Brothers

Somebody to play ball with...


Somebody to conquer mountains with...


Somebody to spy with...


Somebody to storm beaches with...


Somebody to have a good laugh with...


Somebody to give you an extra hand when needed...

Best Friends...Buddies...Brothers

Just Pictures

A couple of pictures of Paul during our walk today and one of Jason at the park yesterday.

I love that my husband is into photography.

Whoever thought of putting tiny decorative grooves on baseboards should have their head examined! I had to scrunch up the cloth to fit in the crack, because, of course, the groove is not finger-size. It's just big enough for dust and dirt! It made, for what should be a quick cleaning job, to be very time consuming.

It was probably the same guy who thought of putting grooves on cabinet doors for dust to collect there too.

Bullets

• We've moved Paul into Seth and Jason's room. He had decided that he didn't like sleeping alone. He is doing really well with staying in his big boy bed...got out only the first 3 days and now he is staying put. After the year-long battle we had with getting Jason to stay in his bed, this just seems too good to be true. Seth and Jason are both on the top bunks now and loving the new sleeping arrangements.

• We moved the crib into our bedroom for Morgan. He has outgrown the Moses basket and doesn't like the hardness of a pack-n-play. So now he has a big bed with a soft mattress.

• Morgan weighs 17 1/2 lbs as of this morning.

• I've tested dairy for the cause of Morgan's eczema and it is the culprit. After taking dairy out of my diet for a week the eczema was gone. I had diary for one day and it came back. So once it clears up again he should be eczema free. Yeah!! I am so going to miss my once-in-a-while chocolate treat. :(

• Jason and Paul have started playing together nicely. Yesterday Jason put Paul's coat on him, took him outside and helped him get on the trampoline...all without my knowing! I think I was upstairs taking care of laundry. We told Jason not to go out with asking first, but it was really neat to see Jason taking care of his little brother. He will also comfort Paul when he is crying...giving him hugs, telling him "It's okay." or giving him toys. It is wonderful to see Jason's gentle side showing through.

• Morgan can roll both ways now. He has also become very good at grasping his toys. He would get so frustrated with his toys when he was trying to pick them up and couldn't. He's happy with his newly developed abilities.

Comparison Pictures

Just for fun here is a picture of Paul and Morgan at roughly the same age to compare. I'll let you figure out who is who, seeing how they just look sooo much alike. lol!

Inspirational Reading

We have been faithfully getting books at the library for the past 3 weeks. I am really enjoying having new reading material and Seth and Jason are loving story time now. It is wonderful to see them so interested in the books. I really want to instill a love for reading in them.

This past week one of the books I picked up was "The Gingerbread Man". Seth was so inspired by the story that he wanted to make a gingerbread man of his own.

So while Morgan dressed up to go to a Mother/Daughter banquet with me...


...the other boys made gingerbread men with their daddy.

Much of the cookie dough was eaten before it ever reached the oven. Isn't that what making cookies is all about!?! And they are completely whole wheat so I'm sure taste pretty cardboardy, but... The boys loved them and had a wonderful time making gingerbread men just like in the storybook. Although Seth jokingly did want to know why they were not growing, jumping out of the oven and running off.

As for Morgan and myself... We had a lovely time at the banquet. I also heard the wonderful news of friends expecting their first baby come September.

Paint and Homework

I got the paints out for Jason and Paul the other day. Aren't I just the coolest mom!?!


Not really. Those paints were given to us in July and they have been collecting dust in my cupboard ever since. I didn't want the mess that they were sure to bring...and did, as you can tell from the pictures.


The whole painting thing kept their interest for... oh, about 20 minutes. Then it was into the bath for the two of them where they happily played together for over an hour. SO maybe the mess was worth it. Of course, they did take their shoes into the tub with them and my floor got an impromptu mop...but that's okay. It needed it.


Meanwhile...

Seth was having his first, and certainly not his last, homework session. I know these pictures make it look like he was diligently working away, but don't be fooled. This one worksheet took him over an hour to complete!




Any tips on how to get him to concentrate, pay attention, stop talking, stop laughing and sit still?

A Boy and his Bunny

The special bond between Paul and Napoleon is sweet to see.


Paul likes to play with with Napoleon's toys, his tunnel, his food, his water, his litter...


