Will's Birthday and Before and Beyond

 Originally I intended for this post to be about Will's birthday and the week after...then I realized there were a few photos that I would like to share that occurred a couple weeks prior.  Like some of the 4th of July photos.

For some reason, the computer only uploaded some of the pictures that I would have liked it to, but in its infinite wisdom uploaded all of the random blurry shots that John took while messing with my phone.  Brilliant.

 Prior to Dom going all in on the Tour de France, he was still playing his version of the Euros in the backyard.  Complete with homemade jerseys.  He has continued to wear this jersey around on a weekly basis. 

 John loves to play in water.  More than the other kids ever did, I think.  Or maybe I just do not have the energy or time to make sure he stays dry every time he goes outside.  If there is a vessel with water available, he will either figure out a way to sit in it, or just pour it out over himself.  Either way, he goes through a few sets of clothes on a daily basis.

 On day one of the Tour, Molly was super excited to be a part of the action.  This lasted about 5 minutes into her riding lesson.  She has not been on the bike since.  Maybe next year!

 William regularly asks questions.  At lightening speed.  He does listen to your answer (as opposed to Dom who generally has a series of questions and asks them whether you just answered it or not..we are working on that), but he often has follow-up questions and is attempting to always find the line where you just have to say: I don't know.  Therefore, when I found the Giant Book of Why at the used book store, I knew I had hit gold.  Though, I doubt it even comes close to answering all of his questions and I could have just set myself up for even more work later on.  Ah well, it kept him silent for a while when I gave it to him.

 On the day I flew to Milwaukee, Molly swung into the trunk of the tree and definitely took more damage than the trunk.  Foreheads bleed a lot, by the way.  I knew this, but it was still pretty disconcerting to see her with blood pouring from an open wound (nevermind that this would not have happened if she had just gone inside to make her bed as I had requested multiple times).  We cleaned it up and headed to Urgent Care to be on the safe side.  It was not too bad, she got it glued with some purple stuff and it seems to be healing nicely.  Also, I learned that our insurance will cover two trips per person to Urgent Care without a referral.  This was great news.  We were in and out in 30 minutes.  Much better than the multi-hour wait that would have occurred at the ER on base. 

 Typical of Dom, as soon as we started watching the Tour, he was on his bike and getting the neighbors to join him on daily races.  His dream is to race with 10 kids...but, that would take some planning and having cousins bring bikes on the plane in a couple of weeks...so he settled for racing against three other boys.  He just enjoyed doing the commentary.  After one memorable stage, the other participants were breathing hard and getting cups of water...Dom is just talking away to no one in particular about the finish.  Always a mountain top finish,  I might add.  He is pretty pumped about a new circuit this year that has four climbs...or 8...or 12 depending on how many times they ride it.  He and Will have both crashed a couple of times, but I think seeing the massive crashes on tv have put their scrapes into a bit of perspective.  Which is always good.

 The team car. 

 The podium girl. 

 On one day, Dom and Will got caught out in a downpour.  They were thrilled.  There were a few memorable stages that had downpours so they felt like real professionals.  Luckily, ours did not include hail.

 Will had a great birthday. We do things pretty low key around here.  Honestly, the highlight is getting the birthday CD that Eric makes for every child's birthday (John has not received one, yet).  He started this for Dom's 5th birthday and has continued for everyone's since (except John).  Which means he has made 13 unique CDs...only 1 or 2 songs have been repeated.  You are My Sunshine is the one I know of.  But, the kids are quick to let us know if one is.  We all sat at breakfast and listened to the tracks he picked.  I aided a bit on this particulary one, but normally Eric does it all.  We have listened to it many times since.  Some songs make everyone break out into song and dancing, and there is a Mario medley that turns all the kids (including John) into their favorite video game characters.  It is hilarious.  They jump on the furniture and over walls.  Not behavior I normally condone, but in this case I make the exception and they know it is not to be taken for granted.

 Will did not really want anything in particular for his birthday, but he did want to stay up all night playing video games.  He made it to 3 AM.  I went out to check on him and he commented that he started to doze off while playing the computer in Dr. Mario and almost lost.  I suggested he might just go to sleep then.  He said what he really wanted was to watch Eric play Zelda...this was never going to happen at 3 AM.  Sorry kid.  But, Eric did play later in the afternoon after naps.

 Will received some very nice gifts.  Including a few books, Mastermind, a Ravenclaw Beater t-shirt, Harry Potter magnets and coloring book, and a pogo stick.  And fudge.  Something the whole family told him he had to share.  It was delicious.

 Molly in a pretty dress from the Thrift Store.

 Molly and John attempting to build a wall...to keep me out...so I couldn't put John down for a nap.  We both lost really, as I could easily get through the wall, but John never did go to sleep and he learned how to escape his crib...therefore, we have moved him to a twin mattress.  A turn of events that all the kids are very excited about.  In order to help him take naps, they have agreed to go lay down for quiet time.  Yesterday, he eventually fell asleep, but today he stayed for about 30 minutes and then was gone.  Molly, on the other hand, took a lovely nap.  It is pretty neat that none of the kids complain about this new routine, we'll see how long that lasts.  But, for now, I think they enjoy just having a little quiet time to read and their room is cool and dark.

 A couple days after his birthday, Will gave the pogo stick a try.  I was pretty impressed with how quickly he was able to stay upright.  His current record is 30 bounces.  Dom's is 3.  Though, Dom has been pretty busy with the Tour...so...

 A Me, John, Dom, and Jesus selfie.  Why not?  John loves selfies.  He also loves my phone.  He has made a couple of errant calls on it.  Be prepared.

 The above and below pictures were taken months ago.  John met corn on the cob and it was love at first sight.  He just went to town on that thing.  I don't know if he has had it since, but it was a sight to behold.  Also John and Molly learned how totally awesome it is to talk or yell or scream into a fan. 

 And Dom and John learned how to scrub a kitchen floor.  It could really use it again...maybe I'll suggest Dom make lemonade again.  That worked last time as he spilled the concentrate on the floor...