Duck, Duck, Goose....Seagull?

Yesterday was our final music class.....of this session.  After much deliberation my husband convinced me to sign them up for next session which is "maracas".  I digress. So, our day started at music class which was actually dare I say...kinda fun.  Kyle actually behaved himself (for the most part) and participated and Hailey found her way off my lap where she sang and danced almost every song.  I had a blast watching them.

Afterward none of us wanted to go home.  We called Auntie Kate and had an adventurous day. We met at "Friendly's" my new favorite place to take the kids. Which I highly recommend (especially on Wednesdays- because kids get a meal and ice cream for $1.99).  Then it was off for a little shopping.  Auntie Kate spoiled her niece and nephew, they each got a new "Super Why hover toy" and silly bands.

Afterward we decided to feed the ducks, and the geese, and the seagulls. Although I don't think seagulls belong at the local lake.

These are some of the most aggressive geese I have ever seen.  We literally had to stomp them away (don't worry we didn't stomp on them). Thankfully Auntie Kate was there to protect my little ones while I snapped pics. =)

 We topped the day off by going into the candy shop and buying some chocolate.  We thought we were going to have them for dessert but Kyle and Hailey had other plans.  To sit and eat them there. Turns out they really enjoy chocolate with peanut butter and chocolate with caramel.

When Kyle was finally done watching the cars drive by on the main road we had permission to leave. It was a fun and adventurous day for all.  I'm glad we enjoyed the first part of the week because today and tomorrow aren't looking like going to the park or feeding the ducks kind of days. They are talking about

6-12in of snow in the forecast.  I'm calling April Fool's on there a55es! HOPEFULLY!

Sure!

After gymnastics, a lunch out (that neither toddler behaved very well during), a trip to Stop n Shop, and a short visit with Grandma. What were we to do?

I wasn't up for painting or coloring or starting another craft.  The sun was out and the day (looked) beautiful.  We all agreed we should go for a family walk.  Its our new thing.  The three of us hold hands and walk around the neighborhood.  The kids decide which way to turn and what path to take.

After a small jaunt to the end of the road the wind kicked up and the temp. came down. We turned back and I asked do you want to go in or do you want Mom to get hats? They both agreed HATS!

Hats on them, hood for me and off we walked.  It unexpectedly led us to the school and playground around the corner.

I don't know why I was so amazed by him climbing this.

SHE is FEARLESS...I was scared of the slide looking at it from the ground and when I climbed up to the top and looked down fahgetaboutit!

It was a fun random day at the park.  I wish we could have stayed longer.  They were having so much fun. Hailey was OK with going home.  Kyle was a typical almost 3 year old having to leave the park.  There were several tears.  He does have the best little sister. She hugged him and reassured him we could go back tomorrow.  The entire walk home she told him "we can play there tomorrow Kyle." in her little cutie pa tootie voice. Love them. Loved our day.

Nap or No?

OK my fellow mommies.  I want to know your thoughts.  Naps, or no naps? 

I get that kids need and like to nap.  But, how important is it?  See, my two little ones like to nap in the afternoon now. I am not talking 12-12:30ish.  I am saying like between 2 and 3ish.  AND they nap from 1-3 hours at a time.

My first thought is usually: Let them nap, they need it.  My next thought: Ahhhh a moment to myself.  And then: I am bored.  Not that this whole nap issue is about me....well not completely.

Back to the controversy.  When they nap they then do not go to bed until 9-9:30ish. Which greatly hinders my true down time, and a little quiet time with my husband.  When they don't nap then from 4-5 becomes the hour from hell and I have to find JUST the right time to feed them so they will actually eat.  I have also learned (especially with Hailey) that if they don't eat well before bed they are up and down all night.

I try to get them to take  naps earlier in the day. I have played with lunch hour and our playtime schedule.  It doesn't seem to matter what I do, they want to nap in the late afternoon.  My general rule is if they do not nap before 2pm then no naps for the day.  At that point its crafts or outdoor fun to keep them up, happy and awake until dinner. Which is sometimes earlier than Daddy coming home, so we don't necessarily have a family dinner, although I make every effort to have a family dinner...BUT have to admit, having a dinner with just my husband and actually enjoying a hot meal is kinda nice =)  Is that fair? I have also tried to limit their actual nap to an hour but that does not seem to make a difference. 1.) It is almost impossible to actually wake them up. 2.) Whether they sleep for one hour or three hours, they are up (what feels like) all night.

  I want to know Mommies.  What would you do? Please remember that every mom needs a little down time to herself, and this one does not get much time alone at all.  I eat with them, sleep with them, they come everywhere with me, yup peeing and everything they are with me.  So what do I do?  Let them nap, or not? and Don't say Nap when they nap!!!

