To the man of my dreams on the day after his birthday (close enough)

My handsome Husband on his 37th birthday

"OUR" Adam turned 37 yesterday.  He used to be "My" Adam... but not anymore.  Nona tries to claim that he is only "HER" daddy... it really digs under Jack's skin when she refuses to admit that Adam is also HIS daddy.  I know she knows that, but boy she likes to make her brother squirm.

A healthy game of UNO!

In the past Adam's birthdays have always been about Ice Cream cake, weekends at the lake, and outdoor fun.  This year... Adam's birthday was about an angry bird chocolate cake and watching Jack open all the presents.  Nona kept interjecting "that one is for Daddy" - when in reality there weren't any presents for Adam. Our 3 year old could see the clear injustice that was taking place. Guess that's the truth about getting older around here!  He did get to spend the entire morning golfing with his Dad and brother though.  I spent the day chasing after the kids, cleaning, grocery shopping, and preparing for our evening guests.  I'm not sure I really saw much of Adam on his birthday.  So in retrospect, I felt that Adam deserved a few kind words in honor of his birthday:

The engineer on the evening train

the partially smashed angry bird/golfing b-day cake

Dear Adam-

Our first weeknight evening together in YEARS. Adam thought he
would cook a nice meal and the children would magically eat it. HA!

 We love you. We love your playfulness. We love your seriousness. We're thankful for your sacrifice of working overnight to spend more time with us. We love that you are the ultimate 'handy-man'.  You fix all our problems- from changing light bulbs and batteries, opening those darn lids that are always on too tight, fixing bikes, fixing cars, soothing those 'owies' and calming those tantrums, tiling floors, refurbishing fireplaces, cooking dinners, installing car-seats, and building tables from scratch. You're the reason I never have to worry about things around the house.  You're smarter than the average Joe, you're more creative and crafty than my searches on Pinterest.  You're kind to every stranger, and you love every soul you meet.  You care about every story you read (and you try SO hard to make me care too).  You are a genuine listener- and the ultimate story teller. You sacrifice your toys and dreams (though there is a good share of kicking and screaming) because you hope and dream about the future of our family. You remind me how to have fun, you force me to dream- to think bigger and better. You are still MY ADAM- I just choose not to taunt the children as NonaJane chooses to do.  So even though I didn't buy you a boat, or a motorcycle (a camper, an ultimate cruise vacation,  a tractor, OR a diesel truck...) know that I love you more than all those items rolled together in one giant imaginary birthday present.  (and everyone who knows me knows that I am terrible at gift giving anyhow... so really no surprise that your
birthday present is imaginary now is it?)

Man at work

Happy 37th Birthday (belated) to my wonderful husband.  I am so THANKFUL and appreciative and HONORED to be your wife.  Thank you for choosing me, and loving me, and supporting me thru thick and thin.  We make a pretty good team- I still say you are better than any man I ever dreamed of.
Your wife,
Kelly

That Went Fast

Jack fearlessly running off... taking his first step onto the school bus. 

"That went fast," said Adam innocently enough.

 THAT went fast. That WENT fast.  That went FAST.

It was like a bad song stuck in my head.  A deafening roar of the same phrase being repeated over and over again in my head. It was as if every person who had ever told me "enjoy it, it goes fast" was suddenly right here with me screaming it at me.
And it went fast.  Jack took his first step onto that school bus and was off.  Adam, myself, Nona and Matthew sat in the golf cart in silence. Staring off into the empty highway where the bus had just been sitting.  A feeling of emptiness crept over me, a sense of shock- as if we weren't expecting what had just happened.  He was really off on a school bus, by himself.  I didn't feel like I had permission to cry though, it was a happy day for our Jack.  We put on a smile and headed back up to the house, just the 4 of us.

The weekend before school- headed to a casting call
(which he ended up landing the role!)

But then I did cry.  I felt like a cartoon character where the water fills up in your eyes like a swimming pool, and then the tears manage to sneak out and roll down your cheeks.  ...  I was going to miss him, and not just right now in this moment.  I mean I am going to MISS having my baby Jack. My toddler Jack. My preschooler Jack. I'm not sure I am ready for school age Jack, and all the responsibilities that come with being a school Mom!

