Neurotic Cats and Team Umizoomi Fun

We're getting prepped to go to Nathan's uncle's wedding next week so I had Eleanor try on a fancy dress and play around with hair bows and clips.

Bradley was pleased to finally get in on the hair accessory fun.

For the record, I put none of these on him, he managed everything just fine on his own. I call this next one "Star Trek".

It's funny to have him copying Eleanor at something because it is usually the other way around.

The weather has been very wet lately which has cramped our fun a bit. Turns out I just needed to put Bradley in appropriate rain gear and everything would have been fine ...

Fun note: Bradley's favorite color is blue and it's rather difficult to get him to wear things that are not blue. But his favorite letter is B for Bradley (we look for B's for Bradley and E's for Eleanor whenever we're driving in the car, or when we're at church, or at home, or really anywhere and everywhere) and this particular shirt has TWO B's for Bradley so he will allow us to put it on him. He's particular about fashion too, in his own Bradley way.

Because of the weather we decided to do a family book store trip last weekend and we went to Barnes and Noble to play and let the kids pick a book or two to bring home. As we walked into the store Eleanor tripped (over nothing) and fell down and as she started to pick herself back up Bradley shoved her back down so he could walk over her. Walking over his sister is one of his favorite things to do, I have no idea why. But Bradley may not have taken Nathan and me seriously when we told him not to do that anymore because we were both laughing quite a bit. And sadly, Eleanor didn't even protest. She's far too used to this kind of thing. She is so tough.

Our obsession with the show Team Umizoomi only grows but I love it because my children are talking about shapes like rectangles, triangles, and ... dodecahedrons.

But mostly we talk about the shape bandit.

And we count. This is my favorite kind of counting.

Bradley also talks about booby traps a lot now because they appear on the show on a regular basis so we have to jump over all sorts of booby traps that I was previously unaware of that seem to be hidden all over the house now, especially on the tiles in the bathroom which one must jump over at all costs.

My favorite part of the show is the dancing though. Eleanor waves her hands high and low on a regular basis now and they can watch the show forever as far as I'm concerned, this is too adorable.

We made it out to the pool last weekend and everyone had a blast. These two pictures best sum up the children's approaches to entering the water for the first time.

Bradley jumping in

Eleanor clinging

But Eleanor was soon going down the slide like a champ and fighting with Bradley over sand toys. Good times.

Also of note, we saw our favorite life guard from last summer who is truly wonderful and learns the kids names and helped Eleanor go down the slide a lot last summer. I said hi and pointed out Bradley and said that we had made another little person since the last summer. He said "I remember Eleanor" and I said "nope, over there" and pointed at the baby carrier. Winter pregnancies are the best, I love that I'm back in action for the summer. And Patrick will be able to enjoy the pool too before too long!

Here are the kids in their cute swim suits for this summer. Note Eleanor's turtle water shoes. Our fashionista is in love with these shoes (yay, makes it so much fun for Mommy to get her clothes!)

I think the cats have settled in a state of distress and neediness upon the continued small amount of attention they are receiving now that we're busy with our new little guy.

Layla claiming the spot that is rightfully hers

Ear nuzzles for Nathan

Meg has started acting incredibly weird around the baby swing. She gets in it and tries to whack at the toy birds around the top. While yowling. It is a successful way to get some attention around here.

And Sookie continues to try to find loves with Bradley, whether he wants them or not.

It's all very sweet except for Meg lying in wait for me in the night outside the baby's room and yowling with neediness in 3 am as she follows me back into the master bedroom so she can cuddle my face in the night. Fortunately, all of the children are so used to her yowls that they can sleep through it. It's not quiet.

Our sweet little Patrick is growing bigger and stronger and although he hasn't gifted us with any smiles yet, he's growing increasingly alert and definitely appreciates having someone in his face while doing tummy time rather than being ditched on his own.

Good thing he likes it because he gets plenty of face to face time with his loving siblings. 

He's such a little cutie.

Chins!

So alert

Eleanor is the most enthusiastic at helping Patrick out in the swing. I need to make sure I strap him in for what becomes a roller coaster ride without careful supervision.

Patrick loves pushing himself up to a standing position with a little support from Mommy or Daddy, he's quite strong. He also prefers to fall asleep while grabbing tightly onto someone's finger. His Daddy in particular is putty in his hands.

Nathan is our cuddle master around here.

Patrick snuggled on Daddy.

It's still a little tricky to get out of the house for certain things but as a whole we're settling into the new routine and everyone is doing really well. Honestly, while I appreciate baby snuggles it is not where I excel as a parent and I am very grateful for Eleanor and Bradley time during the day. Who couldn't love this kind of impish and cute behavior?

 Cuddles with the excitable Bradley boy

Reading our new Umizoomi book together

 Target trip. It's always more fun when Daddy is giving you a rather wild ride in the cart.

Dress my mom made that our fashion conscious little girl demanded to wear to the store. Eleanor has started to have the occasional tantrum and they are pretty much all fashion related - wrong pair of shoes, wrong dress, etc. I'm way too happy that she cares so much about clothes. 

Here are the kids reading their Umizoomi book together. They're fairly precious together. 

We made it out for a couple of fun park outings a few days ago. I can't believe this is all right behind our house, I have yet to take it for granted. 

So much happy childhood to be spent out here. I miss Seattle quite a bit sometimes but wow Kansas can be pretty great. 

Bradley with a bucket on his head. Of course.

Eleanor helping out Mommy with wagon duty

Eleanor is such a helper these days, not a door in the house is left open if she has anything to say about it, which a lot of times you DO have something to say about it because you're trying to walk through the door that she is trying to shut. And when you try to help her she says "MY shut door" and shakes you off. Independent and stubborn, I know of no other children.

Nathan's Iowa State ball has replaced the Easter egg as Bradley's favorite toy and he takes it everywhere with him (ask Nathan how delighted he is by this turn of events). He discovered a matching hat the other day and was quite pleased. 

And lastly, here is Eleanor bestowing some attention upon a neglected kitty. Lucky kitty!