10 on a couch

Ryan and Michelle came to town this weekend, and we all got to celebrate Lorelai's 5th birthday together on Sunday. It was a good time with everyone, and I think the birthday girl thoroughly enjoyed her "Tangled" themed party. I was especially grateful to get to meet, hold, and cuddle our sweet 2-month-old nephew, Brennan. We snagged the opportunity for a cousin on the couch photo while everyone was happy. That couch is getting mighty full!

Preschool Graduation

On Friday Joel finished his year of preschool. He loved every minute of it. Every week he looked forward to Thursdays and Fridays when he got to go to school. I think we could've used another month after all the days he missed being sick this year, but it's over, and now we're looking forward to kindergarten.

Joel with his teacher, Mrs. Mitchell

smiling at us before the music program

 Singing "Shout to the Lord"

accepting his "diploma"

back in the classroom showing us his seat and the book he made 

preschool friends/cousins

(Blake, Gianna, Maggie, Sam, Joel)

Six months later than his siblings, but...

IT HAPPENED. IT FINALLY HAPPENED! GRANT SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! He slept 10 hours, 8pm-6am, and I got EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP! Yes, I am shouting. It has been a year and a half since I've had eight hours of sleep (since before I was pregnant--Grant's 9 1/2 months old), and this is an exciting day! I don't expect it to happen again tonight, as he has sporadic sleeping patterns and was up twice the night before, but it does give me hope.

I am one happy mama. Joel is finally recovered from his surgery. (It was a long 12 days of recovery, but he's all well.) We had two days of sunshine (wet out right now, but I'm still basking in yesterday's sun). I just got a good night's rest, and our entire family is well at this very moment. This is rarity in our family these days, so rejoice we must! We found out Monday that Grant needs tubes in his ears, but that surgery isn't until June 9th. I'm praying that he won't get an ear infection between now and then.

I haven't taken many photos lately but here's some from a couple weeks ago that I just found on the camera. Family photos are nearly impossible. Sometime we'll enlist the help of a professional. :)



first attempt




second attempt





third attempt




fourth attempt




fifth attempt: Ok, I give up!




















This was the best one I got of the kids. :-) I'll try again another time, but it won't be with the tulips because they're done. I will have to remember to plant some big, beautiful tulips at our next house (wherever that may be). These yellow ones make me happy every spring.

 

9 months

I love this look. Grant has become a very smiley little guy, or "big fella," as Aubrey likes to call him. He's still a one-tooth-wonder right now, but three others are getting closer to coming in. He's learned to wave in the last couple weeks and not just at himself in the mirror anymore. He says "dada" indiscriminately and says "all done" but says it all day long not just at meal times. He thinks his siblings are hilarious. They get the best belly laughs out of him.

Grant is crawling everywhere and into everything right now. He makes a bee-line for this cupboard if he sees it's open (and since I have a habit of leaving cupboard doors open, he's there a lot). Really, any open cupboard or drawer is intriguing to him right now. Loading and unloading the dishwasher is tricky if he's around, too. He pulls himself up on everything and is starting to cruise a little. When I go in to get him out of his crib in the morning or after a nap, he's usually standing.
Snuggling with my baby, my last baby. I am treasuring every moment like this. He likes to snuggle with his mama, when he's not being a stinker, that is. :) He's got a mischievous look that makes us wonder sometimes what we're in for with him! He sure brings us a lot of joy right now, and this last week, we've needed every one of his bright smiles and contagious laughs, as it has not been a fun week of tonsillectomy recovery.

I sure am enjoying this roly-poly sweet stage of yours, little Grant-man.

Spoke too soon

Yup, shouldn't have blogged yesterday. We had a terrible night with Joel last night. Ironically, it was Grant's best night ever! He slept 8 hours straight, but we didn't get to enjoy it. Oh well. Maybe he'll do it again. Maybe.

I'll spare you (and me) some of the gory details, but we were on the phone with the doctor at 12:30am after Joel woke up screaming, thrashing, bleeding, nauseous. He saw the doctor today, and everything is going to be ok. He had a bit of a set-back and a bummer of a day but should be feeling better soon.

Tired of popsicles?

