August 2010

Last week we finally got the insurance company to come out and meet the roofers and decide that we get a new roof from the storm damage that we got almost a month ago.  As of now we have these nice pretty blue tarps on our roof to prevent any more inside damage then we already got.  A few houses on the block have the same blue tarps, so at least we all match!  We are glad that we are finally getting a new roof because we were needing a new one.  Although, we are not happy because since we live in a high tornado zone we have separate and much higher deductibles on wind/hail damage then we do on the rest of the homeowner’s policy.  So even though insurance is paying for the bulk of it, we still have to fork out over $2,000!  But, hopefully it will help us when we try and sell this place!

On top of meeting with roofers and insurance adjusters, both boys also had a stomach bug that seemed to also wipe out a lot of kiddos from day care.  It didn’t last long for either, but they were miserable for those days.  So that meant a lot of missed work and working from home for me!  It wouldn’t have been so bad, but Justin has been gone a lot working overnights at work because they are remodeling his store and they have to do a lot at night and my mom was in Florida visiting Grandma, so I had no relief from anyone!  But that’s okay, we managed! 

 

Payton was such a big help while Easton was sick and his pretty much a big help all of the time.  He has really grown up a lot lately.  I am so proud of the boy he is and is becoming.  He has also though started acting like he is 15, instead of 5!  The other day, we were in the car and Justin yawned.  Payton said, “Save it for the pillow dad!”  He has also really been into singing lately, so I will try and get a video of him this weekend to post.  We finished his last Tball game last week.  This season was night and day from last year.  He really seemed to get the concept and really enjoyed it.  Although, I asked him afterwards if he wanted to play next year and he said that no, he wants to play Tennis!  So, who knows what he will want to do next year!   He will be starting flag football soon!  It is a good thing we have connections at a sporting goods store for all of the stuff we need for these sports!   I got him enrolled for school last week and we went shopping over the weekend for supplies and everything that was on his required list.  We even got him the cutest alarm clock that is shaped like a red Lego block!  He was so excited to get an alarm clock!  I am sure the excitement will wear off really quick!  He starts school in less then two weeks!!  Next week we have a back to school night and will get to meet his teacher and such.

 

Easton is growing so much and changing every day.  He is becoming very dramatic!  He will protest A LOT if you take away something he wants or tell him no.  He is really into throwing things as well.  It could be from his high chair, stroller, shopping cart, whatever!  He will usually give you this dirty look first, and then throw something!  We think he seems to be growing quite a bit.  He looks like he is getting really tall.  He eats like crazy! I am going to have to get a second job just to feed these boys!  He had a cardiology appointment last week and we found out that his device is still in place and it is doing its job.  We knew it probably was, but it is still always nerve wracking.  We also found out that the part of his heart that was enlarged is now within the normal range!  We do not have to go back for 2 years!  The cardiologist always sends our pediatrician a follow-up letter and sends us a copy as well.  Whenever we get them it makes me realize how lucky we were to have found his defect when we did.  The doctor always makes us feel at ease, but when you read the letters with the words like ‘generous sized defect’ and all of the medical jargon, it kind of takes your breath away for a moment.

Easton is pretty much all over the place now a days and gets into EVERYTHING!  He also really likes to dance to anything that sounds remotely like music!  I can’t even sing him lullabys at night because he perks his head up and starts rocking back and forth!  I will try and get a video of that this weekend as well.

 

We have been trying to do lots of fun summer stuff, but it has been unbelievably hot, so we haven’t been able to do as much outside as we would like.  Our actual temp on Monday is supposed to be 100 degrees!

And BTW, only 30 days until football season starts!  Go Hawks!

 

(added a few pictures a couple of days ago to the Summer 2010 album)

Summer Fun

The last two weekends have been filled with lots of summer fun!  Two weekends ago we went swimming on Saturday after TBall and then tried to go to a park that is about 20 minutes away on Sunday for a bike ride and to play on the playground.  It was raining off and on, but was supposed to stop.  So we loaded up the kids, food, and the bikes and thought we could get some fun in.  Well, apparently not!  We sat in the car in the parking lot at the park to wait out the torrential downpours!  After we got what seemed like a break, we thought we would still try and play a bit.  Well, we learned that a wet slide = a ridiculously fast slide!  Payton went down a few slides and literally flew about 10 feet off of the end!  So, he became a muddy mess.  Then the skys opened up again and we decided to just head home.  Any of you that have kids, know that cleaning the car seat is one of the worst tasks ever.  So we did the only thing we could think of and stripped the pour kiddo down to his underwear and made a quick run for the car!

