Trip to Grandma and Tom's

School Photo Day

So, I just had to take this picture of the boys. They were having their school spring photos taken and so I dressed them alike. Hatcher is so sweet and loved that he and Aidan were wearing the same outfit. He loves to kiss and hug Aidan. The last picture is of Hatcher trying to kiss Aidan on the head. Can't wait to see how the photos turned out from school.

Oh, and the strange image at the top of the stairs...that is Barkley. As usual, he has parked himself on the landing of the stairs, his perching spot for keeping an eye on the front yard and driveway.

Dinner with the Bayers

We recently enjoyed a relaxing dinner with the Bayer Family. We had Derek, Cynthia and little Maddox over for dinner. It was nice to get to relax and let the kids play. After dinner we went to the park and let the kids swing and go down the slides. Here are some pictures.

Aidan and Hatcher...age comparison

Some friends of ours recently had their first baby, and it made me think of Aidan and Hatcher at that age; man that seems like eons ago. It makes you realize just how fast they grow. It also made be start to run the time lines of milestones in my head because I want to be sure I enjoy every last one...they just FLY by! In doing so, I pulled up some old pictures of Hatcher at Aidan's age today and wanted to see what they looked like side by side. Aidan definitely has more teeth, but Hatcher has Aidan on sheer volume...not height though as Aidan is inches longer. Hatcher was crawling at this age...and sleeping well in his crib. (wait - did I just say sleeping well? HA) Aidan is more verbal, believe it or not, and seems to have more motor skills than Hatcher did at this point...but I am told that is what happens when there is a bigger sibling around to "show you the ropes." They are loads of fun...but I do long for a good night's sleep! Maybe in 2015 - HA!

Learning to Swim

On a suggestive tip from Mandy, we signed the boys up for swim lessons in preparation for having more water fun this summer. Mandy had enrolled Madison for lessons and knew that the kids would have a blast in the pool together. Since booking the class, we have been talking about taking swimming lessons with Hatcher for some time now and his excitement just kept growing. He would tell us that he was going to swim in the pool with Aidan and Madison...and last night he did. Well, after attending the first class last night Hatcher can’t wait for the next one. Aidan wasn't sure about the water at first, but warmed up to it. The water seemed a bit on the cooler side – but didn’t bother Hatcher one bit. Hatcher is FEARLESS! The instructor had the kids (ages 6 months and up) jump from the edge of the water into our arms, and it was at that point when Derek and I knew we had ourselves a daredevil. Hatcher would climb out and jump right back in, even if we weren't ready. Man, I am so glad we are signed up for this class. Madison had fun, but wasn't so quick to jump in when Brian wasn’t ready…but when she did jump, she would belly laugh so hard. They all had so much fun and didn't want to get out of the water.

Mandy didn’t get in the water last night and was there, new camera in hand to see all the kids swim…so we have some pictures of these cool “firsts.” Thanks Mandy!

Play time!

So I opted to forgo my dining room and decided instead to create a playroom to house all of the kid's toys. I think we had only used our dining room a total of 8 times in the nearly 4 years we have lived in this house. We really have only used it for buffet style dining when hosting parties or holiday gatherings. I am not sure anyone has ever really eaten in that room or at that table since we moved in. Although Derek might say I used it all the time as my dumping ground for things not yet having a home! Being the newly functional playroom, now it is used everyday. We love it and I am so glad we made it a special place for the boys.

Hatcher has reached the age where he wants to do everything himself. He wants to open and close doors, turn the tv/radio/remote control toys on and off. Most recently he insists on dressing himself and some days chooses his own clothes. On Sunday, he went into his closet and picked out the outfit you see him wearing below. He brought the clothes to Derek and said, "Daddy, I can't reach my socks." Man, I know I say this a lot...but they grow up so fast!

Marma came by on Sunday and brought lunch for everyone. The boys loved getting to visit with her and were even more surprised when both Uncle Jared and Uncle Ben stopped by for a quick afternoon visit. Hatcher had fun playing with everyone. It was a nice family Sunday at Casa de Kemmerlin! Hope you are all well.

Wasn't Born Yesterday

Marma (Grandma Linda) bought the boys these cute t-shirts and last week when it was warmer, they both wore them to school. Hatcher knows that his shirt says "My Dad Rocks" and thinks that Aidan's shirt says the same thing. He loves to tell people that his Dad Rocks! Man...they are growing so fast. Hatcher is such a sponge right now; he loves to repeat things that we say. His teacher at school, Ms. Claudia, whom he adores, said to the children in a rush trying to get all the children indoors from the approaching rain, "time is of the essence." Hatcher now tells us often that "time is of the essence". It is too funny. Each day we go to school he insists on taking Aidan into the baby's room first and deciding where he will play that day. Yesterday Hatcher chose the floor next to the other boys Aidan's age playing with blocks and such. I think it is more that Hatcher enjoys playing with all the toys and deciding which one he would have the most fun with. The teachers all tell me that whenever Hatcher goes outside to play on the playground, he first goes down to Aidan's classroom and looks in the window to check on his brother. How sweet!

Aidan is 36 weeks and counting

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Getting ready for bed

We try to keep the boys on a schedule, as best we can (makes it so much easier when Derek is out of town). Lately Hatcher has really enjoyed the whole ordeal and "races" with Aidan and Daddy, who gives baths to both boys almost every night he is in town, to see who can get undressed first. When that game ends...it is who wants to shampoo their hair first, and go figure, Hatcher always says - "Aidan does Daddy!"

Hatcher will still on occasion use the potty on his own, but in the evenings it is more of the act of sitting on the potty and then getting to flush. He is the best at using the potty in the morning. I am trying to make a book about the potty for both he and Aidan, so I took the cutest picture of Hatcher on the potty.

And...as many of you know...everyone still ends up in our bed every morning. Hatcher starts the night in his room and on good nights makes it until 3 or 4 am, but something rouses him and he comes into our room. He has been suffering from bad allergies and night terrors, so the combination of not being comfortable and being scared makes for long nights for everyone. So you will see in the last photo...that is where Hatcher ends up. And every morning at 7, Hatcher will sit up and tell each one of us Good Morning, and then ask to watch the Wiggles!