{Ahh..the little things}

wonderful day

Boring title, I know...

Today was the last day of school for Kaden & Ellie.  It was an exciting day, and to add to it I decided (about 1:00 this afternoon) to throw a "last day of school" party.  I baked some cupcakes, bought a new beach ball sprinkler, water balloons, and Kool-aid jammers.  I also made tacos for dinner, which has become a fave of the kids since they get to make their own.  Now they are winding down to a "camp out in" down in the basement, they are so excited because it is already passed their school bedtime and they are still playing away :)

I am excited too because I get to TURN OFF the alarm clock...WOOHOO!  Tomorrow morning will be spent cleaning up the house from the chaos that is the end of school.  There are messes/piles EVERYwhere throughout the house.  I am looking forward to getting it organized (and hopefully scrapped) in the lazy summer weeks to come.

Friday was Ellie's final school picnic & she went to a sleepover with four other 5 yr olds.  Her first group sleep over, and she had alot of fun playing in a sprinkler, sandbox & chalking with her friends.  She was the first asleep, which did not surprise me at all really, as we had a busy week leading up to it.  It was so cute to see the little ones dropped off with their little sleeping girly bags & pillows.  Boy, does the growing up happen fast.

When we picked her up Saturday morning, we headed to the Lake for the weekend.  It turned out to be an awesome weekend, it only sprinkled a few times & we were able to RELAX!  It was packed full of kids playing, fishing, boating, swimming, going to playgrounds, laying in a hammock with the kiddos, and lots of good cook-out eating too.  I could write an entire post about the trip, including Ellie's HUGE catfish, Zander's lost shoe, the golf cart craziness, an almost child overboard incident on the boat, my clogged duct/almost mastitis, and so on...but I'll move on.  Overall, it was the perfect mini-vacation and we wish we could have slowed the time we were there.  It was over & we were home all too quickly.

Kaden ended his 1st school year with a bang!  He was awarded for having all O's (for outstanding) ALL YEAR long!!  We were SO proud of that.  There was only one other student who achieved the same, and it happened to be his best friend Jacob.

Tonight he went to the movies alone with Daddy to celebrate.

Last night Harry & went to bed soon after we were able to get the kids settled and asleep.  About 4 AM ish, he woke up and was surprised that he had slept that long without waking.  I was surprised too.  Then we both sat up...AVA!  He ran go check on her, and he found her safely sleeping the night away in her crib.  We were both shocked, because she is always awake around 12-1 AM, and sleeps the rest of the night with us.  And she wakes me to nurse every few hours...

When the alarm went off at 7:40 this morning, I woke up, still no Ava next to me. 

She. slept. through. the. whole. entire. night. in. her crib.

Ahhhhhh....Okay, not so quickly with the relaxed sigh, LOL!  She woke up pretty cranky/clingy, but I figured she was just hungry.  I nursed her and she was okay for awhile, but was ready to go back to sleep just a couple of hours after waking.  I was thinking growth spurt, or maybe she was coming down with something. 

But, I noticed sometime during the crazy day that her FIRST little tiny tooth had appeared :) 

No wonder she was cranky.  I tried to get a picture today, but it is not even up out of the skin yet, just level with it, so I'll probably have to wait a few more days.  She was able to get some relief today when I gave her a banana in her mesh feeder.  She bit down on it quite a few times, but mostly just sucked on it.  I forgot what a pain in the a*$ bananas are to clean out of them...ugh!

Since I have shared about every one else, I must mention something about sweet little Zander, right?

Well...he is still the cutest thing ever :)

Today as we played outside, Zander was playing with the hose.  Kaden decided to kink the hose & just as Zander looked to see what the problem was, he let it loose.  He sprayed him in the face multiple times & Zander just giggles right along with him.  The kids is simply hilarious, such a happy/free spirit.

So easy to love, so flippin' squeezable, every Momma's dream. 

(Oh yeah, I just remembered that I let him swim (kiddie pool) yesterday at my friend's with no swim diaper.  Next thing you know, the two girls are screaming.  Yep, you guessed it.  Poop.  On the patio.  Lovely.)

