Bathtime in the sink

Grammy has a great laundry sink. She also loves clean boys. For example, when we arrived off the airplane the boys still had "tatoos" they had drawn on their legs with washable marker from the day before. Those had to go when we got to Grammy's:) It is a good thing to love cleanliness. Knowing this, you can imagine how much Grammy loves bath time. She will just throw the boys in the sink if she feels they are just a bit dirty or stinky. Here is our most recent bath time pics

Quint is looking a little big...but still fits!

D-Day....as in dentist

My morning was all dentist. I have committed myself to becoming a perfect dental person, because if I could I would never sit in a dental chair ever again. My dentist is fabulous, but I mean who wants to play loads of money to the dentist so they can torture you while they fix your tooth. I am so glad it is over. I pray it is my only crown ever!

Later Rebecca had an eye appointment at the mall.

The boys and I tagged along and played at the toy store:)

I love stores that let you play with the toys!

It was chilly and windy but the boys still played water table

Quint playing in the water table...soaking wet

Lounging on the couch

Quint asked for Russell to ride with him

Boys show off for daddy:)

Fish and Phish

We are working hard to distract ourselves from missing Daddy. Luckily there are a lot of great fun distractions here:) We played with a funny singing fish and there was a crazy Phish concert at the concert venue nearby. It made for good people watching:)

Another highlight Rebecca arrived today!

Playing with the singing fish:)

Grammy taught Russell Patty Cake

Aunt Rebecca and Russell read the taxi book

Mommy and Quint took a rest

Russell rode the horse:)

It was a good day.

More tomorrow

Kid fest and Dentist

Aunt Doreen brought down her daycare kids and my cousin Erin brought down her twins to play. It was a kid fest!

It was a great time of fun and bonding.

The downside of the day...I had to go to the dentist.

More about that Wednesday...when I have to go back:(

Here are the daily highlight pictures for the day!

Kid Fest:)

Erin and I swimming with our babies

Our little swimmers (William was not a big fan of the lake)

Russell swinging, Papa working

Both boys love watching Papa working on projects

We miss you BK.

Hope it was a great first day!

6 years ago today

This afternoon, as I walked our boys up from the lake after a swim, I realized something. It was about this time 6 years ago was walking up these same stairs to my very handsome future hubby.

It was our wedding day:)

This is what it looked like then....

When I said I walked up the stairs it was probably an understatement.....

I was sprint walking.

I would have ran if it would not have looked ridiculous!

My dad actually whispered to me to slow down.

I just remember thinking I can't wait to get up there!

Luckily BK stuck around...and a few minutes later we were married!

We sealed it with a kiss:)

I can't believe it has been 6 years.

I can't believe how much we have grown.

I can't believe what an amazing journey it has been this far.

I am so excited to share many more years.

My walk up the stairs from the lake looked very different today.

My day looked much different from wedding day too.

We played water table...

We swam in the lake....

Russell was a great eater.....as usually!

Quint built a large block wall. He took it very seriously:)

Like I said, it was a very different day than the one six years ago!

Six years ago I was thrilled have one Richardson man in my life forever.

Now I am blessed with 3 and one in the oven:)

My little men are keeping me busy, but I wish I could be with the first Richardson man I ever loved...and still love desperately.

Our anniversary date is postponed for now...but I can't wait for it:)

Airplane Day

We woke up at early and packed the car. We loaded sleeping boys in the car and drove away from our apartment at 4:37 am. We had a flight to catch in Chicago. Our car ride was full of excitement for the airport, flying on the airplane, seeing Grammy and Papa, and our upcoming summer visiting friends and realitives in upstate NY. It was also a somber ride because BK(Daddy) was not able to come with us. I am not sure the boys totally understood when we were leaving. I did. I am sad, but I know this is the best option.

Besides absence makes the heart grow fonder...right?

Well, I am not even sure it is possible for me or the boys to be fonder of BK, he is definitely the favorite in our house:)

But I will let you know.....

We soaked up our time with him at the airport and I was so jazzed when the Southwest lady made him our escort so he could take us the gate! It was like it was pre-2001!

We watched airplanes with the boys. We had extra hugs. It was awesome.

Attempt at a family pic

Watching planes with Daddy

Then the boys and I boarded the plane.

I was a little anxious, but they rose to the challenge.

They were rock stars.

I didn't even bring the car seats on.

They just buckled in like big boys.

It was so cool that we take up a whole row now:)

Quint loved the window seat

We discovered Russell loves sky mall.

Papa was waiting at security to greet us. I was so grateful!

Overall, an awesome trip, but we already miss Daddy.

Our Summer

This summer we have a mixed blessing. BK has a 6 week surgery rotation which is more demanding than the boys and I would like. Mom and Dad have generously offered to take us in at the lake while BK is so busy. It is not ideal to be away. We never feel complete as a family when we are separated. But, we also know it is probably the best option. We will all be distracted. BK will be busy learning, and we will be busy playing with family and friends at the lake.

It seemed like an awesome plan, but with our leaving day looming, we are getting very sad. I know that it will be super fun when we get there, and BK will super busy.

But, we are still not complete with out him.

I know it will fly by and we will be back together before we know it.

I will be actively blogging.

My goal is everyday to keep him in our loop!

Hope it is a great summer for all of us and all of you:)

We leave 6.26.10

Russell is 2!

Realized I wrote this post and never published it!

Can't forget to show Russell the love:)

From June 8 2010:

My baby who is not in the belly is two! It is hard to believe. Russell is growing and changing so so fast. Just the other day I looked over at him and he didn't look like a big baby anymore, he looked like a toddler. He loves to tackle, jump, run, build, and snuggle.