This past Sunday, Justin had to work and it was way to hot to do anything outside, so my mom and I took the boys to Crown Center and Union Station to go to a dinosaur exhibit and Science City.  Payton was beside himself the entire day!  We ate at Fritz’s, where trains bring you your food.  Then we got to see some amazing life size dinosaurs.  Then we saw lots and lots of model trains and then we went to Science City.  Finally, we got some ice cream and headed outside to the huge splash park.  It was a great day and per Payton it was the ‘awesomest day ever!’

The boys are both growing way to fast.  Next week we have enrollment to get Payton signed up for school and we will find a time soon to go school shopping!  How exciting!  Easton is walking almost all of the time now.  He prefers to carry something with him when he walks.  He also can go up stairs really fast!  He hasn’t figured out how to come down yet.  He tries to walk down, which doesn’t work with his little legs!

 

(Added pictures to the Summer 2010 album)

4th of July

This past weekend we went up to Iowa for our annual 4^th of July trip.  We had a wonderful time as always!  The boys and I headed up on Friday night so they could rest a little on Saturday before fireworks.  Then on Saturday morning Justin came up with my mom because he had to work Friday night.  Saturday was the festivities in Dixon and we got to see tons of family and very old friends.  It is such a great chance to see everyone.  We had a lot of great company and the boys had a blast.  They just love playing with other kids and our cousins.  The boys were both up WAY past their bedtimes so on Sunday we all took a nap because we were so tired!   We then headed to my friends house and saw some old friends and the kids got to play together.  On Monday we went and saw my dad and he was pretty surprised at how much Easton had changed since he saw him last back in February.   Then we headed back to Kansas!  The weekend was great and we had wonderful weather the entire time.  There was a ton of traffic and construction though, so the drives were a bit longer then usual.  We did learn however that Easton is NOT a fan of traveling!  He did okay, but you could tell he was just miserable being confined to his car seat.  Part of it is just his age, (I remember this stage a bit with Payton), part of it is his personality and part of it is due to the fact that we don’t travel as much as we did when Payton was little.  It is a good thing we have no trips planned for a while, because I think Easton needs a break from the car!

 

Also, Easton decided this weekend at the hotel that he can walk across rooms! He prefers to crawl if he is in a hurry, or excited, or frustrated.  But, other then that he likes to walk now! 

June 2010

We have been having a great time this summer!  Easton got his first haircut a little while ago and was not happy!  It was pretty funny because he would be fine, and then look at the lady and just start wailing again!  As soon as we took him out of the little car chair thing he was all smiles again.  Other then that, we have just been really busy doing fun summer stuff and trying to stay cool!  The temps have been in the low to mid 90s a lot, so we have been spending a lot of time in the water!  Payton and Easton have been playing so great lately.  I think Payton is really enjoying it now that Easton can actually play and interact with him.  Payton also does great keeping Easton entertained or making him happy when we are out and about or when I am trying to do something at home.  

I can not believe that it is almost July already. There is just so much we want to do yet and not nearly enough time to do it!  Payton will be in school in a little over a month and a half! I have really been behind on housework and any house stuff, but that is okay, because they are only little for so long! 

We will be heading to Iowa this weekend for the 4^th of July, so I am sure to have some pictures when we get back.

 

I added a bunch of pictures to the Summer 2010 album.

Easton is 1!!

Easton is now 1!! On Friday he had his 12 month checkup and the doctor said he is perfect. (Although we already knew that!!) He is in the 58^th percentile for height and 52^nd for weight. I don’t have the exact measurements with me, so you will have to settle with that!

On the night of his birthday my mom and sister came over for a few minutes to see the birthday boy. I hadn’t really planned on doing anything that night since his party was on Saturday, but late on Tuesday night I thought that I better make a cake. So I made a little train cake!

