August 11th, 2010
Vincent is 10 months and 3 weeks. Today he very unexpectedly took his first steps!! Amazingly Kyle and I were both watching! And even more amazingly, it wasn't just one step but it was four! I had just got finished running and was sitting on the living room floor stretching. Kyle was laying on the floor reading to Isabella (because we have no living room furniture at the moment). Vincent was hanging on to my back, but was wanting to go to his "old man" chair (or the little chair he pushes around while walking). He let go of my back and took 2 steps towards it and then just stopped and looked at me, as if he couldn't believe he was doing it. He was holding his arms out to balance himself and then he took 2 more steps to reach the chair. We both happened to be watching him and it was so perfect! Tomorrow I start back to school officially and I'm so thankful that I got to see his first steps!
Last night was Isabella's Kindergarten registration, in which she got to meet her new teacher and see her classroom. She is very excited but a little nervous! Zachary got to meet his 2nd grade teacher tonight. He also seems very excited to go back to school. He will be making his First reconciliation and First communion this year.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Image Center - Olan Mills Portrait Studios
I took the kids to get their pictures made at Olan Mills last week because we had a free package. The lady had the kids piling up onto each other, which made for lots of photos with goofy faces and Isabella's hair was a wreck by the end. Vincent had some cute individual photos and a couple of the group shots came out OK. I think Penny's did a better job last time. Some of the shots just seemed a little washed out, especially since they were wearing white. Let me know what you think!
Image Center - Olan Mills Portrait Studios
Monday, August 2, 2010
birthday, road trip, kindergarten madness
This is our last official week off as a family for the summer. I start back to school next Monday, then Kyle, and later the kids. Zachary is starting 2nd grade and Isabella is entering Kindergarten. Oh, and she just turned 5! So, we also have a birthday to talk about! It is unbelievable how quickly the time has gone. I can't believe she is starting school! Last week we went to buy school uniforms and it was so strange to see her try on her uniform. There she was standing in her little uniform skirt and I was in shock that it could already be here. It just seems like it can't be. The greatest drawback of being so busy with 3 kids is the fact that the time seems to go by even faster. I can't believe Vincent's 1st birthday is around the corner, that he will be walking soon and is already babbling his first words. The time is just flying by. I wonder what excitement that this year will bring??
Isabella is the most fun when it comes to birthday's. Weeks, if not months before, she begins planning and making lists of things she wants. She talks about new privileges and things she will do when she turns 5. She really gets excited and it's a lot of fun. Zachary shares in her excitement. I think her birthday was more exciting for him than his own..which is coming up soon also. For Isabella's birthday she got a special trip to the zoo and splash park. She also got gifts from her friends and family, including pet shops, books, a new bike, a giant container of cheese balls, a dance leotard and tap shoes, and the movie toy story. Grandma Yochum also took her out to dinner later in the week.
Here are a few pictures of the joyous occasion:
Cheese Ball Heaven!
picnic lunch at the zoo on her birthday
A group photo at the splash park..it's increasingly difficult to take a group photo that turns out good and due to our size we are covering up any monument (or polar bear) that is meant to be in the background! I love the look on Zachary's face. He's got water in the eye.
Last weekend we took a trip to Nashville for a triathlon that I signed up for. We stayed 2 nights and attempted to squeeze in as many kid friendly activities as possible. Due to the scorching 110 degree heat it was difficult to really enjoy ourselves like we would have wanted to. Upon arriving Friday afternoon we took a quick trip to the science center. It had a few really nice exhibits that topped Louisville's. The space exhibit was really nice and they had a few interactive exhibits that the kids enjoyed..ex: lifting a car with a rope, a ball that exhibited Bernoulli's principle. However, their preschool/baby kids zone area was terrible. It was nothing more than a table with a stack of blocks and a train track with no train. Overall I think Louisville's science center was much better. Nashville's zoo was nice, although not as big as Louisvilles and lacking all of the nice water features and playgrounds that we have. Also, thanks to the heat we didn't last long before we were all ready to leave. Opryland was still closed due to flooding and the Nashville Broadway scene was too hot to explore. However, we did have the best Southern cooking food that we've ever experienced at the Loveless Cafe. It's a 30 minute drive outside of Nashville, but well worth it!
That's a giant Jupiter!
Hey, even Conan O'Bryan recommended this place!
