All Better

So luckily, this weekend, the kids' sickness stopped at runny noses. Matt was a little sick, but we all managed to survive! We didn't really do much this weekend, the kids just played outside in the yard some, but no trips to the park or pool.

I cleaned house yesterday with the help of Natalie and Nolan (photo is old). Sometimes, I just wish I could do this by myself, cause I know I could finish so much quicker. But, when I look at Natalie sweeping with the Swiffer and Nolan running our little sweeper, I can't help but appreciate their efforts to help. Hopefully, this will be a lesson that they remember and continue. One day, I'm sure they'll put up a fight when it comes time to clean their rooms.

Last night, all the kids were sitting on the couch. Nolan and Natalie were taking turns feeding Nathan his bottle. They were being so nice to each other and loving their little brother. Nolan then asked me, "Mom, aren't you going to take a picture of us?" I'm so glad he asked, cause I'm the world's worst at getting out my camera to take photos. I took a couple shots and this pleased him greatly.

Kids may be getting sick too!

This morning, when Nathan woke up, I noticed he had a little bit of "crust" around his nose (I know this is disgusting). Then, when I got Natalie out of bed, she too had this and sneezed a little this morning as well. When Nolan got up, he told me his nose was running, and Matt has mentioned that his throat is feeling a little sore! Yikes!!! This may be a dismal weekend for the Cook family. Natalie and Nolan both feel a little warm to me, but I'm sure this is just the beginning.


Yesterday evening, we went and looked at the house for sale in our neighborhood. If this house would have been for sale 7 months ago, we would have definitely put a bid on it. It reminds me so much of our old house. It had a full walkout basement that was as large as at our old house. Even the bedrooms were similar...one blue, one purple! It's only about 8 houses from the park, which would be so convenient. Of course when we walked in, Nolan immediately asked where the washer and dryer were!!! I think Matt and I have decided to continue to look at houses while we are up here, but still hopeful that in about 2 years (Matt's timeline) or 1 year (my overly optimistic timeline) we can move back home. There's really no point in buying a house here if we ideally want to move back...3 kids are a lot of work without having to pack up and settle into another house.

Feeling Sick

This week has been pretty boring to date. I've got a sinus infection that started Tuesday afternoon, so I haven't exactly been feeling real energetic. Matt has stepped in to help a lot, though. He took Natalie and Nolan to the park Tuesday evening. When they got back, I went outside when I heard Natalie crying. She had just fallen in the driveway and got a nasty bruise on her forehead. I picked her up to comfort her. Then, Nolan had run inside to get a toy and came back out crying. He had smashed his thumb in our utility room door. Matt was talking to our neighbor, and I was trying to comfort to crying kids. Needless to say, Matt had to cut his conversation short to come help with the kids. Our neighbor commented that our kids sure had some healthy cries (just what every parent LOVES to hear!)

Yesterday, our neighbor Ashlyn came over to see if Nolan wanted to go to their house to play with her daughter Morghan. This was so great since I was still feeling kinda blah. He only stayed their about 45 minutes, but it gave me time to give Natalie a bath and get Nathan ready for bed. After Nolan came back, Matt and he mowed the grass. I got Nathan and Natalie to bed and went out to join Matt and Nolan. Ashlyn and her husband and daughter then all came to our house because Ashlyn needed to use our internet to work on some stuff for school. I don't think she was able to concentrate fully since Nolan kept going to her and asking her questions (he loves talking to adults). It's nice to get to know our neighbors better since I don't know anyone up here.

Things are getting a little better here, but I still can't help but want to move back home. There is a house for sale in our neighborhood that we want to look at, and will probably do so this evening. At first I thought having a house may help me get adjusted better here, but now I'm not so sure. After hanging out with friends at my reunion, I realize that I really need to get out more and socialize rather than staying cooped up at home with the kids 24/7. Granted, with 3 kids it is hard to have time to myself...but occassionally, I need it. I guess we should try and find a babysitter so Matt and I can spend more time alone, but I still have "trust" issues...and I don't know when I will be able to shake this.

