Getting settled

• Week 1 day 6 as Kentuckians - 
• Paul said ya'll.
• Ryk and I went to Dunkin Donuts.  His eyes were ginormous as he pondered the donut selection.  We don't do treats very often, so this was SO very exciting for him. 
• Found my new indulgence.  In Oregon it was at 7-Eleven - Slurpees.  Here it is at a gas station market called Thortons - Any size and any kind of drink for just $.89, and I got a drink card for buy 5 get the 6th free!  They even have my favorite tiny ice cubes.  The heat and humidity here just got a bit more...tolerable :)
• My babies, all at 5 months old - and evidence that my poor photography skills are getting better each year.

• I am going on 6 days straight of running.  Hooray for consistency, and a treadmill in the basement.
• I have 22 mosquito bites on my legs.
• Paul was invited to present some of his dissertation research at an international conference in INDIA!  Um...amazing.  
• Kip's screaming is diminishing by the day.  Perhaps an afternoon outdoors yesterday was just what he needed.

 Crayola Color Wonder bubbles - so fun when you can just jump into a kiddie pool to clean up.  Keeps the mess outdoors!

 Ryker was adding the finishing touch to his drawing...per his exact wording - "the most important spot, the weiner."

 Staying hydrated in this heat/humidity.

 The unnecessary foot bandaid, again.  For like the 6th day.  

• The reason I could have a gazillion babies - well not really, but goodness how this makes my mama heart melt.

Kip sharing his favorite toy with Jov - "here Jojie, sure!"

 Kiplin wanted to hold Jovie - for the first time!  Their giggles, oh sweetness.  So sad I didn't get it on video.

• Then the boys anxiously waited for P to come inside after getting off work.  They spotted his car pull up. 

 and "tiny daddy" per Ryk's description, is standing on the street pictured right in between the boys in this one.  Perhaps one of my favorite pictures to date.  The boys were squealing excited!

• Jovie's 5.5 month old feet - finally fitting into newborn size "shoes."

•  and little girlfriend, because she is just irresistable.

Dr. Ryk

We played doctor today.  Dr. Ryk is glad to report, aside from some strange teething habits -

 

a clean bill of health for his siblings.

He said that Jovie "catepillars around."  She really moves now, and he is quick to let me know each and every time she rolls over.  Girlfriend rolls a lot!

Dr. R - "her heart beats 3 times per minute, thump, THUMP, THUMP!" 

Nurse mommy - "That isn't good.  It should beat much faster than that or she would need some serious help."

Dr. R - "Well great thing I am here to help her then...so what should I do nurse?"

Dr. R - "The thermometer shows a happy face - so that is good, Jov doesn't need to go to sleep."

"good news, there are no monkeys in Jov's ears!"

 "nurse mommy, take my blood pressure to make sure I'm alive."

Dr. R - "this kid just doesn't know what he is doing.  Giant baby needs some lessons how to be a great Dr. like me."

After that, I was feeling rather ambitious.  I attempted to get a picture of all three kids together, to mail to the grandparents...

I'd stick my tongue out if he was getting in my face too.

Jovie's eye just screams "save me mom!"

and so I'll try again another day.  I did get an okay one of these two, and R's expression just makes me melt.  He is seriously one cute kid...

and Kiplin, well he is our almost 2 year old little treasure lately...

He will put shoes on, any shoes, sometimes just one.  The plead "OUTSIDE, quease?"  Which after being told no, will turn into a screamed "OUTSIDE QUEASE!!!"

and he will sit and pout, for a second, until he gets distracted by the more lovely things in life...like lining up cars.

or putting on a pair of play glasses (my old glasses, sans lenses)

K loves his "Jojie."  He is attempting to share his juice.

but then snags it away

and she, well she is gorgeous.

Daydream

• The kitchen is small.
• The dishwasher leaks.
• We have no closet space.
• The backyard is concrete.  Kip face planted into it today while getting out of the kiddie pool.

• The washer and dryer are in the basement, making it difficult for laundry to get done while tending to 3 small kids.
• This house is old, and squeaky and wakes babies prematurely from naps.
• Somehow bugs get in despite our every attempt to keep them out, my mosquito bitten legs and arms make me aware of this.
• It is hot, humid and bug infested outdoors which makes for not very enjoyable outdoor play time...and if you know my kids, there is no further explanation necessary.  

But...the dove chocolate that I indulged in while all three kids were simultaneously screaming said to daydream.

