Henry and K-3!

Henry is super excited about starting his "big boy" school.  He will be going to Bennett's old school and he thinks it's so cool.  Erinn and I organized a fun play-date at Kiddie Mia's so some of the kids could meet before school.  We are excited that his friend, Benjamin from BUMC will be there too!  Too bad they don't have the same teacher. :(

Henry and Benjamin

Sweet triplet wannabes: Briggs, Henry, and Brown

Henry's school party

Since Henry was starting his new school on his actual birthday, I thought it would be fun for him to get to celebrate with cupcakes at his old school on his last day.  He picked out a sweet firetruck cupcake pull-apart.  He was so sweet just smiling while everyone sang to him.  What a sweetheart!

Lilly, Gabe, George, Max, Mary Ellen, and Will

my big 3 year old and me

Sister's Last Gymboree

Gymboree is one of my favorite things to do my with babies.  I think they get a lot out of it and I love getting to meet mom's who are in the exact same stage as me.  Most of the moms in the class are new mommies, so I felt like I was super experienced! ha!  Just when I think that my kids go and do something I have no idea how to react to...

We had 3 girls and 2 boys in the class.  Both boys are named Henry!  We've loved getting to know everyone.  We have to stop going because I am about to start work on Tues-Thurs and the classes are only Tues, Weds, and Saturday.  We typically have too much going on to get there for a Saturday class.  Darn!

Bennett really wanted to help so he took these pictures! :)

Bolster lesson

Color go-round

Bennett doing the gymbo farewell movements for Sister

Henry, Scarlett, SK, and Emma

Scarlett and SK

Crazy Hair Day

I gave no explanation of why Bennett's hair was so crazy in this post.  Here is the explanation.

 Bennett had crazy hair day for one of his dress-up days at VBS.   We talked about it the day before how we were going to get some hair spray color for his hair.  He wanted red, white, and blue.  He is patriotic.

The morning of crazy hair day I realized we never picked up the color so I had to improvise. I got on Pinterest and tried to search out some household products to make hair color.  The first failed attempt was sidewalk chalk.  This method was a total bust.   I found a recipe for hair gel and eye shadow and it worked! 

This was supposed to make a paste out of the chalk...FAIL.

The only color that worked was blue.  I think it was because it was more liquid instead of powder. 

He was so proud!

Crazy hair!

When the Lights Go OUT in the City...

We have a BIG list of things we want to do around the house.  It takes many trips to Home Depot and Lowe's to help with the to-do list.  We try to go to one of those stores once every couple days.  It's getting old.  

Last night after dinner we thought we'd run to Home Depot really quick to pick up 4 items.  We weren't going to be gone long so we didn't bring diapers, formula, a bottle, Neil's phone, or house KEYS.  Little did we know.

We pulled into Wendy's first for a frosty and noticed that the wind was really picking up and the clouds were dark and moving quickly.  We decided to just head home instead of the Home Depot visit.  We got home and the garage door clicker wouldn't work.  Weird.  Neil went and tried to work the keypad and nope, it didn't work either.  Then Neil went and tried all the doors and windows, but they were all locked because I am a door locking queen.  We headed back to Home Depot because we didn't really have anything else to do but wait it out.  We just knew once we got done that it would all be one again.  No, it wasn't.  By this time SK was getting hungry so we had to go to CVS to pick up formula and other such essential items when you have a 3 month old.  I needed to remind Neil to pick up diapers for her and since he didn't have his phone I had to page him at CVS.  He was mortified!  He checked out and came to the car with a crappy look on his face.  He said "why did you page me again??" I had no idea what he was talking about.  

He saw Derrick in CVS and realized that Derrick paged him again! ha!

We went back to the house and the power was once again not on.  Thankfully our good friends told us to come over so we could get it all figured out.  We headed over there and they offered for us to stay at their house or Beau's dad's.  We opted to stay all 4 of us in the guest room.  Bennett was in Ruston or there would have been 5.  Surprisingly, it was a good night.  The kids were tired and really did well on their pallets.  We are so thankful for Beau and Leigh coming through for us!  

Leigh even bathed Henry, gave SK a t-shirt, laid clothes out for me and Neil, and made breakfast!  You guys are the BEST!

Sis in her dinosaur t-shirt

She spit up so it was Spider-man tee next

Henry got to watch cartoons with Jake until 10 pm!

It's blurry, but there are my babies fast asleep on the floor.  We all slept great!

We got home this morning and the power was still off.  We finally called a locksmith to pick the lock.  We took showers in the dark and got ready for our day.  The power finally came on at 10 am!

Parties and Playdates

We have been really low-key lately.  We have just been hanging out at home, playing with friends, and celebrating birthdays.  

Since Kay, Leigh, and I were all single moms, Leigh had us over for dinner and play time.  Thanks, Leigh!

Leigh reading "Llama Llama" to the boys

Happy 33rd, Amy!  She looks great for 33!

Happy 61st, Carolyn!  She looks great for 61!

Sam invited Bennett to swim at his neighborhood pool

Neil got stranded in Denver on his way to North Dakota.  He even got to have a play-date with Matthew!  Casey and I BEGGED them for this picture!

Sarah Kathryn is 3 months old!

