I'm Eating My Words....And They Don't Taste Too Bad!

Okay...I know it wasn't even a good 2 weeks ago I said there was NO WAY I was ready to put Sarah in a big girl bed.  She is up at the crack of dawn and I know poor Ava is up early because of her!  Then - out of the blue - a co-worker offered me her daughter's bedroom suit.....for FREE!  Seriously - I just can't turn down an offer like that!  I really hadn't thought about Ava moving out of her crib too, but when I found out this was a double bed, Charles & I figured we might as well bite the bullet!  We were really anxious to see how they would adapt, and with the exception of nap-time, they really have done well.  We put them down at night (around 8) and usually don't hear a peep out of them until they come wobbling out of the room around 7 the next morning.  Naps are a different story.  It just doesn't happen!  Now on Tuesday, Sarah was at Mother's Day Out so I left Ava in the room to see what she would do.  She never cried to come out, but I did hear her on the slide several times.  I finally went in to get her up because we had to get to school and she was curled up on the floor asleep with her blanket.  I guess if she is tired enough, she will crash!  Anyway - here are some pics of their first night...one before they got in bed - one playing before bed - and one after they finally gave it up!

Firehouses & Field Trips!

I know - I have been neglectful of my blog! Time really gets away from me...not to mention there hasn't been anything exciting to write about!

That being said, I finally got to go on a field trip with Josh & his Enrichment class. We went first to Firehouse Subs and then to the Fire Museum. See the theme here? (ha!) It was a great time! All those kids are so well behaved (well - except for the ride home - but I'll get to that in a minute!) I had never been to Firehouse Subs, so that was good too! Someone came around & gave all the kids a fire chief hat...cool! The Fire Museum was awesome! If you have never been, I highly recommend it. Josh came home asking about our smoke detectors, so I know he at least learned something! We got to see Zachary's poster framed & hanging up too. Josh was so proud of that! He was telling everyone to go look at it. The whole tour was amazing, and the kids especially liked the end when they could run & play on all the equipment (imagine that!) We got in free, but the brochure I picked up said there was an admission fee of like $4 or $6...so I really don't know how much it is, but either way it is reasonable. Now - parking stinks if you are going there during the week, but otherwise it is great! Something that was kind of interesting....right next door (and I do mean literally!) is Memphis' first police station. It is totally in shambles. Wouldn't it be cool if they could restore it like they did the Fire Museum?

So - let's fast forward to our ride home. Now the kiddos are all hyped up from all the running around, so it starts out kind of loud. I have 3 boys (one being Josh) and they are all 3 sitting in the 3rd row seat. The middle kid (not Josh) starts egging on the other 2 to "tickle" him...which causes him to squeal - therefore driving me nuts really fast. I let them have their fun...asked them to stop...they continued to keep doing it....so before it was over, I had 3 little boys sitting on their hands for about 1/2 the way back! Okay - so then I am coming dowin Union and cross over Cleveland. The light was yellow and I was panicking b/c I realized I passed a police officer on my right (who was turning right) as I went thru the intersection. I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw his lights come on. I felt the blood drain from my face and my hands got cold & clammy - until I realized he was getting the car who turned left after me. WHEW! I just knew he was coming after me! How on earth would I have lived that down with my field trip refugees? I was soooo grateful for that little pass!

So - that is my fun! I am so grateful for good weather and warm temperatures. More time to spend outside with the kids and my camera! Yea spring!!

And Another Week Begins....

I am SO ready for summer!  I can't wait for the boys to be out of school!  I hate packing lunches...I hate having to get everyone up & out of the house before the crack of dawn...I hate being tied down to a schedule....I HATE COLD WEATHER!  If I thought I could organize my life, I would homeschool in a minute (and if Charles is reading this, he is falling out of his chair laughing at this idea~we both know it will NEVER happen!)  Besides, my kids actually like school - they just don't like all the "prep" work that goes with it.  Even Sarah is all psyched on her MDO days.  She only goes one day a week, but she would go every day if she could.  She feels like such a big kid....and she loves getting to visit "Miss Cindy" for her snack (which she gets before & after "school" - nope - not spoiled at all!)  I love that Cindy "takes care" of her - they have a neat bond - always have!  Anyway - Spring break is coming...Easter break is coming...then it will be the end of the year before we know it...YEA!

