Seth is 4 years 2 months old.

A day late and probably short because it is my birthday.

Seth is still having a little bit of a tough time transitioning to living here.  I think it will probably take him about 6 months before he is really settled ... he just takes time to get used to things.  A few examples.

He still doesn't want to go to Sunbeams.  I have gone to all of Sharing Time / Music Time almost every week.  This week, even with me dragging him, he refused to go, so he can and sat with me until 11:30, when he finally decided my meetings were too boring and went to Sunbeams.  He likes it when he's there, but getting him there ... His Sunbeam class seems to fluctuate a lot.  Some weeks there are like 8 or 9 kids, today there was 3.  There are only a couple other boys (none other today) and lots of girls, and I think that makes it a little harder for Seth because he isn't too interested in girls.  He starts preschool with a couple of them (just a church coop once a week) this week and maybe that will eventually improve things.

Also, babysitting.  So, I am working now a little bit - like 5 hours a week.  I had a couple of faculty meetings so I needed to take the kids to a drop in child care place called Play Date.  Seth seemed to mostly enjoy it, but didn't want to go the second time.  Well, he went and seemed to be having fun, but when I go to pick him up, I guess he didn't want to leave, so when the ladies went to get him he starts screaming and punching them (geez - they must really want us to come back).  I had to take him home kicking and screaming, throwing his shoes, etc.  He finally calmed down, but wow!

What is Seth loving this month?  Pool time.  He keeps asking for swimming lessons, though.  Playing with the neighbors.  Going fast on his scooter.  Playing Lego Star Wars video game with Dad after he cleans up and does his chores.  Reading lessons.  Visiting the library.  Doing chores - he does 3 chores for me every day (although some days, we're lazy and cleaning take a back seat).  He does an alright job at mopping the floors, a good job with the little vacuum, an okay job at cleaning sinks, great at unloading the dishwasher, good at feeding joe, alright at dusting, and is pretty game to do almost anything.  If he does his chores, there is usually a reward - like computer or TV time, though honestly we haven't done tons of either since we moved.  He loves the new soccer goals, digging in the sand box, playing in the yard.  Meeting loads and loads of 4 year olds in the neighborhood.  He's spent loads and loads of time upstairs with Andrew playing massive wars with Trio, blocks, army, and lincoln logs.  Listening to tons and tons of Doraemon books with Katsu.  Looking at Doraemon books constantly.

Seth is still a nervous child, always chewing on things, whining, crying.  But a sweet and good child.  Easily embarrassed, but sweet to the core.

Fun Things This Month

• Unpacking!  Okay, not really.
• Lots and lots of pool time.
• Atlantic Beach - Seth had so much fun running in the water, playing with Katsu, making sand castles, hunting for sea animals and shells, collecting sea weed, and just loving the waves and the water.
• A few play dates.  Really loved playing with one of Katsu's colleagues kids - they are Japanese.
• Lots of ECU picnics.  One at a lake beach while they loved playing in the sand.  And hot dogs and chips - what could be better?  Seth got hurt at one party and then cried his head off until we found Cartoon Network and ice cream inside.
• Birthday party for a neighbor at the mall bouncy house.  Wow - it was a little crazy, but the boys had so much fun.  Seth loved to bounce and bounce and bounce.
• A couple days at Play date.
• Going to Chic-fil-A several times and out for ice cream thanks to our realtor.
• Winterville Watermelon Festival - we watched the parade and Seth got loads of candy and then we rode rides - Seth rode on the train, a strawberry ride (tea-cup type ride) and then a mini roller-coaster.  We had to go get our new car, so we didn't have time to watch any of the concerts, but next year.

Andrew is 6 years 3 months old!

Well, hmmm ... another month, and now we are in our new house in Greenville.  So, a month of change for Andrew.  He was not so happy about moving, but I think it has been ups and downs since we moved.  He LOVES the beach and the pool.  He likes digging around outside.  It was becoming a bit of a mess, so we (meaning the royal we, or Katsu) built a sandbox and hopefully that will satisfy the digging urge for awhile.  He loves playing with his scooter.  I have been trying to get him to learn to ride his bike without training wheels, but that is a no-go.  I think he likes having a backyard to play in and all the space of the house.

Last Sunday, we gave cookies to some of our neighbors and ended up having a get-together with a whole bunch of kids.  Andrew thought it was the BEST thing ever and couldn't wait to play with everyone again.  Unfortunately, most of the kids aren't around during the day, so we haven't had a replay since then.  We just need to get to know some of the other kids in the neighbrohood.  I know I see kids running around and surely some of them are his age.  Andrew really wants friends, but of course, that will just take some time.

Andrew starts school in two weeks.  We went and registered him.  He is a little nervous about it - I just really hopes he gets a great teacher that he clicks with.  He gets mad about having to wear uniforms, but I think it is just nerves and he will get used to it.  I think being able to walk to school will be really really great.

We were going to the pool almost every day, especially when Katsu was out of town in Vail and we were unpacking.  Last week, we were busy trying to get all the odds and ends done before Katsu starts back to work.  So, it wasn't a lot of fun - too many trips to Target and Lowes and too much cleaning and unpacking.  That is finally starting to slow down.  We did try to take some time to have fun.  We went to beach - Atlantic Beach.  Andrew loved going out with Katsu deep in the water (not too deep, but too deep for Logan), looking for shells, building big sand castles, and trying to find sea creatures.  He was disappointed that we didn't see any dolphins (although I think he was relieved not to find any sharks - he has been nervous about that).

Andrew seems to have adjusted well to Primary and even wants to invite a few boys over.  If only I knew who they were ... I'll have to figure that one out.

