Back to School Time!

It's that time of year again!  In keeping things real, I was pretty darn ready for the first day of school.  For most of the summer I had been dreading it, as I was enjoying having the kiddos all home with me (or mostly enjoying it).  Come the last couple of weeks before school started, however, my boys really took it upon themselves to step up their game and the fighting between them reached epic proportions.  By the time school started, I think I was ready to call it a day and separate these boys a bit.  One day they will be the best of friends, or so I'm told.  Right?  RIGHT??

What I wasn't as ready for was sending my little man Cade off to all day kindergarten.  When Colton went off to school, he was beyond ready and really itching to go.  Cade, on the other hand, is my homebody and pretty content to be my buddy.  Combine saying goodbye to him for the whole day and my pregnancy hormones and I might have had a watery eye or two. 

The first day of kindergarten they have an orientation where they ask the parents to attend and gasp!  Evan was able to slip away from work and come hang out with Cade for a bit.  Work can be crazy for that guy so it was a treat to have him there.

The after school cookies and Cade eating his with style.

And what's Delaney been up to while her brothers are at school all day?  Playing pant-less of course.

Doing a little light reading with her brother's chapter books.

And eating in style.  I will say that it's been pretty quiet with just Delaney and I.  A lot less wrestling and broken lampshades.  That's just not how we girls hang out at home.  But with another baby (a BROTHER no less!) coming in December, I'm going to soak up the peace and quiet.  We're excited for another boy to join our family.  Let the classic naming battle begin!  Because let's be honest, by baby boy #3 I think Evan and I are all out of names we can compromise over.

And then there were four...

Baby Jones #4 will make his/her arrival in early December of this year!  Though I'm starting to think that if I have a post without a picture, it's sort of a tip-off to a big announcement.  I'm 19 weeks along and have my ultrasound this Friday.  This has been a doozy of a pregnancy for me and I'm just now starting to feed the kids something other than ramen or frozen pizzas.  Colton even mentioned sometime last month how he missed eating a dinner together that Mom made.  Well, lucky for him, I actually made dinner this week so I think things are looking up.  I still can't eat sweets without paying for it but hopefully this baby knows that Mama needs her donuts and that will be changing soon.

We're excited to have a new little one join our family!

Ditch the Kids '13

My mom flew in after the 4th and was nice enough to watch the kids for a couple of nights.  Originally I was going to join Evan on a business trip to North Carolina but when the trip was rescheduled it was onto Plan B.  Fortunately for us, we live in a city that offers plenty to do and lots of yummy places to eat.  After camping for a couple of nights though, I was ready for some AC and a comfy mattress.  We were able to find a great deal for a hotel right on Lake Michigan and Navy Pier. 

Here's the killer view from our room.  If you look close, you can see the famous Navy Pier ferris wheel.  Divergent, anyone?

We kept things pretty low-key but it was so nice to for the two of us to catch up uninterrupted and have such an unscheduled couple of days.  We ate at lots of good restaurants, walked the city, and hit up a museum Evan had a couple of free passes to.  We were even able to squeeze in something for the both of us:  Evan went for a jog around the city while I took a nice, long nap.  Everyone wins.

We spent our last night in the heart of downtown eating outside at an Italian cafe.  The weather was perfect and so was the company.  Happy nine years to us!

Fourth of July, Evan style

I'm not a huge fan of camping.  Never have been.  Why camp when I can be comfy in my own bed with a bathroom a few feet away?  Thing is I married a man who loves to camp.  Adores it.  Is fulfilled by the mere mention of it.  And I have sons.  Thus far, I've miraculously avoided doing much more than an overnighter and packing up first thing in the morning.  Fast forward to the 4th this year when some good friends of ours invited us to camp by Lake Michigan and go to the beach.  The beach and camping??  I think I saw stars in Evan's eyes just thinking about it.  So camping we went and the boys were in heaven.  All three of them.

The boys loved hanging out with their buddy, Mark and started catching fireflies, ants, and all things bugs the second we hit the campground.

The first night of camping the kids went to bed late and woke up at the crack of dawn.  And I do mean the actual crack of dawn.  Hence why Cade is sleeping in the car before we even got to the beach.

I worried that Delaney would have issues not getting to play in the water with the boys but she was completely happy to play in the sand.  Give that girl a shovel and she's good to go.

Evan doesn't agree but Lake Michigan was coooold.  I might have put a foot in and called it good.  Is it just me or does Colton look a tad hypothermic?  Evan's thermometer might be a little off after growing up in the frigid waters of Cali.

Cade wasn't the only one feeling the effects of the early morning.

Not that Evan was complaining.

The prune effect after a full day spent in the water. 

