Weekend Catch-Up

Snow was predicted for the East Coast so we postponed getting Tater back from Papa and Mimi's for another day...and the snow is falling as I type! Hopefully it will pass through the night and the roads will be clear in the morning...because I miss my big girl!

So this morning Sassy and I headed to her therapy group while Daddy and Bruiser had a lazy morning. When we got home we Skyped with Pop-Pop and Memaw so Bruiser could open his birthday gift from them...ah, technology!

Then after lunch out, a major meltdown from Bruiser, a nap for Mommy, Sassy, and Bruiser, we survived a second meltdown and managed a trip to the grocery store. Bruiser's cake just came out of the oven and both little ones are tucked into bed with thoughts a birthday day tomorrow!

Here's my almost-four-year-old curled up reading on the couch tonight. I can't believe how fast the time has gone! Four years ago tonight, Daddy and I were anxiously awaiting his arrival and couldn't wait to meet him! He is still the best cuddler and sweetest little love you have ever met...meltdowns aside! I love his imagination and and his expressions...and the fact that he agreed not to get any older when I asked him to stay three!

Here is Sassy grazing in the fridge! We locked the fridge with the other two but the lock wore out and we never replaced it...oh, the freedoms the third child gets!

And here is the success of the week! I have been eyeing "learning towers" or "kitchen helpers" for the past year or so but never had the money to spend on one! Then we found the plans on-line to build one and Daddy went to work. For about $20-30 in wood and an afternoon of cutting and screwing, Daddy was able to make this amazing piece of equipment for Sassy! Now she can stand at the island safely and the battles over her sitting have come to an end. This thing is AMAZING! She can climb in and out herself, the sides protect her from falling, and the platform is easy to raise and lower so it will grow with her! And not only that, Daddy made it look pretty with his stain job! LOVE IT!

Things Are Looking Up!

Look what arrived in the mail today!

New shoes!

Aren't they pretty?

And guaranteed to improve any mood!

How Long Until the Next Vacation?

This is only the third day back to school since the holiday vacation and I'm already so tired I can barely keep my eyes open! I thought vacation was supposed to be restful and send you back to the real world more relaxed...HA!

And the sad thing is that we are even down a child! Tater is enjoying an extended stay at Papa and Mimi's so we are back to man-on-man coverage in the House of Sprout for the week...and we're still exhausted!

It may have something to do with it only being halfway through the third day back and I've already had 3 meetings (with another this afternoon!) and two therapy sessions, booked Bruiser's birthday party and started planning it, put away Christmas decorations and Christmas gifts, continued with the daily laundry and dishes routine, etc. There are days that I never sit down!

My goal for this evening is to develop a daily routine for the new year...and hopefully balance out all the tasks that need to get down with all the tasks I want to accomplish. It won't be easy...I've already run out of room on my January calendar!

Children's Museum

While visiting Memaw and Pop-Pop, we spent an afternoon at the local children's hands-on museum...and a blast was had by all (adults included!)!

The girls (and Memaw) loved the face painting station

(and Mommy tried not to visualize the germs crawling throughout!).

Bruiser spent a lot of time building and racing cars.

Sassy painted Memaw's face!

And Memaw modeled her painting!

Daddy and Pop-Pop watched the race.

Daddy taught Bruiser how to play "tic-tac-toad".

And Tater "jumped" in!

There was a pretend tractor ride.

There was some egg sorting.

Look at that cute painted face!

Pop-Pop milked a cow.

Tater harvested some corn.

So did Bruiser.

And Sassy, too!

Sassy did some grocery shopping.

And she checked herself out!

And then decided Pop-Pop needed the job more than her!

And look at these cool snowmen that they could dress and create!

Felt, Velcro, and wood...might be visiting my classroom next winter!

Bruiser went for a sail!

Tater checked Memaw out...

...and took her money.

Bruiser worked in the factory.

Sassy climbed ON the display

(no surprise there!).

Sassy and Tater built an igloo.

Pop-Pop and the girls hid in the cave when it was time to go...I think they wanted to stay!

2010 Blog Recap

I'm joining JoLynne over at Musing of a Housewife...right on time this year!...in her New Year's Carnival! Enjoy looking back over our second full year of blogging!

