Friday Night Leftovers - today...

Wooooah, Wooooah, Wooooahh, hey!

It's 72 degrees outside, zero chance of rain

It's been a perfect day

We're all spinning on our heels, so far away from real

Hit play!

Spring will get here. We had a taste today! And we had moments here and there this week.

Today I braved the zoo. 

It was good. 

I am wiped.

 

These are my new spring shoes.  Tash, would you hang out with me?

They are super comfy.

But walking the zoo today did me in.  My legs are aching. 

I don't think I have walked that much in over 6 months...

The end of my pregnancy didn't have me walking the whole outside zoo. 

This week we had 5 big kids zipping and zooming on bikes on our half of the street and one little Hank on his big wheel.  It cracked me up.  They were crazy intense and you could see the happiness spraying out their ears.  Today it was nice before school and the boys even went out for a bit bright and early.  Seriously, LOVING the bike thing.  If I remind them of their voice like Oprah announces things on her favorite things show - they are out before I finish my exclamation! 

This morning Henry really wanted to continue to play Star Wars with his big brother.  And when Charley wanted to go outside Henry started to cry.  Poor boy.  But get this.  This is how awesome Charley is.  Really.  He is.  I don't feel like I write about him as much on here, he is getting bigger.  I also don't take as many pictures...he is too fast and busy.  But he is an ultimate big brother.  Because as soon as Henry started to cry about wanting to stay in and play Star Wars, Charley turned and said this,

"But Henry, it is time to go on our speeders (a Star Wars vehicle of some sort).  So let's go."  Henry totally was convinced and off they went.  I kind of want to say that Charley gets this from me...because I am pretty good at pulling crap out of my butt when it comes to making things sound exciting. 

I continue to fine tune my latte and I really think it is coming along. 

 We are all tuckered out today.

Found a new app that is slightly addicting...Sally's Salon. 

So I think I am going to crawl into bed and give Sally's Salon a little go while catching up on some of the royal wedding that seems to have taken place...I did show my boys a little bleep of it and they both were pretty impressed. 

Speaking of princesses...

I wonder if Kate's mom and dad worried about letting her play with barbie dolls and pretend princess stuff when she was growing up.  I ask this because I have read a few blogs or articles regarding girls and the whole princess thing - parents not letting either of these things set foot in their houses.  Not sure what to think about it.  I know I played with Barbies and maybe a little princess stuff,  I turned out okay.  I think it is all about balance and keeping it real.  It isn't like we are going to sit Miss Sydney on a throne and cater to her like a princess...but if she wants to play and wave a wand and wear a crown - well gosh darn, it is going to be darn adorable.  And honestly, I don't see anyone waving anything but a light saber in our house.  I wonder if she will prefer red, green, blue, or purple.   

More leftovers...go here! 

For the Love of ...

Naps...

Sydney fix

Sydney was gifted this gorgeous circle blanket from her Aunt Sara. We love you Aunt Sara!

What's up?

1. I love when I take Sydney up for bedtime or nap time. And I lay her down in her crib to swaddle her. I turn off the light after I lay her down - before I swaddle her. Then I come over and lean over to swaddle and her eyes are SO big and I can tell she is thinking, "What is going on? Why is it so dark all of a sudden? What's going on?" And then I lean over her and she smiles big, eyes still huge, and her feet start kicking so wildly. Love it! Then we settle in to nurse and off she goes to dreamland. I know, I know, I should put her down awake - but you know what...I love it. It works. It worked for the boys. And they aren't ruined. So we're goin' with it.

2. I just popped my boys some microwave popcorn and they didn't like it. It was a buttery kind. Love that they prefer my stove top real stuff instead. Kind of like my homemade mac and cheese over the whole Kraft thing. Makes the extra work worth it.

3. We had a super play date with some new friends recently. Henry was in pure heaven finally having the Jack that he tells us about over. Having someone new over for a play date ( mom and kids) reminds me how much I appreciate the regular pop in friends that I have. You know, the ones you don't feel anxiety over the quiet moments, the messy bathroom, or the couch piled in laundry and the counter covered in dirty dishes. Make new friends but relish the ease of the old.

