Weekend Wrap-Up

We had another crazy-busy weekend...which seems to be our norm!  School ended for the summer on Friday for Tater, Bruiser, and Mommy.  It may be my favorite day of the entire year!  So that makes today (Monday) my first offical day of summer vacation.  I'm kind of liking it a little bit!

But to back up to the weekend...

Uncle Jason (my brother) and Aunt Heather (his wife) arrived late Friday evening...after we celebrated summer with some yummy cake at our favorite friends' house!  It was nice to visit and catch up with them (Jason and Heather, that is!).  They are expecting their first child (Baby Drew) in October.  So the goal of this trip was to raid our stash of baby gear and clothes.  Jason was amazed at all I had and all I had kept.  They loaded their car and are all set for the first year of Drew's life. 

Then we decided to make quick trip to Kohl's for a little retail therapy, ride a few go-carts to get in the mood...and go see Cars 2!  The kids were so excited!  Sassy did great until she feel asleep halfway through and Bruiser was glued to the edge of his seat.  He watched the entire moviie holding onto his little car like one in the movie and sucking his thumb...I don't think he moved the entire two hours!

We ended the evening with dinner on the grill and a backyard concert provided by our next door neighbors.  Friends joined us and we had a great evening.  Jason and Heather left early Sunday amidst tears from Tater.  It's nice to know that Jason will be on a work trip nearby within the next few weeks andwe'll be able to visit with him again then!

Sunday was not as much fun.  Sassy caught the fever and was awake every half hour Saturday night.  She spent Sunday laying on me and napping.  When she heard we couldn't go to the beach because she was sick, she cried...I think it was the first time she realized how being sick affected your life!  It was a long day but she seems to be a bit better today so hopefully we'll be able to offically start summer!

Not A Problem!

I spent the afternoon helping out a friend and watching her two kids.  After I took all five kids to Tater's school to drop her off and then took the remaining four kids to Bruiser's school to drop him off (and lost count of how many seat belts I buckled and unbuckled!), the three little one - ages 1, 2, & 3 - headed to the basement and played there for hours!  Yes, HOURS!  It has been the best rainy afternoon with multiple children I have ever had! 

Just don't ask me if I change my mind tonight when I have to clean up the play room!

It Was A Rough Day!!!!!

Three More Sleeps!



We are anxiously counting down the last few "sleeps" until summer vacation starts at the House of Sprout!  These last few weeks of school have really hit us hard.  Bruiser started with a high fever last Sunday, which lasted until Thursday!  And we all know what that means...no school or babysitter until it normal without medication for 24 hours.  Just what we needed so close to the end!  And then guess what?  Because that's how we roll...Tater started with the same fever this Sunday.  I'm hoping she can make it to school tomorrow for her end-of-the-year celebration...even if I have to break the 24 hour rule a bit! 

So, if that wasn't enough, we had a change in childcare starting this past Monday...with one week left!  But we were able to send them to the new sitter who will be watching them starting in September...and they LOVE it!  I don't have to drop them off until 8:30 each morning...but we were out of the house by 8:00 this morning...they were so excited!  It warms my heart that they are so excited but also makes me wonder if they were missing out on something by not having others to play with the past three years that we've had someone watch them in our home.  Not that I would change the convenience for anything!

Now that my migraine has left for the day, I'm hoping to make it through the rest of the week without too many issues.  Three more sleeps and three more days!  I need summer!

The End Is In Sight!

We've been crazy busy around here the past few weeks!  My school year is ending for the summer (report cards, assessments, files, packing up the classroom, etc.), Bruiser was fighting some kind of crazy virus, Sassy's been...well, sassy!, and there was a yard sale, a recital, end-of-the-events, and visits to prepare for.  But yesterday...after the yard sale...we relaxed by our state-of-the-art pool in our backyard and enjoyed our playhouse up-grade, courtesy of the yard sale!

(Check out Bruiser's summer 'do!)

Summer Is Here!

It was hot, hot, hot here yesterday...and we escaped to the beach for some cooler temperatures and relaxing waves!  It finally felt like summer!

"Celebrate America" - Dance Recital 2011

We dressed up.  We glittered up.  We smiled.  We moved.

We danced!

This weekend was Tater's third dance recital and Sassy's first.  It was busy, stressful and time-consuming...but the girls had fun and did great!  Here is the re-cap in pictures...lots of pictures!

Tater is ready to head to rehearsal.

Sassy posing with her bandaged knee!

Tater and her camera smile.

Sassy had a catnap on the way...but don't worry - she was just recharging!

Tater and her friend, M, waiting for things to get started.

Tater watching Miss Michelle give directions.

"Sweet Caroline"

Sassy danced like a professional!

It was especially entertaining  because she didn't dance a single step in class all year long...must have been saving it for the stage!  She did a lot of bouncing from side-to-side, even though it wasn't part of the routine...but she looked cute!

Our friend, Judah, froze halfway into the routine and Sassy had to figure out how to dance around him...again, it was entertaining to watch!

The group shot!

Sassy spent a fair amount of time on stage doing just this...not sure where she learned it!

Super sweet Sassy!

Tater during the family dance.

(Unfortunately, Mommy was at the back of the stage and there aren't any pictures...darn!)

Mommy being a "stage mommy"!

Tater's Ballet

"Let's Get Together"

Tater's Tap

"When The Saints Go Marching In"

Tater's Jazz

"Surfin' in the USA"

The rehearsal lasted almost 4 hours.

Sassy went home with Daddy, Mimi, and Bruiser early on...and Tater did amazingly well and danced all her dances the best I've ever seen her!  Because there is no photography allowed during the actual show, these pictures are from the rehearsal...so say a little prayer that the real thing goes a bit quicker!

Oh, and here's a shot of Sassy!