Summer Days

     Summer seems to be flying by. I know I have written about our debate to homeschool and I am pretty sure we will for kindergarten or try the virtual charter school if we get in, but for now I am going to keep Liam in preschool. Mainly based on the fact I can't make a decision right now and it's only 2 1/2 hours a day 4 days a week, so we will see how it goes. One day Liam loves the idea of going back then the next he hates it, but he's like that with most things, so it's no surprise. He actually starts August 13th which is only a couple of weeks a away. We will be in Indiana his first week though, so he'll start a week later. Here's some pictures from our last trip there.

                                                        Love this picture of them!

In other news I know I have been lacking on the posts and one of these days I plan to post more often. The days just seem to fly by and by the end I am exhausted. Plus it's summer and everyone is suppose to be lazier in the summer or at least that's what I'll tell myself:)

Donuts and Little Dudes

    I took these 3 little guys out for donuts the other morning to my favorite local coffee shop. Can they be any cuter?  Rory is getting so big, it feels weird to no longer have a baby in the house. He's a toddler now always on the move trying to keep up with his older brothers.

Summer Days and Thoughts on Homeschooling

   I can't believe tomorrow it will be July. Our days have been so busy and flying by. Most mornings have been spent at the park with friends, in the backyard, or meeting friends indoors to keep cool.
Nights have been spent grilling, at Liam's soccer practice, or going to Rainbow cone one too many times.

We also started family picnic movie night on Fridays which has been super fun. We lay out a blanket, eat pizza, and watch a movie. Our first night we watched Peter Pan and last night we watched The Fantastic Mr Fox, which was a movie even mom and dad enjoyed.
   In only a little over a month Liam will be back at school. I feel like it's coming too fast and I still haven't really decided about homeschooling. Some days I think it's a great idea while others I think I must be crazy for even considering it. It's such a big decision and I can see benefits to both. I just think since homeschooling is going against the norm it makes it hard to know if it is the right decision. Luckily when I told my family we were considering it they were supportive otherwise it would make the decision even harder. I guess no matter what decision I make there will always be doubts. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Beach Days

     It's been too long like usual, but life has been busy. Lots of time outdoors, weekends at the beach, and playing in water. We've been up to Long Beach Indiana twice this year already and it has been bittersweet. It's my husbands grandparent's house and they are nice enough to let us spend lots of time up there, but after his grandma passing not too long ago they have decided to sell it so this will be our last year there and we are trying to live it up:)

Weekend Update

  
  It's finally starting to cool down here in Chicago, but we had our hottest weekend yet. This weekend really seemed to fly by though, which surprised me since my husband was gone working for most of it. Friday he was off though and we went and got the rest of the plants for our garden, had lunch at one of our favorite Mexican spots, then came home to plant. Saturday was spent in the backyard playing in water, and I took out their little pool to splash around in since it was over 90 degrees. Then Sunday I took the boys out for coffee and donuts, stopped at the farmer's market where we picked up some delicious strawberries and focaccia, and then the park. Later I was even able to get my oldest to nap, so I could take lay down for a bit. Then we made dinner and had my favorite summertime dessert, strawberry shortcake. Here's to hoping this week goes fast since we are spending Memorial day weekend in Indiana. Hope everyone else enjoyed their weekend as much as I did. I also really need to take more pictures, so I have some more to share with you guys:)

Happy Mother's Day

  
 While being a mom is the hardest job you will ever have it is also one of the best. I know when I look back these will be some of my fondest memories even though there are days that are hard and filled with tears those will be forgotten. All I will remember are hugs between brothers, Liam reading a comic to Declan, Rory shaking his head and waving his hands as he dances at the first sound of music, the funny way Declan says hot dog, and watching Liam help his brothers.
      I hope all you ladies were able to relax a little and enjoy your Mother's day:)

Declan at 2

   


  Since this little man has turned 2 he has been talking up a storm and his personality shines more and more everyday. A few things I want to always remember about him at this age:

*He just started saying I love you and it sounds like this "lalo mom"
* When he tells some he is sorry he likes to do a chicken dance flapping his one arm
* He loves his blanket if he could it would go everywhere with him. He calls it his blank he even sometimes likes to tell me he has a nice blank and other times is know as Blanket Boy capturing evil doers by throwing his blanket at them
* Anything Liam does he wants to do
* Any time anyone says they are going anywhere he says "I'm coming"
* He constantly asks for fruit snacks all day they are by far his favorite thing and he is relentless
* He usually just calls Rory baby, but has just started calling him Baby Roar roar
* He has an obsession with Orange Juice
*  He calls our IPad pie and loves to read stories on it
* He calls Batman "dun, dun" and would wear his batman pjs all day everyday if I let him
* I love when he comes up to me and says "Hold me mom, hold me" he can be quite the cuddle bug
* Oh and he has the sweetest little face and it makes it so hard to say mad at him

    Declan I love you to pieces:) After having you my heart expanded. You have brought us so much joy and I love watching your personality unfold. You are a laid back, goof ball, and I am lucky to be your mom.

