Queen Mollee

OK, so really we call her Princess Mollee, but this blog is really about a Queen Bee. This is for all of those out there (even strangers we meet) who feel sorry for Mollee being in a house full of boys. Here is Mollee playing with her doll house, along with all four of her brothers. They were playing like this for almost two hours yesterday. Of course, she was the boss of how to play, but the boys didn't seem to care, they just went along with whatever she was playing. Don't worry about her, she loves being the only girl!

Of course, Tavis' "blank" is right at his feet??

Five Year-Old Appt

The nurse at the pediatrician's office, who knows us all too well, says that the 5 year-old check-up is her least favorite appointment on any given day. I'd have to agree. I never liked my babies getting shots, but I could handle it. But when I have to take one of my bigger kids in for shots I hate it. I don't tell them what is coming until right before it happens and I hate that because I feel like I've tricked them. Ok, maybe I have? But I never lie about it. Mollee was always the one that knew (somehow?) what was coming and would always ask all the questions I didn't want her to ask.

Today was Capps' appointment. Like every other check-up in his life, he was 50% for height and 50% for weight (which is huge for one of my kids). He did great on the eye chart, he loved peeing in a cup, and he did every physical activity the Dr. asked him to do (hopping on one foot, walking on his heels, etc.). Then came the immunizations. When Mollee fought her shots (at age 5, I must add she didn't fight anything during her allergy test) her drama would just make me mad, but when the boys just sit there and grin and bear it, that kills me. They always say, "I'm going to be tough as a soldier - will you tell Dad?".

Well, Capps did great, he cried and probably will be bruised tomorrow from being so tense, but he sat still. I did something today that I never did for the other kids, but just felt the need to do it for Capps. I saved one of his birthday gifts to give him after his shots. I didn't tell him I had it until we were sitting in the waiting room. For him, it wasn't bribery (that would be if I wasn't going to give it to him if he was bad, right?), it was just something to look forward to after the appointmen. As soon as his shots were over he got to open his gift - the Webkinz monkey (because he is a monkey) he has wanted for awhile. He told the nurse he was going to name it George for Curious George, even though the Webkinz monkey had a tail. Did you know that Curious George doesn't have a tail ?- a big concern in our house. Capps' response to this issue, it doesn't matter because he is a monkey and he doesn't have a tail either.

The Dr. (who is a family friend) told Capps that since he did so great maybe mommy would get him some ice cream on the way home. Therefore, Capps got a Webkinz monkey and a McDonald's sundae on the way home.

Happy Birthday, Capps!

Happy Birthday to Capps!

Happy Birthday to Capps!

Happy Birthday Little Monkey!

Happy Birthday to Capps!

This was the requested version of Happy Birthday for our family birthday dinner tonight. For dinner, Capps requested spaghetti and cupcakes. Usually we have a stack of iced sugar cookies, but Capps wanted cupcakes. Of course, after he blew out the candles he said, "Can I just have vanilla ice cream?"
-excuse the spaghetti sauce, there was no time to clean his face, we had to get the party started; also, Mollee insisted on taking the pictures and this was the only one she took of the birthday candles???
He got coloring items, playdoh, and a Batman toy. Of course, he had to start coloring right away and I am very happy/proud to tell you that the first thing he made was a card for me. This is the front of the card and the other side was orange with "THAnK YOU" written in a brown marker - therefore, it didn't show up to scan.


Capps MacCallum Brown is hereby named:
'My favorite five year old'

Capps is Five!!

My Cappers is turning five today. I'm sure I'll post pictures from his birthday celebration tonight, but I wanted to take a trip down memory lane.

Capps MacCallum Brown was born at 7:59 PM on July 7, 2004 (aka Uncle David and Aunt Mary's anniversary). He was by far (by a pound and a half) our biggest baby weighing 8 lbs 9 oz and 20 1/2 inches. Capps was a good baby, especially if he could find his thumb and his frog, which he still sleeps with.

Our first Christmas Card photo with four kids:Capps with Mommy at his first birthday:

Here is Capps bundled up and looking cute at age 1 1/2:

The Incredible Hulk (this was a practice round for Halloween '06, but I love this picture because he has his glasses on and he is making muscles - for the actual Halloween we spray painted his hair green):Christmas 2006:This was a common look for Capps after eating an oreo - March 2007:This is my favorite photo of Capps with Daddy at the Park. Maybe it is his pure/happy smile? (sometimes Capps has a awkward time smiling for the camera as you'll see in the next photo):This next photo (with 'the Capps smile') is from December 2007, Capps is 3 1/2. We have a family friend who titled this picture for us as "Old Spice": In almost every group of pictures I have; whether it is Easter, Christmas, Birthdays or just family fun events, there is always a picture of Daegan and Capps together - I love it!! :And here he is my little monkey (which is what he prefers to be called) with his birthday breakfast:

I'm looking forward to this next school year of getting to enjoy Capps (and Mac) a little more as Daegan heads off to kindergarten. Capps is my kid that could slip through the cracks. Many times you will find off by himself if too many people are around or if his siblings are being too crazy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAPPERS!!!

Impetigo

Impetigo: a contagious skin infection generally caused by one of two bacteria: staphylococcus aureus or group A streptococcus. A child may be more likely to develop impetigo if the skin has already been irritated by other skin problems, such as eczema, poison ivy, and insect bites.

