The days in our lives pt. 2

There was a running joke around our house that Andrew has never eaten at the Cheesecake Factory b/c Tiffany seems to go there once a week because she loves it so much.  I decided we were going to do a family brunch at the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate his 36th birthday. He wasn't really impressed with me but I've learned to not take things personally in life. Kids will do that to a person.  

Annessa, Katy, Sean, Tiffany and the five of us met at the Cheesecake Factory and had brunch. Grandma D was supposed to be in attendance but she needed to keep trucking home b/c she wasn't feeling her grandma best.  We had a wonderful time. It's fun to just pick a date and time and get together with family and laugh.  The kids were excellent throughout brunch as we were there for almost 2 hours.  I think we'll start doing more family dates. 

Aunt Nessie and her three munchkins.  

 There are a lot of days I feel the same.

 It was Dr. Seuss day at school where the kids got to wear wacky clothes/hair.  Miss M styled her outfit from head to toe and was so excited to show off her look.  I was happy about wacky hair day b/c most days I feel like her hair looks wacky anyway.

 This is genuinely how Willie feels about Chick-Fil-A.

We are buddies.  Although he has started telling me he won't be my best friend anymore when I tell him he can't do something or I put him in time out.

Another day in child paradise. Eating breakfast that someone else has warmed up for you on the floor while you watch your favorite shows on the iPad. I am pretty sure life is all downhill from here.

 We won't have any issues with Cater not knowing how to use scissors once she enters preschool  She often finds her scissors and sits on the kitchen floor and cuts a piece of paper up into tiny pieces for me to clean up.  She's so quite and focused. I don't even mind the clean up b/c she's not tearing apart something else.

 They're back! Yep. The goggles have returned.

If only a pickle made everyone this happy.  Tiffany, Cate, Andrew and I went to breakfast one Sunday morning without the other two kiddos b/c they were off slumber partying at A's house. It was Willie's first slumber party and we're pretty sure it was the best day of his life.

 Willie's soccer class at the gym.  He likes his soccer class and his teachers are amazing.

Craft time with Tiffany.  The kids love when Tiffany is around and not busy doing school work b/c she always finds fun projects for them to complete.  She filled numerous plastic containers with water and dish soap.  She gave the kids straws and told them to start blowing.  There were bubbles everywhere. They loved it. They had to tape straws together b/c the bubbles got to big they couldn't reach the straw in the container any longer.  This went on for some time. The mess was significant but easy enough to clean up since it was just soap and water but the fun was endless.

 I can't express what an asset Tiffany has been to our house.  She's such a gift in so many ways.

This little fella has been running up the stucco of the house, onto the roof, and then disappearing. I have been wondering where he was going so I watched his pattern one day and realized that at the peak of the house he's found a way in.  I called the critter control people to help me find this fella a new home.  Thankfully the critter people came quickly, reassured me there are not babies in there b/c it's nesting season and not mating season (I've never been so relieved), and put up a trap to catch anything that is inside and not let it out.  After the trap was in place I saw him run up the stucco, over the roof and then try to get into his former residence.  He circled the cage multiple times trying to figure out how and why he was evicted.  Pure gratification to watch.  Now I just hope he doesn't find another opening that I can't see as well and things end up worse.  The squirrels in our neighborhood are such pests. They are into our garden, our garbage, and they aren't scared enough of people to go away.  I literally hate them.