Big Bear

Grills at the Schwartz house go way back...

When Adam and I were dating, or just very newly wed (can't remember which, but either way over 10 years ago), he convinced me one year that he was getting me a grill for my birthday.  He started in on the prank at least a week early and I really thought he was kidding.  However, as he persisted about getting me a grill for over a week, I began to believe it.  He enjoyed torturing me but it got to the point that I was upset at him for getting me a grill for my birthday.  He, in fact, did not give me a grill for my birthday, nor had he ever intended to.  It has become a joke with us.  Every year, he tells me that he is getting me a grill.

The first grill we ever had was actually a grill we re-purposed from our neighbor's trash.  Yeah, lovely, huh?!  We ended up using that one for a year or two.

Then, Adam's parents gave us a grill for an anniversary present.  We enjoyed that grill for a good while - - probably definitely past the point that we should have used it.  The starter was one of the first things to go.  You had to turn the gas on, stick an aim-a-flame all the way down at the burners and pray that you didn't lose your eyebrows in the process of lighting the grill.  Eventually, the grates began to disintegrate.

This past Winter, we splurged on porterhouses, completely forgetting the sad condition of our grill.  You can read about that story here.  We ended up using an iron skillet to cook the meat and filled our house with smoke in the process.  Ever since that day, I have craved a homemade, grilled steak.  With Memorial Day in just a few short weeks, it seemed like no better time than the present to purchase a grill.

Adam spent countless hours on the internet, researching the best grill.  Each night he watched YouTube videos of professional, master grillers/smokers, fantasizing about his own opportunities.  After several trips around town surveying the grill selections, he decided on a dual gas and charcoal grill with the optional side smoker by CharGriller from Lowe's.  He was adamant about purchasing a grill in the box so that he could make the suggested modifications from YouTube in the putting-together-process.  This proved to be more difficult than it sounded.  As soon as grills are loaded off the truck, the Lowe's employees diligently begin assembling.  Apparently, that is how most individuals prefer to buy their grills, already together.  We kept missing the new deliveries to snag one still in the box.  Memorial Day weekend was only a week away.

When we were finally fortunate enough to locate one in the box, I'm not sure which one of us was more excited.  He spent the rest of the day assembling and modifying.  The grill quickly became Adam's new baby.  "What should we name him?" he asked.  After much thought, I came up with 'Bear' for Man vs Wild's Bear Grylls.  Adam adapted it slightly and with that, was the birth of 'Big Bear'.  He measures a good six feet by two feet and weighs nearly 250 pounds.  Big Bear easily filled our office, which is where he was assembled.

Adam ordered the custom cover for it from the internet and refused to move Big Bear outside until the cover arrived.  So, he was part of our daily life for the next 5 days.  This gave Adam enough time to fashion a nametag for the grill.

Big Bear moved outside just in time for Memorial Day weekend, where we grilled out at least three times.  We smoked chicken, grilled hot dogs, and smoked a pork butt.  And it couldn't have been any better!  Can't wait for my much anticipated steak!



Feeding Levi

So today was the day.  The day that I had been dreading for 6 days and at the same time everyone else in the house had been anticipating with much excitement.  As the time approached, I tried to make sure I was quite busy.  I even denied all requests for assistance.  When I left the room, the boys were hovering over the feeding box while Adam prepared the mouse.  I had already seen too much.

Only a short time had passed when my bedroom door flung open.  In unison, they all shouted something to the tune of "This is so cool!  You have to come see it!"  Not wanting to miss anymore, they all scurried back to the scene of the crime.  A few more "ooohs" and just like that it was over.  They all came back and attempted to re-enact the consumption of the mouse.  "Levi opened his mouth and then the mouse was gone." followed by a demonstation of a shimmying motion.

Minutes later they were all glued on the computer googling videos of snakes and their prey.  I only found this out because I was dumb enough to inquire what the wretched squealing was that was coming from the monitor.  "A rabbit."  Sorry I ever asked.

