boys

My boys are watching a basketball game together. It's so cute. I can't wait until Everett loves sports and is getting to play them. I brought in a few toys for Everett to play with and he is going to town on them. He dropped one and we didn't realize it and he started to get sad. When John handed it to him he grabbed it as fast as he could. Really cool how he is growing up and learning things. So fun for a parent to watch.

tomorrow is the day....

...that I go and sign my first born up for kindergarden. Oh my how did that happen? Where did the last 5 years go? Such mixed emotions. Very proud of her. We have kind of unique situation. We had no clue what kindergarden would look like when she was born but because she is so amazing it's looking pretty normal. Normal, I never knew I would be so happy to have normal. Sad that she is growing up so fast. More than anything though proud for what an amazing young lady she has become. She makes me smile everyday. Our sweet Avery Lou will start kindergarden this fall. Wow!

Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend. It was 52 on Saturday and we finally saw the sun. It's been weeks and boy did we all miss it. Outside we spent most of the day. We were out so long Camille happily went upstairs for a nap. We were playing tag and having races and after trying to do the crab walk with Av and I and getting so mad she couldn't off to dream land she went. I got the car cleaned out too. Feels so nice to be driving a clean car. Then we went with friends to the charity event. We had a blast! I drank too many beers and didn't feel the best Sunday but it was all worth it. The Holy Grale was not as cool as we had hoped but it didn't matter. It was just VERY small. We had late night food (late night for us 11pm hehhehe) and home we went. Alex did GREAT with the 3 kids. He acted like it was no big deal. To us it's a huge deal but I guess to him he doesn't know what a big deal it is, so it's just easy. Everett didn't drink even half an ounce of what I left him but still went to bed like it was no big deal. Av told Alex, "mommy's going to be mad" when Everett would not eat but what could he do? John and I were amazed when we got home to a perfectly quiet house and 3 sleeping kids but again Alex just shrugged his shoulders. On Sunday it was pretty again. Not as warm but still nice. We spent a lot of time running around outside. Had to soak it all in while we could.

We are still cool....

kind of. heheheh A few weeks ago for John's bday we took some great friends out to dinner with us. We had such a nice time. We went to restaurant called The Blind Pig. It has a very cool vibe and it's in the old butcher town of Louisville. They are reviving the area with lots of restaurants, bars and shops moving in. No chains, everything is unique to Louisville. Lots of cool buildings are being used and remodeled. Very neat. The Blind Pig has bacon in almost everything on the menu. Even a bacon martini. I don't think anyone tried it but I did have a spicy sangria. (for the record I didn't have a single piece of bacon that night...mussels, salad and a portobello mushroom and goat cheese sandwich) We waited over an hour for our table but nobody cared. We had a great spot at the bar. The boys stood in a circle and were so engrossed in their talk they had no clue that we ordered a appetizer and ate it all. heheh It was a white bean puree and it was delish. After that we went to a local bar and danced to a friend of a friends band. A great night!!! This weekend we are heading to a charity event at another old building downtown. It is called The Mellwood Arts center. It is for Avery's therapy place and is a beer tasting event. It is from 5-8 and I am pretty excited about it. Last year we went by ourselves. This year we have some really nice friends coming with us. So neat to have such good friends support something for Avery. After the event we are heading to a new bar in town. It's called the Holy Grale and it's in an old church. It is a European-style beer bar, inspired by the beer in Belgium and Holland. When I told John the plans for the night (he wanted to have peeps here for a wii party, that's why I am the social director of this ship...hehehe....kidding that would have been fun too) he said, "yay I love going to bars like that when I am in Europe" and "Louisville is getting pretty freaking cool!" Glad he was happy with the plans. All this is happening before 11pm though because I turn into a pumpkin then. So I guess I'm not still as cool as I think I am.

cousin time

What a super great week we had. My cousin Emily came for a visit. It was such a treat. She lives in Reno and I don't get to see her much. We did see her this summer in Snowshoe but other than that the last time I saw her was when Av was 18 months and then before that was my wedding. Needless to say I don't get enough Whistler time in general. Wish her mom and sis could have come to but boy did we have a blast. She arrived on Tues just as I was getting home with the girls. We cooked some dinner and hung out. The girls were in heaven with all the attention. After spoiling the girls we put them to bed and shared a bottle of wine. On Wednesday she worked most of the day but afterwards we took her on a little tour of the city (which of course included a starbucks) and then fed, bathed and put the kids to bed. Emily and I left John home and went to a little sushi restaurant up the street where we proceeded to stuff ourselves with 4 rolls. It was so nice to sit down and just get to know her better. We really had a nice time. I loved having the company and help with the kids. Come back soon please!!!!!!!!