January

After being away for a week, it should be understandable that there is a lot to do. But then add in Christmas and New Years and the "to do" list multiplies!

And the "to do" list never ended...all year long!

February
I've been missing from bloggy world for a bit...we've been busy being sick!

Another theme for the YEAR! Someone is ALWAYS sick in our house...

and we LOVE to share it with others!

March
I recently received the new Rainbow Brite CD to review with Tater.

I reviewed my first item for the blog! And I have many more waiting for 2011!

April
Well, the dumpster and sun arrived all at once!

Yup, the basement flooded and our lives stopped for about 2 weeks!

I think I'd like to delete that memory from the blog and my brain!

May
A few months ago, Daddy and I decided it was time to start traveling with the children...other than to the grandparents' houses!

We traveled to an indoor water park, stayed in a hotel, and learned that our children CAN go on vacations! It was tons of fun!

June
Miss Wiggles had a rough evening!

The "terrible two's" hit our house...bring on the tantrums!

July
Bruiser won tickets to our local baseball team, so we got Miss Wiggles a sitter and took the other two for a "fun"evening...in between the whining and refusing to sit.

Now I know why my parents said we never appreciated anything!

August
We headed out on our first family vacation ever!

We had the best week EVER in Ocean City, NJ...and loved that the grandparents were able to join us!

September
During our visit to Papa and Mimi's we looked for things to entertain the kids.

As the kids get older, they are no longer content to just play at the house...and cool thing is that we get explore our home state again...this time as adults and through the eyes of our children!

October
We are back in full school mode, fall craziness, and...wait for it!...sicknesses!

The theme of 2010!

November
Since when did Halloween become such an involved holiday?

I think Halloween has become the new Christmas...it was CRAZY!!!!

December
This afternoon we ventured to a nearby tree farm for a visit with Santa, a tractor-pulled musical sleigh ride, and some tree hunting!

One of my favorite things that started happening in 2010 was all the family traditions we started to develop...especially now that the kids are growing and can "get" those traditions.

Wow!

What a year!

I wish I could say that I hope things will settle down as we venture into our third year in bloggy world...but, really! Nothing is calm about our lives and I'm sure it won't be for a LONG time!

Happy 2011!

Drifting Into 2011 With Some Randomness

We are still enjoying our Christmas holiday away from the norm. The best part being a teacher is getting this week off! And to make it even better, Daddy's company shuts down for the week as well. Because the employment stars are in order, we are able to travel and have quality family time. The only complaint that I have is that Daddy "is on vacation" and I'm still waiting to see when mine starts! Just a technicality we need to work on!

I would have posted pictures from our week...but Daddy took the car (and my camera!) to hang out with some guys and watch some football that had been postponed from Sunday. I got to hang out with my parents, my brother (who was running away from life in general), and all three kids...yeah, that's my vacation! Oh, did I mention, we took all three kids out for lunch, to Target, and to an indoor game place this afternoon...and only the boy napped? Yeah, that's my vacation!

All kidding aside, we did have a fabulous Christmas with minimal meltdowns from Bruiser (actually, no meltdowns until 5pm!) and quality family time. I think we focused more on it this year because we decided that we are not traveling next December...and that our children need to establish memories of the holidays in their own home. It was a tough decision but one that had to be made...to ensure sanity on all fronts!

We've been enjoying downtime but also keeping Bruiser (and the girls) busy to help control his sensory input needs. I can tell he's escalating as the week continues...and it's soon time to head home to the familiar and the routine. He did AWESOME but I know we are starting to push him to his limits! This could make for an interesting 6+ hour drive home on Thursday!

So much to do...children to guide and control, gifts to pack, laundry (yes, Mommy's job never ends!) to do, the week ahead to plan and organize...I will post pictures of the fabulous children's museum we visited when the camera (and Daddy!) return.

I'm off to enjoy my "vacation"!

Merry Christmas...From Ours To Yours!

We fed the reindeer...
...opened a few gifts so we could sleep a bit better...

...posed in our jammies...

...woke up to check out the loot...

...explored our new toys...

...visited with family...

...and shared Christmas joy!