Zoo-Time

Zack, Carter, Brady, and Bennett-Children's Zoo 4/9/09

Scott and I take the kids to the Stl Z.oo at least twice a month. As zoo members, this is a pretty "cheap" excursion for our family. We go year-round... warm, cold, snow, rain...usually on the cold days, more animals are out and less people :) So, on Thursday, we woke up to sunshine and decided to spend a few hours at the zoo. Carter had Zack B. spend the night, so we forced him to go along with us. After a short trek to G.us' Pret.zels for breakfast (!), we made it to Forest Park. There were tree trimmers cutting down a massive tree in front of the M.uny and we had to pull over and watch because the boys were so mesmerized by it. Crazy.

Brady, Scott, and Cate on the carousel

It was a day of firsts for Cate. She rode the carousel for the first time and she loved it! She and Brady sat next to each other while Ben, Carter, and Zack were on the opposite side. Everytime the boys would come around, they would have a strange look on their face and after about the fifth spin, I realized they were switching seats. I put an end to that real quick.

Bennett, Zack, and Carter creating mayham on the carousel

It was also the first time we took Cate into the goat pen to play with the smelly goats. I have severe issues with the goats. I hate them. I hate that the kids love them. I hate that they insist on petting them and brushing them and well, it makes me cringe just thinking about it. But, I figured Cate would love it, so I armed myself with a box of wet wipes and hand sanitizer and headed in with her. The boys, of course, loved chasing the goats and thought it was hilarious when one would bite their jackets. Cate wasn't too sure of them. She did a lot of yelling (not shocking) and most seemed scared of her, so I didn't have to worry about her petting any. The goat pen is also where I realized that Cate is a bully. She may be tiny, but she's becoming quite the tyrant. I captured the perfect picture of her shoving Carter out of the way so she could get a better look at birds fighting in a cage. She literally grabbed his leg and pinched him until he moved, throwing him off balance and he almost fell. Daddy's going to have to have a long talk with her :-)

Butting her way in to see the birds

Cate tortured a turkey..backed him into a corner before we grabbed her so she wouldn't attack the poor thing.

We took a trip around the zoo on the zooline railroad......

Carter and Bennett on the train

And had lunch.......

Brady looks like he's up to no-good here.

Then we headed home. It was another wild day at the zoo.

Happy 7th Birthday Bennett!

Lucky 7....

Today Bennett turned 7 years old. Hard to believe. He spent his birthday (evening) doing exactly what he loves to do...playing ball in the backyard with his dad. Bennett is a huge baseball fanatic. Sun up til sun down, he is out in the back yard practicing. Scott's coaching friends call him "the freak" because he can hit a ball like no other kids his age. He started his first baseball team while still wearing diapers...literally. He had just turned 3.

Let me describe Bennett. Let's see....he is very intelligent, kinda shy, definitely athletic, affectionate, and very sensitive. Maybe not "very" sensitive, but a lot more so than our other two boys. Ben is a thinker...doesn't waste words and only asks well thought out questions. Watching Discovery Channel with Ben is always an experience. He is quiet throughout the entire show, and then pummels me with questions during commercials...hard questions too..things that I often make-up answers to, but I know he's on to me. He has made straight A's throughout his entire school career and is currently reading one grade level above his class. He likes school..doesn't love it, but enjoys being there with his friends. Always does his homework..finishes school projects way ahead of schedule and loves to read...you know, the opposite of Carter :) Oh, and he's a chauvinist. Big time. Like...really really big time. He is very open and honest about this. He has no problem sitting down with me and telling me how ridiculous girls sports are or how women should not be bosses. If we are all sitting on the couch watching baseball, and Scott switches it to college girls softball, Ben will quietly exit the room. Doesn't say anything, just walks away like he'd rather not waste his time. Monday night at Brady's soccer practice, a representative from the professional women's soccer team, Athletica, was there. Ben was looking over the stuff she had on display and when I mentioned it's a woman's professional team, he muttered "lame" and walked away. Bennett is also very blunt and literal. In music class last week, they were learning a song with the word "gay" in it. His teacher explained that it meant "happy". Ben, of course, felt the need to add that "gay" also means "when girls have girlfriends and boys have boyfriends". Nice. He's in his own world a lot of time. He's the only one of our kids that will go downstairs and play by themselves for hours. Cate was probably four months old before she realized Bennett even existed. He wasn't jealous of her, or angry, he was just uninterested. Ben stays up really late. I have no idea what time he goes to bed, but he is always the last one to sleep.