The boys spent the night with Charles' aunt last night, then we met up with them and traded out the girls for the boys.  I am so glad she enjoys being with them!  They LOVE going to her house!  We took the boys to Incredible Pizza with a group from church.  It was my first time there and I was impressed.  I was glad we went early though - it was getting crazy by the afternoon.  I can 't tell you how many people I saw there who were always wanting "something for nothing".  I can't stand that - the whole "cater-to-me-so-I-don't-have-to-pay-a-dime-but-get-everything-I-want" attitude.  I see that at work too and it drives me crazy.  There is a reason I am not a manager because I would not have the philosophy of "the customer is always right"!

So anyway, we visited with friends, came home...then karate, dinner, showers, bed, and the weekend is over before you can blink.  I think the boys might have a dentist appointment this week, the girls need their hair trimmed, and there are other tasks too numerous to mention here! I'm just hoping to get thru the week without a child getting sick.  Sarah and Ava both had a 12 hour thing...but 5 days apart, so I'm not convinced they got it from each other.  Last Sunday, Sarah was still getting over her bug so I kept her home from church.  We made a quick trip to the store to grab a few things - one thing being her favorite breakfast item....mini pancakes.  Every morning she asks for pancakes, syrup and chocolate "mook" {that's how she says "milk}.  I put the pancakes in the basket and you would have thought I had just handed her the keys to a brand new car..."Oh mommy THANK YOU!  Thank you so much for my pancakes mommy!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!'  As she is saying all this she is hugging my leg!  It really was quite funny - and the dozens of people around me thought so too!  She is so easy to please......SOMETIMES!  We'll save that for another blog....I've already thought of the title:   "Drama Queen,  Hormonal, or Bipolar?"  This actually applies to both Sarah & Ava, but let's not give it all away!

HaHa!

Yeah - I guess you probably gathered if I hadn't written anything in a week about my potty-training adventure - then there must not be anything to report. How right you are! Yeah - that was a bust. Sarah was all pumped about her Dora underwear and being a "big girl", but when it came down to it, she really wasn't as ready as I thought. Maybe I wasn't consistent enough...maybe I should have made her sit on the potty forever until she went....maybe if you know our household you would know that ISN'T going to happen! I can promise you that Sarah isn't going to sit still on a potty for that long of a time and I can also promise you Ava won't allow me to be tied up with Sarah for that long! I'm going to give it a couple of months & try again. It will be nice to get one out of diapers!

We spent Superbowl Sunday at home...eating pizza, Charles' FAMOUS oatmeal-chocolate-chip cookies and I frosted all the boys hair. We know how to party don't we? I think Josh looks the best out of all of them! I've been doing Charles & Zachary's hair for years but Josh finally succombed this time! I think he liked all the attention Zachary got last summer when I pretty much made him look like a skunk, so he wanted some of that. He flinched the whole time, but was kind of proud of himself when he saw the results.

There really isn't much going on around our house - chaos as usual! I'm discovering that Sarah is becoming much more mellow, while little Ava is now the uncontrollable chihuahua. She CANNOT be trusted alone! She gets in the kitchen and gets the forks out of the silverware drawer (only because she reaches in blind and grabs whatever she can reach). If you don't hear her pushing the chair back from the table, you will walk in and find her perched on the kitchen table -- sometimes sitting, sometimes standing! It is never-ending with her! I had a friend of mine comment to me the other day that - even though I might not see it - she is JUST like Sarah and is in the same place she was a year ago. That is true..Sarah really was "hell on wheels" so to speak! Ava might be much smaller, but she is just like her! Heaven help us! At least I know there is hope a year from now, but gosh - what a year I have ahead of me! I LOVE my kiddos!

Here We Go....

Okay, the signs are starting to appear, so I guess it is time for "Potty Training 2009"! Sarah is quite interested in doing all the things Mommy does, so I'm using that as leverage. We have a nice supply of Dora panties, so starting Thursday, we will give it a try. I must say, she is quite excited about it...saying she is going to be "a big girl"! Since we still have at least another year of diapers with Ava, it would be FABULOUS if this works! I talked to a pt.'s mom here last week, and I noticed she had a little one (barely 2) out of diapers and asked her how she did it. She said she has lost her job and could not afford diapers, so they had no choice but to go straight to potty training! Wow!

I feel like if I can just stick with it, I feel Sarah can do it.....I just hope I have the patience! I'll start a daily blog on Thursday to track our progress....wish us luck!

Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm????

This past week, I have stumbled upon 2 great mysteries that I am sure have occurred in numerous households over the years.  They involve little ones...see if any of you moms can relate....

