Bedtime at "The House of Sprout"

Here are a few shots of the little ones after they were in bed for the night.

Don't you love the way their minds work as they fall asleep?

Tater likes to sleep with Mommy Lovie inside her shirt...we offer no explanation!

Bruiser spreads his taggies out over his pillow and then doesn't lay on it!

And Tater gives Miss Wiggles every toy she can find...until there is almost no room left for Wiggles!

But the best thing about these pictures?

The kids are all sound asleep!

A Girly Update!

I didn't have much to post today until I took these pictures!

This is how Miss Wiggles fell asleep last night!

And I found this t-shirt today for Tater...and it is SO true!

Weekend Re-Cap!

Miss Wiggles and I flew to Papa and Mimi's house for the long weekend to pick up Tater and bring her home from her long vacation. We had a great "girls + Papa" weekend, with plenty of shopping, eating, and relaxing. It was a nice time for Mommy and the girls to enjoy being with the grandparents!

Miss Wiggles enjoyed her breakfast...and making a mess!

Mommy and Mimi took Tater to the Planetarium (while Papa stayed home to watch the Cowgirls...oops, I mean Cowboys...lose).

She was so excited she couldn't stand still!

Happy girls in pink!

Thanks, Papa and Mimi, for a fun weekend! And know we are missing you tonight...as Tater lays in bed crying herself to sleep, wanting her Papa!

A Family Kind of Day

With a three-day weekend looming, back to school on the horizon, and looking back on a stress-filled summer of tough news and many good-byes, we decided to head out to the beach for the day. And we thought it would be fun and relaxing? HA!!!! Remember growing up and hearing your parents say "Why do we try to do anything nice for them?" We now understand completely! No one was happy at the beach...including Daddy. Then there was all the work it took to get there and back. Then, when everyone had a nice quiet ride home, and we decided to stop for ice cream to bring home, all Bruiser did was scream that he wanted "right now!". Then we get home, eat our ice cream, watch a DVD while Mommy goes food shopping, and everyone complains that the fresh, made from scratch meal (more on that in another post) isn't ready soon enough! But we (or should I say the children!) survived dinner and baths. Tater is watching a kid show, the other two are in bed, the laundry is going, the kitchen is waiting for clean-up #2, and I'm tired! That was our escape from reality...not so good, but right along our standards!

A Beauty Queen in the Making!

We have been allowing Bruiser and Tater to sleep in the same room for the past week. Partly because we needed to move Miss Wiggles out of our room and into her own room - and since she still wants a middle of the night snack, she was waking up her roommate (aka Tater!). So the easy solution was to put Tater in Bruiser's loft while he remained in his race car bed. All good in theory!

So the routine is that Bruiser goes down first and then Tater follows after he is asleep. Well, tonight he decided to still be awake at her bedtime. So they were both awake in the room. At about 9:30 I heard a door open, the pitter-patter of little feet, and a bit of chattering. Then I found Bruiser sitting at the top of the steps and Tater standing behind him. I decided I was not handling this myself and sent Bruiser to find Daddy in the "man room." As I sent him off, I turned to sent Tater back to bed.

Me: "Tater, go get back in bed and go to sleep."
Tater: "I was trying to get my beauty sleep and Bruiser was keeping me up!"

I guess your never too young for "beauty sleep"!

Wiggle Power!

Last night, Daddy had the kids while I went grocery shopping (aka Trader Joe's!) with a girlfriend. Don't you love the excitement of our Friday nights?!? As he was getting them ready for bed, Miss Wiggles was ALL over the place...she never stops anymore! Tater looked at Miss Wiggles and then turned to Daddy and announced, "She's got wiggle power!"

"Mrayers, Momma, Mrayers!"

Bruiser never lets a night, and sometimes even a nap time, go by without saying his "mrayers" - Bruiser-speak for "prayers!" Last night Daddy was out helping our friends pack their POD so they can move to Texas - against my better judgement, I mean, he was only facilitating them leaving, right? I digress...so, as I was settling the little ones in, Bruiser, of course, asked to say prayers. It went something like this:

Mommy: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I prayer the Lord my soul to keep. God Bless Mommy, Daddy, Sissy, "Miss Wiggles," all my family, all my friends, "Momas, "Een" and God bless "Bruiser."

Bruiser: "Ka-chow!"

I guess God can accept that as "Amen"!

The Dare Devil!

These are a few of the places I found Miss Wiggles yesterday. Note her smiling face!

This is behind the couch and under a table...accomplished in 30 seconds!

It's more fun to be under the Exersaucer, right?

