3 year well check

Last week we {finally} had our 3 year well check. We switched pediatricians (long story, but it was all about billing and insurance, not due to unsatisfactory service from them), so this was a long appointment, getting to know our new pediatrician.

Everyone is doing great overall, except they are still on the small end of the growth chart. They look big to me, and don't seem noticeably smaller than other kids in their class, but they're definitely on the low end of the chart. For now. ;)

We talked about potty training and discipline and other questions and concerns that I had with the pediatrician. All three boys got a flu shot and Ryan got a Hep A vaccine as well. He got behind on shots a while back due to medicines he was on at the time, so he's slowly catching up.

Here are the stats:
Stokes - Weight 28 lb, 6.4 oz (10%); Height 2' 11.63" (5%); BMI 15.73 (44%)
Ryan - Weight 28 lb, 3.2 oz (9%); Height 3' .5" (14%); BMI 14.88 (16%)
William - Weight 29 lb, 3.2 oz (16%); Height 3' .61" (16%); BMI 15.31 (29%)

Thomas and I were at the appointment together and when it was finally over, we took the boys to Chick-fil-A for a late lunch before taking them back to school. At some point during lunch, Thomas made a comment about how it was tough and he doesn't want me to have to do those kinds of appointments without him moving forward. Yay for me! And he's right - it IS tough and having 2 adults there is WAY better than one.

We'll have our next well visit about a year from now. Sorry for the disappointment, but I didn't take any cute pictures of the boys at the appointment to post here. But on the bright side, we had an awesome Thanksgiving and a post is coming soon! 

Re-do

Last week, a sweet picture of the boys from November 2013 popped up in my Facebook Timehop. I kind of remember trying to take that picture three years ago. The picture was originally posted on November 17, World Premarity Awareness Day, which is a day that always makes me so grateful. So anyway, I shared the Timehop picture this year and got a lot of likes and comments on Facebook. I just couldn't stop looking at the picture and thinking how much bigger and different the boys look, but then they also look kind of the same, if that makes any sense, which it doesn't.

We still have those sweet, white knit blankets from the picture that my old neighbor Cathy Kinninger knitted for them and I got the brilliant idea that I would try to recreate the original picture. HAHAHAHA!

The boys are at an age now that I can tell them certain things, like, "put your hand right here and look this way" and they DO understand, but cannot seem to stay still for more than a millisecond. :)

Here's the picture collage of both pictures - 2013 and 2016. They're in the same order and I attempted to get the same pose. It's kind of close, right? Anyway, they were sweet then and they're sweet now. Love these three little angels!

L to R: Ryan, William and Stokes

Can you tell that I used my phone to take the 2013 pic and my good camera to take the 2016 pic? What a difference a good camera makes! Lordy!

Anyway, they boys were having so much fun playing with these blankets. They kept pulling them up over their heads and giggling! After we were done with our little photo shoot, and ready for bed, Stokes went back to the blankets and crawled in and told us he was going to sleep there on the floor. Then pretended to fall asleep, complete with his fake snores. Hilarious!

Stokes: fake snoring

Here are a few outtakes, which are all so cute, too!

Messy laundry

I took pride in the fact that it hadn't ever happened to us. I was careful. I was cautious. I was (usually, kinda, somewhat) organized. And then it happened. And I still don't know how.

I mean, what in the world?!?!?!

A diaper made it into the washing machine and through the cycle. YUCK.

Aftermath of diaper in washing machine
You may not be able to see them very well,
but the clothes had tiny little bits of gel everywhere!

THIS STUFF.
ALL OVER THE PLACE.
:(

All of these little gel balls were everywhere in the washing machine. I wasn't sure what to do and turned to my good friend, Google, and found this blog! So that was helpful. It still took a while to get everything shaken out and then I took my vacuum attachment into the washing machine tub to get all the rest of the gel balls that weren't attached to the clothes. You live and you learn. I'm pretty sure this happens to most families and I'm actually a bit surprised that it took this long to happen to us. Hopefully that's the last time (and it helps that only one is still in diapers!).

Speaking of cleaning stuff, just in case you're wondering, I found a GREAT solution for fabric chair/couch cushions. Unfortunately, I know from experience how challenging that can be after an accident happens (darn you, potty training). I took to Google for that one, too, and found this blog: How to remove pee and urine from couch. This really works! Thank goodness!!!!

I hope that if you're ever in this situation, these 2 linked blog posts will help you with your clean up efforts. 

First school pictures

I got the proofs from the boys' first ever school pictures and I have to say, they are SO CUTE. I was seriously impressed with how well I thought they turned out. Now I'm in trouble because I have to figure out which (extremely overpriced) package to buy! It would be so much easier if I didn't like the pictures!

Here's a preview:

Stokes

Ryan

William

 

Oyster Roast 2016

Remember last fall when we did a little oyster roast? I went back and re-read that post and laughed because we decided to do one this year, too, and I did decide to pretty it up a little this time. It has finally gotten chilly in our neck of the woods, and while it wasn't too cold when the sun was out, as soon as that sun set, it was a good thing we had the fire pit going!

Peerys at the Oyster Roast

Mostly everyone is looking

The afternoon was beautiful and we had a fun group of friends that was able to come over. We had oysters outside along with our laptop and projector for football games and we had the Clemson/Pitt game on inside (let's not talk about it; I'm still hurt). We had a chili bar and a salad bar for the adults and hot dogs, fries and fruit for the kids and then s'mores for dessert!

Thanks to our friends that were able to make it. We missed those that couldn't come! I think we have decided that we might have to make this an annual event so we will probably make some improvements each year. This year was a pretty good one, though! ;)

Lisa playing with the kiddos

Grayson brought his karaoke machine!

The Pruetts spent the weekend with us!

Davis and Grayson

Tucker - sweetest baby!

Playing in the bounce house

Some of the dudes

One of the first batches of oysters

Plenty of oyster knives, crackers,
hot sauce and cocktail sauce!

Kids, dads, oysters, football and fire :)

After dinner we brought out the s'mores!

S'mores station

Thomas helping Stokes and William
roast their marshmallows

Plaid Pic!
Catherine, Stacey and me

Lots of little Tiger fans!
Stokes, William, Hayes and Brady

Brent and Thomas

The Youngs!
Heather, Caroline and Walker

Since Grayson's karaoke machine was
such a success, Stokes brought his little
one out and was serenading us. :)

Stokes and Caroline were hanging out

William on the real karaoke mic. He was saying, "Go
baby Tigers!" HAHAHA!

Ryan trying to get warm by the fire

Megan and Price - how cute is his hat?!?!?

Ryan and me before going back inside to the warmth!

Stokes and Landon

Close-up!
They were watching videos on Stacey's phone

Then William snuggled up to Landon!

Thomas with William and Stokes
before they had to go in to bed

We had a great time and had minimal clean up to do that night (thanks, ladies!!!). After we got all the tired kids to bed, Joey, Lisa, Thomas and I were hanging out and watching football and I think I may have been asleep in the living room chair by 10:30 PM. #momlife
Can't wait for our 2017 Oyster Roast!

Example of "prettying it up" from last year to this year:

Last year's patio set up

Last year's oyster table

This year's porch set up

This year's patio set up (with bounce house un-inflated in
the background)

This year's oyster table

I loved the addition of the white lights. It helped so much with being able to see outside after the sun set. Thanks to Joey for helping Thomas hang them!