conrad jay - week 5

Last Tuesday was spent in Kansas with family. We were celebrating my dad's graduation and enjoying cousin time. With my sister living in Chanute now, we don't get near as much time with them. So we soaked it all up. Here are the newest cousins enjoying time together. Can't you tell? Give 'em a year and I'm sure they'll keep us on our toes.

It's not a visit to Grammy and Gramps house in the summer without a trip to their local pool. This is the summer Amos learns to swim. He did a great job at their pool and is determined to do it. He is nothing if not determined.

We hit up the park with our local PAT on Thursday. They invited to ice cream truck to join us, and everyone got free ice cream. That was a BIG hit! Ivan was red and blue for the rest of the day.

The boys have been doing a great job adjusting to a new brother, but they still need a little extra Mom time. So even though I planned to be done with a set aside "school time" for the summer, we've re-initiated it and it seems to be just what we needed. Here's Amos plate from our nature hunt.

I cam into the room and found Silas chatting with Conrad in his swing. He loves his new brother. And when I got out the camera, Ivan had to get in on the action. That swing doesn't even need a odor. There's always someone willing to push it.

What does summer mean? American Ninja Warrior. Time to set up the old obstacle course.

Ivan eventually got in on the action. And this water is the color of mud today.

And that's been our week. Conrad started the week with a six hour stretch on Tuesday night, but has since waken more often. I'll sleep again someday.

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conrad jay: week 4

Conrad has some excitement this week. He took his first trip to Silver Dollar City. I'm sure he wished he was doing some of this with his brothers...

But he actually looked like this.... The whole time.

Our main reason for going to Branson was to pick up an early birthday present for Amos. Jason had been watching Craigslist for a used kids mountain bike. We were thrilled to find one for a good price and in good condition. It needs to be if it is going to make it through 4 boys!

And with season passes, it made sense to go ahead and hit up Silver Dollar City even with chances of rain. The chance of rain worked in our favor and the park wasn't too busy. Also, the cloud cover kept things pretty cool.

Things started to warm up a little bit and we decided to hit the splash pad. Amos jumped right in. Ivan soon followed.

And Silas eventually followed too! At the end, Amos was soaked, Ivan was wet, and Silas had a few drips on him.

And the car was all like this on the way home.

I wish I had those eyelashes.

Conrad's starting to notice all our noise. And believe me, there is a lot of noise in our house. So he's starting to spend some naps sleeping by himself in another room. He sleeps more soundly, and if he wakes, he normally joins us out in the swing.

Here are some of his other new places this week.

He's still battling baby acne. Poor guy. He's also slept a couple 5-6 hours chunks at night this week! Happy Mommy!

And his brothers have been up to their fair share of crazy, too. Here Amos is pretending to be a turtle.

Summertime smoothies!

He wanted to write to 100.

A little cross-eyed for the camera.

Crepes for dinner was a big success.

Everybody got a new bike this week! Silas took over Amos' bike with the training wheels back on and Ivan is trying out the Strider. Pretty soon we are going to have a bike gang!

 

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conrad jay - week 3

Things got a little more real this week.  Conrad has still been trekking along, but he is coming out of the super sleepy newborn phase.  Don't get me wrong.  He still sleeps A LOT, but he sometimes needs more help getting to sleep and doesn't stay asleep quite as soundly.  That's real life.  Trying to get a newborn asleep, while the toddler needs a snack and the older two are fighting over a toy.  That happens multiple times a day.  

The older three went on a couple of adventures with Dad this week, while Conrad and I stayed home.  He'll be ready to join in soon enough.  Speaking of joining in, with the birth of Conrad, Ivan magically became one of the bigger boys.  He's now ready to join in on it all and he knows if he's being left out.

The boys went to Schermerhorn Park in Galena.  It held a lot to explore.  Water and a cave.  Can't beat that.

And then some more hiking in the rain.

"Boys, do you want to go outside?"  "No, we are too busy playing with this box."

Summer is here.  With the excitement of a new baby, it hasn't quite felt like summer yet, but it was starting to this week.  In the mornings, we've spent quite a bit of time in the sunroom.  I think it's everyone's favorite new place.

Especially Ivan's.  If we leave the door cracked for him, he'll just go in and out and in and out.  He loves the control and freedom he has in the sunroom.  We just have to keep the outside door locked, because he somehow figured that one out and ended up on the deck in the rain. No fear, that one.

The swing is my favorite spot.  Conrad's too.

These boys are a hoot.  And the games they come up with.  If you couldn't tell, they're all monkeys here and they had no idea what to do with that book.

Conrad took his first trip to church this week.  He was awake through most of it, but happy in my arms.  

Silas LOVES Conrad.  He looks for him when he wakes up in the morning and is quick to his side anytime he's awake.  His face kinda tells it all in this photo.

Napping.  It's what I do best.  More sleep, please.

See, I told you.  Big boy.  Ivan thinks he's ready to join the other boys on the bench.