ABC Tag. Just for fun. I love reading other peoples tags so now you can read mine.
A - Attached or Single: Attached
B - Best Friend(s): Lives with me
C - Cake or Pie: Cake with ice cream please
D - Day of Choice: Do I get a choice?
E - Essential Item: lately... Puffs plus with lotion
F - Favorite Color(s): almost any shade of Green
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: I like to suck on the worms
H - Hometown: Woods Cross
I - Indulgence(s): Naptime!!! (the kids', not mine) and as of two days ago Starbucks Double Delish hot chocolate!! Wow, that's chocolate!
J - January or July: July... Popsicles and sandals! Sorry to all those who were born in January.
K - Kids: 4 in 16 months... nuff said.
L - Life is incomplete without: Spooning, hope that's not TMI
M - Marriage Date: October 5, 2000
N - Number of Siblings: 3... I miss you.
O - Oranges or Apples: Sunkist and Fuji, but nothing beats fresh from the mill cider!! Michigan definitely has that going for it!
P- Phobias or Fears: spiders, and colicky babies
Q - Quote: Yes, they are all mine!
R- Ring size: Can't remember back that far.
S - Season: Spring, Summer, and Fall.
T- Tag 3 Friends: Anyone who feels like being my friend.
U - Unknown fact about me: I hate this question and I get to skip it. If a fact is still unknown, it's probably for good reason.
V - Very favorite stores: Children's Place
W - Worst Habit: guilt
X-ray or Ultrasound: I'm an RT so X-rays all the way, but I really like CT scans
Y - Your Favorite Food(s): Mexican, Indian, Thai...mmmmm
Z- Zodiac: Taurus
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
More Catching Up
I have several more photos and a few videos to catch you back up to the present.
After the boys were born we were really fortunate that Ellie did not learn how to climb out of her crib for some time. Finally, last December, Ellie realized climbing out was a pretty easy task, and having a free-roaming two-year-old in our house added an entirely new dimension to our family. Here is a video taken the day Ellie learned to climb out:
Room for everyone!
For a while the boys' hair grew very slowly, but by the time the boys were 16 months old they were looking pretty shaggy. While mom and Ellie were away, dad got out the clippers and went to it. Surprise mom! We had a haircut party!
We had a great Christmas morning. The clear winner with Ellie was her new princess attire, which has been a defining component of her life ever since. Ellie found some cylindrical cardboard packaging from another present that worked perfectly as a crown, and she is still using that cardboard crown.
The surprise favorite for the boys was Ellie's new doll cradle:
Here is a photo of our courtyard on New Year's Day.
During the previous winter (2006-2007) the boys were constantly sick. Colds turned into bigger respiratory problems and sometimes into ER visits. At times two or three of them needed breathing treatments several times each day and a few times during the night. They didn't really get better until the middle of March. This winter has been comparatively better; they were sick for most of January, but had several healthy periods afterwards. Here is a photo of dad giving Brian a breathing treatment in January of this year:
All the kids having their drinks in Ellie's bed:
All four kids fully engaged in front of a movie:
At the end of January Ellie went on an all-day date with dad to the Detroit auto show, including lunch at Xochimilco in Detroit's Mexican town. Here are some photos of Ellie posing at the auto show:
During the middle of the winter and at the height of cabin fever, a few very generous friends provided babysitting so that mom and dad could escape to someplace warm for a weekend. Here is a photo from our trip:
And this is one of the first sights that greeted us when we returned to the Detroit airport:
This catches us up to the beginning of March. Natalie will probably want to write about some of the more recent events, like her mom's visit over Easter, Ellie's adventure with green markers, and Ellie's birthday.
After the boys were born we were really fortunate that Ellie did not learn how to climb out of her crib for some time. Finally, last December, Ellie realized climbing out was a pretty easy task, and having a free-roaming two-year-old in our house added an entirely new dimension to our family. Here is a video taken the day Ellie learned to climb out:
Room for everyone!
For a while the boys' hair grew very slowly, but by the time the boys were 16 months old they were looking pretty shaggy. While mom and Ellie were away, dad got out the clippers and went to it. Surprise mom! We had a haircut party!
