Catch up, catch up, catch up

lately i feel like i am constantly playing a game of catch up. i'm tired, but i really want to update this blog so it's going to happen! it will likely be more photos than anything else, but that's the only reason you check blogs anyway, right?

jack turned 4! he celebrated with a friend party at backyard adventures, and a family party at home with the grandparents. he's pretty excited to be 4.






i lucked out this year; when i asked jack what type of cake he wanted or theme for a party (expecting answers like lightening mcqueen or spider man), he said "a smiley face!" this is the answer i got several times so i went with it. wow, a smiley face is easy. given my past failures with cake decorating, i was quite happy to get an easy one.






last week both jack AND benjamin started preschool. benj is in the jump start program for 2s and early 3s like jack was last year, jack is in the 3s and early 4s program (busy bees). i didn't get a photo of jack on his first day of class, but i got one of benjamin. he's been talking about his lightening mcqueen backpack and his teachers, mrs. maxwell and mrs. vuong, for weeks. he was so excited to go. and it was fun for me to see him adjust so quickly to this big boy step, and kiss me goodbye without tears or any sign of fear. he was so into the big boy thing! he also got a big boy bed that same day, so lots of changes for the benja last week.



other fun benja photos.... he still loves being naked, and he puts together some crazy outfits.


his newest favorite obsession is the sandbox. it's the one place he'll sit occupied for more than 10 minutes. the boys have also been into knock knock jokes lately. the favorite is, "knock knock, who's there, cow, cow who? they don't HOO, they moo!" except when benj does is it, he says "cows no moo they moo!" it's fun.

and of course, i cannot fit my cutie gav. who in one month will turn one. i'm not ready! my baby! soon i will have THREE toddlers. oh my. i hope to enjoy every moment of this last month of babyhood before it disappears. lately he is starting to act like a toddler. he climbs everything. the picnic table, our chairs, the reading hut at the library....11 month old on the loose!

And we're off.

2+ weeks of insomnia, cleaning, de-cluttering, more cleaning, re-arranging, and spending thousands of dollars to "spruce" up the house for listing, the for sale sign is finally out. oh my, i'm exhausted. i actually think i lost more sleep trying to prepare our house to sell than i did when i had newborns at home. this might be a wild ride.

catching up

last week the boys had a ton of fun when a new friend came to visit. sofia, 5 and 3/4, got to hang out with us for the morning while her dad taught a class downtown. they just moved from north carolina to iowa city, so the boys look forward to visiting her next in her new home, whenever we are able to swing a trip over to ic. here are some photos of their fun day:

sofia's initial reaction to our boys was typical


but she warmed up soon after. they made cupcakes in the sandbox.


she mothered our baby


and our younger toddler


and claimed fierce independence about her stuff and her space.


it was super cute to see them all interact, and view how their distinct personalities and ages created fun dynamics. all in all, everyone had a great time.





the week before sofia's visit we went to newton for a playdate with some friends. jack's buddy evan was a great host. they made monkey bread and enjoyed outdoor time at e's grandparent's country home, running through the hose and playing in the sandbox. as usual, my boys managed to be naked a good portion of the time. so, things are on the horizon with our house hunt. good, exciting, potential things. but i'm way too superstitious to open my mouth even a little at this point. so we'll see.