Marching on Memorial

Monday both girls's Girl Scout troops marched in the Sanford Memorial Day Parade!
They did a fantastic job and look fabulous!

The Daisys

The Brownies

They Are Doing This

While We are Sick Doing This

Dance Party

Girls breaking it down to some Boom Boom Pow...before bed. The pink blur in the bottom right is LG.

My Cooking Assistant

For tonight's gourmet meal of frozen chicken fingers and Lipton noodles I had a helper. She thought the chicken would be better prepared by throwing them in the noodle sauce. Floating frozen chicken nuggets anyone?!

12:55pm All Is Calm

Home Sick

V has a low fever and cold. L is glad to have a buddy home today.

Blue Springs Camping

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We are now back home, showered, watching TV and enjoying the AC, but this past weekend we gave all that up for a great weekend of camping. We went with another family, our good friends the Millers.

Some fav moments-

-Nat was a little nervous about swimming in the spring with nature all around us. Each passing branch she'd ask, "What's that?" and often an underwater rock would scare her. At one point she gets very freaked out and starts shrieking. We get her calmed down and ask what's the matter. She responds, "I don't want to be by all these dead manatees!!" She mistook the fallen trees underwater for dead manatees.

-As we swam/walked up the spring run to the boil, some people told us there was a snake but he was resting on the bank and not disturbing anyone. By the time we got to the boil area, some guys with sticks were now dealing with the snake. Our oblivious kids climbed up onto a fallen tree and were safely out of the water. As the snake swims near, I notice a kid swimming within 6-7 feet of the snake. IT'S NATALIE. She had jumped in :( Jason quickly jumped in and got her out of harms way. Then he tried to warn the next family downstream. Jason yells, "Snake." The Dad looks up, smiles and waves. He doesn't understand English! :( Jason yells snake a few more times this time louder (as if that will improve his comprehension of English). He then saw the snake and got out of the way. The poor snake eventually found an escape and all was ok.

-After the sweat, stickiness, bug spray and fun N took a shower at the campground showers. About 30 minutes later she's dressed and back at the campsite. Someone tells her, "Natalie you're getting pretty dirty." I look to see her on the ground, rolling in the sand like a dog. So much for a clean camper!

The girls did great and more camping is definitely in our future family adventures!

Waiting For Dinner

Campers We Are

We had a successful camping night! The girls slept in their own tent the whole night through. Instead if sweating while we slept, we shivered, it got pretty chilly with just a bed sheet! The sun is now coming up and the cicadas hace started their summer song. Girls are on a nature hike and already planning our next camping adventure.

What Campers Pack

The girls packed themselves for our weekend camping trip. I had them show me what they packed. The temps are going to be in the low 90s V had 2 sweaters and pants packed. Between them they had 4 hair brushes, 2 pair of underware and 13 books not including journals & magazines.

The Making of a Caring Person

We try to teach our kids to give, to help others and be charitable.
Recently we re-instituted the 25% of money you get goes to charity rule. We decided to use that saved money to help a local disabled boy, who at the age of 2, fell into his swimming pool and nearly drowned. The family asked for various care giving items including pillow cases. They use multiple pillows to help him sleep comfortably.

While we were shopping, Valla came up with an idea. Instead of buying pillow cases, she wanted to go buy "kid boy" fabric and sew pillow cases for him. And that's what we did. She did an awesome job (with a little help from Grandma) and I am so proud of her. I hope she remembers how good it feels to give, help others and be charitable.

Finished products!

Hangman

I taught N how to play hangman tonight at Macaroni Grill. She then wanted to have me guess a word. I told her she had to pick a word she was sure she knew how to spell.
She chose well...

Love Bugs

N is facinated with love bugs. We're at the park and she's adopted a set with damaged wings. "I named one Joann and the other Fabric.... Joann Fabric"

Things I Want to Never Forget

At the end of a friend filled Sunday N says to me, "Mom I had the best day with you!"

I think back over her day: busy with friends in the pool, going to a playdate for a few hours and me going on a date with her sister without her. "Honey, we didn't do much together today, why was it so great?"

N, "Remember when we cuddled in your bed this morning?!"

Those 5 minutes of snuggling and love meant more to her than the hours & hours with friends. Being a mom is so cool.

**************

Not sure if I've already shared this, but want it documented somewhere.

I'm taking a shower and N comes running in exclaiming, "Mom, I have to take EVERYTHING out of my toy box NOW!!"

Me, "Why?"

N,"I hear Cheyanne (our cat) stuck in there."

Me, "How did the cat get stuck at the bottom of your toy box?"

