So long, sweet summer.

I love summertime. The days are full of fun, with nothing that has to be done. Well, except swimming. That is the solitary rule of summer - WE HAVE TO SWIM.

Summer is the best because...

Cousins become like siblings.

The beach becomes the playground.

A night swim replaces bath time.

We eat ice cream nearly every week.

Your only chore is to wash your bike. And maybe, your babies.

Story time is under a tent. Even if it's just a sheet tent.

The most worn article of your wardrobe is a first place tie between swim trunks & life vests. Which obviously means, you've spent a ton of time at the lake.

Summer is the best because..

..you can stay in jammies until noon. At any given moment you can plop down for a nice afternoon nap on the couch.

Or you might just be jumping off a cliff. See, summer is that awesome.

..the smell of sunscreen babies fills the air...there is no greater smell then BABY mixed with SUNSCREEN.

..there are no backpacks or lunchboxes to be packed. Just movies to be watched and brothers to be snuggled.

..ice-pops become a food group, along with sno-cones, and other iced cocktail and beverage delicacies.

..sunshine is intoxicating

..SANGRIA. SERIOUSLY.

We love summer so much in this house. The late nights, the lazy days, the busy days, the swimming and splashing, the sunscreen-ing, the skipped baths, the lax schedules and lack of routine. So sadly we say...so long summer. We will excitingly anticipate your arrival next year.

Summer is the best because, I SAID SO.

So long, summer. Thanks for all the memories you helped us make. You were really sweet.

Easter. In July.

As I was browsing old camera cards, I stumbled upon Easter pictures. That's right EASTER. I know, I know, it's July. I guess that just goes to show how chaotic my life was this past Easter. You know with adjusting to a new baby and having to keep two other children alive, fed, and bathed (okay, so we missed a lot of baths that month too).

This Easter was extra special, because it was our first holiday as a family of FIVE. Well, besides St. Patrick's' Day. Who celebrates that anyway? Plus it wasn't like I was being served any delicious green beer in the Labor & Delivery Unit, so we'll stick with Easter as the first holiday. Party of five, bunny style.

(So maybe a great picture of all of us isn't gonna happen this year. Or maybe ever.)

A family tradition on Easter is fried chicken. I have absolutely no idea when or how it started, but it is what it is. This year was no different. Except for the mounds of sushi. It's a new tradition. But fear not - fried chicken was still there. (I mean seriously is that enough soy sauce or WHAT?)

Picture recap - better late then never right? Right.

As you can see we ate chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. I thought Valentine's was going to be a holiday topper for Max with all the candy that comes with it. I somehow forgot or never realized that Easter has even more chocolate then Valentine's days.

AND PEEPS!

 

Those kids were some sweet, sticky messes after Easter. You better believe they got their baths that night. I *think*. Yeah, you're right, they probably didn't. But no one complained.

Mason did his best to find EVERY golden egg at EVERY egg hunt he participated in. He was so stoked. (Disclaimer: he was the oldest kid participating in this said egg hunt....but hey, he still found it!)

 

Mason got a beloved Slinky Dog - he was so excited that the crazy huge bunny he saw at the mall "read his dreams" and remembered this slinky dog.  A slinky dog and chocolate for breakfast. OH YES, YES,  AND CROCS. *insert happy dance* Forget Easter people, it was like Christmas over here.

As all holidays are with the munchkins, it was a busy day full of chaos and fun. Hopefully next Easter I'll remember to blog it sooner, unless of course, I'm busy cleaning sweet, sticky Peep fingers and snuggling chubby cheeks covered in melted chocolate that is. Priorities and all, you know?

Happy Easter. In JULY. (And now it's already August, whoops!)

4 year interview

I think I did this with Mason when he was three. I've seen little templates for yearly interviews with your kids and I love the idea, so the other day we sat down during nap time and got to business.