Nature Museum

       Sunday we went to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum thanks to a great friend buying our family a membership for our sons birthdays. I can't believe we have never been there before. It's right across from Lincoln Park Zoo which we go to often, but I never thought of it. It's by far one of the best gifts they received for their birthday all of them loved it. Plus since they have so many toys it's great to get a gift we can all use as a family again and again. There was tons for them to do, yet it was a very peaceful place  I think my favorite part was the butterfly habitat. There are so many beautiful butterflies fluttering around and Liam was so excited when one landed on his shoulder.

                                            After sitting patiently a butterfly landed on him

                                                  We got to see a mama and her baby:)

                                                                Our Little Walker

                                                                 Taking a Break

                                                            Having a snack

Positive Thinking

   Recently I read this post about the effect our words have on others and the impact our negative words and complaining has on our family and friends.If you have a minute you should really check it out. I'll just tell you this post really hit home this is something I have been trying to work on  for a while now and still struggle with because I do always tend to look at the things we don't have instead of all the things we do. I tend to always think the worst. Looking back I know that some of the way I think has to do with the way I was raised.  I know that negative thoughts and complaints are not just going to disappear, but I am going to work hard and not voicing them especially if they are of no value to anyone. What good does it do when I complain about how hard my day was? Instead on what to start focusing on how good it was and share those parts of my day with others. Because even though being a mom is one of the hardest things I've ever done it also is the most wonderful and I can not even begin to explain how much love and joy has filled my heart since becoming a mom and with each child it has grown more. When my children look back I want them to remember a mom who was happy and filled with love, not a grumpy and crabby mom
      I want to raise kids who think positive and are grateful, but how can I do that when they hear me complaining all the time. Because as adults we always worry if we are giving our kids enough and look at what other moms or families have or the things they do. I know this is especially true in the blogging world. I read some blogs and get sad because my house doesn't look like a pottery barn catalog and I can't do tons of awesome crafts, but we all only share part of our lives and usually it's the best parts. I know these are not things my kids are worried about though all they want is me and it takes so little to make them happy just my time and attention. Sometimes I get caught up in the everyday life and truly forget how lucky I am, but now I have been trying to slow down in those stressful moments and realize that most of the things I stress about really are not a big deal(so what if the house is a mess, if we are five minutes late, everyone is crying) As long as I am doing me best and my family is healthy and happy all the other stuff seems so small

Rory turns 1

   

     I just had to share this pictures because I love them so much. Last Wednesday our littlest guy, Rory turned one. I can't believe it a year goes by so fast. He started walking at 11 months, just like I predicted and now he's really walking all over the place. We had a pretty low key celebration just dinner and carrot cupcakes at home I got the recipe from smittenkitchen and they were delicious I've never had carrot cake before and these were amazing. We're actually having a party for all 3 of them this weekend, I figure better late then never. Poor little Rory is sick though, so I'm hoping by Sunday he will be better for the party.

Birthdays

    Today was a weekend filled with birthdays. My middle guy, Declan turned two on Saturday. We spent the day at the children's museum then had dinner and cupcakes at home. He was so excited when we sang him happy birthday, it was so cute. As he gets older his personality shows more and more. He is such a sweet and funny little guy. I just love watching him grow and feel so lucky to be his mom.

 
     Then today was my husband's birthday and we spent the day outdoors at a nature center. Then after naps we had dinner and watched a movie. It was a great weekend. I love when Jack has off the whole weekend since it is a rare treat. Things are always more fun when he's around. Hope you had a fun weekend:)
  