This goat head butted Isabella 3 times before she finally got the picture that he didn't want to be brushed. He gave her one more good one on the rump as she got up to leave.
These pictures are from the replica of the Parthenon. It's pretty large. Sorry for the shady picture. It didn't turn out so great. I could photo edit it...but here it is.
This is the Cathedral at Nashville. It was right next to our hotel so we went to mass on Saturday. We walked out of our hotel and a horrible car accident had just happened right at the front steps of the church doors. A SUV had flipped and we thought for sure no one could have survived. Kyle had to take Vincent out of church for the whole service, because he was so amused by the echo his voice made, and was able to see the couple from the overturned SUV walk away from the accident. I guess they were lucky that everyone walking into church was probably saying a prayer for them.
The triathlon was on Sunday. It was a great experience! I overcame my fear of swimming in open water. The swim was in the Cumberland River and swimming across the current was much harder than I expected, but I made it. Overall, we had a lot of fun on the trip. It was a good get-away.
I won my age group and the kids were able to come with me to the podium to get my award!
This photo makes me laugh. Isabella is rolling down a hill outside at the triathlon. They also entertained themselves by collecting water cups. I'm sure Kyle was having lots of fun too. Yes, I'm being sarcastic.
Oh..last thing..I promise! When we got out of the car upon our return from Nashville, Vincent felt warm. I took his temp and it was 101. Thinking maybe it was just the sun on him in the car, I gave him a cool bath but it didn't bring down the temp. I was certain he had picked up some nasty disease from the hotel bathroom, but it turned out he had roseola (a common childhood illness that actually takes 10 days to develop). Drea called it before he broke out into the characteristic spottiness that is a symptom of the disease. I'm not sure where he picked it up since he hasn't been around too many kids. He had 4 days of 102 degree fever..but I guess we can be glad that he got it now, rather than when we'd have to take off from work. That's about all I can think of to write about tonight. Kyle is bugging me to get off the computer so he can watch some Always Sunny. Good night.
Isabella is the most fun when it comes to birthday's. Weeks, if not months before, she begins planning and making lists of things she wants. She talks about new privileges and things she will do when she turns 5. She really gets excited and it's a lot of fun. Zachary shares in her excitement. I think her birthday was more exciting for him than his own..which is coming up soon also. For Isabella's birthday she got a special trip to the zoo and splash park. She also got gifts from her friends and family, including pet shops, books, a new bike, a giant container of cheese balls, a dance leotard and tap shoes, and the movie toy story. Grandma Yochum also took her out to dinner later in the week.
Here are a few pictures of the joyous occasion:
Last weekend we took a trip to Nashville for a triathlon that I signed up for. We stayed 2 nights and attempted to squeeze in as many kid friendly activities as possible. Due to the scorching 110 degree heat it was difficult to really enjoy ourselves like we would have wanted to. Upon arriving Friday afternoon we took a quick trip to the science center. It had a few really nice exhibits that topped Louisville's. The space exhibit was really nice and they had a few interactive exhibits that the kids enjoyed..ex: lifting a car with a rope, a ball that exhibited Bernoulli's principle. However, their preschool/baby kids zone area was terrible. It was nothing more than a table with a stack of blocks and a train track with no train. Overall I think Louisville's science center was much better. Nashville's zoo was nice, although not as big as Louisvilles and lacking all of the nice water features and playgrounds that we have. Also, thanks to the heat we didn't last long before we were all ready to leave. Opryland was still closed due to flooding and the Nashville Broadway scene was too hot to explore. However, we did have the best Southern cooking food that we've ever experienced at the Loveless Cafe. It's a 30 minute drive outside of Nashville, but well worth it!
This goat head butted Isabella 3 times before she finally got the picture that he didn't want to be brushed. He gave her one more good one on the rump as she got up to leave.
This is the Cathedral at Nashville. It was right next to our hotel so we went to mass on Saturday. We walked out of our hotel and a horrible car accident had just happened right at the front steps of the church doors. A SUV had flipped and we thought for sure no one could have survived. Kyle had to take Vincent out of church for the whole service, because he was so amused by the echo his voice made, and was able to see the couple from the overturned SUV walk away from the accident. I guess they were lucky that everyone walking into church was probably saying a prayer for them.
