Friday, May 30, 2014

Five on Friday

  • Both little’s were awake at 6:15am this morning. The morning wasn’t as bad as I’d feared it would be but I think it mostly had to do with my positive/good attitude because they fought like cats and dogs. Here’s to hoping they sleep past 630 tomorrow!
  • We’ve got a little family book club starting up for the summer. It was Tony’s idea and we’re doing it to try to spark some reading interest in Landon. After a LONG debate, we decided to read a James Patterson teen novel, Maximum Ride. Zoe and I have both read it but it’s been quite awhile so we don’t really remember much. Should be interesting to see how this whole book club thing works out!
  • Mario Kart 8 came out today and Tony stopped at the store on the way home from work to buy it. We patiently waited for the kids to go to bed so that we could try it out. It’s awesome and I’ve been kicking some serious butt. I foresee many Mario Kart races in our futures…
  • Harper’s new thing is to ask me what his name would be if it were spelled a certain way. For instance, how would you pronounce his name if it were spelled Phr? Or Harpee? Or Harpep? When I tell him what it’d be, he just giggles and giggles about it.
  • Zoe and Brandon headed to OC for the weekend. They are staying with some friends who have a condo down there. I’m not jealous. That water is SO cold right now, and our weather isn’t even that warm! Just yesterday we were wearing long pants, long sleeve shirts and jackets!  I do hope they have a good time though!

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Harper’s Last Day in the 3’s Class

Today was Harper’s last day in the three year old room. He’s officially got a year of preschool under his belt. It’s wild how fast that went.

IMG_0566

Joining a co-op preschool was something I’d wanted to do with Harper and I’m so glad I did. Harper really loved going to school everyday and I enjoyed the whole experience as well. I really liked being involved and being able to see firsthand that things that he was learning. Going two days a week for 2 1/2 hours at a time was also nice introduction to what school is like.

Tony, Zoe, Dakota and I were all able to be at Harper’s awards ceremony and I know he was glad to see us all sitting in the audience. He was acting pretty silly the whole time, but I know he does that when he’s feeling nervous. The song they sang at the end “Hello, Raindrops” was the only one he really sang.

IMG_0581

After the songs the kids received their certificates and also a little book. The kids were each given 13 index cards to bring home and decorate a few weeks ago. They made one card per kid in the class and then they were all bound into these little books featuring one card from each classmate. I thought it was a really cute idea!

IMG_0577

Harper did some watercolors on his and then he stuck on some dino stickers. They were cute! Most kids did some variation of coloring and stickers…it’s the three year old thing to do!

IMG_0579

Once the songs and awards were taken care of we went to the snack tables for some ice cream. Ice cream at 10:30am is quite rare so the kids were pretty excited!

(Harper is showing me his gummy worm, in case you’re wondering what is hanging out of his mouth. :) And, as you can see, Dakota was happy to sit and have her ice cream breakfast as well!)

IMG_0555

IMG_0562

It was a bittersweet ending to a wonderful year. I got a little teary when I thought about how much he’d grown in such a short time, but I didn’t cry like I thought I would, thank goodness! (There was no time for crying, I was so darn busy!)  I’m looking forward to starting all over again with him in the fall. Now I’ve just gotta keep him busy all summer! Smile

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

IMG_0533

IMG_0531

How We Spent Memorial Day

Well, here I am again, playing catch up.Some days I’m just not meant to blog, I guess. But, now that I’m here, I suppose I’ll get you all caught up on how we spent Memorial Day. Winking smile

Since we’d been so incredibly busy the past few days, we decided to spend Memorial Day at home. Everyone was off work and school and it’s always nice to have a day to just hang out and drive one another crazy. The morning was spent playing with the little kids out on the deck while the big kids lazed around in the air conditioning with their phones/iPods.

IMG_0510

I was sitting in the gazebo, in the shade, and the little’s were happily going about their business pouring, stirring and transporting water from one thing to the other. I love when I get to just sit and watch them play.

After Dakota’s nap we headed for the pool. It’s been open since Saturday, but it had been way too chilly to even consider getting in. Monday though, with the temps in the low 90’s, it was time.

The older kids (Zoe, Landon, Brandon and two of Zoe’s friends, Jesse and Victor) headed down to the pool about an hour before we were able to. By the time we got there they were already out complaining that the water was too cold! I didn’t get a single picture! Darn it!

The baby pool wasn’t nearly as cold as the big pool though and Harper and Dakota were thrilled! Actually, the first time Dakota got in, she fell flat on her face and Tony had to grab her up really fast, but not before she’d gotten a big nose/mouth full. She was not a happy camper, poor thing.  After lots of coaxing and hand holding, she was ready to try again though and eventually she was doing it all by herself, no problemo!

IMG_0528

Tony ended up going home early to start dinner while I stayed at the pool with the kids. They really had a great time, but once Dakota got out and came over to me and said “EAT!” I knew it was time to call it a day.

We had hamburgers and grilled zucchini for dinner and Zoe and Brandon made dessert.

IMG_0529

They were delicious! I can’t remember the name of them, but I know it was a vegan recipe and everyone really liked them!

Sunday, May 25, 2014

An Evening at the Carnival

Our local volunteer fire department is having their annual carnival this weekend so we decided to take the kids for an hour or two this evening. It opened at 5pm and we got there a little before the rides started. The last time we went parking was minimal so we wanted to be sure to get decent parking and get out of there before it was too crowded. Going right when they opened was perfect for us.