Saturday was his party and we were so lucky that the weather cooperated. We had HORRIBLE rain all day until about an hour and a half before the party. I had planned on having it outside at my moms house and wasn’t quite sure of a backup plan. But luckily the rain stopped and the sun came out. It became quite warm and humid, but overall was pretty pleasant. We had a great party. We did a blue and brown polka dot theme and it was really cute. We had bought the boys a bouncy house to use for the party and just for whenever and I think that was a lifesaver! It kept the kids completely entertained for hours! I cant wait to use it again! Easton loved his cake and wasn’t as much into making a mess as he was into just eating it!! Thank you to everyone who came and made his birthday so special. And Thank You to my mom for letting us use her house and yard and to Justin for getting moms yard and garage all ready!

Happy Birthday Easton!

Happy Birthday to my sweet adorable little curly red-headed boy!! On June 9, 2009 at 12:34pm, Easton Kinnick Schulte was born! I can not believe how fast this past year has gone.

3 Months old:

Fun facts of Easton:

At birth, he weighed 8lbs, 5 ounces.

He was 1 day early.

His middle name is an Iowa reference.

When he decides he is hungry, he wants to eat now! And when he decides he is done, he will clench his mouth tight.

He will not let you look in his mouth for teeth. You have to catch him laughing.

His favorite things besides mommy and daddy are: his big brother, the cats, books, cell phones and remotes.

He loves to dance!

He loves to bang on things and climb on Payton.

He now sleeps about 12 hours a night.

When he is hot, his hair gets very curly.

He wants to talk and be a big boy so bad.

He is funny! He loves to make faces and get people to laugh.

He is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen.

In his short life so far he has had two surgeries and is now perfectly healthy!

 

Easton has his 12 month checkup later this week and a birthday party this weekend, so I am sure I will have more updates in a few days!

Growing boys and Memorial Day weekend

The boys are growing way to fast!!

Payton graduated from Preschool and is now officially ready for Kindergarten! They had the actual ceremony a few weeks ago when we were on vacation. (I didn’t know this when I booked the trip. I never would have booked it at the same time). So, since we had to miss the ceremony, they were great and let us borrow his cap and gown and take pictures in it. Payton even got a 2010 tassel to keep! The kids had rehearsed songs and such to perform during the ceremony. I really like this one that they were going to perform. I think it is so sweet!

A is for the alphabet that we learned to say.

B is for boys and girls at work and at play

C is for colors--red, yellow, blue and green.

D is for drawing the best pictures you’ve even seen.

E is for exercise--it keeps our bodies strong.

F is for the fun we had together all year long.

G is for the many good friends we made throughout the year.

H is for happy hearts, filled with love and cheer.

I is for imaginations and all the things we have learned.

J is for a job well done and the praises we earned.

K is for Kindergarten--hip, hip, hooray!

L is for learning more and more each day.

M is for minding and showing everyone respect.

N is for numbers--one, two, three--perfect!!

O is for the obstacles we learned to overcome.

P is for puppets and for playing rhythms on a drum.

Q is for the questions we asked throughout the year.

R is for reading stories, even those that brought a tear.

S is for all of snacks that we so bravely tried.

T is for taking and giving--no one was denied.

U is for some of the unusual things we have done.

V is for our volunteers--moms, dads, and everyone!

W is for words--we learned more then just a few.

X is for extra special kids--him, her and you.

Y is for yes--it sure has been a super year.

Z is for zest--let’s give ourselves a great big cheer!

Since we missed graduation I told Payton that we could go and celebrate at Chucky Cheese! I actually cried when he put on his cap and gown! I am never going to make it through the first day of school!!

I think Easton is going through a growth spurt right now. He has been sleeping over 12 hours a night and is still eating like crazy! He is becoming so funny and likes to make faces at people. He has been cruising all along the furniture for a while now and will let go for a second or two. He isn’t walking yet, but I don’t think it will be long at all! He wants to talk so bad! He loves to babble and shriek at Payton! He gets so excited when he sees people he knows or when we pick him up at night. He starts giggling and kicking his legs! It is pretty adorable!

We had a fun filled Memorial Day weekend. On Friday night we went to a T-Bones game with some friends. It was opening night, so it was kind of crazy, but we had lots of fun! On Saturday I took the boys to the pool and they had a blast! Although, Easton has no fear and will crawl into the water until his face is submerged! So, a mental note---keep him away from any bodies of water like lakes, ponds, etc!! This weekend we also went to a hot air balloon festival twice, had a picnic in my moms back yard, ran various errands and played in the back yard a lot! The next few weeks are going to be super busy as well. T-Ball starts this weekend and we have a few other events and next week is Eastons 1^st birthday!!