Father's Day Weekend

What a great Father's Day weekend! I think we have finally grabbed a hold of summer here in Chicago. On Saturday, James took all 4 of the kids out of the house at 6 a.m. to go to "work" with him. They stopped and got breakfast (donuts) and then headed out to the nursery and greenhouse to get some more flowers and plants for our house and Grandma & Papa's. All 3 little ones "helped" daddy do planting and trimming while Brett caught up on some reading. He's only been out of school for 2 weeks and has already finished close to 8 books already this summer! After all the yards were perfectly primped it was lunch time. James & the kids picked up lunch and went to play at G & G Laslo's and pick some fresh veggies. Next came a trip to the bank (for suckers of course) and to the hardware, Home Depot, and car parts store.



Meanwhile, I was at home feeling extremely relaxed and getting much accomplished. After they left, I just got out of bed bc it was a little too quiet and started my day. I did 5 loads of laundry, ran a couple errands, and paid the bills all before noon....and I just thought "now what?" I NEVER have a Saturday all to myself! Well, after I got all my stuff done I decided to take advantage of a quiet, beautiful yard on a sunny day and get my suit on and sip fresh lemonade & nibble on some watermelon in the backyard. This has never happened and I have to say, it was WONDERFUL!!!



Finally around 1:30 my family arrived back home and spent the next hour cleaning and waxing James truck. The kids were having a blast! They were covered in bubbles and loved every minute. After we got everyone bathed and dressed we went out for dinner to celebrate James. He is truly a wonderful dad. I had a small idea when I met him over seven years ago that he was good with kids just watching him play, teach and love Brett, but had NO IDEA just how wonderful a father he really would become. Over the last few years he has really proved there isn't much he can't do. When needed he can do the laundry, clean, cook or grill a gourmet dinner, bath, dress, straighten hair, paint fingernails and take on a weekend alone with four kids. Pretty amazing if you ask me! Even after all that he still makes time for me.

The next day (which was actually Father's Day) we had my parents and sister over to celebrate my dad's birthday that was a day earlier. The kids played in their new sandbox, swam in the pool and played Bags...a new favorite game at the Laslo house. Overall the weekend was great and relaxing and needless to say, James went to bed pretty early that night.

Robin's Nest

Here are the pictures of the robin's nest built in the very dead hanging basket on our front porch. The kids and I had a lot of fun watching them grow. The first picture was taken on May 14th and the last one was June 6th. They were hanging pretty high so I would just go out with camera in the a.m. and snap a few shots over my head to see what was going on, then later put a little slideshow on the computer for the kids. They loved it! As you can see from the last picture taken 3 days ago...all 5 little robins can barely fit in the nest! As of a couple minutes ago 4 little ones have left the nest and only one remains. It was really an amazing thing to watch and we think OUR kids grow up fast!

Almost Time...

Well, it's almost time for us to welcome Baby Laslo #5 into our family. When we found out it felt like we had years to get used to the idea that we would again have a baby in the house. It seemed over the winter that time stood still. Now here we are only five short weeks away! I know it sounds silly, but it feels like we haven't baby in our house in years...almost three! Hard to believe next month we will again have baby bottles, tiny diapers, midnight feedings, and all sorts of misc. baby gear.

I went to the doctor last week for another checkup and was able to schedule my c-section. The date is July 16th. I get asked a lot why a c-section? I had to have one w/ Madison & Noah because Noah was breach. Then, I was all ready to deliver naturally w/ Dylan, but I made it to my due date and they don't induce after you've already had a c-section because of serious risks. They also knew he was a big baby (10 lbs.) and they didn't want him to bake any longer. So, I had to have one with him. I knew from the beginning that I had to have another one this time around. I have no problems with another, I heal great.

Everything is ready. Bassinet, pack n' play, and changing table are in place. My bag is packed and lists are made for the hospital and for grandparents. James and I are SO incredibly ready to meet this new little one. I just need to do a couple more loads of baby blankets, wash the bottles, and buy some baby essentials and I am set. Not knowing what the sex of this baby is has been tough. I still have everything newborn from each of the kids so we are set either way, but the wait is killing me! Now I can understand why people want to find out...with 4 kids it sure would be nice to pull out the appropriate items and colors and be done, but there is something so fun about the surprise of NOT knowing! It's like opening a present from God...who wants to know what their present is before they open it?

The kids are still pretty confused. They still have no concept of time so it's hard to tell them when this baby is coming. They have been able to feel and see this baby move, but they don't really have a clue. Madison and Noah know there is a baby, but I am not sure they understand it going to be here to stay, and Dylan just thinks we are nuts when we tell him that there is a baby in my belly. Brett is very excited. He loves babies and is always a huge help when we have had one in our home. He has even given me some name suggestions! It's going to be quite an experience when they come to see their new sibling at the hospital. Probably even more so when we actually bring baby home! Please pray for us and an easy transition for all.

