Too big for his britches!

I just wanted to share a few pictures of Owen from the past week. He is getting mighty big and fearless which of course scares Ian and I to death. He has had a tough couple of weeks with an ear infection and then a really bad sore throat I guess. I took him in again Friday after three days straight of crying constantly and the ears were better but the Dr. said that his throat was red with white patches. A strep test came back negative and she sent us away telling me it has to run its course and to just give tylenol/motrin. He had a couple of good fevers, stomach cramps and throwing up as well. Like I said, tough. Poor baby. In between there are moments where he is himself. He HAS to be louder than everyone else so if people are being loud or laughing loud he screams as loud as he can to outdo them. It is embarassing at times but then at the same time quite comical because he is SO proud of himself when he does it. No walking yet (fine by us!) but he will let go and stand in one spot and then take one step and a lunge at you if you are close enough. I am sure it won't be too long although I kind of wish it would be after Thanksgiving and after we have shoved him in a car for 6 days......

He needs a haircut REALLY bad but his being sick has put it off. Maybe this week......

Getting ready for church this morning. He just thought he was sooooo funny to climb on that step and stick his tongue out at me. Can you tell?

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Actually happy and eating.....been a while since that has happened.

Owen and his most favorite buddy!

Three Sweet Boys

I am not sure how I got so lucky to have these three (well four really!) crazy, adorable sweet boys but I am so thankful for them, even when they drive me insane with the constant brotherly bickering. I took the above picture of the boys just before taking Jacob to the bus stop this morning. Owen was not cooperating but Jacob and Nathan were good sports:)

Jacob: I got a phone call from Jacob's teacher a few nights ago. My first thought was "oh great what now" but to my surprise she was calling to tell me how much she "adores" him and how he is such a sweet boy with a huge heart. It was really good to hear from her that he is doing well. I worry about him. He has grown leaps and bound in reading and writing. He still detests writing but we are working and his fine motors are getting much better. He really is such a bit help and LOVES Owen so much. It is fun seeing him be such a good big brother. He came home from school yesterday with a bouncy ball that he got for "being the quietest kid in art class" I jokingly made him repeat why about three times before he yelled at me "MOOOOOM I ALREADY TOLD YOU!" We had a good laugh. He is turning into a cute little young man.

Nathan: Is just Nathan. He too is turning into a great big brother. He loves Jacob so much (even though they fight 80% of the time) and has a hard time with him being gone all day but he LOVES preschool. HE has been bugging me all day about when we are leaving for him to go today. He is so cute when I pick him up he will tell his teachers "I Love you!" (and he is totally sincere). They just think he is so sweet. He is one of those kids that when he is with me he is a little turkey but when he is with anyone else he is always the child that is praised to be the BEST helper and listener. I guess I will take it that way. He wants to now ride his bike with no training wheels SO bad. I think he will soon enough.

Owen: Then you have Mr. O. He is 10 months today! Man how time flies. He is cruising everywhere, is working on his 6th tooth and "talks" up a storm. He loves his daddy SO much. Don't get me wrong he loves me and wants me but by far he is much closer to Ian and has such a great bond that Ian did not have the opportunity to have with Jacob and Nathan at this age. It is so much fun to watch him jump out of his skin practically when Ian gets home from being gone. I love it. It looks like we will be traveling on his birthday so I am not sure when we will get to celebrate but we are all looking forward to him demolishing his cake:)

Here are a few pictures of our 10 month old from the past two days. He LOVES bath time (especially with Nathan) and he LOVES water melon!

Guess who can ride their bike with no training wheels!

JACOB! This has been a long time coming. I told Ian about two months ago I thought he was ready and I really wanted him to be the one running behind the bike with all the back problems I have been having and he was going to do it while on vacation but then it never happened. Last night just as I was taking the boys out for a bike ride/walk Ian got home and I asked (begged really) for him to take off the training wheels. Had I known how right I was that Jacob would literally get on the bike and pedal away I would have taken them off a long time ago! He was SO proud of himself riding up and down the neighborhood asking all the neighbors to watch him. Now its Nathan's turn. With his coordination I doubt it will take him long to master it. Ian had bought Jacob these springy training wheels that I think really helped Jacob so we are going to put those on Nathan's bike I think...although Ian is saying he is just going to take the training wheels off period and tell him to ride. Guess we shall see what Nathan feels about that one. Here are a couple of videos of Jacob's new talent.





