The Graham's visit: Adults Outnumbered!

Our cousins came to visit for a weekend at the end of March/beginning of April (I think that's when it was... this is what happens when I get so behind on this blog.)
It's actually Andrew's cousin Travis, his lovely wife Jodi and their kids - Logan, Harper & Ainslee (or Angi-lee as Emma likes to call her.)
So in total we had 4 adults, a 6 yr old, a 4 yr old, two 3 year olds and a 2 year old. Yeah, we're crazy like that. But it was fun. Part of the weekend actually wound up being quite the debacle, but it's laughable now. Andrew and Travis had tickets to go to a VanHalen concert Saturday night so we decided to plan a trip to the Shedd aquarium during the day with all the kids. It was actually supposed to be a really nice day, weather report said 70's... So we all got ready, got the kids all dressed and packed up and we were about to leave and Travis didn't feel well, so we decided to wait a few minutes. (The kids were already all strapped in their carseats at this point so they weren't thrilled with us.)
We drove into the city, 2 cars full of us, Travis had to do a few emergency pull overs on the way (sorry Trav) so we lost them, but eventually we all wound up at our destination. The Shedd Aquarium on Lake Michigan. Parked, hauled everyone up there and what do you know? A line of approximately 200+ people waiting to get in!! (Not joking) Seriously?!? What's so special about this place? I'm not sure why, but we decided to wait a little while and see how quickly the line moved. Let me tell you, NOT quickly. In fact, it really didn't move much at all. And it was Fah-Reezing. Whoever was in charge of that weather report blew it, big time. The kids were freezing their little tushies off, aside from it being frigid the wind was blowing off the lake and everyone was dressed for 70 degrees. Travis went to see if they had any jackets or sweatshirts in their car, but he did not return. I sent Andrew to find him and eventually they did come back (sans-jackets) because they couldn't find the car. Eventually we said forget it, and tossed the whole idea, drove back home, ordered a pizza and warmed up our kiddies. (We also paid like $30 to park each car which wound up being useless) but oh well, it was definitely an experience. Oh and I should also mention, we were 'those' parents that everyone stares at as I was DRAGGING my child away from the building as she was screaming bloody murder because she wanted to see the fishies. So that was the disaster part of the visit. You live and learn I guess. Don't attempt to go to the Aquarium in Chicago on a Saturday, during Spring break (did I mention that? oops.) and apparently there was also some type of exhibit going on.
Other than that the kids had fun, my kids absolutely loved having them here to play with and thought it was the best thing ever that they slept over and where here again to play with in the morning. Actually, Emma and Drew were probably a little bit too excited and were so cranked up and hyper, and deleriously slap happy.

I love this picture... We thought the kids were upstairs playing, but it turns out they were all snuggled up in my bed watching a show. 

Watching cartoons in the morning. Yes, apparently Emma thinks she is a rockstar, and the dark sunglasses are necessary inside. Rough night I guess.

Andrew and Logan wrestling... kind of?

Drew just idolized Logan

Miss Ainslee and her waffles

This was at the aquarium... Well, after we parked, but before we realized just how big of a mistake we had just made.

Drew and Harper

We miss you guys!!



March 2012 & Andrew's Birthday

I'm still trying to catch this blog up from March & April... and now we're into May. Ahy!
I am really slackin' on this these days. And I know you're all just sitting on the edge of your seats anxiously waiting, right? hah... kidding. Truthfully, I'm hoping to turn most of this into a memory book for the kids some day, and this is my easiest way of keeping track of what we do on a somewhat regular basis (used to be much more regular than it is now) because god knows I will not remember much of it to ever tell them without a reminder. I can barely remember things week to week anymore.

Emma had a few nuclear radiology tests in March. We were at the end of the list of tests that needed to be done to make final decisions on her kidneys. She has been such a trooper... but it has not been an easy ride. 8 months of hospitals, specialists/doctor appointments, CT scans, multiple blood draws and catheters, a PICC line, a surgery to put a stint in, and a surgery to remove it a few months later, a VCUG test, a MAG3 test and lots in between. She has been on an antibiotic every day since September, and the last of the tests were to determine whether we would go with a surgical procedure to attempt to correct the blockage or not. She has reflux in both kidneys, which really can't be corrected... it will hopefully just improve with time as she grows. However, they kept seeing a little blockage in one of her kidneys, so the last test she had done measured the rate at which the kidneys each drained. One drained at 10 minutes and one at 16. But the fact of that matter is that both are draining and they're happy with that, and would not consider doing a surgical correction at this point. On a scale from 1-5 (5 being the worst) one of her kidneys is a 2, and the other is a 3, which is considered 'moderate' at this point. So the final outcome was, she stays on antibiotics and goes in for an ultrasound check approximately every 6 months.

