Last hot date...in Iowa City

Two years ago we sat in nearly the same spot to celebrate the end of step One. 

That was a big day.

 Tonight we celebrating again! 

BK graduated!! 

We are off to a new city very soon and a new chapter. 

 We are a little sad but feel its time,

 maybe it is just because we are used to moving...

 But we are ready for a new adventure:)

It was a fun date,

great to reflect,

great to remember our four years here,

fun to dream about the next place.

We may be saying goodbye to Iowa city...

But...

Forever love for our Iowa city friends

Forever Hawkeye fans

Forever grateful to Iowa for taking a chance on us

Look Chocolate

I have so much to blog.  So many memories of joy and awesomeness to record, but don't have the time yet.  As much as I want to keep order and go back and work to today its not happening...yet.   So, I resolve to try to just keep up from now.   We will see how it rolls....but had to share some joy today.

"Russell, make sure to brush teeth and go the bathroom before we go to school"

(Russell has not mastered "holding  it" so we make sure to go before we ...go:)

He ran off to the bathroom.

I round up Quint and Rhett and we head to the car.  

On our way to school I hear...

"mom i have to go the bathroom!"

"Russell....didn't you go at home?"

He responds...."I brushed my teeth...."

We pull off onto a gravel road....

I get him out and set him in his bare feet on the gravel so he can go....

I can tell the gravel is hard on his feet but he does not complain...

His pee hits the gravel and the dry dirt beneath starts to make a puddle...

and Russell says "look its chocolate Mom!"  and he giggles.

I laughed.  It did.  

All the sudden I was grateful for the outdoor restroom moment that we did not have time for....

now if I look at a dusty dry gravel road I will always know, if you pee on it, you will get chocolate:)

Graduation Day in Pictures...

Our best family Grad picture:)

]

The Hood:)

 Our crew....while we figure out how the whole "hood" thing works:)
Rhett chillin', Russell rockin' the shades, Quint learning always.

Our out of town cheering section!

Hard to believe this day is here:)

waiting for ceremony to start....

The big moment!

BK looking so jazzed!

Uncle Paul and BK

BK and his Mom:)

I was bummed this pic is fuzzy...

but then I realized it perfectly displays our med school experience...

happy memories, but all a bit fuzzy:)

Ball...and other cool Rhett things:)

We were having dinner at a friends home, and they have a dog.  

Rhett sees the dog, stops, points, and says "dog!" 

 His language is bursting and it is super fun. 

 Other new words "ball" and "ut-oh" 

He is also started shaking his head yes and no.  

He doesn't just casually shake his head though, he shakes his head fervently.

  Fast and decisively:)  

It is super cute.  

He loves to walk backwards 

(a new skill)

The big boys love to hold his hand and help him walk down the stairs 

(like a big boy)

I would prefer crawling backwards, 

but

Rhett thinks he is big, and the boys love it so I won't argue...

He is in the mix, the big brothers don't always love it, 

but I remind them he is part of the crew too....

I am amazed at how much he picks up from watching them...

Rhett

drives cars around,

plays little legos, 

digs in the sand box,

wrestles with the big brothers 

and 

is even a strong contender in the evening match against Daddy!

He is nearly 19 months....

A Moment: The fire pole.

We have been going to the play structure by the library since we moved here nearly 4 years ago. 

 I remember looking at the sticker on play structure saying it was rated for ages 5-12 and worrying about my little toddlers falling from the high platforms.  

Today we went to the library and stopped to play and Quint came over to ask if they could do the fire pole. 

I didn't even realize there was a fire pole at this playground...

 and then i saw it. 

 From the highest platform, way over my head, there was a huge fire pole.  

Honestly, I was not sure how this would go....

I reached my hands into the sky to try to catch him if it went terribly wrong....

and then he did it.

He rode down the pole like a professional fireman.

To add to my shock, 

Russell followed right behind him:)

Quint then asked me to...

 "Let him do it all by himself"

I stepped away and watched my baby grow before my eyes.

Wasn't it just a few days (or years) ago that I would not even let him up on this platform without me up there too?

and then it happened...

 I found myself asking the same question parents have asked forever

"where did the time go?"

Everyone says it goes fast....

they didn't lie....

and he is only 5....

Fortunately, 

Russell still let me stand below him (in case he needed me) even though he didn't....

and.....

Rhett still needs me to chase him up the play structure to guard him from all the "dangers" of a structure built for 5 year olds:)

and I am soaking it all in:)

A MOMENT: In the tree

At the park with friends, 

on a perfect spring day...

when...

 I looked over to scan for the boys when I realized Quint and Russell were climbing a very large tree. 

 It was a great climbing tree (lots of branches) but my anxious instinct was 

DANGER.  

I withheld my feelings and walked over to check it out. 