Checking out Jack's classroom

Swinging at Meagan's house

But I turned my attention to my work day, and turned my sadness into anxiousness- anticipation of hearing about his day when I get off work.  I watched the clock and wondered what he was doing.
After school Jack did not disappoint. He happily answered every nosey question I had with gusto.  Then I turned to NonaJane and said "did you MISS your brother?!"  and in true NonaJane fashion, knowing how to get a laugh and lighten the mood- she replied with a mischievous smirk and a devious look to her eye "NoooopE!!!"  "I had the i-pad ALL to MYSELF!"   Sure enough, I asked Adam how NonaJane's day went without Jack, he reported he hardly heard a peep out of her. She spent the day in the playroom busily playing with her toys and the iPad- totally un-interrupted.
 
Matthew also did not want to be out-shined this week.  He decided he would start crawling at 6 months and 3 days old.  Officially our youngest crawler! He also got his first tooth this week!




















We went to the grocery store and he sat in the cart like a big kid... he seemed a bit worried- perhaps it was my cart driving? No, probably his sister who was hugging his head thru the whole store.

Shopping while Jack is at school just wouldn't feel right.  Wouldn't want anything to be too easy around here!

Matthew is thinking "what are you doing with my toy?"

already pulling himself up to climb into things

Well a week or two of school have gone by now, and somehow this blog never got posted... I'm still missing my Jack, but am thankful for his school and teacher.  Jack comes home with a spark in his eye every afternoon. His days are full of adventure and novelty, and he is loving every bit of it.  While I continue to mourn the change in our worlds, exciting things are happening at home for Nona and Matthew.  Matthew is discovering the world around him, underfoot and into everything.  He is already pulling up to his knees to reach, and tearing into his siblings stuff. (yesterday he ate a bed bath and beyond coupon that had been sitting at the edge of the coffee table... oops) Him eating things leads into the topic of his size! We discovered at his 6 month appointment that he is nearly as tall and heavy as Jack was at his 1st birthday!! What??! Granted Jack was a bit of a runt, or pip-squeak... but Matthew is ranking in in the 95%.

starting early with the academics

Little Miss looking exceptionally cute

Nona has become exceptionally close with Matthew.  We find her encouraging him to follow her, giving him toys, including him in her play schemes.  He thinks she is hysterical... but that eventually gives into annoyance once she has completely overwhelmed him ;)  Nona is also sitting down with me on my days off for our 'school'.  We are working thru some pre-k work books, spending extra time coloring, cutting, drawing, doing puzzles, reading etc.  Nona seems thrilled with the one on one time, and I appreciate feeling needed (seeing as Jack already informed me the other day that "Mom, you  don't know what you're talking about".... lovely)  It seems that Nona and Jack have flipped roles lately.  Nona being extra sweet and incredibly rule abiding... meanwhile Jack comes home from school in a state of physical and emotional fatigue- in turn he is acting a bit like a 13 year old girl.  Quite moody- a bit over reactive- we just have to hold on tight and hope that this wave too shall pass!

Dear Matthew- sorry your siblings are morons

Helloooo Mr. Turtle.  A game your sister likes to play with you...

Oh my dear Matthew. You are 6 months old tomorrow! Did you know we share birthdays in a way? My birthday is your half birthday (I'm sure I will have pointed this out to you every year... not to beat a dead horse).  Funny in a way- I have always teased how my nephews tried to steal my birthday as 4 of them were born within days of MY birthday.  Who knew that all along it may actually be my own baby who shares my birthday with me?!

SUPER Nona, Matthew and Jack!