Hayes Graduates Kindergarten

Hayes Alan, we are so proud of you!  You have worked so hard this year and done so well.  You can now read books such as Dr. Suess.  We still need to work on your handwriting a bit.  You tend to write quite large when given enough space.  And unlike your brother's graduation, I got your entire program on video.  (Sorry, Huey, just watch Hayes' and imagine your face sitting there--it was exactly the same anyhow.)

You were so adorable at your graduation program.  Basically, you guys sang a lot of really cute songs that detailed your year.  I don't think Houston let you get much sleep the night before because you were yawning through the entire thing.  But when you weren't yawning, you were grinning ear to ear, especially at the completion of every song, when you looked up at your audience of four (Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Papaw).  That really big Hayes-ie smile that lights up any room.
Here's to the cutest first grader that ever will be!

Summer Guest

Imagine my surprise when Adam announced that a summer guest would be arriving in just two hours.  It had been jokingly (and I stress jokingly) discussed several months prior--but never agreed upon.  And it was certainly never mentioned again.  This is probably where the old adage "better to ask forgiveness than permission" comes into play.  My husband knows I never would have agreed otherwise.  There's also something to be said for the "parent" of our guest waiting until the day of to "remind" us he was coming.  I'm thinking this was his guarantee of us not backing out on him.  Oh yeah, did I mention our guest for the summer is a snake?!  That's right...a snake.

Adam has always wanted a pet snake.  Judging from the picture below, it's pretty obvious how enamored he is over this reptile.  I'm quite sure he was never as awe-struck with the birth of any of his children.

Levi had the same effect on the boys.

Which kind of reminds me of...

So, for the next 8 weeks, we will be caring for a snake named Levi while his owner is out rebuilding homes and lives in the inner city.  Thank goodness Levi is nocturnal so I shouldn't have many run-ins with him.  It is amazing though.  I've lived in my house for nearly 8 years and never once have I seen a shoelace poking out from underneath a shirt on the floor and gasped.  Now that there is a resident serpent, I have mistaken a snake sighting four times already in just 4 hours.

And oh yeah, I failed to mention the best part.  I've heard a rumor that we get to feed Levi a mouse on Friday.  I can hardly contain my joy!

New Park

Since Adam would be working most of the day, my mom and I decided to take the kids to the newest and coolest park in our city that just opened several months ago.

There are gigantic slides...

A sand pit (oh joy)...

with a water table...

A ridiculous ropes course...

And plenty of cuteness when Holt is around!



Only down fall was having to climb the ropes course myself to assist Hawkins in getting back down.  (Not pictured--you can thank me later.)

And poor guy, after an hour of playing in the sand/water, was extremely upset over his shirt being wet and the rest of his body covered in wet sand.  Surprisingly, I held it together even though I despise sand.  I just laughed when I noticed clumps of wet sand caked in all their hair.

Hawkins School Program 2011

Hawkins graduated from his 2 year old classroom today at Mother's Day Out.  I could not wait to see what kind of show my little entertainer would perform on stage.  Let's just say, he did not disappoint.  (Be sure not to miss the shoulder shrug around the 14th second.)

Huey-ism: Ham

Adam was enjoying an episode of Mythbusters tonight.  They were testing some myth about how the human body reacts to something.  I wasn't watching it.  However, I did notice that they had a dead hog hanging from a hook that they were using to simulate a human.  Houston happened to notice the same thing as he passed through the room.

Houston:  "Dad, is that pig real?"
Adam:  "No."

Houston sits in silence for a minute or two, watching the dead pig get brutalized.  And then he has a revelation.

Houston:  "Is that pig made out of ham?"

Roommates

It's official...Holt received his eviction notice from the couch tonight.  The living room officials figured that six months had been plenty of time to decide where the baby should finally reside.

So he's now shacked up with Hawkins.

All patrons are now free to resume eating breakfast in the kitchen, as opposed to in their rooms.  And they should no longer be subjected to constant shushing during the hours of 6am-8am.

Now if we can just teach Holt's roommate some volume control.  I honestly think he is allergic to whispering and not slamming doors.

