Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Our everyday life pictures

It's easy to post about the big events occurring in our life b/c it seems lately there have been a lot of big things going on.  There are a lot of regular, I didn't snap a single photo or we cleaned up the garden days too.

We spent an afternoon opening the baby house again with the beginning of spring coming to life.  The baby house is the best/worst thing I have done in a long time.  It drives me mad b/c it gets so trashed and yet it makes me so happy that they play so happily in there and leave the adults alone, generally speaking.  A blessing and a curse.  Such is life. 
Tiffany gave the kids pedicures and spa treatments with some sand and water one "warmish" day. 
Sitting with her feet in sand while the breeze blows through her hair.
Taking care of Bongo and feeding him all my produce. Not a cheap babysitting gig.

We started an indoor soccer class with the two little ones. Miss M is going to have other talents in life.  Soccer won't be one of them.

Cater's best friend Joe-Joe.  They go together like peas and carrots.
There was a vote for two referenda in April regarding the school district. I found myself very passionate about them passing b/c the effect of them not passing felt huge and unfortunate for the children.  The girls and I walked the neighborhood blocks hanging up door hangers. It was fun to see the kids involved in something that was so easy. Miss M was very worried about the referenda b/c she loves all the classes they were going to cut b/c of budget cuts.  She was happy to get involved and do her part.
And...well...Cater just wants to be apart of the team.
Who knows.  She's a goof ball.
Playing on the camera with video games chilling like it's his job.
Cater and I went to the polling place to vote for our referenda and I was able to tell Miss M the next morning they had passed.  There was such relief and excitement in our house.
Digging up dirt just to dig up dirt.

Playdate fun.
Our friends have two boys and they outgrew their bikes so they gave Willie one of them. Will hasn't ever had a bike before so he was very excited and a little clueless about its operation.  It's a good thing we live in a flat area b/c braking was not natural for this guy.
But he's so happy.
Drew ended up getting an offer to buy last minute Hamilton tickets one Wednesday night. I was sitting at the gym - not working out b/c I didn't feel like it - and he called to ask if I wanted to go to Hamilton. I had a board meeting that night - that's why I wasn't working out as I was preparing for my meeting. I quickly jumped on the opportunity, emailed all the necessary board members, and hit the showers! It was just as amazing as I anticipated it to be. It would be worth seeing again for sure.
After school playing on the playground.
Willie needed a haircut.  Look at that mop on his head.
This is his cheese face. It's not a good after picture but at least his hair is manageable again.
We gave Cater a toddler bed instead of her crib. She climbed out of it everyday anyway so it wasn't worth risking her falling on her head.  She's pretty good about staying in it when it's time for bed but that's b/c I lay on her floor until she falls asleep b/c it's easier than playing the back and forth game.
We moved a new to us sandbox into our backyard to increase the playing options for the sumer.  It was free minus the cost of new sand and I think it's going to be a summer hit.
We also got a new smaller trampoline. It's not a full size trampoline but big enough that two or three kids can jump comfortably without hiring each other.  I made the kids help me put it together one afternoon.  They are surprisingly good helpers if you give them specific tasks.
Just another dress up day in the garden for Catherine.
I spent a few afternoons chopping down those tall bush/tree things. I had already removed two or three of them next to the trampoline. They were full projects but I conquered them. I only meant to trim them back but after starting to trim them I realized they were really woody and just ugly.  The neighbors had just put in a new fence so everything looks better.  I have about an 18 foot area that I need to landscape now but I need a plan before I just start buying/moving plants.
Willie's circle room spring tea was a delight. His favorite song was the Jazzy Itsy Bitsy Spider.  Tiffany, Cater and I enjoyed some snacks with him and his friends.
Car wash - again it's all about having tasks.
All the trees/shurbs/bushes gone.  I was exhausted. Or thought I was exhausted until we had to remove the stumps. Drew worked for hours getting all the stumps out of the ground. They were determined to stay in the ground and if not for my excellent cheering abilities I think Drew might have considered giving up




Mother's Day at the Horse Track

We were invited to go to the horse track for Mother's Day with Miss M's best friend, A's, family.  We had gone last year for Father's Day and had a great time so why not go again.  And it was a day we weren't home destroying our own home which I would get to clean up at the end of the day.  

Willie loves a kiddie cocktail. We were in a suite with a bar close by. The kids eventually went and asked for kiddie cocktails and snagged pickles by themselves.  I don't know how many kiddie cocktails they consumed throughout the day!

The suites had a buffet of food and also a candy bar. The kids raided the candy bar and had their first taste of pixie sticks.  It's all over from there.  You can't go back after eating straight granules of sugar for an entire afternoon.

Alex teaching the kids about the ways of picking the horse to win.  We let the kids pick a horse they liked each race (there were 8 races) and we bet a few dollars.  The kids enjoyed cheering for their horse which interestingly enough didn't really win any money and was generally number four.


Willie for the photobomb!

Adult only picture!
The entire crew.  It's a bit dark but we don't have a picture of the eight of us so it's a win for now.
During one of the final races we were able to go down to the paddock area and watch the jockeys mount the horse and lead them onto the field.  Then the kids stood on the fence of the track and watched the horses come galloping around. It was awesome to see them up close and hear their hooves running through the mud.  I think the kids were most impressed with the size of the horses' poop they could see on the field! Oh to be a kid again :)

Monday, May 22, 2017

WIllie is 4!!!

Willie.  It's like he gets the short end of every stick.  I had intentions of doing something for his birthday but when we talked about it he only wanted a party at home. I mentally couldn't do another party at home and I couldn't do a party with a bunch of his classmates b/c well I couldn't.  After Easter-Palooza, Tiff's graduation, traveling to Florida and getting settled back in I was frankly exhausted with life.  But I rallied for the little fella and we had a great birthday party at home.  We invited our family friends instead of his classmates and it turned out perfect.  Andrew and I sat down and decided on a Thursday that we should throw him a party Sunday afternoon. I gathered a list of friends, sent a quick email, made a list of food to serve including as many of Will's favorite things and everything came together perfectly.  

Sunday was a busy day with the kids having soccer in the morning, Miss M and her friend A going to the zoo with Aunt Nessie for a new penguin exhibit and me having about 60% of my party planning completed.  We rolled with a NINJAGO themed party. Again. I don't really know what it is. Lego people who fight serpentine and ghosts?!?

I made Willie a chocolate cake with his favorite NINJAGO character - Kai I think.  I was pretty impressed with my own cake decorating skills honestly.  And I make a mean boxed cake.  Miss M asks me when I make cakes/cupcakes if I bought frosting or made it and she secretly prays I didn't make it b/c we both agree my homemade frosting is less than impressive.  The canned frosting is where it's at. 
Blowing out the candles or licking them.  He was so happy to have a day all about him and have his friends here to celebrate with him.
This is his Kai NINJAGO costume I bought for him as a birthday present.  He loved it.  For about 3 minutes. Which is about 2 minutes longer than I expected.  He isn't much for costumes b/c there are long pants and long sleeves and that's against everything he stands for.  But he wears the mask around the house and screams ninja things at me while I try to avoid being hit with a sword or nunchucks or any other self made weapon. Four is going to be an interesting year for both of us.