I'm thankful that you are 6 months old tomorrow.  We've made it thru some of the most challenging days.  Remember the weeks of sleeping on the couch with you? Of course you don't... but I do.  Remember the nights of midnight blogging while you swung away and laughed at me in your swing? (I think I only imagined the laughing as you innocently refused to sleep.)  6 months already, and you are no longer an infant in my eyes.  You are becoming a big guy, and an even bigger joy.

this looks innocent enough, but really your brother might be pinching you here...
or thinking about yanking on your arm at any moment.

captain muscles showing off his planking skills

I think with every child I have joked at their first birthday that "we did it! we kept them alive a full year!"  well with you, this joke seems less funny... I'm not sure how man kind has survived all these years because as SMART as your siblings are... they can act like total morons around you.  I know they love you, they want to be around you all the time.  They ask to hold you, and they constantly try to play with you and entertain you.  BUT, they also jump off of you in the same manner that you would jump off a boulder.  They "roll" you across the floor in the same manner that you would flip a tire.  They seem to think that you would like to smell their feet, lick their toes, or have them sit on your face. I don't understand it.  I get mad. I yell at them, I explain to them that you don't actually LIKE this, that you just can't get away from them.  They inform me that "he is smiling!"  Which actually does worry me a little.. why are you smiling!?  Maybe this is normal for a third child.  I haven't really heard other mother's talk about it, so I feel like it is some great failure on my part.  But perhaps this is one of those unspoken things?  Well I'm breaking the silence!  I apologize to you for the inadequate care you are receiving.  I do try- and as I said, I'm grateful that we celebrate 6 months (and my 32 years) tomorrow.  Plus, I'm pretty sure you are going to grow up and be quite a bit bigger than either of your siblings anyhow.  You can sit on their faces then, you have my permission :)

That's right little man. Learn how to escape! Crawl Crawl!

Happy 1/2 Birthday little Matthew, and Happy Real Birthday to Me too.  Thanks for being a permanent distraction to my own birthday, and for giving us a little something extra to celebrate.
P.S. I promise I'll always share my cake with you Matthew T.  (that's saying a lot you know.)

"Mom WATCH!"

My cuties... who I can't stop watching

The first day of kindergarten is lurking over my shoulder like an ominous storm cloud. My anxiety is rising and my kids just won't stop. They won't stop getting bigger, smarter, and more independent.  All things to be more than thankful for- I know. But at this rate, things just keep changing too fast and I can't handle it. Matthew is learning to sit, and today got onto his hands and knees.  NonaJane is continually developing longer sentences, using bigger words, and getting prettier by the day.

A miniature ninja turtle

sitting?!

and LOOK at that face? Beautiful! but definitely not a baby anymore

And then Jack. Jack is learning how to do everything himself, and needing me less and less. For example, Jack can open/shut the car door AND buckle/unbuckle himself. In all honesty this is a HUGE relief for me. It was only a few months ago that I was angrily yelling at him to "TRY! Jack, please just try to buckle yourself so I don't have to climb back here and do it!"  I literally was angrily yelling at him to hurry up and grow up (because it is quite awkward to squeeze myself between two car seats to reach him in the third row).  And he listened. He did grow up, right before my eyes, and in response to MY demand.  He also dresses himself now, which I know most kids his age have been doing for years. But MY Jack never did.  He had no interest in what he wore, or whether or not he ever got dressed.  Underwear was fine attire for the day. Thus if we were going anywhere I would literally have to dress him (the same way I had since he was a baby.  "lift your leg, push your arm thru... etc. etc."  Now I can just say "Jack, go get dressed!" (mind you I still have to say it 10 times...). He can also make himself his own sandwich for lunch, rides his bike without training wheels, tie shoe laces, and can read most signs and books for himself if you ask him to.
Do you see what I mean? He could move out at the end of the week.

OR, maybe not.

this little guy doesn't even need me! Just floating away...

We went to the Paola pool this weekend. His friend Grace was jumping off the diving boards.  With great excitement he announced "I want to do THAT!"  I don't usually get too overprotective, but I honestly wasn't sure he could swim well enough to try this.  Adam was there though, and he seemed confident that Jack would be fine.  

Jack opening his own back account. With his OWN money from his WORK

Jack climbed that ladder with such confidence.  He strongly strode to the end of the board, gave us two thumbs up and did his PROUD dance.  (You have to really know Jack to know his proud dance.  But nothing in the world is better than the smile and joy he exudes when proud.  So proud that it makes him burst into dance.)  He promptly jumped, and without struggle he bounced to the surface.
 He kicked and bobbed
and swam right to the edge.  All I could imagine was his little 5 year old body suspended over 12 feet of water- deep water that I have spent 5 years protecting him from. This deep water is now his playground.  Before we knew it, he was climbing the ladder to the HIGH dive.  Adam and I were confident that he would NOT jump.  I mean, this is the kid that won't get on a kiddie ride for any amount of bribery.  But he did it.  He conquered it. And then he did it again. 

