always say that they are like clothes dried on the line. My line-dried clothes always end up smelling like wet dog, but it's too hot to run the dryer in the house.

8:35 Ariel had her first bottle.

9:00 I somehow mananged to load three kids up so we could walk to the post office.

9:50 Got home from the post office. It's only a two mile trip, but I walked slow because all the kids were relatively happy.

10:00 Talk to Crissy, we decided to join her family at the lake for a Fabulous™ time.

10:15 Actually leave for the Lake.

10:50 The Lake™. It really blew Alex's mind that we could go to a beach and not have to go on an airplane. And that it could be so close to Gavin's house was mind-boggling.

Gavin and Marcus:


11:00 Crissy fed Ariel a bottle:


Crissy also changed an Ariel poopy. Crissy is a good friend.

Ariel hung out and dozed a bit, but never took a good nap there.

Alex:


Adam:


They are wearing their new dinosaur hats, which were part of the birthday party extravaganza™ from yesterday. I'll just leave that story at we came home with a heck of a lot more than we brought.

At some point we found a bunch of dead crayfish, and Marcus decided that it would be cool to get them out of the water and put them on the dock. Ewwwwww.



1:00 Finally came home. I fed the kids some lunch.

1:15 Ariel had a full jar of stage 1 pears and a few ounces of water.

1:30 I tried to put Adam down for a nap but failed.

1:50 Gave Ariel a bottle.

2:15 Got Ariel and Adam (and almost myself down for a nap).

3:15 Adam woke up GRUMPY. I put an Elmo video on and that distracted him for a little bit.

4:30 Pick up. Becky had to wake Sleeping Beauty up.

June 9, 2006

7:05 Drop off

7:45 I made my special Super Baby Food oats thinking Ariel might like it. Ah, nope. Oh well, I like it, I just add a lot of brown sugar to mine.

8:05 Crib nap. Loooong crib nap. I cleaned both bathrooms.

10:45 Ariel finally woke up. She had her bottle on the front porch while the boys tried to impale each other with long sticks.

11:30 I still hadn't figured out our adventure of the day, but we needed to do something. I got the pool out of the shed and pumped it up. Ariel wasn't content to just watch, so I had to hold her while pumping it, while trying to get Alex to stop "helping."







12:00 Crissy called with an idea for a Fabulous Plan™ - the marketing place at the mall called her and asked if she wanted to watch a yogurt comercial for $25 - heck yeah! I fed the kids lunch and we got ready to go.

12:30 Leave, with a quick (well, as quick as it can be with 3 kids) trip to the post office.

1:05 Meet Crissy at the mall. I thought it might be easier to watch the commerical without kids, so I left Crissy feeding Ariel while the 4 boys played. When I got to the marketing place, they said all their computers were being used and to come back in 10 minutes. I was not having a great day and thought some ice cream could help. When I got back to the play area Crissy was calling me on my cell in a total panic because Adam was missing. Yikes. Security was already looking for him. In about a minute, he was found wandering who knows where. Lesson learned, 5 kids is way too many for one mom. I'm sorry for putting you in that position Crissy :(

2:35 We went back to the marketing place together. Crissy and I decided that Ariel had a fever, and was being a bit fussy, so we gave her some tylonel. Crissy did the commercial first with Ariel and Marcus, I went in with Alex, Adam and Gavin. The commercial was not all that exciting (how exciting could a yogurt commercial be?) but $25 is always nice. Crissy even had some extra time and smelled some perfume for another $5.

2:30 We left the mall. We were going to stay and play in the sandbox, but Alex and Gavin were running around and getting out of our sight, so I thought it was a good teachable moment to leave, especially after what happened to Adam.

2:45 Got home. Tried Ariel on some homemade peach puree. She didn't like it. Then I gave her some sweet potato/apple sauce and she nearly ate a whole stage 2 jar.

3:15 Post sweet potatoes:



The boy who almost had to live at the mall:



Adam was starting to feel a bit feverish and droopy as well this afternoon. Oh, and Ariel has been pretty snotty the past few days. Wonder what bug they've pick up this time?

4:00 Pick up.

June 8, 2006

7:05 Drop off. Ariel was easy-peasy this morning, just hanging out. The boys were pretending to be sleeping kittens:



8:00 Bottle

8:40 Crissy and I walked to the brand new, used-to-be-Peaberry's-but-is-now Starbucks. And I did not, I repeat DID NOT get anything. Crissy, however, had an iced caramel macchiato. Adam took pictures of all the customers but mostly his nose with Gavin's play camera.