He's the exact kind of guy that girls are going to love...aloof, a little arrogant, overly self-confident and he's going to totally ignore them, which is why they will love him even more...drives me crazy!!! Here are some of my favorite pictures of Mr. Bennett. Super big green eyes

"Playing" with Carter

This is Bennett and baby brother Brady in Myrtle Beach. Bennett had his "dinkies" til he was in kindergarten.

Looks a bit like daddy, wouldn't you say??!

He loves being catcher

His new bike that he got last night....(it was dark when we got home!)

Spring has Sprung!

My peonies are growing! Spring is here!

Spring has finally arrived, and for me, that means the busiest time of year. Warm weather = outdoor sports. Apparently last year we didn't have enough to do, so we've added a few things to our already ridiculous schedule of activities. Let's list them, shall we? Scott coaches highschool varsity softball, Carter is running track for Coolidge, playing Scott Gallagher soccer, and baseball...which Scott coaches. Bennett, thankfully, is a one spring sport athlete and only plays baseball..which, again, Scott coaches. Brady is starting a Scott Gallagher youth soccer program on Monday and is also playing t-ball this year...Scott-coach..you get the picture . Not to be left out, Cate has gymnastics/play group on Monday mornings at the YMCA in E'ville. Once school is out for summer, we add Ben's tennis and Carter's swim team. Friggin' crazy, I know.

Scott coaching softball

Carter running track. He loves riding the bus to away meets!

Bennett playing baseball for the "Heaters" in Ballwin this fall. He played for two teams last year...crazy. Catching is his favorite.

Brady practicing pop flies...with his soccer equipment on...he's all about the equipment!

Bennett at tennis camp-Summer 2008

Carter pitching for the All-Star game in his Florissant baseball league-2008

Cate at gymnastics-YMCA

Destroying Borders Bookstore....

I'm trying to figure out both my camera and this website, so I'm a bit behind on posting. I am currently attempting to upload a video..hope it works.

It's a pony...tail

Ok, I may be pushing things a bit, but Cate finally has enough hair (well, three or four hairs) to put into a cute ponytail on top of her head! And...I'm hoping it wasn't just a fluke, but it seems that she doesn't have a very sensitive head, which is good for future hair-do's. Her boys think this is hilarious!!

Spaghetti Gone Wrong...

Delish!

X-Rays, Bloodwork, and Shots..OH MY!

It goes without saying, that with four kids, we are bound to spend a lot of time (and money) at the doctor's office, emergency rooms, and pharmacies. So far, we've racked up a pretty impressive list of issues....three sets of stitches, three dislocated elbows, three cases of mono, two broken fingers, four sets of ear tubes, six cases of strep, and countless ear infections, black eyes, and bruises. Our pediatrician's staff knows us by name and most even recognize us if they see us at the store, restaurants, etc. I cringe every time I see our Dr. arrive at his office in his spiffy car, knowing I helped pay for the damn thing.

2009 has been a little rough so far. On January 2, Cate had ear tubes put in...again. Followed that up with two more ear infections. Late January, I took Brady to Ander.son Express to evaluate his cough, but it turned out to be strep. Bennett was tested the next day and tested positive as well. Cate had to have her 1yr Dr. appt postponed twice due to being sick...they won't vaccinate if she's sick. Finally, three weeks after her first birthday, they were able to give her all four shots..she just loved this. After talking with the doctor about her back to back to back infections and weight loss, he thought it would be a good idea to run tests through blood work...yuck. Scott and I took her to Q.uest to get her blood drawn..double yuck. She had to get four tubes of blood drawn and she was not too happy about it...but I think Scott was more traumatized than anyone. Next up.... Brady was still suffering from the same cough since January 21, so his Dr. ordered chest x-rays. Another first for us. I took him to the hospital to have the "pictures" taken. As we were walking through the hospital, he asked me who was behind every patient door and why they were in the hospital. After hearing my answer "I don't know" for the hundredth time, he said "When I get big, I'm going to be a doctor so I know what's going on behind those doors!!!"....I was relieved because just the day before he told me when he gets bigger he wants to be a "passier." Say what?? "You know mom, someone that passes out stickers at basketball and football games" Scott and I agreed, a doctor seems like the better (more lucrative) profession. After three days, Dr. W called to say that Cate's blood work came back negative, except for slightly abnormal numbers for her mono test. I can live with mono. Brady's x-rays came back negative as well and they prescribed him a strong antibiotic and a cough syrup to use as needed. Both, Cate and Brady are feeling much better and we're all looking forward to warmer weather. Oh, and I can't forget Bennett's injury. Ben never gets hurt and rarely gets sick. I assume it's because he is a loner and would rather lock himself in the basement with his video games than hangout with Carter and Brady. Anyway, last weekend, he was in the midst of a tantrum (shocking, I know) when he slammed his finger in the front door. Ouch! His overly dramatic display of agony was very impressive...oscar worthy perhaps...and made me very thankful that this has been his worst injury to date. After the tears subsided (two hours at least) he declared that he most definitely would not be better for school on Monday and he was doubtful he would be ready by the start of baseball season (May 2). By that night, he would only complain about the pain when the finger happened to catch his attention and he remembered that he was hurt :-)

