Pumpkin Patch

Tristan and I attended Gabe's annual trip to the pumpkin patch with his preschool. We grabbed some Wendy's to eat on the way, since he would be going straight to class from Farr West. We played with some friends while waiting for the entire class to arrive. (He thinks it is hilarious to smile like this in pictures.) Tristan let me do his hair today, I love it this way. Then the kids all gathered around the scarecrow, he stood up, and starting talking to them! (This happens every trip, but it's still fun.) Here are Gabe and Tristan picking out a $1 pumpkin to take home. Gabe wanted to try the head on. Picture time with pumpkin man and Miss Jackie. There are so many fun photo opps at this place. Obviously, Tristan was done with that crazy pumpkin guy.We had a great time. Gabe took his pumpkin back to class to decorate, and brought it home after school. On Wednesday they get to take their pumpkins back to class and smash them, he is anxiously awaiting this splendid event.

Oh yeah! Here is Gabe's preschool class earlier that week. They had a costume parade. Gabe is Spiderman.

First Official Day...

Okay, so today was Gabe's first official day of his last year of preschool (otherwise know as his second year). He was very excited to go. He made sure I got several different photo shots of him this afternoon. I cannot believe that he will be in Kindergarten next year. We moved back to N.O. when he was 9 months old, wow time flies! We'll see what fun antics this year brings. And to all the parents and kids whom he offends, I apologize in advance. I sincerely hope that this apology will not be needed. We are working with his temper and lack of patience for others. But he sure photographs well!

He and Miss Jackie. And for some odd reason he is being shy, which is so not him!

More antics from Gabriel...

Gabe is starting to get really good at writing his name, as well as other letters of the alphabet. In fact, he takes every opportunity to draw or write that he can...

With a sharpie. Thankfully, only with dry-erase markers.

Forts and fun.

Last week, I took time out of house work to sit down and play with Gabe and Tristan. I admit that I am not the most fun mom, because this rarely happens. Usually I do housework, fiddle on the computer or read, while they just play alone or together. They were bouncing off the walls and begging for my attention. So, we put the couch cushions on the floor, and played some music, and they had to jump from cushion to cushion like lily pads. Gabe had a blast, and Tristan was copying him and laughing. Next, we built a fun fort with the love seat, a blanket, some cushions, and a couple of glow stick swords. The boys' loved it, and Skitterz kept climbing in their with them, to their delight. I must have worn them out, because we had lunch and Tristan went down for a nap. I got on the computer, and then wondered where Gabe had gone to. Here I found Skitterz resting in front of a heater vent........and HERE I found Gabe asleep on top of a bathroom heater vent.

Gabe. Enough said.

Preschool has been good for Gabe. It has opened him to a whole new world of artistic expression. Instead of hitting or throwing things when he is bored, angry or frustrated in general, he has now decided to teach Tristan some art projects. Yesterday, while I was soaking in the tub, he wanted to finger paint. But, why wait for mom, when you can just handle things on your own? He moved a chair and climbed up to the shelf that we keep our diaper bin on. This holds diapers, wipes, lotion for Tristan's eczema, and diaper cream. That way we can tote it room to room. Back to the story, the mediums chosen to paint with were diaper cream and lotion, the work surface (no, not the easy to clean tile) the carpet. The art project was on. How much cream and lotion can we get onto the carpet before mom gets out of the tub and starts down the stairs? As soon as Gabe heard me drain the tub, I imagine this is when he knew they needed to attempt a cleanup. A newly opened tub of wipes will be an easy way to clean. I came downstairs to an ENTIRE tube of diaper cream and an ENTIRE bottle of lotion and an ENTIRE new tub of wipes all over my carpet. There was a smidgen of painting done to Tristan as well (Gabe needs to put his signature on the disasters). After a ton of screaming and carpet cleaning. I salvaged what I could of the supplies. An ounce here and there of cream and lotion left over, but no wipes survived. Let me tell you....both Colby and I scrubbed and scrubbed the carpet, but it still appears white from Desitin.

Are you up for another art project? Well, here it comes. This morning I got up to go to the gym at 4:30am. I arrived home about 10 after 7. I got the kids up and ready, and Braxton off to school. Then, after checking that all downstairs was childproof and the diaper bin was hidden, I went upstairs to take a nap while Gabe and Tristan were playing with toys and watching The Polar Express. They each had a drink and snacks, and I was napping with the door open, so as to here all. Several times I yelled downstairs for Gabe to come talk to me, since it sounded as though he was beating on his younger brother again. Usually he jumps at the chance to come in our room, but not once did he venture up as asked. So, I grudgingly got out of bed and trotted downstairs, mumbling under my breath that it was way too quiet. I find Tristan crying and wandering around with marker all over his clothes and face. Crayons and markers, pencils and a glue stick scattered through tout the family room. Where is Gabe? He is in the bathroom trying to wash the evidence off himself as here hears me coming down the stairs. They had colored with marker on their shirts, on Tristan's face, and on my microfiber couch. There was glue stick rubbed between all their fingers and used as hair gel on Tristan's head. Stickers were used throughout the room and kids. Tips of markers were bitten off, and pencil sharpenings were scattered on the floor. After more yelling, and sending Gabe to his room, I had to take a couple pictures before starting the cleanup process, again. I knew we would find it funny sometime in the future and wish we had pictures. Colby cleaned up the couch while I ran Tristan up to the tub. I think all is back to normal now, though I am missing a pair of scissors that Gabe says Tristan had. That makes me more than a bit nervous. By the way, I'm sure now, that the reason he was screaming like he was being beat up, was because Gabe was holding him down and sticking him in the face with a marker. Or pulling his hair while applying a liberal amount of glue stick to his noggin.