Is it June...or January?

It's hard to believe that it's already June! The weather here in Chicago has certainly not been very cooperative. Brett's last day of school on the 3rd only got up to a high in the low 60's. I remember the last day of school to always be hot and we were often rewarded with an end-of-the-year Popsicle...Brett told me he thought they could have used some hot cocoa!

I am slightly thankful for the cool weather being 9 months pregnant. We have only had a couple days that felt remotely "hot" and they seemed to just suck my remaining energy pretty quick. These last few weeks the kids and I have had a hard time waiting for summer. Rain and cool weather are not ideal for parks and backyard swimming. I don't mean to complain, but it's so hard when we were cooped up all winter and just want to get out!

Today the kids and I are going to go to a couple garage sales. Our neighbors had one last week and I think we walked away with half of their belongings! I found some great deals. We got a brand new bike, a cozy coupe (that had probably been used once,) a new set of chairs with a little table, a toddler golf set, some girly flip flops and a barking toy puppy, and a brand new building set. Would you believe I got it all for under $30 dollars? We hope to have some luck today.

Yesterday James parents took the three littlest kids to the zoo while Brett and I got to have a date day. It was his first whole day off school for summer break. We hit a few book stores and used some gift cards Brett had gotten over the last few months, had a yummy lunch at Panera, went out after lunch for a little ice cream, and back home (so he could start one of his new books;) and then we played games until the littles came back home in the late afternoon. It's always fun to spend some time away from the craziness with Brett. We always try to make sure that we get to spend some one-on-one time w/ him weekly so he doesn't get lost in the shuffle of training up the little ones. He and James like to go for bike rides now and it's very convenient to live so close to the prairie path!

I am really hoping this weekend turns out to be the start of summer weather for us. We may even do a little shopping for a new swing set. The one we have was great when we moved in bc we never one before, but it only has 2 swings, a slide, and 6 monkey bars. The kids are really outgrowing our current one. Many, MANY fights start about which of the kids gets the "good" swing. And so it begins. They never used to fight over things but lately all three seem to want the same thing all day everyday. I think it will really help me out so maybe, just maybe I can leave them to play and get a few much needed things done. Watering the flowers just doesn't work when I have three eager hands wanting to help, but really all they want to do is get themselves wet. We'll see how it goes.

One more thing...we have a VeRy dead hanging basket left over from early spring that a Robin built a nest in. We have been watching it very closely & the kids have enjoyed watching the eggs turn into recognizable little robins! I will soon post a few pics.

Brett's Big Month

I still can't believe some days that our "little" guy Brett is ten years old. It seems like just yesterday I was giving him piggy back rides and reading him books on my lap. Today, I couldn't even think about picking him up (although somehow James still gives piggy back rides to him up the stairs to bed) and the books he reads are long novels totalling sometimes 500+ pages. He is turning out to be quite the young man, and May proved to be a month of many 'firsts' for him.

The first weekend in May he had a hat trick during one of his first soccer matches (3 goals in a single game = hat trick.) He has had a great season so far scoring at least one goal per game. The little kids love to go to his games now and are BY FAR his biggest supporters/cheerleaders. "GO BRETT GO" and "SCORE BRETT" are loudly, and I mean loudly proclaimed from their tiny little folding chairs. He is the best big brother any little siblings could have. All three little ones really look up to him and Dylan actually thinks that he is him sometimes. I have been at the park and heard him telling people his name is Brett. Brett doesn't mind. Those two are great buddies.

Last week I took Brett to the eye doctor. He had been saying that it was sometimes getting hard to see the board at school. He never once mentioned it before, so I thought maybe it was because a good friend of his just got new glasses, but I took him anyway. The first test the performed was for color blindness, and as it turned out...he is color blind. I had no idea! Of course someone who is color blind doesn't know that they are, so it was a little bit of a shock. The colors that he cannot see are red & green, and I was explained that they may just look like shades of gray. I know it sounds funny, but I was actually a little heart-broken about it. Especially at this time of year the colors are so vibrant and beautiful, I just wondered how he saw it. I know he doesn't know any different but then think about Christmas! With everything red & green he must think it's nuts everyone would decorate in shades of gray?

Uneventful for the rest of us, something he was excited about was making his first big purchase. Last summer James and I bought him a great bike he should be able to use for at least the next 3-4 years. This year in addition to his bike, he decided that while his bike is great he needed another form of exercise decided and get some roller blades. We told him that if he really wanted them, he could spend some of his birthday money that he had been saving and get them. So he did...now I just hope he doesn't have his 'first' big 'break' this month also!