Even with as much time as we spend in the Dr's office, Scott and I are both very aware of how lucky we are that all of our medical issues have been minor compared to what some parents go through and we're thankful for our (mostly) healthy kids.


Of course, being the obsessive picture taker that I am, I always have my camera with me, and never miss a chance to take pictures of the injuries and procedures.


Brady's first set of stitches (ran into the wall in the basement*FYI, I was not home at the time)...Scott holding numbing medicine on the cut before they stitched it. Brady did great and watched the doc stitch him up!

Showing off his war wound to his brothers and neighbor kids....everyone was very impressed!

Brady's second set of stitches (hit the edge of Cate's dresser*again, I was not home)...this time they put the numbing medicine on while we were in the waiting room (for six hours) notice the scar from his first set of stitches


Carter in the E.R. with broken fingers. First day of middle school. He was trying to balance himself between two desks and one gave way and crushed his fingers when he fell. X-ray confirms both fingers are broken. They put them in splints and he was back on the soccer field by the weekend.

Cate before her surgery. January 2, 2009. She looked so little in that hospital gown :(

Brady at An.derson Ex.press Care waiting for his strep test...he's always smilin'..even when he feels terrible!

Cate showing off her band-aid after getting blood drawn.

Brady getting one of two chest x-rays taken

And lastly, Bennett's finger. We're very happy it wasn't his middle finger!!

The Witching Hours

With the changing of seasons comes the changing of what we like to call "the witching hours". During the cold, depressing months, T.W.H. (as Scott often refers to them as) occur between 6pm-8pm. Dinners over, not quite bedtime...kids are pretty much out of control and by 9:00, Scott and I are exhausted. However, once the weather changes, so do T.W.H.. Currently, it's more like 3pm til whenever Scott gets home from softball practice. Approx. 5:30ish. This is the time that I'm home alone with not just our four kids, but at least three that aren't mine. For some reason, our house is the party house for the neighborhood kids. I used to think that was a great idea because I would be able to see what's going on, but I no longer feel that way. Our fridge is raided and the trash left all over the yard/garage....dogs are going crazy....phone usually rings non-stop...it's chaos at it's finest. In and out of the house, doors slamming, and if Cate's trying to sleep, well...that's just not possible. This week we've seen some pretty nice weather. It was a complete shock to my system. Thursday after school was ugly. When Adriane came to pick up the twins at 4:30, she actually looked scared. There were what seemed like a ton of kids over...they were running all over the front yard, screaming and carrying on like they had spent the last four months locked up in pens (which isn't that bad of an idea..something to think about for next winter). Sorry Adie...but your time is coming!!!

Carter, Clatyon, Bennett, Maris, Cate, and Brady...my "usual crowd"

Today, I thought I'd be more prepared .... but Cate, Brady, and I played outside all morning and early afternoon, so by the time the crowd arrived, I was tired and a bit overwhelmed to say the least. Finally, I ordered everyone to the backyard, grabbed a cushion and chair, a cold pepsi, my camera and actually tried to enjoy the madness. Here are some pictures from the last few days....

Cate loves riding with Brady..he's such a great big brother!

She follows him around wherever he goes....(notice his work gloves..he rarely takes them off)

Bennett decided one day last spring that he was going to ride his bike without training wheels. Scott took them off and away he went. He refuses to try anything new until he knows for sure he can do it and this was no exception!

Cate's favorite way to travel


Carter's a climber..freaks me out..he has no fear and actually swings between branches.

Cate loves to swing. We've put a lot of miles on this poor seat..it's been through three kids.


And jump on the trampoline........ (I love this picture!)


Cate's newest thing is to stick her arm out, lean her head against her shoulder, and say "eh" (very pitiful). This immediately sends one of her brothers running to her side to get her whatever she wants (they're ruining her).



but it works...

Well, I guess I figured out how to upload photos....gold star for me. It's almost 10:30 and way past my bedtime. I will end with one more picture...very appropriate for such a long day!