Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I seriously don't think we could have any more sickness in this house! We ALL had the flu (Carson twice!), we've all had versions of colds and sinus infections and the boys started getting a cold again last week. Overnight Max went from a little cough to full on croup on Wednesday morning. We had to go to the doctor that day and he literally had a fever from 4am Wednesday until bedtime on Sunday. He still has tons of mucus and a bad cough so we haven't been able to take him anywhere.

With croup you have to put them in a steamy room and then go out to the cold air. We were the crazy people over and over out in the freezing weather with the baby. This one was my favorite though. He was on the porch with Daddy and it was so bright outside the background didn't even exist. You can see the snow in front of their faces. We actually got snow this weekend!

Carl's 30th birthday was on Saturday and he happened to have Friday off. We decided to head up to Rocky Mountain National Park through Estes Park for a drive. The clouds coming over the mountains up there were breathtaking. A photo couldn't even do it justice. Unfortunately Max was doing great that morning and started getting a fever a couple hours into the drive. We stopped to get him some medicine and he slept a lot. Our kids sure love sleeping in the car! We found all the elk in the park where you always see them, but then found 5 hanging out right behind all the shops on the main street. So weird!

I took these last week sometime. Max has a knack for always putting sunglasses on upside down on his first try. He also insists on getting on our kitchen chairs constantly.....and then falls off. He was hanging out with Carson's glasses playing so I had to get some pics.

He got Carson's ring pop here..... (I think this was on Valentine's day)

And this was the aftermath when I took it away.

Here are some new instagrams.
I always tell Carl no flowers on V-day or Mother's day because I hate that it's because he's just supposed to. So he got me flowers twice in the week before. He's silly.
Carson's valentine for me.
The boys at family day at preschool.
Silly faces! (photo bomber LOL)
One from the monster truck show from Carl's phone I didn't have before.
Carl and I got to go out on a date! We literally hadn't been out at night without kids in so long we can't remember the last time.
Max and Daddy having a relaxing birthday nap.
A phone pic driving up through RMNP.
Some macro flowers and snow flakes.

Day 152

10.19.2012

STILL a sick little baby. This has been 5 straight days with no relief. :(

Today was parent's day at preschool. I had a split second to take a couple quick pics and didn't even look where I was shooting. We had to make these neighborhoods and had paint EVERYWHERE. I brought my real camera, but didn't dare touch anything because it was such a mess!! That's our house in the middle and his buddies on the sides. We even had to draw the Jeep in the driveway.

Day 131: Crazy Hair Day

9.28.2012

Carson's school had crazy hair day, but Carson doesn't have much hair. He requested "spiky hair". So here is the result of spiky hair.

Day 127: Cheese

9.24.2012

This kid only gives this cheese smile now. It's okay because it still makes me smile. If we get to preschool a few minutes early he takes full advantage of jumping in the front seat and watching his movie on my screen instead.

Day 124: Reflection

9.21.2012

I'm so obsessed with these lashes. I can't stop taking photos of them!

It's almost always a given that Max is asleep when we come home from preschool drop off. Lately he's been staying asleep when I get him out though. He was draped over my shoulder this morning and as I walked by the van I saw this reflection. <3>

I'm getting so excited for fall! Sweaters and boots sound WONDERFUL right now. Our bizarro-world tree in the front yard does something totally different every year. This year we have some sort of apples. Alrighty then.


Totally forgot to post this pic. Friday afternoon was family day at preschool. Find my kissy-faced kiddo.

Day 113: Snug as a bug

9.10.2012

Carson headed back to preschool for the first day with his cast yesterday. All morning he cried, saying he can't go with the cast and genuinely seemed sad. I felt bad, but asked him to please just give it a try. I knew as soon as he got there he'd be fine, but getting him out the door without a fight is the challenge. Of course I was right. 

With big bro gone it meant Max got a good nap in and I got some work done. Last week was such a joke for work! He was so out that he was catching flies. And no, I'm not sure how the swing motor hasn't burnt out yet with all that weight. ;)  It's shockingly tough to get a good pic when the swing is moving.  You get the point here though...

After we came home from preschool I noticed Carson had a new little pink smiley face on his cast. Every day at the end of class they get a stamp if they had been good. Carson usually gets his on his forearm or shoulder. When I saw the stamp here on his cast it made me smile and feel sad for him at the same time.

