Happy Father's Day!

Apparently our family tradition is to perform Daddy's Homecoming on the fireplace (see last year) for Father's Day.

Things to look for:

1) Panty flash right at the onset - just to get every one's attention.

2) Love, love, love the delayed actions of Lauren.

3) Lauren gearing up for the grand finale.

Bonus footage: this is for those of you who don't get to witness on a regular basis how quickly Vincent's personality can change. Even Lauren is confused, then empathetic, then just ignores him.

I do love the way Vincent refers to Hadley as 'Had'.

P.S. My kids inherit their tone-deafness from me.

Daddy-Daughter-Date

Last night Chris got to take Hadley out for an impromptu Daddy-Daughter-Date. There were other plans but Vincent crashed before 6:30pm for the night and I was tired from the battle. They went to Ruby's to have a Strawberry shake with whipped cream and a cherry on top - a treat Hadley eyed last time we were there and said she wanted to come back for sometime.

We are so lucky to have precious, sweet, kind little Hadley in our lives and I am grateful for a husband who tries to find the time to spend one-on-one time with the kids.

Little Lor Lor

I cannot believe that in 2 months this little one will be a big sister! Seems impossible and, quite frankly, a little frightening as she is definitely a stubborn little bugger. While she loves her big brother and sister she does not love sharing mommy or daddy with them, or any toys for that matter. I am glad that they are so patient with her and that they still believe when she hits them on the head that she is playing her own version of 'Duck Duck Goose.'

Coloring with markers before church.

Helping daddy with the pool. Note the dirt on her hand that she is looking at - or is that marker? no matter - she doesn't mind being dirty.

Two blankie buddies.


Demonstrating her true lust for life!

P.S. For all you Landmeier's out there, don't you think she has the most Landmeier looks of all my kids?

Who Invented Boys?

I know it is a common topic of conversation among young mothers of toddlers: which are more difficult to raise? boys or girls? I would say the typical consensus I get is that boys are more difficult. The saying "boys will be boys" is not lost on, well, boys obviously. Did you ever wonder why there isn't an equivalent saying, "girls will be girls"?

Vincent has proven to be no exception to the question - 'now why on earth would you do that?' or 'where do you get an idea like that.' (To be fair, Hadley, my first, has always been a very well-mannered and easy child so I am not comparing the two, just noting that their behavior seems to be gender-specific.)

Some examples to illustrate to my point.

I've only ever had to call poison control (more than once) for him.

He used to eat dirt, leaves, sand - whatever.

He stuffs toys that don't belong in other toys, rendering them useless.

He's locked himself in the bathroom (I'm starting to think he just likes drama.)

At Disneyland yesterday, A. Molly caught him eating cupcake crumbs off the ground after I found him putting bark down a hole in the cement - where do they find these things?

And the scariest one today is when my neighbor rang my doorbell, her heart racing, to tell me my son was hanging out of the upstairs window b/c the screen was torn. What?!?! It is a small dormer window with a very very very steep roof, not to mention drop! She'd seen him from across the street and was scared to death - I am grateful for people like this, even if it was a little embarrassing.

P.S. I'm not even going to mention the brother of mine who ate a bottle of little capsules used to make my dad's toy steam locomotive smoke. I can still picture him showing me and wondering if steam was going to start coming out of his ears.

P.S.S. Or the drowned mice.

P.S.S.S. Or the chemical mixture that disintegrated a glass jar. 

P.S.S.S.S. Is it my husband that asked his brother to shoot him in the back with a paintball gun? Seriously boys, what is up with you?

The Rest of May Update

Vincent on his way in to surgery. The circles under his eyes are indicative of how little sleep we all got since we had to be at the hospital at 5:30 am. He had also been given drowsy medicine that made him a little loopy.

Recovery. His little arm is so cute in the blood pressure cuff. He was a real trooper and was prepared and even almost anxious about his surgery and kept asking when it would happen. His favorite part: probably getting the hospital bracelets and getting to wear them on his ankles. Least favorite: vomiting right as we were leaving outside the hospital. My favorite: making him laugh and seeing him wake up. Least favorite: the nurse having me hold the gauze over his hand after she took out the IV - even after I had stepped out of the room b/c I didn't want to watch it come out. (Seriously, if I couldn't look at it, why would I want to do her job and hold it tight right afterwards?)

A little shout out: thanks to my MIL for coming out late the night before and spending the night so Chris and I could both go to the hospital. She took care of the girls until we came home and spent most of the day with us only to get in the worst holiday traffic on her way back home.

Hadley's last soccer practice/game. She was much more excited to run and chase the ball around to cheer others on than actually kicking it herself.

And this is what Vincent did on the sidelines even though he was on the team as well. (I will always reflect back fondly on his $75 soccer t-shirt b/c he really only ever participated twice.)

Lauren had to try on the socks Vincent got from the hospital. She likes the little rubber texture on them.

May Update

We went with Gma & Gpa & A.Molly to the CalPoly farm show.

Lauren loves a teepee and getting her picture taken!

Vincent was very excited to go on the Fathers-and-Sons overnighter. (Hadley was excited too!).

Watch Out Food Network . . .

. . . there's a new star in town! Here is Vincent honing his skills for his new show "Cooking On the Counter".

Seriously though, he is so fun to cook with and clearly really likes to get involved. He isn't afraid of the mixer like his sisters anymore and actually helped hold it today instead of covering his ears.

P.S. Is anyone starting to wonder if I ever dress Vincent? He really does prefer being sans clothing and we're gearing up for another round of potty training this week.