Why we love Patrick.... and the trash in our back woods

I took the entire day off of child-rearing yesterday to spend with friends and left the kids in Patrick's capable hands. I knew they would have a great time, but of course I had no idea HOW much fun they would all have. After Patrick got home from cleaning the church (he took over my responsibility there too!) he and the boys spent the entire day outside. They cleaned, raked leaves, played and of course had a glorious time. There were moments of panic... like Cache taking a hammer to the car! But mostly the boys played 'treasure chest' and found a plethora of things hiding in the yard and the ground. Ronin and Cache packed their treasures into a pirate box but Patrick put his treasures to use:

Since we have moved to this house he has been DYING for a fire pit. We have looked at them in the store and frankly the ones we like are not really worth the money and the ones that are cheap are pretty horrible looking. So Patrick took a big metal drum that he found in the woods. (Don't even ASK why we have a big metal drum stuck in the ground in our woods) and cut that baby to fashion our own fire pit:
It's pretty darn cool if I do say so myself. I think its rustic and 'sundance' looking and the fact that it was free and a day of fun for my boys makes it PERFECT! All three boys have been on cloud nine ever since. Last night they had their first fire and the boys couldn't wait to show me how it worked. So tonight we had fire #2 which is one of many to come, on our back porch. As Patrick said, campfires are one of his favorite things. Combine that with his favorite people (crazy kids!) and his favorite food (hotdogs!) and you have one happy camper at our house!
Or three happy campers if you really get down to it. (uh... I am happy too so make that 4!) They went to the store yesterday to pick up campfire provisions, but unfortunately the store was fresh out of big marshmallows. So they made due with mini ones instead.
They are quite hard to roast but very fun to eat. Cache didn't bother much with the fire, and just picked them off the stick. We went through an entire bag. What is it about marshmallows anyway?? Fluffy sugar. That's it but they are so great!
So far we are quite enjoying our Thanksgiving week as a family. I think there will be campfires every night, a Thanksgiving dinner and lots of time together. We will miss Patrick dearly when he leaves next week. Thank you for being the best dad! The best husband! And such a hard worker so we can enjoy living here in NY in this wonderful house. We love you so so much!!

Trick Or Treat!

I am so embarrassed to say that this year we had to recycle our costume idea from 2006...gasp! There was just too much to do between organizing the ward Chili Cook-Off/Trunk Or Treat party, Patrick throwing out his back and being laid up for a week and me being fat and prego. Too much to do, not enough energy. So this year the Larsen's went again as Crayons...

Patrick had to make up the costumes again but this time we got to add a nice blue crayon to the mix for our baby Cache who was was in utero last time, just like baby #3 is now! I wish we would have also taken more pictures. But we didn't. Patrick got roped into being a pie tasting judge and I was running around making sure other things were done, which means our camera sat on the table while the kids ran amok. So no pictures, but lots of fun was had. 
Isn't this crayon so cute you could eat him??? We have decided to grow out his hair and it is finally reaching "beatle mop top" stage. And it's SO cute. He loved his costume and loved the candy too. He got really good at yelling "Trick Or Treat" but it took him awhile to realize he could say this over and over and keep getting candy. It's a good thing too cause now we have a major candy stash and since potty training is going SO well I now have a few more candy incentives to keep him interested until it finally sticks. He is waking up with a dry pull up and is now letting me know when he has to go. In my book that is as good as trained! I am so excited since I didn't want to deal with two babies in diapers come January. And really he has trained so much faster than I thought he would so I am really proud of him! It also helps that Ronin is constantly encouraging him (also with candy) and reminding him to go. He is such a great big brother.
As always, here he is showing Cache the ropes. This year we were able to go out trick or treating in a friends neighborhood with bigger kids and Ronin was in heaven! We stayed and played until really late. The kids played toys and watched movies in the basement which the grown-ups had nice conversation and watched their own movie upstairs. It was a lovely time and considering the amount of sugar and the late bed time, church wasn't too horrible the next morning which was amazing!

All in all a very fun and exhausting Halloween (and month of October if you want to get right down to it!) We are looking forward to a calmer month in November. Lots of time off from school and even from work for Patrick which will be so wonderful. This year, in classic Larsen fashion, we will be celebrating our Thanksgiving AND Christmas at the same time since we will be traveling through Dec. and don't want to schlepp presents. Nothing like rolling all your holidays into one big binge. Of course we will still see family and do fun things in Dec. but presents are getting opened early!! I love not following the holiday rules ; )

Halloween Is On Its Way

We got a gift package in the mail yesterday. Thanks Grandma S.! It was full of all sorts of fun Halloween things for the kids. When dad got home I put them all to work making spider webs for the entry way:

The kids were so interested in this 'green stuff'. We stretched...
And stretched...
And still have enough to web up half the neighborhood!

Grandma showed us this cool way to make spiders from our hands and construction paper. We put those up in our spooky window.
Here is Ronin's spider job. Pretty good! He could hardly wait for Patrick to get home to get started. He sat out on the porch in the dark waiting and waiting. And its not warm here people! 
Cache! Don't look now, there are spiders above your head!!!! 

