Playdoh

Grady plays with Playdoh every Wednesday at therapy, but we don’t often play with it at home, because it’s messy and I don’t like the feel of it (although, it is something I am getting better about!) so cleaning it up is never fun for me. Anyway, Gibson has been really into Playdoh lately, so we have been playing with it a lot. Gibson makes all kinds of shapes and then always wants to save them to show daddy. He is so cute about it, he gets all excited about it and then very sad when I explain that they will dry up and we will have to throw them away. So, we pack them up when we are done and make more the next day! It’s a good plan.

New PJs

 
So, the other night, I had to get out of the house for a bit and since I had an eyebrow appointment and I needed to run to Target, I decided to combine it all, and the baby and I headed out.

While I was decompressing, and wandering the isles at Target (while the baby slept),  I decided to look in the “big boys” clothing section because Gibson is really close to being “over there” instead of in the little boys section. I found some pajamas that were marked down to $6. They had Transformers and Star Wars, how could I NOT get those?!?! The 2 things Gibson loves the most, currently. They had a small in the Transformers but only a medium in the Star Wars ones. I got them anyway because I figured he could grow into them and since they are short sleeved he can wear them winter and summer! Anyway, the pants are HUGE. So, Gibson kept having to pull them up and we kept having to roll up the bottoms (I need to baste stitch them). He was running around like this and so I had to take his picture for later….he looks hysterical and I am sure this picture will come in handy when I want to show how goofy Gibson was as a kid to the future girlfriend!

Leavenworth, WA

Today we decided to load up the car and head over the pass to Leavenworth, about 2 hours from our house. We had never taken the kids there before and he last time Gregg and I had been there was about 3 years ago. The weather was gorgeous today, a perfect 74 degrees. The kids had a great time. We learned however, that Leavenworth is not a place that is very accommodating to strollers. About half of the town’s shops are downstairs or upstairs and there are no elevators and the rest of the stores are not suitable for children. There was a festival going on this weekend, so we walked around and looked at everything and ate lunch on the street. It was fun, but will be so much better when all the kids can walk around and not have to be in the stroller.


We got the kids a “treat” while we were there today because I wanted to look in a few stores and they needed to be entertained, so lollypops to the rescue! Grady was a sticky mess!


 



Garrison rode in the sling all day with the exception of when we ate lunch. I put him in the front of the stroller while we ate. He looked really cute sitting there, he is really too tiny for the seat still, but I needed to have my hands free to feed the boys and myself.  We had several people comment on our crew and how cute they were. I met a women that had 5 boys, then 2 gentlemen, one that had 6 kids and one that had 8. Just the though of more than 3 kids overwhelmed me! When I commented to that affect, one of the gentlemen said, “I completely understand where you are coming from!” 

On the ride home we stopped on the side of the road to look at the river and take a few pictures.
 

Then, on the way home we decided to hit a local joint called King Charley’s. It’s a “side of the road” burger joint, where you order at the window and then eat outside or in your car. Gibson and I had been once before and so he was really excited about eating there again! Their burgers are just like a place where I grew up (ironically called Charley’s King Falafel), so dinner totally reminded me of home!
 
Garrison hung out in his seat while we ate. He has figured out how to put his binky in his mouth lately, so it often is not in straight…cracks me up.

And…Auntie Kelli, look at those ADORABLE feet! I included them just for YOU!

Hockey

Last night we went out with our friends/neighbors, Beth & Mike, to a NHL Exhibition game. This was the first game here locally in the last almost 20 years. It was the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. the Phoenix Coyotes. I don’t know much about hockey, but we had a good time, so I call it a successful night. The Lightning team one 2-1. Gregg was rooting for the Coyotes, but he wasn’t upset, he was just happy to be out sans kiddos and to see a game! We had a very quick dinner at Acropolis (where I work) in Everett beforehand.

 

Family Pictures

Today we went and had family pictures taken at the Arboretum near the University of Washington. The lady who took our wedding pictures is trying to get back into photography and so she took some pictures of our family. I can’t wait to see them, we had a GREAT time running around and she got some really good pictures of the boys. I’m hoping I can post a few here and those of you that are local, I can give you her info should you need pictures taken.