Day 102: Pit stop

8.30.2012

Our van had been in the shop for a week when Carl picked it up and found it still wasn't fixed. Thursday morning we had to get up and leave the house at 6am so we could get it dropped back off and take Carl to work. Luckily we live so far the other way that it didn't make sense to go home before preschool. (yes, I'm being sarcastic)  So we killed time at McDonald's. So dirty, yet so fun for the kids. 

Max looked at me with a cheese just as I took the photo.

That afternoon his preschool had a back-to-school thing going on. Normally we go in the back door of the class and not through the actual school. As we walked down the hall I spotted this and giggled. I had to get this memory on camera.


And randomness of Max. I am always so amazed at how well he plays by himself without a fuss at all. Carson never ever did this sort of a thing. Max just hangs out and keeps himself busy while I'm getting ready.

Day 93: PRESCHOOL!!!

8.21.2012

Did I mention preschool??? Preschool is finally back in session. It was so nice to take him since he is excited to go back. And we need a little time apart, you know, to appreciate each other again. He is one of only 3 kids from his last class that didn't go onto Kindergarten. He told me and his teachers he was going to be the leader this year because he knew what was going on. :)  When we got there he put his stuff away and went right in to hold the towels and help the teacher get everyone's hands washed. It amazed me that he really was being a leader!

Based on this photo you wouldn't think he was too excited. It was just way too bright and he can't function outside without his sunglasses. He was trying so hard for me to smile and open his eyes at the same time. LOL   Like father, like son....  You should have seen Carl when we got our engagement photos done in the snowy bright mountains!

And as for Max? He's found everything in the office. With Carson I gated it all off since there are no doors and I now know why. At first this was cute......not so cute anymore.

Day 86: Preschool prep

08.14.2012

This morning we had our pre-preschool meeting before school starts next week. Carson was so excited to see his teachers and they were giddy to see him. He didn't skip a beat to get in there interacting and playing. Man, this kid really thrives with structure.......which you can imagine isn't totally easy for us here with me working. I try, okay!!!!

Max took the opportunity to try and pull/empty every single bin they had in the place.

After that I took Carson to play and get breakfast. I knew I had a ridiculous amount of work today again so I let him get all the wiggles out, so to say.

Post-nap snack. Right now Max is addicted to nectarines. The kid will eat as much as I put in front of him! He was telling me some kind of story here. I trimmed his bangs for the first time last night so they aren't quite so far down in his face. I absolutely love the little curls he has on the sides and in the back. Here they are more of a swoop.

 

Day 85: Almost there...

08.13.2012

Carson's preschool still doesn't start until August 21st!!!!!!!!! Arg.

Friday we stopped in to check out our rec center that was just remodeled and found out he could do a few mornings of preschool there this week while we wait. Last night he said he didn't want to go and again this morning insisted we should stay home. But he didn't really put up a fight to leave and seemed to have a great morning there. When we pulled up I told him I'd let him make a funny face if I could get a photo of his first day at "new preschool" (his words). He got Daddy to buy him this Spiderman lunch box a few weeks ago so he was stoked to get to finally use it.

And.....here is the result. LOL

School's out for summer! [ Preschool ceremony, 2012 ]

Our big 4-year-old is officially done with preschool for the year. His school has been so incredible and he has learned SO much in four short months. I love that it is part of the school system, but hate that we now have three months of no school because of it! I'm terrified that he's going to totally tank after all the progress he's made since being there. To be honest, I have been dreading this time, which sounds horrible, but I'm so used to four quiet days for work now! But I woke up this morning happy to have his company and kind of excited to not be on a schedule. I mean, I work at home for a reason People! (aka, I like to have my coffee before my shower and not set an alarm EVER.)

All but four of the kids in his class are moving on to kindergarten and I don't think he really grasps that he won't see most of them anymore. He seems to be excited to stay home for awhile, but I'm sure that won't last very long. Carson, Lilai and Balan were the only 3 boys in the class, but Miss Alice promised that next year will be more balanced. Luckily these 3 loved each other and were a nice balance of calm and crazy. Guess who the crazy one was......

Also, you'll note all the nice clothes on the kids, except for Carson. I didn't get the memo that they should be dressed up and Carson doesn't have a single shirt that isn't a t-shirt or uber casual. I did put him in jeans! Oops.  Max was so funny during the ceremony. He kept squealing and clapping, just a little early or late and so he got a lot of attention. He is pretty dang cute if I do say so.