Winter Blues

I don't know if it is because we are inside more than not but the kids are acting very spoiled. It has been very frustrating for them to play with toys and then just leave them. When I ask them to pick them up I get a no. This is starting to wear on my patience - big time. Today at lunch Tommy decided to play Cookie Monster with his Cheez Its and had them all over the floor. That boy is going to start learning how to stand in time out - the problem is - I have to stand there to make sure he doesn't move delaying the clean up process which frustrates me further. I'm starting to cut back their Wii time because some days it just makes them mean and nasty if they don't get their way. How many more days until Spring??

Happy New Year!

I survived the holidays. Christmas Eve was a little rough as I started to assemble Legos at 9:30 when we thought everyone was down for the night but wait - its John - mister bladder of steel - needing to go one more time as Mom was in the process of dumping Legos everywhere to assemble. His set took me over an hour - maybe an hour and a half and when I was finished I knew it wasn't right I had to move onto the next set for James. James set was a little easier and I had Matt assemble a few parts as it was 3 different assemblies. It was finished at midnight. The kids slept in pretty good. It was 6:15 until Patrick came down and then we got everyone up. Once everyone used the bathroom and the cameras were ready the big boys took off for the presents and well Patrick - took off for the refridgerator for his OJ and milk. Tommy was up when Patrick got up but soon fell back to sleep in our bed but once we woke him up again - he enjoyed his toys.

New Years was fun even though most of the kids had a head cold. We celebrated at noon with party hats, poppers and noise makers. In the evening John stayed up until 10:30. I took a great 2 hour nap andwoke up in time to see the ball drop.

John spent all of his Christmas gift card money except for one store. I'm happy for him because he got a Wii game that he is really enjoying and now I don't have to feel bad when we go to the store and the boys get stuff and he doesn't. The other boys have yet to spend much or any of their money. The weather and theirs and my colds have kept us hibernated. We are all feeling better so I am hoping we can get out tomorrow. I know they will make things challenging just getting coats and boots on but hopefully once we are out they will have fun.

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.