Brian turns 32!

Froggy potty goes everywhere with us!

We had a very nice long weekend at home. Friday night we went out to dinner to celebrate Brian's birthday. Saturday we worked around the house and that evening we were very fortunate to have a few hours kid-free (big thank you to G&G Bretz!). So, we did what we used to do pre-kids. We got the bikes down and rode around 20 miles through the hills of St Wendel, down thru St Joe, and then back home across 66. We threw in a pizza, and had a few beers -- all in front of the TV! On Sunday, Brian turned 32. The kids were so happy to give him his gifts they picked out -- a rubber tent mallet from Patrick (?) and a new water bottle from Lucy. We also picked out some new sandals for the beach, an American-pride t-shirt, and a nice map of Yellowstone for this summer. After breakfast, we loaded up and headed out to New Harmonie for the morning. The boys fished a little bit (like 20 mins, per Patrick 'the fish just weren't biting!'), and the kids rode their bikes and played on the playground. After grilling hotdogs, we headed home for naps. That evening, the Bretz's came down to celebrate over carrot cake and ice cream.

In other news, Lucy has made some great strides over the weekend. Only one near-miss today and many unprompted successes with the potty training. She is very close to getting the big prize -- a shopping cart she has been eyeing at Target. She also has learned how to pedal her trike. A big weekend for a little girl!

Happy Birthday Patrick!

Patrick celebrated his 4th birthday this weekend and we threw one FUN party! His day started with a new bike, which was a great distraction til the party kicked up later. He was very excited to have a 'big bike' with handbrakes and training wheels. I don't expect he will have the training wheels on for long, though! The party theme was monster truck and we rented this awesome bounce house for the day, which was a hit with the little kids...and the big ones too! Patrick was impressed that it came with a popcorn maker, saying "it's just like at Rural King!!" Grammie and Papa as well as Cory, Carissa and the kids arrived that afternoon. Friends and family continued to show up and we enjoyed a nice evening. They weather cooperated and there were plenty of things to keep the kids entertained and happy. Patrick had been eyeing my slow creation of his cake, was very pleased to finally be able to pull the toys off the top and dig in. Or mostly just have the toys :) He received many nice presents and has been occupied with checking out each and every one since. Late into the evening, tents went up in the yard. Papa fell asleep with Morgan, Nolan, and Patrick in the tent (amazingly, not that Papa was asleep but the fact that the kids were). The McNulty kids ended up on a palette in the house -- but Papa, Daddy, and Patrick slept the night away outside. We enjoyed a big breakfast this morning and more playing before the cousins left. What a FUN FUN weekend! And what a very lucky little boy!

Last Day of Preschool

Wow. Where has this year gone? Today was Patrick's last day of preschool. He has grown up so much this year and we couldn't be happier with Resurrection and his progress. Patrick is one of the younger ones in his class, so we have decided to give him another year of preschool before pre-K, so we are very fortunate to be able to spend the next 3 years with Ms. Greene and Mrs. Greulich between the two kids. Besides the academic portion, he has grown so much socially and spiritually as we have become a greater part of the Parish. In fact, most of his questions about God, Jesus, and heaven leave us fumbling for an answer. His best friend is a little girl named Aubree, and we have become closer to her family. Fortunately for us, her sister Alyssa will be in Patrick's class next year and throughout the coming years. When I was a kid, it was tradition to go to McDonald's on the last day of school for lunch. So that's what we did today, and half a dozen of his friends joined us. Hello summer!

Mothers Day Weekend

What a great Mothers Day weekend! We headed up to Indy early Friday morning and celebrated Aunt Colleen and Uncle Phil's 25th wedding anniversary at Hillcrest Country Club that evening. Saturday morning we worked in the yard a bit after Brian tilled up a newly expanded bed in my parents backyard. Later that morning, Mom, Molly and I went shopping and out to lunch at Paradise, one of our favorites. After mass that evening, everyone came back to Mom and Dad's for tacos and more fun. Mothers Day morning we had a nice breakfast, walked to the park with the kids, and Brian and I went for a nice quiet jog while Grammie kept the kids. That evening we had dinner at Molly and Doug's to celebrate his graduation as well as Mothers Day. Patrick gave me a very nice handmade card and a potted flower that he made at preschool. We jammied the kids up and headed home late, a trial to what it will be like when we drive through the night next month as we head down south. Patrick was asleep within minutes and Lucy jabbered for a bit, but both were sound asleep when we pulled in the driveway. A very peaceful end to Mother's Day. I can't wait to use my gift from the kids -- a pedicure before vacation! I am so blessed.

Warmer days ahead of us...

We have been keeping quite busy these last few weeks. We've had our share of home projects and the usual outdoor chores that come with warmer weather. It's nice this year that Brian is actually able to cut the yard while the kids play around him. A first since Patrick has been born! We spend a lot of time playing in the yard, picnicking out our back door, riding bikes, jogging, and playing on the swingset. We've caught frogs and turtles, and pet the horses that belong to our neighbor.

Patrick is wrapping up the last few weeks of preschool and preparing for his 4th birthday on the 22nd. Tomorrrow night is the end of the year program at Resurrection, which we are all looking forward to. The theme is dinosaurs and the kids are going to be dressed as paleontologists. Should be pretty sweet -- definitely getting out the video camera for this one. He is well into his tumbling class at Mega, and really enjoying it. In fact, yesterday I caught him doing a back walkover off our bed! He continues to make us laugh, this weekend telling us urgently that he heard on his weather radio that "there's going to be a storm on Earth!". His energy, curiousity, and determination often get him in the corner, but we try to remember that these personality traits will serve him very well as he grows up.

Lucy is beginning to enter a defiant stage, trying out the word "no" and running away from us when we call her. Patrick scolds her like he has heard SOOOO many times before, today I heard him threatening to put a toy up in response to her behavior and he said to me "I just don't know what is WRONG with her today!". I guess it reaffirms that HE isn't deaf to our discipline :) Regardless, she is very sweet and intelligent. Spells her name and loves reading her books, like her brother. And mother :) Loves her weekly tumbling class as well (correcting her Dad's reference to her 'tutu' by saying "It's not a tutu is a LEOTARD"), and is practically crawling up the plexiglass during Patrick's time. No interest in potty training, and I have no interest in pushing it either. Probably end up pulling the same "they don't make diapers anymore for three year olds" card that worked like a charm for her brother.

The kids are excited about the beach and spending time with their cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents and then some. We are really hoping the oil steers clear of St George Island, so we can enjoy a week of relaxation on the beach and fishing in the ocean. They have moments of nice play, both loving to pretend. I think this week they have been cats with twine tied around their waists (a tail, of course) as well as turtles with backpacks on (their shell). The Gator is still very popular and Patrick loves chauferring her around the yard. And our bed is apparently a prime spot to watch cartoons :)