Yesterday we got all four boys hair cut for the summer. I asked for it short so I wouldn’t have to come back for a while. There was so much Calisoff hair on the floor when we were done I was sure we could have made a fantastic wig out of it.

Recognize these cutie pies?

Aaron

Sam

Here is the picture I posted of Jack’s first day of school.

And here is Ben’s first day of school.

And here is the really cute idea I had from Pinterest to join the two, but the boys wouldn’t separate for their pictures, and I only had one second while the boys were still at home and the babies were locked in their high chairs, so it came out like this…

Unlike some of the pictures I saw on Pinterest, the boys don’t actually look that different from 9 months ago.

Yes, we buy the older boys matching clothes. Don’t ask me why. We actually have twins and prefer to dress them in similar clothes that are not EXACTLY the same but for some reason we buy EXACTLY the same stuff for our non twins.

There is always the first few weeks of summer where I find myself completely unprepared. I have no sand toys with me, I forgot the sunscreen, or the boys are wearing their sneakers when they should be in water shoes because the water in the parks is now on.

A lot of parks in Chicago have some sort of water spray on during the summer to help keep the kids cool. It’s a brilliant idea and really makes the parks more fun during the long, hot summer days.

I’m pleased to report I’ve finally got it together and am ready for summer.

This morning we put the three younger boys in swim clothes, slathered on the sunscreen, packed up the plastic buckets, snacks, water thermoses, and put on water shoes. We were heading over to Jonquil Park for Jack’s baseball game.

Adam helped coach while I watched the others in the park. It was Sam and Aaron’s first foray with a water element in the park.

How did the twins respond?

Sam was a bit surprised, but took to it shortly afterwards. He wasn’t running through the water yet, but happy to skirt around it.

To my astonishment, Aaron jumped right in no problem. Sometimes I find him more sensitive and timid, but not this time. In fact we even went back for more later!

Ben of course, was an old pro. Watch and learn baby brother!

That water was used to make a slip and slide.

Ben also occupied himself with the new chalk holders I found at the dollar store last night. Here he is sitting on an alien he drew. He said it was an alien from Ben 10, a new show, well new to us, that the older boys are addicted to.

Unlike a few weeks ago when I watched all 3 boys at this same park, this time I found it manageable. Not easy, but manageable. Made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, I’ll be okay this summer with all these kids running around.

Adam turned 44 yesterday.

We got him cards, Jack found one with three pirates mooning the reader that he thought was hilarious. Ben picked a Green lantern card that lit up. I got a card and put my gift inside. It was the gift of time, health, and chance. Okay, it was $100 so Adam could take some early morning speed training classes the next two months while the kids are off school. He already declined July since he’s so busy at work, we’ll see if August works out. I also put some lottery tickets in there. It was chance, a very small one.

Adam’s birthday passed in a daze of busyness, like most other days here. I am pleased to report that it was not as bad as Father’s Day. I’m not sure why.  Maybe it’s because Adam had to work for part of the day, he had a closing, so he didn’t have kids all day long. Maybe the kids were better behaved. Maybe it was the fact that Anjelica was here from 11am until 8pm helping us. Or maybe it was because we had more activities planned, less time for the kids to get into trouble. Whatever it was, it worked better. Not perfect, but better.

At Adam’s request we started the day at Starbucks. It’s our new breakfast spot. It’s fast, it’s close, and it’s cheap. Well, not that cheap because Adam let’s Jack and Ben order whatever they want. They split an egg sandwich, they split a bagel, they split a Naked juice, then Jack ordered a blueberry muffin, a yogurt parfait, and a berry coffee cake. Ben ordered three mini vanilla scones and an iced lemon bread. Yep, that is our normal order for just two small kids at Starbucks. And Adam and I still order for ourselves too. I mostly bring food for the twins. And feed them in the stroller. This time they refused and wanted to sit at the table like big boys. 

Look behind the twins at the line we create after we order!

