Mice or Moles? What are these things?!!

Last week I was mowing the lawn and ran across a loose pile of dead grass. I finally got brave enough and gently kicked it up to see what was under it was what looked like a bunch of baby mice. I couldn't kill them because they looked to much like an ultrasound I'd seen before of three human babies about 10 weeks old. That being said, I did leave them uncovered and hoped for nature to take its place, or for mama mouse to come back and move them somewhere else (preferably not back in the lawn). I did check back in on them later in the day and they were gone.

Now, fast forward to today. I'm out doing my pre-lawn-mowing check to make sure that the gutter things are up, the gates are open, and that there are no toys hiding in the lawn. That's when I find another clump of dead grass. So I uncover it and low and behold there are some slightly bigger babies. This time I gently pick them up (with a rake, not my hands!) and put them in a bucket with their clump of grass they had been living under.

So now after looking at them (from a safe distance) I am wondering if they are moles. I googled both baby mice and baby moles and they look a lot alike.

What do you think? Mice or Moles?

Father's Day

I know, it's a little late but here are some pictures from Father's Day this year. What did we do you ask? Well, Adam got to sleep in until about 8:30, and then I think that is when Liv burst through the bedroom door and yelled, "Happy Father's Day Daddy!" It was really cute because it wasn't coached OR rehearsed! Then, I went to get us breakfast from American Skillet, and then that afternoon we had the suite at the Kernels baseball game. So, all in all, I think Adam had a pretty good day! I know the kids had fun!

Daddy and Jonathan

Olivia wearing her best cheese, and her Elmo Baseball Hall of Fame shirt.

Hayden relaxing on the couch.

Hannah getting crazy on the couch.

Papa John, Hayden and Hannah. Hold on tight Papa! These girls like to wiggle!

 

Papa John, Adam, Hayden, and Olivia at the game.

Now the sappy part. Adam really is a great husband and a great dad. We are all so blessed to be able to call him ours!

Splash Pad - Take One

Okay, I must be losing it! Last Friday, after morning thunderstorms and afternoon naps, I decided to round up the troops and take the kids to the Splash Pad. Alright, I'm not completely crazy, because I knew I had a good ratio going; 3:4. That seems to be the perfect ratio when going places that requires kid supervision at all times. At least that is the perfect number for me at the age they are in now. You know, the age where they can walk, bend over, and put whatever looks not edible into their little mouths. The age where they think it is fun to run away from mommy when she asks you to come here. The age that when you tell them no, they smile, shake their cute little heads, and continue to do what you just asked them not to. Ah, yes, this is the age when backup is needed, and possibly a strong drink!

So our trip lasted a whole hour, but it went very well. I had my niece, Rachel, and our nanny there to keep the kids out of trouble and under close supervision. Here are some pictures of our hour of fun in the sun.

Papa happened to see us drive by while he was at the bank, so he followed us down to the park to see what we were up to.

 

Olivia seems to be the one that needs the most supervision, at least in my eyes. She doesn't do anything naughty, but she is runs around like a wild woman! She is over here one minute and then the next second she is playing somewhere else, so I always try to keep a close eye on her. She is always so friendly, I just get paranoid sometimes that someone is going to try to lure her away with chocolate!

Jonathan thinks the Splash Pad is pretty cool.

 

Hannah, taking a break from the water. She really surprised me the most. I figured she wouldn't like it, but she had the most fun out of all of them.

Big boy having a good time!

Not seen is Hayden. She did not care for the cold water splashing her, and therefore clung to Nicole, our nanny, the whole time.

New Wheels!

Okay, so it's not new, but it's new to us! For those of you that don't know what this is, it is the Step 2 Choo Choo Wagon, and for what ever reason they no longer make them. But a very wonderful women who has identical girls and a boy (just like us) told my sister that she was going to get rid of hers, and I couldn't resist! I honestly had put the dream of owning one of these behind me (if you look on eBay these things are going for some serious coin). But because this women is so amazing, and just wanted it to go to a good home like hers, we got it for a steal. She could have tripled her money if she would have tried to sell it on eBay! Now, Adam was not as excited as I was about this. I think he grumbled something like this, "Great, one more kid thing taking up space." But I think he is already over it. I mean come on, how could you not, they look so stinkin' cute in this thing!

