These kids

They drive me absolutely crazy! Crazy I tell you. They have forgotten (or never learned) how to listen. What is going on?

I love them though.

I love them so much I am willing to overlook this flaw.

New Camera

Eden went to the dentist today. He laughed while talking about her teeth. Laughing because she is about 1-2 years ahead of her age. Her front teeth are already loose. She has three permanent teeth in. He has her scheduled for braces in a few years. He explained she'll probably need two rounds of braces. Oh joy.

I've been saving all my pennies from working at the YMCA. This week I got a camera. Hooray.

Have you ever been so busy...

that you lay around all day doing nothing?

The irony of it. You feel like you are pedaling backwards. Each day your to-do list grows larger? You loose sleep, so your judgment is cloudy.

A few highlights from the month.

Kanien, Heather & I have been training for a half marathon. June 4. 2011 we ran the Sunburst Half Marathon in South Bend, IN. 3 moms + 3 dads+ 10 kids= 1 great memory.

Girls camp. Kanien & I had a blast. It was hot!

20 months

Ruthie is growing so fast. Stop please. Everyday she seems to say a new word. Yesterday she said 'bubble'. She recently has been obsessed with baby dolls. I have been waiting for her to enter this phase. She will carry a baby around, wrap her up and say shhhh. She has entered the pre- 2 year old phase...grabbing and saying 'mine' to everything.

She knows her place. If someone sits in her chair or drinks from her sippy she throws a fit. Eden & David like to sit in her booster seat for fun. They think it is funny when Ruthie screams and pulls them out of the chair.


She talks (aka blabbers) like Boo from Monsters inc.

Eden's dance recital

Indy 500 qualifying

This year is the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. David and Paul went with their friends to qualifying and had a great time!

Paul and David having fun at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Indy cars in Gasoline Alley

David's totally into it.

Logan & David listening to the speedway radio and the pits.

"They're too loud!"

David loved the helicopters.

Apache machine gun

The Allens should know what this is.

T-Ball

David & Eden had their last t-ball game today. T-ball wasn't very popular with the kids. Most the time they cried when someone else got the ball, or when they didn't get to play pitcher. Eden attached herself to my leg. I had to run the bases with her. The only reason they ever finished the game was to get the treat at the end. It was an interesting experience. Trying to get young kids to play team sports was chaotic.
Did I mention that Paul & I coached the team? Cute kids. It was not a good idea to sign Paul up for something during finals though. I ended up coaching most of the practices and games. Ruth would run wild or cry on my leg. David would run away when he didn't get the ball. Eden would cry and start acting like a baby. It was a circus. The parents were amazing. They helped out so much.

GO TIGERS

Mother's Day

Today was a great day. Beautiful weather. I took the kids for a walk this afternoon while Paul cooked dinner. Several random strangers wished me a happy mother's day. Love was in the air. Everyone was outside. Everyone was pleasing their mothers by getting along and being together. This year was particularly special for me because...
Paul officially completed his first year of PhD course work yesterday. There were times he honestly didn't think he would make it through the year. I have never seen him work so hard. He rode the bus everyday and worked long hours. He persevered and feels good about the next 4 years.

Hooray Dad!

Ruthie said "mine" today. That is when I truly realized my baby is in nursery.

David was so excited to go up on stage and sing with the primary children. He waved and smiled at ME the whole time. At the end when the kids sang, I love you. He pointed his finger right at Me. It was the most touching moment of my day.

19 months

Chubby little fingers playing peek-a-poo

Easter 2011

Easter clothes were low key this year. David in his same-old-same-old every Sunday attire. Eden scored this cute dress at a clothing swap we had at mutual. Ruthie also scored this adorable dress from her favorite friend Claire. When Gigi came in town (which I haven't even posted about) she bought the girls matching sandals and Eden's white shrug.

There you go. Easter outfits! I think I wore a black baggie dress because I was feeling fat from all the Easter candy. It was a great day. The kids left their decorated eggs on the front porch for the Easter bunny to hide. In the middle of the night, David went outside and moved the egg carton to the first step so the Easter bunny "can see them".

The life of Ruth

Ruth finds a sucker. She tries eating it.Realizing it must be opened she gives it to 'EE'.

Ruth enjoys the sucker.

Ruth shows her sucker to Daddy & David.

Yesterday morning I found Ruth in her crib eating an ice cream cone! At 8:00am in the morning. When I questioned Eden she said, "she wanted one'.

Ruth is a parrot. She repeats words and loves the attention we give her. This is what I heard in the car the other day.

Eden: "Ruthie, say baby."
Ruth: Ba
Eden: "Ruthie, say bird."
Ruth: Ba
David: "Ruth, say burp."
Ruth: Burrrrp

I guess we'll see what kind of a child my children raise :).

St. Patty's Day

Green dinner.
Ruthie's expression is awesome.
(note to self: next year prepare food that is already green...you will get better results)The weekend before we went to Chicago for the Saint Patrick's Day parade. The Miskin family joined us. It was cold. There were A LOT of people. There was A LOT of green.

It was fun. However the parade was a disappointment. Where were the floats? A bunch of people walking along a semi-truck with a signed taped on is NOT a float.

Paul said it was classic "Irish" production. Whatever that means. David was so cold he sat in Ruthie's stroller the whole time. Eden collected as many coupons and candy as she could. Ruth waddled around while people kept tripping over her.

Later that afternoon we enjoyed true deep dish Chicago pizza at Giordanos. It was heavy.

Engaged 2005

You know when you are engaged and you stay up WAY too late together because you don’t want to say goodbye. Then you get up early and hurry through your day so you can be with them again? I found this picture. It made me laugh. We are tired with messy make-out hair.

Happy 6^th wedding anniversary Paul.

We totally look the same…tired and I always have messy make-out hair (minus the make-out).

Our kids are so excited to have a sleepover with the Wallins so we can go on a late date. We are so excited to sleep in on Saturday.

Church play

17 months

Look at those big teeth!