Levi's Six-Year Appointment

Today was Levi's turn to visit the pediatrician.  He was NOT looking forward to the blood pressure cuff, vaccinations, and removing his clothing.  I was afraid we were going to have a tantrum.  But he survived the blood pressure by watching the numbers on the monitor change.  He survived taking off his clothes by willingly putting on the paper gown. (!) Apparently he liked the school buses on it.  And he didn't actually have any shots today.  Instead of showing fear and anger, Levi decided to talk the entire time.  He was downright happy.  I guess he remembered that his doctor pays attention to him and enjoys hearing what he has to say.  The visit turned out MUCH better than I was expecting.

Here are Levi's stats: He is 50 inches tall (98th percentile) and 50 pounds (75th percentile).  Dr. Pollard told Levi he is the size of the average 9-year-old.  According to my research, it's only average height for an 8-year-old, but he's pretty tall.

He LOVES school!  Today he presented his Science Fair project, and I'm so proud of him for going through with the while thing.  We were invited to a birthday party for a school friend for the first time.  He is becoming more imaginative, more flexible, and more self-controlled.  We love our Levi!

Micah's four-year appointment

Wow!  I didn't realize it has been such a long time since I've made a blog post!  So it looks like the virus hit my laptop about nine months ago.  I still have a virus, but so far I am able to use Blogger.

Micah went to his four-year well-child check-up today.  He is 42.5 inches tall (90th percentile) and weighs 38.5 pounds (75th percentile).  He has definitely grown a lot this year, regularly suffering from growing pains in legs.  He is a loving, affectionate soul, and he is having a great time in his three-year-old preschool class.  He talks about his friends a lot--well, much more than Levi ever did--and he loves active play.  Happy birthday, dear Micah!

Tuesday Surprise - March

Week 1: Riding light rail, walking through UW Tacoma campus, lunch at The Rock Pizza
Week 2: Wiggle Works playdate with Hannah, James, and Sam
Week 3: Breakfast at Auntie B's, Puyallup
Week 4: Lunch at Mongolian Grill with Auntie Jill, Auntie Ann, and Avery
Week 5: Perkins Park, Steilacoom

We narrowly avoided the rain showers walking up and down the hill through UWT.

Wiggle Works fun.  Levi didn't want to take off his shoes, but Micah had a great time with his friends.

After breakfast at Auntie B's, we stopped at Pioneer Park to play.

A gorgeous day on the Sound.  We played at Perkins Park, walked around the Steilacoom ferry dock, and came back up the hill--I carried Micah the whole way!--and played at the park some more.

Tuesday Surprise - February

Week 1: I can't remember!
Week 2: Allen Yorke Park, Bonney Lake
Week 3: Lunch at Old Country Buffet
Week 4: Kauai

We had lovely weather at Allen Yorke Park.  There was a nice playground, and fun rocky beach, and an active construction site just across the street.  Couldn't be better!  Actually, the weather was so nice that we sat outside of Starbucks later and had to take off our sweatshirts.

Our trip to Kauai will get a separate post; however, here is one of the boys' highlights from Tuesday that week: Uncle's Shave Ice.

Levi's five-year check-up

Levi had his five-year check-up today.  He is 46.5 inches (97.5%), 44.4 pounds (74.1%).  He was talkative and brave during the appointment, but he had a few muffled tears during the immunizations.  My poor, big boy!

Belated Christmas post

Colorful Advent chains.

                                   

 

At Grandpa Garrett's first-ever choir concert.

It's a tradition: play the instrument ornaments on GG's tree.

 GG enjoys it too!

 Gingerbread houses at Grandpa Gorham's.

Gorham-Hayden music night.

It's snowing!  But who needs coats?

Visiting Santa at Bass Pro Shop after lunch at Round Table Pizza.

Christmas Eve.

 Lately, after the kids get their teeth brushed, they go play on our bed with their dad.  Nathan blows up balloons, makes funny noises with them, and sends them flying all over the room.

Stockings on Christmas morning.

Opening gifts with the Gorhams.

Opening gifts with the Garretts on the afternoon of the 26th.

Turkey dinner at our place on the 27th.  Andrew is an accordion pro.

Tuesday surprise at the Northwest Model Railway exhibit.  We'll have to make this an annual tradition.

 Gotta love riding the light rail.

Play time at Odyssey 1.

The Cloves played First Night at the Pantages.

 Another ride on the light rail.

Tuesday Surprise - January

Week 1: Fun Center at the BNI with Dena, Rickey, and Audrey

Week 2: Seattle Monorail

Week 3: Surprise stomach flu = no trip

Week 4: Lunch at Ikea

 



Fun bus is right!

 Riding on the carousel

For our latest Seattle trip, we rode the monorail from Seattle Center to Westlake, ate lunch at the mall, rode the escalator and glass elevator, took the monorail back to the Center, had Starbuck hot chocolate, viewed the fountain, and played on the new playground.  Although the umbrellas weren't really necessary, they were awfully cute.

 They LOVED riding the monorail!

 

 

When we went to Ikea, I had intended for the boys to play in the child care area.  Much to our dismay, we found that the ball pit was closed and there was a 25 minutes wait time for accepting new kids in the play area.  With that and the fact that the boys didn't really want to go in there, they ended up shopping with Mother and me.  After we checked out, we treated ourselves to lunch at the bistro (sitting on a bench near the restroom).  It was still fun.