What do you do when it is too hot?

You find water. (That is what the bugs do too, and they look in our house.) The first time I took the kids to this splash pad they were a little timid. I had to help each one of them touch the water with their hand.
But then they had no problem.

Staucie and Parker were pretty good at not getting hit by the water, but Bensen, not so much. It is a good thing he doesn't mind having water dumped over his face and up his nose :)

Addie just slept. thankfully.

And we have been trying to find things to do inside. I bought a few new puzzles and they were a big hit.

This is Parker's favorite puzzle (and it only cost a dollar). I think he would do it like 20 times a day at first. Now maybe just 5 times a day. So cute.

And Addie, of course, slept. She misses all the fun. I love how passed out she is.

Smashed face and mouth hanging open. Adorable if you ask me.

Parker Started Preschool

Parker started his first year of Preschool last week. He didn't seem to care about going. When I dropped him off he looked so sad. He stood against the wall hugging his folder. I told him I would be back to get him, and he said in a sad, little voice, "okay." I felt bad abondoning him.
But of course, when I picked him up he was super happy and had lots to tell us at dinnertime, but talked so fast and silly that we aren't sure what he said. We do know that he got to play the drum with sticks though. His teacher likes music and so does Parker so I knew he would have a good time in her class.

He kept complaining about the sun being too bright so I couldn't get a good picture, but he still looks cute :)

Naughty Babies

Bensen, Bensen, Bensen. He is going to be trouble. He is into everything all of the time. I am constantly taking things away and pulling him out or off of things, and telling him "No," "Stop," "Don't." I bought plastic drawers for my bathroom counter and moved everything from the drawers to where he can't reach, unless of course he gets a chair. But they are turned sideways to make access harder. Anyways, the other two didn't get into so much stuff like he does.

One day when I was making dinner I turned around and he was sitting in Staucie's booster... I thought it was funny...But...
...Then I turned around again and he was squatting on the table. Yes, that is what I want, my baby standing on the table! I just panic at these things. I am so afraid he is just going to fall and crack his head someday. He mostly likes to try standing on and climbing on things when I am nursing so that it is harder to save him. I just know he will be more trouble when he is 2. At least I won't be nursing then.

Addie is also being naughty. How can a little baby who is not even 4 months old be naughty?? Well, she sucks her thumb!!! Oh, but she is so cute, it is hard to stop her. She will still take her pacifier if I force her and I will continue to force her as long as I can. I am determined to break this habbit (as I tell my 4 year old to stop sucking her thumb). I have my doubts though.

And yes, her eyes are still crossed. I was being SO optomistic, but now it is wavering. Poor baby. She is almost 4 months old now so I don't know if they will correct themselves anymore. She gets lots of laughs when people look at her eyes :( Makes me sad because I think she is absolutely adorable!

Love my babies! Even when they are naughty. Or as my kids would say, "Stinkers!" (Because that is what I call them.)

Addie and Bensen

My two little babies...

I just love sleeping kids. I gave Addie her doll so she could hold the dolls hand because sometimes she likes to scratch her face off when she is going to sleep.
I laid Addie on the couch...

And Bensen, who loves Addie, couldn't resist and climbed up to give her some kisses. He is always trying to "love" her. He likes to poke her and pat her head and wants to lay by her on the floor or have her sit next to him. When I get her out of bed he runs in and reaches up, begging to see her closer. So, I kneel down and he smiles and makes cute sounds and he dotes on her. I think these two are going to be good friends. I think Bensen knows that Addie is his. Just like Staucie and Parker are such good friends.

Bensen also enjoys helping me do dishes. One morning he was helping me unload the dishwasher. I usually hurry to put away knives and then put away the plates and bowls while he puts away the silverware (he puts it all in the drawer - such a good helper). This morning he decided to help with a big plate and before I could stop him, he dropped it... bummer. I now have only 7 plates to my name. But now that matches the small plates since Staucie dropped one of those when she was one. Good thing they are cute! :)

To sum up July...

Addie is tired of me taking pictures...

