Abe's 5th Birthday!

Abe turned 5 this week! Time flies. In case we haven't told you already, Abe is in love with Star Wars...... in LOVE! So, since this year it was his turn to have a birthday party he chose a Star Wars theme. He has had such a fun time with his new preschool friends and was super excited to have them over for his birthday. We invited about 11 boys from his class (he was very particular that there be NO GIRLS, except Ella of course). Planning 2 birthdays in one weekend has proven to be pretty hectic. We stayed up late Sunday night constructing this...

We have a great system for parties.... I plan and Matt entertains.  He did his job leading the boys in some light saber training.

I love how Ella is front and center with the boys. She is our party girl!

And he kept them entertained while I served up cake.

When it was all over Abe was happy, but exhausted. I think this picture says it all....

Party girl was still full of life of course!


 I think Abe felt really special and loved, which is sometimes hard when you are a middle child who has almost the same birthday as your older brother. Abe is such a talented, loving, passionate, sensitive and all-around wonderful boy. He keeps me sane when things get crazy. He brings Gavin back to earth when his head is in the clouds. He loves the life out of Ella and he keeps us all laughing. Happy Birthday Abe!

Gavin's 7th Birthday

I can't believe he's 7! Both, because it seems like just yesterday he was my baby and because when he talks he sounds like a 50 yr old college professor. I am so grateful for birthdays because it gives me the chance to reflect on how grateful I am for my children. Gavin is such a blessing to our lives. It is hard to put into words what an amazing soul I think he is. It is exciting to watch him grow and to imagine the impact he will have in this world. 

His two requests for his birthday were donuts for breakfast and a cake in the shape of Handy Manny's toolbox. Both not easily fulfilled when you are on a gluten-free diet, but Matt and I improvised.

We spent most of the day at the Chicago Children's Museum. It was the perfect spot for Gavin because he could touch every button, explore every object and ask every question he desired.

You'd have a better chance of capturing Sasquatch on film than of getting Gavin to look at a camera.

After the museum we headed to Ed Debevic's for dinner with the g'rents and then home to enjoy the cake.

We love you Gavin and can't wait to see what year 7 has in store for you!

Christmas

I know, I know Christmas was a month ago, but things are busy around here. I am dedicated to catching up on my blogging today... mostly because I am exhausted and need an excuse to sit on my rear for long periods of time. So here goes.....

We had a wonderful Christmas at home. We spent lots of time together and with extended family. We relaxed. We shopped. We gained lots of weight eating delicious holiday treats (technically, that was just me). We listened to the Osmond Christmas album many, many times. It was everything Christmas should be.

(for some reason I can't log in as myself.... K wrote this post)

Random updates

I think facebook is ruining me for blogging. It is so much easier to update my facebook page than it is to write a blog entry, so for the past couple of weeks I have just been doing that. But, for those of you not on the "book" I'll fill you in on some random happenings. 

Gavin is still obsessed with politics even though the election is over. He has no fewer than 6 presidential biographies within arms reach at all times. The other day on the way home from school he just started rattling off presidents 1-44 in order, pausing occasionally to fill me in on tidbits about their life and heritage. A couple of weeks ago he was in the tub and he says "Dad, who are Kenneth Star and Monica Lewinsky?". Oops, guess it's time to take away the Bill Clinton book! I am convinced the child has a photographic memory. I cannot believe the amount of information stored in that little brain of his. No wonder he has a hard time socializing...... I would too if I had that much information to process! Fortunately for me I have lots of empty space up there! 

Abe is having such a fun time in preschool this year. When he walks into class it is like Norm walking into Cheers.... the room erupts in voices yelling "ABE". I love watching him build a network of friends. It has always been so difficult for Gavin.... it is amazing to watch Abe do it with ease. Because of the influence of his school friends he has become totally addicted to anything Star Wars (except the movies, which he is not allowed to watch yet). He spends hours drawing pictures of Star Wars and playing with his action figures. It is fun because he doesn't really understand any of the story lines. For instance, he somehow knows Darth Vader is Luke's Dad, but doesn't understand that they are really enemies so when he plays they are going on father/son outings and stuff. It makes me laugh. 

Ella turns 2 next month.... can you believe it? It has gone by so fast, but I swear she acts like she is 5! She is such a sassy, bossy, adorable, social, crazy, party girl. She is by far our most outgoing child. She is very dramatic and can go from pouty to cheerful in an instant. She makes us laugh and is a lot of fun, but sometimes it scares me how good she is at getting what she wants. I feel like Matt and I have always been pretty strict as parents, but she knows how to melt us both. We might be in trouble during her teenage years!