Hawk-ism: Breaking My Heart

Hawkins has been every part of three today.  He can be very assertive with his will -- especially when it comes to bossing his brothers around.  I tell everyone, "What he lacks in size, he makes up for in attitude."

I'm pretty sure his two older brothers had taken all they could handle of "Mr. Badd-itude".  It was pretty much evident by a whole lot of screaming (from said three year old) in the hall outside his brothers' room.  Apparently, they had banished him from their room.

At the top of his lungs, he managed to declare his injustices.  His brothers continued playing, ignoring the fact that he was even there.  Realizing that his growly bear method was ineffective, he resorted to guilt.  He quit yelling and started shedding tears.  Still nothing.  Then, he pulled out his pointer finger.  With one hand on his hip, and the other casting blame with the index finger, he stood outside their room crying.  "You're breaking my heart, Doo-den (Houston) and Hayes!  You're breaking my heart!"

Still nothing.  Better luck next time, bud.

Starting Solids

Since Dr. Owen gave us the go ahead on solids, Holt and I gave it a go tonight.  Actually, Holt got a jump start with a little assistance from his brothers.  We got home from running errands.  Hawkins set his bowl of chips on the floor.  At the same time, Houston unbuckled Holt, got him out of his car seat, and laid him on the floor.  I did not know any of this was happening.  When I passed through the living room, Holt had discovered the unattended bowl of chips.  He was chowing down on the Cool Ranch Doritos.  Probably not what Dr. Owen had in mind when he approved solids.

I snatched Holt up and swiped three dime sized pieces out of his mouth.  Needless to say when I introduced squash shortly after, he was not interested.  He tolerated a few bites and then proceeded to spit out every spoonful after that.  I guess the bland squash puree doesn't hold a candle to the highly seasoned corn chips.

Check-Up Time

We spent this afternoon at the doctor.  When I scheduled Holt's six month check-up and Hayes' six year check-up to be at the same time, it seemed like a great idea.  The closer this day approached, the more I began to dread it.  My fears were validated.

There was no one else in the waiting room when we arrived.  The office was actually very calm and quiet.  That is, until my mangy crew arrived.  I was handed a stack of papers to update records for each of my two boys that were being seen that day.  Just as I sat down to start updating, they called us back to a room.  You know what a pediatrician's exam room looks like.  Now picture my three rambunctious boys and a baby in a carrier all wedged in there.  We were literally on top of each other.  And have I mentioned that my three year old has trouble with volume control?  He seriously makes noise just to hear himself make noise.  And in that tiny room, it is all amplified a hundred times.

The next thirty minutes were a whirlwind, similar to that of a Nascar pit stop.  Shifting kids between weight checks and height measurements, temperatures, a urine sample and a finger prick.  I think I've decided since I have only boys, that it is only fair for Daddy to attend the check-ups so that he can assist in collecting the urine sample.  After all that had been completed, I felt like I had been put through the ringer.  I needed a rest.

Knock. Knock.  It was Dr. Owen.  He opened the door and hadn't even gotten all his hello's out yet before Houston, much like a senior citizen, thrust this in his face:

Mind you, he was not one of the boys with a check-up today.  Turns out it is an overactive lymphnode attacking a bug bite directly above it.  But to be safe, Dr. Owen wanted to run bloodwork.  Earlier when the finger prick lady was in, Houston was promised he was safe.  When she flung the door open, I knew we were gonna have a problem.  Every time before, Adam or I have had to lay on top of him.  Much to my surprise, he took it like a man, never even whinced.  I hope this is the new trend.

We went ahead and completed Hayes' check-up first, since Holt was being very quiet and content, unlike all his brothers.  Dr. Owen said he looked great!  See stats below.

I got the big boys settled (see highly concentrated faces to the left) for Holt's portion of the check-up, which just left my noisemaker child.  There wasn't a seat for him so while I attempted to discuss Holt's development, he proceeded to push Hayes and raise his voice and cry.  I snatched him up to sit on the table and explained that I needed him to be quiet.  That worked...for a minute.  "La la la la la la la!"  he began shouting while shaking his head back and forth.

