Sassy's First Day of School!

Sassy turned three and lost all her therapies that she was getting through Early Intervention.

Mommy and Daddy decided that she REALLY needed those services and opted to enroll her in day care at the same school where she received her EI services...so she could stay with all her favorite and amazing therapists!

She started on Monday.

Mommy had a hard time saying goodbye to her baby...who spent a LONG first day at school.

She had lots of friendly faces pop in to say "hi"...and she did just fine without her mommy!

She loves her teacher.

"My favorite friend is Miss Stephanie!"

She refuses to nap on her adorable nap mat.

And her teacher refuses to make her...

"She's just to cute!"

Ha!

The sass hasn't come out yet...but I'm sure it's not too far off!

Remembering...

Ten years ago...

...we didn't own a house.

...we didn't have children.

...we were newlyweds.

...we lived far from our family.

...we watched our world change as the towers fell.

Daddy was in graduate school at Brown University.  All the grad students on his floor gathered in one lab around a small back and white tv to watch as the second plane hit and then as the towers fell.  I remember I couldn't reach him because he was in a different room and had no cell phone.  How times have changed.

I was teaching reading at a local school in our city.  I remember not believing it when someone reported that a plane hit one of the towers.  Then parents began to pick up their students early and I began to take it more seriously.  At lunch, we all gathered in the kindergarten room to watch the news coverage.  By this time three more planes had crashed and the towers had fallen.  We had to tear ourselves away from the tv to return to the students who hadn't left.  I remember walking out to my car to call my father, who was and is a newspaper editor.  In his frantic state, he assumed I was my sister and told me to just stay inside.  Later he didn't even recall me calling him.  I remember walking back into the school and noticing how clear the sky was and how silent everything was.  Of course it was...there were no planes flying anymore.

I remember leaving and coming home to sit in front of the tv watch the news coverage.  I remember watching it for hours.  I also remember waking up in the middle of the night to find Daddy sitting in the living room watching more...he couldn't sleep.  It was hard to not watch.  It was hard to go to work the next day and not be able to know all that was happening as it happened. 

I remember the frantic calls from my mother.  She didn't know I had called my dad...because he didn't remember me calling.  No one knew we were okay in our state 6 hours away...on the other side of the destruction.  I remember the feeling of panic that all the roads to get "home" were closed and we were stuck 6 hours away.  I remember that feeling of fear.  I remember that feeling of the unknown.

Now, today as we remember that time, I struggle to explain to my six-year-old the events and the meaning of that day.  Luckily the four- and two-year-old are too little to understand.  Tater, being the Drama Mama that she is, takes everything to heart.  So we have to be careful.  We are limiting her tv exposure, talking just little in simplistic terms, and treasuring our family moments today.

We are remembering 9/11 in our own way.

Separation

Separation is not always easy and not always a good thing.  We separate when Mommy and Daddy go to work...and there are tears.  We separate when we leave Papa and Mimi...and there are tears (TONS from a certain 6-year-old!).  Play dates end and we separate from our friends...and there are more tears. 

But today separation is a good thing in our house!  All three kids are playing in three separate rooms...by their own choosing...and peace prevails!  It's quiet and calm...and I'm letting go of all the things I need to get done...afraid to pop the bubble of peace.

Oh, wait...there's screaming once again!  Reality has returned!

Summer...

...has flown by but seemed to last forever at the same time!  We are busy treasuring every last moment as we try to slow down the last few weeks before our world changes.  In just a few short weeks, Tater will start first grade and be in school all day.  Bruiser and Sassy will be going to a sitter outside of our home (first time ever for Sass!).  And Mommy will be returning to work full-time...for the first time in six years.  It's going to be a rough September, to say the least.  Because...just remember, on top of all the changes, we still have all our regular appointments and therapies and responsibilities.  JUST PURE CRAZINESS!

