What's Happenin'

 

Just another random catch-up from pictures in my phone..

Rudy and Avery helped Papa plant his garden this spring.  They were loving finding worms!  Someone even snuck a few inside... eek!

planting potatoes

Bubbers is a climber!  He was SO proud of himself for climbing all the way up the rock wall.  I forget how much babies this size like to climb stairs, since we don't have any.  When we spend time at Gran and Papa's, someone is usually on the stairs with Ben!

Art projects galore... Rudy and Avery ask to do a project almost daily.  Some days I get more creative (vs handing them a box of crayons and paper).  This day they used sponges to paint and toilet paper rolls to stamp.  Their pictures turned out quite beautifully and are still hanging on our refrigerator!

Bubbers likes to tear apart the shelves while the other two create.  There are lots of books and puzzles at his level to get into!

We've made a couple trips to the indoor playplace at McDonald's, thanks to a tip from a friend.  The kids burn off lots of energy and I usually have to drag them out of there.  Rudy and Nolan like to pretend they are in the Paw Patrol Look-Out Tower... good imaginations!

And there is also a musical thing on a rubber mat for Ben to walk around and bang on... fun for everyone!

This morning was so funny.  We had recently gone shopping and Avery was SO happy to find a shirt, "just like Rudy's!"  Avery got dressed in last years shorts and her new shirt and Rudy said, "Avery!  Those not shorts!  Those underpants!  I like your shirt but you need some shorts!"  And then they wanted a picture together of them in their matching shirts... sibling love at its finest :)



And shortly after this picture was found... no relation at all, nope, none.

Chuck-E-Cheeeeeeese!

 

Kids sure love Chuck-E-Cheese!  Uncle Tony was in town and somehow my collection of gift cards came up... I don't know why, but I seem to hold on to gift cards... anyway, we found a Chuck-E-Cheese gift card that Avery was given for her birthday and decided it was a great night to use it!

Rides, games, pizza, prizes... doesn't get much better!

...for everyone...notice how there are no kids around these two...

And unfortunately (maybe, fortunately) I forgot to use the gift card so we get to go back again sometime!

Zoo Tots

In an effort to mix things up and do some different activities, I signed the kids up for a couple "Zoo Tot" classes at the Springfield zoo.  They offer a class a week, each focusing on a different animal at the zoo.  The kids get to meet the animal, do an art project related to the animal, and some sort of activity.  It's only an hour long class and seemed like a great way to spend a cold day! 

 

First up was penguins!  I really hyped up the idea of going to meet the penguins leading up to the class.  We had just bought "Mr. Popper's Penguins" and the kids loved it, so it was great timing! 

 

John and Max were at the house doing some work so I was going to take all three by myself, which really didn't bother me.  I thought the class was from 11-12, so perfect to grab lunch on the way home.  About 9:50 I had a strange feeling, "was the class at 10?!"  Sure enough it was.  I panicked a bit and had John and Max help get everyone ready and out the door as fast as possible.  Needless to say, we were a bit late! ... and that seemed to set the tone for Class #1.  Luckily, we arrived in time for the end of the penguin showing.  The kids were so timid.  He was a cute little guy, waddling around his little cage.   

The instructor also had a couple fake penguins to teach the kids more things - where this or that was and point out things.  They kids could touch these and they looked so real that they would tell anyone that they got to pet a real live penguin! 

The craft was making a little paper penguin that could wiggle if moved just the right way.  We also went out to the hall to match up different species of penguins with their families. 

All was good until story time.  Avery insisted she wanted to stand in the middle of the circle and take her clothes off.  What a nightmare.  I had to take her to the hall - and just leave my baby hanging out in his stroller! - to try to get her to calm down and talk some sense into her (which was nearly impossible!).  As we were leaving another mom there said, "You handled that really well.  I feel for you.  I'm here with my youngest of three.  Some days are hard!" - which was SO nice of her, but you also hate to be that mom that has to be comforted because your kid is so horrible.

After we got done with class, this is how Avery decided to throw yet another fit.  I think she may have actually licked the floor of the zoo.  And, yep, that's Rudy digging in my wallet searching for "monies" to put down the drain... nothing like being in complete control...