Left to Right: Hannah, Olivia, Hayden, and Jonathan

(Is it just me, or is Olivia's hair always crazy?!)

Hayden absolutely loved it! She had such a good time. Every time I looked back she was smiling just like this!

Hannah liked it, but she is cutting some teeth right now, so I think she will enjoy it a lot more once she is done with that.

Olivia finally letting Jonathan have a ride in it, but only so that she could pretend to pull it.
(1st Rule: Only mommy's and daddy's can pull the wagons!)
(2nd Rule: Sun hats and sun screen on at all times.)
Jonathan does have sunscreen on but he was riding in the covered stroller before. I never thought Liv would actually give up her seat for Big Boy to get a turn!

Now we need to find one more wagon to hook on to it so that EVERYONE can ride ALL at the same time.

Linda, if you read this: Thank You, Thank You , Thank You, Thank You! We all absolutely love this, and are having a great time with the wagon!

Thanks Blank Park Zoo and The University of Iowa Children's Hospital

We were invited to the Blank Park Zoo two Saturdays ago by the University of Iowa Children's Hospital due to the babies stay in the NICU last year. While they were a little too little to get it all Olivia sure did have a good time!

Liv getting her first glimpse at the lions! She was very excited!

Standing on the stroller to see!

Here comes the giraffe.

She even got to meet Cinderella, Tinker Bell, and Snow White!

Cheese dad!

Waiting in line to get our food. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and a drink.

The babies killed 4 hot dogs and a bun. Olivia, well, she ate a bag of chips and and had a bottle of water. I wish i could get this to eat something! Anything, even a Hot Dog!

Liv playing with her free souvenir.

The next day at our hotel after breakfast. Olivia having a great time just running around inside.

Hannah

Hayden

Hayden and Hannah watching big sister run wild.

Jonathan getting tired just watching her.

Watch out! Here she comes!

Okay now I should tell you that as glamorous and wonderful this trip sounds and looks, it started off a little rocky and ended a little rocky, but we all survived and Adam and I are still talking. :)

Blankies, Fingers, and a Thumb

The other night it was about 6:20 pm and I had already finished bathtubs. The babies were starting to get a little cranky and since they generally don't go to bed until after 7:00 I couldn't put them down yet, so I brought their blankets out to them. (Something I never do.) They calmed down almost immediately and then after about 5 to 10 minutes they were back up and running again. I love blankies!

 

Left to Right: Hayden, Jonathan, and Hannah

Hannah coming to get me!

Jonathan trying to steal Hayden's blankie.

 

Hayden giving up and taking Jonathan's blanket. You can't tell but when she finds the silky on her blanket she starts to suck her index finger upside down.

When Jonathan finds his silky he sucks his thumb.

And when Hannah finds her silky she sucks her ring, middle, AND index finger.

Hayden

Fun fact.

They usually wait to suck their finger(s) or thumb until they find the silky part of the blankie.

15 Months Stats

Monday the kids their 15 month check up and here are their latest stats.

Hannah Alexis

Weight: 18 lbs 4 oz (3%)

Height: 30 inches (40%)

Hayden Sophia

Weight: 18 lbs 15 oz (3%)

Height: 30 inches (40%)

Jonathan Austin

Weight: 23 lbs 7 oz (35%)

Height: 31 1/2 inches (60%)

Our Pediatrician is very pleased on how they are developing and says that they are doing great. The girls are still on the small side, but they are eating very well and their other stats were up so she was not concerned at all.

Sun Hats and Sundae Cones

Hannah, Jonathan, and Hayden (L to R) in their new sun hats.

Jonathan trying to take his hat off, and Hayden checking out Hannah's hat.

Hannah getting a bite of Nicole's Sunday cone.

Hannah in Ice Cream overload!

Hayden getting a bite.

Hayden asking Hannah if she will share with her.

Hannah not sharing, and Jonathan is wondering what is going on up there!