Holt received a great report as well.  I requested a consult about his mishapen head.  So, we will be heading to a neurosurgeon in the near future.  And we got a green light to start adding vegetables and fruit into his diet.

At the end of the check-up, I hadn't even touched the stack of forms that the receptionist had handed me an hour ago.  And since Houston got blood drawn, I now had a stack for him as well.  The kids went out to select their suckers while I filled out the papers.  There was only one green sucker.  Hayes chose that one, which of course is the only one that Hawkins wanted.  So to wrap up the whole doctor experience, we walked out with Hawkins having a full blown meltdown trailing behind.  Why should our departure be pleasant?!

Let's just say after all of that, I had a headache, immune to any pain medication that I can take while nursing, for the rest of the evening.

Hayes
49 pounds -- 50th percentile
45.76" -- 50th percentile

Holt
17lb 1oz -- 40th percentile
27.5" -- 80th percentile
Didn't catch the head measurement but it was the 97th percentile -- go figure!

Mother's Day Lessons

Holt's handprint is precious and Houston's feet are ginormous!

Lessons from Hayes:

Lessons of note:

My favorite food is "salid".  Although I do like salad, I do not eat it often.  Not sure how he conjectured that.  However, I am thankful he did not choose any number of junk food that might've been slightly more accurate.

I know she's mad when she yells.  Yeah, I gotta work on this one.

She shows me she loves me when she let's me play my dsi (nintendo).  So much for good old-fashioned hugs and kisses.  Too bad his love language rots his brain and ruins his eyes.  Guess the kid will not ever feel very loved.

Lessons from Houston:

Lessons of note:

I weigh 45 pounds!  If only my scale could get the memo!

He was spot on with my age.  Come on, man!  I don't look a day over 24!

My favorite food is meatballs with "manase".  Little jokester was being funny.

He loves me because I am amazing.  Let's have an altogether "awww" moment.

Holt is 6 months!!

A whole half year already!  And I still have to think really hard if your birthday is the 4th or the 5th.

*You're still on breastmilk (5-6 oz in each bottle).  I always wanted to make it to 6 months pumping, but never really imagined that I actually would.  Here we are and I am pressing on!

*You are beginning to get mobile, without scooting or crawling.  With all the rolling and twisting you do, you are never anywhere near where I left you on the floor.

*We started feeding you a hefty portion of cereal each night just before bed.  With that, we finally got you sleeping through the night again.  However, we can tell with your chunky legs (see picture left) that you have packed on the pounds because of it.  Since you're sleeping through the night again, you might actually move into your crib.

*You are an excellent napper, in true Schwartz fashion.  At naptime, I lay you in your pack-and-play on your tummy and you go right to sleep.  At nighttime, you still sleep swaddled.

*You reach for things in your perimeter--like a cup full of water on the kitchen counter that I walked past while you were on my hip.  You love to play with toys.  You've begun flailing your arms with a toy tightly grasped in your fingers, which results in you clobbering yourself in the face.  So, Mommy only lets you play with soft toys.

*You love to be outside.  While your brothers ride their bikes up and down the sidewalk, you will sit in your stroller for an hour and never make a peep.

*You have two bottom teeth.  The first one poked through on April 15 but when it was finally visable, the other was right beside it.

*You must receive about 15 zillion kisses a day (99% of those are from me).

*You love, love, love your toes!  And you are very vocal now.  You sing, squeal, babble, and blow zerberts constantly.  When you start babbling, your brothers take turns translating your "stories".

Huey's Note

Houston was having a difficult afternoon.  He had not been listening very well and had been instigating quarrels with his brothers.  Therefore, I had stayed on him pretty hard.  He disappeared for a few minutes.  When he returned, he handed me a folded up slip of paper and dashed away.  However, I could still see him out of the corner of my eye.  He paused right around the corner where he thought he was out of sight but could still watch me open his note.

I smiled really big and my smiling caused him to smile really big as he headed to his room.