Friday, May 23, 2014

Last Day of School


Summer is here...We let the world know;)


Welcome to summer table that greeted them when we got home...they each got a new outdoor toy and of course, our tradition of silly string.
Ava got a new Hula Hoop

Phin got a ball throwing thing...but was more excited about his activity book;)

Chloe got a new sensory ball.

WOO HOO!

We had an all out war!

Even the camera wasn't safe...

Happy Summer!

Friday, May 16, 2014

My Ballerinas

My sweet girls had their ballet recital tonight.  They take lessons at a studio called "The Attic".  It is a christian studio and I was so impressed by the level of talent in their teachers and older students.  The entire recital was like a worship concert and my adorable daughters were the highlight of the show for me;)

Patiently awaiting her turn...

Chloe was realizing a dream...she was SO excited.


Chloe's crew...

She was just miserable on stage as you can tell...


They danced to "Oh Happy Day" and they could not have been more joyful!

Ava's class...

She was quite serious and concentrating;)


and beautiful!

They are a "dancing generation" to be sure!

Grandma found them pink and purple GLITTERED flowers...just perfect!


I can't believe these beauties are mine...so proud;)

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Bumma!





It's been a bit of a bummer of a day.  Marc was out of town and I don't sleep so well, when he's gone.  I guess fatigue, allergies, and a rainy day just make for a bad day.  I thought it started out well, though, I got all the kids up and fed and out the door by 7:30.  Got Ava to school on time and often when Marc is gone, getting her there on time, usually involves a quick run through McD's so she can eat on the way.  Not this morning.  We have yogurt, apples, and cinnamon raisin toast and we left right on time.  SCORE!

Unfortunately it was a decline from there.  I got home to catch up on laundry only to be forced to confront how absolutely behind in laundry I was!  I don't think I have EVER been this behind.  I HATE laundry so I purposefully don't let myself get too behind...and today, I am on my 7th load.  I have commercial size washer and dryers so let's just face the facts that we could not have gone much longer without running out of clothes completely.  Sheets and towels are not getting their turn and hopefully by tomorrow we'll be back on track.

I sent the kids to pick up their rooms before their morning show...so proud of myself for keeping on track with chores.  I went upstairs to discover that Chloe had shut a locked door...and furthermore realized for the first time (we've lived her since July), their door requires a KEY to unlock!  How did we not realize this before this moment?! Do I need to mention we do not HAVE the aforementioned required key.  It is still unopened.  The hinges are on the inside and the lock is front door quality my friends.  Marc has pried and pushed and almost broken the door itself (yes, I am married to a manly man).  We require a locksmith.  We'd heard the people who lived here before the people we bought it from went through a NASTY divorce- this explains the cut wires down in the basement and perhaps a top quality bedroom lock, as well.  Fan.tastic.

(Yes, my kid really is THAT cute...how can you really feel angry at a face like that?!)

My dear youngest child.  Potty trained in two days and in the first week and a half had ONE accident.  Currently, he is having multiple.  He pees his pants, then I put on a diaper and he keeps the diaper dry, so we try underwear again and within an hour, he pees his pants.  I think he finds it hilarious...except this afternoon, i stuck him in the empty tub and used the shower head to wash off poop after he pooed his pants.  He screamed and cried (yes, I kept the water cold, I wanted it to be uncomfortable)...take that little stinker.  I felt like I won for a moment, but then I saw his eyes, I think I have much more poo to look forward to after I pulled that stunt.  Time will tell....but his eyes clearly said, "Oh, did you not like that mommy, mental note taken....ha ha ha!"

Finally, I accidentally washed a dried my brand new perfect color dusky purple linen shirt.  I wore it once with white skinny jeans.  It used to be long and oversized.  This is how it looks now.  I think it shrunk up twelve inches and there is a whole now on the side seam....guess that HAND WASH ONLY tag meant something, huh?  Just completely missed it in the mound of clothing chaos.  SADNESS.

I do have to say, I also ran out of my Twinings Earl Grey AND Constant Comment teas- how did I possibly run out of BOTH without replenishing?  That looked to be travesty number 5, however, I got out the loose leaf Earl Grey with Lavender I ordered from Richardson's after loving it at a restaurant.  I ordered it over a year ago and rarely have felt motivated enough to deal with the mess of loose leaf.  Sure, I DID have to clean up the leaves, etc, but I remembered why I ordered it.  YUMMO!  Chocolate and Tea saved the day- gifts from heaven;)  Oh yes...that and my husband coming home;)  OH..and Survivor's on Tonight!  (I sure home the negative day doesn't mean Spencer, my favorite player, gets voted off

....better have chocolate ready just in case...)


Thursday, May 1, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Christian Willy!

It's Christian's 3rd birthday and he's HERE to celebrate.  We are elated!  ELATED, I tell you.

This little boy has turned our world upside down in countless ways.  He is a joyful soul with boundless energy.  I am SO proud to be his mama.



Christian has just started to show affinity to toys and characters and he has fallen in love with Elmo.

People ask if he understands what a birthday is...yes, he even knew to blow out his candle at the end of the song;)

He was quite pleased with himself!

 First, one must sample the frosting...


Soon, the cake was forgotten for the Sesame Street car cake toppers;)

His siblings got him an Elmo blanket and straw cup

He was pretty happy;)

Marc and I got him a black baby doll.

Christian spent the first two years of his life on the "baby" side of the creche. Even when he turned two and moved to the "big kid" side, he spent much of his day visiting because that is where Imelda, his favorite nanny, works.  He LOVES babies- both real ones and dolls.  I wanted to find a boy and with removable clothes for him to play with.  The best I could do was a life like newborn.

He was just amazed at how lifelike he was.


Quickly he decided to change his diaper...

This is the moment he discovered that this doll is anatomically correct...

He found it hysterical.



Happy Birthday, buddy.  You amaze us every day.  You are so intelligent, I am sure you'll have us running in circles in your teenage years.  Your laugh has turned the roughest days right.  Your resilience and perseverance in learning are inspiring.  In six months, you've begun to master the English language, learned to fully dress and undress yourself, learned colors and numbers, and countless songs.  You even threw potty training in this week before turning three- done, for the most part, on your own in two days.  I can't help but wonder how you'll continue to astound us in the year ahead.  You are simply remarkable.  We love you more than words can describe.