<------ This is him "fishing" in the back yard, it was too cute, complete with the sounds of reeling in the fish and everything :)

a looong weekend....with a side of rain

Yes, we finally have a long weekend of relaxing planned, and Harry is taking THREE DAYS OFF!!!  We decided to head to the Lake & camp out, and we've been so excited about it.  The kids love spending time at the Lake with the Grandparents, and when you add the word "tent"...you can only imagine how over the moon they are.  And wouldn't you know they are calling for rain all weekend?  BLAH!  My Dad lives up there, so he knows of all of the "inside" things we can do just in case, but I am hoping that scattered showers means VERY scattered.  We've been SO ready for a boat ride on Grandpa's boat. 

Spending our time inside just will not be the same, so it better not rain on us! 

Don't you wish it was just that simple?

my fave form of stress relief

Digital scrapping  :) 

I wish I had more time to do it these days, I'd love to catch up on the last YEAR...LOL!

countdown to summer vacation

Kaden has only 5 days of school left, and Ellie only 3  :)

We have already bought our pool pass, as well as set up our backyard pool.  Today the kids were actually brave enough to get in it (it's FREEZING).  We also bought a new sprinkler that they had alot of fun with as well.  It is a long one that has little hoses sticking up that wiggle all over the place.  They were laughing like crazy running through it.  I wish I had pics, but I was holding Aves & did not grab the camera on the way out the door. 

We also had lunch and spent time at the park today with my best friend and her kids.  She is now a SAHM too, and we are enjoying spending our days together. We try to go to lunch at least once a week, and spend many afternoons together letting the kids play while we chat the day away.

Kaden went to school Monday & today, and has not had anymore spots show up.  I am so confused as to what he had/has.  I know there are alot of viral rashes, so I guess that he just caught something somewhere.  I am actually kind-of bummed, I'd like the kids to get the chicken pox to get them over with.  I guess we can wait until Ava gets older though....that would be better (like I get to chose, LOL)!

We have a busy rest of the week with a Carnival Day, a Field Day, a talent show, a baseball game, and a final preschool picnic.  This long holiday weekend we plan to go to the Lake and camp, while spending time with extended family.

Looking forward to it :)

now what?

Kaden only got one more spot this morning.  He is not itching them too much, and I am re-thinking my diagnosis.  It just seems too mild for chicken pox, unless it is a VERY mild case??

Harry thinks he is fine & should go to school, but I am tempted to keep him home & see the Dr....just in case.  I hate for him to infect anyone else, yet really wonder myself if it is what he has now.  Maybe a trip to the Dr is what we need?

I am super-tired after a WONDEFUL day with the girls, so I'll decide in the AM I guess....

waiting...

Kaden has more spots now, so I am even more sure that we are dealing with chicken pox.  They are on his "trunk" which is usually where they start.  When I cut his hair today, I noticed there are some right along his hairline & on his head.  He is not too bothered by them (YET), except that I keep checking him and telling everyone why we can not go here or there with them.  We've cancelled overnights, trips to the park & a walk with friends today already.  They have 7 days of school left.  I am guessing that he has to stay home this week...he will be crushed!

I am also upset knowing that Ellie has special days on Monday & Wednesday, and her final preschool picnic is scheduled for Friday.  If I have Kaden home, I will have to miss these days with her as well. 

AND, then there is always the chance that my kids could actually have the 7-14 day incubation period....and we could have these for the next month *sigh*

Zander does not have any more spots, and no more fever, but still runny nose. 

Ava has the yucky nose, and feels ever so slightly warm, no spots.

Ellie is spot/fever/yucky nose free....waiting to see if she stays that way :)

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On a lighter note, I get to celebrate tomorrow with a friend's baby shower lunch.  Such FUN...I LOVE getting together with my girlfriends & even better when we are anticipating another baby in our group.

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Oh, and can someone PLEASE tell our new neighbors that we do not talk with our kids about boy/girlfriends at this age?  Give me a break!  My kids do not even want to go outside lately because of it.  The neighbor kids are always saying that the girl likes Kaden, and today Ellie said that the THREE year old said to her that he liked her and wanted to GO OUT with her!!? I am getting mad, but do not know if I should just let the kids be kids or confront the Dad (he is single w/three kids).  Any BT/DT advice for me? 

uh-oh

There are two runny noses here, and three little hot bodies, and I am *GULP* watching a few spots on Zander and Kaden to see if they get more.  Kaden had a few itchy spots this AM, and I already could find a few more on his back tonight....I am really thinking chicken pox.