The triathlon was on Sunday. It was a great experience! I overcame my fear of swimming in open water. The swim was in the Cumberland River and swimming across the current was much harder than I expected, but I made it. Overall, we had a lot of fun on the trip. It was a good get-away.
Oh..last thing..I promise! When we got out of the car upon our return from Nashville, Vincent felt warm. I took his temp and it was 101. Thinking maybe it was just the sun on him in the car, I gave him a cool bath but it didn't bring down the temp. I was certain he had picked up some nasty disease from the hotel bathroom, but it turned out he had roseola (a common childhood illness that actually takes 10 days to develop). Drea called it before he broke out into the characteristic spottiness that is a symptom of the disease. I'm not sure where he picked it up since he hasn't been around too many kids. He had 4 days of 102 degree fever..but I guess we can be glad that he got it now, rather than when we'd have to take off from work. That's about all I can think of to write about tonight. Kyle is bugging me to get off the computer so he can watch some Always Sunny. Good night.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Old Man Baby Inspiration
Laughing at the nickname Old Man Baby, inspired us to make a list of all the nicknames we had given Vincent since he was born. We got out a piece of paper and began writing them down as we could remember. Here's the list so far:
- The Pooh (Zachary's favorite)
- Butter Man (not sure why I call him that one but it's my favorite)
- Little Man-yon
- Vinnie Barbarino
- Bubbsey
- Old Man Baby (Isabella's favorite)
- Tunza (Kyle's favorite)
- Mess Master (usually said when Vincent is doing his favorite activity of scattering toys)
- Vin or Vin Vin
- laping baby (i'm not sure about this one..it was added in black magic marker by Zachary and I'm not exactly sure what it says or what it means.)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Old Man Baby
Vincent has a long list of nicknames, but his latest one was thought of by Isabella..."Old Man Baby". You can hear Zachary in the background shouting out his other most famous nickname.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Camping at the Smokies
Last week was our first camping trip with 3 children. It wasn't really as challenging as you might think. We visited the Great Smoky Mountains (a 6 hour drive) and stayed at Elkmont camp ground for 2 nights. We all had a lot of fun!! A few months ago this trip may have been a lot easier, but because we have a crawler things were much more difficult. Vincent is an explorer and can't be stopped. If there is dirt/gravel he is in it. Therefore, the nice neat picnic blanket that I laid on the ground at our campsite was worthless. He was off that thing in about 2 seconds and was scooping up piles of dirt, dropping it on his head and smiling with a mouth full of gravel.
We only managed to get in one hike, but that was enough. We did a 2 mile hike to the top of Clingman's dome, which we learned is the 3rd highest point in the Eastern U.S. It felt nice and cool up there. The kids got a bit scared near the top and we couldn't coax them to the top of the tower. (And just last summer they were jumping around in a glass box on the top of the Sears Tower/Willis Tower.)
(Look closely and you can see Kyle and Vincent at the top waving!)
The highlight of the trip was playing in the frigid mountain waters of the Little River. It is ice cold, but once your legs go numb it feels great! The kids had a lot of fun splashing, rock jumping, and wading in the river. We searched for fish, water striders, and butterflies. We saw lots of interesting plants, caterpillars, and even some fluorescent orange fungi. Kyle prefers sleeping in a hotel to camping..and sometimes I do too. But I don't think that there is a better way to teach kids an appreciation for nature than being out there in it. I envision some day taking the kids backpacking, like I saw a young family doing out in Yellowstone one year. I'd love to visit all of the National Parks, but right now I'm ok with the ones within a short drive. Ironically, we haven't even been to Mammoth Cave, which is the closet park. I'd like to go there in the fall, if Kyle's cross country schedule permits.
Above: Vincent is trying to dive in.
Kyle is showing the kids where not to go!
Zach is looking cool!
Vincent is looking like Dad!
Sneaking off the blanket with a hand full of dirt!
Strapped Down!
Strapped Down AGAIN!
Playing in the tent.
Eating Oatmeal for Breakfast!
We saw 50 or more butterflies on the beach on the last day. I had lots of fun experimenting with my camera. On the way home Zachary picked to eat at Golden Corral (his favorite restaurant) which wasn't as bad as I remembered. Then we visited the outlet malls, which was disappointing, and finally made the trek home. Next weekend we are headed to Nashville for the Music City Triathlon, but we'll also be staying there 2 nights to do fun things with the kids. This time we'll be staying in a Hampton! :)
We only managed to get in one hike, but that was enough. We did a 2 mile hike to the top of Clingman's dome, which we learned is the 3rd highest point in the Eastern U.S. It felt nice and cool up there. The kids got a bit scared near the top and we couldn't coax them to the top of the tower. (And just last summer they were jumping around in a glass box on the top of the Sears Tower/Willis Tower.)