But, on a positive note, good things will come from all this.  As much as I loved having my children stay at home with their own things for all these years, I love that I will once again gain control over my own house...because I am a bit of a control freak!  Oh, and I'm getting a cleaning service (the bestest thing EVER!!!!!!).  And I get to have that perfect balance of Mommy and a career.  I learned one thing really well this summer...I love my kids more than anything in the world BUT I need a break from them...even if that means going off to a classroom full of 5- and 6-year-olds!  I'm not sure I was meant to be a stay-at-home mom!  And what job is better for a mom than a teacher?  Love the schedule, love that my big girl will be in the same building as me, love that I will be home to enjoy after-school time with them all.  See how I'm trying to be positive as panic is setting in?!?!

And, the new blog header photo?  LOVE those faces!  But notice Sassy's cheek?  See that big bruise?  Two days into our vacation Sassy walked behind a heavy wooden swing, finely crafted by some random Amishman, and went flying through the air.  We spent the afternoon in the ER having her face x-rayed and her head checked for injury.  And then she walked around with some lovely purple color on her cheek for the past two weeks.  NEVER a dull moment!

Now, I'm off to enjoy SUMMER!

Mother's Day Was Sweet!

We spent Mother's Day enjoying our family!  There was a bit of breakfast in bed, a bit of outside playing, some small chores (because they never end in this house!), a bit of lunching of out, a store or two, some yard work, and then a happy ending ice cream treat!

A local ice cream shop offers free ice cream for mommies on Mother's Day ( and for daddies on Father's Day, for equality!), so we headed out before bed for a treat with our friends, the Johnson family (because we couldn't think of anyone else we'd rather share a sweet treat with!). 

We tried for a family shot with Mommy...but life with three kids can be a bit sticky!

(Plus Daddy needs a bit of camera practice!)

The best of the bunch!

And someone was so tired, this is what a short trip home in the car resulted in!

Love the necklace in the mouth!

All in all, it was a great Mother's Day!  Daddy helped the kids deliver flowers, a new chair for me to NOT sit in at the beach, and a few blueberry and raspberry bushes.  I think the family time helped block out the fact that I still had to do dishes and laundry...although, I didn't change one diaper all day!!!

And just for the memory books, Daddy stated this line as I was complaining about laundry "Well, it's Mother's Day, not Wife's Day." - and that is MY husband...all mine...aren't I so lucky!?!?!

Re-Dedicating Myself To This Blog!

You know how life takes over?  It happens to all of us and it has happened at the House of Sprout!

Days go by and I don't post.  Then I post with random pictures and updates of our crazy life...which is okay in some cases.

But I had bigger dreams for this blog.  I wanted our blog to be a record of our family as it grows and changes.  A place to keep track of all the wonderful (and not so wonderful!) happenings in our lives.  A place to track how my children are growing and how our lives change.  A place to go back to and remember those precious moments with giggles and tears.

I was just reading back over a few older posts and remembering those forgotten moments of Tater as a toddler and Bruiser and Sassy as babies.  I read some of the words I wrote to them to let them know years from now how loved they were and are!  Tears filled my eyes remembering how little and precious they were. 

Honestly, it was a reminder that I needed after a day like today.  We struggle with all the issues that surround our children and struggle with suggestions of new issues emerging.  We struggle with how others will accept our children for who they are.  We struggle to provide the best possible childhood for all three children.  But when I take a moment and look back at all those special memories, everything comes into perspective and life seems so much better than it did moments ago.

So, after all that rambling, I get to my point of this post!  I want to go back to recording those memories and moments.  I want to write posts to specific children on specific topics.  I want to record those memories that are so fleeting.

So look for more feeling and more focus on this blog.  I'm re-dedicating myself to my journaling and writing.  I'm putting forth more of an effort...starting right now!

...And Then the World Fell Apart!

And that is just what happens when Mommy gets sick!

Last weekend I had this annoying scratchy throat...and then it went away.

Then Tuesday morning I lost my voice...not the best thing for a mommy of three and a teacher of 23...during parent-teacher conference week!

Tuesday night I rested.

Wednesday I taught and had 15 parent-teacher conferences.

Thursday Daddy ordered me home from work and in bed all morning while our sitter watched the kids.

