Pictures from Easter Weekend

Easter Weekend was a busy one for us. We woke early to drove to Lenexa where the boys babysat the kids and us girls went to a Consignment sale.   The guys took them to a park and Patrick and Payden enjoyed it!  

We came back to Grandma and Grandpas and had a huge Easter Feast:  Ham, BBQ Brisket, Scalloped potatoes, Green Beans with Bacon and Caprino Cheese, Baked Beans, and Monkey Bread.  It was a wonderful lunch.  

After cleaning up, we put together the Easter Egg hunt for the Patrick and Payden first in the front yard. I was so happy the weather was beautiful! The boys walked around and found their eggs and then sat on the blanket, opening them and eating them. 

Payden finding all the raisins in his eggs, he handed me the jelly beans, goldfish and teddy grahams he didn't want. 

Payden eating rasins - by the handful

Payden playing with the shape sorter - in Grampa's chair.

 Aunt Lindsay's super cute Easter Egg Baskets for the boys - Carrots int he Grass!  She included, Raisins, goldfish and teddy grahams and also little toys in each one. They were fun to open and find Easter Morning.

While the boys opened their eggs, us adults made a fool of ourselves running around the house finding Easter Candy.  I think we have enough! 

First Visit to the Dentist

Today was Patrick and Payden's first visit to the Dentist. I have worried about this for many, many days and was a wreck this morning. How I wish it would have been a better experience but all in all; it kind of went as expected.

I chose a Pediatric Dentistry knowing that it was going to be a hard experience and what better place to take them to then a place that already knew kids and were used to them!  I made the right choice!

We knew going in it was going to be hard for Payden as he HATES getting his teeth brushed and we know from his sensory profile from the Occupational Therapist that he is Oral Hypersensitive.  It basically means he has hyper-sensitivity to anything touching his mouth or teeth. It has explained his drool and also his very picky eating.  You may think how I describe this to be cruel but right now, it's kind of our way of life and we pray everyday we can find ways to help Payden.

I met Christian's mom there  (no, I didn't brave this alone) and we waited for the boys to be called back.  First they sat on the Butterfly and took pictures, so far so good.  Payden had to have a toy from the Lobby to play with.. I figured it was fine. While the Hygienist (Melody) talked to us about the schedule the boys played on the dental chairs. It was pretty cute as they figured out the slopping chair made a great slide!

Patrick went first and was hesitant.  It took awhile for him to let the Melody to get her fingers and brush in but he eventually was quite the little champ!  He chose green as he tooth brush and she used it as she put the toothpaste on.

Here is a picture I got.

And also a video of Patrick:   

Hard as I don't have one of Payden - but I don't want him to remember it that way

Now Payden was a little rough, but he's like that at home. Probably why we only brush them 3 times a week.  We tried Payden in the chair but he was horrified when it laid down.  So we tried him on my lap and that didn't work.  Next I sat in a chair with him facing me and then his head in the Melody's lap.  We got his teeth cleaned the best we could, and he cried the whole time.

Payden then played a game on my phone to calm down.  We tried putting a video on my phone and/or game while he was getting his teeth cleaned but it didn't work.   Then the Dr came and took a quick look at both and put some florides in.  Both the same.. Patrick was hesitant and Payden hated it which quickly turned into a meldown but we weathered through it and checked out.

It's over - I keep telling myself that.. for another six months anyway!

Videos from the Past week

I took 3 videos from the past week..

We have a ball pit that the boys got for their birthday.  We found a wooden board and it is now the slide to go into the balls.  It has kept them very entertained!

On Easter night, it was just beautiful so we took Patrick and Payden on the Golf Course.  Payden started tackling Patrick and when it happened once, I brought out my phone.  I've only seen them do this on our bed. 

 

And here is another beautiful day at the park - They love parks!

Pictures from a Beautiful Day

One day, a couple weeks ago, the weather was just gorgeous and Patrick and Payden were LOVING it.  I took advantage of the weather and got some pictures taken of the boys.

 Individual Shot of Payden

 Individual Shot of Patrick

Recognize this picture:  - it was taken 1 year ago on March 1st, 2012.