After this trip Adam said we are done with starbucks. The twins bolted in different directions and Adam and I couldn’t even take turns eating because we were BOTH chasing a twin. Luckily the older boys stayed seated while eating. Anchored only by using our cell phones to play games while simultaneously stuffing their faces.

Then we headed to the little park by our house. Adam went home for a work phone call. I watched all the kids… with a little help from Jack…

Sam was very cranky and started to fall asleep by 10:30. So the twins had an early nap. Anjelica showed up when they were asleep and Adam and I took the older boys to buy sandwiches at Potbelly’s for Ben’s end of the year school picnic. Here we are sitting with the Brooks…

Don’t see Ben? He’s asleep in the stroller in the back. Fell asleep on the way over and missed the whole picnic.

Adam took another work call while we were at the picnic.

Afterwards, we putzed around at home then headed to Adam’s Park for a concert they were having that night.

We played in the sandbox, the playground and the water park. Then ate some pizza we ordered directly to the park, and did it all over again when our friends the Brooks showed up.

Adam managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Red Mango for frozen yogurt before we headed back home.

I should also mention Adam got calls from many friends and family, amazing considering he’s not on facebook for people to be automatically reminded!

Happy birthday, Adam, hope it’s a great year for you!

Sometimes when I write these posts about Sam I feel bad for Aaron. Aaron, who is developing like a normal baby, whose accomplishments compared to the older two boys at this age would be a marvel, is swept aside because Sam is doing everything even faster.

In the past week Sam has figured out how to climb EVERYTHING.

It’s crazy. The kid is 13 months old! Jack and Ben weren’t even walking at this age.

At the park he can climb all the play structures and turns himself around and slides down, on his belly, on even the highest slides.

Yesterday I caught him doing this…

He’s turning the lights on and off and turning our central stereo system on as well. Then dancing. He can also climb from that chair to the couch behind him.

This morning I walked away from the kitchen for a second and when I returned…

I have NO IDEA how to baby proof this problem. Should we take away the dining room chairs and stop eating sitting down?

Father’s Day started at 4:30am in the morning for me.

Both twins were up. Oh no, I thought, if they are not co-operating already, it’s not going to be a good day for Adam.

The older boys were up by 6:30 and Adam had a ‘sleep in’ until 7am.

He was presented with this when he woke up. You can’t read the pictures so I included them individually afterwards…

We had plans for a morning swim at the East Bank Club. I had booked the twins in the day care and we were going to take the older boys to the kiddie pool.

Aaron was so tired by 9:30am that he fell asleep in the car. Then Sam slept while at the child care. So much for a long afternoon nap for Adam. Or anyone for that matter. The twins falling off their schedule made for a much more challenging day.

But we are still in the morning, we are not tired yet and things are sunny and warm. We are all still happy. We party at the pool…

I think this was the best part of the day. Adam got a small run in, just home from the gym.

The afternoon quickly deteriorated. Everyone was tired, cranky, and misbehaving. Kids and adults both kept falling asleep at odd times in odd places. I wish it could have been a better father’s day for Adam.

I think the only positive note is that next year will surely look better when compared to this afternoon. Then we can hopefully pat ourselves on the back and be proud of how far we’ve come. Something to look forward too, Adam, something to look forward to.

You ever hear people say everything happens for a reason? I’m not sure if that is positive people’s way of justifying bad things, or if it’s really true.

This Saturday night we were suppose to be on an adult scavenger hunt for Jack’s school. We bought the tickets ages ago but never booked the sitter. By the time we remembered, it was too late. We couldn’t find anyone to baby sit.

Adam said it was for the best because Jack had a baseball game that he wouldn’t miss for our plans. But it was even better when we had an unexpected surprise visit from Adam’s cousin Jackie.

“Jackie?” Ben’s ear’s perked up. Yes Ben, we have a REAL Jackie in our family.

He was so excited to meet this female cousin who was blessed with his coveted name that he didn’t even get upset that he was missing Jack’s baseball game.