Friday I went back to work...because I felt better. Then I cleaned the laundry room, took Sassy to dance class and went to see the new Harry Potter movie with Daddy...and no longer felt better.

Friday night I spent 3 hours on the bathroom floor with a sick Bruiser.

Saturday morning I took Sassy to her therapy group and most likely infected all the parents in the observation room.

And the rest of Saturday...I lived on the couch and napped.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring? (Oh, and Daddy already told me I will be resting so that I can survive the short holiday week!)

And on a side note: Because I was sick, Daddy took Tater and did our holiday shopping so we have our turkey for Thanksgiving (which we earned for free because we spend so much on groceries!)...and I got to avoid that insane place! Yeah!

A Picture For Her Baby Book!

If you have been following us for a bit, you know we have been struggling with Miss Wiggles and her walking. She started walking at 10 months...well ahead of developmental milestones. The problem was that almost a year later and she still looked like she had just learned how to walk...unsteady, lots of tumbles, etc. At first we thought she was limping. X-rays and blood work showed nothing. Then Daddy noticed her feet appeared to be turning in...both of them and at random times. So, the pediatrician referred us to an orthopedist (more to shut me up than out of real concern!) and the orthopedist actually started to dismiss our concerns as well...until he saw her walk!

But let me back up a bit...

I called the orthopedist's office for an appointment and had to wait two months only to have that appointment changed as well. In the meantime I called Early Intervention and got that ball rolling (you know me - I don't sit and wait!). EI saw significant delays in her gross motor but decided to wait for the orthopedist's evaluation to develop a plan. I shared this with the doubting doctor (who, by the way, was older than dirt and a bit scary!) who couldn't understand why I contacted EI since she was only 20 months old! Duh! EARLY intervention?

Anyway...he really made it seem like we were over-reacting to her walking issues and questioned what we thought we were seeing. And then she walked down the hallway! His mouth fell open! He immediately took us back in the exam room and gave her a thorough evaluation. His diagnosis? Her left hip has not developed correctly. It faces forward in the hip socket instead of turning in like most toddlers do by this age. As a result her feet are not turning in but her whole leg swings out when she walks to avoid the discomfort.

As hard as the diagnosis was to hear (although we felt justified!), the treatment is even worse! For at least the next six months she will need to wear special shoes connected with a bar at night as well as knee immobilizers. Physical therapy will be integral too. We will continue with strengthening exercises at home as well as ballet class. All this should help avoid surgery in ten years...which would had been the outcome if we hadn't pushed for her to be seen.

So Miss Wiggles has moved into our bedroom so we can comfort her (without disturbing Tater) when she is uncomfortable. And so that she can enjoy the A/C while wearing all her apparatuses! Mommy cried the first few nights but Wiggles adjusted well! She fusses because she's tired but doesn't seem to mind the equipment too much at all! She's still trying to get onto her belly to sleep but is slowly giving in to our wishes!

The best part? I was going to take away her Nuks this summer...and now she gets to keep them until she's done with the braces!

Poor Baby!

Miss Wiggles had a rough evening!

And she's learned how to throw herself on the floor and have a temper tantrum...fabulous!

She even did this in the middle of CVS tonight...even more fabulous!

Bruiser had to step over her head to avoid the kicking feet...and she's only 19 months!

We are in BIG trouble!

...its almost summer...almost!

This time of year is a bit crazy...almost as crazy as September is around this house! I guess that just comes with the territory when Mommy's a teacher. This spring this have grown a bit more out of control since both Bruiser and Tater are also in school and Tater is graduating preschool this year! So our next few weeks? INSANE!!!

