Inspired by our cousin Chrissy, we are going to attempt to do one of each (hike, adventure and experiment) every week this summer. So far, so good. This week we went to the Willows and hiked through a stream, up a "mountain" (large hill) and around a pond. We were met by some geese and swans at the pond. The swans came chasing after us. Maura and Bridget were both pond side when the swans came charging after them. They both turned to run-right into a bench. Maura was quick enough to climb over the bench and run out of there. B, not so much. She was stuck, and screaming. I wanted to help, I really did, but I had K in my hands and, well, let's be honest, I was afraid!! I yelled for B to run, but she couldn't get around the bench. I finally ran up to her, she made her way around, I grabbed her arm and drug her away. By this time, Mags is screaming. It really was quite a sight. I can see the headlines... Young girl gets pecked to death by swan while mom stands by watching!! I think that counts as an adventure, but just to be sure, we set up the tent and camped out in the back yard that night. Maura decided she would rather sleep in her bed (smart girl) so B, mags and I slept out. I was impresses, especially with Mags. Around 11:00pm, I thought about carrying them up to their room and heading to mine, but I figured if they could do it, so could I. Oh, our "experiment: was seeing what floated and what sank. Silly banz sink!
They had so much fun, we went back yesterday with daddy, and today we bought nets to catch tadpoles next time we go. Now let's see if I can stick to it. NB: I am also in a 40 day no yelling bet with myself. I may be asking too much of myself, it is summer after all!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Summer is in full swing
Well, here we are in the full swing of summer. How did that happen? Maura graduated from Pre-K (again), and B finished her first year of school. She is potty trained and ready for summer camps! We have started swim lessons (boot camp) at WCU. The girls are loving it. Mags really is a star! Maura was not loving putting her head in the water, but with some new goggles and a little more self assurred-ness she is ready to go. The girls have decided (as of today) to do swim team (that could change at any given moment!). We will see how that goes. Kerri is talking more and more. She really just makes me smile all-the-time. I can't take it. Even when she is bad, I think she is adorable. She just had her 18month check up. 25% for weight (really? she is a chunker) 50% for height and... wait for it... 90% for head. Too funny. She always has been a little top heavy... in the most adorable way, of course.
I am having a great summer so far. Gwen is "helping" out this summer a few hours two days a week. Amazing what a difference that makes. The girls have a few Bible camps planned ( I am too cheap to send them to real camp!). They are looking forward to it. The twins (Emily and Katie) are coming in two weeks... Maura is on cloud nine about that!!
So life is good. It is busy, and it is fantastic. I am looking forward to some fun summer memories!
I am having a great summer so far. Gwen is "helping" out this summer a few hours two days a week. Amazing what a difference that makes. The girls have a few Bible camps planned ( I am too cheap to send them to real camp!). They are looking forward to it. The twins (Emily and Katie) are coming in two weeks... Maura is on cloud nine about that!!
So life is good. It is busy, and it is fantastic. I am looking forward to some fun summer memories!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Mother's Day Shows and why I am so proud.
I had three mother's day teas today. One right after another, actually two overlapped a bit... ugh! Well I had three very different experiences, but all filled with pride. This is just another example of how different my girls are. It is crazy!
Mags was up first. I was nervous, very nervous. The holiday show did not go so well. If you consider "so well" not even going into the room! I wanted to make sure we were there early enough because when she is late to anything, forget about it. Well, she did great. She walked right up on stage, and, are you ready, sang! She even did all the hand motions! I could have fallen over. I taped every last minute of it. I loved every second. I wanted to run up and squeeze her and grab her and tell her how proud I was of her.... right at that very second. Now, she did not wave to me, or smile, or really even look at me, but hey, she was on stage. She was doing it. I just am so darn proud of her and the growth she has made this year. On a side note, she was star of the week this week, and her teacher said she did GREAT. She loved making her poster... she decorated both sides. I wrote detailed descriptions next to each picture because I assumed she would not talk about it, and her teachers would have to tell the class about it. Well, I was wrong, again. She talked, and talked loudly and clearly about every last picture and drawing on her poster. Her teacher's aide (who is amazing) said she was so surprised and so proud of her too. mags has grown so much this year, in so many ways. She doesn't even drink milk anymore really! I know I am rambling about Mags, but geez, I am happy for her.
