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!

Wrapping Up Vacation!

As usual, vacation goes by too quickly!  I was able to stretch it out a bit by not posting last week...you know, life happens!

On our second-to-last day Papa was able to get a half-day off work and we headed to a local amusement park where I grew up going.  It's the only free-admission park left in the United States (you can pay with tickets to ride each ride).  It has that small town feel and is in the neighborhood that my parents grew up in.  My grandparents met us there for the day and we enjoyed the afternoon!

Waiting for our first ride!

Not so sure about riding in circles!

Loving being a big girl this year...not a fear!

Papa stole my camera and was playing around...so I actually made it onto the blog!

LOVE these faces!!!

Bruiser driving all by himself...wonder if he knows how much horsepower this car has?

Tater coming down the big slide all by herself.  She has been waiting for YEARS to do this!

There are more pictures on my phone that I'll try to upload later...for now, life continues!

Off To Papa and Mimi's!

So, we planned our entire vacation around the fact that Papa was going to take Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off work and spend the days enjoying the kids.  Then life happened and changes occurred at work and Papa couldn't be away from the office.  So we found things to entertain ourselves until Papa came home each day.  I took Mimi shopping for her birthday while Daddy took the kids to the playground.  Daddy went hiking with his dad while Mimi and I took the kids to yet another farm (because that's what you do in Pennsylvania!).  Actually, this farm was a dairy/petting zoo.  We had a nice simple lunch and then went to feed the animals.

Bruiser had a nice little chat with this goat!

"Hi, goat!  You hunbrey?  Oh!"

Mimi was really sad that we didn't get ice cream.  After 4 separate trips to the bathroom with all the kids and a stinky accident in one little boy's undies...I had a headache and just wanted to get home!  Don't worry...she had ice cream after dinner!

Papa worked late and we postponed dinner each night so that he could enjoy the time with the kids.  This night we had corn-on-the-cob and Sassy helped clean up after husking the corn...slave labor!

Papa did get off for the afternoon on Friday and we took a little trip...pictures to come!

Keeping Them Busy!

We spent the first official day of our vacation with Daddy's family.  It was super-hot again, so we headed to the lake for some cooling off!

Uncle Jeff brought his boat and Bruiser was in LOVE!

He checked it all out and would leave it be!

Tater went for her first tube ride!

Sassy spent some quality cuddle time with her cousin.

Bruiser drove the boat...all by himself...for real!

Sassy went swimming...

and rode the tube too!

The next day we went on a short drive and visited a FREE butterfly house and working farm.  It was definitely worth it and the kids loved it. 

There was a nest of babies in the barn and the mommy bird kept flying in to feed them one at a time.

Sassy was "feeding" the Rhode Island Reds...how ironic!

The highlight of Tater's vacation!

That face says it all!

After that farm visit, we headed back closer to Memaw and Pop-Pop's to meet up with the cousins and great-grandparents at yet another farm.  But this one had ice cream!

Sassy dropped her dish and fed the kittens.

Nanny and Poppy and all the great-grandchildren.

Too super-sweet!

Sassy and Nanny!

Immediately after this picture, Sassy walked behind a wooden Amish swing that Tater was swinging on.  The swing hit her and she flew through the air.  The entire right side of her face instantly bruised and swelled.  We spent the next few hours in the ER making sure there was nothing broken.  Sassy walked away with a nasty bruise (that is still there as I type!) and good head bump.  As you have come to know, there is NEVER a dull moment in the House of Sprout...whether home or away!

Pop-Pop and Memaw's

After getting up very early to head out, we spent a relaxing day at Pop-Pop and Memaw's house.  It was supper-hot but we had a yummy grilled dinner and played in the water outside for a bit (after the temps dropped a bit!)

Sassy shared some lavender with Pop-Pop.

Memaw was sporting a concerning outfit.

Then Memaw got the hose out and sprayed all the children down!

Except Pop-Pop didn't want to cool off!