Hot rod-ing

We took the kiddos for a walk to the park this afternoon. Ryan pulled the littles in the hot rod while Iz rode her bike.


Adrian we super into the ride and loved it. He loved getting to sort of roam the playground a bit too. A first for him!


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Balloons

Today was all about the balloons! We went to the parade in Indianola this morning and then the balloon fest this evening. I highly recommend if you've never been to go. It's so fun to see all the balloons and the things they do!





















It goes through next weekend and we plan to go back again for the night glow and fireworks! We had a blast!

Standing

So for just a couple of days now I have caught Adrian standing alone in the middle of a room or outside. He just randomly pushes himself up and stands. The first time he did took me by such great surprise that I shouted (in excitement), "What the crap are you doing!?" I didn't expect him to do anything like this for sometime! He however, keeps us on our toes all the time!
Jill helped me get a good video this afternoon while the kids were playing and thank goodness for screen shots! I was able to pause the video to get a picture!


Like a pro!
The other excitement of our week has been Isabelle taking the bus to and from school. I finally remembered to get a picture today. She loves it!


I also got Viola's preschool assignment today. I'd originally been wanting to put her here in Milo, but I think we will stay with Indianola, because that's what my gut says to do! Especially considering we got the same teacher Isabelle had, and we loved miss Linda! Vi is very excited!
I just can't believe she's going to start preschool already! It's insane to me!

Head from hell

So today I woke up with a headache. Normally when that happens, Tylenol fixes it. Not today. After battling it the entire morning, I went to the gas station and got Advil. Helped right away. It's one of those things that's just so annoying. Adrian hasn't slept well the past two nights, so I know that's why I woke up with one.
Plus, Isabelle has started riding the bus so I know my stress level has been higher. She's loving it though!!
Only got one pic today too.


Viola is Ryan's child. She loves eating French fried onions from the can like he does!

Weed killer

Our yard is slowly being taken over by clover! It's starting to drive me nuts! I spent parts of yesterday researching how to try and kill it. The biggest thing I found was vinegar. So I went to town today with all the weeds we have.
I'll tell you one thing-it worked. And fast, too! However, it's taken some life of the grass too! So now we've gotta get some good grass seed and try to bring more life back into the yard! It's a personal struggle I deal with because I want it to look really rich, full and healthy. *dreams*
So, moral of my story tonight...if ya want a quick and super cheap weed killer-vinegar is amazing!!!


I didn't get any pics today, so here's my littles from a while ago. :-)

Randoms

Today was pretty random. I did a lot of catching up on house work. In the process our neighbor across the street gave us a giant zucchini. She's a nice little old lady, and she shared one with us and Jill as well. I've been busy looking into how to make the zucchini noodles, what to put on them for taste and what not. If you have ideas let me know!


Henry was rocking it again in his fashion department. He is so silly. He found a new fun game to play in the backyard with our giant ball. I like to call it "throw yourself at the ball and crash down"-on purpose and laugh till ya have tears! Kids are silly and weird, but whatever makes ya happy and keeps ya busy!


While outside Adrian caught me totally off guard and blew me away. He stood up (almost all the way), in place. I was shocked! I said-"Holy crap, what are you doing!" Not something I saw him even trying to do for a long time! This kid keeps us on our toes and surprises us constantly! I love it.


As terrible as this looks, it's hard to hold kids all the time-especially when upset. Trying hard to get dinner going, Adrian was ready for a bottle and he does love to lay and hold it, only this time he couldn't hang on. He crashed for a few minutes in front of the sink while I was busy with noodles. He's a crack up! I moved him to the couch and he was ready to play again!

Oh how I love him!

30

I've always wondered why they say dirty 30. What's it mean anyway? I didn't go out. I didn't get dirty. I didn't do much today. If by dirty they mean kids-I win.

Viola got sneaky today and found food coloring played. In her defense she at least took it outside! She and Henry colored the driveway and their picnic table! Then stained my bathroom sink trying to clean up. Oh well.


I loved all the texts, messages and phone calls I got today. It makes a girl feel special. In comparison to last year, today's much better. The weather rocked and the kids were good! Ryan made a rock star pork loin and surprised me with making a cake! Yum! So I'm going to go enjoy that now!


And yes this is how my dear child went about his day. Superman and cowboy boots! Just love him to death!!!

Getting dirty

Sunday's are good days to just get plain old dirty!!!









These three left sand in the tub after their baths! I'd say it was a success day.

Homemade

We were finally able to pull a pepper and tomato from our backyard today! Ryan was pretty excited. He gave some of his pepper to Adrian. He seemed to enjoy playing with it more than anything. He did manage to get a small portion in his mouth.


We also made a make shift baby gate. Ryan is in the process of building one out of barn doors, so this is what we had for today!


Then Ryan and Iz ran up into Indianola quick and this is how Henry and Viola waited for them to get back. Their own lookout stoop!


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Run down

I've caught a cold from Isabelle. I've been really run down today and I'm hoping on cold meds tonight.
Ryan and I are also childless tonight. Not how I wanted to spend our late anniversary over night, but I'm thankful I'll be able to get a good nights sleep with no interruptions! Rest is best!


