take your child to work day

This is so embarrassingly overdue, but sometimes you have to swallow your pride and finish a blogpost, 5 months in the making. Since I, Tony, am the one who took the kids to work, it is my responsibility to write about it. We started off the day with a nutritious breakfast. The kids liked getting up with me.

Carrie insisted on a picture as we left for the day and made me take an oath that I would take pictures throughout the day. I did my best.

The kids may have actually been the most excited for the bus ride to and from downtown Kansas City. We took a seat in the back of the bus so that we could all sit together. They beamed as they watched out the window and had their own seat, no car seats.

My boss had all the kids there for the day take an oath, not too dissimilar to the oath every federal worker takes their first day on the job. The kids were unsure about doing it.

They gave the kids each a goody bag, and Lauren instantly started eating the candy bracelet in it.

The first stop on our tour of the federal building where I work was down to the police office, where they probably arrest someone every other year or so. I was proud of the kids for mugging it up. Perhaps Will was a little to natural taking a mug shot.

I put the kids in the holding cell without actually shutting the door. Lauren was having NONE of that as she screamed, assuming I just locked her in jail. I consider this her scared straight moment.

Upset with their father, the kids took out their aggression on the training dummy.

Next we went out to see their police cars. They let each of the kids get in the driver's seat and make the alarm go off. Will liked it very much, given his new love of all automobiles.

Then we got to interact with the K-9 officer and his dog. The kids were fascinated as the the officer showed them how the dog can smell drugs or a bomb when human beings cannot. They were fixed on the dog, and like a John child should, they kept their distance from the dog. They have a healthy fear of any dog that comes up past their knee and is not totally docile.

We came back to the office where my friend and coworker Kelly had arranged activities for the kids, centered around the theme of everyday superheros. The first game was one where the kids got to crumple of paper and throw it at each other. Will got into it, and the kids each won a puzzle which made them very proud.

Then we started talking about superheros. Kelly asked if the kids could name around who had superpowers. Lauren exclaimed: "Jesus!!!" which made me proud, while I hoped her earnest answer did not upset the less religious people in the room. Everyone laughed. Will decided to create a superhero named "Zooman". He has animal powers, as you can tell from the picture.  Lauren was not interested in drawing anyone.

But I icould get her to color in an award for a coworker. Kelly got the kids to do us a service by creating awards for our team that were going to be handed out the next day. My coworker Chris got a very purple award.

We finished up the day by watching cartoons in my boss' office. These kids are all going to grow up together as they are all so similar in age. It will be fun to see how they change year to year.

Tuckered out from a hard day at Dad's work, both kids passed out on the bus ride home. Lauren totally passed out, and a minute after I took this picture, she slipped backwards and hit her head on the window.

I am grateful to work in an office that takes this type of thing seriously enough so that my kids could come and have a fantastic time with friends and their dad.

elliott :: 1 month

9 lbs. 4 ounces (45th percentile)

21 inches (25th percentile)

Our Little Buddy is a month old. Adding him to the mix has gone better than I expected, and has so far (knock on wood) been our easiest transition. Lots of things contribute to this. More experienced and less anxious parents. Older siblings that are a bit older and more independent (potty trained and able to dress and feed themselves, etc.) so I'm not doing every single thing for 4 people. A baby with a content disposition. Nice weather so we're able to get out and avoid feeling too stir-crazy.

Elliott has a great appetite and eats about 9 times a day. He typically feeds about once every two hours, with one longer stretch (3-3.5 hours) at bedtime. And he's trending towards more time in between feedings each week. He spits up more than both Will or Lauren ever did, but not consistently. He snores and grunts while he sleeps. It reminds me of a Pug. He likes to be held, but is also content to observe from his perch in the swing or rock-n-play. Momma is his favorite, but he is the most interested in what Will and Lauren are up to. Speaking of his siblings, they adore him. Both Will and Lauren have proven themselves to be great helpers. More than once I have been in another room and heard Elliott start to whimper and by the time I get to him one of his siblings is there pushing him in the swing, offering him a pacifier or snuggles and words of comfort. He's not quite sure what to think of the snuggles (sometimes they appear to be more like smothers), but like I said, he is fascinated with them so he rarely cries out. He is very "regular," and needs a diaper change every time I feed him. The kids have given him the nicknames Poop John and the Poop Monster, but only actually call him that when we're changing his diaper. He has a fairly strong neck and has rolled over from back to front a few times, though it didn't seem intentional. Like his siblings before him he has a bit of baby acne and cradle cap--so far only in his eyebrows. He has the same big blue eyes too. I've caught him smiling a few times, but he often has a quizzical look on his face like he's trying to figure out what life on Earth is all about. We love our Little Buddy.