We had a great Christmas morning. The clear winner with Ellie was her new princess attire, which has been a defining component of her life ever since. Ellie found some cylindrical cardboard packaging from another present that worked perfectly as a crown, and she is still using that cardboard crown.
The surprise favorite for the boys was Ellie's new doll cradle:
Here is a photo of our courtyard on New Year's Day.
During the previous winter (2006-2007) the boys were constantly sick. Colds turned into bigger respiratory problems and sometimes into ER visits. At times two or three of them needed breathing treatments several times each day and a few times during the night. They didn't really get better until the middle of March. This winter has been comparatively better; they were sick for most of January, but had several healthy periods afterwards. Here is a photo of dad giving Brian a breathing treatment in January of this year:
All the kids having their drinks in Ellie's bed:
All four kids fully engaged in front of a movie:
At the end of January Ellie went on an all-day date with dad to the Detroit auto show, including lunch at Xochimilco in Detroit's Mexican town. Here are some photos of Ellie posing at the auto show:
During the middle of the winter and at the height of cabin fever, a few very generous friends provided babysitting so that mom and dad could escape to someplace warm for a weekend. Here is a photo from our trip:
And this is one of the first sights that greeted us when we returned to the Detroit airport:
This catches us up to the beginning of March. Natalie will probably want to write about some of the more recent events, like her mom's visit over Easter, Ellie's adventure with green markers, and Ellie's birthday.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Finally Some Photos
I've finally pulled out a few photos from the past several months to share, and plan to post them a few at a time. They might be in a somewhat random order. The first is from Halloween. Here we are out trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. Ellie is Princess Fiona, and the boys are the Shrek Triplets.
Here is Michael celebrating his loot.
Here are the kids playing in the fall leaves.
This is what happens when you let a two-year-old dress herself.
It's surprising what toys become the favorites sometimes.
Here is Ellie mastering the rings.
Time for Jonathan to get a haircut.
We never know what we'll find in the morning. Here is Brian just after waking up.
At the beginning of December we took the whole family to a Christmas party for parents of higher-order multiples. Here is a photo of our family there.
No one was quite sure what to think of Santa.
On December 13th I passed my final dissertation defense. Three other Ph.D. students in my research group passed their defenses as well. This all happened within a three week period. The day after my defense we had a party for all the graduates. In the photo below you can see my advisor at the right, the four Ph.D. graduates to the left of him, and then an MS graduate and another professor. The graduates all received 'surprise' graduation presents from my advisor.
I'm still in the middle of a job search. I have several prospects, but no offers yet. Possible destinations so far include California, Arizona, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.
Here is Michael celebrating his loot.
Here are the kids playing in the fall leaves.
This is what happens when you let a two-year-old dress herself.
It's surprising what toys become the favorites sometimes.
Here is Ellie mastering the rings.
Time for Jonathan to get a haircut.
We never know what we'll find in the morning. Here is Brian just after waking up.
At the beginning of December we took the whole family to a Christmas party for parents of higher-order multiples. Here is a photo of our family there.
No one was quite sure what to think of Santa.
On December 13th I passed my final dissertation defense. Three other Ph.D. students in my research group passed their defenses as well. This all happened within a three week period. The day after my defense we had a party for all the graduates. In the photo below you can see my advisor at the right, the four Ph.D. graduates to the left of him, and then an MS graduate and another professor. The graduates all received 'surprise' graduation presents from my advisor.
I'm still in the middle of a job search. I have several prospects, but no offers yet. Possible destinations so far include California, Arizona, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
I'm Baaaaaaack!
So when I started this blog Ellie was still napping and I actually got a break during the day to do what I needed to do without kids. Now, it has been so long since she has even taken one nap, I don't remember what it is like. By the time they are all in bed for the evening and the house is restored to semi-cleanliness, and I have given James some attention, I am exhausted. Blogging is something I can always put below the really important things on my to-do list, but there is always something at the top and it is never updating this blog.