Ward Trunk or Treat and Halloween.

Here are me and my boys all ready for the annual Ward Trunk or Treat.

My parents with the boys on Halloween.

The weather was perfect for Trick or Treating and they got lots of loot.

First Day of Preschool.

Today was Gabe's first day of preschool. He woke up on the wrong side of the bed, refused to get his hair combed and finish his cereal. Did not want to use the bathroom before leaving or get his new shoes on. Tristan and I walked him to school and dropped him off with his other friends. Later, when it was time to pick him up, he was in a much better mood. Besides loving class, Smarties are always a kid's favorite. Thank you Miss Jackie for making his day. I can't wait until Friday for some more peace and quiet, and another very happy Gabe.

Gabe and Jacob's Prehistoric Adventure!

Friday I decided that Gabe and I needed to get out of the house before we both drove each other crazy. We have a annual pass to Ogden Dinosaur Park and it expires in November, so we might as well get some more use out of it. After making the decision to go, we called up my friend Rachel (Gabe's friend Jacob) and invited them to join us. It was nice outside, not too hot, and Jacob had never been, so it was perfect timing. We all rode together and after parking and unloading continued to the front desk for admittance. As we got up to the line, I remembered that we now have to bring ID in with our member pass or they will not let us in, besides a manager was telling people at the front of the line the same thing (because some people can't follow the rules, the rest of us have to pay the price). Oh well, anyway, so I ran back to the car to grab my license and head back to the front desk where I realize that I grabbed the wrong wallet (I have two in my purse because I just have too many cards and things for one wallet). Another trip back to the care for the right wallet, then it is my turn to be admitted and the young worker doesn't ask for my ID. I ask him if he needs it, and he says no. His manager had left during my two trips back to the car, and even though the manager had just given a lecture to previous guests standing next to the employee, he continued to ignore protocol. I tell him that I just made two separate trips back to my car for my ID because they were telling people that the rule had changed and he just stands there and shrugs. Sheesh! At least I got some additional exercise.

Now, back to the boys. They both were too afraid of the robot dinosaurs upstairs inside the museum to really enjoy them (Tristan loved these), so we headed outside. Gabe was very excited to show Jacob around. We headed over to the excavation area where the kids can use brushes to uncover dinosaur bones from the sand.

(Gabe, Jacob and Tristan discovering fossils.)

However, the park has the sound effects for the dino statues turned up so loud, the boys are a bit frightened by that as well. So it's off to the playground, and....it's a hit. They come out of their shells, and have a lot of fun posing on the climbable dinos and playing on the playset/swings. We walk on over to some more photo ops and take our share of pictures, and then continue around the park for more viewing pleasure. Jacob was a bit more timid about some of the dinosaurs, but we got him to enjoy the adventure by the time we left. The boys weren't ready to be separated so we headed back to our house for some pizza and play time. Gabe has VERY few play dates, so he had an extremely hard time sharing toys that belong to the whole family, not to mention his own. After a bunch of time-outs, I decided he was due for a much needed nap. We said our good-byes and they walked down the road to home. Thanks Rachel and Jacob for hanging out with us. We will have to do it more often, so that Gabe can learn how to play with friends better. We had so much fun!

Happy Birthday Gabe!

I know I am posting this about a week and a half late, but oh well!


Gabriel Montgomery Koch came screaming into this world on Thursday, June 16, 2005 at 12:51 in the afternoon at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, CA. He weighed in at 7 pounds 10 ounces with a length of 19.5 inches. He was so loud that the nurse told him to keep it down so she could hear her music, and to this day we are still saying the same thing. He is our very boisterous child, and has not yet learned to use his inside voice. But hey, at least we know where he is. He is the one to always make big things happen throughout our day. Right before they put him into my arms in the recovery room we experienced an earthquake. I made a mental note at that moment to always tell him how he shook the earth when he entered our family.

Courtesy of Shupe Photography

We love him so much, though he always tests our strengths, he keeps us on our toes and has a killer-cute smile. Turning 3 years old has been a big milestone for him. He has been slower to speak our language, we have been learning "Gabish", and lately we can understand 90% of what he says. Within a couple weeks we will try potty training again, and he is very excited to start Preschool with Miss Jackie in the fall. He will finish his first "mini" swim lessons tomorrow, and has started learning how to use his scooter. Now, if I can just bottle some of his energy to use for myself. We love you Gabe!

Gabe enjoying a popsicle in the heat of his birthday.

Blowing out candles with some help.

Presents! (I'm loving those beads.)

His new dump truck.

Playing with his new bubble mower.

My Little Engineer

Gabe is so good with building things. He is so determined to make something work his way. Here he is building a train track and using other train cars as lifts for the road. He is so smart, and he gets so frustrated when things don't work out his way. But that doesn't stop him from trying and trying again. Even to the point of throwing something because it doesn't work. When I get him up in the morning, he has built a new track in his room with Take-a-long Thomas trains. And all morning in the family room his is constructing something our of Geotrax. I love you Gabie!