Swimming & Having a Brother Who is Braver Than You

Yesterday we spent the ENTIRE afternoon swimming w/ "Madamine" & Matthew @ Jan's pool.  

Today I took the kids swimming to the Arnold Indoor Rec Pool.  

The kids had so much fun both days (I relished in the non UV rays today, but the kids don't care if they're in 100 degrees or 80).

Yesterday, when I was in the pool, the skids were having a hard time jumping form the sides...until I got out to get a drink.  Then they were jumping in w/o seond thought to Amanda.  Then off the diving board to Jan.

Today, Gabe made it up the step of the play structure & down the slide into an amount of water taller than him a trillion times before he convinced Flynn to go up w/ him.  She took his hand, & with her hands covering her eyes, he led her up the steps through the 'scary' sprays of water.  They even somehow synchronized their slides down (on the double slide), so that they could keep their hands held all the way down.

They repeated this for over 30 mins until it was time to go.  But it was the best 30 mins of the year.  And if that means complete harmonious play for them, then I will immediately start the reconstruction of the basement into a water park.

They Keep Cracking Us Up

Before I tell this story, here's background info...

Uncle Yoren = Uncle Loren; Uncle Loren = My brother

Uncle Yoren is a hunter, with a lot of deer heads to show for his hobby.

Okay, let me proceed.

I was getting the kids together to take to my Dad's who was watching them for me while I went to an interview.

In an attempt to get Gabe to get his hat, I reminded him, "Papa will like it!"

His response, "Uncle Yoren yike it too.  Uncle Yoren yikes REINDEER."

And as if that didn't have me rolling in the floor enough, Flynn (who hears all, sees all) interjected with,

(imagine a voice here, an octave higher than her usual range)

"He SHOOTS them!"

Things I Miss

• smelling my hair (now it's too short)
• looking down at my kids feet & seeing baby feet
  
• nursing my babies
  
• sleeping in on weekends
  
• camping
  
• having a flat tummy
  
• baby socks
  
• not thinking twice about eating white carbs
  
• bubble gum ice cream
  
• restaurants having "small" drinks (now it's medium & up)

Ratted Out by my 2nd Born

I've made it abundantly clear that lately we are busy busy busy.

And so with that busyness comes the inability to do everything, including Gabe's speech homework.

And so, I may or may not have had to have him do it IN THE VAN between summer camp & therapy.  Not my usual forte for reviewing & practicing new material...at all.

Oh well so I think.... at least it will be done & his therapist will be none the wiser...for all he knows, we put Gabe's speech & all involved, as our top priority.

That is, until Mr. Jacob asked for Gabe's homework, took it out of his folder, & began looking at it.

My boy, who usually lacks for words, was quick to report,

"Me did it in my car."

Bubs Goes to Day Camp

Our baby boy is making as big of steps as his sis.  This week he is signed up for Day Camp @ the Y.

One of his challenges right off the bat was an "Icky boy who is mean."  I agree Bubs, icky people are everyone's challenge.

I remember the icky boy at mustard seed.  He came home referring to him only as the icky boy.  And I convinced him to learn the boy's name...which turned into us praying for the boy... which turned into us spelling Icky Boy's name with fridge magnets & many conversations about Icky Boy.

It's hard tho, to be 3.  And to smash crumbs into the carpet & have your card turned.  And hard to follow the rules only to see Icky Boy break them.

Bubs...Life's Lessons.  There are Icky Boys everywhere.

If You Think that Kitten on Shrek 2 Was Cute,

Then I dare you to look at these faces & not melt into a puddle...

At about 7 pm

every night, I start getting exhausted. To the point that my 'brain feels dizzy' & I think that at any moment I could pass out.

But when you're a mom, you don't just get to go to bed when you're tired.  7 begins the whole night time process which means several several more hours until I get to go to sleep.

I get things ready for the next day.  Backpacks, lunches packed, papers looked at, signed, homework done, etc.

Get outfits laid out.  Make plans for who goes where, when, & how.

Get everyone medicated, bathed, snacked & down to sleep.

Then I start my work, church work, website work, housework (in that order).

And the mountains of laundry.  The piled up counters.  Mail, bills, coupons....

All I want to do is go to sleep.  Get much rest.  And wake up ready to tackle a NON-busy day of playing w/ my cute kids... and watching them love life.

Wouldn't that be nice? 

Eeny Meeny

Flynn just finished Day # 2 of SUMMER INSTITUTE (aka summer school) @ the school we have tentatively planned for her to attend kindergarten.

We go into everything with apprehension considering all that's on the line each time she's not in our care.

This step was a little easier since Hot Hubs is also teaching summer school in the same building.  He talked to the teacher ahead of time & at the pre-summer summer school meeting, each teacher was epi-trained.

That didn't stop Daddy from checking in on Flynn during her lunch time again today.  He found her sitting next to a cute girl ("with glasses momma... the glasses have lots & lots of colors on'em") who happened to be eating a ham-cheese sandwich.

Jeff was a tad worried.  He leaned over & whispered to her,

"You sure you want to sit here?  Would you rather sit at a table by yourself?"

Flynn wasn't sure.  She gave each option thought, "Well, yah... well..."

Remember, that new friend... and all those colors in her cute glasses, I mean, that's quite the decision.

So, like any reasonable 5-year old, she went with a completely well thought out decision making process,

"Can I do eeny meeny miney mo?"

We Did Some Scratching but it didn't Itch

Happy Seven Years Hot Hubs...

7 years ago today

Last night

(still in love!)