Father's Day

I think we had a pretty successful Father's Day. I took pictures of the boys after I found an awesome 4 picture 4 x 6 frame that Matt could have for his office. I like that all the frames are 4 x 6. Now the only thing I need to remember is that 2 are horizontal and 2 are landscape. Trying to take "nice" pictures for this frame was a bit of a chore. Sometimes John smiles too much and it looks like his eyes are closed. James starts looking away from the camera and Patrick and Tommy didn't want to cooperate at all! This weekend we are going to take our annual "Kirsch Grand kids" photo. I'm hoping the boys might cooperate for Paul and I can get them together for a summer picture for my walls. John made Matt a Father's Day present at school. They glue gunned Popsicle sticks together to make a business card holder with golf tees on the outside. It was really cute. We went to Dudley Park in the morning so Matt could see how well Tommy is doing on the big kids toys. He even got to play catch with John. In the afternoon he got to use his new weed wacker and the saw attachment to the weed wacker. We had some branches on the Black Walnut tree really grow and it was starting to touch the house. After dinner we took a walk for some ice cream at CP's.

Here is a picture of my Dad with my Grandma when he was little. I think Patrick really looks like him.
It's funny because I think Patrick acts like my Dad too. Patrick will do the craziest stuff and not even think twice about it - just like my Dad.

Swimming lessons have begun

This is the first week of lessons. We are at day 3 and I think James has had enough. I think he enjoys it but today it was cool before we even got in the pool and it was cool coming out of the pool on day 1 so I think that was enough to make him think he doesn't want to do it. He put his head under water on the first day and yesterday afternoon when Lori took him and John to the pool. I'm surprised that he doesn't like the games they play before they get out of the pool. Today he was refusing to do warm up exercises and I was trying to keep him in the area hoping one of the teachers that wasn't his would just take him form me but I had to wait for his teacher. John is doing well he is almost ready to pass the 2nd level. He just needs to relax and do the back float a little longer. Hopefully in a few weeks that will happen.

I had Patrick and Tommy in the backyard pool for the first time. They enjoyed it very much. Tommy kept squealing. He would get mad when he fell in the water but then would dump a bucket of water on his head. The water was cool. I filled the pool a little bit before we left for lessons in the hopes that it would warm up while we were gone. This is year 2 for the pool so its not holding the air so well.

I hope James starts to like the lessons - 2nd session will be tough - we are signed up for the 8:10 lesson instead of 9am so the potential for it to be cooler in the morning is greater. Yikes!

A good ending

I finally got my wallet back. The person who found it sent it requesting signature confirmation. I missed the mailman so that was the first stop for me this morning on my grocery shopping run. It was nice to have it back. Now I just need to wait for the replacement cards and carry on. This is bad but not as bad as dropping my cell phone in water.

Yesterday we decided to upgrade our basic cable to digital cable. One of the kids favorite shows on Disney is making the move to PBS Sprout - which is only offered on the digital cable. We needed to get two digital boxes (one for each tv) the remotes and wires. We also get some channels in HD because we have HDTV's. I'm really enjoying how clear everything is. It is funny yesterday was the big "digital" day if you had reception over the air but it turned into a big digital day for us. Lots of channels galore and there are some kids shows that are free on demand so if there is "nothing on" we can choose something the kids like. Its almost like having a DVR but not having to pay $8.99 or something ridiculous like that.

I picked up John and James' soccer trophy's and pictures today. The pictures are cute and truly capture how the kids are.

The Mall

This week has been a great week for the first week of summer. John and James are having a blast at Safety Town, we went to a Captains game which John got to yell "Play Ball" before the first pitch and the boys and I went to the mall because James has been dying to go to the Disney Store. We got to the mall and I made the kids eat lunch so we could then play, shop and go home. We did all that then Patrick claimed he needed to use the potty so I took him there - he didn't go but just about everyone else did. We got to the car and I got everyone loaded in, snacks and juice in hand go to reach in my pocket for my keys, found the keys but NO WALLET! I was frantically looking around the ground. I looked inside the bags of clothes and shoes we had bought nothing. So I loaded everyone back into the stroller and we were off to the races. The first stop was the bathroom - just because I figured that was the place it would drop. Then checked a play area outside of Sears - nothing, went back to Sears where I made my last purchase just in case I left it on the counter knowing I did not - NOPE. Back down the elevator and across the mall to the Customer Service to ask if anyone had turned it in - nope. I said ok time to go home - its lost. Talked with Matt and had him call the bank to cancel my card and told him what purchases I had made. I came home canceled my one and only major credit card I usually carry and found out what I needed to do to replace my drivers license. I then take a call from work and start to deal with that. During a break I log into facebook and I have a message in my inbox. It is from the lady who found it outside of the mall! She said everything - money included is still entact - THANK YOU GOD!! She is going to mail it to me - I offered to meet her to pick it up but she has baseball obiligations the next two days so in the mail it goes.

Back to earlier in the mall. I knew I needed Patrick's feet checked for the correct size because I noticed the tennis shoes he was wearing the seam at the toes were starting to split. I looked this morning to see if I had any other shoes - size 8 just hanging around - no just 8 1/2. I really couldn't tell where his big toe was but it seemed close at times and too big other times. Turns out the poor kid is a Size 9!

James is really enjoying Safety Town - I think he really enjoys being a big boy and doing fun things. Yesterday the Police came to visit and handed out badges. Today the Fire and Ambulance was there to give out fire hats. It is good stuff. I think I will wait for Tommy to be old enough so he can do it together with Patrick. You have to be between 4-6.

