Apparently size matters

Well - at least to Patrick. For the past month he keeps asking me either before or after him using the bathroom or the tub if he has a big penis. I tell him its the perfect size for a little boy now leave it alone! He has even bragged to his brothers that he has a big penis. Gosh, can't wait till he hits puberty!

In other news.. Baseball season is wrapping up. James had his last game last night and John is almost finished with their season ending tournament. John's team made it to the championship where they will play at Captains Stadium. I think more than anything he is really excited about playing on their field. I regret not asking for a new coach for James this year. Not once did they play catch before a game. She really didn't have much control over the kids. I don't think James got to be the home run hitter once but he got to play first base almost every game. I really have to think about putting Patrick in t-ball. I think he will enjoy the social aspect but hope that he will learn a little bit about the game. James is to move up to baseball next year and I'm not sure how ready he is. It will definitely be a learning experience for him.

John going off the dive

He did this on Wednesday and then Thursday when I didn't have my phone he did a cannon ball! Friday he wouldn't do the cannon ball again so I couldn't film it.

The joy of raising boys - not!

Let me tell you how much summer fun I was having yesterday. After swimming lessons Patrick & James inform me they both have to go the bathroom before I know it they are running into the boys room which was great for me. They both finish and because they had on a wet suit they came out with their pants around their ankles just like they would if they were at home looking for some help. I had to explain that not everyone wants to see their privates. So then we headed to the other park in the city that has the Splash Park. We have fun and before we leave Patrick has to use the bathroom again. Before I know it he is in the boys room again. Fine. I open the door - Patrick anyone in hear with you? No. What's this? he asks me. Don't touch it. He continues to ask so at this point I need to be in there with him so he doesn't touch it - too late. Patrick its something to make it not stink in here. He pees and wants to touch it AGAIN!! No Patrick don't touch. Let's wash our hands. Yea me!

The good news from this week is John gained enough courage to jump off the low dive in 12 feet of water. It took 3 days but he did it. He is doing amazing at swimming the pool. I'm quite impressed with his backstroke. James & Patrick are actually getting along great. They have a different teacher than James had last year and I can see they are enjoying it a lot. She is getting them to go under water a lot of times. Tommy has become more attached to me. He won't put anything in the garbage can for me. I think he would rather be with his brothers but for now he's my baby.

James, James, James

As I mentioned earlier this week, James turned 5. He had a wonderful birthday full of presents and love. On Tuesday I sat him down to start writing thank you notes an idea he rejected. So I said we only have to one a day to help ease the pain. I want him to practice both capital and lower letters but I was getting a lot of resistence so I said fine write in all caps. That helped move things along for us. I am here to write things I noticed. First, James will write with either his left or right hand. His right hand writing is much better. Hopefully this left hand habit will leave or come in handy should he break his right hand. Second, he thinks of a story for EVERY letter you tell him to write. L – Luke from school, O – Owen from school, V – Olivia from school, E – Just like me. Then he would throw in a few jokes when I would tell him to write a “u” he would reply “no you”. When he focused on writing and not associating a letter with something we were moving and grooving otherwise it was like I had to hit him upside the head to refocus his attention. Luckily he has his 5 year old check up Tuesday so I can talk to the Doctor about it. Not sure if this is a sign of ADHD or just a 5 year old’s mind wandering. He doesn’t know yet about the doctors appointment. I don’t want him to start fretting about the shots he is about to get. There will be plenty of time for that later. I am planning on James and John doing some sort of school related thing during the summer. Maybe 2 or 3 times a week so they retain what they learned and continue to improve.

It's been a long time

I can't believe how long it has been since I had an entry. I have been microblogging with Twitter. Sometimes its just easier to write down a few thoughts on the go rather than finding time to sit down at the computer to type.

Today is James' 5th birthday! He was up at 4:50am with birthday excitement and the need to use the bathroom. I remember the adrenaline rush I felt after he was born after spending the whole night in labor. Needless to say I wasn’t feeling the same rush especially after Patrick was up at 5am .
I can’t believe I’m about to type this but I think Patrick decided he wants to be a big boy. It started off last week by him using the bathroom more and more. He has been in underwear for just one day and he has had no accidents. I signed him up for swimming lessons that start in July but if this keeps up I think I will see if they have room for him when the lessons start in June!
John had Opening Day for his baseball league on Saturday. The league had everyone go to Classic Park for player introductions, the National Anthem, and a baloon launch. It was a very neat experience. We then had his first game at the ballfield in our city.
Tommy is making a funny noise that we are not sure what prompted it but it cracks us up. Matt got it on video. Speaking of videos I was looking at some old ones when James was a baby and John was 2 or 3. I was tearing up at how cute they were and how I miss having a little baby. I don’t miss it enough to have another one but it was nice to enjoy them when they were little. It was also funny to see Patrick and Tommy’s reaction when they weren’t there!

A good quote

This was too funny not to mention - While I was doing the dishes tonight and John was eating dinner he said when I get older I'm going to be hurt alot. I said not if you take care of your body. He said - well look at the Keough's - their knees and this house. Tommy caught his hands on fire. No John he burnt his hands on something that was hot - but I could see how he would think this. I'm still laughing on the inside.

A light at the end of the tunnel??

Yesterday - Patrick had his BEST potty training day ever. He was so close to a perfect day. I even had him on the potty one more time before he went to bed. He had one accident after he went upstairs but told Matt he pooped his pants and can't go to school yet. Today again another great day but he didn't tell me he had to go and pooped his pants. I'm so encouraged that he is getting it. On Sunday I finally got the kid a pooping prize one that he could cherish and I take away when he doesn't comply. Today he doesn't seem to be missing it that much but he sure enjoyed it yesterday!

Today was a lot of fighting. Tommy is getting older and wanting to do what the kids do and now Wii is one of those things. It makes it difficult because he doesn't have the skills to do anything but shake the remote. I'm so enjoying the peace that nap time brings. John had an early release day and is over a friends house so it is quiet.

Speaking of John, ever since I got a Cavs jersey he has been wanting one. I got him one on Sunday and he was so excited he wanted to know when he could wear it. I said let's see when the Cavs play again & you can wear it on that day. It turned out they play tonight so it gave me a chance to wash it. Last night John asked me if he could get dressed after he got up and went the bathroom - something he never does! I said - yes. It must have felt like Christmas eve for him as he was up around 5:30am and he was dressed shortly there after. He can't wait until he can wear it again. The Cavs play Thursday but he'll have to wait until Saturday (their next game after that)!

This afternoon I had the boys work on signing their names on their Valentine cards for their class. Poor James - you think his name was a mile long - he can't fit it into the little spot and every letter is capitalized - I think I'll end writing his name for him!