Sour Grass, Climbing Fences, Riding bikes

I included this first picture for two reasons. One, to show the big height difference that continues between Rishaan and Axel and second to show how adamant the boys were that I don't take their photo. Can you see Axel yelling "no" and Rishaan's glare? Sooo funny!

 Axel continues to like to build and design things.

He talks about becoming an architect all of the time and frequently asks questions at what they design. He wants to design homes, play structures and entertainment facilities. Below you can see a theater that he designed for his dinosaurs. 

 On Thursday we went to Connor's bday party at Pump It Up again.

 Both kids had a blast. The lighting was really bad so the pictures I took didn't turn out very well.

 Here is the party crowd eating dinner. I was so proud that both kiddos ate pizza. Axel had two pieces and Phoenix ate one. They both wanted to earn birthday cake, which happened to be ice cream cake.

 With the week off school we were able to enjoy a lot more time together. The kids had a fun morning at Jack Fisher Park.

 You can see Axel being his charming self the entire time at the park. He is such a good brother when he wants to be.

 And Phoenix is having the time of her life following brother around and having brother play one on one with her.

I love these two to pieces!

 I thought I should include Louis for once. He is back to his old self at the pneumonia. He is such a wonderful dog. He puts up with days of very little attention, but knows that the days were are home more he gets plenty of walks and outdoor time.

 A neighbor told us about the millions of yellow flowers around are neighborhood. They are called sour grass and are edible. They taste like lemons, so Keith and the kids had quite the snack eating flower after flower.

 Phoenix kept saying more!

 Today Axel decided he wanted to climb the fence. I was so proud of this very boyish, child like act. He doesn't often do things like this.

 He climbed back down instead of climbing over, but it was cool to see regardless.

 This evening the kids rode their bikes.

Phoenix had so much fun riding with her brother. You can see both kids gleaming year to year!

Valentine's Day and Baseball Practice

Angela started potty training Phoenix a couple of weeks ago. Here is Phoenix on the toilet last Thursday when I went to pick her up after work. She hadn't had a bowel movement all day so Angela was trying to get her to go. I ended up catching her squatting while she was playing a couple of hours later and quickly slid the toilet under her. She was so upset with me that she wouldn't finish going in the little potty. I tried to act excited that she went in the potty, but she had decided from that point on, she is not going to use the potty at home, period. She ended up finishing in her pants while we were walking Louis in the park after dinner. She now only goes at Angela's. I don't want to push her so we have been 100% diapers at home the past few days. I will be curious to see what happens at Angela's tomorrow. 

On Friday I was able to join Axel at school for his Valentine's exchange.

He was working hard to get his paper airplane Valentine's into his classmates bags.

After the exchange of Valentine's was Axel's favorite part....cupcake time!

Here he is with Claire, Teagan, Jensen and Liam.

On Saturday I made Axel heart pancakes that apparently taste better than regular pancakes!

Daddy surprised mommy with flowers and beets! He had planned to make his own arrangement out of fruits and vegetables, but ran into these flowers while in the process. He decided buying the pre-made flower arrangement was easier, but still wanted the organic golden and red beets :)

The kiddos were surprised with a new bat and glove. Axel needed a bat for baseball and Phoenix wants to do everything Axel does so they were both happy. We headed to baseball practice after breakfast. Here Axel and Daddy are doing jumping jacks.

Phoenix is trying to catch, throw and hit all at the same time she is watching the warm up.

Daddy and Axel skipping along.

Axel and Daddy having a blast running liners.

Our little hitter...... Axel hits and throws fairly well. We just have to work on the catching and fielding, but that will slowly come with practice.

The boys ran around the bases at the end of practice. Phoenix wanted to run too.

Here is Axel coming down the home stretch into home plate to complete his second baseball practice ever! He really seemed to enjoy himself. We hope he will continue to have fun even if he doesn't continue baseball in future years.

Axel has off of school this week. I only have to work a couple of days. We are looking forward to family picture on Thursday, a fun birthday party Thursday evening and a get together with friends on Saturday. Hopefully, I will be able to post pictures of Phoenix and the family next week!

Louis Gets Pneumonia

We have had some amazing weather this winter. A couple of weeks ago the kids threw rocks in the stream.

 As you can see from this picture, it was a gorgeous day out.

The kids still love bath time.

 Especially when daddy takes a bath with them.

On Monday the kids and I came home to foamy white vomit in Louis' room. He was shaking and taking shallow quick breaths. His vomit turned into blood within an hour. Keith rushed him to the Emergency Vet when he got home from work. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and for the first time in his 12 years had to stay over night away from home. He did great considering the circumstances. They put him on IV fluids and antibiotics and he is on a course of 14 days of oral antibiotics as well. We take him in for a follow up xray and appointment on Valentine's day to make sure that he is fully recovered. Keith was very excited to pick Louis up and put him in the new sweater Grammy Carol made him. He was really worried that he wasn't going to be able to enjoy it. This was a realization to all of us that every day with Louis is a blessing and his days are becoming more numbered then we like to think.

 Angela started potty training Phoenix on Monday. She is wearing diapers for nap time and at night, but during the day Angela has been great about putting Phoenix on the toilet every hour or so. She has gone pee pee once each day in the potty. At home she was able to go poo poo for us again. The funny thing is starting on Friday when Phoenix was home with me she asked to wear diapers. I didn't argue since we were gone most of the day. She says she wants to go potty at Angela's with Aisha because they are doing it together. I am completely okay with that and hope that she is able to get the hang of it more and more while at Daycare. I will definitely not complain about having Angela do most of the hard work :)

 The rain started on Friday and we have been blessed with three straight days of warm rain. It has been so nice to enjoy the weather. The kids had a great walk home from school.

While most parents think that I am crazy for walking to pick up the kids in the rain. The kids think I am great for letting them splash and have fun in the rain.

 With mid 60's for the highs the rain has truly been enjoyable to be in despite the high winds at times.

 The kids continue to be best friends and enemies. Axel is an amazing brother and helps Phoenix out all of the time. Phoenix absolutely is in love with Axel.

 They play together more and more and most of the time enjoy each others company. Axel does retreat into his room to play with big boy toys and has to do big boy homework at times, but Phoenix doesn't mind.

 Axel is all signed up for A-ball. Yesterday we got his cleats, pants, belt, undershirt, socks and glove. He has his first practice this coming Tuesday. Daddy is so excited that he is on the Red Sox. Daddy is one of the coaches and Axel has a few of his classmates on his team.

 Although he closes his eyes to catch the ball, he has quite a good arm, taking after both his mommy and daddy. We are so excited for him and Axel is finally getting excited too.

The rain will end just in time for his Tuesday practice and games start in March. Hopefully, I will be able to snap a few photos of his first practice!