Hot and muddy!

It has been pretty warm and muggy around here lately, so the boys have been in the pool and doing the slip-n-slide non-stop.  We got it out the other after noon and had the boys friends come over and play.  They were playing in the pool and doing the slip-n-slide until they realized it was more fun to play in the mud that had formed all around the pool.  The water had turned from clear to brown very quickly. They were no longer using the slip-n-slide, but just sliding on the ground in the mud.  Ashley and I were going to try and stop it, but they were having so much we couldn't.  Plus we were laughing to hard that they wouldn't listen anyways.

Once they were done they realized getting hosed off with the cold hose water wasn't all that fun. The boys got their first outdoor shower.

Many faces of the boyz!

I don't really have anything to say about in this blog. I just wanted to put some updated pictures of the boyz.  Brett had an infection in his left eye, which you can see in the picture below.  It is now all cleared up and he is more willing to open his eyes.

I was trying to get a close-up of the 3 boyz, but Drew just kept being goofy.

Mall of America

This past week Jay was on paternity leave, and did the boys and I love it. The boys took every opportunity to play baseball, basketball and just play outside with daddy.  We weren't going to go anywhere, but on Friday morning we decided to hit the road and head over to Mall of America.  We didn't tell the boys where we were going we just told them it was going to be fun and to get in the car.  Anytime we passed a park Drew asked if that was where we were going. Once we got to the Mall of America, Drew wanted to go on every ride there was, but he was a limited to what he could go on.  At first his favorite was the semi's that I think he went on 10 times at least.  But once we took him on the log ride, he wanted to go on it over and over. Luckily it was late and we needed to get going.  Reed was also very brave and went on the roller coasters. Jay went on the roller coasters with Reed at first, because he was nervous but once he went on them he was willing to do it by himself.  We promised the boys if they were good all day they would be able to build a car at the end of the day at Ride Makerz.  Ride Makerz is a lot like Build A Bear but with cars and trucks....the boys dream! The boys are already wanting to know when we can go back to the Mall of America.

The boys making their cars.

The Flaming Giants

The Flaming Giants

This summer we signed Reed up for baseball through the parks and rec and he did great.  He was awarded the Silver Slugger at the end of the season by his coach.  He hit a couple of home runs and lots of RBI's.  Reed is great at bat, but still needs some work in the field.  His team lost by 1 run in extra innings to go the championship game. Reed sent the game into extra innings, and then was up to bat again to win the game.  He hit the ball great with two boys on base, but the other team had a great catch to end the game. Maybe next year buddy! Reed was also did a baseball clinic with the La Crosse Loggers.  He had a blast and was so excited to get some of their autographs.

Reed's group learning how to run to first base.

My Silver Slugger

Reed awaiting his up at bat and cheering on his team.

Drew watching his big brother.

Brett's First Real Bath!

Brett's umbilical cord finally fell off last weekend so it was time for a real bath. Drew thought it was so cool that Brett got to take a bath in a big duck. Once again he wanted to be right up front and helping in anyway that he could. I think he would have gotten in with him if we would have let him .

Look at how tiny he is!

The big storm!

Our place is just to the right of the tree.

We have had a ton of rain again this month, but luckily nothing has been flooded around us. Along with all the rain, we have had a lot of strong winds. In our backyard we had a beautiful tree that blocked the afternoon sun from the back of our house, and was home to many birds. But on July 7th we had a strong wind and rain storm that ripped the tree right out of the ground. It was amazing because it fell right between our place and the place next to us and didn't break a thing! If the tree would have falling a foot either way it would have been a different story. What is even more amazing is that Jay had just walked underneath the tree about 60 seconds before it fell to the ground. He was walking in our back door as the tree came down behind him.

Drew pretending to drive over the tree.

The boys pretending they could lift the tree.

Perfect picture opportunity.

Motorcycle Show

All Reed and Drew have been into lately is cars, motorcycles and boats. They want to go to anything where you can see lots of different kinds. So a couple of weekends ago (before Brett) we decided to take the boys to the 50th Anniversary of S&S Cycles. There were a ton of bikes and some really cool ones. We could have just walked up and down the streets downtown to see bikes (without paying) but the boys wanted to go into the event. We found out there wasn't much inside.

If you look closely the bike on the back of Drew's shirt is the same as the bike he is looking at.