My Man Friday Reunion

"Lucky Stars"

More videos on my facebook.... join up if you haven't already!

GiGi.....look away!

This weekend was Benedictine Homecoming. The football game left a lot to be desired, but there was an awesome petting zoo and kids area. Of course, I was way more into the animals than any of the kids, but I did convince Gavin to hold the 6 ft ball python. I was so proud of him!

Roughin' It

Last week the boys and I went camping. We were planning on going to one of the local forest preserves but they were already closed for the season, so we ended up going to Grandma Worlton's backyard. (Our backyard would never work - the trains would keep us up all night!) We set up our tent, started the fire and cooked hot dogs and pork & beans for dinner with roasted marshmallows for dessert. Then after a few rounds of scary stories, we all crashed. The next morning, we cooked eggs and bacon for breakfast. It was Abe's first time camping, and he came through like a champ. Gavin was the old pro. It was great fun - I think we'll be doing a lot of camping next summer!

 

D.I.Y. with toddlers

One of the many, many reasons not to attempt home improvements with a 2 yr old in the house........Yup, that's paint!

We've had an uneventful week. Nothing much to write home about. School, errands, play dates, blah, blah, blah. The best I can come up with for this week is to tell you about how Abe made his toast into the shape of an elephant. We all thought it was pretty funny. Obviously we are easily amused. We don't get out much. I'm thinking of selling it on ebay. I heard someone made $200 for toast in the shape of Illinois.... or maybe that was a potato chip.

Pumpkin Patch 2008

Rock the vote

Today is a half-day of school for Gavin and it is also a BEAUTIFUL day. I sent Gavin and Abe out to the backyard. They are usually pretty rowdy out there, so when it got quiet a few minutes ago I stuck my head out to ask what they were doing. Gavin yells back "We're just playing November elections. Abe got a hanging chad because he voted for Barack Obama." He has been really into reading about the history of politics on Wikipedia lately. Strange, I know, but that is what he is into. I guess he has also been reading up on the current political climate..... and hanging chads. Abe is so good-natured and loves his big brother so much that he is running around singing "Obama for president, vote for McCain." I hope someday Gavin realizes how lucky he is to have his little brother.... not too many 4 yr olds would be up for playing Election Day.

Fambly photos

Gavin gets so upset when I spell words wrong on the blog. One day at school he was supposed to write a story about something that really frustrates him, and that is what he wrote about. Funny, huh? I laughed myself sick when he brought it home. So now, of course, I am compelled to do it in all my postings. Anywho, here are some fambly photos we took a couple of weeks ago... I think they are purty cute.

Lorraine, don't read this!

So, I've been bragging about my pet spider for a while now. Well, he's not exactly my pet, he lives on my tomato plant in the backyard, but I love him like a pet (since Skippy died I'm a little desperate for animal companionship). Also, I'm pretty sure its female so I guess I should say she lives in my backyard. She's been out there since July, in the same spot, basking in the sun all day. She may look pretty, but she's feisty....and HUGE. If I mess with her she starts violently shaking her web with her foot trying to scare me away. It is pretty darn cool to see....at least for a biology nerd like me. I think her picture might impress you too......

Sick Day

Last night at around 2am I heard heaving....my least favorite sound to wake up to. I ran out to see who it was and it was Gavin, calmly lying in bed throwing up everywhere. He is such a good-natured sickie that usually we don't know when he is sick at night because he just throws up and then goes right back to sleep. Luckily (or not, I haven't decided) I woke up just as he was throwing up so I could go in to help him. We got him cleaned up and back to bed quickly, but within a few minutes I heard him going for it again. I ran in to help him aim for a bucket and rub his back to comfort him. As he is heaving into the bucket he notices that his eyes are tearing up and says "Mom, why are my eyes crying when I am so happy?". I couldn't imagine what he was so happy about, but I didn't argue. His brother spends entire nights screaming from a stuffy nose, so it is really fun to have one so determined to look on the bright side. I need to learn from his example too, because after only getting 3 hours of sleep I'm having a hard time being good-natured about life. I sure do love my kids though!

Rainy daze

Today is a rainy, yucky day. Today is also Gavin's school picture day. He loves picture day and was excited to pick out some nice clothes and get his hair fixed up. When we were loading into the car to leave for school he says "Mom, why does it have to rain on picture day?". I said "It rains when the clouds get full." Abe chimes in and says "The clouds are heaven, right?" and I said "Maybe". Gavin thought about that one for a few minutes and then says "Mom, I think the rain is Skippy peeing on us from heaven." 

Skippy will be remembered for a lot of things. Unfortunately, I think the thing he will be remembered for the most is his record breaking incontinence. We sure do miss him though!