We also received some fun trick-or-treat bags and a craft. It was such a fun addition to our day. We can't wait for Halloween (or at least the kids can't) I am frantic at the plans that still need to be made for our Ward Halloween party (um... I guess I'm in charge) and then there are costumes to be thought of, and made. I think that will have to go to Patrick this year. I am burned out already! The kids practiced their Trick Or Treat voices all day and I think they will bring in quite the pile of loot this year. Just in time to really fatten me up before this baby comes.

This week we are working on getting flu shots (I am late to the game apparently!) I have checked all over the county for places that do it and most people are out. Including our pediatrician. Sheesh! I found out today at my 25 week check up that I gained about 12 lbs. That put the dr. into a frenzy! I am just making up for not gaining much for the first half of the pregnancy, but hopefully I level out or I will be huge!  

Ronin is still loving school and teaching him to read is going to put me in the grave. It's so difficult. I think more for me than for him. He isn't discouraged in anyway, which is a definite blessing. If anything he is over-confident. He thinks he is reading way more than what is on the page and makes up the story however he wants. I guess some day he will get it.

Cache is in the throws of potty training and informed me all day that he wanted to wear a diaper. MnM's helped coax him away from that idea every time. He did great, until tonight when he stepped in poop and peed his pants in two separate installments (so much more to clean up!). I guess one day he will get that as well. All in all we are doing great. We have happy kids and Patrick is in town for an entire month without a business trip! YEAH! We can feel the holidays ramping up and wonder if we are ready for the ride....

October Pumpkin Fun

Our annual family outing that started just a mere 4 years ago, still lives on. The infamous pumpkin patch.... This year patch, chosen because of location, was less than stellar. But still we had a good time as a family. (minus the crabby mom part).

 Dad took the day off (he is racking up time-off FAST!) and its a good thing too since he is leaving town again tomorrow for the weekend. We miss our daddy each time he is away. Ronin asks for him every night. And while I love sleeping in a bed by myself, it is lonely without him. Last time he was away, I asked Cache if he missed him, to which I got a resounding "NO!"  It seems when the kids are young its easier to be without their dad. But us older folks sure do miss him. Here are a few pictures of our outing so we can look back on them this weekend and remember our sweet ol' dad and pine for the days when he will return. (oh, its only 4 days people...this trip will be easy!)

The farm we went to had apples and pumpkins. Unfortunately the pumpkins were scarce thanks to all the rain this year but we had a delightful time picking apples:
Once the kids started, they just couldn't stop! Our bag was overflowing, but they were really having a great time so we shoved a few more little ones in and headed on our way.
Can you see the pumpkins in the background? Yup, thats the rest of what would be called the 'patch'. I have now realized the place we went to last year that we really loved was NOT this place. At first I couldn't tell. Goes to show how bad my memory is. Last years patch was pumpkins as far as the eye could see. This year, I would say 50, tops. But the kids had fun throwing rocks instead.
And here is Stewart's Silo. Oh Stewart....if only you had  a few more pumpkins. But the apples are DELICIOUS!
Later that day we had caramel apples and marker-ed up our pumpkins.  The leaves are changing and falling all around. The air is fresh and crisp. Today we found frost on our car windshield. It is definitely fall, and winter is fast approaching. What a beautiful place it is!

Ronin Turns 5: The Party

This year we decided to keep the birthday thing low-key. It was wonderful because we had Grandpa and Nonie L. come to visit. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Ronin was pretty darn excited about the fact that he was 5 and that we were all there to share it.

When I woke him up in the morning, I said "Happy Birthday!" He was instantly confused. The one thing we had been waiting so long for had finally come and he couldn't believe it. "It's my birthday....today?" When he got out of bed he took a good look at himself and said he didn't look any different and was I sure he was actually five. He had a great day at school with cupcakes and prizes (and that hat!) in class and that night we had presents, brownies and icecream.
This party wasn't even close to as elaborate as last years, but it was good nonetheless. Inside those boxes were an orange watch he was dying to have (um, he can't even tell time!), and an orange hoodie. Plus he got to wear his new orange shirt to school. Something he was saving for until he turned five. We also got some baseball mitts and binoculars so we could go to the big game:
Of course we went to see the Mets since their colors are blue and ORANGE... and it was also because of our loyalty to Queens. What  a great time we had! I am sure we all gained 5 lbs. from all the junk food too. But we did have an authentic baseball experience.
Ronin was adamant about us holding our baseball gloves for the pictures. We were out high above the game so there was NO way we would be catching any stray balls, but we took them anyway. We think the Mets new stadium is pretty swank and it was actually a pretty action packed game. They only lost by 1 point and at the very last moment too!
Cache was totally into it. It definitely helped that they were handing out these batting helmets. We now have 5 at our house. We loved cheering "Let's Go Mets" and clapping along to all the stadium songs. Its funny to watch these kids cheer when they had no idea what was even happening. (and the adults didn't know much either ; )
All in all, such a terrific birthday. I love this picture of my boys. Makes me excited to add another one to the dog pile. Lots of baseball playing has been going on at our house since. Ronin says one day when he is a daddy, he will play down on the field with the rest of the big guys. If he keeps practicing, he just may. 