All was well - eventually - and I had to drag them out of there (because they were having so much fun, not because they wouldn't get off the floor :)) 

John and Max met me for lunch after.  Thank goodness I had John to go home to - it was one of those days that I needed a strong hug!

 

So next up:  Snakes!

I have to note that Tony was home during this time and opted out of the class. 

John was able to come for this class - after the first one I wanted reinforcement! - and of course it went perfectly smooth

They met three different snakes - they just kept getting bigger and bigger!

Rudy was surpringly brave and touched one of them - so quick though that we couldn't even snap a picture fast enough!

Each kid had a turn pretending to be a snake and wiggling along a mat.

The anticipation of the HUGE snake!

Avery was surpringly scared.  She kept scooting farther and farther back and wouldn't touch any of them!  

Ben just hung out, eating veggie straws :)

For a project, they decorated a paper snake and attached a string so they could twirl it around and around...

Snake day was a success!  

The Prayer of Every Parent

Dear God,

Thank you for this new day I get to spend with my children. They are a true blessing and I am so lucky to have them.

So far today I have not raised my voice to my children. I have not given them a dirty look, have not rolled my eyes, and have not once looked at the clock to see if I can justify putting them to bed. I have not said a harsh word or tried to reason with my 2-year-old as to why she cannot bang on my laptop in an attempt to "work" with me. I have not scolded my son for climbing up on the table over and over and over again. I have been patient, kind, and loving.

Likewise, thank you for my kids and how well they have behaved today. They have not fought once. They have been calm and quiet and almost peaceful. They have not blatantly disobeyed me, have not hit, bit, or tortured one another. My son has not knocked over my daughter's block tower, and my daughter has not stolen my son's cup because it has more milk in it. They have had only nice things to say to me and to one another and oh what pure joy it's been.

But soon, God, I'm going to get out of bed, and that's all going to change.

Please give me the ability to see straight until I've had my first cup of coffee, the courage to get my kids from their room, and the knowledge that one day I'll miss these days.

Amen.

Mom's Work

 

I still work one day a week at a CPA firm, but work several additional hours from home whenever I can.  I was having computer issues and needed to run into my office one morning.  John was at work, so I had to take all 3 with me.  I needed 10 minutes, how much damage could they do in 10 minutes, right?! 

I came prepared.. I printed off coloring pages and cutting sheets to hopefully keep them occupied.

And it worked!!

We have a relatively small office with some open cubes so I set them each up in their own and told them they had to get to work.  I can't believe it worked.  Rudy was SO impressed by the office.  He kept telling me, "Mom, your office is beautiful!"  Avery went a little crazy on the 10-key, but other than that I thought they were so great and quiet!  In fact, they didn't want to leave.  We had to wait for Rudy to finish his work, he was very insistent.  Sure, firemen have big firetrucks and snacks, but accountants have calculators and markers!  :)

Ben didn't get his own desk... maybe next time, Bub.



A co-worker (the only other person in the office that day, thank goodness!) came over to say hi, and said he had just gotten off the phone with another person we work with.   She asked him, "Where are you?? It sounds like you are in a daycare!"  ... maybe we weren't so quiet...

The Big 3-0

 

I cannot believe I am actually 30.  Thirty.  30. Years. Old. 

...But if all birthdays could be like my 30th, I'd turn 30 again and again!

 

I didn't want a big production, just a simple day with the kids.  John told me earlier in the week that he made appointments for me at the salon - a massage, blowout, and makeup application - and that we were going to dinner afterwards and the kids were coming.  Sounded perfect!

 

Early in the morning, my three favorite babies

We made last minute plans to meet Ray and LeeAnn for lunch, which was really nice...

And the chocolate cake was even better!

Little did I know, John had put together a surprise party.  When I got back home, our house was filled with our closest family and friends!  It was such a surprise!! 

He had dinner ready and everyone sang "Happy Birthday" 

The kids went home with Ray and LeeAnn for the night so we could visit with our friends.  The girls ended up all inside sitting around the table, drinking way too many adult beverages, listening to music... I laughed so hard my face hurt.  It was the BEST birthday ... I am one very, very, very lucky girl (old lady).