The boys thought this looked like the Batmobile.

I tried to get a picture of all the bikes lined up on the street.

It's official, I have "My 3 boyz!"

Mommy and her 3 boyz!

July 2nd, 2008 at 12:18pm Brett Thomas decided to come 2 weeks early and join his big brothers Reed and Drew.  He was born weighing in at 6lbs 6oz and 20 inches long.  The boys keep getting smaller with each one. Reed was 8lbs 15oz and 21 inches and Drew was 7lbs 6oz and 19 inches.

What an exciting way to begin the month of July.  I started having contractions on Monday June 30th and Brett was born on Wednesday July 2nd.  With Jay on nights this last couple of weeks, he kept telling me that I had to wait until he was done. But Brett already didn't want to listen to his father and came two nights before his dad was done with nights.  It actually didn't end up all that bad, because Nonni was at our house with the older brothers and Jay was able to pop in and see us at night.  Might as well, since you can never sleep while you are in the hospital.

Even though extremely exhausted, he couldn't stop smiling all day!

Reed and Drew were so excited for their new brother to be here.  Reed kept asking earlier in the week how much longer until Brett gets here and once things started to get going you could see the excitement in his eyes.  Drew was so excited when he finally was able to come up to the hospital to see his mommy and Baby Brett.  It was a long day for Nonni since they weren't able to come up to the hospital until 3:30 and Jay and I left the house at 9:00 that morning.  He had so many questions for me once he got to the hospital.

Big Brother Reed, so proud that he is a big brother of two!

Big Brother Drew, look at that smile!

It was adorable to watch the boys argue over who got to hold Brett.  Reed told Nonni while I went for a walk, "I have to be honest this is the cutest baby I have ever seen."  How sweet. He also keeps telling us each time he wants to hold Brett, "I just love newborns."  He holds him any chance he can get.

Brett giving us the OK that he is ready to go home!

Since we have been home, both the boys are having to adjust their activities around the house. We have to keep reminding them they have to be careful around my stomach and not to be loud when they are around Brett.  Drew always wants to see where my "owie" is. Drew has also had to adjust to the fact of me breast feeding and Drew thinks it is my belly button where Brett gets his food. He is bound and determined to feed Brett food. We are going to have to watch that.

Our family!

Happy 4th Anniversary!

July 3rd, 2004

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Jay and I kept our tradition going, by not being able to celebrate our anniversary alone.  Our First anniversary Jay's parents were in town and I was 7 months pregnant with Drew. Second anniversary moved to Toledo, OH for 3rd yr of medical school.  Our 3rd anniversary I was in Stevens Point helping Nick and Becky get ready for their July 7th wedding while Jay stayed in La Crosse to begin his first year of residency.  To keep tradition going this year, I was in the hospital with a day old newborn and Jay was working nights. Someday we will look back on these anniversaries and they will be the memorable ones.

Since we got married 4 years ago here are a few big events that have happened in our families:

Drew was born

Jack won his second National Championship

Reed started school

Jay graduated from Medical School

Both sets of our parents have retired

We have moved 3 times

Jay started residency

My sister had her second child

Finally, Brett squeaked his way in.

I love you honey and I can't believe it has already been 4 years!

Happy 4th of July!

The boys were excited to see the fireworks all week. I had intended to take them to the fireworks, but once Brett was born, we had to change our plans. Jay's mom (Nonni) took the boys to Walmart and they both picked out a package to light off on the fourth. As everyone sat outside and watched "the show" Brett slept soundly on the couch.

Thanks Daddy for "the show." You are the best!

Brett's First Bath!

These two pics were taken by Drew!

We had an adventurous morning.  It has been two days since we got home from the hospital so it was time to take a bath.  

The boys wanted to help in anyway they could. When we told Drew it was bath time, he went bolting toward the stairs thinking Brett was getting a bath in the "big" tub.  We had to explain to him that Brett couldn't take a bath in the big tub until his belly button was better. So we gave each of them a responsibility to do while Brett was getting a bath.  

Reed had the video camera and Drew had one of our old camera's.  

It was adorable watching to the two of them in the paparazzi. 

I think Drew got more pictures of the window and floor, but he was still able to capture some good ones. Even though Brett cried through the whole thing he felt much better once it was all done.  He went from greasy hair to an afro.