how is this not funny?

**Edited version** (sigh)

I wish I had a video camera with me at all times to capture my boys and their antics. A couple of note-worthy events this evening... Jack and Alex in the bath with their faces covered in soap shaving cream laughing so hard. It was one of those moments that makes all the shitty ones disappear.

After the bath, Alex said, "I'm going to check my cabities" (cavities, but with the 'b' because he is so nasally) and stuck his two pointer fingers up both nostrils to his knuckles. He pulls them out and looks at them and does his Alex shrug. He's a little strange, that one!

another month has gone by...

...and haven't blogged. Oh well. :)

Trying a new look and photo with the blog. We'll see if it works. I am not a whiz on the 'puter so not sure how to get it to look exactly how I want. This is OK for now.

We all had a great Christmas. We did Christmas with Nana and Papa Dave a week before, then Christmas eve with Chad's mom and family, Christmas day with just us here in the morning then at my dad's that afternoon. Lots of presents and good food. I swear I've gained 40 lbs! Good thing I got some gift cards so I can go buy new pants.

The boys are doing well. Alex is are accident/injury prone boy so a few trips to the clinic/ER but he's good now! I'll post a little more on him in the next week or so.

Jack went to his first movie in the theatre with his Uncle Dave and cousin Casey. We had a small mis-communication which ended in Jack getting a Pepsi to drink. He's four. PEPSI. Oh well. The highlight from the whole experience was the Pepsi, not the movie. He came home and shoveled almost the whole driveway!

Ben is growing like a weed. I did look in his brother's baby books and he is smaller then they were at this age. Benny is 18 lbs. 5 oz (roughly) and the other two were that weight at 6 months. Ben is 8 months. Maybe he knows he's the last one, so he's staying smaller for me! He says da da and is sitting up on his own. No crawling yet, but that's OK. One less thing for me to worry about at the moment. He's also a really good eater and is learning to use a sippy cup at meal time. He is just too cute and I smother him in kisses every day!

Jack is loving school. He gets mad when it's Saturday. He goes out with Chad almost every day to do chores. That boy is in heaven out here. He is such a good helper.

Chad is busier than ever. He's gone from four 12-hour days and two off to five 12-hour days and two off. Plus, you know, farming here and his other farming job for the neighbor. I think he's a tall guy with brown hair and blue eyes, handsome fella. From what I remember ;)

They look just like him. . . .

The boys found these hats with ear flaps that must have been Gary's. They won't fit Chad so they have claimed them and when Alex put his on, all I could think of is what Nancy has called him from the start...Little Gary! Couldn't see it before, but with that hat, I sure see it now!

a little old school

So, I was talking with my sister-in-law Lisa a while ago and she was sharing a story that ended with her oldest son sitting with a bar of soap in his mouth a la A Christmas Story. What a great idea!

Fast forward to my oldest son. We've been having issues with Jack and the things that come out of his mouth. I will say that he hears most of it from me and I'M WORKING ON IT! Can't have a four year old throwing four-letter words, can we?

Soooo, he called his brother something naughty and this is what he got. . . .

He has started to think twice before saying naughty things now! He also calls me out when I slip up. We're all working on it :)

Alex had a SpongeBob theme for his birthday party a week ago and I made some Patric Star cookies and a Krabby Patty birthday cake.

That cake took a while to put together with some definite forethought. Alex loved it and it was a major sugar over-load.

happy birthday alex!

Chad's mini-me is 3 years old today! I can't believe it was only three years ago we were hauling some major ass to La Crosse at 11pm with contractions 3 minutes apart thinking we might not make it. We did and everything was fine and at 4 something in the morning after just 3 or 4 pushes, Alex John was born. It feels like yesterday, but it also feels like he's been here forever!

The whole fam went to La Crosse today and took the boys to the Children's Museum to play and do something special for his birthday. They had a great time and Jack loved the the fire truck. Alex found some girls to flirt with, naturally :) They both had a great time and it was nice to let them go nuts! Jack walked up to the fire truck and there are a bunch of levers and knobs and things on the outside and he asked if he could touch it. I told him he could touch anything he wanted and he was like, really? It feels so nice to be able to say that and know that they will have so much fun and not break anything!

I haven't blogged since Halloween, so I'll give a quick recap. Both Jack and Alex went as Spiderman and Ben was a little monkey, which no one could really see because he was in my Moby the whole time we were trick-or-treating.