He was so excited that I took him and NonaJane back to the pool today.  Jack's learning curve was off the charts as he was no longer doggy paddling, but now swimming underwater, using a freestyle stroke, and even talking to me while swimming across the deep water.  He was doing well enough that NonaJane and I went back over to the shallow end so she could enjoy the froggy slide.  As I played with NonaJane and watched Jack in the distance, my heart began to hurt a little. Or a lot.  My little boy was jumping off the diving boards, talking, dancing, and playing with the other kids in line.  Trusting the lifeguard to keep him safe instead of ME.  But as if he knew my heart was hurting, he yelled out to me across the pool from the end of the diving board "MOM! WATCH ME!!!"  he did his proud dance, two thumbs up, and then a spinning twist off the diving board.  My little boy still wanted me, and NEEDED me to watch him.  He came running down to the shallow end, jumped in next to me and said "I was getting lonely down there without you."  If only he knew, his Momma's heart was the one hurting- and as usual, he has a way of making my heart absolutely explode.  NonaJane, Jack and I had a blast at the pool. NJ loves to jump off the edge to me, and of course wants me to "WATCH" with every move she makes.  So "WATCH!" I will.  I'm going to try to watch and love every little jump and splash they make.  For as long as they are excited to show me.

The summertime blur

4 months and sweeter than pie :)

Matthew T is rapidly approaching the 5 month mark!! He is becoming a little role poly, using his new skills to move around the floor. He is also very handsy- starting to grab anything and everything that comes near him.  Of all our babies, he seems to have changed the most from month to month!

Happy 4th!

Everytime people see him they remark about how different he looks! For starters, he kind of went bald for awhile... but now he has already got a super full fuzzy head of hair coming in.  I just love the way it feels on my face, and have even found him rubbing his own hands all over his head!! It is that perfect peach fuzz length :) His eyes keep getting bigger and bluer, and now his face has started to lengthen out. It is still not clear who he is going to look like... but it is becoming clearer and clearer that he is going to be a happy and laid back little guy.  He is still very easy to please, and a joy to be around.

Wheelbarrow racing!

NonaJane went to vacation bible school in June, which was really her first time being 'dropped off' and left somewhere.  Of course she didn't seem bothered in a bit, but it tugged at my heart strings a good deal.  VBS was 3 hours a day Monday thru Friday.  I wasn't sure how well NonaJane would participate and attend... but turns out she won over the hearts of several ladies.  On Friday evening after their final show, one of the teachers came and sought me out.  She told me that Nona was such a sweetheart and had brought her joy all week, she THANKED me for bringing her.  I felt like my heart could have burst hearing someone else love and appreciate my daughter like I do.  NonaJane is really growing up recently, but still a giant ball of wild :)

Late summer nights :)

 Despite all the rain, this summer has been a blur of late nights, swimming, slip-n-sliding, trampoline jumping, firework watching, and hot dog eating. Having three kids sure does keep us busy, but I think we are pulling it all off all right :) Having amazing friends has helped us out though... a LOT.  Guess who sat at our house until midnight when we had to take Jack to the ER? Guess who goes to the pool with us to even out the score between kids and adults? Guess who feeds me dinner when I get off work late, or who picks our kids up from vacation bible school? I'm thinking about including them in our annual family picture this year... because the Blacks have become a pretty integral part of how we function.  The other day their daughter Bella said it best when she matter of factly informed Jack that "I AM your family Jack."

Swimming at the Black's house

A little sprinkler and trampoline action

T-Bones game on Father's Day

Our annual family picture at the Height Reunion in Schleswig Iowa

Egg cracking.. in July

we survived our 3 year check up... and SHOTS

poor kid was having some hair issues...