Coloring Easter Eggs

On Wednesday, Christian's mom came to see the boys.  She brought an Egg Dyeing kid for the boys to help dye some Easter Eggs.  I got the water boiling.. while played with the boys downstairs. 

Patrick was in heaven!  We used poured vinegar in for more vibrant colors and watched the tablets dissolve.  After we added water, it was time to add the eggs in.  Payden would come in the kitchen every now and then with a favorite book to read. I caught him a couple times and showed him the colors and how pretty the eggs were. He didn't stay around long but seemed to enjoying watching from my lap 

Patrick making funny faces at Grandma

Patrick checking out the eggs to see their colors - after he would pull one out, he'd say, "pretty"

After we got them to their desired colors, we set them to dry.  Once dry, we added stickers.  Patrick was enthralled and added all the stickers to each of his eggs. Payden even sat on the chair and added 10 little stickers to his blue egg. Perfect activity for fine motor practice!!

Here is a close-up, I got of him. 

 Patrick counting all the eggs 

More Preschool Tidbits

Well we made it through a month of Preschool

Here's a bit on how it is going: 

Payden

For the first few weeks, Payden has fussed or refused to be redirected by the adults there at the preschool..We've been praying for him to adjust and have fun! Also he has fallen asleep each bus ride home which has made nap time interesting as well. I'm sure he is just so exhausted.

And last week, Payden started crying as we put him on the bus.. maybe becoming more aware that he was leaving.. I don't know.  It is so hard to walk away from that bus and hearing him cry and also knowing he cried the whole way. I get frequent emails from his teacher and apparently last week was his best week.

Each day.. we really celebrate the little things and am glad for the bit of information we get about each day.

Last Tuesday, which he was crying on the bus... Later in the day.. he was actually "dancing" in preschool.  That made me happy to hear!

And last Thursday, he came into school crying but we heard this report:

"Today was GREAT!!!!  He only cried walking in from the bus and then for a few minutes before we get started playing.  Then he was upset walking back from the library when he saw the bus but we went into the room.  Just a for a minute.  But other than that, he didn't cry at all and was engaged in some play with an adult and transitioned great everywhere." And to top it off.. this Thursday was the 1st day he was awake the entire bus ride home!   I was happy! 

We are learning to celebrate the little things!  

Patrick

Patrick loves preschool and is always asking when he gets to go again.  He is always talking about the "school bus."  And as we take them off the bus, he turns around and says "bye school bus."  It is the cutest ever.

One day, his teacher mentioned he was a bit challenging and refused to follow directions. I'm surprised she hasn't seen that side of him yet.. as he has been that way at home a few times too. :)

Also recently.. he has started doing a few things that I am sure he learned in preschool.. Makes me happy (Part of me is sad that I wasn't the one to teach him.. but oh well)

1.  When his nose is running, he'll come and grab a tissue.. wipe his nose and throw the tissue in the trash. He did this the other day while he was playing.. 
2.  More interest in washing his hands and drying them off.. I washed his hands yesterday after a snack and he kept saying "towel".  I gave him a paper towel and he efficiently dried his hands.
3.  We were eating at Hyvee on Monday and he got pizza sause all over.. this usually doesn't bug him.. but he asked for a napkin and efficiently washed it all off!  It was adorable.. Christian and I just looked at each other like.. what was that?

No more Binky!

For the past month, Patrick has only had 1 binky and we have told him it is the last one. This past week, his binky developed a hole and was doing a poor job doing what it was supposed to.  We let him suck on it for a week.. it was harder for him and he had to self-soothe himself more.

Saturday night.. we decided that it was time. He threw the binky in the trash.

Here's how our conversation goes... and we have repeated it many times! :)

Mom and Dad:  You're a big boy.. you don't need your binky

Patrick:  School Bus?

Mom and Dad:  Yes, Patrick, you're a big boy cause you ride the school bus.  Big boys who ride the school bus don't need binkies.

This afternoon.. he takes his 1st nap without the binky.. Should be an adventure.