#1 - Why is it that at least 30% of what is supposed to go into Ava's mouth at mealtime ends up in her seat?  I'm trying to be tactful, but what I really mean is her butt!  I have the tray pushed up as close to her as possible - I'm surprised she can even breathe!  It is a tight fit - it's not like she is in a recliner!  Yet - whenever I take her out, I find lots of food right under her tiny behind.  She doesn't put it there - I have the tray so close I don't think she can get her arms under it!

#2 - Charles discovered this one Sunday morning.  Ava is fully clothed (in pj's)...after breakfast he goes to get her dressed and finds a Cheerio IN her diaper.... like IN her diaper...you know?  Okay - so not only would she have to get her hands under the tray, but into her diaper?  How the heck??  I think I need to just videotape her at mealtime and go back & watch it in slow-motion.  It just boggles the mind!

Okay - so we have had a crazy week....Zachary & Josh were both sick.  Zachary missed 3 days of school with fever & a massive double ear infection, and Josh missed 2 days due to puking and high fever (103!)  Surprisingly, the girls stayed clean...I still don't know how that happened seeing that we ALL 6 shared a cup of Costco yogurt the night before Josh got sick (thank you Jesus!)  Then - later that night after I had dropped off the girls at church, I was in Kroger in Collierville when Charles called me and I had to go all the way back to First Assembly b/c I had taken Charles' car home and he was left at church with no key to my car and 2 very hyper little girls! (The boys had come home with me.)  It was insane...and freakin' cold that night!

The highlight of my week was my "girl's night out" at Panera on Monday.  Tammy, Jennifer, Lisa & I had soo much fun!  Good food and great gab!  We are doing a Bible study...The "One Year Women's Friendship Devotional".  It is wonderful!  Did we really talk about it...well no...we really weren't prepared, but we are emailing each other and "talking" about it.  Hey - we are all busy mom's...you do what you have to do!

So - today was the holiday so I guess our week starts tomorrow (sigh). Good for the boys!  I work Tues & Wed, and then this weekend...yuck!  I hate this part of my job...I'm praying for a change, so I'd love some other "prayer partners" out there!  I don't necessarily want to change the location...just the whole "late nights" and "one-weekend-a-month" thing!  Thanks so much!  Hope everyone has a great week!

What To Talk About?

Seriously...that is why I haven't blogged in a while.  We've just been plugging along - getting back into a routine after the incredibly busy holiday.  It's kind of bittersweet actually.  I mean, we spend 3 months looking at Christmas stuff in stores, watching Christmas commercials, Christmas movies, listening to Christmas music, going to Christmas parties and then....POOF!  As of December 26th it is OVER - not to be talked about again until next year.  I think we need at least 2 weeks to "detox" our minds instead of cutting it out cold turkey!

We had a great Christmas - Sarah LOVED her Dora backpack!  It didn't leave her body for 2 days except to change clothes!  She was sooooo into the presents!  Ava kind of caught on too.  She really didn't care about the gift itself - just getting to play with the paper!  The boys were thrilled too.  Their piles looked so small, but they really did get most of what they asked for (with the exception of  something alive & furry - we are NOT ready for that yet!)  "Santa" happened to leave a poem for them on the computer - which Josh found when he got up,  What a clever Santa!  Charles surprised me with a digital camera - which he bought the day after Christmas on-line & I got it New Year's Day.  YEA!  finally a "point & shoot" I can stick in my purse.  We have a great digital camera but it isn't handy for catching those moments around the house.  My new one has tons of bells & whistles too, but it is more - shall we say - "user friendly" for me!  Anyway - when Sarah saw mine, she wanted a camera too, so I found one at Target.  Here she is:

She's been taking pictures of EVERYTHING!  She is sooooo a mommy's girl these days.  She does everything I do (or at least tries to!)  I had a salad tonight and she ate most of it -- not to mention RAW BROCCOLI!!!!  Oh yeah!  Finally!  One of my kids will eat raw veggies!  I craved vegetables like crazy when I was pregnant with her - maybe that is why.  Since she wants to do EVERYTHING like mommy,  I'm going to use that as leverage to start potty training in a couple of weeks.  I bought her some Dora panties and she is really excited about them!  I'm not sure how successful it will be, but it is worth a shot!

Well - the boys will be home soon, so I need to finish laundry so I can head to bed when they get home.  They passed their belt test tonight, so they are now "orange belt - black stripe".  Their next test will be for green belt.  I'm so proud of them - they have come so far!  Tomorrow is going to be a LOOOOONG day for all of us.  These weekends go by way too fast!