It's almost Christmas!

So we are less than 10 days before Christmas. The kids are getting excited for vacation and of course Santa. Every night prayers are filled with Christmas wishes or what Wii game they want to play the next day. Then after our advent prayer the fight ensues - I didn't get to blow out a candle or Patrick - is it still my birthday? Thank goodness we will have 4 candles to blow out next week.

Patrick had a great birthday. His birthday card that I made and sent to PBS Sprout made it on the air. I was recording it on the DVR but when it was on live I could not get Patrick to quit Wii to come upstairs to watch. What is funny is when Patrick wants to see it Tommy gets just as excited because his name is announced on the air too because I had all of our names listed on the card.

It feels like I have been baking forever even though it was just two days. Yesterday was the sugar cookies. I had the kids decorate them after dinner. They did quite well with not licking their fingers too much. After a lot of sprinkles of the floor Tommy & Patrick retired to the living room leaving my big boy elves in charge. We got it all finished. Today I decorated the gingerbread cutouts. I would like to know who started the tradition of the Christmas cookie. Its fun at times but can be stressful when they don't come out like you hoped. What was funny was before the decorating began I made the boys use the bathroom and wash their hands before the mess began. This was more for Patrick's benefit as I'm trying to get him to go more often. Anyway John was first and then James was going in behind him to which he exclaimed "John you have a big butt!" I laughed and said now you know why you can't come in the bathroom with me!

Today was James concert/Christmas pageant. He did well although to me he looked really nervous. I was quite pleased he wanted to wear a tie and look nice. A lot of the kids dressed up. It was really cute. Friday is party day. I'm helping out in James' room in the morning and going to John's in the afternoon with some wrapping of presents in the middle. Thank goodness for Aunt Kathy to come over and watch the boys. What is funny is Patrick is asking for Aunt Dorrie to watch him. Can never win with that kid.

Matt was off today so he could attend James' pageant. It was a blessing to have another set of hands around today. He could watch the boys so I could run a few errands. I'm sure he enjoyed it too!

The Joy of the Season

The boy saw Santa a couple of weeks ago. I was so impressed no one cried. I don't know if my bribe of the Auntie Anne's pretzel was the ticket or if seeing Santa's picture in our living room helped things. Since then Patrick continues to get away from me while we are in stores. I'm lucky if he holds my hand or if he does he stops walking. So in the middle of Target last Wednesday I called Santa to tell him to forget about Patrick's wishes. James is now asking me when I'm going to call him back!

So the Christmas tree went up on Friday and we were having issues with little fingers taking all the ornaments off and big brothers trying to save them resulting in broken ornaments. I had 2 really break and 1 I was able to fix. I was lucky to find them at a decent price on ebay. Since we instituted the rule that no children touch the tree we have had a better success at keeping the ornaments in one piece. I think I didn't put that many ornaments up. One reason I was getting tired and hungry and the other was I didn't want the kids touching too much. Maybe next year a few more will go up.

Patrick is very excited about his upcoming birthday. I think he gets the idea thanks to PBS Sprout who celebrates birthdays on the air. I made a card and sent it in so hopefully I can record them showing the card should it get on the air. If not we can look at it on the web. I'm hoping the letters I used (they were something you would use in a scrapbook) continue to stick to the foamie board I used as the card. I couldn't find large colored construction paper. I have to make his cake later this week.

Today I took the boys to the Penitentiary Glen to their game "Snowdrops Adventure". Its a little maze like Candyland where you spin the wheel to see where you go in the maze. The kids had a fun time. I was going to take them downtown but this was a better alternative. It really was cold today so I'm glad we stayed closer to home. Maybe during Winter Break I can take them down.

This weekend will be fun and chaotic. We have basketball late in the morning, Matt's Holiday party in the evening, we celebrate St. Nick's day on the morning of Dec 6th, we have to squeeze church in there and then Sunday afternoon my sister's family is coming over to celebrate Patrick's birthday and Patrick's actual birthday is on Monday. I have the presents - just need to wrap and some assembly. Its just like Christmas. The presents are bought but just need wrapped.

Oh the fighting over the Wii. It might have to go into a timeout!

