Couple more things from the last few months..

Ben and I went to Vegas for the Graham Family Reunion at the end of June, the first time we both simultaneously have spent any major time away from the kids. It was perfect b/c we went with my parents and had some good bonding time with them and my Grandma and a few other relatives. Ben and my parents fell in love with Arnold Palmer's drink of tea flavored vodka and lemonade. Mom spilled the 3RD $30 pitcher within seconds of them setting it in front of her. I, on the other hand, snuck my drinks down... I am CHEAP! Anyway, the kids stayed with Janice Thursday night and she got them to bed Friday, then Aunt Missy took over until Saturday, then Mimi Patti took over until Monday. It was nice to know the kids were in good hands in their own house and their own routine. Hattie called me Mimimommy for a few days, but all was back to normal otherwise as soon as we got home.

We did get to take our new camper out a couple of times this summer. The kids did well in it and seemed to enjoy the extra space. We still had the pack n play's out which took up a lot of the beds, but it was definitely still a necessity. The babies are so used to being laid down in their cribs I kept explaining to Ben that we would have been miserable without the pack n plays! He has swore that they will not be joining us next year and the kids will all be in the bunk beds.. a good thought... we will see.. Camping is something that will easily be something that gets easier and more fun as the kids grow.. lots of good memories to build!

The summer was cut short this year when we sold the house. We purchased 5 acres in an auction in May and were thinking about taking the house off the market for a few years while we paid for the lot. but, the week of Wyatt's birthday we showed the house to a couple moving here from Tennessee. They looked at it two times before making an offer the night of Wyatt's birthday party. With a few negotiations, it was sold by the end of the night. That led to a week of sleepless nights wondering where we would stay.. Thank god for Facebook, b/c a post from me asking for help got us this house.

Wyatt had a great birthday... He received money, clothes, shoes, and lots of other goodies.. On the day of his birthday, we went to Meadow Lake and went swimming. Daddy even came swimming once he was done golfing in the Meadow Lake Open. We went by the rental house on the way home and toured it, even paid our first month rent. I wanted to pay them quick, before they changed their mind! :)

Hudson story - he is OBSESSED with cups. Any cup, with any drink (besides chocolate milk - he hates that!!) He has melt downs when we try to limit his cups, or deny him one. He especially likes to have big people cups with no lids.

Hattie story - she does not like to be wet, but loves to point out things that ARE wet. she is VERY particular already about the clothes she wears, even more so on shoes. Hattie has been known to draw all over herself when left alone with any kind of writing tool..

They both like wash cloths, or poc pocs..
They both like naks, which is their word for snacks, which is short for popsicles.
Last weekend we went to Cory and Tricia Heislen's for dinner and us adults were sitting upstairs talking about parents and their kids when Wyatt came up and told me that Hudson had drawn all over the play thing that they had down stairs. I ran down stairs and freaked out seeing the crayon all over the slide and everywhere else.. Brook, Tricia's daughter, said she saw Hattie with the crayon and Wyatt said he saw Hudson. I asked Hudson if he did it and he said "no, Hattie do it". Then I asked Hattie and she said "Bubba did it". This went on for the rest of the night.. I still have no idea who did it.

Wyatt story - Sunday morning I was attempting to find a cartoon for him and he asked to watch the "building show" aka HGTV All American Handyman instead... He then said he wished we knew everyone in the world so we can go in there house and walk around. HE REALLY IS MY KID.

WOW! Really??6 months??

Well, lots of changes are going on in the Meldrum household.. Biggest change is where "home" is. We sold our house on August 23rd and have been renting a house in Jeff City since the beginning of August. We were lucky to find this house, it's huge for a rental.. and the owners didn't mind us bringing Hollywood. We have taken the past 2 months to get really settled, but things are finally calming down.

