It's been awhile...

It's been a while... a lot longer than I thought! Almost 3 months have passed since my last posting. Things have been absolutely crazy during this time. The kids finished school last week. It seems like just yesterday they were starting school, and now it's summer, and they're out and having a very busy summer so far. I'd like to say it's all been fun, but the boys are giving me an ulcer! I think it has something to do with them being close in age, but I don't know. Maybe it's just a case of testosterone! I have one brother, and he was 8 years younger than me, so I didn't deal with him the same way my 2 oldest boys have to deal with each other. Everything is a competition between them. It's enough to do me in!

Yesterday things were going well. There was no fighting, no bickering, just the sweet sounds of children playing nicely with each other. So when there was screaming coming from the game room around 8:30 p.m. I wasn't expecting it. I figured since they had gone all day without fighting that it would be a great day. I was wrong. They were punching each other and yelling. All because of a little misunderstanding! I decided that my goal for the summer is this: They are going to learn to get along with each other this summer.

As a punishment for this latest round of fighting they are supposed to be grounded from their friends for a week so they can learn to get along with each other. I made Justin cancel a sleepover that he was going to go to tonight. (I say supposed to be grounded because he got an invitation to another sleepover, and Kent let him go while I was taking a nap! Kent and I clarified what was and wasn't supposed to happen while grounded so when Justin comes home tomorrow morning the grounding will start anew, and he won't go to another party!) They are good boys, but for some reason they just nettle each other until one of them gets angry and they start fighting. Why can't they just get along?!

Anyway, despite the frustration with their fighting, we have been doing other things. Natalie is turning 4 on Wednesday, and she is so excited about it. She and Drew have been planning out a little party for her birthday for weeks now. She lets Drew know that he doesn't get to have a birthday party because it's "her" birthday party, NOT his. This gets him upset because he just doesn't understand why he doesn't get to have a party too. So she's working on being nice to her little brother.

He has already decided that he's going to have a Buzz Lightyear party. Drew's birthday isn't until January 13, but at least he has plans! 2 weeks before his birthday this year I had another set of injections in my back so I didn't do anything with our extended family to celebrate. Only my mom, Kent's mom and one of my sisters remembered his birthday. I feel bad that I didn't do more, but I know that he didn't realize that we didn't have a party for him. So, my goal for next year is to make sure we do something to celebrate!

Besides that they have been playing with each other a ton, and have even gotten in the water when we've gone to Grandma's house to swim. Last summer if I took Natalie in the water at all she would scream bloody murder and dig her fingernails and toenails into my arms and back just so she wouldn't fall. She was absolutely terrified. Drew was a little frightened, but he did okay. We just had to be mindful of his ear tubes not getting too wet. Recently, though, they have both let me put them in the water and walk with them in the pool. They now use the floaties and pool noodles to kick and try to swim. They have had so much fun, and I'm so excited to see the progress they're making. Trevor and Justin are also swimming well, and both try to encourage Natalie and Drew as much as they can.

Also, the day before we went to Hawaii, Trevor got baptized. It was very exciting for him, and he feels like such a big kid now. He got baptized with one of his good friends! Kent baptized him, and Duane (Kent's dad), Gavin (Trevor's uncle) and a few friends were in the circle when he was confirmed. Allan (my brother) moved to CA the day before Trevor's baptism so he wasn't able to attend. We came to the house afterwards for brunch. We got a 6' sub from Subway to feed everyone. Trevor ate 5 subs. He was pretty proud of himself. Needless to say we had no leftovers! Until recently, Trevor took great pride in being thin and being able to eat very little. That changed a couple of months ago when he suddenly developed an appetite for the first time in his life! He is starting to grow like crazy, and hopes to be taller than Justin soon. He still prides himself on being thin, and doing exercises to stay that way!

Here are Kent and Trevor just before the baptism. Trevor was so excited!

Here is Trevor with Justin, Natalie and me after he was baptized and confirmed. He beamed for the rest of the day. He had so much fun.