Tis the Season

We are definitely getting into the holiday spirit in our house. More like - the kids are having a blast pouring over each toy catalog that graces our mailbox. I think we are finished with the hustle and bustle for the kids. I went out on Tuesday night after my dentist appointment. I think we have enough to make everyone happy. Of course its always a guessing game until they are older and can tell you exactly what they want. Whether I can afford what they want is another story. Patrick is the best - I ask him to pretend I'm Santa and tell me what you want. His answer is "nothing". Maybe he thinks this means he doesn't have to be good or if I don't have to pretend then maybe I don't have to talk to Santa. Who knows what he is thinking. What is challenging for me with Patrick is that his birthday is on the 7th so I'm trying to make both special. I hope he likes what he is getting.

Tonight after dinner I plan on taking the boys to see Santa. Before you complain about how early is let me ask you what child do you know wants to wait in a long line to see someone they are not sure about. Hopefully everyone will cooperate (Tommy and Patrick) and we get a half way decent picture before they can get off his lap and talk to him. It would be nice if I could score a picture while they are talking to him but I have a feeling my laps will be full.

Lately the kids are misbehaving in the stores. I think they are getting a comfort level because we go there so often. I have two choices - stay away from Target and go to another store or stay home altogether. The latter is going to be tough. Maybe we'll have to figure something else out. Patrick is into walking away from me and Tommy is thinking he'd like to ditch the cart and touch things like everyone else.

Today for some reason everyone was up early so that is making it a challenging day. We are all tired and they have tuned me out. Tommy has ended up in his crib in his time out a few times. I think if this keeps up he will figure out a way to climb out.

A funny story from James last week when I asked him who he played with in school. His answer just the boys. I don't like the girls because they have long hair and can't shoot guns. I said I'm a girl who has long hair and can shoot a gun. Apparently I don't count.

It's November!

With Halloween it has been crazy around here. The boys had fun - I think. I know James enjoyed his Halloween party. Patrick and Tommy enjoyed wearing there costumes. I decided on Friday evening to take them to the local shopping strip for their Trick or Treat. The weather was great and the kids enjoyed it. I guess that was enough because John didn't even want to go out when it was actually time for Trick or Treat. I had to trick him into going to two houses! The other boys wanted to see what Dad was doing. We weren't out long and that was fine because it was windy and cold. John enjoyed playing the role of ring master where he called all the kids over to our house for some candy. The little ones enjoyed eating their treats and watching from inside the front door.

John came home with a great report card. I really enjoyed going to the parent teacher conference. His teacher really enjoys having him in his class. It is good to see he is not only a good big brother to my boys but to other kids in his class. John is one of the top 4 in his class which means he gets to take on special assignments that continues to challenge him.

I took James to the ophthalmologist on Tuesday. Basically we have to wash his eyelids twice a day for the rest of his life. It will help prevent styes and whatever causes them. So far he is accepting the eye washes which I'm relieved. Hopefully I'm doing it right. The pediatrician made it sound more worse than what I'm doing so I better check webmd.com out.

I'm anxious to hear how James is doing in school. I think he is doing well but he doesn't talk to much about school. Sometimes when I quiz him on the days of the week he gets it wrong and I'm not sure if that is on purpose or if he really doesn't know. A lot of kids have been sick so that has delayed the kids being tested.

Our school system passed a levy so I heard rumors that starting next year the kindergarten class can go to school all day without tuition even in public schools. I would really like James to go half days so I hope that option is still open. They have the rest of their life to go all day. Let them enjoy half of their day at home.

Time flies when you are having fun

I can't believe I haven't had anything to write about for a while. Actually I don't think its all true - just other priorities. Here is the latest on the Keough boys - John has a cough, Patrick isn't too bad - an occasional sneeze here and there - it must be his daily dose of orange juice that is doing him good, Tommy's nose is running like a faucet and James is getting over yet another stye. This one caught me by surprise as there was no red warning before his eye inflammed and I couldn't find a head where the discharge was coming out. We had it under control so he could go to school yesterday but I was concerned about some mucus clumping to his eyelashes. So I took him to the doctor again. I saw the same doctor as I did last month. This time instead of eye ointment I got eye drops - which I think I should have got last time. I also got a name of a pediatric opthalmalogist that we are to see when his eye gets better. The doctor said it might be a cyst that keeps getting infected. I had to bribe James with lunch today to get him to go to the doctors I wonder what a trip to the opthalmalogist is going to cost me. At least he is no longer holding his eye.

