Entering the Galaxy Zone

I finally joined the 21st century and got a smart phone.  I have been very anti smart phone up to this point, but I finally succumbed to the pressure around me and well, here we go.  I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 and I honestly am not smart enough to use it, but I'm trying.  Instagram is kind of fun and I like to have a picture next to the name of the person I am calling or texting.  I also googled the directions to my grandpa's house tonight, just to make sure that worked.  I went a different way, though.

We dropped James cell since he has a work phone and doesn't ever check his personal phone.  The monthly rate is actually significantly cheaper for 1 smart phone than 2 dumb phones.  Go figure.  If it wasn't, I honestly probably wouldn't have done it.

The thing has a remote control on it that can change the channels on our TV.  It has eye censors to scroll automatically as you scan down the screen.  It has a microphone so you can say "Hi Galaxy," then ask it anything you want.

It does a lot more than that.  Like I said, I'm learning.

Jack - 15 Months

We had our 15 months check-up at Dr. Havlik's today.  We left Molly at school so I didn't have to wrangle both kids.  (James picked her up and they met us at home).

Here are Jack's stats:
Weight: 24.9 lbs (51st percentile)
Height: 33.75 inches (98th percentile)
Head Size: 47.5 cm (61st percentile)

2 immunizations

His weight has been steadily dropping in percentile while his height has remained about the same (though he did measure a little taller today than normal).  I expressed concern that he seems to skinny.  Doctor Havlik 1) said that he thinks he's really fine and that kids often taper off until about 18 months and then seem to pick back up again and 2) said he doesn't think little kids really burn enough calories that the super active ones are just losing weight, and 3) gave me a handout on "power packing" to increase Jack's calorie intake.  In reading the handout, we are going to need to give Jack more butter, milk, bread. cheese, beans, eggs, peanut butter, meat, mayo, yogurt, etc.  Unfortunately everything on that list falls mostly into two categories - things Jack eats all the time OR things Jack won't eat.  Oh well.  We'll keep trying. (Maybe I just need to stop comparing him to Quinn!)

He passed all the developmental questions.  He can play with a ball, pick up things you ask him to, understand directions, feed himself finger foods, wave hello or bye-bye, and a few other things.

The things we need to work on are feeding himself with a fork or spoon and no more bottles (he only takes one at night and sometimes before his nap, but at 15 months he should be off the bottle).

The only concern I had is that I feel like Jack doesn't talk enough.  Dr. Havlik just said we need to read more (if the kid would sit still long enough) and try to find more one-on-one time just talking to him.  These are things we probably should do more of.  Jack is just so content to play, wander, and explore, that we probably don't talk to him enough (not that we don't talk to him . . . ).

Dr. Havlik game me this cool chart called the "Denver II" which shows child development progressions from age 0-6.  It's interesting.  Jack is already far above his age level in Gross Motor Skills, but right on par with the other categories - Personal/Social, Fine Motor, and Language.  Molly, on the other hand, is at about a 4 year old level on Language and Personal/Social, is on par with Fine Motor, but perhaps a little behind (or just a bit of a clod) on the Gross Motor.

Jack was very cooperative during his appointment and only cried and squirmed when he got his shots.  He was sad, mad, said, "owie," tore off the bandaids, and fought me to get his clothes back on, but otherwise was really good!  He also blew kisses to all the receptionists.

Back to School!

This is what school did to my little Jack

Fish Pond and Family

Biorn Family Reunion.  Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Here are the details:

• Rough start leaving dodge on Friday night (including losing my wallet and luckily finding it on the side of road)
• Changed hotel rooms (went to the front desk to ask for a light bulb for a lamp in a dark corner and was asked if we wanted to change rooms when a light bulb couldn't be located - said Yes! if it include a room with AN AIR CONDITIONER THAT WORKED! - it did - good call asking for a light bulb.)
• I was in charge of the fish pond.
• Freeman Park had a wedding going on and an incredibly intense frisbee golf competition.
• My children look like these relatives.
• LaRon kept referring to the pinata as the pina colada . . . it was funny!

Wedding off in the distance and Frisbee golfers in the foreground

All these frisbee-ers had these fancy backpacks that held at least a dozen frisbees, some of the bags even converted into seats while they waited for others to throw

the whole clan eating (note the white fish pond sheet on the right side)

my cute kids

Jack's long lost twin, Carly (don't you think they at least look pretty related?) 

Jack and Carly's mom would be 2nd cousins so I think that makes these guys "2nd cousins once removed"

The Neighborhood Gang

My 3 year old has a thing for older men.  She loves to play with the neighborhood boys who range from age 4 to 8.  Molly even got invited to the birthday party of one of these boys on Saturday.  Jack just loves to be outside, so he'll play with anyone.

This particular summer night included cardboard boxes and bungee cords.  It was all fun and games until the older boys started taking each other for laps around our house.  They got a little out of control and the bungee cord finally ripped away from the cardboard, hitting a kid in the nose.  There was  little blood, but he was ok.  We stopped, cleaned up, had popsicles, and were done for the night.