Doctor appointment:  We don't go back until next month so I don't know stats. :(

Clothes: You wear size 2 diapers and I have a feeling we will be in them a while.  You wear mostly 3 month, 3-6 month, and recently a 6-9 month outfit! We are getting rid of your 0-3 month stuff.  Mostly 3-6 months clothes fit.  I love getting you dressed up everyday and finding bows to accessorize with...I feel like you need to be in a dressy gown, dress, or bubble everyday.

Eating:  You eat a 4 ounce bottle every three hours.   We've had to add lots of rice cereal to your bottles because you spit up SO MUCH.  The pediatrician said we could add up to 1 tsp per ounce of formula.  It has helped a ton.  We also have to give you prune juice everyday to help move things along.  

Sleeping:  You like to nap during the day just randomly.  You are certainly not on any type of a schedule yet.  You will nap on the play mat, in the car seat, or in the bouncy seat.   At night, your last bottle is between 8-9 pm and you usually sleep until about 4-5 am.  You take your bottle and most of the time go back to sleep until 6-7 am. Today you slept until 7:15.  It was pretty much amazing because you slept through the whole night in the pack-n-play at Nana and Granddad's.

Likes:  being held, the bouncy seat, car seat, riding in the car, riding in the stroller, eating, the paci (sometimes), baths, your brothers, watching people, smiling, and laughing

Dislikes: having something go over your head (clothes), when the car stops, constipation, being strapped in the carseat, being woken up by a loud noise (brother), being disturbed/interrupted while eating

News this month:  You moved!  We moved to a new house and you've done great.  You spent your first night away from home...at Nana and Granddad's in Ruston.  You got to meet your fabulous 1 and only great aunt Carolyn and cousins Courtney and Cal.  You also got to meet your great-grandmother, Gigi.  This has been a busy month for you.  We call you Sarah Kathryn, Sis, Sister, SK, BG (for baby girl), and sometimes BQ (beauty queen) which Neil thinks is on the trashy side.  ha!  

I was talking to a mom the other day who has a 10 year old boy and a 7 year old daughter and she was telling me that she is still surprised that she had a girl.  That is how I still feel!  I just feel so lucky and blessed to get to raise both boys and a GIRL.  It is a wonderful feeling that I never understood until having both.

We love you to the moon and back, Sarah Kathryn!

Ruston

After Sunday School on Sunday we headed to Ruston.  Neil was originally supposed to be in North Dakota, but a sad, tragic death in Ruston brought him home early.  I was glad to have him home, but certainly not under these circumstances.  We were to spend time with the family so that is always nice.  

We got to Ruston and headed straight to Squire Creek for lunch with Gigi.  Since there were 12 of us they put us in a private dining room.  Gigi does NOT like to be in the back and I don't blame her.  

Uncle A with H and SK

The whole group

We got home and it was time for each boy to get Nana and Granddad's cell phones

Henry likes to pee off the deck.  Cute little tush!

While we're on the subject of cute tushes....these bloomers!  eeeeek!  Love them.

We needed some things from the grocery store so I went and left everyone at home.  The 30 minutes of peace must have been really awesome because I felt compelled to document it here.  Look what I found!!  Personalized cokes! yessssssssssss!

While everyone went to the funeral, I took the kids to the library.  The Lincoln Parish library is really nice.  Henry and Bennett did a little puppet show where the alligator ate a duck. Sweet.

We left Bennett in Ruston for a few days so he could have one-on-one time with Nana and Granddad.  Since he will be in "real" school this year he won't be able to go over as much.  Guess it will be Henry's turn next!

Lunchin' in Lufkin

Mom and I loaded up all 3 kids and headed to Lufkin to meet my Aunt Carolyn, Courtney, and Cal for lunch.  We were so sad that Carrie and Ethan didn't come!  I want to meet him so badly in America! (this is one of Bennett's sayings that we say all the time)

We met at El Chico and just enjoyed each other.  Aunt Carolyn brought fun goody bags for each boy and some cute clothes for Sarah Kathryn!  I love my auntie!

Aunt Carolyn meets Sarah Kathryn!

I love my auntie!

Courtney and Mom

All the boys...Cal, Henry, and Bennett

Henry drew on himself with the dry erase marker and then wanted a selfie!

They had a fun claw game in the entry way.  Gammy gave Henry 50 cents and he put it in and immediately won a donkey!  We were all amazed and shocked! ha!  Bennett was really upset that he didn't win after putting $3 in the machine.  Life Lesson: we don't always win :(

Botox and a Chemical Peel

Since Sarah was doing a skin fair for the public she needed some guinea pigs so she could demonstrate botox and a chemical peel.  Sign me up!  I got a chemical peel and my dad got "bro"tox! ha!  Apparently that's the slang for men getting Botox.

right after the peel

Right before the botox

injection 1

injection 2

I will get an "after" picture of my dad for right here.  Not too much change just yet!

About 30 minutes after... I was a little pink but that's it.  I am starting to peel and I am so glad...I am ready for some younger looking skin! :)

Sarah Kathryn meets Gigi!

I was thrilled that Gigi made the trip over to Shreveport to meet Sarah Kathryn!  We met for lunch in the pouring rain and I was thankful that Andrew helped me bring the kids inside.  The boys were so good and so well behaved.

Bennett got camera happy and took a few pics...like this one.

I thought this was a great one that he took!

Gigi and Sarah Kathryn

Gigi and the Lewis great-grands

Lewis moms with Lewis kids

here's one more of Bennett's photog skills!