John is doing awesome in school. His interim report said he was reading at a 2nd grade level. This week ends the first quarter so I'm anxious to talk to his teacher to learn more ways I can help him at home. I think what we are doing is ok but some of the methods they use to teach the kids seems like a foreign language to me so I want to make sure I'm clear on it.

I'm also anxious to hear how James is doing in school. I will learn more in November. I know he knows his numbers and alphabet. I know he can cut better than John did at his age. I do worry about his handwriting but when he lets me work with him he does pretty good. I just wish he would practice more.

During the week the weather is to be fantastic for a change - it has been cold and rainy. Of course this weekend we have Halloween plans at Penitentiary Glen and its supposed to rain. Hopefully it won't be too bad so we can have our train ride.

Matt shot a lot of video of the boys this weekend. Its so cute. I will have to get it on the computer and uploaded to Flickr.

Fall is here!

Last week Fall arrived. Our front tree has already a few leaves turning beautiful colors and the kids were dying to jump into them. We finished decorating the outside of the house. We bought some corn stalk from our church. Sunday was so beautiful weather wise. We enjoyed a long family walk. Patrick and Tommy did there share of walking too. We brought the backup - now THE - double stroller along so if they both wanted a ride they could. I gave my friend my really good double stroller and one of the cribs on Sunday. She is having her second baby in a year so she could use some extra help!

I'm trying to come up with ideas of things I could do with the boys during the cold days. We have been hitting the parks where they have animals inside. I know of Playground World in Chesterland that has open play time. The Wickliffe Library has a fun play kids section. Tonight for fun we did a craft project together then I printed out pages they could color. We could of course go to the mall - but I don't know if I can handle it being a weekly trip - although they would get their exercise. I might have to check out those places that have the inflatable stuff. It costs money - that is the only downfall - free is so much better - especially when I have 3 kids to pay for. I just wish there was a place the kids can go and run - not hurt anything. That is the mall and we could walk too but I'm sure the people at Disney will get sick of us just like the guy at Target who works the Wii section.

I'm nervous in some respects about James and the fact he doesn't know how to write really well at all. I haven't taken the time because of the little ones and when it is just us - I'm working or he doesn't want to do it. I'm going to have to make a point to try and work with him in the mornings he doesn't have school - I guess I could have the other two color or something. I just think I will lose it if and when they start coloring something other than the paper.

John had an awesome interim report. I now know what his reading level is. I guess after Kindergarten he was at 1.5 and now he is at 2.2. This week he has alot of tricky words to spell. I am having him practice every night just like last week (even though last week was easier). In fact right now they are all watching Letter Factory. James can learn how to right and John can refresh on his phonics. I'm excited I am going to be in John's classroom two times next month helping the teacher and kids.

Patrick the hat trick!

So Patrick has become so obsessed with Wii that he has now cut his nap time in half. I think I finally convinced James that he now has to give Patrick a turn. James has let him do things and now has to admit Patrick is good. He enjoy the golf the most. He gets very excited. But then John comes home and if everyone takes a turn - Patrick gets impatient after one person goes. This turns to screaming and tantrums. Patrick is very quick to start another game without giving up the remote. I'm sure its a trick his brothers taught him. We have 3 remotes. I told Matt we will probably need to become a 4 remote family now. Pretty soon Tommy will need one without batteries as the tv remote won't do.

James completed his first full week of school. He seems to enjoy it very much. I always enjoy hearing what he does in class. I think he is still shy and doesn't interact with the kids. I'm sure by the end of the year he will be a little more social.

I signed Patrick and Tommy up for an exercise class and today was the first class. There were my 2 and another boy. The teacher let us try the class today and decided we can continue for the 4 weeks. I hope she will keep it going through the winter because it gives us a new place to go and have fun. It reminds me a lot of dancing to the Wiggles - only with different songs. Patrick really did well and Tommy did pretty good too. At times they both would get shy. I think because the music was loud they got a little afraid.

John continues to do well in school. He is reading great although I'm a little nervous he isn't comprehending what he is reading. I test him here and there about the book. His handwriting is really neat. I couldn't believe how he took such care with each letter when I saw him do his homework this week.