I have come to find out that this blog is linked on many, other blogs. I am amazed at how that happens when I really only told two other people about it besides my mom. I guess I should be flattered that you want to link to our blog, but I am pretty embarrassed by the fact that everyone checking this has read the same Poopy Day title for over two months. So I am finally updating this thing.
Where to start... I could write for three days and not tell it all. I guess I will pick a couple favorites and save the rest for another day.
Ellie loves to pretend. I love to wake up each day and wonder who Ellie will decide to be today. It might be Fiona (from Shrek), Ariel (Little Mermaid), Cinderella, Snow White (thanks to Grandma E), Boo (Mosters Inc.), Sleeping Beauty or Super Mom a.k.a. Elastagirl (from Incredibles-currently her favorite.) The best part is that I get to play opposite her. Shrek, Eric, Prince Charming, Sully, or my favorite, Super Dad! The other day she was in the bathroom while we were getting the boys ready for bed. She is potty trained and can go by herself, so the once off-limits bathroom is now fair game. I walked in to find her face around her mouth covered in red. I at first thought lipstick, but I don't own red lipstick, or bathtub crayon. On closer inspection I find it is blood and lots of it. I start cleaning her up and try to stay calm. She isn't screaming or scared yet and I don't want to upset her. I finally put two and two together when I see the parrallel cuts on her cheeks and both lips. She found dad's razor in the mirror cabinet and decided to shave her face just like Fiona does in the second Shrek movie. I guess the first and second cuts didn't hurt so she kept going. We finally got the bleeding stopped enough to put on band-aids and make her promise never to shave her face again.
Michael helped me make the decision about when to take the boys to the dentist last week. As he was climbing up the stairs from the basement Friday, he looked down and moved up at the same time and caught his bottom teeth on the wooden stair. He has a funny tooth on the bottom anyway, but now it is chipped too. He sheered off the front of his right lateral (for all my dental friends). I called the dentist and they thought it would be good to check it out before the weekend, just to make sure. So we went on our first trip to the dentis that afternoon, me and all four kids. What an adventure. It actually went really well. The office had a big waiting room with lots of toys so the kids thought it was great. When I took Michael back, one of the hygenists even offered to watch the other three so I could listen to the dentist explain everything. M had an x-ray and the dentist checked out his teeth. She really knew how to work with kids and M did really well. The chip was superficial enough that we don't need to do anything about it. Just watch it. Luckily it is a baby tooth and he will get a new one in a few years. Unfortunately, our dental insurance kicked in today so we got to foot the bill for that trip. I also made appointments for the other three in a month so we can all go back again! Two more things about M. He thinks anytime James or I are lying on the floor it is time to climb 0n top of us. He get a big grin and just runs at you. He also doesn't like bubble baths. We tried it the other night with all four kids and all he kept saying was bubble, bubble, bubble with a worried look on his face. He's so funny.
I only have time to write something short about J and B. Jonathan loves to wear this little navy knit hat that used to be Ellie's. He also loves E's sunglasses and almost anything of hers including necklaces, her backpack, and princess shoes. It is cute to see how much he loves her. I think they kind of have a little bond. They look very much alike and M and B look like each other. I have two of each. Jonathan will find something of E's and go running after her calling Eddy, Eddy, Eddy and get so excited to give her her stuff. It is really cute.
Brian has the best eyebrow expressions. He can go from mad to sly to smiling with the slightest change in eyebrows. I love to catch him in a grumpy expression and do it back to him and see how long it takes to get him to smile. He is so cute. He also needs a little beeper installed like dump trucks have when they shift into reverse. He loves to stand in front of me and back up to sit in my lap. Sometimes I try to back up a little while he is to see if he is watching where he is backing.
Today is April fools and I wish I were as good as my dad at pulling pranks. The one time I actually pulled a prank on my dad he got it to backfire on me. I won't go there again. I would love to post a pic of an old ultrasound and announce we were expecting or something, but with my luck it would jinx me and it would come true. Not something I am up to right now! I will just have to end this post with a Happy Birthday wish to my dad the King of April Fools! I love you.