Poor Lil' Bug

Poor Hailey Bug. She fell in the tub.

And, all her Dad could do was laugh and yell "Get the camera!"



Wes.

On Saturday my nephew Wesley turned 4!  We FINALLY celebrated it yesterday. Why FINALLY?  Kyle has been talking about seeing Wesley, and Wesley's birthday, Wesley's cake, and blowing out Wesley's candles for WEEKS!  It was a very cool theme......SUPER-HEROES.

I sadly did not document the day very well.  I don't even have a great picture of the birthday boy!  I know, BAD AUNTIE!  But I did capture a few shots of my little ones waiting for, helping with and eating birthday cake.

Thank goodness Wesley didn't get upset that his cousins wanted to help.

And look....presents!!  Where is Wesley???  This would be MY KIDS opening his gifts.

There he is!  

Happy 4th Birthday Wesley! I can't believe you are 4!!!

and THANKS for sharing your day with your cousins. They love you very much, and just wanted to help make your day even more special =)

I Think..MAYBE......

I don't want to get my hopes up too much.  But there are some changes happening around here.  Particularly at night.  Remember when I finally came out and admitted to you all that we were co-sleeping?  Well, as much as I love my children, and love to snuggle them; I miss snuggling with my husband and having a little space in the bed for myself to get some sleep.

I think Kyle may be growing up....because not only is he spending more time in his own bed. He is ASKING to sleep in his own bed. YUP!  The last 3 nights he goes in my room to unwind and watch a little "Sprout" and then he came out to me and said "Mama, you tuck me into my big boy bed." Can you even imagine my shock and suprise???  I mean SHOCK!

He even did it during the day! 

Kyle: "Mama I take a nap?"

Me: "Sure tidbit you can take a nap"

Kyle: "I take nap in my big boy bed?"

Me: "Of course you can take a nap in your big boy bed bubby"

Kyle: "Mama tuck me in?"

Me: "I would love to tuck you in baby."

I KNOW!!!!!!

He is sleeping in there most of the night...well the night really,he comes in about 6am.  Except for last night because he had some kick butt nightmare. AND his little sister has been doing pretty good in her own crib as well. Once she falls asleep I put her in her cribby and she is sleeping fairly well. IF I have to go in I really just cover her up and back to sleep she goes. Slowly, but surely sleep is coming back into my life! Granted, I am up and down and getting up at 4am on my own because I am not use to sound comfortable rest; but something tells me I will get past that.

I am not celebrating too much or too hard because I don't want to jinx anything.  To be completely honest I also am a little sad because they are wanting me and needing me a little less as they grow up.  With Kyle's 3rd birthday rounding the corner..well its hard for me.  I know I am RIDICULOUS!

So here is to happy sleeping in your own beds =)!

This Guy

This lil' guy is really growing up.

Not just by skipping a T but over all just growing up.  He talks to me all the time.  Tells me what he likes and doesn't like.  He is singing and dancing even more at home and in music class.  He has SUCH  a BIG HEART.  He is protective of his Mommy and little sister.  I wish I could find the words to describe the feeling in my heart about how much he has grown and changed.  He is just amazing!

Last night I was just watching him sit on the chair in my living room and actually SAW him as a little boy.  He isn't a baby or even much of a toddler anymore.  He is becoming a little BOY.  I love it!  NO, I hate it.  I just feel so blessed to have both of my babies in my life, but just watching Kyle these last few days has filled my heart with so much love.  He is growing up.  Next month he will be 3....time flies.

Kyle, you amaze me.  You always have and I think you always will.  I hate that you are growing up, but I feel lucky and blessed to see it.  Thanks for being MY SON!



The NEWEST Accessory

Hailey is all about her accessories:

Her hair accessories

Her fabulous shoes.

But there are NEW accessories in her life these days.  One she can not seem to live without.

Are you thinking maybe her new sunglasses?

Or maybe about her 4 new hats for summer?

Well you would be wrong.  Her newest have to have accessory:

Her BABY!

 She has been given so many dolls that there are a few in her closet that have not even been open.  Thank goodness!  She seems to be on a 4 baby rotation.  Sometimes she wants just one and sometimes all four.  The other night there was a melt down because we could not find the baby she wanted.  Hence the thank goodness for the "baby backup" in the closet.  I was able to open a new one which seemed to quiet the chaos and heartbreak. She has one at all times during the day. She carries them in her baby carrier, takes them for walks in her dolly stroller. Last night Daddy had to eat dinner holding one, and I always seem to have to snuggle one. Lately she has been bringing one to bed and one always comes in the car. Thankfully she does not need it with her when we go in anywhere like the store or music class.

