This feels like the day to end all days

Actually the day to end all days would be one in which some tragic thing happened.  Today has just been small things that feel like big things probably because they all happened at around the same time, such as fussy babies that will not stay asleep, kids that don't seem to get filled up, arguments, a three year old trying to forge his own independence which includes him running around in his underwear, throwing wet paper towels on the bathroom walls, and screaming in ear shattering protest at his brother and sister, and messes that are not getting cleaned up.

How do I have time to right this?  There is a brief lull during which I am taking solace at the computer with a scoop of ice cream.  But now, I need to go see what the older kids are getting into and which twin (or both) might be crying, then time for coffee.

Play Ball!

We signed Ethan up for T-ball last summer, and Abbey enjoyed watching him so much that she asked to play this year, so they both got to play in the coach-pitch league.  Eight games in one month, plus a playoff, although they each missed two games for illness and another two for a poorly-scheduled vacation.  They enjoyed it, but neither seem very enthusiastic about playing again next year.  We'll see how they feel next summer.

Isaac always had the option to stay home, but he chose to come to every single practice and every single game.  Maybe he just wanted to stay with his playmates, but I think we'll see about getting him into T-ball next year.

The kids singing to Naomi

Naomi's First Babble

Twins at 2 months

                                    Naomi and Luke are sporting their Mickey and Minnie onsies.

Time for Camping

Anthony and the three older kids just returned from a four-day camping trip to Lake Michigan.  The positive notes were: the tent didn't leak, we enjoyed both a calm lake and a lake with waves, the kids loved their swimming time (at the beach and at the hotel pool), and the kids had a grand time with each other and with their dad.

On the other hand: Dad demonstrated that he doesn't know much about lighting fires, dinner got burned, we got locked out of the car and the car broke down, and we spent way too much money at concession stands and campground stores.

On the way!

Sliding down the giant waterslide, which was about two stories tall. 

Isaac does not like to get water in his eyes, so he absolutely declined playing in the lake, swimming in the pool, going down the waterslide, or even walking in the wet sand.  But he is always very cute.  Here he was patiently waiting for Abbey and Ethan to go down the waterslide.

Climbing the huge root-tree at the beach.

Enjoying the campfire.  It was warm most of the time but a sweatshirt still felt good at times.

Reading Dr. Suess

                                       I guess the repetition of Dr. Suess was too much for Isaac:)