The highlight of the trip was playing in the frigid mountain waters of the Little River. It is ice cold, but once your legs go numb it feels great! The kids had a lot of fun splashing, rock jumping, and wading in the river. We searched for fish, water striders, and butterflies. We saw lots of interesting plants, caterpillars, and even some fluorescent orange fungi. Kyle prefers sleeping in a hotel to camping..and sometimes I do too. But I don't think that there is a better way to teach kids an appreciation for nature than being out there in it. I envision some day taking the kids backpacking, like I saw a young family doing out in Yellowstone one year. I'd love to visit all of the National Parks, but right now I'm ok with the ones within a short drive. Ironically, we haven't even been to Mammoth Cave, which is the closet park. I'd like to go there in the fall, if Kyle's cross country schedule permits.
Above: Vincent is trying to dive in.
Kyle is showing the kids where not to go!
Butterflies sunning themselves on the Beach.
We saw 50 or more butterflies on the beach on the last day. I had lots of fun experimenting with my camera. On the way home Zachary picked to eat at Golden Corral (his favorite restaurant) which wasn't as bad as I remembered. Then we visited the outlet malls, which was disappointing, and finally made the trek home. Next weekend we are headed to Nashville for the Music City Triathlon, but we'll also be staying there 2 nights to do fun things with the kids. This time we'll be staying in a Hampton! :)
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
First Words!
First words!
Summer has officially began as well. Tomorrow is the kick off celebration! We are visiting Holiday World. The SSM picnic is this weekend and Kyle will be busy frying fish and chicken. Then this Sunday we will be traveling to Bloomington for my first official triathlon that includes an open water swim! We will be very busy over the next 4 days. I'm already exhausted from getting little sleep, running a lot, and waking up very early. In fact tomorrow I'm getting up at 4:45 to run with our running group. We have a Tuesday/Thursday workout regimen that involves getting up 2 hours before the crack of dawn. Yawn factory!
The kids have been sick, but are getting better. Last week poor Kyle had to drag all three of them to the doctor at once. We had a total of 3 infected ears, 2 cases of bronchitis, and 1 case of sinitius resulting in a terrible cough. Now Vincent has passed along his pink eye like symptoms to me. My eye isn't itchy but it is red and sticky. Yuck! We were wondering why he's been grumpy on top of all this sickness. Then today we saw tooth number 3 poking through. Right next to his other 2 bottom teeth. So now he has 3 bottom teeth and I can only assume that a 4th will come in very soon.
Isabella has started ballet and is really enjoying it. I bought her the wrong kind of shoes. Apparently pink house slipppers aren't good ballet shoes...that's what her ballet teacher called the shoes I bought. But I am blaming target for calling them ballet shoes and putting them with the leotards. So now I have to go out and find some "real" ones.
The kids are getting into summer habits. They are continuing to do "homework", Zachary is playing the piano, they are still doing their responsibility chart. We are going to have to take a lot of trips to the zoo and get them out of the house. They tend to go stir crazy after a while! Thankfully I have made good friends with some of the SSM moms and we'll get our kids together some this summer and out of the house.
Isabella is reading like a 2nd grader. I can't believe it! I thought Zachary was a good reader, but I don't think he read this well at age 4! It's incredible. But she owes a lot to her brother who teaches her everything..and she absorbs it like a sponge! We are so lucky to have kids who enjoy reading. Although, Vincent enjoys eating books..he's not much into reading them!
Holiday World stories will follow soon. Let's hope the kids are brave and don't cause Kyle to have a meltdown! We've got lots of disastrous KY Kingdom stories which involved tears over refusal to ride the merry go round and the slow poke cars. Did I mention those tears belonged to Kyle?
I hope to have good things to report tomorrow. Kyle is holding Disney World over their heads. Holiday World is prep for the Magic Kingdom...which still probably won't happen till they are in their twenties.
I'm up way past my Wednesday night bedtime. I'll add pictures later. Pictures help me remember the other things we've done throughout the week. It will be a summer of fun!
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