Paul wants to visit with Napoleon everyday and scrunch his pudgy fingers in soft bunny fur.


Paul loves his little furry friend and Napoleon loves him back.

A Funny

Jason: "I am not going to obey! I'm a soldier!"

I think he has the wrong idea of the military.

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In celebration of Valentine's Day we are having a family night at the pictures right here in the comfort of our own living room. "Curious George" is on the schedule complete with a big screen picture, popcorn and chocolate. I know you all are just green with envy right now. HaHa!

Holiday, Part 2

Today we took a ride on the wonderful and oh, so coveted train!!!


Jason, true to form, balked at a new situation and was grumpy and glum-faced for the first half hour. I had a little chat with him to try to cheer him up. I asked him if he liked the train. He said, "No!" And the reason...This train is black. He does not like black trains. He likes white, red, blue and green trains. And to top it off the seats were red and he wanted them yellow. Poor little guy, it just about ruined his day. After a few cuddles he was able to get over his disappointment of riding on a black train with red seats. *insert rolled eyes*

The couple who shared our train car must have cringed when they saw us board. So much for their peaceful ride through quiet countryside...they were now accompanied by 3 boys who talk and move nonstop and a baby who was tired and didn't want to sleep. They went and found another car to ride home in. lol! That's okay. We paid for our tickets too. Well, actually we didn't. They were given to us, but someone paid for them.

Holiday

I can not believe the weather we are having right now. It isn't raining and is suppose to be around 50 all week. Since the boys don't have school this week I thought we should take advantage of the break in rain and cold. We need a little holiday after two months of sickness and the fresh air will do everybody some good. Although as our neighbor lady said...I just hope this isn't our summer we are having. That happened last year. We had a gorgeous few weeks in April and then it was rainy and cold the whole summer. :(

We are trying to do something special as a family each day this week. Yesterday we took the boys to the beach. We walked along the pram and then the boys threw stones in the water for a while. They played at the playground and then Caleb took Seth and Jason up the "mountain" (It's a big hill really.) behind playground. Lots of fun!!

Today we went shopping in Bangor for a few groceries that are not sold locally. I took a picnic lunch with us. The plan was to find a playground in Bangor, but Seth and Jason said they wanted to go back to the beach playground. So we did. Had our picnic. Played. Went up the "mountain" again, only this time we all went.

Paul walking along the "mountain" ridge...

And then being escorted back...

Seth and Jason mountain climbing...


Morgan enjoying the fresh seaside air...

Growing

Happy 5 months, Sweet Morgan!!!

Teething has begun this past month. He started waking up around 4 each morning to feed and then would lay there moaning and groaning about his teeth for about 2 hours. He wasn't resting well and neither was I. So I ordered him one of those amber teething necklaces. Since he started wearing it I have noticed such a difference in him. He is sleeping through the night again. He still chews on anything he gets his hands on but he is no longer complaining while he does.

Poor little guy has developed a nasty case of eczema on his cheeks and all around his neck. I hope it doesn't last too long. I'm not really sure what to do to help it clear up faster.

He likes to lay on his belly to play with his toys and can roll from belly to back. He has recently started joining us at the table for dinner. He's not eating any food yet, but he sits in one of the booster seats and plays with his toys.

Valentine Survey

I found this survey and thought it would be fun to do. Feel free to take it and do it for yourselves.

How did you meet your significant other? Answer all the questions HONESTLY and re post as " How I met _____"

How I met Caleb ~

1. Where did you meet?
Caleb and I emailed each other for 5 months before we met at his brother's apartment a few days before his brother and Ellen, my friend from college, were married.

2. What was the first thought that went through your head when you met?
"He has lots of hair." lol! The only picture I had seen of him was with short hair. I met him just before he went to get a haircut for the wedding.

3. Do you remember what was he wearing?
No. But I image it was a blue shirt and black pants as that was about all he had when we got married.

4. Where was the first time you kissed this person?
On our wedding day. Although if I had it to do over again it would have been different.

5. How did he/she ask you out?
He never did. He was living in Wales at the time and he offhandedly mentioned that I could come to visit if I wanted to. That was the closest thing I got to being asked out. lol!

6. Where did you go for your first date?
Well, after I met him, he and his family all went to Wendy's for lunch. I was invited along. We never had an official first date or any dates for that matter until after we were married.