feet

This morning we were all up but Everett. I was ready to go wake him to eat when John said, "he's awake up there, he's playing with his feet." "He's WHAT?!?!?!" was my reply. "He found his feet for the first time and didn't come get me to show me????" I still have not seen it but sure it's the cutest thing ever.

moving stool

Everett started grabbing at things about 2 weeks ago. If you dangled a toy in front of him he would eventually get his hands to it. You could tell it was very hard work and he had to try very hard to do it. Tonight we were all up in the girl's room putting them to bed. I laid Everett down on the carpet to tuck the girls in. As I was going to turn off the light I noticed the plastic stool right next to him was moving. He had grabbed it and was moving it and lifting it up. He also brought his other hand over and was using that too. I said, "girls look what Everett is doing." They laughed and laughed. It was a pretty funny sight to see the stool being moved by him. Very cute. They have no idea that soon he will be doing more than just something cute to look at. Soon enough they will have another playmate!!

boogers, boogers and more boogers

Oh my, if these cold germs and boogers do not leave my house I may just have to!!! I'm so over it. In Dec it all started with Av. She had a cough for weeks and it finally got bad enough that I took her in. They gave her that lovely pink stuff and on our way we went. Last week Camille started so off to the doctors I took her. She had a cold and the start of a double ear infection so she got some of the lovely pink stuff. She is pretty much better but Av started again. UGH!! So back to the doctors we went. I of course had to take all 3 and that in itself is another blog post but the doctors office is the last place you want to be when you are trying to get rid of germs. After using antibacterial stuff like 30 times we finally got out of there. Yes Av needed more meds so we got the white stuff this time. Hope it helps her fast and the girls finally get over this but then the most tragic thing happened. Everett started coughing. Hearing a sweet innocent 3 month old cough is probably one of the saddest things ever. It is pitiful. Last night you could just tell he felt awful but he still tried to be the happy boy he always is. At one point John said, "he just smile-coughed." The poor boy is so congested he cannot even attempt to breath out of his nose so that it is making nursing impossible. After a good amount of saline drops and the blue booger sucker we finally got him able to nose breath long enough so he could have a good morning feeding. Now him and John are sound asleep up in our bed while I deal with some girl boogers. Lucky me. Don't worry Kleenex the Hoekstras are keeping you in business!!!

snow day 5

Well we have hit snow day #5 now. It's really getting pretty silly. It stopped snowing around 7 pm last night and they still called off school for today last night!! I just really can't get over it. We only got about 4 inches of show. CRAZY Yesterday they let the kids out of school at noon and hbr was cancelled too because of the snow. That was understandable. It started snowing around then and snowed non-stop till 7. John got home early and we all went out and played in it for awhile. We had fun!!

silly girls

Avery and Camille being silly at G&PP's house!!

Speech

Av started another speech. Aquatic therapy. It's pretty cool. To her it's just playing in the pool but here is the thought process behind it.

The water provides sustained compression to support diaphragmatic movement, ribcage and lung expansion with more midline control as the extremities can move easier with the voice projecting louder with more forceful voicing and clearer articulation. The water also serves to support the head for better positioning to provide trunk, neck, jaw, tongue support for more intelligible articulation.

daddy Av day

John took Avery to a U of L basketball game on Saturday. They both had a blast! It was a very sweet daddy big girl day.

my family

This picture totally captures my family right now. Av is back in a dress-up phase. She is loving her dress-up clothes. She is naked and re-dressed SEVERAL times a day. A dress with a tutu on it that her Great Aunt Susie got her (not really just a dress up dress in the summer she will wear it for real) is her current fav. She pairs it with a sweater and another tutu that Shelly got her. In this pic she added her halloween snowwhite headband and snowwhite glasses and she is all ready to go. What you can's see is she has a pair of Spartan sweatpants on as well. Very cute.