The boys got waaaay too much candy, but they had fun. Last year I think it was in the 70's, which is totally ridiculous for Wis. in October. This year it was a lot colder and sooooo windy but at least it wasn't raining (or snowing).

We have an accepted offer on our house!!!! It wasn't nearly what we wanted, but realistically it was a decent offer and we took it. We are supposed to close December 11, so cross your fingers that everything will go like it's supposed to.

Ben is doing great. Growing like a weed. We had his 6 month check up and he is 17 and a half pounds. Nice solid boy. Still not a lot of hair and no teeth yet, but eats a ton! He can eat a whole banana for breakfast. He rolls all over and actually likes being on his tummy some. He can sit unassisted for a short while, but I need to be close 'cause he will tip over. He loves bath time and can sit (or lay) for an easy 20 min. just splashing around. The last couple of nights he's put himself to sleep after I lay him down awake in his crib. I thought I had a couple more months to cuddle him and nurse him to sleep, but I don't know now :( I'll blink and he'll be asking for the keys to take his girlfriend out on a date. Ahhhhhhh!!! I don't even want to think about it!

just the facts

There has been a lot going on here in the last couple of weeks that I think I'll just do a bullet post...
- My Gram had a stroke, but is doing soo much better now. Still headed to FL next weekend. Gramp is taking excellent care of her!

- Everyone in our house was/is sick. Fever, chills, cough, body aches, and a tiny bit of vomit for good measure. We're all on the mend with the exception of the cough.

-My step-sister Katie got married on the 10th. We went and had a blast. The boys were ring bearers and did a great job. Didn't check my batt. on my camera, so I only got one pict. before it died. Katie was a beautiful bride and it's always fun partying with the Banos.

-Played with the boys in the leaves this morning. Raked a big pile and threw them in it. It was all fun and games until I got my head stepped on.

-Got a lot done around the house this weekend. Trees trimmed, bushes ripped out, dirt hauled and filled in around the house. Chad built shelves in the storage room and I got some stuff put away, old carpet ripped up and hauled out, and a couple more boxes unpacked.

I know there's more, but I'll leave it for another day :)

poor benny

Oh my poor little boy. He is having some pooping issues and I feel so bad for him.

He has been getting increasingly more hungry for the last three weeks so we've been giving him rice cereal. Then adding pear juice to it to make him go easier. Then adding fruit to get him moving and he's getting all balled up. He went tonight and it was soooo hard and he cried :( I'm going to call the Dr. tomorrow and see what we can do about this.

Everything else is so busy around here. We have so much to do and not enough hours in the day. It's been so rainy and icky here nothing is getting done outside. Chad was able to get part of the lawn mowed tonight, so that was good.

Goin' down to see Gram and Gramp tomorrow to take them some meals and treats and stuff. Gram had a stroke last week, for the ones who didn't know. She's doing good but she gets pretty tired. I think they kicked her butt in therapy today. Gramp leaves for the Freedom Honor Flight on Friday. That is such an honor. I hope he has a great trip.

I'm back!

Ok, sorry for the long time off from the blogging. You know, the only people that understand about blogging absences are people that blog themselves. Just sayin.

We have moved in and are somewhat settled. We still have quite a bit left at the old house which I hope to get before the snow falls. We also have to get the basement in some sort of order before we can move that stuff over so it's a vicious cycle and with three boys and the day-to-day cleaning and laundry I can never get anything done.

On a side note: Is it possible to get disposable clothing? Kinda like paper plates. Just use them once and throw them away? OMG! SO SICK OF DOING LAUNDRY!!!!! I would like to hire someone to do only my laundry (and maybe my dishes). Isn't that called a housekeeper? Or a wife? That's it! I need a wife. Maybe those Mormons know what they're doing!

Anyway, I'll try to get some pics. on here. You won't believe how big Ben is getting. Slow down, boy. Slow down!

Jack started school the first of the month and he is doing great. He rides the bus to and from school with no problems. His first day he got on the bus, no crying or fighting and didn't even look back to wave. :( Just one step closer to me being obsolete.

Alex has started using the potty and is in undies full-time now. Just a few accidents here and there, but that's to be expected. I think this move has motivated both boys to "grow up" a little.
We're sooooo excited to not be buying diapers for him anymore. He was outgrowing them anyway. We were close to shopping in the Depends isle!

The boys have adjusted well to the move and we are all loving the farm life!