Fashion Success

Yesterday I actually got to take the day off and was gone from 9am-5pm.  I had so much fun and success.  I went with my mom to Charlotte.  We hit the outlet mall with the hopes of finding some jeans.  Since having three kids my wardrobe is needless to say rather pathetic.  I got some things after Jack was born that fit after Ewan and Sean too.  Now that I have finally lost more of the baby weight and knowing that my body will NEVER be the same after three c-sections in under three years it was time to update my clothes.

I always dread shopping for jeans, it is so difficult to find the right fit and size.  Women's clothing is insane!  So we set out and hit our target stores.  I don't think I have ever tried on so many clothes before.  Nor do I think I have ever spent so much time shopping, especially for myself (about 4 hours total including lunch).  We both found several tops and my mom found pants and jeans.  I, on the other hand, had absolutely no jeans.  We had been to the Gap, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Eddie Bauer, DKNY...nothing worked.  I was losing hope and stamina.

Time for a lunch break and regrouping.  I enjoyed my kid's meal from Firehouse Subs and felt better.  All we had left was Nautica and Ralph Lauren, and that was more to look for Jack.  Wonder of all wonders they had some jeans at Nautica.  I tried them on and THEY FIT!!!  Tried on another pair and they fit!!!  YEAH, finally success. 

Then it was off to Trader Joe's to stock up on goodies.  We so need one here in Columbia!  All in all a fabulous day.  I was able to try on clothes and find lots that I liked and got.  Nothing like feeling good about what you are wearing.  After all, I try not to fall into the mommy look.  I cannot stand that!  So after I enjoyed my time without the kids it was pleasant to come home to them.  I think I need to do this much more often, well not the shopping part, but the time away part.

Adventures in Food

While we are lucky that all three boys are good eaters, I dread that someday they will truly eat us out of house and home!  Jack is not even four years old and can already pack away the food sometimes.  He will frequently comment "but I only got one snack".  If he is hungry after his nap he sometimes expects to get three or four snacks!

We continue to strive to feed them well.  While they do still get "junk food" we try to limit it in amount as well as nutritional value.  If I do give them that type of food I prefer it be from Trader Joe's as it will have minimal preservatives and additives.  They boys all love the Jo Jo's from there....Trader Joe's version of the oreo.  They do so take after their daddy, my snack monsters!

I also started making more of their favorites from scratch.  Today I made some protein bars for Josh.  That is his breakfast every morning since he can eat it in the car on the way to work, or at least take it to work.  I also just froze another batch of waffles, this time sweet potato waffles.  It's nice to have options for the kiddos on weekday mornings that are quick and nutritious.  They like the waffles toasted.  The whole wheat waffles they like made into peanut butter waffle sandwiches.  My next experiment is homemade graham crackers.  They looked yummy, just need to find graham flour.

I am working on becoming more organized planning weekly meal plans.  It just makes life easier for me, especially with the grocery shopping.  The goal is to limit it to one trip a week, though that can be difficult with the amount of milk we go through!!

Sean has recently discovered beets.  I cooked up some carrots and beets the other day and mixed it with our pear sauce.  He inhaled that!!  It's nice to know where the food comes from...the pears were from out trees and the beets from our garden.  Nothing like directly from the source!!  He is also enjoying his almond butter sandwiches.  Last night we also started mixing whole milk into his formula.  We will gradually add a little more week so that by his first birthday he'll be drinking just milk.  Wish us luck....with Jack and Ewan they both got horrible diarrhea when they began milk!

Jack and Ewan definitely are mommy's dairy state boys.  They LOVE their cheese!!  After I returned from Trader Joe's yesterday we had cheese, salamis and baguette for dinner.  The boys couldn't get enough cheese, and they do have expensive taste, not your typical toddler cheese taste.  They like gouda, goat cheese, honey gouda and their favorite last night was our favorite too, the mango stilton from Trader Joe's.  I had to hunt down the last package of it!!

I am proud that my boys are such good eaters.  I always refused to be one of those parents that caters to their children.  They eat what we eat.  They must TRY everything.  If they truly dislike something I will let them have something else, but still a complete well rounded meal.  They certainly still get treats, but only after eating well.  It is nice to be able to take them to any restaurant and know they will eat off a normal menu.  No processed chicken nuggets for us!

