Party of Five

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Hillbilly Milli

Myles Man (whom Phil affectionately nicknamed Milli...sometimes Milli Vanilli...neither of which I'm crazy about...but that's not the point)
is right on the heels of

walking, turning ONE, and finally popping his second top tooth.

For the past month, he has looked like a hillbilly with his one top tooth.

Onlookers love to comment on his happy face and goofy grin.

I truly can't believe that my baby is almost one.

The next two pictures were taken exactly a year ago today.

Having three children deserves a post all by itself.

For now, I will simply sum it up by saying that we are blessed and happy.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Playhouse, Castle, Fort?!

Phil's dream came true this summer.

He built a fort for the kids...but kind of for himself too.

We came home from Michigan to find this fort/castle/playhouse in our backyard. The kids were elated, and it has already provided hours of play and entertainment.

View from inside.

Phil has explained that this is just "Phase One," and there's a lot more that needs to happen before it's finished.

Every fort needs a mailbox, right?!

View from the playhouse's porch.

The castle is big enough to fit a queen-size blowup mattress, so this will be the new location for "camp outs" in our backyard.

Yes, it is dangerously close to the pool. Anyone care to wager a bet on how long it takes one of our children to jump from the porch into the pool? Phil told me that he would have done it immediately when he was a kid, and those genes run strong.

Past Projects of my Handy-Man Husband:

Bathroom Project of 2013

Bedroom and Bathroom Painting in 2012

New AC and walls in rental house in 2011

Landscaping in 2011
Clare's Room in 2010

Inside Painting in 2009

Office in 2008

Dining Nook in 2008

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

First Day of School - 2014

Today was a big day!!!

Not only did our little ones start school, but Mama Bear managed to wrangle all three through the morning routine and make it out the door on time. Miracles do exist, folks. Today was living proof!

Clare, who turned 6 last week, started Kindergarten today. Her school day is from 8:00 to 2:15. She has 13 kids in her class. She LOVED everything about the first day except for being woken up early this morning.
These were (VERBATIM) her remarks upon entering the car after school:

- "It was an awesome day.
I thought we were going to have lots of work, but we only had four works.

- "They gave us waffles at lunch.
They were leftover from breakfast, and they gave them to us for free."

- "I saw three kids I know. I don't know their names, but I know them."

Isaac, who has watched Clare go to First United Methodist for the past few years, finally got to call it "Isaac's school" instead of "Clare's school." He has been excited all summer. He's carried his empty dinosaur lunch box around for days in hopes that it would finally be time for school. Today was his day. His school day is 9:00 to 12:30, and he has 12 kids in his class. He will go three days a week.

These were (VERBATIM) his remarks upon entering the car after school:

- "I ate all of my cheese stick but not the whole thing."

- "You were gone a long time."

- "I was so, so sweaty at recess."

"I missed you Mommy."

This little peanut was in the car far too much today. I had great hopes that he would take a solid morning nap in his crib, but he fell asleep in the car before we got home. That officially ruined any chance for a real nap. I turned my hopes towards a redemptive afternoon nap, but he fell asleep while we were in the insanely long car line to pick up Clare. Kiss the afternoon nap bye bye. He is hanging on by a thread until bedtime, but I'm going to have to work on a new plan for getting him through the day.
My sweet, resilient, third-born child.

Day 1 was a SUCCESS!

Here's to a great school year.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

10-Month Magnificent Myles

Oh, sweet, sweet Myles.

You are 10 months old TODAY!

TODAY!

I emphasize TODAY because I am actually posting something on time...

for YOU...my sweet, third child.

Granted, 10-months isn't remarkably notable. I missed the 9-month post...where I wanted to record how I couldn't believe that you had been with us OUTSIDE the womb as long as you had been inside the womb. I don't even have your 9-month stats because we were in Michigan for an entire month, and you won't have your 9-month well-visit until this Friday...at 10-months and 3 days.

In the past month, you have evolved from our little baby to our crawling, standing, jabbering, giggling, and eating machine. You started crawling two days after we arrived in Michigan, and you haven't slowed down since then. You follow noise and movement throughout the house. Whenever you're out of sight, we know that we can find you hiding in any corner that contains shoes, cords, or outlets. I won't tell the story about finding you in the bathroom with one arm ready to explore the treasure that your brother left behind in the toilet.

As a third child, you are innately equipped to fall asleep on the spot. Daddy and Mema (the two founders of the "Third Born Club") say that this will be a blessing and a curse throughout your life.

Papa, who totes you all over the place, considers it only a blessing when you fall asleep on his shoulder.

Case in point...
December 2013

March 2014

April 2014

Mema has a way of making you giggle and squeal with delight. She is stocked with all sorts of rhymes, riddles, songs, poems, and sound effects. You are a fan!

Daddy, however, seems to grab your attention unlike anyone else. You sense his presence in a room. You know his voice. You reach out for him. You are his "Little Buddy."

You fly "Myles High"...

and you actually like it now. :)

I could go on and on about how you have two bottom teeth, and how they caused you great discomfort and anguish. I could highlight all of your favorite foods (banana, avocado, pizza crust, and really everything except for cantaloupe which causes extreme gas) and mention that you now prefer feeding yourself to being fed. I could even record your propensity for banging your head on the same spot (by falling and bumping into things)...thus expanding the bruise on your poor little forehead.

BUT...all I really wanted to let you know is that you have captured my heart. I love you, Myles. You are my cuddle bug, and I can't imagine our family without you.

Happy 10-months, Little Man!

Friday, July 4, 2014

May in Michigan

It's already JULY, and I'm just getting around to posting about May. Strangely enough, it is the 4th of July...and this is the quietest our schedule has been in the last month. Phil is home, the kids are swimming in the pool, Myles is napping, and I am sitting down in what feels like eerie silence.

Back to May...and our fantastic two week trip to Michigan.

The kids traveled superbly, and we arrived in Michigan completely under-dressed.

Our Florida blood was not prepared for the 40's and 50's that we experienced our first few days back in The Mitten.

The kids didn't seem to mind.

They were just happy to be outside...and with all the grandparents.

We spent Memorial Weekend in northern Michigan. Phil ran a marathon (his second ever) in Traverse City, and we spent the night at Great Wolf Lodge.

The kids had a BLAST in the water park, and we enjoyed our mini-vacation within a vacation.

Phil prepared for the marathon by following the "John Durham Training Plan." I kid you not when I say that he consumed three donuts and a piece of apple pie as part of his carb-loading.

This donut "had" to be consumed because it was "the biggest long john ever seen."

The pie was "homemade in Traverse City"...another no-brainer, right?!

All the carbs paid off because he ran an outstanding race. He finished the marathon in 3:19:15. Not only was that a huge PR (30 minutes faster than his first marathon), but his overall pace was 7:36 per mile...for 26.2 miles. That is outstanding, and I was extremely proud of him.

It was a chilly morning for race day, but that was perfect for running. It was roughly 40 degrees COOLER than the weather he trained in, so that may have contributed to his overall success.

Papa with Myles...waiting to see Daddy.

Phil's fans!

Another highlight of the day was that Phil shared the marathon experience with his oldest brother, Brian. It was a great accomplishment for both of them.

The kids played hard...

...and crashed hard.

We spent a few days up at the Hillary family cottage in Glennie, Michigan. Uncle Phil gave the kids tips on how to find morel mushrooms. Unfortunately, everyone ended up with ticks rather than morels.