Sometimes I wonder how they will survive

Sometimes our boys just do things that make me wonder how they will survive boyhood. The first was a trip to the park we took last week. First of all Jack jumped off the top of this incline bench (probably 4 1/2 feet). He landed on his feet but limped for quite a while afterword. When we thought he had recovered from that we went on to the next play ground. Where after playing for a while Jack saw Kaden jump off one of the platforms. Before we could get there Jack of course jumped as well. This was probably (5 1/2 feet high). Jack hit his cheek on the fireman pole and landed on his back. Which of course knocked the wind out of him. We went home after that.

A few days later I saw Jack dive head first off of the back of a chair in our living room. He was standing on the back of it and jumped - head first. Yes, he landed on his head. Again he seems to have escaped a head or neck injury.

So tonight... in about 30 seconds both boys made me gasp. Jack walked in with a bloody nose and a nail. I don't know where he got it but it was pretty clear he had stuck the nail up his nose. While we were checking that situation out Kaden climbed up on the counter picked up the parmasan cheese (powder kind- we had just finished eating spaghetti), tipped his head back, a ton dumped into his mouth. Fourtunately he gagged so I don't think he sucked any into his lungs. But he did start choking on it. And it took a few blows to the back and several coughs to get it all out of his mouth.
The stuff they don't tell you before you have kids. I am considering helments, pads, and leashes as part of their everyday attire. Oh and we met one of our neighbors the other day. He is an ER Dr. - always good to know.

I don't know how I will survive their boyhood without a heart attack.

A couple Updates

First of all the toliet situation:
The plumber just left so basically after $115 ($30 for the tool Tim brought and $85 for the plumber) both frog bath toys have been freed from the toliet. Oh and basically the plumber brought the same exact tool Tim was using. At least we didn't have to replace the toliet - that was the last option.

Second of all, I finally made all the meals for my freezer (see plan on previous post). Sorry I hope you are not completely grossed out by the toliet update followed by one about food.
I have a few tips of my own to add.

1) I cooked all the meat the day before. For the chicken I put it all in two crockpots, poured in some chicken broth and cooked it all day long. I diced it up at dinner time and put it in the fridge for the next day. For the ground beef: I used a big pot put all the beef in at once with some water and cooked it, drained it, and put it in the fridge for the next day. Ham: I bought cooked & diced ham. I think this was a much much faster way to cook the meat.

2) I assembled the meals in about 2 1/2 hours the next day. I did forget sour cream so there was one meal I couldn't make until the next day. But, it really didn't take long at all. I could have even gotten done faster but I really only have 1 big pot. So it seemed like I spent a lot of time waiting for things to cook and cool. Really the clean up wasn't bad either.

3) Some of the dishes made A LOT of food. I wish I would have divided some of them in half as our family will have a lot of leftovers on some days. Which will be okay but I think I would rather just have more to pull out and only have it last one time.

4) We have had the two of the meals and they were good. The boys didn't like the Broccali Pasta Ham dish but Tim and I did. There wasn't anything wrong with it. They just don't like pasta with sauce on it. Something they are going to have to get over.

Boys Room

I have finally finished (or mostly finished) the boys room. Jack was been sleeping in his big boy bed for a couple of weeks and it is going so well. I was really dreading putting them in the same room but they love it and most nights they both just lay in their quietly until they fall asleep. Honestly, Kaden is even going to bed easier then he has in a long time. I really hope this lasts.

At nap time Jack sleeps in our bed because he still really needs a nap EVERY day and Kaden stays upstairs in his room because he has a little freedom during that time (he can read or play with quiet toys) basically he just has to stay in his room quiet for an hour and a half.

I have to thank my dad for all the work he did painting their room. I especially LOVE the stripes! Thank you Tonya for the idea. I still want to add some animal pictures. I just have to order them.

Here is what it looked like when we bought the house. Way to girly for my boys. This picture doesn't even show the BIG pink A and other decorative art that was on the wall.

My Kids have never done that...