High School Reunion

We went to my 10 year class reunion this weekend at Power Park in Charleston. I wasn't sure what to expect since I haven't kept in touch with hardly anyone I graduated with. But, to my surprise, it was pretty easy to chat with everyone and catch up on what everyone had been up to. We had a great time. Everyone was going out after the game, but Matt and I decided not to since we knew we would be up at 6 a.m. with the kids. We were extremely tired the next day, and so were the kids. All 3 slept for the entire ride home which again is terrific for Matt and me!

Yesterday, the kids slept quite a bit as well (catching up on missed sleep from the weekend). Nolan took about a 4 hour nap, which we had to wake him up from. Nathan took about three 2 hour naps, and Natalie once again is back on her 2 nap a day schedule.

Here are some reunion pics, though several people are missing from these. And a cute pic of Nolan I took this morning!

Family Reunion.

This past weekend, we went back to Charleston for a family reunion. I totally forgot to bring my camera, so anybody who's got some pictures, please send them to me! We had a really nice time, and saw some relatives we hadn't seen in quite a while. The kids were extremely tired from the busy weekend, and are still catching up on sleep!

We got to swim in Mom-o and Pops' pool. Nolan had a blast jumping in and letting people catch him. Natalie, on the other hand, floated around on a raft that Matt was pushing. When I tried to take over and float her around, she became upset. For some reason, she only wanted Matt with her in the pool!

Our trip back home was much more pleasant than the ride in. Going in, Nathan and Natalie barely slept, and Nathan cried for at least 30 minutes straight (to the point his voice got hoarse). On the way back, however, all three slept until we were almost at our exit. We'll be making the trip in again this weekend, and I am hoping that the kids will be able to tolerate another 3 hour car ride without too much crying!

Going to the Pool

Matt decided to take a day off work today, and we didn't want to waste a day at the house. We packed up the kids, and headed off to a local pool. I was expecting your typical public pool with a 6 x 6 kiddie pool that was questionably warm...I was blown away by the kids section at this pool. There was a slide, and areas where water shot out of the play apparatus. This was so great for the kids! Nolan and Natalie were so excited to get in and play. The water was probably no more than 18 inches at it's deepest, so Natalie could walk around all over. Nolan went down the slide over and over again! He also spoke to nearly every adult he passed by including the lifeguard!

Natalie then got curious about the actual pool there. So Matt took her in while I watched the boys. I then got Nolan's attention long enough to point out the big pool that Daddy and Natalie were in. We went over to join them. We stayed in the area that was 2 feet deep. Nolan could walk around with no problems, and Natalie could touch well enough to stand. Each took turns climbing out of the pool and having Matt catch them. My little dare devil Natalie was trying do everything herself, and if given the chance, I believe she would have jumped in with no one to catch her. She dipped under a few times, but this did not phase her in the least. She once climbed out of the pool while the rest of us were in, and darted across the concrete. Luckily a mom nearby saw me getting out to chase her, and stopped Natalie for me. She apologized for picking her up, but I told her no problem and thanks!

We hope to be able to do this again. It was so packed today, I can only imagine how crowded it must be on the weekends!

More Summer Fun

The kids got in the pool again yesterday...though Natalie would rather swing or find other toys to play with. I'm trying to get Nolan to hold his breath and go under water, but he's shying away from this idea.

Bees

This week has been pretty uneventful so far...other than Nolan getting stung by a sweat bee (he handled it quite well). He had just stepped outside to get in the truck to go to Wal-Mart with Matt, when the bee flew right down the back of his shirt. It stung him 4 or 5 times. He cried a little, and I offered for him to stay with me, but he still wanted to go with Daddy of course. By the time they returned, you couldn't even see the marks anymore.

Our neighbor Matt let some fireworks off the other night (Natalie in bed once again). At first, Nolan was scared...we were inside, and I told him we could go outside and see. Matt was on his back deck throwing fireworks off it....and then Nolan became very excited. Next thing we knew, Matt was hollering for Nolan to come out front. He gave him some Snappers (the little "fireworks" you throw on the ground and pop). He really enjoyed these though it created quite a mess afterwards.

Natalie is trying to speak a little more now. She is beginning to say "no" and is imitating the things that Nolan says (but very inaudible). She is definitely a child to do things in her own time...I guess we should have seen this coming since she did keep her umbilical cord for 13 weeks!!!

On a side note, Nolan has quite a large vocabulary, but still gets a little confused sometimes. Now, after he brushes his teeth, he asks if we would like to smell his brain!