Connecticut

The Olympics has taken a toll on my blogging. I find myself staring at the television for hours on end while my computer sits buzzing on my lap. But tonight I'm back to share photos from our trip back East. For 2 weeks in July we traveled with all our children to visit gramma & grandpa Joe in Connecticut. It was the first time we took all the children on the airplane & surprisingly enough they did wonderful. And once we arrived the children had 10 days to build wonderful memories with their East coast family. Johnnie had so much fun spending one on one time with gramma. Drawing, playing outside with airplanes, going on walks to the pond alone with gramma & with his brothers. 

 

It was so warm our entire visit which allowed for lots of hours spent outside enjoying a mini pool (a first for Holly) & the slip & slide which was a first for the boys. Johnnie also had the chance to play Badminton & he LOVED it.

We also made time for cuddles, naps, first steps, first meetings with papa, a family bbq, time with cousin Isobel & a best man job in a wedding which is the main reason we ventured back East in the first place.

Our last day was bittersweet. We had a wonderful visit. The kids loved all their special moments with their grandparents & right before we got in the car to drive away we made sure to take some last photos & then poor Jimmy asked gramma to go on one last walk to the pond but she had to say no because it was time to go. Our little guy fell apart & cried as we drove away while the other boys just sat silent in their seats. And that's how we knew the boys had as much fun as we did. We can't wait for our next visit. But I imagine even though we have been gone for 3 weeks they finally just recovered from the visit because these kids may be cute but they are loud & a handful including the 6'4" kid.

 

Too Cute Not to Share

It was a really warm weekend so we wanted to spend as much time as we could outside. But it was a rough weekend because Holly was teething really badly. By far the worst case yet. So each time she was happy we tried to take advantage & have some fun. One moment of her happiness came this afternoon so we let her play in the little pool & in the water table while her brothers ran in the sprinklers. 

 I also took the time to capture her 49 Week Photos. She has started clapping whenever we clap or say YAY!   

She is also very smiley (when she's not teething) & now whenever she can she stands up & starts walking until she gets too tired that is. Shocking that we are only 3 weeks away from her 1st birthday so I'm just trying to enjoy each moment every day.

Our Big Boy

During our vacation last week Johnnie asked Rick if he could get a pair of shoes like daddy's. The kind with laces instead of velcro. So today I bought him his 1st pair of big boy shoes. Right away he started trying to learn & within an hour he figured it out. And when he did it he was so proud of himself exclaiming YES when he was done. I'm always proud of him but especially when he picks a goal, sets his mind to it & does it.

 

School Days

Today was another first in the Bolander house. Joey won't be starting Kindergarten until next year so we decided it was time for him to be in a full time preschool program for the next year so he would be better prepared to spend all day in school. Since we have been on vacation for 2 weeks we decided that it was a good time to start a new school. He was so excited. He spent the last few days telling everyone that he was going to a new school. And then today came. He happily put on his backpack, grabbed his lunch & bravely walked up to the door of Rainbow River. The door opened & we walked in with him at which point he nervously put his finger in his mouth & started whimpering. After a little while in his new classroom it became evident that Joey was not going to stop crying so Miss Vicky & Adriana told us that we should just go. We sadly left him but we knew he would be fine. Well at the end of the day when we arrived to pick him up he was sitting around the table with the other children for story time. He spent the day playing with dinosaurs, reading books, playing with new kids, napping, playing outside & just enjoying himself. We are so proud of him & hope he remembers how much fun he had when we drop him off tomorrow!

Firestation Visit

About a  month ago my sister & I took the kids to the local fire station for the open house. We had so much fun & the boys really got a kick out of it so I wanted to make sure to share the day on the blog. After delivering the cookies we baked it was tour time. First they showed us around the fire station. And then it was time to play in the truck. Trying on helmets, talking into headphones & just getting a feel for where the firemen sit.

Then Fireman Joe made my boys day. He offered to let them play with the fire hoses. He had them drag them all over the courtyard trying to tire them out. He definitely doesn't know my boys. 

  

And then each of the boys had a turn spraying the water. Johnnie went first & was a natural. When he touched it he knew right away to pull the nozzle back to get the water to shoot out. Jimmy went next & wanted Joe to help him.  

And then it was Joey's turn. Just as expected he wasn't timid at all. He immediately shot the water into the air & over the wall. 

And finally it was Fireman Joe's turn. He wanted to show the boys how the water could shoot straight into the air. And this was by far the best part of the day to them. They ran around in circles making sure they were always running toward the water. Once they were soaking wet it was time for a group photo & time for us to leave them to their work. I am so appreciative of everything firemen do for us but especially for opening up their work place, their hearts & the imagination of my boys.  

 

Afterwards we went to get Joey & Jimmy a haircut & as you can see they were still in good spirits from our earlier adventure.

10 Months

It's happening too quickly. The end of more than 5 years of babies in my house is rapidly approaching a close. I absolutely LOVE babies. And I will miss every baby smell, baby sound all those firsts that come with watching a baby grow. Luckily there are still a lot of moments left. Holly had 2 more teeth come in this month. Her top middle teeth. She discovered her voice & therefore now yells as often as she can. A joyful sound but loud.
She completely loves the bath. As soon as we put her down she stands right next to the bath bouncing her knees & yelling (of course) with her new voice until we put her in.
She loves table food & feeding herself & each day it gets harder to feed her because she is constantly grabbing the spoon to try & feed herself. She is still a happy baby but has had a tough month with teething & her first REAL cold.
She still can't get enough of her brothers & this month Jimmy has jumped to the top of her favorite people list. Our girl is spunky & so happy & I can't wait to see what firsts she accomplishes this next month.

First & Last

Today was the last day of school for Johnnie. The last day of Tedde. Starting next year he will be a Kindergartener. This year he learned to write the alphabet, how to sound out words, especially the ones that rhyme, some addition & subtraction, the concept of reading & most importantly how to be a little less sensitive when friends treat him poorly. He didn't drastically change but he gained a few inches & a few pounds & sadly lost some of the baby fat in his cheeks. I love how much he has grown over the last 9 months physically & emotionally & look forward to his next school year!