Back in the Day

My sister uploaded some childhood pictures onto facebook.  I, of course, had to show the boys!

As we looked through them we talked about who was who and whatnot but they struggle with the idea of Jed and I ever being young.  Evan and Seth are finally beginning to understand the concept that time didn't begin at their births. 

  Kane, however, is still a non-believer, evidenced by a conversation we had about marriage where he looked at me and said, "You're married?!  And daddy's married?!  How did you do that?!" (Meaning when/how did we have a wedding without him)  I replied, "We married each other before you were born."  He looked at me like what I had just said was ludicrous and then because he couldn't process it, changed the subject.  

So back to the pictures, we were looking at the black and white pictures of my parents,

Evan: "Mom, you're going too fast through the pictures they're all messed up." 

Me: "Nope that's just how they are."

Evan: "Oh yeah, because back when your mom and dad were kids everything was black and white and blurry." 

Me: "Um, actually, everything was in color and clear like it is today but back then cameras didn't work as well as they do today and pictures turned out this way." 

Evan: (Looks at me skeptically and changes the subject because that's how my kids handle the tough subjects.)  

 

 The picture we were discussing.  My dad in 1958, he was16 here.  

Baby Pete!  Not sure how old he is in this one.  

 My dad rockin the stache.  This is how I remember him from my childhood.  He's holding Tracy.  

 My mom. Seth makes the same face when he cries.  

Now onto the gems of Tracy and me.

We look like we like each other, deceptive! 

I thought I was pretty cool when I was a preschooler!  I like how Tracy is (somewhat) securely fastened in a  car seat in the moving vehicle and do I even have a seat belt?!  Clearly you can tell who my parents favored! I kid, I kid. 

Ok, this is reality right here.  I'm forcing Tracy to pose with me, she's probably just about to burst out screaming, then I probably pushed her down and maybe even punched her.  Sisterly love, its a beautiful and complicated thing I tell ya!  

Smokin'

This weekend Home Depot had their smokers on sale so Jed bought himself his anniversary present a week early.  I was more than happy to let him do this as it seems like I've been buying the man presents non stop since December!  The gift idea well is dry folks.  

He couldn't have been happier though evidenced by the smoker being put together and running in record time! 

For the maiden voyage we did another pork shoulder, since we had one on hand.  

It was hard waiting, it took over 12 hours to cook! 

Well worth it though!  Smokey deliciousness!    
This weekend we'll be trying our hand at chicken thighs!

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Cuteness!

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While I was making dinner Kane told me, "Mom you're so busy, I'll sweep the floor for you!".



Now I just need to teach him how to use the dust pan and to put the broom away!

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Holy Driftwood Batman!

Pictures from our walk around the lake from our first time camping at the Rodman campground.  

Group picture of the boys.

Along our walk we turned a corner and the beach was covered with driftwood.  

It got to the point where you couldn't see the sand underneath.  

While I saw decorative opportunities the guys saw an opportunity to show off their athletic prowess.

They nicknamed their little game (and the lake), "Deuces" due to the sound the wood makes when it hits the mud.  Ewww! 

Good job daddy!

Anemic = Lack of Posting?

I had a midwife appointment yesterday, it was the big Gestational Diabetes test, while I passed that with flying colors, I confirmed what I had suspected, I am anemic.  The constant fatigue, ice cravings and my body feeling like it weighed an extra 500 lbs were the big giveaways. 

Since my symptoms aren't convenient for running a 6 person home nor pleasant nor healthy for that matter, I'll be going on a few vitamin supplements.  I'm really hoping this kicks the over all crappy feeling I've had since I got pregnant.  

So I try to nap when the boys nap which is when I used to blog hence my blogging has been few and far between.  Plus life has been busy but pretty mundane.

We did go camping last weekend at the same campground as last time.  When we left home it was so hot I was wearing shorts!  It was a nice change of pace from the usual freezing weather we have but it brought out the bugs in the swampy forest.  The bug repellent did it's job on the mosquitoes but the No-see-ums were undeterred no matter the copious amount of spray.  By Saturday we were all covered in bug bites that would sporadically and intensely itch.  Sunday night was the worst as Ford was kept awake most of the night scratching and crying.  Jed and I took turns cuddling him trying to get him back to sleep, he finally passed out around 5:30, just an hour before his big brothers woke up for the day.

Oh and speaking of bugs, poor Evan got two ticks!  Other than the one Jed had a few years ago Evan is the only one to get them, which doesn't make sense considering his little brothers spend just as much time in the shrubs and rolling on the ground as he does!  I've decided we're just going to shave his head before we go camping from now on that way I might have a chance of catching them before they latch on. Ick!

Despite the bugs we managed to have a great time.  The boys spent the majority of their time on their scooters, in fact they broke two of the three of them!  The big boys (Jed, Jay, Joseph and Jon) mastered the art of melting glass in a campfire and I had both Sonic and Little Caesars in one day (we don't have either in our city).  

Of course no trip is complete without a major Kane melt down.  Here he is screaming at the top of his lungs because he decided to climb on the rocks and suddenly developed a great fear of "rock ants and spiders".  They are apparently invisible to the rest of us.  

A melt down of a different sort, using the holes in bricks as the molds for the glass beads we bought. Quite elaborate, I know but entertaining none of the less. 

They turned out kinda pretty. 

Winding down after a long day of playing hard.  

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The Time Kane Tried To Kill himself in the Checkout Line

Kane is not old enough or obedient enough to walk next to the cart when we go grocery shopping.  The ideal spot for him would be the front basket but currently that's occupied by his little brother so sitting in the cart with the groceries is the next best option.  However, that leaves him with a myriad of temptations such as, taking a big bite into a package of lunch meat, sampling any of the produce available, using coffee creamers to play army (slamming them into one another until one of the bottles explodes) or trying to squish anything malleable through the holes in the cart.   

Keeping him and our groceries safe sometimes seems like an insurmountable task.  He drove this point home just the other day in fact.

We were at Walmart picking up a few things, when Ford began to get fussy, it was nap time.  I was bent over giving him plenty of attention and snuggles trying to change his attitude.  Kane was sitting directly below Ford in the cart where I couldn't see him.  I wasn't paying close attention to him b/c I didn't have anything in the cart that was dangerous to him and he wasn't leaning out of the basket, I figured we were pretty good.  He began to cough dramatically but I tuned it out, he has seasonal allergies and the pollen has begun to fly here a bit.  I looked up from Ford to see what was going on with the customer and cashier in front of us when I noticed the look of horror on the cashiers face, she was staring directly where Kane was sitting.  

Oy that kid.  I peaked around Ford and found that he had taken the buckle to Ford seat, snapped it around his neck and was leaning forward on it to choke himself.  He was bright red, coughing/laughing with the biggest grin on his face.

Why Kane, why?

Other than rope burn on his neck and maybe a few dead brain cells, he was fine.