So there you have it, the eating habits of the Dalrymple boys.  Piggy little guys, but definitely not picky or porky.  They certainly to burn most of their caloric intake with all their energy!!

Preschool Week One

Jack just completed week one of preschool and he really enjoyed himself.  I'm proud of my little guy.  He doesn't always deal with change well, especially being left in unfamilar places.  Monday he did well.  Wednesday, however, he cried when I dropped him off.  He was happy when I picked him up and was proud to show off the apple puppet he made.  Jack thought the carpool pickup was pretty cool.

Then today I reminded him that I would be dropping him off at the carpool lane.  He seemed fine with it.  While we were waiting for his teacher to open the door for him he said enthusiastically "I'm going to show my teachers my friends".  He was referring to his two Cars band-aids!!!  He was happy to see his teacher come pick him up and left smiling.

When we picked him up today he was all smiles again!  After getting a few things out of him (asking about his day is like pulling teeth), he said "so Ewan, what did you do today?"  It was so adorable it melted my heart!!  Ewan told Jack he went to the store and gym with Mommy.  Jack asked him what he did at the gym.  When Ewan replied he played, Jack was curious and said "what did you play?  What toys did you play with?"  Drilling his little brother like I drill him!!!!  Way too cute!

Everyone enjoyed the first week, well the kids more than me.  I do enjoy having Jack spend some time away, yet seems I don't get anymore done!!  I'm not sure why parents get so excited about preschool....it just means being stuck to a preset schedule and carpooling.  Not my idea of fun.  Oh well, we're still getting to the gym four mornings a week and now Ewan gets his special Oma time.  We are definitely all enjoying that!  Ewan looks forward to his next adventure with Oma.  Bring on week two!!!

Finger Food

This week Sean has discovered two more finger foods he likes.  YEAH!!  It's difficult coming up with finger foods he will eat, yet they are so much easier than having to spoon feed him every meal.  Of couse the clean-up is messier too...food all over his face, hair, floor etc!

Anyway, he liked the bug pasta and cheese from Jack's first day of school dinner and today he liked his almond butter sandwich.  So now we've got more options at mealtime.  Thank goodness!

Enjoy the almond butter sandwich pictures.  By the way, Cosmo enjoyed cleaning up after this meal!!

Big Day

Today was Jack's first day of preschool.  My little guy is growing up so fast!  Granted, most of his friends went to preschool last year, but he just started today and he was about it.  He talked about it all weekend and this morning when Ewan woke up (who of course chose today to sleep til nearly 8) he told him right away "today is my first day of school Ewan"!!  It was too cute for words.

We dropped him off and he was still excited.  In the parking lot he got a little nervous...said "I don't want to go to this school.  I want to go to my other school."  I assured him it was his school, we were just parked near another building and if he looked around the other side of the car he would see he.  He was relieved to see his building!

We went in the building and he was still excited.  Took a picture in the gym.  Then as we approached the door to his room he clung to my leg.  We went in the room and after finding a few toys he settled in and didn't care when we left!  So yeah Jack, so tears!!  He can get emotional in new places and with new people so this was a big success.

When we picked him up he was still thrilled.  Once of his teachers asked if he always goes to the bathroom.  Seems he went 6 times!!  Probably just checking out a new bathroom.  He does like to check out bathrooms!

 In the parking lot

In the gym

In his new classroom

FYI:  Ya'll know Jack picked out his own outfit and shoes.  He is still my fashionista.  Ewan of course had to pick out his own this morning too (with some help, as he doesn't color coordinate well all the time)!

Now Jack is looking forward to his first day of preschool special dinner.  His choice of course....chicken, broccoli, bug mac and cheese (picked up and organic mix in the mountain with bug shaped pasta) and chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting!!  Oma and Opa will be coming to celebrate our big boy's day so he'd looking forward to that too.

Sean's First "Real" Haircut

Sean has had several trims already, after all he was born with tons of hair and long sideburns!  Tonight was his first real haircut with the clippers.  I was nervous cutting it so short already; I don't usually care about hair.  Maybe because he is my last little baby....not such a little baby anymore!

Two before shots

Sean right after the big cut!