Ava is one of the ones with the low grade fevers, so please pray that IF we have the pox & iIF she gets them that they stay on her OUTSIDES.  I know that with babies hand/mouth fixation, you have to be careful.  I am worried already....

The "perfect" Mother's Day??

The "perfect" Mother's Day for some might consist of lots of relaxing, a nap, doing no chores, breakfast made & served to you....you get the idea.

Well, that is exactly what I thought I wanted too...for just one day, please, oh pleeeease?? 

Let me relax, sleep in, you make/bring me breakfast and maybe a handmade card or two.  Then we could hit the park, or take a walk, and then go finish the shopping for the patio, and after it is complete, and we finish planting the flowers,  we can just sit out there and have iced tea or lemonade while the kids play.  Ahhhh...

But this morning, I found that life had other plans for me. 

As I sat down to put on Zander's shoes, I could. not. move. my. back.  I felt extreme pain, instantly.  I tried to lay down (I was already on the floor) but the pain was so intense.  I finally was able to lay down, but I was in tears.  I knew pain like this did not just come & go, so I knew that the day was ruined.  I knew I would be in pain all day long *sigh*  I was SO upset.

Harry had to get me off the floor, and it hurt so much.  I made it to the couch & he brought me some Advil and called his Dad (a chiropractor) who told me to out ice on it 20min on, 20 min off.  Do that twice and if I could not make it to their house, he would come here.  He did come see me here, and I got an alignment.

It is now early evening, and I can move & hold Ava now, but am still in a lot of pain (not NEAR like this AM though).  I've been taking Advil all day & been on the couch or in bed resting.

Sounds great, right?  The "perfect" Mother's Day.  Everything I wanted... UGH!

What makes me a Mother?

I just came across what they are calling "Blog Blasts" on The Blog exchange this morning and decided that I would join in the Mother's Day fun by answering this question: 

What makes you a Mother? 

I think that it is the process of mothering that does it for me.  I could say that it began when I gave birth to my kids, but I know that many women become Mothers without ever giving birth.  There are also women that have given birth, yet should not call themselves Mothers.

I am a Mother because I have children that rely on me to take care of them.  I take care of thier needs, which far exceed just feeding & clothing them.  The needs of my children also include hugs, kisses, encouragement, keeping them safe,  discipline,  cleaning up after, playing with, reading to, transporting them here & there, but above all making it known that they are LOVED unconditionally every single day. 

I am a Mother because I  value my children.  I want them to be positive, happy people and to know that I helped them succeed in becoming that.

I am a Mother because I spend my days outside/at the park/hiking/exploring with my kids, and I let my housework take second place.

I am a Mother because everyday I wake up and I do it all again (even on the days I want to hide under the covers and stay in bed).

I am a Mother because my kids say so & give me sweet hand-made presents....

Ellie says what makes me a Mother is I love on her when she is hurt, I pull weeds with her, and I help her ride a 2-wheel bike. 

Kaden says I am nice, funny, I do things with him, and I have alot of money  :) 

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This post was also inspired by Light Iris ( www.lightiris.com) and Parentbloggers, which are having Mother's Day contests too!!

i love/hate May

May & I have a love/hate relationship...

It marks the end of school, which I love.  I am really looking forward to summer.

Baseball started, which I love, but it adds another thing to the busy schedule

Our last MOPS was yesterday, which I am sad about...I miss it in the summer :(

The preschool/school schedules are hectic with field trips & parties galore, I love the fun they bring, but dislike the extra planning for packed sack lunches, babysitters, etc

I love that it is warmer here already, but hate that Harry has not installed the AC yet.....I am sure that he has no sympathy though, as he works out in this heat all day

The end of this month brings Memorial Day, which means THE POOL OPENS (which I looooooove)

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Today we are having lunch with my Mom, Aunt Sue & cousin Katie and I am excited to see them.  Family is a wonderful thing, and I wish I could see mine more, as I always enjoy the times together with them.

I also forgot to post about our zoo trip last weekend, but here are some pics at least...

http://www.photoshow.com/watch/In4AI6Gx