I put Addie in her bed like this...
And found her like this.
The boys are starting to play together more. This is a good thing and a bad thing. All I can think about is my brothers and all the havoc they caused... Maybe I will send my boys to them when they get older since they don't have any sons (yet)...

I found Bensen in a box. I find him in lots of interesting places.

The Catch

One day we were in the kitchen making dinner and Parker said he saw a lizard. He said it went under his car. (The one he can sit on and ride.) I believed him, but Daniel thought he was just playing. Parker kept insisting and Daniel looked around, but didn't believe him. So, I moved the car and out ran the GECKO. It froze by the table and Daniel was trying to get a bowl or something to trap it (Daniel HATES reptiles and amphibians). Meanwhile, Staucie was holding a toy lid to a toy pot (that has 3 big holes on top of it) and she put it over the gecko and said, "I got it!" We started laughing. She is NOT afraid of any of the bugs or creatures that roam our house. She has scooped up giant cockroaches into cups and flushed them in the toilet for me. If I kill a spider or bug with Daniel's shoe, she will get it with a tissue and flush it. Staucie is my HERO. I have a serious bug phobia. And I mean SERIOUS. We are actually really surprised that the kids are not terrified of bugs because of the way I act.

In this picture the kids are examining the gecko after Daniel caught it before he let it go outside.I LOVE this picture. Just look at Bensen and Addie's face.

The end. Trying to catch up...

Video of Kids in Pool

This is from this afternoon. It was one hot day and we are glad to have a kiddie pool and a backyard since the only bearable way to be outside is to be wet. Next year Addie will join them. How grateful we are for siblings. They have so much fun together.

She is 3 Months

After all the talks I have had with Addie, she is still growing. I asked her very nicely to just stay little. I could carry her around in my purse forever. Last night she was jabbering away while standing on my lap so I had her repeat, "I promise to stay 3 months old and not grow anymore." She jabbered something back so we will see...
We had a little photo shoot. She is wearing her Harley shirt in hopes that Grandpa Randall will come and pick her up and take her for a ride on his bike. And then she saw her socks...

"Mom, I do not like this."

So, we tried this position...

"I just want to go to bed."

"There's those socks, again."

(My kids and their fat, round cheeks. So cute and so hard to find their neck.)

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I have just loved playing with Addie. I love all the stages and wish each one would last longer. I am so sad that she is growing so fast. I was hoping my last baby would take pity on me and stay a baby longer. No such luck, so far. I am still working on it. I wish I could push pause on my other kids so that I could enjoy Addie more. I just don't want to miss anything with any of them.

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Addie does not like to be held like a baby. She likes to face the world or stand and sit facing us when we hold her. She really likes standing on our laps. It is my favorite too because her eyes get really big and she talks and smiles. It is so cute.

I feel bad when people ask to hold her because she usually just screams when they do. Then they say, "I give up," and give her back. She is just real picky about the way you hold her. So funny that their little personalities are coming out at such a young age. You don't realize it though until they turn two. So, Addie, don't turn two, whatever you do ;)

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We love you, Addie!

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Sometimes I get asked what my days are like with 4 kids 4 and under... Well, one example of how my days are... While nursing the baby Parker tells me he has to go to the bathroom so I go and help him pull down his pants. He tells me his underware got a little wet. So, while he goes to the bathroom, I sneak into his room where the one-year-old is sleeping, trying to be real quiet, I get Parker a new pair of underware. Then I go back to the bathroom to wipe a bum, help him into his underware, flush, wash my hand, and sit back on the couch, ALL while nursing. And that was just a few minutes... The days are pretty much like that all day. I am exhausted by the time they are in bed, but then I need to work out and shower...

Except right now, Bensen is still napping, I got Addie down for another nap, and the other 2 are playing in their tents with dominoes and the Candy Land game that is now ripped in half... I need to each lunch...

Umbrellas on the Slip and Slide

We played in the front because the hole in the back was still being worked on...

The kids wanted to try their umbrellas in the "rain."
Bensen wanted to brave it without his umbrella...

Addie stayed in the shade with me.

Bensen found a ball.

After some fun outside...