The girls have contributed a few popsicle sticks to the glass, too, but isn't that impressive?

 
Taking a rare, but much needed, nap



Joel informed us the day after his tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy that he was tired of popsicles, jell-o, and applesauce. He wanted something else, like pizza. :) We've come up with some other soft foods he can have along with the popsicles, but he's looking forward to when he can eat what he wants again. His surgery on Friday went well. The doctor told us afterwards that it was a really good thing that we did it. His adenoids had "active infection," so the cycle of illness would have continued had we not gone ahead with the surgery. The time at the hospital was no fun (I really hate hospitals). Joel had a difficult time waking up and in recovery. When they brought him back to us in the room, Greg stayed with him, and I took a short walk with Grant. I don't handle situations like that very well, and I did NOT want to pass out in that hospital room. (I passed out at the pediatrician's office about a month ago. It only happens in medical-type situations, but it sure is embarrassing!) Grant needed a diaper change anyhow, so he and I took care of that and then went back. Once they got Joel's pain under control, he took a nap and was able to go home a few hours later. He did not like having that IV in, and he did not like the hospital pajamas. He wanted his own clothes on! The drive home was no fun either, but once we got him settled on the couch with some jello in his stomach, he did pretty well. And he has continued to do very well. It hasn't kept him from talking, drinking (crazy straws from Grandma made that more fun), or eating (the foods he's allowed), and he's been up moving around, even playing with his sisters some. He's spending a lot of time at his post on the loveseat and is watching a lot of TV/movies, but he's been a pretty good patient overall. We've had our moments (just had another one a few minutes ago), but it hasn't been too bad. We've got his pain med schedule on the frig and have been able to keep him fairly comfortable. We're even feeling a little bored now on day four but also feeling very fortunate to have had such an uneventful recovery thus far. Thank you, Lord! We're half-way through the first week. 

On to the next level

I was shocked when I saw Joel swimming, actually swimming, during the last lesson of the session. The parents are only allowed to watch the lessons in the little pool on the first day and the last, and wow, was I impressed! My little boy who wouldn't put his eyes in the water was full-on swimming!















This was right after he swam all the way across the width of the pool by himself. His instructor was saying, "You did it! You swam the whole way!" He did so well he was able to graduate to the next level, and now he's taking lessons in the big pool. We want to keep him going while we have momentum.



Kari did great in her lessons, too, and graduated to the next level, but the times of the next round of classes for her didn't work with our schedule. She'll take more lessons another time. She's still doing gymnastics, so she's happy to just watch Joel this session.   

for

Delayed gratification

The money Kari made from the garage sale tipped her over the amount she needed to finally pay for the pajamas she's been saving toward for her and Kit. The amount of money American Girl charges for their clothes is absolutely RIDICULOUS, but Kari worked and saved for months (birthday, allowance, extra chores, washing G&G's cars...), and it's what she wanted to spend her money on, so we let her. She is quite pleased with her purchase, and I am quite pleased that I ordered it a couple weeks ago when they were offering free shipping. :)

Got rid of our junk and our friends' junk along with it

And had fun doing it, too! Our first garage sale was a smashing success. We made some money, had a good time with our friends, and cleared out our garage. Greg, although down on the whole garage sale idea for the week prior (sure is a lot of prep work!), completely embraced the garage sale experience and became the garage sale KING. He was wheelin' and dealin' and moving product. :) It was a pretty crazy weekend but worth it to have useless stuff gone and the money in our pocket.







Amy, Christine, and I on Friday morning. Thanks for doing this with us! It wouldn't have been nearly as much fun doing it alone, and it was great to get to hang out and chat.
The kids (ours along with the other contributing families' kids) took turns running the lemonade/muffin stand. I think they drank and ate more than they sold, but they sure had fun and made some money, too, thanks to all the generous customers (G&G A).













Friday was also an exciting day for my parents. They finally broke ground on their property, which happens to be across the field from our house (no, they did not choose the lot because it was near us and yes, it is a little ironic that we sold our house just as they are starting to build--no new house for us yet, BTW.) We could see the guys working from our front yard. I'm sure we'll be taking lots of walks to check on the progress.