John had a great baseball game last night - he finally came out of his hitting slump and had 3 doubles. He was very excited each time he hit one as he was jumping up and down on 2nd base. He also got the game ball. Hopefully his hitting streak will continue. I think last night was the first game we won all year.

Doing better

My sister in law came on Friday to watch the Patrick and Tommy so I could take John and James to the dentist. She told me that I need to go to a doctor. So after I got everyone settled with lunch I headed to the local urgent care center - where you get healed but you wait for at least an hour. It turns out I did have strept and I got a prescription and am feeling 95% better. I'm still a little worn down but that is probably my fault for not resting as much as I should. I was going to go to bed after we got home from the Captains game but I stayed up a little longer to catch up with Matt. I did nap today while the boys napped.

I forgot to blog about something that happened earlier this week and Matt reminded me about it last night. John is at the neighbors birthday party right now. I was asking him if he knew anybody from the birthday boys kindergarten class as we were getting buckled up to go somewhere. He said yes - so-n-so. He is African American. James then exclaimed "so am I". John said no you are not. You are American. LOL!!

The Captains last night finished up a suspended game from Thursday and then had to play 2 7 inning games. By the time we got there, I think it was the 3rd or 4th inning of the 1st game of the double header. They got through the first game and then it rained! We had about an hour of baseball. I felt like I didn't get to see that much because there were so many people there that I wanted to make sure Patrick and Tommy weren't getting lost. James wanted popcorn and then the boys wanted to visit Mr. Deas in the radio booth. I think we will stick to weeknight / non fireworks games. Crowds are not for me.

Under the weather

The boys have had runny noses for about a week so naturally I get it. My throat has been killing me all week long. It was so bad the past two days I considered going to a doctor to see if I have strept. I have been taking Advil for my aching body and it has been helping. I went to bed around 8:30pm last night and could tell at different times I was "sweating it out". After breakfast I felt pretty good so I cleaned the bathroom and then we went outside. I cleaned up the maple keys in the backyard that went from being everywhere to being everywhere and soaking wet! The boys were helping somewhat and fighting at other times. Tommy and James took turns with a shovel and helped put the big wet pile in the yard waste pile. After awhile Patrick disappeared and the other boys followed to see what he was doing. When they didn't come back and I didn't hear fighting I knew they were watching TV. I took advantage of the peaceful moment and cleaned the gutter out on the garage. It is amazing how much dirt and stench accumulates in such a small space. The boys then wanted to play upstairs. I decided what the heck I can start getting out the winter clothes from the drawers and put in the summer clothes. That part worked well but all the books from the bookshelf were everywhere. At lunch instead of giving the boys just regular apples I coated them with cinnamon and sugar and baked them for about 10 minutes. I told them it was like eating apple pie. They seemed to enjoy it. The back porch could use a good vacuuming. Maybe in a few minutes. Lots of dirt has been tracked in.

This afternoon while I was working I heard James doing something that didn't sound like playing little Legos - I looked and he was unrolling a roll of paper towels we have in the basement in case we have an accident. He will be very good at TPing someone's house. I was able to retrieve and re-roll the paper towels. I have been wearing a tank top all day because of the hot and humid conditions. It was about 2pm when James asked me why I was wearing this shirt? I said I'm hot he said "me too" I told him he could take off his shirt so he did then he asked me if I could put it in the dishwasher because its really dirty from playing outside. Its not the first time he has referred to the washer as the dishwasher - I have yet to correct him - I think its too cute!

John was to have baseball but I'm sure that is cancelled. We skipped the soccer banquet last night. They wanted $11 per person for non soccer players. Turns out it was a good move on our part. From what I heard they didn't eat until 7:30 (banquet started at 6:30) and it was highly unorganized. I felt bad of jipping James from an award ceremony but he will have one with T-ball. Speaking of T-ball James' coach delivered his uniform yesterday. He was so excited he wore it the rest of the afternoon and evening. I have to remember that he is small that John but I don't want him stuck with a t-shirt that is super tight either. Its hard to believe nap time is almost over. I hope this evening the kids are entertained enough without going outside. I don't feel like yelling and getting everyone muddy.

A wonderful holiday weekend

We went to visit my parents in Pennsylvania. The boys were fantastic in the car. We timed it up so we traveled during nap time. I don't know why but I still cringe when I think of taking another trip. I guess I'm nervous my luck my run out or maybe I'm having flashbacks when John cried, fussed and screamed from Mantua to Willowick. I think all the boys enjoyed themselves. James is emerging as a little boy. He was like hey I know where I am and how to get to the big ship! John wanted to play baseball and cards most of the time. James caught two fish and enjoyed being in the woods. Patrick loved the game of climbing into the crib that Tommy slept in. Tommy did not want to be carried that much - he wanted to walk alot. It was the most fun I had since the boys were born because we got to do a lot of stuff as a family. My mom had John James and Patrick all in the same bed. They seemed not to mind despite sleeping in their own bed when they are at home.

I can't get over how much Tommy is starting to talk. On John's opening day he said baseball. He now asks for milk, snack and juice! His laugh is exactly like Patrick's which scares the hell out of me. I think they will be getting into trouble when they get older. Oh I can feel the gray hairs pushing through!

Only 7 more days of school left. I think I'm looking forward to a new schedule. Hopefully we will have a good summer.