This is just a glimpse of my "to do" list for the next month:

• paint 12 flower pots (teacher, aides, etc. gifts!)
• buy and plant flowers for those 12 flower pots
• decorate for and orchestrate a mini-graduation party
• assess 22 students in about 50 different areas...while teaching my normal curriculum!
• finish 22 report cards with written comments
• plan an end of the year fun day for my kindergartners (with lots of wonderful parent help!)
• close up my classroom for the summer...
• ...and think ahead to September!
• Get Wiggles EI evaluation done
• three scheduled doctors' appointments in the next month (Tater, Wiggles, and me)
• pack Tater to go to Mimi and Papa's for a few weeks
• go pick Tater up from Mimi and Papa's in a few weeks
• make arrangements for Tater for summer camps (two in place but looking at one more!)

And here is a glance at my "wish list":

• build a dining room table and benches
• put in a patio
• grow our vegetables

I know! Crazy! So other than the big important posts (you know, graduation and stuff!), I might be a bit absent...or I might be posting all the time to avoid getting my work done!

Mother's Day Is Over...

...and I'm sorry to see it go! Daddy has done the best so far! I had lots of quiet time and even managed some reading time. I guess I'll be expected to ramp it up for Father's Day!

My gift from Tater!

The story she wrote about me at preschool.

(And FYI - I don't understand the snoozing statement...that never happens!)

Daddy, Tater, and Bruiser working on my garden.

My finished raised veggie garden bed...soon we'll be adding the plants!

Happy Mother's Day!

The kids spent Thursday painting stepping stones to go in our new vegetable garden bed...that will be assembled and planted today...for me...for Mother's Day! I've already enjoyed a nice breakfast in bed, and hour of reading, and received a nice card and a gift from Tater. So far, so nice...now on with my goal of changing no diapers on Mother's Day!

The Finished Products!

Motherhood!

More than anything, I love being a mommy! I love the cuddles, the loves, the sloppy kisses, the dirty little hands...and yes, even the yelling and dirty looks! It's a complete package! One of the things I didn't anticipate was having to say things that should never come out of one's mouth. Here are few examples from the past week:

Me to Bruiser: "Take the car out of the grapes!"

Me to Tater: "Stop licking the ice block!"

Me to Tater: "If you ask me for lunch one more time, you aren't getting lunch!" (okay, that was a moment of insanity...I did feed her lunch!)

Me to Tater: "Why is Wiggles crying? No, Bruiser is not pulling Wiggles' hair. Because he is standing right next to me!"

Me to Bruiser: "Swallow! What IS that coming out of your mouth?"


Can you tell its been a long week? We're holding out for a fabulously relaxing day on Sunday! After being away last weekend, my work being insane this week (union issues...still!), and dance recital stuff Friday and Saturday...we have earned a day to rest and build a vegetable garden (you didn't think we'd actually do nothing, did you?).

Just Like Mommy

So, when I went to pick up Tater from preschool on Monday, they were playing outside. It took me a minute to locate her on the playground...because she was wearing different clothes than the ones I sent her in. Oops! She must of had a little accident...which surprised me because that has never happened before.

I asked her why she had different clothes on and she told me she had gotten a bit wet. I questioned the teacher if she had had an accident and she kind of brushed me off...now, I was a bit curious about what really happened!

Finally, on the way to dance class later that night, Tater finally revealed what happened.

Tater: "Mama, I was trying to go to the bathroom like you do."
Me: "What? What do you mean by that?"
Tater: "You know when you don't sit all the way down? And then my pants got all wet!"

Yes, my daughter was trying to be like her germ-a-phobe mother who refuses to sit on a public toilet seat! So, once I got done chuckling, I told her she's not old enough to do that until she is 12!

A Family Kind Of Weekend!

We had another busy weekend...guess that's just our life! I decided to put aside all the school news and just enjoy my days with the kids. We had a ton of fun...haircuts, a birthday party, hiking, playing, shopping - Toys'R'Us, Trader Joe's, Sam's Club, IKEA, projects around the house...and lots of cuddles! All the fun makes it hard to realize that it is Sunday night and that I have to return to school tomorrow...no matter how unwelcoming it may feel. But, on another note, the kids are super-excited to see our sitter (who is actually our sitter's daughter for tomorrow...but that's another story!)!

