A Family Sledding Event

The weather was nice, there was lots of snow, and we had time time (What?!?) so we decided to pack the family up and head down the street to the local sledding hill.  Eric, one of Ares' classmates and his family decided to join us, and we all had a great time!  Even Atlas, and Eric's twin brothers (almost 2 yrs) enjoyed it.  Adam got to use his GoPro from Christmas to record him and Ares going down the hill multiple times.  Ares wanted to stay for hours and hours.  That kid would stay outdoors ALL DAY LONG if we let him.

 Atlas just laid there and watched the kids sled, quietly, the entire time.  I even went down the hill.(which I typically don't, and wiped out big time, haha.  I did a lot of rolling, but it wasn't painful or anything.  I'll stick to watching the kids, haha)

Christmas times 3? 4?

I know I keep posting Christmas, but since I found my old camera, here's some more.  These from my in-law's house the weekend before.   I also updated the original Christmas post.  

Grandpa Bill and Atlas

Superman Hoodie

Spider Man Hoodie

Grandma Jean came to celebrate too!

Don't they look so comfortable together?!  So cute!  

Nah, my boys aren't loved, haha. 

Atlas- 5 Months Old

This post is way late, considering Atlas will be turning 7 months next week.  I took these on 12/20, and then on 12/25 (Christmas) my parents bought me a new camera, and I completely forgot about the photos on the old camera.   Here's Atlas on his 5 month birthday.  I decided I was going to take photos of him how he really is (was) is.  This is the normal Atlas, crying All.The.Time.  Why doctor up or wait for a very abnormal quiet period?  That's not my baby.  So here goes. 

Ares, 5 months

Ares tried so hard to get Atlas to stop crying.  Have I mentioned on the blog yet what a great big brother he is?  Because, MAN, what a great big brother Ares is.  We're so lucky.

And just because this kid is so cute too! 

Mmmm Mmmm Good!

Sooo, I can't find the post anywhere, I'm not sure if I ever posted about it, but one of Ares' first words (like, first 10 words) was 'Pickle'.  Most kids don't like pickles until they're older.  I mean, it's an odd taste. Well, not for my kids.  Both of my kids like pickles.  I'm not so sure we gave Ares a pickle this young, but Atlas kept trying to grab one off of our plates, so we let him.

And he loved it. LOVED LOVED it.  He must have chewed on that pickle for 5 minutes.  
He's also now a big fan of bananas and peaches, he has eaten peas (not his favorite) and carrots (eh) but he couldn't stay seated with the bananas and peaches.  I had to put the high chair tray over his arms because he was so excited for each bite he'd push up and clap his hands right in front of his mouth.

Unfortunately (or is it fortunately?) he's been drinking A LOT less of his bottles.  He used to drink about 6 of them each day, now he's down to about 4, but he only eats one small container of baby food a day.  So what's the result?  Atlas Does.Not.Sleep.  It's Thursday night, and we have not slept since Monday, and even then it wasn't good sleep.  Tuesday night we slept for 2 hours, with me and Atlas on the couch.  He was just awake, and wanted to be moving.  Wednesday night Adam (his night to stay up) instead just put him in the basement crying.  He didn't want to eat, his paci, to be held, nothing, he just cried.  Adam eventually slept on the couch on the main floor with Atlas in the basement, so he could wake up if  he started crying.  (Although, I'm not sure he would have heard from that far away).   Just a phase.

 My boys, I love them, they both drive me crazy in their own ways.  Bedtime is getting much easier, we've got a routine now, not that it matters, Atlas falls asleep easily, he just doesn't stay asleep after a couple of hours.
Ares absolutely LOVES having Atlas match him.  This super hero thing is awesome, I love it.  The Valentines day Santa Cupid dropped a package off at our front door yesterday.  In it, was a treasure trove of things to make both boys happy.  Atlas got another animal for his zoo (a rhino this time), and he got a spiderman, batman and superman shirts, two of which have capes on the back, just like what Ares has.  They are THE CUTEST things I think I've ever seen.  I'm not sure where Cupid (my mother in law) finds these things, but she gets the boys the best clothes.

They're being goofs.  Ares is putting a bracelet on Atlas' head and
Atlas is pushing him away.  Ahhh, brotherly love. 

Photo Dump!!

Let's Get Moving!

 Atlas is now sitting up on his own, and eating baby food on a normal basis.  He's finally starting to grow up.  I am not one of those people that want their kids to stay babies forever.  I like the slobbery kisses and ability to hold the babies close, but I think I prefer the random "Mommy, I love you" and squeezie hugs that my older son gives even more.

Renata let us borrow Lukas' old Jeep so Atlas can start being mobile around the house.   At this time, he can only move backwards, but he enjoys it for the time being.

I've got some more pictures of Atlas and Ares playing together.  It happens a lot more often now that Atlas can sit up.  It's funny, he watches Ares put the animals on the Little Peoples Zoo toy, and he tries to do it himself.  He usually has the animal sideways or upside down, but he understands that the animal needs to go near the red thing to make sounds happen.  He'll get it eventually, but this kid is learning, and we can see the gears turning with everything he watches.

His school (Young Explorers) does a parents' night out every quarter or so.  For $5 they keep the kids until 9PM so the parents can go out.  I met Davis', Eve's, Lukas', Eric's, Olivia's and Audrey's parents at BW3's for some dinner and drinks.  Adam was out with his coworkers.  I picked the boys up at 9, put them right to bed, and they slept.  Like - BOTH of them!  Atlas woke up once at 2:30, I put a paci in, and he was out the rest of the night. AMAZING!

Grandpa Miller

Last Thursday Adam lost his Grandpa Miller.  It was somewhat expected, however still very sad. Grandpa  lived in Florida for most of our time together and we managed to visit him right after we got married, but didn't see him after that until a couple of years ago.

Ares and Grandpa at  Thanksgiving two years ago. 

The ceremony was nice and sweet, and there were a lot of people there.  Adam has a large family, but I didn't know most of the people there.  Lots of stories were told, Adam made Kamikaze's for everyone to shoot after the military ceremony at the grave site.  That was probably the saddest part.  When I first met Grandpa, I had a kamikaze drink in my hand within the first five minutes.  He makes them STRONG- and never let the glass empty.  I remember dumping some in the sink when he went to the bathroom, and also switching my glass with Adam's (more empty) glass when no one was looking.   Apparently that is just how Grandpa was.  Adam left a fishing lure with grandpa to be buried with.  One his grandfather gave him when he was a young boy.

The party afterwards was at he and (deceased) Adam's grandmother's favorite restaurant Montgomery Inn.  They rented a party room and had BBQ for everyone (and, of course, many drinks).  The food and company was really good.  too bad we were there to celebrate the life of someone no longer with us.

Oh, and for everyone that thinks Atlas is "ALL SCHMIDT", take a look at this photo.  See, there's some Miller in him!