WOW!

Well, I have been seriously neglecting my blog lately....but only because we have been cra-zy busy around here!! Since I know that without stressing over it and spending hours updating, I'm not going to...I'll flip in a few (ok, lots!) pictures here and there, but mostly this is going to be a list-update on what's been happening in the lives of the Calonder Crew!
Where to start???Hannah got her tube pulled!!!! On Good Friday (what an awesome day to have it happen?!?), we went in and Hannah was doing so well, we were allowed to pull the ng tube that day!! We were so excited and it has been going really well!Well, obviously you know from this post that the triplets have started preschool!! They went Fridays for three weeks towards the end of the year to get used to their new school that they will be attending in the "fall" (school begins for them August 18). During the summer they are attending a transitional preschool two days a week in Cedar Falls. It's been great for them! They also are attending VBS this week at our church with Aidan. They love it!! It's neat to see them as they get older, but hard also!

Ethan got glasses! Poor little dude couldn't see at all! I think he looks adorable, don't you agree???
Nathanial got another set of tubes and Hannah got her first set. We had no idea Hannah was having issues with fluid, but she had three ear infections in three months, so we did the referral and she had a ton of fluid. They both did awesome!Austin had his 8th grade field trip to the capital and Living History Farms. He loved it and got an awesome shot for fair of the dome!
Austin and Aidan found the tent in the back of the garage that hasn't been used in years and dug it out and had a little background camping! They had so much fun...I was positive they would be inside at some point (it got COLD), but they made it the whole night!There has been a lot of outdoor fun at our house lately...baseball playing in the backyard...
...slipping and sliding and spraying...
...bounce, bounce, bouncing good times in the bounce house....
After all those good times outside, sometimes we just like to relax inside....
...and sometimes we get hurt and have to get our first set of stitches. :-(

But don't relax too long, because if you do, Mom might redo a room on you!

Whew....that wore us out!
{and we're not done yet....watch for lots more updates soon!!!}

So much to do!!!

I have been busy enjoying summer and in the last couple of weeks, my blog has been neglected. I have done several back-dated posts of our activities of late. Also please keep Nathanial in prayer. He was infection-free after the last set of new tubes for about two weeks, now is back to growing out several infections in his left ear. He also has another staph infection growing outside his ear again.

And, please also keep Stellan in your prayers. He has been in persistant SVT for days and is not doing well at all. They are currently planning to airlift him to Boston. Please remember his family in your prayers, also. This has been an amazingly difficult battle for them, as you can well imagine, and they need to be able to rest in the Great Physician's arms now.

And now, scroll down and "relive" our summer fun for a bit!

97 Degrees = Pool Day!

{aidan enjoying the water spouts}




{aidan, noah, and nathanial having fun}

{aidan and noah}

{aidan lounging}

{ethan lovin' it}

{ethan}

{ethan running - shocking, i know}

{hannah loves it}

{nathanial needs to catch some rays}

{dragging his towel into the pool}

{a little sleepy from a short nap - thanks noah!}

{standing in the pool, with a towel on, in 97+ degree weather. hmmm....}

{noah noah}

Summer Fun

We have been very busy the last couple of weeks and it seems instead of a relaxing summer, we will have a very busy one. Austin had Camp Invention last week and this week and had a lot of fun with that. He invented a “new” space station. The idea is that you go and take apart an electronic item (this year, a record player) to discover how it works and then rebuild it into something else. You also learn about different scientific things, how patents work, the invention process, and all sorts of stuff. Our school really encourages it for all students, but it’s almost mandatory for the TAG students. He loves going and I believe this is the last year he’ll be able to go. Austin also had his 4H Communication Day presentation today. He did a Working Exhibit on paint bags. He found the idea on Kid Concoctions and he loves to do them at home, so it was a great idea. We thought we had a lot of it figured out a while ago…he printed out his ideas, supply list, steps, posters, everything on Sunday so all we had to do was actually put it ON the display board. Easy, right?? Not so! We started around 7 last night and did not get finished until 11! It took forever, but it did look pretty good when we were all done. He received a merit ribbon today after he finished and was asked to do it at the county fair in August, so that was great! They are even willing to make arrangements for him because the working exhibit time is half way through his rabbit show, but they are willing to let him come late and do it. He is very excited. I put pictures of last night’s fiasco and today’s presentation on www.dropshots.com/5boysmom. I have decided I will be using that for pictures from now on.Aidan is, well, Aidan. He is so sweet sometimes and sooo ornery others. I cannot figure out if it is because he is trying to assert his independence or what. It can be very trying and then, just as fast as lightning, he will be his sweet little self again. It hasn’t helped that the weather has been extra icky, either. It has been hotter than blazes and then, suddenly, last night, it was storming really bad and today also. He started swimming lessons on Monday, but has actually had only two lessons, only one of which was in the water. Monday it stormed so they had a safety lesson, Tuesday was a swim meet, Wednesday in the water, then last night Tornado and Thunderstorm warnings killed it. He is actually doing really well.Nathanial is getting very close to rolling! He is now whipping himself onto his side and trying VERY hard to roll all the way. He just needs to move his arm out from under himself! Ethan has the back to front roll down perfectly and is trying to perfect his back to front. He gets stuck halfway and also needs to move his arm! Noah has got it down both ways and is deciding it is an excellent way to get across the room! Not so great!! They are all grasping toys when you put them in their hands and Nathanial and Ethan will even grab at toys themselves and hold on. Which also means they pick up EVERYTHING they find and it immediately goes into the mouth. I think they are all teething. They are all drooling and putting everything in their mouths and chewing on things a lot. Noah is very cranky, but the other two are really good.I think I am either slightly insane or really stupid (haven’t decided which yet!), but the boys and I are going to stay a week at Shawna’s in the beginning of July! We are all very excited. I am a tad nervous about the babies and Austin, but I am sure it will be a lot of fun. Steve always works the month of July non-stop (even holidays and weekends) because of year end, so we never see him. I thought this year instead of staying home, we would go away. That way he also doesn’t have to worry about being home for us at a certain time (which is usually very late). We are planning on going swimming, to the River Museum, and the Madison Zoo! I know it will be a lot of fun!The day after we get home from Shawna’s, Austin goes to Boy Scout camp for 10 days! He’s very excited. It will be his longest stay away from home, but last year he went to Webelos camp for four days and he has been on three weekend BS campouts in the last few months, so he’ll be fine. He also still has his Monday group that he goes to and the 4H fair to look forward to. So glad to have his Communication Day done!!!That’s about it for now. I hope everyone has a great 4th of July and we’ll update when we get home!