Where Has The Week Gone??

We have had another busy week with doctor appointments, play dates and work party date night. Grant made it home last Friday and Saturday morning we headed to his work Easter egg hunt where the kids had a fantastic time. I wasn't fully prepared and so my kids were those kids happily running around putting eggs into their sand buckets. Eh, what are you going to do?!

 

Next up was a doctor apt for Mav where it was determined that he will be having surgery in April. We knew it was coming, it's a minor surgery and we are ready to get it over with. We actually had a great day up North with the boys (Annabelle stayed home with Gram) shopping and even had dinner out. Wednesday we headed to play with cousins from Grant's side that were visiting from Cali. Including Baron, there were 3 little boys all about the same age and it was fun to see them together.

 

Rounding out the week was date night at Grant's work party. We headed out at 5:15 and had so much fun together we didn't get home until after 11:00. My wonderful mom-in-law stayed with the littles and everyone was sleeping soundly when we got home. Then today has been completely gorgeous so we have been busy bees out and about. Dying Easter eggs, Costco, Target, Fred Meyer and running around at a local nursery to find the perfect berry plants has worn this mama out. Now I am looking forward to relaxing with the husband and a movie!

 

 

Single Parenting 101

I was a single parent last week while Grant was away on a business trip. He left bright and early Sunday morning and returned home to us late Friday night. I got a taste of single parenting and I have a profound respect for all the single parents out there. Managing three small children alone 24/7 is a lot of work and stress but we made it thru happy and healthy. I was thrilled with the ability to facetime and we spent time everyday talking this way. The time away was great reminder of how much my husband does around here and how much I enjoy his company. I am also surrounded by wonderful family members who they came over to hang out, keep us company and provide dinners.

 

Here is a rundown of our week:

 

Sunday - Grant leaves before the sun is up which means I have a very early morning. Clean house, do about 6 loads of laundry and my brother & his family come over for dinner. They also bring me a pan of enchiladas for us to munch on thru the week (Thank you Trav & Katie!).

 

Monday - Beautiful day so the kids and I venture out to the store. Also head to see my sister at her work where the kids are rewarded with suckers. Back home for lunch/naps and then run to TJ Maxx with mom-in-law and kids where kids display not-so-wonderful behavior. They had enough running around for the day. Enchiladas for dinner.

 

Tuesday - Go to my in-laws where the kids play with "Honey" (aka Gram) and Grandpa for a couple hours and then home for naps. Trav, Katie & Brady bring pizza for dinner and Tia joins us.

 

Wednesday - Therapy for Mav bright and early then out to visit with my Aunts Sarah and Kimmie. Kids had a great time playing with cousins Hannah and Naomi. Spaghetti for dinner which Baron and Elliott eat 2 bowls each & Maverick 1 bowl.

 

Thursday - A day at home to rest from our busy week. I think this is the day Elliott takes off her diaper during nap time, puts pants back on, poops in pants and then takes pants off again to create a gross mess in her crib. Apparently I wrote too soon in my last post. Kids are treated to a hamburger and fries for dinner.

 

Friday - Clean house in preparation of Grant's return. Have a girls night with my sisters Tara, Tia and sis-in-law Katie. Baron loves, loves, loves playing with my niece Bailey and the ladies all take turns snuggling on baby Brady. Mav & Elliott show off their dance moves which are pretty rockin' if I do say so myself. Ladies leave and Grant finally gets home around 10:30 pm.

 

We had a busy, fun week with lots of family visits and activities to keep us busy but by Friday I was ready for my husband to return and the kids were ready for their dad to be home. He balances us out :) 

To Dress or Not To Dress?

We are going thru what I hope is just a phase with Elliott (or Annabelle as she is often called) that I have not experiences with the boys.  A phase where she wants to be naked...all..of..the..time! She has mastered dressing and undressing which I have to admit I am quite impressed with since she is just 22 months old.  You name it she can put it on or get it off.  Sweaters, pants, tights, onesies, dresses, socks, shoes, pajamas and diapers. Last week almost every night when I would check on her before bed I would have to re-dress her completely while she slept, diaper and all. I thought perhaps she was ready to potty train since she would take off her diaper if she had gone potty but after a few days I have realized she isn't quite ready. I will keep working on it but for now I just constantly re-dressing or reminding her to put her clothes back on...and reprimanding her for taking her diaper off.  So far we are accident free when the diaper is off but I know it's only a matter of time.

 

And she loves to put my socks on :)

 

Color Time

Baron is 3!

Happy Birthday to my completely fantastic and wonderful son! It has been a whirlwind of a year and I am having a hard time actually believing that he is 3. We had a family party on Sunday and he ran & ran with his cousin Bailey. He then had a meltdown right before and during cake time (I should have sang "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to") and told me he wanted to go to bed. While we were singing I had to hold him (per his request) and he did the whole arched back, mouth open cry which I haven't seen in awhile. He then put himself to bed after we sang and everyone was having cake but I made him get up after about 15 minutes for presents and he bounced back ok. Was quiet during presents opening but warmed up with the help of his cousin. Ahh the memories we make!

 

On his actual birthday he got cake for breakfast and played outside with one of his new presents - a Lightening McQueen bubble blower. We then took him to see some baby chicks and rabbits at the store in town & rounded off the night with presents from us. I think he was a happy kid!

We love you little dude!

 

Great Wolf Lodge & Birthdays

A couple weeks ago Grant and Baron headed to WA and met his sister & her family at Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate our nephew Griffin's 8th birthday while I stayed home with the twins to celebrate my sister-in-laws 30th birthday. Baron had a blast and came home wanting to go back to the green & purple slides at the "big pool".  He apparently also loved the wave pool.  Our friends Adrienne, Kyle and Luke also went since Luke and Finn share their birthday. Adrienne watched Baron when he was a baby for the year I went back to work and she told me he was having her hand feed him pizza & that he had her trained. I would venture to guess he was loving being the youngest again ;)  Happy, Happy Birthday Finn and Luke!

 

I stayed home and had a pedicure with Katie (sis-in-law), Nicole (Katie's sis-in-law & my good friend from high school) and Sheri (Katie's mom).  We then went and had a yummy dinner at Trav & Katie's courtesy of Dale (Katie's dad). Happy 30th Katie!