4. Do you have a friend that you email mid afternoon to see how they are doing? Lucky. Do you have a friend who you call or calls you for a mid afternoon check in? Blessed. Do you have a sister you can vent with and you know that you will get an upbeat booster email back?

I have these, and lately, I am so grateful.

5. Do you ever get caught up realizing that life is good and forget to enjoy it because you are so worried about when the shit is going to hit the fan? I do. And lately, it has started to take over my thoughts and I am trying really hard to push those anxious thoughts down. Life is good. Even if you have had some little stumbles or hiccups lately. Life is good.

6. This week we tried making won ton wrap ravioli. Last night we had homemade pizza. Charley eats the same size dinner salad with his meals lately. Love this. He also eats his salad first.

7. Henry got to sit in the back row of seats in our van on the way to Aunt Katy's for Easter. I heard him exclaim, mid-ride, "This is the best day ever, because I get to ride in the back. Woo hoo!" That night before bed he said, "This is the best day ever because we are at Aunt Katy's." I am so glad that he is having best days lately!

8. Summer anxiety? Anyone? Anyone? I've got it. Lots of fun but also lots of time to fill. It will be good. I just need to put a little thought into our routine.

9. I love wearing black cozy pants. Especially on rainy days.

10. Anyone else have an earthworm invasion in your yard. Talking with another mom, I am realizing that parts of our yard might be looking more muddy than normal due to the little squigglers. What to do? What to do?

11. Sydney has started napping in her crib. I have caught her rubbing her eyes during the day. I quickly swaddle her up and nurse her and out she goes. The last two days have been blessed with two hour naps up in her room. You go girl! She is still sleeping 7:30-3am and then 3:15 til 6:30 and then 6:30- 8:30am. SO blessed.

12. I need someone who likes Lattes to come over so I can make you one and you can give me feedback. I know that as long as I like them I am good. But I would really, honestly, like to know if what I am making is at all good.

13. I have been watching Oprah in the evening. She has like 20 some episodes left before she is all done. The other night I gazed sadly at Ed and said that I think that I am going to regret not making the effort to see her show live. I really do. I think someday I am going to look back and it is going to be one of my regrets in life. He tipped his head and said, "Sorry." Ha! I told him I didn't expect him to write her daily to tell her what an awesome mom or wife I am and how I deserve a mommy make over or invite to her Favorite Things episode. haha! But seriously, I love that he got it and doesn't make fun of me for my thoughts and feelings.

14. I accidentally bought the wrong kind of laundry detergent. It isn't the front load kind. So it doesn't work in our machine. Dumb. At least I know I will never do that again.

15. When you are forced to be a "super single mama" for a short span because your husband travels - how do you survive? How do you prepare?

16. Another dreary day here. But we have cozied in and have no where to be. Tomorrow it is supposed to be drastically different - weather wise. So we will save our grocery shop until then. Happy Thursday afternoon!

Giveaway! Just for you!

I have given away and reviewed items from Organically Grown clothing company in the past. I loved the little outfit that they sent for Henry to try out. A reader, Amy, won a cozy item from a giveaway too.

Now they want to share a piece from their new spring collection....

Just in time for spring, well here in Minnesota I don't believe it will EVER arrive...but in case it does...! Their sets of adorable, 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton bodysuits are the perfect eco-friendly, affordable gift! Sets come with three themed bodysuits: Adorable jungle prints for boys and fresh garden fun prints for girls. All bodysuits come on a decorative padded hanger.

Share one of your favorite spring time activities and you are entered to win one of their cute onesies!   I will post the winner on Saturday night. 

Picky Eater - Expose the bugger!

We have a picky eater.
His name is Hank.
Lately, we read a book that had a beaver who had never had a pancake.
The beaver tried it.
The beaver liked it.

