Cozy Coupe Mayhem

I'm pretty sure this is not the recommended use of a Cozy Coupe. And yes, she's doing this in heels.

Fever

It appears Grant has caught Graham's fever, and it's disrupting his sleep. He woke up screaming around 9:30, so I grabbed him out of his room. Every time we tried to shift his position on the couch, he cried. I just knew he'd wake Graham if i tried to take him back to bed. So he ended up sleeping with us last night. I'm not sure who enjoyed this more - Grant or Jack. Especially when I brought him to bed, and he started screaming "Dad!"

The (good?) news is, based on the pattern of symptoms, I've been able to identify what they had and when they picked it up. It's viral, can't be treated (except the fever), and is not generally transmitted to adults or school-aged kids. What is it? Roseola. Graham's rash the day after his fever broke, and the sudden onset of Grant's high fever, caused me to look up symptoms and the description of Roseola reads like a case study of their week. Once Grant's fever breaks, we should be on the upswing again.

Graham's First Day

Today was First Day #4 for us ... Graham's turn! The boys did great. I dropped off all three at preschool carpool, and there were no tears. :) Graham was most excited about his Sulley lunchbox (though he calls it "Hulk"), and to wear his light-up Spider-Man sneakers. He had to get dry pants at lunch because he spilled water, but had no potty accidents!  Yay!

I spent my first "free" morning running, then running errands without the kids. I even ate my lunch alone and uninterrupted. ;)

Preschool for Grant (and Me)

Today was First Day #3 for us ... Grant's turn. Oh, and mine, too. Here's our big news: I've gone back to work, and the twins are now in preschool!  (Well, Graham will be tomorrow. He was sick today.) I was offered an opportunity to teach the one-year-olds (two days a week), at our church preschool. Ellyson attends four days a week, and now that I am teaching, we are able to send G&G three days a week.

I will have one day a week to help in Carter's class (I've already spoken to his teacher), run by myself, clean the house, run errands, and schedule my doctor/dentist appointments. And by one day a week, I mean one morning. So my time will fill up pretty quickly.

Grant had a great first day, even without Graham. Two girls from their Sunday School class are in their preschool class (including Graham's girlfriend). He was an outgoing, friendly, talkative, dance machine, just like at home. He was very tired by 1:20 dismissal, though.

Preschool for E

Ellyson returned to preschool today. She wore light-up Cinderella sneakers, and carried a light-up Minnie lunchbox. She left the Elsa hairbow at home, so the kids wouldn't think she IS Elsa. ;) Her teacher (who was also her teacher last year, since Ellyson was a year ahead last year) said she was teacher's helper all day, telling the other kids where everything is.

The poor girl has an inflamed mollescum bump above her lip, though. The ped gave me some tips when we saw her last Friday, and I'm hoping to get it gone soon! Actually, I'm ready to be done with mollescum altogether. She's battled it for a year, and Carter for two years. I pray the twins don't get it! Even the dermatologist wasn't really any help; Carter's treatments were more than a year ago, but the virus is still chugging along.

Meanwhile, G&G and I enjoyed our first run together in more than three months!

Assemble the Minions!

Last Saturday, we finally held Grant and Graham's birthday party. Our families came over for some outdoor fun and smoked meat. I made the cakes (and one was vegan, minus the frosting, which was great for my vegan sister - I cut away the tops of the cakes before frosting, so she was able to eat birthday cake with us!), and the boys blew out their candles. We sang to each of them separately, though gift opening was a collective effort of all four kids.

Wordless Wednesday

Update:

Obviously I am off on my days. And forgot that I used this picture already. My mind is a hundred different places this week. More on that later. Just know our normal chaos upped the ante this week. I think these changes will be beneficial to us all, but this week, the house was basically on autopilot. 

Oh, My.

Also, this is a new favorite saying of his. Whenever something happens that is surprising, or bending the rules, or out of control ... he says "oh, my." It started after a one-night stay with Nana and Papa Jack, during our moving week. I finally got it on camera. At first, he's saying "oh, my," because he's painting Jake with cream cheese. At the end, he says it when he tosses the last of his bagel to Marley.

This Kid Loves Selfies.

And cream cheese. Well, food in general.

He also has started flipping the syllables in "mommy" - often yelling "Me-mah! Mommy!" He thinks he's funny.

All. Boy.

Braves Game!

Last weekend, we celebrated a belated Father's Day with my family, and went to a minor league baseball game. The last time we went, was four weeks before G&G were born. Let me tell you, it was a bundle of energy, having them all at a game. We squeaked through five innings, and left just ahead of a thunderstorm (good timing). Jack thinks he'll enjoy a game again in about 10 years. I didn't think it was too bad, but I live in the chaos that is my children, day in and day out.

Don't let Carter fool you. In one photo, he's playing around by sucking his thumb for the camera. He does not, in fact, suck his thumb.

Who rules the roost?

Graham, apparently. Grant regularly retreats to Marley's crate, now that it's accessible.

Wordless Wednesday

First Day of First Grade

Today was Carter's first day of first grade! We got his new bus worked out, and met a couple neighborhood boys at the bus stop.

We're excited about his teacher, though we have the unfortunate luck of another maternity leave (his kindergarten teacher was on maternity leave in the spring, and his teacher this year, is due in November). As luck would have it, the little girl who lives across the street from our old house, is in his class. But he finally is separated from his betrothed. After spending kindergarten, three years of preschool, and a brief stint in daycare together.

Birthday Cupcakes

Proof that we did have birthday cupcakes for Grant and Graham, on their actual birthday. Grant had no problem blowing out his candles. Graham had to try a couple times before he got it.

Alpacas

Our new neighbors are intrigued by Marley. When he comes out, they all gather at our fence. Carter and Ellyson have already named Jake, Whitey and Blacky. There are 10 or so in total.

Horn

It's moving week for us, and we've been staying with my parents during the move (since the kids like to climb on - and unpack - boxes. My dad pulled out my old French horn, and I Carter and Ellyson both had fun playing it. They actually didn't do too badly with it. I was impressed.