Ronin's Birthday Tribute

Ronin... Our fun, rambunctious, crazy 5 year old kid. Truly a samurai who knows no bounds:

What a joy you have been to our family. You made me a mommy. You have made me laugh and cry, you have made me yell, you have made me learn to say "I am sorry." Without you I would be less of a mother, less of a person.
You are a glorious big brother. Kind, thoughtful, gentle at times, and always ready for a rumble. You love photos being taken of you, collecting items you find laying around; namely sticks, rocks and trash. You love stashing your clothes in the front closet  so they are easy to deal with. You love pajama's. You love movies with popcorn and soda. You love time with your family. And we love you!
Happy birthday my little 5 yr. old. In the late nights of rockings, feedings, crying jags and stolen slumber I never thought we would make it to today. But here we are, together. I love you. We all love you. Thank you for being in our family and for loving us just the same.

Happy Birthday!

First Day of Kindergarten

Well, it finally happened. The first day of Kindergarten that we thought would never arrive, has indeed come and gone. Ronin was beyond excited. Mom was beyond nervous. The first day was a half-day (thank goodness). We woke up too early and had to kill some time, so there was a lot of photos being taken . Ronin wanted to show off his bus tag. Its bright yellow and coordinates with the the bus that he rides. The backpack he so desperately wanted was backordered until October, so he is using an old one for now. One that his teacher has already informed us is inadequate. The ONE item he takes to and from school everyday (a folder) is too big for this backpack. Which is silly because this is the only backpack that isn't gi-normous on him. But we will just have to make due until October!

Cache was more than willing to join in on the photoshoot. They took their favorite stance. I wonder how many photos I will have of these two in this position by the time they are grown. Oh how cute are they?? That hat Cache has on never leaves his head. He wears it down to bed. Hooks it on the headboard while he sleeps and then puts it on before coming up in the morning. It has these hideous fish on it, and he loves it. Why do they never wear the cool things you buy them, but only the tacky ones. (OY! but I did NOT buy this one!)
We made it down to the bottom of the hill to the bus stop with some time to spare. Ronin was willing to give me a big squeeze for the photo. It was his idea. He is such a fun and loving boy and always ready for a photo. And, he was so ready to get on that bus.
We waited for a while. He never left his spot. Where is that darn bus??
Giving one last squeeze to his brother and a kiss, he said he would miss Cache. And so far, each time he has come home he talks about how much he missed him during the day. They play SO well together now that they don't see each other so much! It's really fun to watch.
He has such a funny look on his face. An "older and wiser" brother look. He is SO dramatic...

Once the bus actually came, there was a bit of apprehension. But NO tears. NO fighting or even a question as to what he should do. He got on that bus. Said hi to the adults that were helping him and found a seat. There were a lot of them since he was the first stop of the day.
A big empty bus, with our little Kindergartener on it. (he's not even 5 yet!)  I teared up. It was difficult, but fun all at the same time. I was prepared more for a tantrum and fear than I was for him to jump on without a hitch. He really is growing up.
When he came home we asked how his first day was. The look on his face wasn't one of joy. "Not Good" he said. Of course we had instant worry and panic. Preparing for a year of pain and misery. Apparently his teacher wouldn't let him color his entire picture orange. (his favorite color) She wanted him to use more colors. AND she told him to color his school bus yellow, not orange because that is what color they really are. He was really bothered by all of this. And so is Patrick. Creativity has been a constant discussion in our house and he was instantly convinced that the school system had squelched Ronin from day one. We tried to discuss that when it comes to art, he really can make his things however he wants and he doesn't necessarily have to do what the teacher says. But he MUST follow what she says with all other subjects. This is a grey area I wasn't anticipating delving into at this age. I am sure this discussion will continue through the years, especially if Patrick has any say in it. (He is still quite bothered) He took the day off to spend with Ronin and make sure he got to the bus and back. It was a special time for each of us.
The next day was MUCH better. It started out rough since we had changed bus stops and had to run the last block to get there in time. But when he came home, he had a huge smile on his face. He met some summer friends in the lunch room. He had nap time (but didn't sleep), lunch time, dance time, and everything was a fun time. He told me tonight as he was jumping on his bed with excitement, that he wished he could live at school and that his teacher could be his mom.  I am so glad that he is excited, but I must say this is NOT the information I love to hear.

But I love him anyway, this special kindergartener of mine. I think the rigid schedule of a grade schooler will be good for me as a mom and the rest of us as a family. So far we have really focused on being here for each other in this transition. There are a lot of changes coming in these next few months and we need to be a strong family to get through them all. I feel happy that it has started out this good. I hope we can keep it going. Here's to the rest of the year!