Indoor Camp Out

Last night we had an Indoor Camp Out. We got out our dome tent and set it up in the living room. We started out by roasting marshmallows over the stove burner and making smores. The boys didn't really like the smores, they were too sticky. Then we put the boys in their pajamas and got their sleeping bags out and got their beds ready. We then turned out all the lights and used flashlights for the rest of the night. Ryan really loved to make bunnies with his fingers. Matthew liked making shadow giants and shadow toes.We played UNO and sang camping songs and the boys really enjoyed the adventure. Then when it was time to go to bed, we zipped up the tent door and tried to go to sleep. After an hour of trying to go to sleep we put Ryan back in his bed upstairs and then about a half hour later we put Matthew in his bed. Which was great, because I really didn't want to sleep on the floor.
It was a lot of fun and the boys really liked it. Next time we will remember to get some air mattresses and improve our beds in case the boys actually sleep in the tent.

Zach

We sometimes forget to post updates on Zach. He is so cute, so good and we sometimes forget that he hasn't been a part of our family forever. I really can't remember our family without Zach. He is a blessing. He loves to laugh and he has a great smile. Matthew and Zach are great friends and Matthew is a great big brother. Ryan also likes to pat Zach on the head and say "Baby Cute." We love our little Zach.

Zach is very happy	And always wiggling
Zach loves to watch the red firetruck, like his brothers.	Zach has great smiles.

50% success at the dentist

Today Matthew and Ryan went to the Dentist. Matthew has always done so well and you know the odds of having Ryan like the dentist was extremely low. In the end Ryan hated it. Amy had to hold Ryan down and the dentist had to pry Ryan's mouth open. Lucky for us there were no cavities, but Amy sure deserves a reward for dealing with the dentist.

We did much better than John and Kate. They always bring perspective to us.
http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/jon-kate-plus-8-sextuplets-first-dentist-visit.html

Home Depot Saturday

This morning Matthew and Ryan went to Home Depot for their monthly kids projects. Ryan built a tool box. I thought he would like the hammering but he was more interested in the screws for Matthew's project. Matthew built book ends. He was excited, but after screwing in two of the eight screws he asked for my power screw driver. Pretty smart kids.

Car Seats and Coats

I know this is a random post, but I get so many strange looks when we pull our kids out of their car seats in the winter and they are only wearing a light jacket. I know the people are thinking; "what kind of parents don't put their kids in a coat?" The truth is that most coats will compress in a car accident and the car seat won't protect your child like it should.

It's easy to check and see whether a baby's winter coat or infant snowsuit is too thick to be safe in a car seat. This test will show you how thick the coat is and how much the coat will compress during a crash.

1. Take the car seat into the house.
2. Put the winter coat or snowsuit on the child.
3. Put the child in the car seat and buckle the harnesses as you normally would before car travel.
4. Adjust the straps to the appropriate fit for your child.
5. Take the child out of the car seat without loosening the straps at all.
6. Take the coat off your child.
7. Put the child back in the car seat and buckle the harnesses again, but do not tighten the straps. If you can fit more than two fingers under the harness at the child's shoulder bone, the coat is too thick and is not safe for use with the car seat.

I know this takes extra effort but it is worth it.