Age: 4

Favorites:

food: grilled cheese
cereal: cinnamon toast crunch
drink: orange juice
veggie: carrot which was immediately followed by "no!! wait!! i mean grapes" so sticking to carrots..
toy: "I think a ball? Or wait, maybe a train?" For the record Mason doesn't really play with either balls or trains often. Three minutes further in to the interview he was SURE "Buzz Lightyear is my favorite toy. I just know it"
game: uno moo
tv show: wow wow wubzy
restaurant: the tower
holiday: "Valentine's and Halloween. Because I love candy so much. Can I pick more holidays? Like all of them". clearly we like to celebrate.
animal: horse
color: pink and red
movie: "Happy Feet! And Dinosaur Feet (??)"
sport to play: "basketball and soccerball" AKA just soccer.

Questions asked by mama -- Answers by Mason.

If you could change your name, what would it be?

 MAX. Or maybe Joe.
He said Max so quickly it was like he was 100% sure, although maybe someone should explain to him that all siblings can't have one name.


 What do you want to be when you grow up?


A zookeeper.

He's on to something...you know, living in THIS house and all.

Who is your best friend? 

Gracie & Piper.

What do you love about each person in your family?

I love Daddy because he takes me to see Shamu. I love you Mommy because you take me to school. I really like Max, because I love him. I love all my family.

And what about Alexander?

Oh yea! I love him more than I love Max. Oh my gosh, I swear he said this THE MINUTE I asked him about Alexander. No hesitation. Followed by "REALLY, in *real life*". In case you thought the rest of these answers weren't in real life....? Alexander is sleepy and snuggly and chubby, Max just doesn't listen. Amen.

Who is the coolest person on the planet? *said with lots of enthusiam and hope that my name would follow*
*eyes roll* Soooooo easy - MY DADDY!

What makes you happy?

When I'm playing with my daddy. (At this point I wanted to lead the answer elsewhere, because seriously, IS THIS A HOW AWESOME IS MY DADDY INTERVIEW???? Apparently). I however, refrained and these answers are straight up.

What makes you sad?

When no one plays with me.

Where would you like to go on vacation?

The beach! (We've been three times in the last hmm 60 days? Obviously, not enough beach).

What are your wishes for the rest of the year?

That I had a car and that I could stay up way later. And in breaking news, Mason 

Say what???

This is really a just for mama post. After all the whole purpose of the blog is to remember these bitties in all their glory. Things were hearing a lot of in this house.

Max

Max does this crazy like "HUH"? I need to capture it on film. He says it about 50 times a day an hour. No matter how many times we repeat ourselves to clarify what we are trying to tell him we get the same response. HUH? Its high pitched and hilarious.

At any given moment, Max might bust in to song as well. His song of choice - Happy Birthday. Except it sounds a lot more like appy bow-doe. The words are a little unclear, but the tune is perfection. He hums it, just right.

I was sure, absolutely, that one of Max's first words would be Mason. Or some cute variation of his brother's name. He admires all things Mason, yet two years in he refuses to attempt to say his name. He calls him brother, except it sounds nothing really like brother - more like baby. "bay bay". But it is for sure what he calls Mason, no doubt.

And in classic two year old fashion were hearing a whole 'lotta NO and whole more "I DO" (die do). You do it baby, you do it.

Mason
 

Mason has this weird obsession (lately) with the middle. Not just any middle, but every middle, and "the really middle" . Yeah don't ask, I don't know. Generally he is really gentle with his new baby brother and looks out for Max when were out and about, but he is not above pushing either, or both, brothers out of the way to make sure he is snuggled in the middle. Natrually, the middle IS the best. We can thank Oreo cookies for that phenomenon. I'm not really sure when it started or better yet why it started, but it is big news around here.

And like all children, it's also big news about "who has the most" and "what's cooler" and "whose is better". This usually ALWAYS happens throughout our day. I especially love when he throws me a curveball toughie. "Mommy, what's cooler: staying home and taking a nap (because he's smart, he knows this is Max's afternoon destiny) or going to the movies with my cousins and Grandpa?" See, toughie. Like, hmmm, let me think for oh, five seconds. I'm just thankful (that for now) Max can't sense the gloating and sarcasm that this pint sized four year old exudes. And ak-shully (as Mason says it) I think I'll vote for a nap. Because that'd be awesome in the next century guys.