N, "I don't know, but I hear her meowing in there!!"

Me, "Give me 5 minutes and I'll come see what's going on."

3 minutes later she returns, "Nevermind, Mom.... she was outside my window meowing."

In the 5 year old's defense, the toy box is next to the window :)

Father-Daughter(s) Ball

Tonight, Jason escorted his two oldest daughters to a Father Daughters Cinderella Ball put on by the Girl Scouts. They were so excited to get dressed up and have another opportunity to use the red lipstick we bought for the dance recital. Cousin Taylor did a fabulous job with their hair and makeup!

Jason said he imagined taking similar photos with them only when they are in bridal gowns on their wedding days :)

Looks like they had a fabulous time. At one point Natalie was at the head of the conga line...not a shocker!

Sleep Over Guests

What do these 3 things have in common?

These were all things Natalie wanted to take over to her first sleep over at her friend's house tonight.

The pet fish (who has unexplainably survived since an October Fall festival carnival!!).
The cat Princess.
& Willy the worm she found the other day on a wet walk home from the bus stop.

I compromised and said Willy could make the trek. Since his home was topped high with dirt, I took it outside to level it off to make sure the lid could fit. As I was removing some dirt I expected to find ole Willy. Turns out there is no more Willy. We've not been watching a worm buried in his home, but instead a container of dirt for the past few days. Where is Willy? Heck if I know! He was in there on Wednesday before dance class and when we returned, we just assumed he'd buried himself....guess we assumed wrong!

Anyone got an extra worm to loan to a 5 year old's first sleep over?!

The Making of A Fish

We've created a monster.
A swimming monster.
Gone is the scared insecure tadpole.
We now have a full fledged mermaid!

Here she is showing her skills in her summer clothes complete with regular diaper and shoes. She can save herself!

I can't tell you how many times a day she asks, "Momma, Go in pool?" or I catch her rummaging through her dresser, stripping off her clothes and attempting to put on her own swim diaper and swim suit. The screams of protesting swimming lessons have been replaced by screams of protests when it's time to leave the pool.

Anyone who's known me a while knows how much I love the ISR (Infant Swimming Resource) program.
Here's why...

Dance Divas

Saturday was picture day for the girls' jazz dance classes.
They were VERY excited to get all made up and wear their costumes.
They also have no trouble posing :)
The recital is in June.

Pick of the Week

Most weekday mornings after V & N have left for the bus and Jason has headed to work, you will find LG and I at the kitchen table starting our day. Oatmeal or cereal and some coffee. We also sit with my iPhone and run through You Tube videos.

This is L's current favorite!




I see a 1st Disney visit in our future!!

Validation

Got up 5x during night with an upset nephew, finally slept on lower bunk. Got V, N & Jas on their way. Got L & W dressed, fed and teeth brushed. Showered. Ate. Dropped W @ school. Dropped L at friend's. Went to help Niki. Changed babies, fed baby, laundry, changed sheets, emptied dishwasher. Picked up L. Picked up W. Sat in car, waiting for downpour to let up. Went to ISR, cheered LG for completing her winter clothes survival skills. Held strong during tantrum. Waited 15 min in Chik Fil A drive thru as dumbass behind me blocked the exit of the drive thru therefore locking herself (&me) in an unopen circle. Proudly refrained from telling her my opinion. Back to babies, dealt with another tantrum. Fed W & L. Fed self. Laundry, general pick up. Race home to hot waiting kids fresh off the bus. See snake on driveway. Let dog out. Spontaneously watch neighbor's locked out kids. Take 4 to fire department, tour department. Bra sweat & humidity. Drag L off the truck. Chase W to car. HOME. Fascinating worm in driveway, kicking toddler back inside. Homework helper. Screaming non napped toddler banging to get out. Almost 5 o'clock and no sign of dinner.

So what do you DO all day Mom?

They're Here!!

Charlie 7 lbs 1 oz Chandler 5 lb 14oz

After waiting for 9 long months, our new cousins are finally here! Niki had a c section at 39 weeks 1 day. Everything went very well and Charlie came out around 10:16am and Chandler arrived at 10:18.

When we got to the hospital, Niki was still being taken care of so we got to see the twins in the nursery. These 4 guys couldn't wait to see and hold them!
Chandler

CharlieA few hours later we got to see them up close
LG's first look at the new babies
Valla was a natural and had a hard time giving them up!
Natalie kept asking when we could return to the hospital to hold them again :)

Proud Momma
She's doing so well and adjusting to two feeding schedules...lots of work & time.

L holding Charlie

Chandler
CharlieWe can't wait for all the fun and adventures that await them!