Sunburned

Yesterday and today the weather has just been BEAUTIFUL.  Sunny, in the high 70s and no humidity, it doesnt get any better in my opinion.  Since Jed was with Jay in Daytona riding his new (new to him) motorcycle, checking out bike week and my sister will be heading back to Michigan in the next week I thought it was time to take a trip to the beach.   We went to New Smyrna which is south of Daytona and missed most of the biker stuff, phew!  It was Kanes first time at a beach and although he didnt like much about the experience (he fussed most of the time) he did love to stick his toes in the water and feel the waves wash over them!  It was so cute as he squealed with delight each time.   Evan had a blast jumping in the waves while Seth was a little less adventurous and played in the sand.   I didnt even bother putting on my bathing suit for this trip, its going to be at least June if not July before I'll be going anywhere near the ocean but I did really enjoy collecting shells with Becky.  She wants her bathroom back home to be beach themed so I thought we should try to go authentic. :)   To top off an absolutely lovely day we stopped to get Chinese food on the way home!   Food is always way better when A. I dont have to cook it and B. after a few hours at the beach. 

You're going the wrong way! :)

He LOVES it!

Beach bum?!

They stopped for a nutterbutter break.

Stomping in the water, waiting for another wave. 

He's such a cutie!

They're Here

Kane's diapers arrived on Monday.   Too cute!
So here are a few things going on around here, Tracy left for Australia on Monday.  She's in Sydney as I type, I'm so jealous! She'll be there for the next 5 weeks or possibly longer if she can get a job and a work visa.  I told her to find a rich Aussie to marry who has a big house and can fly our family of five out to visit.   A sister can hope right?! :) 
Jed bought an Iphone this weekend.  It was kind of his birthday present.  You see I dont know much about technology and my husband likes to shop so I gave him free reign to go out, find the best deal and buy it.  He was THRILLED!  I think I might be able to guess what I'm getting for my birthday...
Kane has had a rough week.  He hasnt been feeling good and he hasnt been sleeping which then translates into a rough week for Jed and I.  So we're all a a bit tired.
I've been reading three very good books that I highly recommend, Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears, Prodigal God by Timothy Keller and Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp.  So far all three are excellent!  We're going camping this weekend so I'm looking forward to the chance to focus on and finish at least one of them. 

Finally Ordered Them!

I finally buckled down and ordered cloth diapers.  I cant wait!  Thank goodness I waited until now to do it b/c Kane has grown so much since he was born and I would have had to go through 3 sets already which would have been very expensive.  Plus it would have been a nightmare trying to travel up north with a baby in cloth.  Anyway, they were shipped today and I should recieve them pretty soon.  I bought these, http://www.kellyscloset.com/-bumGenius_c_708.html.  Originally I was going to go with prefolds with a diaper cover but that just seems like a hassle even though its cheaper so instead I using all in ones (or AIO as the cloth diapering community would say).  I also decided to go with a "name brand" so I could sell them on ebay when I'm done (seriously its sounds gross but they sell like hotcakes on there).  Since I'm doing this mostly for economical reasons, although I appreciate the enviromental benefits as well, I'm glad that I'll have the chance to recoup most of my money.  I also bought cloth training pants for Evan and Seth to wear to bed at night.  The truth is that Evan doesnt really need it b/c most mornings he's dry but I still like to take precautions b/c the last thing I want to do in the morning is strip beds and wash everything.  I think in the next few months as Kane gets older and I feel more up to the challenge I will transition Evan to just underwear at night and I might even try Seth.  We'll see how ambitious I am.   I will keep you all updated on the challenges in cloth diapering, I'm sure I'll have some good stories about the experience! 

Last weekend was Jed's birthday, the big 3-0!  For the last couple of years I had been trying to figure out what I would do for this big birthday and I had some good ideas lined up, a cruise, a week in Europe, maybe even a second honeymoon to Australia but yeah, we have three kids and one I'm still breast feeding so all those things were out.  Instead we spent a night away in Orlando which was still good but not quite what I had hoped for his thirtieth, oh well, we still have the big 4-0 to look forward to.  So anyway we spent Friday and Saturday in Orlando and on Sunday went over to Jay's house to watch the Superbowl.  When we got there Jed was surprised to see his twin sister Jessie and her two kids!  She had called me on Friday night to let me know that she had found $9 tickets to Florida from Michigan.  She was only able to stay until Tuesday and it rained almost the entire time they were here but we still had fun going to the zoo and the mall.   This weekend should be a little more low key as we're going to dinner tonight with some friends and then Jed has some work to do around the house.  Apparently its a city code violation to park our camper on the side of our house if its not paved or something... we have a neighbor down the street that has this GIGANTIC boat parked out front, its ridiculous, but our little pop up camper is apparently a real eye sore.  Anyway we're going to either move it or build our fence around it or whatever we have to do to not be find $250 a day.  Stupid city codes. 