So I did. 

Of the home we will purchase hopefully within the next year, that will be free of all the quirky things I despise about this rental home.  Of fall weather.  Of bug spray and a better time spent playing outdoors tomorrow.  Of the day when my kids are better adjusted to life and the time zone here.  Of the loving, patient wife that I want to be, but haven't been lately.

and somehow it made everything better.

Then my Mr. walked in at 2pm.  Rescued the day.  He spoke about his ginormous white board that is now in his office, and planted a business card - his business card - under my nose just as proud as could be.

It is worth it. 

updates

Target is a superstore here...complete with a grocery section.  Target has always been my favorite store, but this is just a new exciting experience.  It makes grocery shopping...fun.

I am called ma'am, everywhere.  It makes me feel old.  I'm sure I'll get use to it, but for now it just seems strange.

I was told I had a funny accent, multiple times already.

P and I had a discussion of what is appropriate etiquette for Ryker, in terms of how to address people...Still unsure of this.  In OR it was totally appropriate to address people on a first name basis, regardless of age.  Not sure of the norm here in yet.

Thunderstorms are a regular occurrence here.  I like it, the boys are getting use to it (sleeping through it now).  The first night we were here there was a massive thunderstorm, the news reported 1,000 lightning strikes.

R says "the toilets here don't burp."  Apparently in Oregon toilets burped according to him.  He said that the "flusher sometimes just burps, you know after it gobbles up the poo."

I could get fat here.  Like really fat.  Dunkin Donuts, Sonic, any fast food place accessible with the furthest drive just 10 minutes away.   I sent Paul out to buy me a new pair of Nike running shoes.  They will be necessary.

K is totally crazy about J lately.  It makes me melt.

Just 1 week ago we were on a plane.  Now we are here, settling into the norm.  P is at work, and the kids and I have already had a busy day.  R has said "I'm so glad we moved here."  He is so appreciative of all the space to play.  We will see how he feels once he realizes that we moved far away from all of his favorite people...

Overall it seems like Kip is having the toughest time adjusting.  He walks around most of the day screaming.  We transitioned him into a bed, and he is sleeping like a gem.  It could be because he has more space to stretch out - he is a giant and his crib was so small - or perhaps he is just so exhausted from all of the fussing. I sincerely feel sorry for the little guy, so many huge transitions to deal with all at once, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I look forward to the quiet that nighttime brings lately...I love him to bits though.

So when he randomly asks to have a Cars bandaid put on his foot, for not reason at all, I oblige. 

Or when he finds a travel size package of Kleenex and starts taking them out and throwing them all over, I don't even say a word - because these are the minimal moments in the day when he isn't crying.

Then today, he played with cars for a bit, without screaming, neatly lining them up.

and so I braved taking them all outside, in the heat.

My kids are use to cooler OR summer weather - 60's-70's ...so they need water to play in to be able to stand the heat for more than a few seconds here.  I proceeded to put water in the pool, when R starts screaming - "I don't want my skin to burn up and fall off."  So I rolled my eyes, and sprayed on some sunscreen.  

He begins to say "mom sunscreen was a good choice," but that he was so afraid that mosquitos would eat him up and make his skin fall off.  P and R played in the water too late at night one time, and R has it instilled in his brain that mosquitoes will always come out when it is hot/humid if you are playing in the water, further thinking that the mosquitoes will make his skin fall off...After talking with him, and explaining that mosquitoes will only bite you and make you have an itchy bump on your skin he decided it would be okay to play in the pool this morning.  I guess I need to talk with P about what he told R mosquitoes would do...such a racing imagination.  Though I have to admit, that would be a very scary thought!

"Kiplin, the fun dumper" - a title give by Ryk.  He once again dumped out our solo container of bubbles :(.  At least it gives me a legit reason to go to...Target!  As for bubbles this afternoon - it was a wash.

Kip the photographer.  Beautiful self portrait if you ask me.  Notice no screaming mad face in this shot.  perhaps we just need to brave the heat more often!

 R was busy racing all the cars though mud, then giving them a car wash.

Jov has got some cute curls!

Someone is teething...or starting to.

and getting really good at working those little hands.

Such a happy girl!

after the outdoor adventure, it was snack time, then quiet/nap time.  These 3 were sure tired from all the fun!

Jovie has started to sleep with one hand behind her head, and usually holds onto her blanket.