In a rut much??

So, I have decided that I have been in a MAJOR rut on the blog front. Let's catch up on what is going on.....

John-been out of work since February 1st. He worked the first Thursday of February, but that's it. He still has his job but UPS doesn't have enough work for him. It is stressful, frustrating, annoying, hard, but it also brings us closer because we have to stay strong and not let the frustrations of this hard time get to us and affect our relationship not only as husband and wife but as parents.

We have been enjoying our time at home with Daddy though. We have taken a few trips.....once to visit my cousin in Oak Harbor, and then up to Birch Bay. So it has been fun. We have never really done impromptu trips so this has been a first and after both trips we realized that we need a bigger car. It's hard to pack us all in and all the stuff that goes along with traveling and a pack n play and everything else. We made it though.

John is keeping busy with the kids and enjoying them immensely.

Brookie and Aidan-they both have had ear infections, sinus infections, strep throat (Aidan), and cold after cold. It has been a busy last few months. Aidan is going to get a consult on his tonsils/adenoids for possible removal. We have that appointment in May and he has a hearing eval at the end of this month. I feel a bit guilty I didn't pick up on possible hearing issues with him but the only reason my pediatrician said anything was because of how he speaks. It was just a random thing that she caught when she walked in the room. Could have been because of the double ear infection but his speech is still hard to understand and i have a referral for speech therapy and I am holding off on it until I have the hearing eval done. I might schedule it for mid-May though.

Brookie is growing and busy as usual and is trying to talk like no other. It's lots of fun!!!! She is throwing tantrums though and that is stressful, but funny. John's patience is always tested when she is throwing a fit because he usually has Aidan poking his buttons at the same time. It's usually just a simple "Brookie" in an exasperated tone towards Brooke and I know exactly what he's thinking.....he walks away and usually sits and looks at me and smiles as if to say, 'here we go again!!!' It's rather funny. He is a wonderful dad to know that he needs to walk away from Aidan pushing his buttons and Brookie throwing herself on the ground because she can't sit on the counter in the kitchen. He's such a good dad and she is learning what she can get away with and what isn't ok.

Me-wow, sick off and on since February and working on my jobs that I have had to help out while John is not working. I have enjoyed my time with John but at the same time, I'm ready for him to be back at work. It's all good though.

Anyhoo, we had a great Easter, been busy getting things done around the apartment but not being as successful as we had hoped. Keeping our fingers crossed that we can get it done before he goes back to work. Off to bed now. Nighty night!!!

Hello, I'm still here!

Ok, I know I need to get better. I just get busy doing other things and tell myself that I will do this later. SO what's new. Not much.

John
-laid off since Feb. 1st, not working a second job this year....that's a good thing. Turned 30 at the end of January.
-he has been helping out at my mom's and his parents house doing odd jobs when needed.
-helping out IMMENSELY with the kids and letting me have a "break" from the kids.
-helping out at home....sort of. Ok he is but not like he says he would. He is making progress though.
-had a surprise birthday party

Aidan
-had strep throat
-has gotten more aggressive and thinks its a game
-he's talking back
-he's acting like a 14 year old instead of a 4 year old.
-this to shall pass

Brooke
-talking, talking, talking
-LOVES her baths
-LOVES going outside and to the park
-LOVES her brother
-helps out in her own way
-was on antibiotics because of a lingering cough
-had a birthday party with friends

Megan
-BUSY BUSY BUSY
-stressed out with John home, but yet less stressed at the same time (I do finances)
-cleaning up the MORE mess from having my hubby home. I always say that he makes 3X the mess of the kids. It's true too!!
-working 3 jobs instead of 4 now
-trying to get better after this horrible cough that I have that I got from the kids
-trying to figure out how to get a membership to the YMCA for not a lot of $$.....

So there is a quick overview of our last few months. I PROMISE to update more frequently. I hope to update weekly at minimum. As you can see, it might be a little less often. Hope you are all doing well.

Happy 1st birthday Brookie!!!!!

Just a year ago we had a sweet little baby and was able to hold her in our arms without our arms completely falling off after 10 minutes....now we have a big one year old and she is getting bigger every day!! We go tomorrow for her well-child checkup and to get Aidan his 5-year shots. Should be a fun day.

We started off her birthday by working at 6am....UGH!!! I was hoping that her birthday would fall on a day I didn't work but we still had a wonderful time seeing the kids!! Then the kids spent time with Grandma and Grandpa so that I could go to Physical Therapy for my wrist. We took Aidan to school, visited Nana, picked Aidan up from school after we napped for awhile, walked around the school for awhile. We then headed to Bellevue to Toys R Us. She freaked out in the baby aisle and didn't understand why I wouldn't take the baby out.

We went home and got home around 5pm. Brookie, Aidan and I all napped until sometime around 7-7:30pm. We got up and went got gas in the car, which killed just enough time for John to come home and change after work. We then headed to Red Robin for a family dinner with the 4 of us. After dinner (singing and all!!) we hit up Target for a few things that we needed. Then it was home for cuddle time and bedtime. It was a busy weekend ahead of us!

Saturday we went to a birthday party and then came home and got ready for Brookie's party with extended family on Sunday. Sunday we had a huge meal at my moms of spaghetti (thanks Andrea for the recipe!!! It was FABULOUS!!!) salad, bread, and cake!!! SO fun. It was a wonderful way to celebrate this little blessing in our lives!! Ok, I rambled on more than I thought so I'll stop now.....Enjoy all our pictures!!!

P-R-E-C-I-O-U-S!!!

family of 3...only missing Aidan...

fresh from the oven!! So tiny!!!

our sweet angel only a few hours old, this is when she met her big brother for the first time from outside of my belly!!

This pic is WAY out of order, but she was so done at this point...

big brother brought his pillow out so that her neck wouldn't hurt when she woke up from her nap...he put it on top of her face. It was sweet that he was trying to help but I wanted her to be able to breathe...

it was 'Cat in the Hat' day at school and they made hats....so fun

walking around big brothers school after we picked him up!

first a healthy dinner....at least she ate some of her broccoli...she really wanted Daddy's fries though and that was it....

she enjoyed everyone singing to her!!

she loves ice cream

YUM!!!!!!!

lucky boy got to finish the ice cream sundae for her!

"where did the ice cream go mom??"

birthday dinner at Red Robin....

cute birthday outfit

he was so excited!!

the only present she was really interested in opening...

He was so excited that she had her birthday...he's still telling people that she just turned 1!!

Such a neat, clean girl...

That's my girl!!!

She is becoming a lot more interested in her spoon lately! So fun!

She LOVES her babies!!

Crazy hair girl!!

We wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS in pictures!!!

Ok, so this is just pictures....we visited my dad on our way to Christmas eve with my FIL's side, spent Christmas morning at home, went to my mom's Christmas afternoon, spent the night at moms, went to the in-laws, spent the 26th with Ryan, his girlfriend Kim, Greg & Nina, went out with Kim and Ryan, spent the 27th at the in-laws and then back to "normal." That was Christmas weekend in a nutshell....oh and we went to the in-laws so that John could see his brother on Christmas eve at 10pm.....it was a LONG night every single night and I think we are all finally back on our sleep schedules.