Next came Maura's tea. Well, Maura is like her dad, in that things come easily to her. So I was not nervous for her. I was surprised though that she was quiet and not really as animated as she was during the many hours of rehearsal at home, or as compared to her classmates. She would smile at me and give me a look or two, but no waving. She is all business. I think she is worried she will get in trouble. She told me later they were not allowed to move except when they had to stomp their feet for one song. She really does everything right. She knows all the words, all the motions. She does great, just like she does everything!! After the show she gave me her jump on me and wrap her arms and legs around me and make me let go, aka weird, greeting. She then does her pointing and poking but no talking routine. Interesting. But she is proud of herself and of what she does in the classroom, but quiet. I hope life keeps being so easy for Maura. It sure would be nice. Maura came up with me to B's party.
B was waiting for me when I walked in. She, unlike her sisters, drops everything and yells Mommy! and runs over to me. She talks al ot and tells me everything that happened in the last hour. She now can enjoy her snack. She wants to hug me, hold me, pat my head, kiss me. She wants me to carry her down the steps. She is reluctant to get up on stage, but when she does, darn is she a cutie. She sings the words and does the motions, really it was just her and another girls doing anything. She gets so easily distracted. A little boy was kind of running around and crying, she was trying so hard to concentrate on the teacher, but it was SO hard for her. She kept getting distracted. She did all her songs great. She smiled and waved to her mommy, and as soon as it was over, she ran right to me and wanted to hug and cuddle. That is all right before she went running around the room and the halls like a mad woman, but boy was it great. I can't believe she is old enough to be performing on stage!!
What a wonderful morning to me a mommy!
Mags was up first. I was nervous, very nervous. The holiday show did not go so well. If you consider "so well" not even going into the room! I wanted to make sure we were there early enough because when she is late to anything, forget about it. Well, she did great. She walked right up on stage, and, are you ready, sang! She even did all the hand motions! I could have fallen over. I taped every last minute of it. I loved every second. I wanted to run up and squeeze her and grab her and tell her how proud I was of her.... right at that very second. Now, she did not wave to me, or smile, or really even look at me, but hey, she was on stage. She was doing it. I just am so darn proud of her and the growth she has made this year. On a side note, she was star of the week this week, and her teacher said she did GREAT. She loved making her poster... she decorated both sides. I wrote detailed descriptions next to each picture because I assumed she would not talk about it, and her teachers would have to tell the class about it. Well, I was wrong, again. She talked, and talked loudly and clearly about every last picture and drawing on her poster. Her teacher's aide (who is amazing) said she was so surprised and so proud of her too. mags has grown so much this year, in so many ways. She doesn't even drink milk anymore really! I know I am rambling about Mags, but geez, I am happy for her.
Next came Maura's tea. Well, Maura is like her dad, in that things come easily to her. So I was not nervous for her. I was surprised though that she was quiet and not really as animated as she was during the many hours of rehearsal at home, or as compared to her classmates. She would smile at me and give me a look or two, but no waving. She is all business. I think she is worried she will get in trouble. She told me later they were not allowed to move except when they had to stomp their feet for one song. She really does everything right. She knows all the words, all the motions. She does great, just like she does everything!! After the show she gave me her jump on me and wrap her arms and legs around me and make me let go, aka weird, greeting. She then does her pointing and poking but no talking routine. Interesting. But she is proud of herself and of what she does in the classroom, but quiet. I hope life keeps being so easy for Maura. It sure would be nice. Maura came up with me to B's party.