9:50 We walked up to the photo store since we both had pictures to pick up (I was picking up Adam's two year pictures, which you can see here). Crissy and I have been talking about the photo store, they have been driving us crazy. Crissy managed to get her order, but they had only printed 2 of my 3, uh, orders. Ok, so I had 3 orders, sue me :)

10:15 We got home, Crissy and Gavin only stayed a few minutes before they had to go home.

10:40 Ariel had another bottle.

11:20 I put Ariel in the crib.

11:30 Ariel was asleep.

12:00 Adam really needed a nap, so I put him down in his bed. But he was waking when I would try to get up, so I stayed a while and dozed a bit.

12:45 Alex woke us all up pretty effectively with his banging the door, his signal that he needs his bottom wiped. Ariel went back to sleep for a bit.

1:15 Ariel up, ate a jar of stage 1 squash, and an ounce or so of water, from a bottle this time.

The boys painted while I made them lunch:



The eventually traded colors and Alex painted his whole paper red and said it was a heart. I think we'll be returning the valcano book for a human body one next week.

More fun sitting!





1:55 Another bottle.

2:15 Ariel fell asleep in the bjorn and I transfered her to the carseat.

2:50 We stopped by the photo store so I could pick up my third order. And then we went to Jamba Juice. My kids love smoothies, and I even got Becky one because I love her so much. And I'm such a nice person. And not because I had any paranoid crazy reason for making her try Jamba Juice. Yeesh.

3:35 Dropped Ariel off with Becky, since we were going to a park nearby it was easy for us.

June 7, 2006

7:05 Drop off. Ariel practiced sitting in the living room some more. She's doing really well now.

7:20 Put Ariel in crib. She was a bit fussy, and she took a lot longer to fall asleep, even though she was rubbing her eyes and clearly tired.

7:40 asleep

8:15 I discovered I broke two of the cardinal rules of parenting.

1. NEVER leave sharpies in a place that anyone under the age of 21 can access them.

2. ALWAYS investage when things get quiet.

Alas, I thought Adam was pooping quietly. Instead, he was creating a permanent work of art on our bay window:



Luckily, with only a mere 30 minutes of scrubbing, the Magic Eraser® got it off.

9:30 Wake up, bottle. Ariel was a bit fussy, even crying while she was drinking her bottle.

10:00 It was too hot already, and Ariel had woken up late, so we did not walk to the library. And I did not, I repeat DID NOT go to Starbucks, either.

10:15 Storytime at the library.

10:20 Ariel started crying again, so I took her outside. I met Crissy out there, who wanted a turn with Ariel.

10:45 Ariel was not calming down. She sounded like she was crying in pain, so we gave her some tylenol and then I called Becky. Becky said we should wait an hour to see how things went.

11:00 By the time storytime was over, Ariel seemed to be doing better, so we ran a quick errand - buying Adam some Crocs® afterall. Hee hee.

11:50 Home.

12:00 Bottle

12:30 Crib nap. She went down much easier this time.

1:15 Ariel woke up a bit, but fell back asleep with her paci.

1:50 I got Adam to take a nap.

2:00 With both babies asleep, I was able to read Alex his new volcano book. See, on Sunday he found a pumice rock, and ever since then he had been wanting to learn more about it. So we traded in the much loved Pasta book for one on volcanoes. I'm going to miss the Pasta book. I loved it when we were eating with Gavin and Alex turned to him and said, "You know, pasta starts out as golden wheat growing in the sun." Of course, eating pasta 4 nights a week has gotten a bit old. Anywho, Alex is into volcanoes now, he even drew a picture after we read the book:



2:25 Ariel woke up.

2:30 Bottle.

I wanted Ariel to practice sitting some more, so we went into Alex's room.







This was fun until Ariel spit up on Alex's sheets. I forgot that her spit up smells like puke now that's she's on solids, so I had to throw Alex's sheets in the wash. They probably needed it anyway.

3:30 Ariel had the rest of her green beans from Monday. Alex had an apricot for a snack.

3:50 We all went outside so Alex could plant his newly aquired apricot pit.



Given that the avacado seed(s) Alex planted never sprouted, I'm not worried that we are going to grow an unmanagable exotic forest anytime soon.

Oh, and here's Adam in his new crocs. Awwwww.



4:10 Ariel fell asleep in the bjorn, I transfered her to the carseat.

4:35 pick up.

June 5, 2006

7:00 Drop off

7:15 Ariel and I attempted a back to front rolling session on the bed, which proved to be unsuccessful. But I give her a B for effort.

7:40 Nap in crib

8:30 Wake up, bottle

9:00 Drive to Kaden's house for a playdate.

10:00 Ariel took a nap in Fiona's crib. And Fiona had a blanket over her window like Alex now does, and her room was nice and dark. And Ariel had a long nap. Methinks I need to put a blanket in Adam's room, it just so clashes with the nursery decor.