The Poop Wars

  So we have been having a war at our house and I'm afraid to say that I am losing. At this point I am at a loss of what to do next and have raised the white flag.
     Our oldest, Liam turned 4 on Leap Day. He has been potty trained since right before he turned 3, but pooping has always been an issue for him. Even as a baby once he started solids he would only poop every few days and they would be huge and hard. TMI I know, but if you're a mom you are surrounded by this all day. When we first started potty training he would still go poo in his underwear sometimes, and had a fear of using the toilet, but after a couple months he got the hang of it and was good to go. Don't get me wrong he would still hold it for as long as he could, but when he needed to go he would use the toilet or be bribed to do so.
      This past couple of weeks though he has just told me he no longer wants to poo on the toilet. I know part of it is fear because since he holds it so long it hurts. Trust me we give this kid lots of food that will help him go, but still he waits and dances around trying to hold it in.
    Once he starts dancing around I know he has to go. So Monday he started dancing around before school and I made him try to go he sat on the toilet for 30 minutes crying then got off and sat on the floor. Luckily Jack came home and helped me and sat him back on the toilet, he screamed but after a while he finally went. Then today he was dancing around again and I had him sit on the toilet, but he didn't go. Then when he was in the bath, he told me he pooped in there. The hard part is it didn't even bother him. When he used to have accidents he would feel bad and I could tell it bothered him. Now he doesn't seem to care and actually said I could just put a diaper on him if I want to. I feel like we've tried everything: rewards, punishment, praise, ignoring, giving attention when he does it and now I'm at a loss. I know besides the fear part of it may be a control issue, but we do let him have many choices whenever possible. I feel like we are at a stand still and all of a sudden we are back to where we were in the beginning, but at least back then rewards worked.  I just needed to vent, but if you have any advice it would be appreciated.

Weekend Update

      We did end up making it to the waterpark Thursday afternoon and had a fun night splashing around and after ate dinner in the small town, then back to the hotel for bed. I was a little nervous about staying in a hotel since it was our first time with all three, but they did great. Unfortunately that night I ended up getting the stomach flu, so all of Friday was spent in the hotel room for me. Jack was awesome though, he took all three of them for the whole day without complaining and I know at a waterpark and indoor amusement park that was no easy feat. Saturday I felt a bit better, and we went to the amusement park before heading home. Unfortunately with all the chaos we didn't get any pictures, but the kids had tons of fun so I'm sure we will do the trip again next year.
  We wanted to make sure to be home for our annual Southside Irish Parade in our neighborhood on Sunday.  It actually got cancelled two years ago since it became too crazy, and this was it's first year back as a more family friendly parade. Sunday was a perfect sunny day and wonderful weather for a parade. I was excited to be able to share a neighborhood tradition with my kids since Liam was only one at the last parade.

                                                 Lil Hooligans getting ready for the parade

                                                                               Smores

      All I can say is I am so glad we have our parade back. Lots of people were nervous but it turned out to be a very family friendly event. We spent the whole day outside with family and friends. Eating lots of corned beef and later having a campfire and making smores.Perfect family fun:)

Life Lately

     I know I seem to not be posting much lately and every time I come back there is an excuse for my absence. Truth is I have just been spending my time enjoying these guys.

    Between the fun and not so fun moments(like disciplining) by the end of the night I am exhausted and don't feel like posting something just for the sake of having a post. To be honest I just haven't felt inspired to write. I have still been researching homeschooling and am pretty sure we will try it after preschool, but sometimes on those not so good days I think I may be crazy, but we'll see.
     Saturday was spent celebrating my mom's 60th birthday. My in-laws were nice enough to take the kids for the night so we could stay out a little later and we had a great time. Lots of 80s music and dancing.
    Thursday we are suppose to go to an indoor hotel/water park for 2 nights, but my husband has a horrible case of the stomach flu right now, so I'm not sure if it will happen. I decided to just wait to the last minute to book it because I'm nervous more of us will end up sick. Cross your fingers that doesn't happen, I know Liam was really looking forward to it. Hopefully my next post will be about our awesome trip to the water park:)

Leap Day Baby

      Today my oldest gets to celebrate his first birthday since the day he was born. We had a whole day planned for him and I was super excited about being able to celebrate, but life had other plans and soon after Liam woke up to a room full of balloons and a birthday banner, the poor guy threw up all over. So we had to make other plans. Luckily it's super nice out so we've been outside most of the day playing and hanging out. Liam seems ok although he hasn't ate much and complains his stomach hurts from time to time. We bought he a big boy bike with training wheels and he has been trying to get the hang of it. Although these weren't our original plans we still had a fun day. Happy Birthday to my first baby!

Love and Loss

     My husband's grandma passed away on Saturday, she was a spunky little lady and I feel privileged that I was able to get to know her. She always made me laugh and will be greatly missed. Our last couple of days have been spent remembering her incredible life.

Liam hanging out with Grandma Ron last Monday