Olympic Closing Ceremonies?

Another mellow week/weekend around here. Friday night I took Kellan and Zoe to a high school basketball game. Kellan's teacher coaches a girl's team and it was their semi-final game. It was a good game and Kellan was really into it (Zoe not so much). It made for a late night and the rest of the weekend was all R & R. Something seems to be up with Dexter again, another long night Saturday. We appreciate all the good nights with him and know it's an exception when he doesn't sleep, so may be taking him back to the doctor depending on how tonight goes. Not sure if it's his teeth (massive drooling) or continued ear infection.

Kellan has been playing a lot of Lego Star Wars Wii. He's almost completed it and Zoe and I couldn't be happier. Outside of the constant playing there's constant conversation around the game. I may be buying a TV for the basement to banish him. This is how bad it has gotten, he turned to me today, as he's playing and says "I peed my pants." and I said "What?" "I had to go so bad I peed myself." and he continued to play. I'm not talking a little pee, he really peed. I told him to stop playing and go take a shower. When he came back down I asked him why he didn't pause it and go to the bathroom. "I swear, you won't believe me, but I didn't realize I peed." Forget the Lego intervention, we now need a video intervention. I may be exaggerating on how much he plays, homework always comes first and there is a time limit (sometimes we forget though), but not exaggerating about him wetting himself, that really did happen this afternoon. As I said before, slow week.

Not much in the way of pictures either...Zoe was my little model of the week.

Dexter's 7 months old

Big blue eyes

The many faces of Zoe

I've been reluctant to post videos since they have not been working on a regular basis, the one below isn't showing an image right now, but is working - unless something is up with blogger again. Sounds like they continue to work on the issue...so tune in every now and then.

Sick Days

Our home was an infirmary this past three day weekend. Zoe still has her bad cold, Dexter was beside himself Sat. night, barely went to bed. We took him to the doctor Sun. - fever, congestion and a double ear infection. Kellan had bouts of needing to vomit. I ended up with a sore throat and headache. I took a sick day from work on Tues. since I got myself pretty run down. Jim was lucky to escape, but loved living with all the sickness. I feel like most posts are now weather or sick related, can't wait for the summer. Lots of snow heading our way by the end of the week. Kellan has been passionate about school this past month. The focus has been Presidents and DC (specifically monuments). He loves non-fiction books now. He keeps asking to go to DC and was excited when we reminded him that he has cousins and an aunt and uncle that live there, that his mom and G-ma Sue were born there and his great G-pa worked at the Smithsonian.

Follow the link below to one of his school projects. Not too sure about the screaming (he thought it was funny) and he's angry at himself for misspeaking about the President on the five dollar bill. You may need to turn it up to actually hear Kellan's voice. It may also take some time to download and will keep playing over and over until it downloads all the way.

Select the km.mov link
http://schools.dcsdk12.org/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=151694&catfilter=26851#showDoc

Gotta run, I'm sitting in the loft on the computer, with both the kids' doors open crying saying they're scared of the night and are going to have bad dreams (well Kellan started first and Zoe heard him and has to follow). So much for sleeping tonight...

Last kid's quote:

Mom: "Kellan, you stink."

Kellan: "That's what I do best."

1 yr Blog Anniversary

I had my doubts, but the blog made it, one year. I may not have been as good as I wanted to be at times in updating, and there are definitely things I forgot to write soon after I published, and Lord knows tons of grammatical errors, but still in awe I made it this far (especially with my track record for calling, emailing, writing). In the first post I said Jim would be doing most of the posts, um yeah, he hasn't done one. That will need to change this year.

This year flew by, at least for me. A year ago we found out we were having a baby boy, Kellan started the first grade, played more ball and spent the majority of the time in braces and Zoe, Zoe's had a couple of tough, tough years to the point where we were worried if things were ever going to get better. I couldn't be happier to say, these past two weeks have been great, she's been absolutely great (I'm starting to cry as I type this). I know kids go through tough stuff, but I think this was a little beyond the terrible twos/threes. I'll have to start writing the blog in Spanish one day so the kids won't be able to read what I am writing about them (as Zoe is looking over my shoulder asking me why here name is spelled here). Her new attitude has made life with three kids a bit easier for Jim. Dexter continues to thrive and if you are not sick of me saying it yet, is still very happy and sleeping great (with a bad night here and there). I will gush while I can, who knows what will be around the corner...there's nothing better than happy kids (I'd say and healthy except Kellan puked last night, Dexter puked all day yesterday and Zoe has an awful cold). Life is still good.

We sent Kellan and Zoe off with Uncle Tom and Aunt Jan this weekend to see a Disney stage show. A good time was had by all, until they brought the kids home. Dexter took one look at Uncle Tom and started crying and screaming like we have never heard him before. I don't know who I felt worse for, Dexter or Tom. Jim sent me for a massage, the first one I have ever had in my life. It was great, except that all I wanted to do was go to sleep so when it was time to leave I felt sick from laying down for so long. Not to say I wouldn't go and get another one in the next 37 years. On Sunday we went to a wildlife like museum that Kellan loves (see pictures) then on to Uncle Tom's for a Super Bowl party (yay, Saints). We're all excited for the upcoming three day weekend.

Last kid's quote:

Kellan at Disneyland after he rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride:

Kellan: "Mom, when I was on the ride, I closed my eyes, concentrated really hard and used The Force to steer the car away from the fire."

Mom: "Oh yeah, you used The Force?"

Kellan: "Yeah, I use The Force a lot now and it really works."

Side note: Every time Kellan and Zoe have to poop, either Jim or I have to go into the bathroom and say "May The Force be with you...always...man.

Butterfly exhibit

Back to the Pool

Our favorite pool has been closed for renovations, so we went to the one with the big slide. I even got in a pseudo bathing suit - woman swim trunks (as Papa Frankie would say). It was anything but attractive, but as I've learned in my old age, the kids only care that I am there and baring cellulite and a "ooey gooey" stomach (as Zoe says) is inconsequential. We'll see if it ever happens again. I even made it down the slide. Jim managed to point out to me the girl who rocked the Roxy bikini. Such a joker.

I wasn't the only one to make it in the pool, Dexter did too. In true Dexter fashion he went nuts and loved every minute of it, splashing water all over himself. Kellan and Zoe even got a chance to hold him which they were really excited about since they have been limited to him sitting in their laps only. They got to stand up in the pool and walk around with him (ok, I was still holding him too). Unfortunately for D he got his mother's complexion.

Dexter added sweet potatoes and bananas to his diet this past week. He loves them both. Unlike the first attempt at feeding him where we tried peas (see vid).; similar expression to his cousin Monty.

A posting isn't the same without a Lego commentary...I've spent hours going through Kellan's Legos and organizing them back into their original sets (they are currently organized by color & size). He's been a bit overwhelmed with having to find the pieces on his own.

All kids have still been sleeping through the night, wish I could!

Ta ta for now.