The kids loved the elephants even in the rain!

We went to the disney store and all their character stuffed animals were on sale so each of the big kids got to pick out one.  Our boys of course picked out Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story (currently their favorite movie) and Sofia through me a curve ball when she picked out Walle, I expect something a little more girly.  Man, even when I'm spoiling my neices I dont get to do girly stuff, oh well, she's happy and thats all that matters!

4 Months Old

I cant believe how quickly the last four months have gone by!  Soon enough he'll be 8 months and then 12, YIKES!  I wish I had a pause button so I could enjoy certain stages longer.
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Just another reason I try to convince friends and family that still live in the frigid north to move here....

Today we filled up the pool.

The boys stripped down to their undies.

And dove face first into the water (and mats that they put in the water to "surf" on).

Its January and they're in the kiddie pool, I love Florida! :) 

Baby Kane!

This little guy is almost 4 months old! Time flies!

Lots of Pics

The other day Jed was holding Kane when he started to stink so Jed passed him off to me and I took him to the changing table.  Kane had pooped but it wasnt much so I was teasing Jed telling him he should have taken this one b/c it wasnt bad.  Jed walks into our bedroom to say something to me so I looked over at him and just then he gasps, I look down and Kane is pooping all over the changing table!  I start laughing and Jed runs to get some napkins.  We thought he was done so I started to clean up and he started pooping again so I just held his legs waiting for him to stop.   Well, to my surprise (he's never done this before and its not supposed to be an issue at his age according to his dr.)  for his big finale he decided to pee all over me, himself, the changing table and even the wall!  It was a scene!  Thats how he ended up in the bath where this picture was taken.  I try to get as many pictures of his blue eyes as possible as I keep waiting for them to turn brown! 

I pulled out the boys memory totes to put some stuff away and Evan wandered in.  He immediately found his "squeaky" aka his old pacifier and popped it in like he had never given it up!  Its been almost 2 years since he quit cold turkey but apparently he's ready to pick it up at any given time.  I took some pics before confinscating and hiding the pacifier. 

Time for a Christmas picture!  The boys know the drill but...

Put their baby brother in between them and they lose it!  This is the best picture that I got of the three of them and to prove it,

There's this one.   Doesnt it look like Evan's saying, "Mom, give it up this is never going to work."

Then there's this one, all three look thrilled!

Another attempt with grandma, which wasnt too bad.

Why is the infant the only one looking at the camera? :) 

Finally I gave up and took them to get a picture with Santa at the mall.  They didnt break down crying or try to run away but they were in kind of stunned state.  Seth didnt move or speak the entire time he was up there and Evan just kind of whispered to Santa what he wanted. It was so funny! 

This little guy stayed home with daddy and napped while I took the other two to see Santa. 

11 Weeks

We were on our way out to do a little Christmas shopping and I popped the binky in his mouth and he actually took it for a little while.  I thought it was so cute!  I also love the way he looks in a hoodie, adorable!  I found a hoodie on sale at Old Navy this week and bought it for him for Christmas.  Its funny, I had pretty much finished my Christmas shopping when I realized I hadnt gotten him anything!  Does that make me a bad mom? :)  Oh well, at least I caught it before Christmas.  I adore this kid but its been hard to readjust my thinking to being a family of five rather than four.  

Sweet little boy.

Jed took some fun pictures of the boys today.  Evan loves to make silly faces at the camera and then look at them afterwards.  This one cracked me up.

Is it time for bed or a safari?

So I was out shopping yesterday and I saw this woman with the coolest double stroller I've ever seen.  I really liked it because its so compact.  Kane might just get a little brother so I can use this thing!  Just kidding, I would never have a baby just to use a product. :)   Unfortunately its more than $500.  Why do people pay so much for things like this?  I just cant imagine what would ever make a stroller worth that much!  That frustrates me.  Anyway, heres the link if you're interested http://www.babybungalow.com/phtebapr.html.