And just because here is a video of Owen showing off his fish face. He learned how to make his lips in a fish and then makes kissing noises it is pretty cute:) Jacob and Nathan make a cameo too!

Nathan's first day of 4 year old Preschool

FINALLY the day has arrived. Nathan has been a bit jealous that Jacob has been going off all day having fun while he has been stuck at home with Mom and Dad. He has been not so patiently waiting for today so he could start going to school again too! He will be going MWF from 12:30 to 3 until we move from here. I am praying when we get to San Diego there will be an opening for him in the preschool program Jacob went to just before our moving out here through the Armed Services YMCA.......

Nathan's teachers this year are named Miss Joy and Miss Patty. He got to go meet them and see his classroom last week so he was all geared up and ready to go today. It seems as though all the kids from his class last year went into the morning classes so all of the kids this year are brandnew to him (which I think is great). Nathan and Jacob are so different in so many ways and as time goes on this becomes even more clear. On the first day of first grade Jacob was very hesitant and a little teary while Nathan just is ready to go and trusts you will be back when its over. It is interesting and makes me curious as to how Owen will be in the future.

Speaking of Owen he has an ear infection and both he and I have colds so I opted to lay down for the last few minutes of his nap and had Ian take Nathan. Thankfully he was a good Daddy and took a few pictures for me. I have to laugh at his idea of a good backdrop...a trash can? He has a bit to learn!! (totally kidding, I love you Ian!)

FINALLY Ian got his Orders! Off to San Diego we come.....

Ian was able to go online to check the status of his orders tonight and low and behold they are THERE! FINALLY in black and white we have orders saying he can detach from here in November and has to be in San Diego NLT (no later than) the beginning of January. We have to be here until November 15th and really would like to leave the next day or so after that in order to be to San Diego early the week of Thanksgiving to get into a house and maybe just maybe get our stuff before the four day holiday. I am betting that we will be sleeping on air mattresses for a week without or stuff but that is what the Navy gives us a Dislocation Allowance for:) We promised Kinley and Kayden and our boys that we would have our annual Thanksgiving dinner together so hopefully we can keep that promise. Now to just make the final decision on WHERE to move to and what school to try to get Jacob in. Thankfully Valerie is there and has given me a lot of the ins and outs on that. What a blessing!

Ian will be going to a pre-commissioned ship, the USS Spruance (DDG 111). This will be his second pre-commissioned ship. It will be a lot of work but thankfully at first should be a bit of down time for our family. We actually think his schedule is going to be SO much better than "shore duty" has been here.

Here is the web site to his new ship: www.spruance.navy.mil for those that wish to take a look. Ian is already talking to his new Chief and making connections. He also knows the XO from his previous ship. It will be nice to have some familiar faces.

We will miss SO much from our time here in Chicagoland, especially church friends but we are excited for this new adventure. The boys are hot/cold about moving. They miss Kinley and Kayden A LOT but then at the same time Jacob LOVES his school (and so do I!!) so I know it will be hard for him. We are just trying to hype things about anything positive we can think of.

So there you have it. It is official. Most likely for Owen's birthday we will be started on our little road trip. Poor baby, chained in his seat for his birthday. We will have to make it up to him when we get there:)

My sweet boys

While we all miss Jacob (although not the fights between Jacob and Nathan all day!:) I think it will be good for Nathan and Owen to have some one on one time together. Jacob is SUCH a big helper and is always looking out for Owen so now that Jacob is gone Nathan is taking Owen under his wing. It is really cute to see them playing together more. I was trying to get something done so I asked Nathan if he could sit with Owen while he drank his bottle and maybe Owen would watch Diego with him for just a minute or two (the kid NEVER sits still). I sat them on the couch and my two minutes turned into about 60 seconds and of course that was all used up getting my camera to get this shot. How could I resist? They are so cute.

It will be strange next week MWF Jacob and Nathan will be gone from 12:30 until 3 because Nathan will be starting Pre-K those days. It will just be me and baby O for most of it since Ian will be at work. I am looking forward to it. Nathan had his meet and greet today with his new teachers Miss Patty and Miss Joy. He liked his class a lot and they seem great. He was a happy camper until we walked past his old class on the way out and he saw a picture of his Miss Kathy and Miss Marlene. His big blue eyes filled with tears and he said he missed them. Poor kiddo. I told him hopefully we will get to see them and say hi next week.

Ian and I are off on a DATE tonight. Imagine that? I am thankful for friends!