Jackson's first music observation

He's apparently quiet popular with the ladies.

I love that the whole class ran over to the boy who does whatever he wants and seems to be in his own little world here.

Happy Birthday Mia!

Here it is! The best birthday party ever!

Chuck E. Cheese!

Mia was so extrememly pleased that she got to have her birthday party here. I tried to convince her otherwise but there just wasn't any budging. It always came back to Chuck E.

It was a fun time for her and I am happy she had the experience.

Mia is such a blessing in our lives. She is creative, always eager to learn, an excellent reader already, a fun big sister and our beautiful princess. She loves life and easily laughs.

We are very thankful that she is ours!

Potty Talk

The other day Jack was in the bathroom going potty. The kind where he needs help at the end. He always yells, "MOM, I'M DONE!" So I can then say, "I'm coming!" It has to go just like that or he will remind me. I went in and saw that it was a little more messy than usual and I said, "Ewwhh, messy!" Jack then said, "I disgust myself!" At first it made me sad that he would say such a thing about himself and I flashed forward to his future. I imagined him being sadly insecure. I did tell him he shouldn't say that about himself. I later told Colin and he just laughed. I don't think Jack said it because he was insecure and now when I think of it I laugh. He says things are disgusting ALL the time! Especially dinner, even if he loves it. Crazy kid!

Halloween Fun!

Happy Halloween!

We had a GREAT time with our GREAT friends again this year!

Mia was Angelina Ballerina. Jack was a Ninja Turtle-Leonardo. He didn't want to wear the mask or bring the sword. Not sure why. Cole was a little puppy. He is crying in this picture but actually had a fun time.

Hope you all had a great time too!

Help Me!

Or maybe I should say, "Help Jackson!". The kid is killing me! I know all kids have their moments but his is never ending! He's happy if he is doing exactly what he wants when he wants and nothing else matters! I am having a very difficult time with boy of mine and I need some help! He never wants to go to school, hates to put pants on (just give him his "slippery, slippery, slippery, slippery" shorts and a hoodie), only wants to watch TV (we have been limiting that more and more), does not listen to his teachers in nursery or at school and NEVER listens to me or Colin. He is sometimes happy but the not listening thing is getting to us. He will listen if he is threatened with a time out or a trip to his room or bribery but if not he just doesn't care what we say. So, you mom's out there, help us, please. I am tired of threatening, I just want my boy to listen and to stop being so moody. Thanks!

Chugga, chugga...

Aren't diapers amazing?!

One Saturday my friend called and suggested we take the kids on the train. It usually costs $15 per person 3 and older but if you took some canned goods it was only $5. We got a little lost on the way there and thought we wouldn't make it. Luckily for us the train was delayed and we were there in plenty of time. It was a beautiful day and so we got off at the stop with the lake. The kids headed down for the lake first thing and before we knew it they were trying to swim. I stripped Cole to his diaper and Jack to his undies and they had the best time. Mia really wanted to take her clothes off too but she's just too old. As the kids played and people walked and watched our little group I imagined that they were thinking we were a bit irresponsible letting our kids, mostly naked, swim in this little lake.

We didn't realize that the strange looks we were getting from others was because there was a no swimming sign posted about 50 feet away by the train stop awning. We didn't see it until we were getting back on the train.

Keep scrolling. There's more to see!

Not for the squeemish!

Crawlin' is for the birds!

Cole has been walking off and on for the past month or so but it seems that today is the day he has made the committment to walk. He is just such a happy baby! He LOVES to clear any surface he can reach and that is everything lower than the kitchen counters.

I just love this crazy baby!

Christmas wishes

Tooth number 5 is gone now and she is officially toothless. Good thing corn on the cob season is over for us. I think she's pretty cute without them. They have a chart at school and so far she is the only one to loose any teeth to put on it. I worry so much about her being challenged in school. She likes it but when I asked her if she has learned anything new she said, "NO". We are stepping it up at home now. She is just such a smarty. I know, I stay that too much but really, I am humbly amazed by her.

At the hospital I was working (or living) this month, the gift shop I walked by several times a day had a plaque that said "Hard work must have killed someone". After last month, I am inclined to believe it. I am very glad I had the experience, but I am also very glad it is over. I gotta tell you though, it is amazing the different ways people get hurt. I mean, what is a 55 year old man doing playing on a stripper pole anyway? (By the way, he broke his back) You can see some very cool things in the middle of the night at a trauma center.

Here are some things I learned:
I can see now why people argue against guns, especially handguns. Maybe tighter control in getting a gun isn't such a bad thing.
Alcohol and driving STILL should never mix.
Motorcycles = badness, especially if you are dumb enough to ride them without a helmet, especially if you are drunk.
Driving fast doesn't seem as fun as it used to.
Anything can be used as a weapon.
Being able to walk and move all your extremities are a bad thing to lose.
Old people should not fall. If I live to be 80 I am just going to stop walking.
You don't ever want to have a breathing tube in your neck, trust me.
You also don't ever want to be fed through a tube in your abdomen.
Bicycles are not safe if you are old or drunk, even if you think you are being responsible.
You don't ever want to be run over by an 11,000 pound tractor, seriously.
Seatbelts are still a good idea.
If any of you think you are ever getting a motorcycle, you have another thing coming. I will not allow it.

The brain is a terrible thing to waste, especially to any of the above.

Any of the above are extremely tragic, but they are also really cool and a necessary evil for medical education.

I remember why I stopped wanting to be a surgeon. 80 hour work weeks suck. If you were wondering why you didn't hear from me, (especially my wife and kids), now you know.