Yankee Doodle Babies

We had a great 4th of July! This morning we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then went to visit Carl Sandburg's house in Flat Rock. I have been wanting to visit this historic sight and the weather could not have been nicer today.
There was a goat dairy farm there where we spent most of our time.
 

Hampton was happy to ride in the stroller for the trail, however once we got to the barn he wanted to get out and explore.

He was pretty brave with the goats. 

It was so pretty there! I love this barn in particular.

Here is Hampton feeding the roosters some hay. He apparently thought every animal he saw wanted to eat hay.

 

My yankee doodle girl.

Everett had quite the meltdown when we got there, but he soon enough recovered and ended up having a great time.

 

Loving his sister. She is awfully sweet.

 

Eleanor is so good. She always goes along with whatever we are doing and is the most happy and content baby.

The boys loved this milk house. I think they thought it was their own personally play house. They kept running in and out and Everett at one point told me they were playing hide and seek.

Everett was a good big brother and consistently helped Hampton by holding the door for him.

And Hampton spotted a cat! Or as he likes to call it, a "meow."

After at least an hour in the hot July sun, the boys cooled off at this water spigot. 

 

 

And finally we explored the garden and this scarecrow.

We had such a great day!

One on One with Hampton

This morning I took Hampton for his bi-annual cardiologist appointment. Eric was kind to protect my sanity and offered to watch our other two so that I could go with Hampton alone. I always love one on one time with each of the children.

Hampton has been taking blood pressure medication to control the growth on the hemangioma on his eye for about two years now. We have had to do follow-up visits with the cardiologist and the opthamologist ever since.

Hampton had a big time with this chalk board in the waiting room. He kept telling me (and everyone else in the room) that he was drawing apples. He is such a ham! He was singing songs, saying hello to everyone, dancing......I texted Eric and said it was Hampton Live! in the waiting room that morning. He is definitely an extrovert.

For this appointment Hampton had to be weighed (32 pounds), measured, have his heart listened to, have his blood pressure taken, and have an EKG. For the EKG he had to have these pink stickers placed all over his chest. When she was done, the nurse took them all off and gave them to Hampton. While we were talking I noticed Hampton putting them all over his chest again very proudly. 

Here he is also putting all the pink stickers on his Ernie toy.

The nurse practitioner listening to Hampton. He did great! He has a slight heart murmur, but other than that no problems. Our plan is to have him continue the medication until he turns three. 

I loved my time with Hampton this morning. On the way home we stopped by Starbucks and got a special treat. I do believe he had a big time as well!

Summer Heat Photos

These are the pictures that were supposed to go with the last post. For some reason they did not upload.......

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Heat

Today was a hot June day! The temperature rose to a scolding 98 degrees in fact. We decided to hide from the heat and spend the entire day indoors at home. This morning after breakfast though Eleanor and I decided to go to the grocery store to pick up a few things. It is so fun to get one on one time with just one child. I love it.

After naps I taught Everett how to play Candy Land. He picked up on the rules right away!

Eleanor was attached to mama all day! The boys decided they wanted to spend most of the day in their pi's so we put Eleanor in her jammies too!

After a lot of play time it was time for dinner! Today was the first day we have grilled this season. We grilled hot dogs (well veggie dogs) and burgers (whole grain tofu burgers). The kids loved it though! Eric also grilled corn and made macaroni and cheese. 

And then for dessert the boys had fruit juice pops! They were really messy but they loved them.

What a perfectly fun way to beat the summer heat! We love fun days at home as a family. Chaos and all, it is good quality time together.

Stairs

Ut-oh! Looks like we'll be bringing out the baby gate again!

 

June Bugs

We have been enjoying the summer so far, but have honestly not been going outside all that much. It's too hot! The boys get all red in the face and sweaty and with their fair skin I'm always concerned they'll burn. Here are some other random things I want to remember:

This is the definition of strong-willed: Yesterday Hampton made the little mess pictured below.
Four DVDs outside of the box we keep them in.

I kindly asked him to clean up and put the DVDs away. He said no. He went to time out. I asked him again. He once again protested and was put into time out. This went on for an hour and a half!!! He is so stubborn. He was not able to play and had to sit in time out until he put them away. 

Finally he did it! And I was exhausted. He was too. Being that stubborn is hard work.

Wresting with one another is how these boys show love. The boys attack Eric. It is very funny.

Sassy will stick with hugs and kisses though. 

One thing I love about summer are all the cute clothes! Eleanor has not worn shoes in months and it is so easy.

This little boy has been a real handful lately. He is definitely two. Testing boundaries and throwing fits. However when he is happy- he is HAPPY. Singing and dancing and having a party. 

Everett has been going to Vacation Bible School this week. In true Everett form, he cries every day that  I drop him off. His teachers say within seconds he is happy once again and is having a great time. He told me he is learning about Jonah, likes the singing, and the other day had the most delicious treat-he said, "they are called gummy worms Mama and they were so good!" 

While Everett was at Bible school this morning Eleanor, Hampton, and I went on a picnic in Biltmore Park. It is hard to keep Hampton contained, but it was good for Eleanor. She liked sitting in the grass but kept trying to eat it. That girl will eat anything! We have yet to find a food she does not like.

We've had a good June. I cannot believe it is almost July!

Limitations

This is a picture less post- something I rarely do. However, I want to remember my current thoughts. This morning we went to the arboretum. We go to the arboretum a lot. Recently I have discovered what I can and cannot do on my own with the three babies. For example, going to the pool on my own with them? No. I have learned that from recent experience. I can handle a short trip to Walmart or Target. I can handle one or two different playgrounds-the ones that are fenced in. And I can handle the arboretum. I used to try and be a super mom attempting to conquer doctor visits, haircuts, big shopping trips and the dentist all on my own. It was stressful and I couldn't be there for all of them like I needed to be. I would come home exhausted and frustrated. So we are staying home for the most part. We did get some fresh air today though. We walked around the arboretum and then got lunch at the cafe. While I was paying for our meal I turned around and saw both of my boys on the elevator-and the doors were closing! My back was turned for just a few seconds and off they went. I was able to stop the elevator and I just had to laugh. They are such a handful! I know Eleanor will be joining them when she is able to walk. Then I am really in for it!