On his birthday we had homemade pizza and ice cream pie. We will celebrate officially next week after BK finishes his boards! Here are some pictures from our birthday dinner:)

My baby who is not in the belly is two! It is hard to believe. Russell is growing and changing so so fast. Just the other day I looked over at him and he didn't look like a big baby anymore, he looked like a toddler. He loves to tackle, jump, run, build, and snuggle.

On his birthday we had homemade pizza and ice cream pie. We will celebrate officially next week after BK finishes his boards! Here are some pictures from our birthday dinner:)

reality lives in my rear view mirror

sometimes you are in a hurry and
a very long train comes....

Today it happened to us.
My instinct was to be frustrated....
until...
I looked in my rear view mirror

I saw two little men full of
joy, awe, excitement, and happiness.

I realized:
Reality lives in my rear view mirror

In my rear view mirror:

Big freight trains are cool
Seeing one pass by is awesome!
and time is not an issue
So.....

I forget about my reality of schedules and time.
I choose to live in the reality of my rear view mirror.
I put the car in park, and rolled down the windows so we could hear the bell, clanking, and clackety, sounds of the train.

Guess what?

We still made it to the doctor.
And, all day the boys talked about the train.
Totally worth it.

I hope every time I am stopped by a train, even if it is long after the car seats are removed from my car, I will be reminded of the simple joys of life.

The big news is in.....

We took over the waiting room.....

Quint and Russell waiting to see the baby on the TV

I couldn't wait to see all the fingers and toes...

Getting Ready!

It is official......

our newest family member is a

BOY!!!!!!

We are thrilled!

I will be outnumbered, but I love my big man and my little men so much,

I am excited to have another one in the mix!

We are all anticipating HIS arrival in September!

Daddy celebrating:)

New baby makes 5!

I realized I never posted about number 3! BK, Quint, Russell and I are very pleased to announce to the blog world we are expecting #3 in September. BK and I are a little anxious about being out numbered, but couldn't feel more blessed to have another little one joining our family. We took the boys to hear the heartbeat at 12 weeks and I think they are beginning to get excited. Quint often asks when is the baby coming out of your belly? I thought to blog, because our ultrasound is tomorrow! Everyone in the family is excited to see if we our new addition will be another brother or a sister!

We will keep you posted!

12 week picture:)

Tornado Season

I babysit two awesome kids one afternoon a week. Usually it goes smoothly and last Thursday seemed to be on track. Three of the four were napping and David and I were just hanging out. It had been a strange weather day, rain, then sun, thunderstorms etc. Just then it got very dark, the wind was blowing, and began to hail. I am a weather wimp. I think if this weather had happened at my parents house in NY I would have thought "wow, crazy storm".

BUT, I live where there are tornado's.

I don't know much about them.

I have never seen one.

I hope I never do see one.

**FYI**

we have loud speakers all over town for tornado warning sirens

Back to the Story

While I was trying to remain calm about the crazy wind, hail, and darkness, someone began speaking over the tornado siren speakers. I have only heard the practice sirens, and I have never heard someone speaking on it! I didn't know what it meant. There was not a siren, but because of the hail and wind I could not understand what he was saying.

I was officially freaked.

My mind was racing, do I wake all the babies and go to the basement? I called Lauren. She has lived here a while and knows about weather. She was so nonchalant. She said "let me turn on the TV and see what they are saying"

I was thinking "we could be dying it could be coming right now!" I woke up Quint and Russell, I figured then I would only have to grab one baby if it was bad. It seemed like forever, but Lauren said it was just a Tornado Watch so not to worry unless we hear the sirens. Oh sure....don't worry. I am sure they will spot it in time, turn on the sirens so we have time to go to the basement......

Ultimitely, it was fine. We did delay our trip to Sam's club till the next day because even our local friends said it is best not to drive around in such volatile weather.

I know I am excessively dramatic, but after what just happened in Oklahoma....and has happened very near to where we live in the past.....I like to lean to the side of caution...or drama....however you want to describe it.

Quint loves sunglasses too?

I blogged a while back about Russell possible sharing my love for sunglasses.

Quint might be catching the bug too!

He found this old pair of mine, but I might need to get him a more manly pair:)

He still looks cute!

Homemade Footie PJ's

Quint is growing fast, and currently we only have 2 pairs of footie PJ's that fit Quint. I have not rushed to find more because it is spring. Tonight it was going to get a bit chilly, and Quint's 2 pairs of footie PJ's were in the dirty laundry. He was distraught.

Quint was worried he would be cold. I had a mommy genius moment.

We put on his regular PJ's and we added big daddy socks over his feet and legs. It was a huge hit! Quint loved his homemade footie PJ's.

A win for Mommy:)

Quint showing off his new feet warmers:)

The full alfit

Both boys warm and cozy

Face Plant

Is it just my children, or does everyone's children get injured at the park?

We have had our fair share of episodes were I have left the park with a crying child. Fortunately, we have never been to the emergency room from a park incident....(knock on wood!)

Today was gorgeous. We headed to the park to play and have a picnic lunch with friends. It was great.....until........the face plant.

It seemed harmless, I was pushing Russell in the swing. Quint was swinging on a big swing on his belly.

All the sudden:

FACEPLANT

Quint leaned a little too far on his swing and flipped the swing. He landed face first in the wood chips. I grabbed him and his face was covered in dirt and wood chips. He calmed down after a bit, but we headed home.

Is this just our family?

My fear is it is either a side effect of having two parents who are very uncoordinated on land, or a mommy who has attention issues.....

Peaceful

Russell just fell asleep before nap on our bed.

He looked so cute

I snapped a picture before I moved him to his crib.