Rather than watch fireworks, Evan was gung ho on buying some of our own.  I've never seen the man so giddy.  He went into the fireworks shop with our friend and asked to see the big stuff in the back.  What??  Are we putting on a show for our family or for the state of Indiana?  At one point he came out to the car and my oh so frugal husband asked me how much exactly I was ok with him spending.  Once I squashed his dreams of spending our retirement on fireworks, he bought a few and we had our own little show after the beach.

I wasn't too keen on the idea of the boys helping Evan light the fireworks but after he promised me the boys would still have all of their appendages, I gave him the green light.  And Colt and Cade loved every minute of it.

This little girl, on the other hand, not so much.

Kind of beats the point to do sparklers when the sun is still up but I, for one, was not willing to keep my tired past the point of exhaustion kiddos up past dark.  Turns out they didn't mind one bit.  And my verdict on camping?  I hesitate to put this in writing, but I had a great time.  I think the combination of very clean bathrooms with running water and hot, clean showers didn't hurt one bit.  Not to mention that we've never camped where I didn't feeling like my nose was going to get frostbite while I slept.  Evidently, if I'm warm, fed and not using a bush as a bathroom, I'm one happy camper.  Throw in some great friends to hang out with and celebrating the 4th Evan style wasn't such a bad way to go, after all. 

Kicking off Summer

School is out, the kiddos are all home and summer is upon us.  Growing up in Houston, I know summer and I know it well.  Seeing as how about 9 months of the year is summer there, I feel right at home in the heat and humidity.  So here's how June shaped up for us.

Cade's end of preschool swim party.  I did a home preschool with some other moms from church in addition to his preschool at the local Presbyterian church.  It was such a good group of moms and kids that it ended up being a great experience for both Cade and I.  Finish it off with some swimming and popsicles and everyone's happy.

Taco Bell runs for dinner.  I am actually not a huge fan of the place but the boys adore it and when Evan's out of town and mama doesn't feel like cooking, Taco Bell it is.

Swim lessons for a couple of weeks.  And what's more, Colt decided to lose a tooth while there.  And when I say lose, I mean lose since he had no idea where it went.  Apparently, the tooth fairy will accept a heartfelt note in lieu of the actual tooth.  The boys both made huge improvements and my biggest challenge was keeping a jealous Delaney out of the water.  Poor girl still can't get in the water because of her kidney issues, but we have her surgery scheduled in September and next summer will be her time to shine. 

Relaxing with a snack, sans pants.  Though I should clarify that Delaney is the only one who tends to do this on a regular basis.

Celebrating my 32nd birthday with my man.  We got a sitter at the last minute, went out for dinner and some hanging out in my fave place, downtown Naperville.  Throw in some homemade gifts from the boys and I was one happy girl.  Colton even offered to change Delaney's diaper since he thought I should not have to do that on my birthday.  Cade on the other hand told me that I should just go ahead and change the diaper because no way was he doing it.  Oh that boy, gotta love his honesty.

Spending lots of time like this.  Though I'm starting to wonder how much longer this little pool will keep their interest.  Right now they still love the thing so I'm running with it.  Not pictured is the other side of summer.  You know, the breaking up of fights between the boys, the constant "I'm bored," the never ending messy house from having everybody home, and then the complaints when I ask for someone else other than me to clean it up.  But with the knowledge that both of these boys will be gone all day come fall, I'm soaking it up having all my kiddos home under one roof.  

Disney Dream Vacay Part II

After our cruise was over and we were back on dry land, it just didn't make sense to leave Orlando without giving Disney some more of our money.  We decided to hit up Disneyworld but first things first.  A trip to Hogwarts!  Or Universal Studios, but really I only had eyes for all things Harry Potter.  For those of you who know how near and dear Harry is to me, know how exciting this was.  I love all seven books and have read them more than once or twice...actually I've lost count.  There was a serious pang in my chest when I finished the seventh book for the first time.  I was pretty much ready to pack up, get myself a wand, and fly my broomstick to hang out with Harry and the gang.  There are a few other family members who share this love of mine so to Hogwarts we went!

The whole gang entering Hogsmeade and I was feeling the rush.  Delaney is asleep I think, obviously not as impressed.

In front of the Hogwarts Express.  See how thrilled I was?  Excited enough to get all chummy with a random stranger.

There it is!  Hogwarts Castle...take a moment.

I will say all things in Harry Potter land were really well done.  From the castle (the pictures talk to you!), to butterbeer, to Hogsmeade's shops, to the bathroom where Moaning Myrtle talks to you (really she does!)

Again, Delaney not feeling the excitement.  I think it's safe to say a certain Disney cruise wore the poor girl out.

Okay and truth be told, all the waiting in lines wore my feet out.  But not my spirit!

Heather's hubby, Todd, ended up not being able to go on the cruise because of some interviews that couldn't be rescheduled.  Lucky for us, he flew into Orlando to go theme parking with us.