Camille has been sick and a total GRUMPSTER!!!! Oh my goodness I can't take her whining anymore.

Everett still has his mohawk and no I do not do that at all. It is all natural and looks like that all the time. Notice the top of his sleeper is soaked it. It has started. The drooling is bad, and his sleeves are always soaked too from his hand obsession.

And finally the VERY proud daddy!!!! As cute as he was when he really was 21! Although I didn't know him then he will always be the hot guy I met at the bar on sixth street in Austin!!!

I love these peeps more than they will ever know, or at least till they have kids of their own!!

John's bday!

Camille just had to wake before our normal "let you out of your bed time" of 7 am to wish Daddy happy BIRTHDAY!!! So Camille and I sent daddy off with some bday kisses and off to work he went. Sidenote: you should not have to work on your bday. After Camille's nap we finger painted cards for daddy and made a cake. Daddy was able to get off early and was home before 5:30!!! We had a nice night of family togetherness. We usually try to keep Fridays plan free and make them a family night. We feed the kids dinner and put them to bed and then John and I enjoy take-out together. This Friday was the same with one exception, John and I had cake with the girls before our dinner. I loved that and luckily the girls didn't notice and/or comment on it.

bumbo boy

first time in the bumbo. He looks a little undecided on whether or not he likes it. Or maybe he is concerned on how it shows off his eight chins.

after lunch snow day

After finishing the lunch dishes I went into the living room to join the girls. Come to find out Camille was sound asleep on the floor. This cold is really getting her. I took her to her room and she slept for 3 hours. We had to wake her. Av, Everett and I played games, did more letter stuff, made necklaces and read a few books. It was a nice afternoon.

snow day take 4

This is our fourth snow day of the year so far. It is 11:30 and we are working on lunch. We were going to wait on lunch a little and go outside to play but Camille is feeling very puny. Missing a chance to go outside is so NOT her so you know she does not feel that great. I have once again learned to LOVE snow days. Spending the day in my PJs with 3 of my favorite peeps is such a treat. So far this has been our day.

Legos started out the morning.

Then a craft. We colored re-usable fabric bags to use as snack bags.

Belly time

Camille looking puny on the couch

Camille eating a big apple (still looking bad)

Everett playing with his favorite toy. His hands!!!

Av working in a work book. The book is for 5-6 year olds and she can do it all!!!! So proud of her.

loving sisters

pj party

Av had pj day at school today. There are many mornings she has a hard time waking up and getting out of bed (don't we all) and today was one of them. Normally it's a little tough but today I said, "remember Av it's your PJ party." She was up in seconds!! So excited.

more pics of e

yes i like taking pics of him sleeping too. Av does not sleep during the day and i will not take any chances waking c at night so no recent av sleeping pics.

bowling with good friends

We went bowling with the Woods and the Shumans last night. Everyone had a blast. It took us over 2 hours to bowl our first game (granted we didn't start right away when we got there and we did eat dinner in the middle of it). Of course everyone was still having fun so we decided to go for one more game. About half way into the second game everyone was starting to melt but that didn't matter, we had had our fun! The girls love it though. Walking up, putting their big ball down and pushing it down the ally at 2mph (if we are lucky it goes that fast). I did good the first game breaking 100 and beating Brento but went downhill the second game. Oh well. It is a little challenging with 3 kiddos but that's the fun of it. Passing E back and forth between all the adults by the end of the night so either John or I could bowl or help the girls. Av is always good, you can count on her never to go far but Camille you have to keep an eye on at all times. So in that way it is still man to man for us but then again we were used to being able to share Camille duties. Now one of us if fully responsible for her. That in it's self is a full time job!!!!

playmates

The girls just went off together to play in their room. So cute. They have never done that. Avery asked, "Camille you want to come play with me upstairs?" It was like music to my ears. We will see how long it lasts until I hear the first signs of a fight but for now I will enjoy the peace and my coffee.

shedding

The shedding has begun. If you have ever had a baby you know what I mean. I actually was talking with my girl friends last week about this and wondering when it started. I knew it was not right away but I thought it was sooner than now. Guess not. I actually was really hopping it was something I was going to get to skip this time. Not so lucky. Guess it's right around the 3 month post delivery mark. Crazy how one day there is not a lost hair and the very next there are tons on the floor, brush and my cloths. Sure John will be complaining in the next few weeks about the drains being clogged. heheheh Not my fault.