2015 :: week 37

September 6

After feasting on a delicious lamb roast prepared by my dad, we decided to visit the beautiful sunflower fields outside of Lawrence. The fields were gorgeous! So many sunflowers. And so many people! I couldn't believe how crowded it was. We got there juuuuuuuust as the sun was setting, but were still able to get a few good pictures. Will isn't wearing his glasses because the tiny screw on the side fell out while we were at church.

September 7

It's a good thing we visited the sunflowers when we did. While I was feeding Elliott in the middle of the night I heard lot of rain and thunder and saw lightening. By midmorning the rain stopped and our ward's Labor Day picnic proceeded as planned. Will and Tony started a game of baseball which lots of kids and dads participated in. After the game we said goodbye to the Staritas, got Will's glasses repaired, went out to eat and cleaned out our garage. It was a fun and busy day, though I was disappointed it was too cold to go to the pool. Going to the pool the evening of Labor Day has become a tradition for us.

September 8

It was a teacher work day for our school district, which meant no school again on Tuesday. I took the kids to Pump it Up! It was a bit more crowded than the past few times we've gone. While we were there they turned on the black lights and the kids (especially Will) rocked out. I bought two groupons to Pump it Up! which expire at the end of this month. The kids really love playing there, but I'm not sure if we'll go as often when we have to pay full price.

September 9

We spent a lot of time at the park this week. Monday for the ward picnic and Tuesday and Wednesday with friends after lunch. After bathing the kids Wednesday evening I decided to braid Lauren's hair (when I do this it makes her hair so much easier to do in the morning). While I was sectioning out her hair I noticed what I initially thought was a scab. Upon further examination I realized it was a tick! Of course this would happen when Tony was out of town. Lauren was vaguely familiar with tick removal because Will got a tick in his head during the John Family Reunion in Wisconsin this summer. She freaked out and I ended up calling my parents to come over and help me remove the tick.

September 10

My sweet little sleeper. Thursday after we dropped the big kids off at school and preschool Elliott and took a little nap together. Elliott is a pretty accommodating with all the time he has to spend in his car seat, but I like to make it up to him by snuggling a bit when we get home. I enjoy the few hours we get to spend just the two of us while Will and Lauren are at school. Eventually I'll need to get some work done during this time, but right now we mostly rest.

September 11

Friday marked one full month of Elliott. He had his one month check-up and he checked out well. He's gaining weight, growing and right where he should be as at one month. It's really amazing to me that even though he's only been here with us for a short time, it's hard to imagine our family feeling complete without him.

September 12

On Saturday Anthony, Elliott and I went to Lawrence to attend the wedding of one of best friends from high school, Soni Oliver. Soni and Terrance got married at the beautiful Danforth Chapel on KU campus. It was a perfect late summer day. Soni is a graphic designer and I've always been envious of her style. Her wedding details were gorgeous in their simplicity.  It was great to see her looking so beautiful and happy.

2015 :: week 36

August 30

We took Elliott to church for the first time and he wasn't terribly impressed. He spent most of his time sleeping, but did wake up for the latter half of Sunday School.

August 31

Mornings are my biggest challenge, as I'm sure they are for a lot of parents. Before having Elliott and Will starting Kindergarten I found bedtime the most challenging. In the morning I get up, feed Elliott, get Will and Lauren up and ready for school, push Lauren and Elliott in our double stroller while walking Will to school and back home again, drive Lauren to preschool, then feed Elliott again. On Monday morning I decided to "close my eyes" for fifteen minutes and passed out for close to ninety.

September 1

Tuesday night I gave Anthony and Will haircuts. The John men need haircuts at least every 6-8 weeks.

September 2

It got hot again! The two weeks after Elliott was born and Nana was in town were cooler than our typical August weather. Now that September has arrived the temperature hit the 90s again and we tried to fit in a few more pool trips before the pool closes on Labor Day.

September 3

Elliot seems to be Anthony's little twin. They've got the same big eyes, expressive faces, and easygoing demeanor. I'm excited to see what else they have in common as Elliott grows up.

September 4

The Staritas came to town for Labor Day weekend. Well, they really came so Andrew could go to the BYU-Nebraska game. Friday evening we made a trip to the pool. Both Andrew and Melanie and so patient and nice with our kids. Our kids have really lucked out in the aunt/uncle department on both sides of the family.

September 5

For their birthdays my parents got Anthony and Andrew tickets to the BYU-Nebraska football game in Lincoln. They made a day of it, leaving OP around 8am and getting home around 11pm. It was a fun, close game with the lead changing several times. The :01 second left Hail Mary pass to win the game will never be forgotten and they were excited to be there.