Jack, Ewan and Sean after their haircuts and bath

Mountain Fun Part 1

Earlier this week we enjoyed some time in the mountains with Oma.  Sunday Ewan went up with Oma.  I believe it was his first night away from Jack since he was a baby.  It was his special Oma time and he seemed to have a good time.  Jack, on the other hand, was rather upset to be separated from his brother.  He woke up first thing Monday morning around 6:30 and said he was ready to go to the mountains immediately!!  I informed him he had to eat breakfast first and wait for Sean to get up....we were on the road by 7:50!!!

We had tons of fun as always.  The weather was spectacular.  It was so nice to be able to spend time outside again and not sweat the whole time!  We also really enjoyed the new screened in deck at the mountain house.  Sean seemed to especially love it too...crawling around like a mad man and screaming with joy!

We had a nice quick visit at Looking Glass Falls.  The water was very cold (which made me decided to skip Sliding Rock, boy that would have been FREEZING).  Sean once again LOVED the falls.  He really seems to get a kick out of waterfalls. 

Thanks Oma for such a fun week.  YOU ROCK!!!

Oma helping the boys down to the water.  Those of you that KNOW Oma won't beleive this one, but she's actually climbing down the rocks to the water.  First rafting in Montana and then this, you go Oma!!!

Mountain Fun Part 2

On Tuesday we went to Biltmore Estate.  We went to the barn to play with the animals and then Cedric's Pub for dinner, play in the courtyard area and ice cream for dessert.  Big night!!!

When we arrived at the barn it was just before dinner...and the goats and sheep let you know they were hungry.  Their very loud noise scared Jack off at first, but he eventually warmed up to the animals!

Mountain Fun Part 3

We went to the park every day.  It was so nice to be able to play outside again.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous and all the kiddos had a blast.  Jack and Ewan especially loved the tire swing (or Oma and Mommy's upper body workout as we called it)!!  Sean enjoyed the baby swing and climbing up the slide.  Jack and Ewan insisted on having picutes taken with their toys!!!!

Sean having a blast on David the train.

Ewan playing.

 Ewan and his toy lineup.

 Jack posing with Lightening McQueen!

All three together...mission impossible!!

Jack and Ewan racing cars down the slide!

Sean climbing up the slide...do you see the piece of mulch in his mouth?!

And for a flashback, here are pictues at the same train in this park taken in August 2009!!!

Jack hasn't changed too much, other than much taller of course!

And sweet Ewan!!!

Big Boy

Yesterday Jack graduated from the pre-school class at camp.  Next year he will be in the kindergarten class (though he won't be in kindergarten yet).  Our little guy is growing so fast!!

Today he also started riding his bike without training wheels in the backyard.  Where does the time go??

The graduate fell asleep in the car running errands before his ceremony!

The big guy with his diploma.

Riding out back with Daddy and Ewan running behind!

Big boy Jack with no training wheels.

Technical Difficulties

I took several video clips of Sean, but I'm having difficulties uploading them to the blog.  Guess ya'll have to settle for a still picture!  Sean is at the age where he seems to be growing bigger/older every single day.  He is changing right before my very eyes!!  My baby is growing too fast...

He is very into pushing his toy, also the kitchen chairs sometimes!!  He also loves trying to keep up with his big brothers.  They feed off of each other...now it's even louder and more insane with the three of them together!!  Good times ahead I'm sure; good times for them anyway.  Stress and insanity for me!

I'm still waiting for it to cool off here.  The boys and I are going stir crazy.  They really NEED outside time to run off their energy.  They just bounce off the walls inside!!!  Which of course makes me bounce off the walls.

Anyway, here is Sean pushing his toy.  I'll try to work on more photos later. 

Sean Tidbits

Just a few random tidbits about Sean before I forget (not that I would ever forget anything)!  He is doing well of course.  The cut did not slow him down any, nor did we expect it to!!

Sean is now waving good-bye.  He is too cute!  Funny how the little things are so adorable.  My little boy is grown up so fast.  He even waves the right way...most babies wave to themselves since that is how they see people wave to them, but Sean actually waves the right way.

Sean is also now trying to oink like a pig.  He has a farm and it makes animal noises.  He seems to like the pig best because he tries to oink and it sounds so incredibly funny.  I've tried several times to get a video clip but have not succeeded yet.

Best run, the little guy is screaming now....