So when something new or something that Henry has refused to try appears on Henry's plate - I remind him of the beaver. And it has helped him be a little more open to new foods. And now I also remind him how he tried the "orange juice from McDonald's" and he liked it (He doesn't like orange juice and I accidentally called it orange juice). We have gotten him to try many things lately - with a little extra effort. We will keep trying. We will keep exposing him.

And having a big brother who is not picky - AT. ALL.  really helps too!

Easter Extravaganza 2011

Are you ready for too many pictures! I am not going to say much. But I will point out a few things...I have very few pictures of Charley - the kid was out of sight and enjoying his cousins to the max. I have too many pictures of Sydney - because she is just too darn present in my life these days (given that she is literally attached to me every two hours). Henry was just at that purely magical age..as you can see from his face when he found his loaded basket. I also am really disappointed..in the over 200 pictures that I snapped there is not one of me. Probably my fault that I didn't ask anyone to take my camera, but if anyone looking at this happened to snap a decent picture of me...well send 'er my way and I can stick it somewhere so my children know that I was there Easter 2011.

One other point...this year we focused on seeing my grandpa, Ed's grandma, and the "cousins" (technically they are like second cousins or something) but Charley talks about them ALL. YEAR. LONG. Sadly we missed out on my families festivities which is hard for me but it is what it is. I will say that it was so nice to just focus on one journey (5 hours). We are so grateful for Ed's Aunt Katy's hospitality. She hosted Easter, she does every year, and she also houses 18 of us. There are not very many houses that can comfortably sleep that many people - including many little ones that need the quiet and dark etc. Once again - we felt right at home and pray that we helped enough.

So here ya go...Easter 2011...as a family of 5!

The "cousins"

Sydney and her Easter morning

Painting Easter Eggs

The boys baskets

Henry finding his basket!

Grandma Charlie with Sydney

Great Grandma Penny and all of her great grandchildren!

Precious snuggle time

Another with Great Grandma Penny

LOVE THIS ONE!  Grandma Charlie and her grandchildren!

Sir Henry

Miss Morgan

You Get to enjoy your Tuesday

The ordinary acts we practice every day at home

are of more importance

to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.

Thomas Moore

Irish poet (1779 - 1852)

 

It is easy to forget that the regular days spent at home - just me and my three - are what I am going to look back on, in the not to distant future, and wish I could have back.  It is cleaning up around the house with the busy rumblings of Star Wars battles and spy games that are memory worthy.  It is stepping on those tiny sharp legos, wincing in pain, but carrying on with an overloaded basket of  tiny pink clothing items.  It is stopping what I am doing to sit down for a game of Candyland or Wii bowling.  It is chopping up an apple and slathering it with peanut butter only 20 minutes after serving lunch.  It is the ordinary moments.

But then there are the days that sparkle with color, are vibrant with energy, and stand out in our minds as the big days filled with outings to the zoo, children's museum, or a trip to Grandma's.  It is eating an ice cream sundae on a rainy afternoon or doing a crazy project that involves a mess.  These days might be extraordinary but they are also ordinary and settle in our minds and hearts fondly. 

Whether your rainy Tuesday afternoon is plain and ordinary or filled with colorful energy - Enjoy it.  YOU GET TO.  It is your Tuesday to get to live! 

An amazing woman!

Children are truly blessed when they can know their family...whether it is their mother, father, grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, and their great relatives.

My children are so truly blessed to have all four grandparents and many great relatives in their lives. Even some great great Aunts and Uncles.


This lady is one amazing woman. In her mid-90s she is still living on her own...making Sunday dinner on a regular basis. Doing her laundry. Visiting with friends. And hosting our visits from time to time. Lately she has had some little hiccups in her health but once again she amazes us all and keeps on kicking and beating us in Canasta. She is Ed's grandma Penny and I am so blessed to have her in my life.

My guilt is huge most of the time because I am so terrible about sending pictures, writing letters, or reminding  Ed to call or do these things. I need to do better because this lady deserves so much.

Sydney got to meet her Great Grandma Penny this weekend. And how precious their time was.

My favorite picture