So yes, it's been nearly a year since i've updated. I think the time goes by so quickly--and the days are filled with such quotidian, mundane tasks and occurrences--that it never seems like it would be remotely interesting to anyone else to hear of our happenings. But having been thoroughly harangued by enough friends, i've decided to catch up on the past year. Here goes. And yes, it's all out of order. Of course.
Harry and Brice at Halloween. Harry is wearing the exact same costume he wore last year. He wore a different one to his school parade, but since that was a total disaster, we were both happy to toss that back in the closet and choose one with better memories attached. Brice. Oh, Brice. Every year we say "nothing scary!" and each year he chooses some form of a skeleton. But I swear that he did not wear this mask when actually trick-or-treating.
This year I outsourced the coloring of the Easter eggs. Both sets of grandparents were in town for Easter so I "let" them help the kids color eggs. "You get to color eggs with the boys!!!" They knew exactly what was going on, but were still troopers and more patient than I would have been. Harrison was baptized at the Easter Vigil that evening by our Bishop, so it was really lovely that both sets of grandparents could be there.
This is from when we volunteered with Greater Chicago Food Depository. We really want the boys to start learning that the world doesn't begin and end in Wheaton and that people in need don't live far away from them. Brice has been talking about it ever since. He worked at our station for a bit, but then ventured out to collect the stragglers (like his brother, see below) and organized them around a different project.
I am not a crafty person. I don't own a glue gun. I've baked and decorated cookies with the boys exactly once. But this year they begged an impressive amount, and I began to feel like the Grinch. So, one day I pulled on my big-girl pants, sat them both at the island, and cranked up A Charlie Brown Christmas. And we made cookies, homemade frosting, and decorated it all with sprinkles. Then we made this monstrosity. Full Disclosure: Seth did the Christmas Tree with them. I was tapped out by the time this rolled around. But we all survived and might even go for it again next year. Ho ho ho.
This is the kids sledding with friends in May. Ok, maybe i'm exaggerating, but have you heard about the winter we had? It did actually snow IN MAY. But not that much. This was around the beginning of the year. Each kid took their sled pod and the dads took them all sledding.
Brice and Scully snuggling. They are the best of buds. The first year having a puppy is not too dissimilar from adopting a wild animal. There were many times I questioned my sanity in getting one. He bit everyone, barked constantly (that hasn't changed), chewed up every single shoe in the house, chewed furniture, cupboards, you name it. He took a full year to potty train. But he and Brice have a really sweet relationship now and I often find them laying on the floor snuggling in the morning. Totally worth it.
This is Harry in the fall with his "ready confetti" that his teacher gave to all the kids to put under their pillow the night before school started. The school turned out to be a disaster. Harry, like his brother, was diagnosed with adhd. And going to a "normal" school just didn't pan out. He couldn't sit still during circle time, acts younger than he is, has some sensory and fine motor issues, and just didn't "fit." And what's worse, he knew it and felt it. We were really blessed to find a local Montessori school that had space for him and he began there in January. It's made all the difference for him. He went from being upset and withdrawn for months to being the sweet, happy, easygoing Harrison he's always been.
I love Fall. I love everything about it. The light coats, the crisp air that smells perfect, apples, leaves, cider, just everything. We went way north to our favorite orchard where they have a huge variety of apples, plus pumpkins, a petting zoo, a small train for the littles, and a great little restaurant. There's just no better way to spend a Saturday in October.
I love this picture. You can tell exactly how Harry feels about wearing a silly hat and posing for a picture. His teacher framed this for him and let him take it home. He took it out of his backpack and tossed it into the back of his closet. So there! I think it was an extension about how he felt at that school in general. I love the shirt he's wearing here. His grandmother had it made in China for him and notice they didn't manage to spell Spider-Man correctly. When she pointed this out to the guy he said, "it's okay! Look, the shirt says, 'Don't worry.'"
Flu Season. Seth got hit the hardest and was out of commission for a week. And even then was barely hanging on. The boys didn't have the flu, but got something a bit milder. I made everyone wear masks. I was the only one, mercifully, that didn't get sick. But then our washer broke and I spent the week running back and forth to our laundromat. Of course, right?
This is Harry's best bud, Lucy. He went off to Montessori with a lot of nervousness and Lucy made him feel right at home. Here they are at DuPage Children's Museum. Lucy is a strong-willed, outspoken and take-charge kind a gal and Harry is quite charmed by it all.
Over spring break, Brice went to stay with my parents, and I had Harry all to myself. One day we decided to have a picnic with dad at work. We laid out a proper blanket and had a nice spread.
I took the boys to the zoo and we went to the Children's Play Area. Brice headed straight for the desk and pretend computer. The place was full of animals, face painting, gardens, yet B heads straight for "the place where the Boss sits." World, you have been forewarned!
Seth's parents came to visit in April. Their birthdays always fall on the time they are with us, so we took them to Bob Chins to celebrate. This is one of those legendary restaurants that is so hyped you assume it can't possibly be that good. But it was.
This is Harry on the last day of school. He just could not stand still when I want to take a picture, so this is the best I could get. I feel like after a disastrous beginning to the school year, we found a great fit and got our happy kid back. He's got holes in his jeans, tattoos up his arm, a lollipop in his mouth, and a smile on his face. Perfect.