We just got bunk beds for the boys.  That was a little bit of drama - of course, as soon as they were delivered - "I don't want bunk beds."  "I want bunk beds that come apart".  "I want my own room."  Seriously - when we were at the store, you were only interested in climbing up as fast as you could any and all furniture.  Oh, well.  They have adjusted pretty well and picked out Justice Leagues sheet sets.  So, it's fun.  Andrew still wanders into Logan's room most nights where I am usually sleeping by around 2 or 3.  He'll eventually get it, right?  As a teenager I am sure he will sleep in his own bed all night long ... and probably long into the morning as well.

Andrew still has a huge attitude.  I think this is just a big part of him.  Lately, his favorite thing to say whenever he has been "wronged" is - "I won't ever give you a present again".  Which I usually follow with "The only present I ever want from you is obedience."  He also likes to threaten us with whatever we can.  And then the other half of the time, our Jekyll/Hyde is all sweetness.  He helps around the house and is kind.  Silly boy.

Anyways ... my cold came back, so as I hack out a lung that is all I can think of.

Fun Things This Month:

• Play date with friends while we got ready to move and packed the truck.  The last one involved swimming and he did not want to leave.  
• MOVING.  (MO -> IL -> TN -> NC)
• Playing with grandma and grandpa while we closed the house and unpacked the moving truck.  The boys loved exploring their hotel with Grandpa the best, I think.  
• Playing at Sonic playground.  I think they are in paradise here because all Sonics have outdoor playgrounds and their are Chick-fil-a's everywhere with nice playgrounds.
• Pool most days.
• Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.  We had to go to pick up Katsu and I figured 3 hours in the car would not be fun, so we stopped here for 2 hours.  It was just enough time to see everything.  The boys LOVED it - especially the real animals (snakes!) and the dinosaur bones.  We'll have to go again.
• Atlantic Beach.  LOVED it.  Closer to 1.5 hours than 1 away, but I have a feeling we will be back along.  We need a beach umbrella and some more sunscreen!!!  Thankfully the boys didn't get burns.
• Building a sandbox.
• Enjoying giftcards to Chick-fil-a and Coldstone from our realtor.  Welcome to Greenville.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Logan is 21 months old!

Man - I really wrote this closer to the right time.  Somehow it didn't post!!!  Here is about Logan.

Late again ... I guess that's what happens when you move and are getting all situated.  This was another busy and crazy month for Logan.  Packing, moving, unpacking, etc.  But I think he is mostly getting used to North Carolina now.  How quickly to switch over a routine at this age.  Logan LOVES having his own room to sleep in.  When it's time to go to bed, he runs over to his room and shuts the door (with me with him, of course) and then finds his Thomas blanket and his Mickey stuffed animal and then lays down.  He only nurses before bed now (yay!) and then he goes to sleep.  I think he might be starting to get a comfort object, because this morning he wanted to carry around his Thomas blanket.  He wakes up a couple times at night.  Once around 10 and then again around 3.  He wakes up pretty early in the morning and sometimes will go back to sleep.  Otherwise, he is pretty grumpy and just screams/throws a fit for awhile.  Because we are downstairs, we sometimes don't hear him, but then he will open the door and come downstairs and screaming for us.  I found the baby monitor, though, so I can usually stop him before he gets to that point.

Logan's favorite thing about our new home:  swimming.  We have a neighborhood pool and so, since we got the key from the HOA, we have been going swimming every day.  Logan LOVES it.  As soon as he hears the word swimming - he runs to the mudroom/laundry room and takes out everyone's swimsuits and starts handing them out.  Then, he runs outside to the stroller and gets all the swim stuff together.  He LOVES the pool.  He doesn't particularly like being in his ring, but he loves when I hold him.  He likes being on the steps because he doesn't have to be held and keeps trying to go underwater like the bigger boys.  He is going to be a lot better in the water than the other boys were at that age, I am sure.

Logan also loves playing outside.  With his trike, turning on the hose, playing in the sand (no, not a sandbox, but the soil here is basically sand), the chalk, with balls.  He loves playing in the playroom, especially the kitchen which is new to Logan.  He likes to pretend to make food.  He also is loving helping me around the house - sweeping, cleaning, drying dishes, etc.

Logan is throwing fits, but not too terribly many considering his age.  He is usually happy, a peace maker, trying to make everyone happy.  He is pretty easy to please.

Logan basically uses almost no words now.  Everything is car and sometimes he'll throw in a yeah, mom, Joe, or something like that.  I hope it's just a phase and he will talk more soon, or I might need to bring it up with someone.  He does understand absolutely everything we say - he would just prefer not to really say anything.  He really enjoys being read to, as well.

Well, I'm tired, so it'll be a short post today.

Fun Things This Month

•  Parks in St. Louis
• Fourth of July - Disney store, BBQ with friends, playing at the boat and beach
• A couple free movies - Logan was bored out of his mind, but did well for about the first 45 minutes, then we wandered the back of the theatre and the hall.
• Juggling Jeff at the library.
• Having a cold
• Loading the truck - Logan was very insistent on helping and carrying boxes and things.  Threw a fit if we didn't let him.
• Driving to North Carolina.  Logan did pretty well, only got really antsy a few times and we had to stop.
• Spending lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa while we closed on the house.  Though by the last couple days they were here, he did not want to be left behind by mom and was kind of done with alone time with the grandparents.
• Hurt his wrist - we thought he might have broken it, at first, but it never seemed that severe.  It seems to kind of bother him sometimes.
• Moving into house - exploring, enjoying, etc.
• Picking up Dad in Raleigh and visiting the Natural History Museum before we picked him up at the airport.  The boys all loved it.
• Meeting all the neighbors.