 I would expect this from Russell, but it was rare for Quint. 

 Russell was hanging out on the lower branches so I was not that concerned but Quint had ventured up fairly high. 

 Quint hollered down from the tree tops "Mom, look how high I am!" 

 He was beaming with pride.  

My typically overly cautious first born was free in the tree tops.  

 My anxiousness faded away and I began to beam with pride. 

 He was stretching himself:)   

Then, another little boy began to climb higher than him....and I watched Quint's competitive spirit kick in....

I could tell he was a little afraid (he was a good 20 feet up)  

but he would not let the other boy get higher than him.  

Love it.

I realize competitiveness is not always a good thing, 

but I am a big fan when it drives people to reach for their potential:) 

When he eventually came down he was so proud, and I was super proud of my cautious man scaling new limits....

literally:)  

Quint the Jedi

Just had to take this pic

Bk was impressed w my Star Wars knowledge. When I showed him:)

I grew up in the originals.

Guess that makes me a true 80s child...

And today my little man was a Jedi

Happy Love Day

Lots of love to everyone!

Our Cars Valentines:)  

Cookie cutting:)

After Valentines Day 

(the cutters were on sale)

and the bag mix was easy:)

Seriously best winter ever

I know I may jinx it, but how can I not comment on the many warm days we have had!!

Warm enough you may:
wear a coat but you won't die without one...
Wear boots but only b/c of the mud...
Ride bikes w/o ice...
Play sandbox...
Go for leisure walks...

We miss the snow a bit but I am loving it!!

Outdoor pics today 40+ degrees!!

Quint rode the "off road mud trike" and made tire tracks in the grass between the sidewalk and the street.
(just a aside: who owns that space?)
Russell rode Quints big bike I ran after him..."remember to break!"
Rhett still a little sick... I am sure he is thinking stop taking my picture:)

Rhett the toddler

Today I looked at Rhett and he looked like a toddler. A few weeks ago someone said something about Rhett and referred to him as a toddler, and I thought "my baby is not a toddler he is just a big guy.". But today I saw it...

His arms looked longer and thinner
His face looked less baby
his hands looked bigger
He just looked older.

It made me wonder...
Has he looked bigger for a while and I wasnt observant enough to see it?

Well I am seeing it now:)

Battlefield Richardson

The nightly sword fight

I thought I should document it:)

Quint and Russell planning their attack

Getting Ready

Attack!!!

Armed for battle

Boys against daddy battles have become a nightly tradition. Russell is ready for action

Can I show the med students?

At the ER 10 pm

Russell was having trouble breathing

Thought it was croup

Not croup

He has a bad cold and his tonsils are swollen so much it limited his airway

The ER doc wanted to show the students his huge tonsils

Why not, does hurt him...

"there textbook is alive" as the nurse put it:)

We knew they had to come out

Russell was the sweetest sick man

Loved snuggling him as we waited for the meds to work

The verdict from the ENT: tonsils adenoids and tubes (again) in

The end of March:(

But I am so grateful. 

Great docs, 

and maybe no more ER visits when Russ has a bad cold!

When it is spring in winter

Snow boots are used for mud

Diggers are dusted off

The sand box has a mid winter revival

Snow shovels turn to sand shovels

We stay outside till the sun goes down

We play with no coats

We thank God for a great day:)

Pajama day

Pj day at preschool for Russell. He rocked the zippy:) He looked awesome. Lots of cartoon themed kids, but I love that he chose his blue zippy:)

The Boys are Back in Town

The boys love classic rock:)

We were searching for a good song and this one came on, and Russell exclaimed I love this song.

Hilarious.

Here is the video of their classic rock dance moves

Just click to link to see them in action:)

The Boys Are Back In Town

Sledding:)

We are turning a very cool corner.  

Q dressed himself to go outside. 

Rhett can be out a long time, and Russell can sled independently (in the right conditions)  

So generous of Lauren to share her perfect little kid hill. 

 I am working hard to.....

EMBRACE winter:)

Just click on sledding to see them in action

Sledding

Can I feed him ?

Q was all about caring for, and teaching Rhett yesterday. It was so cute. Holding his hand teaching him to play, and defining every word. "Rhett, this is yogurt we eat it". "mom can I feed Rhett my yogurt?". Sure, it may be messy but love his heart toward his brother.

Sometimes a video says so much....

Love Love Love This.  Says so much about what BK and I are feeling these days.....

Click on the Link Below:

Why I love Jesus and Hate Religion

Man project

A snowy vacation day...great day for a man project. This one involved making a homemade toy w wood, a drill, sand paper, and random screws & bolts. They loved it. Q was obsessed with sanding his project. I believe when it came time for dinner he said "I am too busy to eat!". Hummm....now that is a good project:)