We had Jay and Parker's 5-year and 2-year well visits (yes, Parker's was about 5 months behind schedule). Wayne was along in preparation for his next well visit, when he will need some shots. It turns out I'm not sure if this visit helped prepare Wayne too much, because Jay and Parker were really unaffected by the shots. Parker didn't cry at his 18-month shots either. He is a bit of a beast. (Jay, I think, would have if I hadn't pointed out to him that Kelsey didn't cry at her kindergarten shots. Challenge accepted!)
below: we "celebrated" their courage and bravery (haha) at a park
below: Wayne and Parker with pals Maya and Georgia
Random stuff....
below: Parker likes to pack himself a lunch every morning while I am packing the girls' lunch.
below: ready for school!
below: I took this pic bc the three boys were literally sitting and reading books. that, my folks, is picture-worthy.
At the beginning of September, Jenny Moo treated me and a couple friends to her and Luke's Cubs seats. It was so fun! I hadn't been to a game in ten years (-:
below: the only time the boys have needed jeans and hoodies so far this September. It has been a hot, hot month. Most days it's in the mid-80s.
below: Parker likes to tell us he has to go pee pee but then nothing comes out. Could he be pee-shy? I can't figure it out. He also can't will himself to go outdoors. (Much to Jay's chagrin.)
below: a little chair and a little bird
below: How Parker spends his time if he wakes up before 6:30am. I put on a half hour Paw Patrol show. If it's after that, he doesn't get a show. (-:
Our Labor Day weekend started out with some excitement...we spent the night at a friend's lakehouse while Opa baby-sat the kids! I was so nervous about leaving Wayne but Opa knew exactly how to handle him. It was really impressive.
below: Jonathan and the water sports. The only water sport I did was "boat riding."
below: the basement has been overrun by a railroad.
below: Parker likes to pick out his own clothes, usually in the same color. haha. He displays them until Mommy can put them on for him. The only thing he can put on by himself are his shorts.
below: Tada! Finished product!
Our Labor Day was pretty simple! Monday morning we headed to the Naperville Parade, which is our tradition! It was so so hot.
below: sweating and waiting for the parade to begin!
below: Third parade in 3 months! An ol' pro!
Courtney and Kurt and cousins Sutton and Kaiden joined us for the parade which was extra fun! Then they came over for lunch.
After naps, we took the kids to the pool to cool off after that hot parade!
Kelsey doing random ballet moves?
below: It was the last day the pool was open for the summer! We will miss it so much!
below: another day, another outfit choice by Bubba
below: On Tuesday, September 6, we went downtown to officially adopt Wayne! We had to wait six months (a rule in Illinois) to pursue adopting him officially and so we started the process at the beginning of July with our attorney.
below: walking through the streets of Chicago to the Judge
below: the waiting room was really fun! There were several adoptive families there
below: having a snack!
below: waiting to get called into the Judge!
The interview with the Judge was really straight-forward. She gave all the kids "beenie babies" stuffed animals to celebrate. It's interesting to know that's where all those beeny babies landed after that toy craze in the 90s.
below: official family pic!
below: the boys missed their nap...oh wait, they caught one on the drive home!
below: Parker continued his nap indoors on the sofa. It's exhausting adopting a brother.
below: I got this old toy that the girls used to love out for Wayne and Parker. They enjoyed it thoroughly for 3-4 minutes.
below: first official dinner as an official family!
below: I got some Amazon gifts for Calla's birthday and the boys were very thankful (for the use of the boxes)
below: another hot September day!
below: a make-shift water slide. Parker is not a fan but Jay and Wayne loved this
below: Our neighbor, Gabby, has some fun gymnastics equipment and the girls love having her "train" them . (Sadly, Parker also likes to participate)
below: impromptu hugs
below: another day, another lunch. sigh.
below: I took this picture at a park because it illustrates how lazy this pregnant mommy has gotten (I am sitting on a bench, telling Parker to please wait a few more minutes before mommy stands up and pushes him hahaha)
Okay, drumroll, finally up to Calla's birthday weekend!
Friday evening we had the school's annual Fall Fest! It is always a fun time.
Calla and Kelsey spent most of the night doing the Cakewalk. Parker walked with them for it least an hour. It was so relaxing to have him occupied! ha! Wayne did it with Kelsey once or twice but thought the whole thing was a bore. (-:
below: (Parker's shirt got spilled on)
below: I promise there were more activities. I was mostly watching the kids do the cakewalk. Jay enjoyed watching the "dunk tank." (-:
below: another day, another Parker outfit
below: Jonathan made Calla a special green pepper omelet and sausage for her birthday. She loves green peppers. Odd! (-:
below: Mimi got Calla a huge lego kit and she spent it least 4-5 hours on it over the course of her birthday
below: Saturday afternoon, best gal pals Annie and Molly came over for a tea party. I thought they would think it was proper and grown up but they thought the tea tasted weird and gross so there was a lot of spitting it out of the sink and laughing hysterically (-:
Below: a soccer player, also participating in the tea party...
below: carrying the birthday girl to her presents
On Calla's birthday in the evening, we had family over for pizza and cake. Stephen's family was sick but Uncle Ben, Aunt Courtney + fam and Opa were here.
below: Parker and Sutton like to sit in the chairs, where there's more autonomy involved haha.
below: Kelsey made Calla this gift, which I cannot figure out...
below: Calla received a tennis racket and balls from Opa, which her brother quickly hijacked..
below: Calla requested a dirt pie for her birthday cake. I think I made one for Jay and also one for Kelsey. I hope I go a couple more years before I have to make/eat that again (-:
The day after Calla's birthday, we went to church and then Daddy took the three boys home and Calla, Kelsey and I headed downtown for Calla's special "birthday outing." Instead of a party, I took the girls and their American Girl dolls to the American Girl Cafe. I was so excited! (They were too!)
below: appetizers with the dollies
below: looking age 9!
below: displaying her new "cross" necklace from Mimi and Pops!
We spent a couple hours browsing the store. Mommy's feet were hurting really bad. hahaha
Since it was a special occasion, I also let the girls choose one doll to get the doll's ears pierced. They were so excited! The piercing came with some extra pairs of earrings so they have enjoyed replacing their earrings multiple times a day ever since. (-:
Once we got home, the boys were ready to be pulled in their wagon. Sigh. (-:
below: The girls also randomly dressed Parker up in dress-ups. He was ticked. They also dressed Wayne up and he was not ticked. (I should have gotten a picture of him standing next to Parker, beaming.)
That's all for now!