Say what? That's what (is being said in these parts).

July 4th.

I love the holidays. My family makes the holidays that much more incredible. Having kids makes it infinitely more exciting. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that like forty times on this very blog, but I'm laying it out there once again.

As most of our summer, we spent this holiday lakeside. We attempted to withstand the heat by consuming fried food and margaritas. Surprisingly, it worked. The firework show didn't start until about 9:30, which was approximately three hours past bedtime. Which was a joy for us all.

It was totally worth it.

Alexander even watched, then fell fast asleep, even amongst the craziness. I thought the loud noise may bother him. Then I remembered that he lives with Mason. And Max. So, basically the fireworks were like a lullaby. That's right, the baby-whom-never-sleeps, slept through fireworks. Ironic.

And what is a summer holiday without some soft serve? Seriously.

I can't wait for many more Fourth's spent up at the lake. Devouring ice cream and staying up way past bedtime. I get all warm and fuzzy just thinking about the memories we are making.

A year ago.

A year ago today, I found out that our sweet Alexander was on his way. It went so fast, but yet it seems like last July was an eternity ago. I remember thinking it'd be forever until March would come (I wasn't totally sure I was due in March but knew the ballpark time frame). March has come and gone. And Mr. AQ is here. He fits in to our family so perfectly. His sweet smiles and enthusiastic babbling melts me. It was only a year ago that the notion of a new baby had been introduced and it seemed impossible, unfathomable and far, far away, but I already cannot imagine my life and our family without him in it.

Alexander you are hands down the best surprise I've ever received. Normally, I don't even like surprises. But oh little baby I love you to the moon and back.

2 {Max}

Max,

Oh sweet boy. You turned two this morning. I can't even believe it happened so quickly. The minute your floppy little body landed on my chest when you were born, I knew one day you'd laugh and run. I knew one day you'd turn a year old. And then you'd be two. I knew it would happen. But as always the year flew by and it happened a little too quickly. Your cheeks have slimmed over the last few months, your face is fighting to look like a boy not a baby, but your hands and your delicious thighs are clinging to more familiar tunes of toddler hood. And for once, I'm not complaining about all things chubby. Last night I procrastinated laying you down, bedtime was nearly two hours late - I was trying to avoid the obvious. But the time kept ticking and morning came. And two, well two years old, still happened.

You're language is erupting. It seems like each day brings a new word. One of my favorite things about you is the way you talk, your lips are plump and simply adorable. The way you purse them together to make words melts me. We've been practicing Happy Birthday with you and now it's your favorite song. I'm pretty sure you think it's a game. Immediately following the last line of the chorus, you begin blowing. Imaginary candles? Sure why not after all it is your birthday.

The minute you wake up in the morning you are giggling. You clutch to your blanket and still suck your thumb, but the minute we arrive at the bottom of the stairs you start asking for breakfast. Your breakfast of choice - COOKIES. You love yogurt and cereal too. Most morning you lick your bowl dry. A foodie in the making.

You have a new found love for swimming. I guess that would come natural for a summer baby. Some mornings you get all excited and bring me your swimsuit and loudly repeat "mem-ming, mem-ming!" Luckily for you we do go swimming most everyday.

 You are spirited. Determined. Full of life. God forbid someone try and assist you in getting down from your chair or out of your car seat. The phrase of the month - "DIE DO". Obviously, you got the memo that two means independence. You are ready to move out and start  live on your own. Most days you refuse any sort of help, which leads to backward shoes and shorts, major bedhead and a face encrusted in donut icing.

You love splashing during bath time, snuggling during nap time, and laughing pretty much all the time. You have a special little spunk in your step that makes you all the more YOU.

I can't believe you've been here twenty four whole months, yet I can't remember life without you. Two years gone and many more to come. My birthday wish for you is lots more giggles, many more sleepy slumbers, heaps of sloppy kisses, hundreds more brotherly quarrels and most of all that you keep marching to the beat of your own drummer.

I love you more then I knew was possible. I love you with every ounce of my being and every beat of my heart. I love you to the moon and back. Always and forever.

 Happy second birthday baby boy!