Tater went to her first birthday party at McDonald's and it was for her all-time favorite school friends - twins, S and W! She and S have even made their intentions for marriage known! Little does she know that Daddy has decided she has to wait until she's 60!

Bruiser got his haircut and got "spiked like Daddy"!

Tater chose to go shorter...and Mommy's pushing for even shorter before summer.

Then we headed to the Audubon Society for our first hike through nature for the year.

This slimy frog reminded us of Papa's pond.

Mommy wore Miss Wiggles in the backpack and surrendered the camera to Daddy...a weak moment but it was fun to focus on the kids and not the memory making for a change!

This hike had a great boardwalk that made the walk even better.

Daddy spotted a bird...of some kind!

(Lost my bird books in the flood...)

Love this shot...and love hold this little guys hand!

Where the hike ended...so peaceful!

A HUGE turtle we found hiding in a spot along the path.

We also enjoyed being outside...Miss Wiggles loves the Cozy Coupe!

Snack time!

(Can't live without the "Snack Trap" cups!)

And...finally...look carefully...Miss Wiggles is sporting her first ponytail!

Spring Break!

We are currently on spring break...and loving it! I spent the first weekend in Chicago and the kids enjoyed quality Daddy time but it has been all me since Monday! We've cleaned and organized, run errands, bought and planted flowers, played outside, made a quick trip to Secret Beach, read a bit, done lots of laundry, and even managed a few cuddles here and there!

Miss Wiggles graduated from her high chair to a booster chair since she would never sit in the high chair!
They had some fun pushing Wiggles around in the boxes...and she loved it too!

Tater played with her dollhouse a lot!

Miss Wiggles practiced being super cute...as always!

And Bruiser left his mark when he helped himself to cake in the refrigerator this morning!

You Know You Are Home When...

...you go to the grocery store at 7:30 in the morning!

...you take three kids in their PJs to Target before 9:00 in the morning because you are completely out of diapers in the house!

...you walk through the house and fill a laundry basket with things that are in rooms where they don't belong.

...there is enough laundry for at least 10 loads...because Daddy can take care of the kids but he can't take care of the kids and do laundry!

...you can't see your kitchen counter beneath the dirty dishes, bags of groceries, piles of mail, and all the random stuff that collects there without a mommy to clean it off.

...you secretly wish you could sneak back to the airport and climb back on a plane to the world of hotels where they clean up after you, restaurants where they cook for you, and shopping that doesn't involve diapers and groceries!

What Happen in Chicago, Stays in Chicago!

A much-needed and well-deserved weekend away in Chicago with the girls was had! We had such a great time that we are looking forward to making it an annual event. There was lots of chatting, good yummy drinks, delicious food (lots of cheese and bread!), a bit of walking, some amazing shopping, beautiful jewelry, and tons of giggles! Much NEEDS to be kept between the four of us, but here are a few memories of the fun!

L and K (the sisters!) posed with Flat Stanley, who traveled from the Netherlands to join us occasionally over the weekend.

There were tulips everywhere...all colors and gorgeous!

D took a break from shopping.

Lunch in a park in the city.

Another visit from Flat Stanley (this time posing with Aunt D).

Street Performer on the Magnificent Mile

Looking down the river

Fountain at Millennium Park

Tulips

"The Bean" at Millennium Park

D and me in "The Bean"

Inside "The Bean"

Can you find us?

Taking a picture of us taking a picture in "The Bean"

The Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues.

Amazing food and amazing music...we even danced!

A Catholic church we popped into on the way to dinner Saturday night

Not surprising...since we were traveling with a minister!

My first sight as I got off the "L", that I traveled on alone to meet up with girls.

I was definitely out of my comfort zone but had a blast learning about the city!

This is a fountain at Grant Park.

The water pours off the top...beautiful!

The second tower is where they project moving images...amazing art!

Tulips!

More tulip...the city was to the right, the lake to the left.

Lake Michigan

D taking pictures of the lake

So...just a quick recap! We had fun, loved being grown-ups, missed our kids and husbands, but came home better for it all! Next girl trip in t-minus 364 days, ladies?