The summer was fun, but of course went quick.... let me think back on things that stand out..

first, Easter - Wyatt was sick the week of Easter. He was in my closet the night before Easter and found that the Easter Bunny left everything in my closest! How crazy is that?? he for some reason hid it in the back of the closet, none of us can figure out how he thought we would find it there.. luckily Wyatt was playing in the back and saw it... whew... Wyatt thinks it was great that the Easter Bunny brought it the night before so he could sleep in Easter morning since he has been sick. Also, Mr. Bunny brought a lot of crap this year, he must have been confused thinking it was christmas. There was a shirt for wyatt, Crabby Patties, swimming stuff, a sports thing that plugged into the tv, stuffed animals.. Crazy..

Wyatt had swimming lessons again and did AWESOME. He loved it. He couldn't wait until it was time to start and was sad when they were done. He jumped off the life guard stand, which is really unbelievable compared to last year. He didn't pass to the next class, but that was expected and normal. He is still little and hasn't grasped floating on his back or belly. He will get it next summer. We tried to bring the twins... that never went very well..

Wyatt also played T Ball.. Once again, I was so proud. He did great and gave it all he had. His running is something else... looks like in the movies where you can watch it in slow motion. I don't know what he is doing, b/c he really is a quick runner. Maybe he is trying to hard! anyway, he ran after every ball that was hit and really started to get the hang of it. He told Ben he wanted to practice with me instead of Ben, which comes down to patience.

Wyatt left Kidz Kingdom in July and now attends Early Childhood Program at St Stanislaus in Wardsville. This has been a good change for him and gives him a chance to make friends his own age before Kindergarten next fall at Blair Oaks. He is having fun and has met lots of boys and girls.

We have SO MANY compliments on Wyatt. He really is very polite and smart. He is fun to hang out with, and sounds like his friends think so too! We have had a couple of parents say that their children talk about Wyatt. We are so proud!

Hattie and Hudson are talking, fighting, and even starting to pee on the potty! Hattie started first and went several mornings in a row and would go for them at school several times too.. Then she stopped going as much and Hudson started! They both get so excited when they go, even when they just try... They come running out of the bathroom screaming "My PEE, My PEE"!!

Hudson is really talking alot and is getting very easy to understand. He loves to tattle on Hattie especially... then followed by Bubba and Hollywood. He loves to boss too. We all give in to Hudson way too much. He lets you and everyone else know when he isn't happy, and then no one is happy. I hear daddy acted the same way when he was a kid.. STILL DOES.. Oh did I say that?? Anyway, I have put Hudson in boot camp to learn rules and break his spoiled habits- so hopefully I will win and not give in when I know I should..

Hattie Lynn is the tough one.. she is always tackling someone or picking on someone. She has no patience for Hollywood or whatever she calls him. Wyatt says she is saying "fall" for Hollywood, but not sure what that is short for.. Hattie usually goes with the flow on most everything, but, when she is mad or upset, she can cry loud and forever..

We are excited to say that the twins are still in their baby beds. Wyatt was crawling out of his by about 20-21 months, so to be almost two and still in them is great for us! They go to bed at 8:00 and sleep until about 7:00 when they can sleep in. During the week Ben wakes me by 6:25 so I can get the babies up and fed, dressed and ready to leave by 7:00.

The babies LOVES Blues Clues. It is a major obsession for both of them. They cry when it is over and bring me the remote so I can start another episode. I think Ben, Wyatt and I know every episode by heart. Problem is, I have been trying to find Blues Clues birthday presents and there is nothing out there. I found some stuff on ebay, but it is so PRICEY!

Hattie LOVES the water - whether it be the pool, river or just the hose. Hudson is not so crazy about getting in a pool, lake or river, but usually warms up to the idea eventually. It was still tough this summer to take them out a lot... as we always state, next year will be easier....

Everywhere we go, we hear how much Hattie looks like me and Hudson looks like Wyatt. I think Wyatt looks just like my dad and Hudson looks like Ben. Hudson walks just like Uncle Rob! Hattie runs with one arm swinging and is quick!

all I have now... will brainstorm to see what else I am forgetting...