sleepy heads

The girls and I woke up our boys at 9 this morning. We went upstairs to get Daddy with a cup of coffee for him and as we passed E's room I peeked in and saw legs and arms moving all around. He was up there playing happily. I scooped him up and brought him into our room where the girls were bouncing on the bed to get daddy up. Into the madness I had to bring him. Hard to decide whether he would rather enjoy the peace of his bed a little longer or be included in on the craziness. I sometimes battle with it myself, do I want to go join in on the fun John and the girls are having or would I rather steal a few minutes for myself??? A lot of times the answer is both. Want my cake and eat it too. I feel very lucky that I have that decision to make.

3 months

e is 3 months!!!!! how is that possible? not sure what else i can say about him that i have not already. he truly is the best baby in the whole wide world. he cries only when hungry and most times if i can't get to him that minute he is fine w a paci. he is not attached to it though. we go days wo using one. when he is on his belly he either rolls himself right over or gets his feet planted on the ground and his butt in the air and scouts forward. the other day i found him under the coffee table. that is for sure not where i left him. he sleeps well, eats well, love attention and is very smily. anyone who talks to him is rewarded with a big toothless smile. i cuddle with him every chance i get. i love him so much!! his sisters are soooooo good to him. av always has been. she covers him with her blanket, gives him her monkey and talks to him all the time. if he cries she tries to make him happy or find his paci for him. c has always been good too when she sees av doing so but lately she does it on her own. today at music in the middle of the class c took off and ran to him to give him a kiss out of the blue. it was pretty sweet. they are really good big sisters. he is one lucky little boy.

today was perfect

it started out by c sleeping until 7:30!!! that in it's self is a treat but she is a different child having that extra 30 minutes. she wakes up happy instead of the grumpster bratty 2 year old she is a lot of the time. we got out of the house on time and got av to school. off to music c and e and i went. since c was in such a good mood she really participated in music and enjoyed it. it was really cute. e was up the whole time to and enjoyed it from his seat. after that marci and i went to the mall to walk a little. i didn't have high hopes for this but it ended up going very well. we were able walk for about 45 minutes. the kids were great. after that we enjoyed our coffee while the girls played at the train table. e just comes a long for the ride and is pretty much happy for all of this. after picking up av we headed to marci's to eat lunch and to finally do the craft we bought to do at christmas time. the kids made picture frames. painted wooden frames, glued butterflies on the girls and basketballs on the boys (they made one for e) and then put stars and their names on them. av picked out her letters and put them on her frame all by herself. they are really cute. we put pics from our beach vacation with the shumans in them. they turned out very cute. i can't wait until they are dry and i can put them up in their rooms.

"hold you"

"pleeze I have mommy hold you" is what Camille says when she wants you to pick her up. It's pretty darn cute and I can never resist. Esp since she asks so nice.

silly daddy

This is how he carries them both down the stairs.

thumb

oh no, i have a thumb sucker on my hands

my very happy boy

yes i still love taking pics of her sleeping

NYE

We had the BEST New Years Eve. The first one ever since I was a kid that I didn't go out and drink and drink and drink. We went to our good friends the Shumans for a family celebration. It was a blast. We all just hung out and all the kids got along and everyone had a great time. We ended up having a slumber party there. Av slept with Jackson in his room, Camille in the guest room with us and Everett in the basement where he could not disturb anyone. I had a monitor and it is a walk out basement so if something had happened I could get to him and get out. Yes my mind is always thinking things like that. We woke up the next morning had a yummy breakfast, watched the parade, hung out and watched football. We are soooooo lucky to have such great friends.

kindergarden

We visited the school where we hope Avery will start kindergarden in the fall. We both loved it and feel very good about it. It's where she goes now for speech so she is some what comfortable there. I just pray she is able to continue doing as well as she is. We are just so very proud of her. She is a very special little lady.

talking baby

Everett is just the happiest baby. He smiles soooooo big at his family. Today I got him to laugh!!!! I zerberted his feet and he laughed. Then I laughed and that made him laugh some more. When you smile at him he smiles back. He is "talking" back too when you talk to him. He goes on and on as long as you talk to him he will talk back. It is just the sweetest thing. His coos are just the cutest. He just makes me melt.