My Little Animals

On Friday my cousin Mandy & I took the three littlest Laslos to the Brookfield Zoo. It was a perfect day...72 degrees and party sunny. I have to say I was a little nervous as this was our first time to the zoo EVER without our triple stroller, but w/ Mandy's help I was able to keep everyone somewhat together. The kids loved their new freedom to run freely to each new animal and attraction. It was fun to see them remember different facts and names as we strolled through the animal houses.

Each of them had a specific animal in mind before we left for the zoo that they must see. Noah wanted to see the dolphins, Madison wanted to see the elephants (which were of course not out that day) and Dylan wanted to see the sting rays. Last summer/fall they had an exhibit called Sting Ray Bay. There were sting rays in a large pool that you could pet and feed and I was really surprised that Dylan wanted anything to do with them after his experience last fall. He went to put his hand in and a sting ray almost jumped right out of the tank and into his lap! He screamed and refused to even go anywhere near them after that.





Next the kids really wanted to go on the Motor Safari (tram) so we decided mid afternoon it would be a good break (for a very pregant lady) to sit back and relax for a little while. The kids were thoroughly disappointed that it didn't zoom through the zoo like a rollercoaster, but went slowly and spewed facts about the animals and different zoo exhibits.

Overall it was a great visit to the zoo. It always brings back many memories for me of going the zoo when I was little. We lived about a mile from the zoo growing up and sometimes on a quiet, warm, summer evening we could hear the mighty lions roaring all the way from our house. I also remember taking a short bike ride to the zoo just to simply have a picnic. The zoo has always been a special place and seems to never get old. I bet I can even find a 28 year old picture of Mandy and I going to the zoo together. I couldn't have done this particular trip without her, Thanks Mandy!

The Greenhouse Effect

Spring seems to FINALLY be here! For this Memorial Day weekend James & I decided it was about time we tend to our own yard. The grass seemed to be getting overgrown, the flowers left over from the kids party in pots had all turned brown, and the patio looked a little bare without all our furniture.

So, on Saturday morning off to the greenhouse we went. James and I drove both cars (b/c seriously...we knew we about to go on a spending spree.) As I drove up to the greenhouse and pulled into the lot I had a flood of emotions come over me. I had a flashback of seven years earlier. I was a young mom of a little boy who had just turned three. I just finished 2 years of school and for one reason or another starting seeing the path I chose was not one I wanted to follow. I had dreamed of becoming an Art teacher growing up. Dreams change. I had a little one to support now, and let's be honest...school doesn't pay until you finish, and I couldn't wait for another 2 years. I starting doing data entry for a billing company, tried my hand in real estate as a personal administrative assistant to the president of a property management company and when that didn't work out I thought I had made some pretty bad choices. I soon got an interview for an open position for a friend of the family's greenhouse. Hmmmm....at this point I had no idea what to expect, but knew I needed a job. A girl who didn't even know the difference between and annual and perennial, THAT could be interesting!

Needless to say I got the job. I had never dressed "down" for a job before, but loved that I could just slip on a baseball hat & jeans and head to work! I started at the beginning of March. I worked with some pretty eccentric people to say the least. After a couple months I started to think to myself that this probably wasn't going to work out. I felt so out of place and was handed jobs that seemed to just keep my busy. Then came the month of May. I was pricing some terra cotta pots outside when a young landscaper crossed my path. That young landscaper was James. He had the most wonderful smile. Over the course of that next month that smile would get me every time. The greenhouse had transformed over a few short months from an almost empty storehouse to place that truly showed God's beauty. Hundreds of customers a day coming to enjoy the sights and smells of God's wonderful creation. My eyes had been opened too. I now saw the flowers and plants in their true beauty...learning so much about them from some extremely knowledgeable coworkers that grew to feel like a second family. God's goodness was everywhere.

One day in late May at the greenhouse, in that baseball cap and (now) shorts and flip flops, a that same young landscaper would ask me out for dinner. I accepted and we began to talk over the phone in the evenings for a couple weeks before our busy schedules would allow us to finally meet for that dinner. After our first real date I think I began to see a little more of God's plan. It was all beginning to make sense. I stayed at the greenhouse for two more years and NOW married w/ 4 almost 5 kids...God's plan for me, for us, now seemed so clear.

So, as I got out of my car this Saturday and walked up to the greenhouse in all is splendor and beauty, I got chills. I remembered where I was 7 years ago almost to the day that I met James and knew God had sent me someone so special. What fun it was to be back there together buying some plants for our own home. I do miss the greenhouse at this time of year. I made some wonderful friends, learned much, and grew up in the process. I will be forever thankful for the opportunity I was given there and thankful to God for His perfect plan for me. The path I chose was long, bumpy, and quite curvy...but I stand here today w/ the knowledge of where to find a map and who my Guide is.