Well she is quite the GIRL!  A fun daughter. AND a good lil' mommy =)

Just in Case

Just in case all you readers out there were concerned I was neglecting my children with my spring cleaning and dare I admit...leaving them with the TV babysitter its not all day or every day.  As hard as it is for me to break away from my spring cleaning duties, today, I did.  I only spring cleaned for about 20 minutes (so obviously didn't get much done); other than that the day was totally devoted to them.

We woke up and played for a bit.  Then we enjoyed a yummy breakfast.  Got dressed and off we went to gymnastics. Today's class was a lot of fun. As opposed to running around the room during the welcome song and warm up circle Kyle participated.  It was so fun!  and super cute.

After class, we met with Jay's sister and my nephew for an impromteau lunch at "Friendly's". Kyle and Hailey ordered their own lunches and desserts. Kyle ate almost ALL of his lunch and of course all of his ice cream. Hailey ate a bunch of fries and then enjoyed her ice cream...not the most healthy lunch; but I will take food in my toddler in any form at this point.

Next, it was off to Stop & Shop.  My babies really enjoy it there.  I know, weird.  Then it was home for more playing.  I folded laundry while we played hide n' seek.  Mostly because they were hiding in Kyle's bed trying to take a nap and I was trying to keep them awake.  Sorry babes no napping at 4pm.....early bed instead.  Next it was dinner, playing with Daddy, tubbies and now bed.  I am hoping they will be asleep very soon.  I expect it with all of todays activities and lack of naps.

So there it is.  A post with no pictures just to assure all of you in the world that they are being loved and taken care of.  Tomorrow we have music class which usually means another random day out.  Which means you do not have to worry about them tomorrow either.  As for Thursday, we are supposed to get snow and I REALLY do want to get all the cleaning done before the sun and warmth return SO if you want to come over and play with them while I clean that's cool.  Actually no, don't come over because then I will feel like I have to entertain you. Rest assure I will take time to play with them and tend to their every need. But I promise when all the cleaning is done we will be back to normal with crafts and playing.  I even have 2 crafts already in mind.  Duck feet, and rainbow wind catchers. =)

My Lucky Shamrocks??

Has anyone else experienced weird or off behavior in their children since the "super moon"?  or just me?  Well attitudes and sleeping have been all over the board since the super moon.  Today was especially annoying. I have to put some, well OK a lot of the blame on myself...I guess, kinda sorta.

See, I am a psycho spring cleaner.  There I said it.  I am.  I can't just clean; I have to super clean. Please, understand.  I keep a clean house.  It is picked up, swept and vacuumed daily.  The floors and bathrooms are washed minimum once a week, but sometimes twice or more. So my home may not always be tidy, but it is always clean.  However, when it comes to spring cleaning all bets are off. EVERYTHING gets torn apart so I can wash it down, around, behind, above and below.  Get it yet?

Once I start it is hard to stop.  I just want it DONE! Now that Kyle and Hailey are in my universe I only allow myself to do 1 to 2 rooms tops a day.  Why?  1.)Because I still have to maintain a day for my children. i.e. feed them, change them, tend to there every beck and call. 2.) Because 1-2 rooms could take me anywhere from 4-6 hours.  I know CRAZY right?

Today I was in the 7th out of the 8 rooms that need to be tend to UPSTAIRS.  I know SO CLOSE. Kyle's room took me FOREVER today.  Not just because I was psycho super cleaning, but also because if Kyle was not whining Hailey was.  If Hailey was not crying Kyle was, and the fights, oh lordie the fights.  It was exhausting.

After spending 5 hours cleaning and reorganizing Kyle's room I folded and put away the 4 loads of laundry that needed to be done.  Put a load in the wash, a load in the dryer and then needed to start dinner.  Which brought hell upon me.  Until Kyle found......

shamrock drinking straws.  Did you hear the angels sing Ahhhhhhhh?  I did!

A couple small cups of water (with ice of course) and a silly straw allowed me a few moments of peace while I finished making dinner.

Why didn't I find these earlier??  But then the effects of super moon kicked in and what was fun playing together and getting along

Turned into another argument about which straw belonged to whom....

I even took them both away and they both chose the same straw. I don't get it.  Then I needed to get them more water, more ice it wasn't so fun and freeing anymore.

See I can't be too mad though.  I blame the super moon and my incessant need to super clean on them being so scutchy today.  I am not the most fun, playful, crafty, snuggling mom when I have spring cleaning to do.  But, at least I limit it to 1 to 2 rooms a day =)

Soon it will all be done my babies. When the spring weather hits and its warm again and everyone is just getting the itch to be clean; we will be out and about enjoying the day. Waving to them all while they wash ther windows.  Mommy loves you.