Seeing as how they haven't read the books yet, the kids were kind of ambivalent about the whole Hogwarts thing.  Fast forward to a few hours later, when we were touring the Marvel comics, aka all things superhero, section of Universal.  They were beside themselves, especially when they got the chance to meet/take pictures with/talk to/high five Spiderman.  For those of you who have daughters, it's akin to meeting a princess.  My boys could not believe their luck and I think had we done nothing else but meet Spiderman, they could have called it a day and gone home.

Day two and we headed over to Disneyworld.  By this point, I think all of us were running on fumes but we bucked up and squeezed in a day at the happiest place on earth.

On the Haunted Mansion ride.  Ash and I have some good memories on this ride as kids.  Funny how 20 years later, things didn't seem quite as scary as I remember.

Cade, excited to see us on the ride.  Promise that's not him shrieking in terror.

Maximizing the stroller's potential.

With Gavin's legs nice and rested, he was nice enough to give Cade a lift.  Truth be told, I was so tired at this point, I might or might not have taken my own ride in the stroller.

Headed home but not before a pic in front of the famous castle.  I think Evan's eyes are closed but this is the best we got and who can blame him for getting some rest when he can. 

I think this pic of Gavin when he got home to Texas about summed up how we all felt after making the two day drive home.  We laughed, ate and played ourselves to exhaustion.  Well worth it if you ask me for such an epic family vacation.

Disney Dream Vacay Part I

A few years back some of the ladies in the family started toying around with the idea of a family reunion aboard a Disney cruise.  Most of the family loves themselves a cruise, not to mention I'd heard rave reviews about how family friendly the Disney ones were.  And expensive, but that's another story.  So after a lot of hours researching, pricing out (THANK YOU ASHLEY! Girlfriend had one amazing spreadsheet) and working out everyone's schedule we settled on the far away date of May, 2013.  Then finally the day was upon us and we all left our various states and trekked it down to Florida to meet up.  Let the fun begin!

Our first dinner on the cruise.  A cruise/vacation made possible in HUGE part thanks to these folks.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

The kids enjoying their dessert of Mickey Mouse ice cream bars.  The first of many sugar highs to come.

Waiting for the nightly show to begin.  I will say that I loved how family friendly everything was.  So awesome!

Our first port of the Bahamas.  And I hate to say it, but I didn't love the Bahamas.  It just felt like some shops set up all selling the same thing and if you wanted to do something better and/or water related you had to dish out some dough.  Which a few of the group ended up doing, Evan included.  I ended up hanging out on the ship with Delaney, Cade and a couple of ladies from my fam while Evan took a boat out into the middle of the ocean to do some snorkeling.  Not so appealing to me but absolutely right up his alley.  After some hemming and hawing on my part, he ended up taking Colton as well.  Who loved it.  Who's first comment to me when he got back was, "MOM! I saw an EEL!"  Okay there tiger, glad it was you and not me.  Colton also proceeded to ask me if for his birthday, he could go snorkeling.  Well buddy, your birthday is in December and we live in Chicago so I'm going to have to go with no.

My mom soaking up some time on the balcony to their room.  If you look close, you can see little miss Delaney Anne checking out the view with her.

Okay, so I wasn't such a fan of the Bahamas, but hello Castaway Cay, Disney's private island.  I absolutely loved the day spent there.  Only Disney docks there, so you avoid the crowds of other cruise ships and can you say gorgeous?  Makes a person like me almost want to get in the water.

We spent our time playing in the sand, hanging out in the water, snorkeling (I even did it!), biking around the island, going down the water slide, eating the yummy barbecue, and trying not to get burned.  It was the absolute best kind of day.

One of the nights on the ship was pirate night and apparently, my family really digs the whole pirate thing.  Thanks to Nana, the boys were all dressed up and ready to go.

 

And they weren't the only ones.  Remember when I said my fam was into the pirate thing?  Yeah, that would be a parrot on Val's shoulder.  I'm telling y'all, they meant business.

Logan was lucky enough to celebrate his birthday on the ship and what's even better, have his birthday dinner on pirate night.  The best part about this all?  Ashley's face in the pic.  Looks like she's falling in love with her hubby all over again.

Here we are at the last dinner on the ship and the ending to a great four days cruising.  If you're going to be cruising with kiddos, I highly recommend taking the Disney route.  Other fun things not pictured are the kids (and adults) loving the huge see through tube slide around the ship.  There's even a part that takes you over the ship so when you look down, all you see is ocean.  Who wouldn't love that??  We played games, ate enough ice cream cones to last us a lifetime, watched the fireworks out on the top deck, danced ourselves silly with the kids, watched Iron Man 3 sans kids in the theater, and overall made some awesome family memories.