After we had our pictures taken, we promised the boys lunch at a park by our house so they could play and burn off some energy. Here is Grady…he looks so cute in his white shirt and jeans. All the boys did. I actually combed Grady’s hair after his bath this morning. Usually, I let it just curl up and be natural because that is so his personality but it looks so cute all combed. He has such great hair.

Gibson being silly. This is his new “monster silly” face. Ok.

Here he is telling me he is cold. It was a bit windy where we sat to eat lunch.

Grady on the slide.

Grady and Gregg on the “spinny thing”

and after we got home….everyone including Gibson took a nap! It’s hard work being beautiful and having your picture taken.

The Guitar

Yesterday Gibson went to Drew’s 4th Birthday Party and afterwards came home with a borrowed toy. A Gibson toy guitar. He liked it “because it has my name on it”.

The guitar is a mechanical guitar that plays tunes and also responds to the kids “strumming” and playing. It’s a VERY loud toy. I think I have an idea why Gibson was allowed to borrow it.

This is how Gibson has been wearing it. Totally wrong. He holds it more like it is a steel guitar. We have tried several times to show him the proper way, but we are talking about Gibson here so, he likes to do it his way, and only his way. Huh, wonder where he gets that?

Showing him the right way…

Then Gregg got in on the action

And Gibson trying to copy daddy!
  
We will be returning this loud toy as soon as I can pry it from Gibson’s hands. He is even sleeping with the thing. I told him we could add it to his Christmas list for Santa.

The boys and a couple of cute girlies!

It was a shoe day. I love baby shoes!

Whenever Gibson lays down next to Garrison, Garrison rolls to his side and starts grabbing at him, he just loves it when Gibson interacts with him. It’s really sweet.
 
Trying to get a picture of all 3 boys - - ya, wasn’t going to happen today!


And then we had 2 of our little girlfriends come to visit today! Gwen and Elsa came over for a while while big brother Ethan went to the doctor. Gibson lurves Gwen. Gwen really lurves Gibson. Gwen says she is going to marry Gibson some day. Gibson just wants to know “why do grown ups get married”?

Get Together Time

I have belonged to a message board for the last 4 years. It started out as a breastfeeding board (I went there for support when Gibson was about a month old and never left) and now it has morphed into just a mommy/everything board. About once a year or so we usually get together with as many of the locals as are available. This year we had the get together in Sumner. There were 4 of us there this time. 11 kids in all.  

This is Ben with Garrison, they are a month apart. Ben tired of his own thumb and was really enjoying Garrison’s. It was really cute.

Grady eating. Again. Because that is what he does. He is always eating.

Hey kids….what is going on back there?

Grady & Jonah. They are about 6 weeks apart in age. They were fighting over this plate of fruit (Grady’s 3rd plate of food, I think). You would have thought neither of them had eaten in weeks. It was a riot.

Garrison taking a snooze


The 3 babies! Garrison, Sarah’s foster baby Corey and Jessie’s Ben. They were all so cute together.
 
Sarah has 2 dogs. A lab puppy and this old beagle. When we arrived Grady was FREAKED. He cried and carried on for probably 45 minutes. Sarah had the puppy gated but the beagle roams free. The beagle was very mellow and didn’t bug Grady at all, but if he would walk by, Grady would melt into a mess. Anyway, fast forward to about a half hour later after he calmed down and Grady was  everywhere this dog was and was really thrilled to be with the dog, petting the dog, having the dog lick his fingers, etc.  This kid cracks me up, he is just so unpredictable!
 
This was on the side of the house, the dog went over there, I think to probably get away from Grady and what does Grady do? Walks over there and sits by him. I LOVE IT! It was so sweet. These are probably 2 of my favorite pictures ever.
 
Garrison & Ben
 
Just the mommas

The whole group

Gibson had such a great time with the other kids. He was very upset to be leaving! Thanks, Sarah for hosting us at your house, we had a great time.