This is part of my medical section and work towards an RN. :)

Tavis had a little rash in the corner of his mouth Friday and I thought it was a bug bite. By Friday night it looked a little worse and his cheek was very swollen (sorry, no pics) and he was talking slurred (from the swelling not from mental confusion). I then thought maybe it was poison ivy, although I can't say I've ever had poison ivy so I wasn't exactly sure what it should look like. I gave him benedryl and sent him to bed. By Saturday morning it was all crusted and gross and he was not happy about it. I kept putting Neosporin on it keep it from getting infected, but had no ideas what else to do. Sunday morning at church I had two nurses at church say it looked like impetigo.

Impe-what??

Of course, I googled it Sunday night and took Tavis to the doctor today (Monday). Sure enough, that was the diagnosis. An infection caused by either strep or staph that gets into another sore, whether that be poison ivy (maybe that is what it started as?), or a bug bite or just a cut.

We had to soak it with warm wash cloths and get all the scab/crust off to be able to medicate it with a prescription ointment.

Just another chapter in motherhood.

Bunny Ears

When we moved to our current house, almost five years ago, we decided not to get cable TV (the only sad part about that is no Sports Center in the morning) (no really, that isn't a jab at my husband, that is my own sadness). With the new digital converter box it has really made our picture much better, but we still have trouble getting a signal sometimes. If the kids are bouncing around too much (of course, that rarely happens) or if someone is upstairs in the kitchen it can effect the picture. It is a joke around the house that the kids sometimes ask, "Is it too windy to watch TV?"

Tonight the kids wanted to watch America's Funniest Videos (a Sunday night tradition). I couldn't get the signal to work so I asked Jason to try. This is what I heard as he was trying to get a good picture, "Everyone get in the spot you are going to sit to watch TV and don't move!" Too Funny! Unfortunately, it never worked.

We are just making memories, right?

Happy 4th of July!

I love this holiday! It is one of my faves!! Here are Mollee and I sporting our festive shirts (the boys wore their own versions of patriotic colors - which meant Daegan picked a tie-dye shirt because "it has red, white and blue") (mine says Red, White, Blue).

I like to plan lots of different activities for the kids just to make it a fun-filled day. Sporadically, breaking out in a "Happy Birthday, America" rendition - which Mac fully enjoys! Our day started with a Mommy and Boys breakfast on the deck (Daddy and Mollee like to sleep in and miss all the fun) and then I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast dessert (of course, we saved some for the sleeping ones).

The kids enjoyed cartoons while I ran to Wal-Mart to get fireworks and dinner items, along with fried chicken from the deli for lunch. We enjoyed the chicken on the deck and topped it off with icees. Our trusty icee maker gets abused the weekend of the Fourth. Flavors this year: Pina Colada, Strawberry, Blue Raspberry, Grape and Cotton Candy.

The kids enjoyed sidewalk chalk outside (ok, really in the garage) for awhile until it was their turn to see the Transfomer movie. Our (meaning Jason and I's) 'holiday' really started last night by finally watching the first Transformers movie (maybe next year we'll rent #2). I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not, but I loved it. Jason also enjoyed it. The kids were upset that we rented it and were watching it after they went to bed, but we wanted to see it before letting them watch it. One of their activities today was to watch the second half of it, we thought there were some things in the beginning that they wouldn't understand and didn't really need to see. They basically got to see the big battle and have talked about it the remainder of the day.

For our evening plans I tried to convince Jason to go to the Pops in the Park (symphony and fireworks), but after reading in the paper that usually 25,000 people attend, Jason wasn't too thrilled about the idea.

The Harris' (my sister and family) called and invited us for dinner, which was a nice treat and very convenient since they live only seven doors down. I tried a new recipe for our burgers - Red, White and Blue Burgers (onion, ranch and blue cheese). They were really yummy and we will definitely be having those again. I also took my icee maker so the Harris' could enjoy the fun - here are the kids eating their icees in the yard, acting like it was poison (who knows why?).

After cinnamon rolls and two icees throughout the day (it isn't a holiday without lots of dessert, right?), it seemed like a long evening waiting for dark so we could do our fireworks, which weren't anything exciting, but very exiting for the kiddos. This is what you get for $7 from Wal-Mart. It was about the same thing with 15 different names. :) The kids loved them!
Daegan is definitely my son, he gets so excited about holidays and the traditions and all the fun to be had!
Here are the kids waiting for the next round. Please note that Mac is not here. No, it isn't because it is past his bedtime (although, it is an hour and a half late), it is because this is how the first round of fireworks went for him.

And here he is hiding inside, but still interested to watch thru the glass door.
OK, so, tell me if you are noticing a pattern:

This year:

Last year:

Usually, we let the kids stay up really late and watch the local theme park's fireworks from our deck (which conveniently has a great view for that), but because we have church tomorrow, we had to deny them of this for this year - with the hope that Wal-Mart will have more fireworks on sale tomorrow for another round one night next week.

Now Mommy is going to sneak out to the deck and enjoy the show without a hundred questions....maybe the Fourth could be on Saturday night every year.

PS. From time to time, I will be boring you with updates of 30 second improvements on my mile run and this morning I pushed myself as hard as I could and ran my mile in 13 minutes and 3 seconds - Whoo Hoo!!