You know you hear of different things kids can do to mess up your house for example flush toys etc. down the toliet. Well, just when I thought my kids have never done that and was in the clear. You guessed it. All of a sudden the toliet is broken in the boys bathroom. So Tim uses the plunger and up pops a plastic frog bath toy.

Whew - thats not too bad. Except, the toliet still doesn't work. So after a trip to Lowe's Tim cam home with this special tool.

Which basically just showed us there is something or things in there but didn't get us any closer to getting them out. Now most of you know this is already beyond Tim's handyman abilities (Honey this is not a slam - you have other talents). So a plumber will have to be called. Now I am curious what we are going to find. Kaden says Jack did it and it is a duck in the toliet. My guess is on a metal car or truck.

By the way - Yesterday I looked out my window. I knew Tim was outside with the boys, but I about died when I saw what he was doing. Washing the windows!!!! I guess he read our blog and saw that I said someone should wash the windows so he did (definate bonus points)!

Kaden's First Day of School

Kaden's first day of school was last Wed. (sept. 3rd). I was really nervous about it because he went to meet the teacher the day before and was really disappointed. He said there weren't very many toys in his room. I had to explain to him that first of all not all the toys were out and second that he was going to 4 year old preschool and every year there will be fewer toys (bummer - I know). But, we went and he LOVED it. His teacher said he did great. It was actually a really rainy and cold day so they had to have in door recess. So when we got there the gym was set up with a tricycle track, several climbing toys, a castle, and lots of ballls. So he wasn't too woried about there not being enough fun things to do. His teachers told me they really work on transitioning from activity to activity in the four year old class. Perfect. That is exactly what he needs. So they have a work classroom and a play classroom so that is where all the toys are.

He will go to school on Tues, Wed, and Thurs. afternoons. And he will also go to Enrichment classes on Thurs. mornings. His teachers seem very nice, in fact, the whole staff does. They are very qualified - most of them have masters degrees in education as well as several years of experince in early childhood education. I am really impressed with this school so I am sure I will be adding lots of school stories this year.

The traditional first day picture in front of our front door.
(Somebody should wash those windows!)

Waiting outside his classroom.

Finding his cubby. He found his name all by himself.

Putting his name up on the attendance board.

Too Cool - Mom no more pictures. He was definately ready for me to leave.

I could have been worse. The mom parked beside me. Got out and started her video camera. She then recorded her son getting out of the car and going all the way to his classroom.

Our Newest Member of the Family

Our newest member of the family is a fish named Chip. (What you were expecting this post to be about someone else? No, we don't have a new baby- yet.) Anyway, the boys got a fish. Something I have been meaning to do for quite sometime now. He lives in their bedroom. We have had him about a month and he is still alive- which is more then I expected. I just thought I would share that not only is our family growing by two more feet but we added some fins as well!

Our First Fur Baby

Our first child was a fur baby - Riley. We got him a few months after we got married and spoiled him to no end. Riley had beagle friends and had playdates often. We walked him all the time and spent time at the off leash park. Tim played fetch with Riley everyday when he got home from school. Riley even had birthday parties complete with a bone shaped cake and balloons. Yes, Riley had it made and he loved our little life in an apartment in Lawrence. UNTIL... Kaden was born. Then did life ever change. In a few short months we had a baby, moved to the farm, and got another dog. Riley was now allowed to go outside by himself and our time and attention had to be spread amongst a baby and new puppy who needed house broken. (BTW Tim had to have the new dog (Sydney) which is another story.) I swear Riley stopped speaking to us. And I don't really think he has ever forgiven us for ruining his life. Now when Jack came along Riley came out of his depression a little. He likes Jack and they get a long great. After all Jack wasn't the one who de-throned him.

Anyway, the week the boys stayed with my parents Riley became the puppy we had before Kaden. He acted like it was just us again. He even slept in our bed one night.

You might ask why am I dedicating a post to Riley well... Last Thursday Riley celebrated his 7th birthday! He is now considered an older dog. And well he didn't get a party but he did get some dinner scraps (steak and mashed potatoes) and a cupcake. The boys even sang "Happy Birthday" to him. I think he felt loved!

Riley with his birthday cupcake.