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Puppy

No. We didn't get a puppy!
Our neighbors got a new puppy today, so we spent some time this morning playing with him. He's a super adorable chocolate lab. As bad as we want a puppy, right now it isn't the best time to do it.


They've been calling him Carlos. He's just a little sweet heart.


The heat has just been a killer. Not having ac in the van is even worse. It was a sweaty ride to get Iz from school. I don't know how people live without air. I can't wait for the streak to break-or at least the humidity!


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Stage 3

I'm struggling today with ideas for food. I got Adrian some stage 3 foods, in hopes to introduce chunkier foods. Insert pic of Gerber's newer and more improved stage 3.


Now this is banana and apples. The chunks are very soft forms of apple. I was hoping hard that he'd love it. Insert next picture.


It didn't go well. At. All. Lots of gagging and face making and then just refusal to eat. I was really discouraged and sitting there thinking now what can I do or try. He does love his puffs and yogurt melts, but I also don't want to have to give him stage two foods with added cereal for a lot longer. Then I tell myself I need to back down. I struggle with the fact that I need to remember he's still adjusted to be a 9 month old and they're still barely learning table food too. I really struggle with that. I don't want to rush him, but at the same time I find myself comparing too. I have to always remember to stop doing that.
The other struggle we have is finding that correct sippy cup! He's a stubborn little guy and will only do a few sucks on the nuby brand. It's the most success we've had yet...so I believe he just needs time. He's by far a bottle lover though! That is a for sure thing!

Falling

Adrian's become very fast at his getting around. Lately he loves being on our bed while I fold laundry. He bounces and throws himself all around. Squeals of happiness and laughter always coming from him. Well today I wasn't fast enough and he took a tumble. He rebounded fast though and was just fine!
He has just a couple of battle wounds, but nothing like the past.


He found my turn signals today too while waiting for school to get out. It poured and poured today. We got almost five inches of rain!


Viola was thoroughly prepared for that though!! She wore my goggles!!


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I forgot

I totally forgot to do my tooth fairy duty last night. I was so tired I just forgot, until Iz woke up scared from the storm at 230 this morning! Then o was panicking on what I would say! Luckily, tinker bell and her fairies saved me!


I remembered from the movies that I've been forced to watch a many times, fairies can't fly in rain because it ruins their wings. Thank goodness for our storm.


Needless to say when she got home from school she was super excited!! She's a toothless wonder!!

Another gone

Iz lost another tooth tonight! This is the kind that's barely hanging on but won't come out.
Finally though, it did!!! She's been quite excited. She blurted out at our neighbors (that's where it happened), I want $1,000! Oh the laughs Jill and I got from that! I need to find that tooth fairy.


I also wanted to give you a quick glimpse into one hour of my evening. This all happened tonight and all in one hour. It's to show how crazy this mommy of four business can get.
This is a text I sent.
Holy cow
Vi pushes Henry, Henry cuts toe
Adrian cries because his bottle was gone
Henry bites Iz (nearly broken skin), Iz is hysterical
Viola cried at some point but I can't remember why
Can I go to bed now
The upside-all four got bathed and smelled good again!
Now I'm rocking two sleepy boys and already have two girls out cold!

Family night

We had a family night at the races. It was fun!
The kids got to go for a ride on Zach's car!


I can't even believe Henry made it home without even falling asleep. He had fun.





The girls had fun too up until they got in trouble for tossing dirt and dumping it in Henry's hair. That ended our adventure, but still it was fun to do something as a family.


Adrian stayed home and got spoiled by my mom! He had a kind of crabby day, but I think it's because all the kids are kind of off schedule from it being a busy weekend! Fun-but busy!


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Moments

Today was about capturing moments. This one between Vi and Henry was priceless. She gave him a ride and he peddled with her. It was absolutely adorable. Best moment of the morning by far!


Those two got awfully squirrelly this afternoon so we went to the sand park in Indy before we picked Iz up from school. Adrian enjoyed the swing, but if it went faster than a very small push he didn't. So he didn't last too long in it. He loved the sand though. His first time encountering it! He kept trying to bury his little hands.


Vi worked hard on making sand castles. I showed her with this one on how to, and she tried several times after and got it!


She and Henry got sick of the shovels and eventually ended up just playing.


We had an all Kappelman party tonight. Not really a party, just dinner. The kids played and played outside and had a blast. We adults had great food, good conversations and lots of laughs! Great end to a busy week!!

11 months old

This has been an insanely fast year. I now have to start planning my 4th birthday party of the year! No more till January.
Here's wks I can tell you about Adrian this past month. He's finally mastered crawling. Two ways even! He is more apt to use his feet and hands to get around outside and drags his leg still while inside.


He's wearing 6-9, and 9 month clothing. He eats with so much anticipation now! He gets very excited. He loves his yogurt melts, puffs, and more recently those mum crackers. We're still very slowly adding more actual table food as his gag reflex is strong and him choking is still a struggle and worry. BUT we're finally eating more food than taking bottles and that's huge!


He is always so, so happy! He's pulling up on everything. He will take a half or one small side step. Cruising is coming soon, I can tell! He loves to pull up at the front door and look outside!


He cut another tooth, so now he has 8! He loves to play with his siblings and laugh! This miracle boy completes us!!


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