Getting ready to leave the hospital - all dressed and ready to go with her apple juice. Just doing the last pulse check.

Waiting for the car, snacking. (Unfortunately, we've gotten to know the ins & outs and tricks of the hospital, and to valet your car is actually much cheaper than hourly parking) She can't eat or drink anything before the tests, so I schedule them as early in the morning as possible and bring snacks for after until we can get a meal into her.

A friend of mine from high school was in town, so after the hospital Emma and I headed into the city to meet them for lunch at Rainforest Cafe.

My boy was tuckered out when we picked him up from my moms on the way home. He gets majorly spoiled when he gets to spend the day with Mimi by himself. It usually ends with a new firetruck, or monster truck of some kind.

My munchkins watching tv in my bed

We also had Daddy's birthday at the end of March.

They love baking and decorating goodies, so we made a lemon cake

Once they were done decorating and we finished sprinkles, letters and candles, I put it up on the kitchen counter to assure we would still have a cake for Andrew when he got home from work that day and I noticed a nice long little finger mark through the icing. Then, as I looked back at the pictures - notice the top left pic. Busted!!

I let each of them hold the icing for a few letters as I guided them through the word daddy.

Although speaking of that! Check out what our Emma does BY HERSELF with no assistance these days!!

Her name! And on a magnadoodle no less! I can barely write on those things...

I'm not sure if most kids write their names at 3 yrs old? I have tried practicing letters with Drew and he is way more concerned with figuring out how he can disassemble the pen and put it back together. Definitely a different interest/focus there.

She has since moved on to 'Emma P.' - so she now has the first initial of her middle name in there. Smarty pants.

She practices on their chalkboard

Back to Andrew's birthday...

We like birthdays around here. Usually your birthday lasts several days, one of which includes a dinner at my parents and the birthday girl or boy picks whatever they want her to make for dinner & dessert.



And then celebrating again at home, with the cake we made for daddy....

There really aren't as many candles on it as this picture makes it appear. I'm not that mean ;)

In case you didn't notice, Emma insists on being up front and center any time there is a cake with candles to be blown out. No matter who's birthday or cake it is.

I'm back! It's definitely been a while, so I've got a lot to catch up on... I'll have to do a high level overview of the last few months of our life. It's been crazy and busy. So this will probably be more pictures than anything, because I have pictures going back several months that I haven't done anything with. (And trust me... I take several pictures a day. My husband can attest to that.) We will never be short on pictures of the kids as they are growing up! But that is my intention.
We have been enjoying the "warm"-ish weather lately. Pretty much warm enough to get the kids outside to play. Some days have been absolutely gorgeous and then we get a few icky ones in between. But, we will get there... eventually. Really looking forward to summer!
The kids have been able to get out with all of their outside toys though, which has been fun for them. That is definitely a benefit for those living in a climate that is warm year round when you have little ones. Finding things to keep them entertained and busy inside all winter can be a challenge. Especially when you have two 3 year olds on your hands!

Cruisin' around in their Benz

It looks like I've got some catchin' up to do... back to St. Patty's day. Andrew was actually traveling that week, he was in CA for work and extended through the weekend to visit his sister. So my munchkins and I spent St. Pattys day together.

We went out to dinner -

(These pictures make me laugh.)

Twinnies & Best Buddies

Then we played outside and rode bikes up and down our street...

They love their little trikes

One of the nights daddy was gone, I let the kids make pizzas

(We try to do the messy activities when daddy's not home)

I gave each of them pre-made dough/pizza crust, and let them spread the sauce around and sprinkle cheese all over it.

And... their finished product - not bad! I just had to spread the cheese out a little more evenly before popping it in the oven because they would just make a big pile of cheese in one central area. ;)

They actually each made one - but they pretty much looked the same, I promise. ;)

They're good little pizza chefs, and it's a fun activity for them.

Spending a weekend afternoon at Mimi & Pop's -

Playing with sidewalk chalk in the driveway with Mimi...

My mom gets just as excited (if not more) about this kinda stuff as they do.

And... since she is a very talented artist/illustrator, it makes me look bad when my kids ask me to draw them something and this is what they have to compare it to:

SpongeBob!

Drew cruisin around. He actually navigates these things pretty well!

Drew & Andrew, giggling at something at the dinner table

We met my sister and Matt for pizza one night

This was actually outside of the restaurant... Drew was climbing on this bench thing and I snapped a picture and ran it through an editing program and loved the whole look and feel of it:

My little Love...

Em & Daddy

That's going to have to be it for now. I'll try to get back on and post some more later.