11:30 Wake up, bottle.

12:30 Go home.

1:00 Home - Ariel fell asleep in the car and stayed asleep in her carseat for a while. Long enough for me to transfer a sleeping Adam from the car to his bed.

1:40 Ariel woke up, I decided to feed her lunch before her next bottle. She had half a stage 1 green beans. And then I gave her a sippy of water to wash it all down. Ariel found the cup very confounding.



2:15 Ariel had a bottle.

2:40 Ariel took a nap on my bed, since Adam was still asleep. This worked out very well for me because I got a picture order in the mail and had a big project of sorting and framing pictures.

3:30 Ariel woke up.

4:10 We went outside to wait for Becky. Ariel decided that she can sit:







Sure, she toppled over gently a few times, but she sat a good long while.

4:25 Pick up

EXTRA - Ariel goes to the swimming pool!!!

Ariel's family joined my family for a morning of fun at the pool.

















Ariel was tuckered out by the time we got to the bagel store for lunch.


No trip to the outdoor mall is complete without Starbucks.

June 2, 2006

7:00 Drop off. Ariel was asleep upon arrival, but was soon awake.

7:05 As Becky warned, she was a bit grumpy, so I had her hang with Uncle J while I finished some chores.

7:20 Uncle J had to go to work, so Ariel went in the bjorn.

7:40 She looked tired, so I put her in the crib and she went to sleep.

8:15 Wake up

8:25 Bottle

8:35 Back in the bjorn. And our friends Crissy and Gavin came over to mess around with some pictures. Well, that's why Crissy came over. Gavin came over to play with Alex.

9:00 Asleep in crib.

10:00 Crissy and Gavin went home.

10:15 Ariel woke up.

10:30 Ariel, the boys and I went to the mall.

11:00 Haircuts at the mall. Alex went first and got a nice, even, short summer cut. Adam went next and was hysterical and came out with shorter, choppier hair. He sat on my lap for part of it, but wanted no part of the clippers. I tried to get a picture, but my camera battery was dead.

11:05 Bottle

11:40 We went over to play on the dinosaurs for a bit, but everyone was soon hungry.

12:00 Lunch at the food court. Pizza for the boys, fish tacos for me, and nothing for Ariel because she was asleep in the bjorn.

12:45 Leave mall for the doctor's.

1:10 Meet Becky at the doctor's office.

1:30 Bottle

Results of Ariel and Adam's well check:

Ariel was 13 lbs 9.5 oz and is now in the 15th percentile for weight. The doctor was a little concerned with her freakishly big head (95th percentile) but not enough to do any tests. I forgot her height, but it was decent.

Adam was 22 lbs 12 oz and 34" tall. Still a tiny guy, but growing on his curve.

And, alas, since my camera battery was dead, today will have to be a day without pictures. But fear not, I just ordered a second battery off of Amazon (and Crissy, a new 1GB card for the Rebel). Long live internet shopping!

June 1, 2006

7:10 Drop off, asleep, Adam's room.

8:00 Ariel had been playing with toys for a bit, but was finally done. When I went in to get her, I also changed a poopy.

8:30 Daddy took Alex to his last day of preschool, while Adam, Ariel and I went to Starbucks. We got two drinks cause...

8:45 ...Crissy's house. We were worried that Adam and Gavin wouldn't play together well, but they did much better than when Alex is around too. It's hard being a third wheel. Hmmm, unless you are a tricyle. Maybe three's a crowd?

9:00 Bottle

9:30 Nap on Crissy's bed

10:15 Wake up. Took some pictures of the princess. I just love her in blue!







11:00 Bottle

11:20 Another nap on Crissy's bed

12:00 Wake up. We took her outside on a mat while we ate lunch (uh, triscuits and cheese AND hummus for me). Ariel didn't realize she was sitting by herself and sat for over a minute!

12:40 Leave to go pick up Alex from preschool.

1:00 Alex's preschool. I had the momentuous task of herding 3 kids while picking up all of Alex's belongs. Without a stroller.

1:25 Home

1:30 Bottle

1:50 Lay down in crib

2:05 Asleep. I tried to get Adam to nap too but he wouldn't go down. When he got up to play, he went and pooped, so I guess that's why.

3:00 Ariel woke up but still looked crabby and sleepy. I kept putting in her paci and she was half a sleep and crabby for a while.

3:45 Ariel decided she had ENOUGH and I got her out of the crib.

3:50 2/3 bottle

4:00 Ariel helped me with some photo manipulation and graphic design programs while the boys watched some TV. Adam was clearly exhausted after being up so late last night, but it was too late to nap.

4:35 Pick up.