7.How long did you know this person before you became a couple?
From the time we met it was four months until we were engaged.

8. Has this person ever proposed to you?
Yes. I went to Wales for a 1 month visit. After 2 weeks he popped the question.

9. Do you and this person have kids together?
Yes. 4 boys.

10. Have you ever broken the law with this person?
Not unless you count speeding.

11. When was the first time you realized that you liked this person?
When we were writing before we had met.

12. Do you get along with any of the ex's of your partner?
I've never met her.

13. Do you trust this person?
Completely.

14. Do you see you and your partner in your future?
Yes

15. Whats the most expensive thing this person has given you?
A family.

16. What is one thing he/she does that gets on your nerves?
He is unorganized. He did claim to be an organized person before we were married...I have yet to see it. lol!

17. What is the thing you do that gets on his/her nerves?
I'm not goal oriented. If I set goals they are ones I can reach easily and will probably pass without much effort.

18. Where do you see each other in 15 years from now?

Dealing with our teenagers!

Story Hour

Yesterday Caleb took Jason to Story Hour at the library. My plan was for them to have some special father/son time...a bonding moment...one-on-one attention for Jason. So off they go. Jason sits and listens quietly to the story. Eats his cookie and drinks his juice. Having a lovely time.

Then he tells his daddy he needs to use the toilet. "Okay, lets go to the restroom." says Daddy. "I don't want to go." says Jason "Alright, how about we go get a chocolate and go home." says Daddy.

Jason then proceeded to throw the biggest public fit we have on record here at the Coverett house. The kind where the other parents were shielding their children's eyes from the horrific display. The kicking, screaming, throwing punches kind.

So Jason's special outing ended with him being carried out of the library to be hidden out of sight in the car. Jason's first words to me when they arrived home were..."Daddy wouldn't let me have a chocolate." Well Jason. Son. You wouldn't have gotten any chocolate from me either.

This is a picture from before the meltdown. Doesn't he look angelic?


You've heard of baby wearing, well I'm looking into preschooler wearing. We have found that the best way to keep Jason out of trouble, happy and satisfied with his parental attention is to keep him with either Caleb or me constantly. So not only would Jason be content, but there would be the added bonus of exercise with having a 30lb 3 year old strapped to my back.

Boy Logic

According to Seth a cozy place to rest the back of your head is on a pot of water boiling on the stove. When I turned around and saw him I had visions of his hair bursting into flames like dry straw. Good thing I use so much moisturizer on his hair. :P He singed his hair real good, but thank God the only other damage was my heart attack.

According to Jason when you don't want to brush your teeth the best hiding spot for your toothbrush is .... in the diaper pail, of course! Yuck!

According to Seth after fishing a chopstick out of the toilet, as long as the toilet has been flushed first then there is no need to wash your hands because the water is clean. Yuck again!

According to Paul it is easier to say Dad and Dawn then to say Dad and Mom. And although I do correct him, it is cute to hear my name being called out by such a lovely little baby voice.

Funny Face

This picture made me smile.
He doesn't normally look like this,
but since this funny little face was caught on camera
I had to share.
He reminds me of a little mouse.

Mold, anyone?

Last Sunday we went to church in Llanfairfechan. Never again! We've been paying for it all week. There was black mold in the Sunday School room. All of us except Morgan were in that room and all of us except Morgan have been sick all week.

By Sunday night Paul was walking through the house crying and wailing. Nothing could make him happy. I felt so bad for him. He has had a fever for five days. Poor little guy! He has lost weight too...at least 4lbs.

Jason and Paul both have personality problems after being around mold. It makes our happy child, Paul, miserable. And it makes our semi-happy child, Jason, a little terror. It has been a rough week. They still are not back to normal, but since their health is improving I'm sure their personalities will follow.

We have been having all sorts of health problems for a while now. Then a few weeks ago we found black mold in our upstairs bathroom under the tub from a leak we didn't know about. We cleaned up all we could see and have been keeping the door shut and staying out of there as much as possible.

Things were improving. Paul's rash went away. We saw a happy, pleasant Jason, who we haven't seen in forever. I wasn't even sure he existed, but he does! He was here at our house for about a week!

Last week's mold episode sent us back to square one...

a rotten place to be.