Yes, we have a Jack and a Jackie. The Jewish tradition of naming your kids after relatives is strong in this family. And Adam’s Grandfather, Jack, was one of those rare people who fit all the criteria – good name, good person, and deceased.

She was here with her boyfriend, Mark. I immediately warmed to Mark when I heard he was a fellow world traveller. He is originally from Pennsylvania but has lived in Africa, Germany and Mauritius as well as travelled to countless other places in the world. Anyone who has that bug, the one where you actually enjoy submersing yourself in another culture with all the joys and frustrations it can bring, is someone I can relate to. And one day, we may even be related as well! Okay, that was corny, sorry.

Not only do they live together, but they are also starting this new business venture together as well.

Jackie was visiting Chicago while on a bit of a tour for the new company. I’m not sure how far along they are but it’s a very cool concept and hopefully I’ll be able to tell you all about it soon.

With her Ivy league education and real world business acumen and his computer skills and internet start up experience they make a formidable team.

They also endeared me with their story, which was as unlikely as Adam and my own. They met at a conference then had a crazy thought to just meet up in France for 10 days. They have been together ever since, and when they were visiting on Saturday night, they looked like two halves of a whole. It was noticeable not only when they talked, but Jackie is a little thing, like me, and tucked in perfectly just under Mark’s chin.

I’m not sure our presence was received with such ardor from their side. From the moment they arrived Ben, Sam and Aaron all jumped on them begging for attention. Ben pushed books and toys in their faces while the twins did their signature move of lifting their arms and whining until they were picked up.

Then later, after putting the twins to sleep and dressing the older boys in their superhero jammies, Ben jumped on her on the couch, grabbed Jackie’s breasts and yelled, “HULK SMASH!”.

I hope we didn’t scare them away from having kids.

Even though CPS is still in session, the kids aren’t doing much these days. Watching movies, having up to 3 recesses a day, eating lunch and looking at books they brought in from home.

Adam decided Friday was a perfect day to play hooky with Jack and Ben.

Every morning is a struggle to get Ben to go to school. He will try all kinds of tactics to get out of going. He will refuse to get dressed because he knows he can’t go to school naked. When this happens sometimes Adam will ask him what he wants to do instead of going to school. He is always very specific.

Donuts, Oz Park, MacDonalds are always on the list.

So we started the morning eating Dunkin Donut Munchkins in Oz park.

The Twins Climb Everywhere.

So Do the Older Boys.

How We Get Places. We Look Like a Pre-School When We are All Together.

Attempt at Group Shot.

Jack’s request was to go back to Go Bananas. He had so much fun there last week that he wanted more. And more he got!

One lucky time he got 250 tickets from one try.

Not having enough fun yet? Adam decided to bring them to NOT ONE but TWO toy stores as well. Some of the toys were already opened and scattered across the floor of our house, but here is some idea of the swag…

Normally I would complain about such excess. But I couldn’t. Even I got to play a little hooky. While Adam was out with the older boys, I took a long nap with the twins, then when Angelica arrived, having no one to pick up from school I went to the gym, then did a little shopping of my own.

Yesterday I took the kids to a bigger park, Adam’s Park. Now that they are dropping their naps I have the morning to play.

It was a day of firsts. For me, covering two kids this age with no gates was a challenge I’ve never had before.

For the twins they experienced their first sand box. I knew Sam would be fine, but thought it might be a problem for Aaron since he likes to put everything in his mouth. I was pleased to report they both did well. It made me realize that if I wanted to, I could take them to the beach with the older boys. I’m just not sure I want to make such a colossal effort yet.

A woman asked me at the park today if they were twins. She said she sees me all the time in the park with all my kids, chasing them with my camera. You have so many, how many do you have?” she asked.

“Four.” I replied.

“Is that four plus the twins?”

No, I don’t have six kids. That would be crazy. That would show intent to have such a large family, when clearly what is going on here is an accident.

Or maybe I should have just went with it. Okay, yes lady, I have six kids. You see me all the time because I live in the house down the street. You know the one. The one that is shaped like a shoe?