Helping Mom make waffles with the new waffle iron

NonaJane and Matthew having a picnic

The unplanned, unpredictable, and EXCITING life this week

NonaJane (3) Nolan (almost 3) Luella (4 1/2) Henry (6) Jack (5) Everett (5) Hudson (7) and Ethan (9)

 

Mark's family was in town on Tuesday, so we had to get the kids all together for an updated picture (minus Matthew)

Sometimes things don't go as planned. And with 3 kids, it seems that more things tend to go in the "unplanned" category more than ever before.  While the majority of America is out watching firework shows, or dangerously blowing things up in their yard, I am home writing a blog post.

Happy 4th of July!

NonaJane started running an unexpected fever during a fun family game of Monopoly, so I decided it best to bring her home rather than share the germs with her cousins. We came home, cuddled on the couch and let some Tylenol take the edge off :)  But in all honesty, I don't mind a bit missing out on the fireworks.  I'm enjoying the sound of them off in the distance, with the mesmerizing humm of Matthew's swing here beside me.  There is something so comforting about being home.  On top of that, it has been a rather exhausting week...

Papa and Jack on the Navy Pier in Chicago

Last Wednesday evening I received an email from Jack's agency that they wanted to submit him for a casting in Chicago for the TV show "Fuller House" (the spin off to Full House!).  The character is DJ Tanner's middle son.  A 6 year old boy who is very intelligent and a bit neurotic.  What a cool opportunity!  Adam was a bit nervous about what a role like this could mean for Jack, and for us... but we decided the bottom line is that Jack has a real knack for this, and most importantly, he really enjoys it.  His Price Chopper commercials are airing more and more...  and we get such amazing feedback about what a natural he is on camera.  The directors are always amazed at how quick he is to learn lines, and obviously... how stinking cute he is.  So we said "Yes, submit him!"  Come Friday evening around 5:00, we were notified that he was indeed selected to audition!  Sunday afternoon Jack, my Dad, and I hit the road to Chicago. (Adam stayed home with Nona and Matthew)  Jack had several pages of lines to memorize, and as usual he learned them without too much trouble.  We made the most of our fast trip, touring the Navy Pier, enjoying a night in a hotel, and trying out some Chicago style pizza.  Jack walked into his casting call on Monday at 4:00 his confident, happy, and bubbly self.  They don't let the parents come back with them, so unfortunately I don't get to witness him in action.  But Jack came out smiling ear to ear, and told me he had a great time.  Can you imagine walking into a room with adults you don't know, standing alone in the middle of an empty room in front of a camera and lights, to be interviewed and perform your lines??? YIKES! But Jack somehow isn't phased by it!

Being stalked by the seagulls while trying to eat our pizza

Too many hours on the iPad makes for an uneasy stomach :(

We haven't heard any news yet.. and may never hear anything.  But either way, we enjoyed the trip, the special time with each other (how often do I get to sit and talk with my Dad like that?? 16 hours in a car is just what we needed!), AND Jack has now had exposure in front of a pretty big casting director... so who knows where any of this could take him?!  I told Adam that one of the highlights of the trip for me was how Jack would reach up and hold my hand everywhere we went.  It hit me that with Matthew in my arms, and NonaJane needing my hand... that Jack doesn't really get my hand very often.  It also made me realize that as he rapidly approaches the age of 6, that he may not reach for my hand much longer.  The thought brings tears to my eyes, and I cherished those 36 hours where all our attention was just on him again.

The point when we decided an X-ray was a must

       





 

Thursday of this week, we were at our friends house and I decided to jump on the trampoline with the kids.  I was being silly and jumping all over like a maniac... next thing I know I hear a chilling scream from Jack and instantly knew it was serious.  I had inadvertently double bounced him and he landed badly on his left ankle.  It didn't take long for it to swell up like a baseball. After a dose of ibuprofen, and 3 hours of ice... we decided it needed to be x-rayed.  Jack made the ER nurses swoon, and charmed the Doctor along the way.  I was so nervous I could have puked, but luckily it did turn out to be a severe sprain with perhaps a small fracture that was not significant enough to worry about.  They provided a temporary cast and said to leave it on for a week.  Jack (as most men tend to do) has enjoyed letting us carry him around and tend to his every need.  I'm crossing my fingers that he is up and running around in a few days like the Dr. predicted...