B was waiting for me when I walked in. She, unlike her sisters, drops everything and yells Mommy! and runs over to me. She talks al ot and tells me everything that happened in the last hour. She now can enjoy her snack. She wants to hug me, hold me, pat my head, kiss me. She wants me to carry her down the steps. She is reluctant to get up on stage, but when she does, darn is she a cutie. She sings the words and does the motions, really it was just her and another girls doing anything. She gets so easily distracted. A little boy was kind of running around and crying, she was trying so hard to concentrate on the teacher, but it was SO hard for her. She kept getting distracted. She did all her songs great. She smiled and waved to her mommy, and as soon as it was over, she ran right to me and wanted to hug and cuddle. That is all right before she went running around the room and the halls like a mad woman, but boy was it great. I can't believe she is old enough to be performing on stage!!
What a wonderful morning to me a mommy!
Yeah!!
B is potty trained. Dry for a week now. Last Thursday I just decided to take off the diapers, and I did. We went for two days with no panties, no diapers, and many times, no nothing... nude. Panties went back on Sunday (shameless brag: when she was picking me up from my 10 mile race!). She has been in panties since. She has gone to school twice, to the gym, to restaurants, well, everywhere. Yeah. I hate to say it was easy, but it was.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wa wa
Kerri is starting to say some words. She likes to make noise... scream even, but not alot of words come out of her cute little mouth. Well her newest, and favorite, is Wawa. She wants water.. all the time. Preferably out of a glass or water bottle. It can be pretty messy, but I can't help but indulge. Gotta encourage the talking (and it sure is better than her calling everyone and everything mama!). (BTW, right now Bridget is licking water off the counter. Must be her favorite too.)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Quest for the Golden Egg.
Two years ago we went to the Homestead with our family and my parents. We loved it. We went again this year. We loved it again! When we went two years ago, Maura found the Golden Egg at the egg hunt at the Owners Club. She was determined to find it again this year. As we checked in, she told the receptionist, "I am going to get the golden egg." I was nervous. What if she did not find it? I tried to prepare her for it.. you know, all the eggs have treats in them... even if you don't get the golden egg, it can still be fun... there is a silver egg??
Well, no need to worry, she got it. And so did Mags and B. They were thrilled. They got the big Easter basket with toys, candy, books, water bottles... it was the basket of all baskets. While we were "searching" for eggs, standing among all these colored eggs, I said to Mags, why aren't you picking up any eggs? She replied that she was searching for the golden egg. No time to waste picking up all the other ones!! Ryan was not as lucky. His age group was very aggressive and was only able to get 2 eggs!! Wow. That is some competitive egg hunting!
But more importantly, we had a great weekend with family. It was relaxing and fun, exciting and old fashion fun. I loved it. It took a while for me to relax and realize we were on vacation, but once I did, it was great! The kids went swimming every day and loved it. I think that was Ryan's favorite part of the weekend. We played on the playground; we went to the movies, a magic show, church, afternoon tea. We hiked, we hid eggs, went to two hunts, got balloon animals, played hide and seek, "swam" in the hot tub. It was a great Easter weekend. I hope we get to do it again next year, even worth the 7 hour drive!
Well, no need to worry, she got it. And so did Mags and B. They were thrilled. They got the big Easter basket with toys, candy, books, water bottles... it was the basket of all baskets. While we were "searching" for eggs, standing among all these colored eggs, I said to Mags, why aren't you picking up any eggs? She replied that she was searching for the golden egg. No time to waste picking up all the other ones!! Ryan was not as lucky. His age group was very aggressive and was only able to get 2 eggs!! Wow. That is some competitive egg hunting!
But more importantly, we had a great weekend with family. It was relaxing and fun, exciting and old fashion fun. I loved it. It took a while for me to relax and realize we were on vacation, but once I did, it was great! The kids went swimming every day and loved it. I think that was Ryan's favorite part of the weekend. We played on the playground; we went to the movies, a magic show, church, afternoon tea. We hiked, we hid eggs, went to two hunts, got balloon animals, played hide and seek, "swam" in the hot tub. It was a great Easter weekend. I hope we get to do it again next year, even worth the 7 hour drive!
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