I have come to find out that this blog is linked on many, other blogs. I am amazed at how that happens when I really only told two other people about it besides my mom. I guess I should be flattered that you want to link to our blog, but I am pretty embarrassed by the fact that everyone checking this has read the same Poopy Day title for over two months. So I am finally updating this thing.
Where to start... I could write for three days and not tell it all. I guess I will pick a couple favorites and save the rest for another day.
Ellie loves to pretend. I love to wake up each day and wonder who Ellie will decide to be today. It might be Fiona (from Shrek), Ariel (Little Mermaid), Cinderella, Snow White (thanks to Grandma E), Boo (Mosters Inc.), Sleeping Beauty or Super Mom a.k.a. Elastagirl (from Incredibles-currently her favorite.) The best part is that I get to play opposite her. Shrek, Eric, Prince Charming, Sully, or my favorite, Super Dad! The other day she was in the bathroom while we were getting the boys ready for bed. She is potty trained and can go by herself, so the once off-limits bathroom is now fair game. I walked in to find her face around her mouth covered in red. I at first thought lipstick, but I don't own red lipstick, or bathtub crayon. On closer inspection I find it is blood and lots of it. I start cleaning her up and try to stay calm. She isn't screaming or scared yet and I don't want to upset her. I finally put two and two together when I see the parrallel cuts on her cheeks and both lips. She found dad's razor in the mirror cabinet and decided to shave her face just like Fiona does in the second Shrek movie. I guess the first and second cuts didn't hurt so she kept going. We finally got the bleeding stopped enough to put on band-aids and make her promise never to shave her face again.
Michael helped me make the decision about when to take the boys to the dentist last week. As he was climbing up the stairs from the basement Friday, he looked down and moved up at the same time and caught his bottom teeth on the wooden stair. He has a funny tooth on the bottom anyway, but now it is chipped too. He sheered off the front of his right lateral (for all my dental friends). I called the dentist and they thought it would be good to check it out before the weekend, just to make sure. So we went on our first trip to the dentis that afternoon, me and all four kids. What an adventure. It actually went really well. The office had a big waiting room with lots of toys so the kids thought it was great. When I took Michael back, one of the hygenists even offered to watch the other three so I could listen to the dentist explain everything. M had an x-ray and the dentist checked out his teeth. She really knew how to work with kids and M did really well. The chip was superficial enough that we don't need to do anything about it. Just watch it. Luckily it is a baby tooth and he will get a new one in a few years. Unfortunately, our dental insurance kicked in today so we got to foot the bill for that trip. I also made appointments for the other three in a month so we can all go back again! Two more things about M. He thinks anytime James or I are lying on the floor it is time to climb 0n top of us. He get a big grin and just runs at you. He also doesn't like bubble baths. We tried it the other night with all four kids and all he kept saying was bubble, bubble, bubble with a worried look on his face. He's so funny.
I only have time to write something short about J and B. Jonathan loves to wear this little navy knit hat that used to be Ellie's. He also loves E's sunglasses and almost anything of hers including necklaces, her backpack, and princess shoes. It is cute to see how much he loves her. I think they kind of have a little bond. They look very much alike and M and B look like each other. I have two of each. Jonathan will find something of E's and go running after her calling Eddy, Eddy, Eddy and get so excited to give her her stuff. It is really cute.
Brian has the best eyebrow expressions. He can go from mad to sly to smiling with the slightest change in eyebrows. I love to catch him in a grumpy expression and do it back to him and see how long it takes to get him to smile. He is so cute. He also needs a little beeper installed like dump trucks have when they shift into reverse. He loves to stand in front of me and back up to sit in my lap. Sometimes I try to back up a little while he is to see if he is watching where he is backing.
Today is April fools and I wish I were as good as my dad at pulling pranks. The one time I actually pulled a prank on my dad he got it to backfire on me. I won't go there again. I would love to post a pic of an old ultrasound and announce we were expecting or something, but with my luck it would jinx me and it would come true. Not something I am up to right now! I will just have to end this post with a Happy Birthday wish to my dad the King of April Fools! I love you.
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