IMG_0487

There isn’t a price to get in, but lord are the ride tickets expensive. It’s basically $1 a ticket and each ride was 3/4 tickets depending on the ride. That’s pretty pricey for a little carnival ride, in my opinion. And the games were worse. They were almost all $5 each. Pop a balloon for $5. Throw a ball at a can for $5. Pick up a plastic duck for $5. Ridiculous. But, this is likely the only carnival we’ll go to this year and the money goes to our local firemen, so we spent the money and felt like we were doing a good deed at the same time. It’s what we’re telling ourselves anyways.

IMG_1850

IMG_1852

IMG_1845

IMG_1847

The first thing the boys did was go running through the obstacle course. Harper wasn’t old enough to go alone but he’s lucky to have a cool older brother that was happy to go with him. As soon as they made it down the slide, Harper tried to run right back on to do it again. He loved it! (We ended up going back and letting them go through again.)

IMG_1862

Landon wanted a chance at the shooting range and he was actually a pretty good shot! He hit quite a few targets.

IMG_1874

Next up was the Ferris wheel. Dakota, Harper, Tony and Landon rode it together. Dakota was eager to get on it but Landon said she’d cried a little at first. She seemed pretty happy about the whole thing when she got off though while Harper just seemed indifferent. Not too exciting I suppose.

IMG_1885

What Dakota really wanted to ride was the swings. She kept going over to them and pointing and saying “swing, swing” but she’s just not tall enough yet. Harper had no interest in them whatsoever, he pretty much just wanted to get back on the obstacle course.

IMG_1903

Landon was dying to try the dunking booth, so we headed there next. He got his three balls and immediately the guy in the booth started heckling him. Landon’s first throw was too high and he started to lose his confidence. He said he couldn’t throw anymore or something like it, but grabbed his second ball for another shot. Again he missed and he turned around looking defeated, but Zoe and I assured him he could totally do this if he’d just concentrate…and, with his third ball, he sunk that fireman! Confidence restored!

IMG_1914

There was some hooting and hollering and high fives and then a little voice behind me saying he wanted a turn too. Harper just had to give it a go…you know, he’s gotta be cool like his big brother! They let him stand really close and even gave him smaller baseballs to use, but he wasn’t able to sink him…until the lady picked him up and let him push the big button! Down went the fireman, and oh my goodness, Harper’s face was priceless! He had his hands up to his mouth in disbelief at what he’d done! He was so proud yet unsure about whether or not he should have pushed the button.

IMG_1920

IMG_1923

IMG_1924

Next was a ride on the dragon:

IMG_1928

IMG_1931

Another game; Harper won this one fair and square. No one helped him at all! He beat Landon and Dakota/Tony. :)

IMG_0490

IMG_0495

Then a ride on a motorcycle.

IMG_1948

And an airplane.

IMG_1968

IMG_1972

While the boys were on their second run through the obstacle course, I took Dakota to ride the merry-go-round. She LOVED it!

IMG_1987

We had a good time at the carnival and once our tickets were gone, we headed home for the night. The kids all said they’d had a good time and that’s always nice to hear!

A Morning on the Farm

IMG_0477

A friend of mine invited us out to the farm this morning. Her daughter is involved in 4H and has a cow that she takes to county fairs throughout the state for show.

IMG_1808

When we got there, Emily was attempting to take her cow Autumn for a walk, but the cow was pretty hesitant and uncooperative, so we just walked around the farm and looked at the horses.

IMG_0480

IMG_1810

IMG_1812

IMG_1818

IMG_1821

After our walk, it was time for the cow to get a bath. Apparently, another cow pooped on her and she needed to that taken care of…

Amy put my kids to work carrying the supplies. They were happy to help, but afterwards, Harper said he was sweating and needed a break. So, we all sat in the shade and watched Emily wash her cow.

IMG_1822

IMG_1823

IMG_1826

Before leaving we went inside to see the babies. Harper and Dakota enjoyed that part and they both were brave enough to pet them.

IMG_1827

IMG_1831

IMG_1838

We had a great time out there and after lunch, Dakota conked out in the car on the way home. All that cow and horse business wore her out!

Saturday Stuff

Our pool opened yesterday. It was nowhere near warm enough to go swimming, only in the mid 70’s yesterday, but Harper and I walked down to the pool to stick our feet in while Dakota napped at home with Tony.

IMG_0459

The water felt pretty good on our feet, but it would have been way too cold to be in. There were some brave souls down there in the water though…

Once we got home from the pool it was time for Dakota to get up and for all of us to head over to Mema’s for dinner. We stopped on the way for Slurpee’s, something new for these two. (Zoe and Brandon went to the zoo and Landon was with a friend at the Oriole’s game.)

IMG_0463

IMG_0460

Neither of them seemed to really like their Slurpee, but I don’t know if it was just the flavor they’d gotten (sugar free watermelon) or what. Guess we’ll try another kind another time.

Mema set up the table so we could all eat outside and the weather was GORGEOUS! The only problem we had was the darn mosquito’s. Her backyard is pretty shaded so it’s still pretty wet back there from all the rain and I’m guessing that’s made the mosquito problem worse than usual.

IMG_0470

After eating we let the kids run around and play a bit. The mosquito’s didn’t seem to be bothering/biting them at all. I didn’t have any bites either, thankfully.

IMG_0465

Harper and Lea spent a long time playing in the backyard together. They were just making up their own games and running around and having a great time. Dakota wasn’t in the mood to play with them though so she and I went in the front to practice riding her tricycle. (No pics because I was busy making sure she didn’t crash!)

Right before heading home the kids had some ice cream. They sure made a mess with it but they just love it and have pretty much come to expect it after dinner over there.

IMG_0472

IMG_0473

April Fools Pranks

The two little kids made me laugh yesterday morning.  I was upstairs getting things ready for school when I heard them talking about how ...