Miss Wiggles had her 9 month well-baby check-up today and came through with flying colors! The peanut still only weighs 15 pounds 12 ounces. They actually rounded her weight up so she would make the 5% curve on the growth chart. I laughed when the doctor asked how her eating was - this question about the child who inhales any food placed in front of her and needs twice the number of bottles as those other two we have been raising! Luckily her height (27 1/4 inches) and her head circumference were in the 50th percentile, so they stopped with the questions and decided she is just a peanut. I mean, look at her! She has a chunky little belly and adorable little fat rolls on her legs - how could she be under-weight?

On another note, Bruiser went along for the appointment and did a great job waiting. So good that the doctor took him into a different room and pulled out the brand new "Momas" stickers that they just got in to give him two stickers for being so good! Cheers for Bruiser! I wasn't so sure how it was going to go - he woke up during the night, vomited all over his bed, had a lovely diaper this morning, and still looked a bit green around the gills. But he rallied and is now watching "Een" and playing "fars" and should be back to 100% after a nice long nap!

Wordless Wednesday

Note: There is no picture of Bruiser because he is still fighting sleep!

Wordless Wednesday

I put him to bed in his room and found him here!

He was surrounded by books and had pulled apart all of Daddy's clean socks.

Somebody found out that she likes to sleep on her tummy!

What I Learned This Week!

When I wrote my entry yesterday, it was to help restore my mental state, but I really should have thought ahead...it SO could have been today's "What I Learned This Week"! But I suppose that would be considered cheating in blog world, so I will dig deep and think about what I learned this week!

1. Change is inevitable. Enough said but click here if you want to know more!

2. A missing child is a very, very, very scary thing in a mommy's life! Again, enough said but click here if you want to know more!

3. It is impossible to try to understand a man's thought process. Daddy actually thought this was the right place to leave all his tools!

4. You can live in a great neighborhood, full of friendly people who love your kids and animals like their own, and there will still be one bad seed! I debated about posting about this but it's still bugging me and I can't let it go! So time for some writing therapy! Last week, one of our neighbors called the "puppy police" (what Tater calls them!) on Shadow. So we had a friendly visit from the local animal control officer, who very nicely explained to Daddy that "a neighbor" was irritated by Shadow's constant barking and that she knew of several other neighbors (who have dogs that bark and cry more than Shadow!) who felt that way too. Oh, and by the way we forgot renew our dog licence. Well, we admitted to forgetting about the licence (life got away from us again!) but his rabies was up-to-date and we were all set on that front. As for the barking, I have kept a journal of Shadow's noises for the past week (like I have nothing better to do!) and guess what - 10 barks and 7 growls. Hmmmmm...I wonder who is barking because its not Shadow! Unless someone has super-sensitive ears and those 10 little barks set off her bad attitude!

5. And, speaking of dogs, this is what happens when your child's ball goes over the fence and into the yard of three dogs!

6. Finally, I have found a new decorating passion! On Friday night, my friend drug me along to a home party for Uppercase Living and I fell in love! For those of you who aren't familiar with the company, Uppercase Living produces vinyl quotes and expressions that you adhere to your walls for accents. They are affordable and fun! I just placed my order today, so when they arrive, I'll post pictures!

Who Needs a Bed? (Also Titled: World's Worst Mommy Award!)

Bruiser was being his usual naughty self right before nap time today! As I was cleaning the front storm door he was busy putting finger streaks all down the glass I had just cleaned. So after one final warning, I scooped him up and put him to bed. He cried a bit but settled down and there was no sound to be heard from him. Again I assumed he was peacefully sleeping. When will I learn?

I checked my email, made a few phone calls, and decided to head upstairs for a shower while Tater watched some Noggin. As soon as I reached to lop of the stairs, I knew something wasn't right. Bruiser's door was open and his light was on. I looked in the door - no Bruiser. I looked in Tater's room - no Bruiser. I looked in my room - no Bruiser. I looked in the bathroom, shower and all - no Bruiser. I started to feel a bit panicky. I checked all the rooms again. Still no Bruiser. I called down to Tater to see if he had snuck downstairs and I didn't see him - nope. Okay, now I really began to panic! I called down to Tater and told her to start looking for Bruiser (she, of course, ignored me and continued to watch Noggin - great help she is!). I started opening closet doors while trying to figure who I should call first - my neighbor to help with the search? Daddy? the police? Then I started to wonder if he could have gotten out of the house - I had no idea how, Papa taught me how to lock doors! So I looked in the first closet in his room- no Bruiser. The second closet - no Bruiser. The closet in Tater's room - no Bruiser. Under Tater's bed - no Bruiser. Under G-Baby's crib - no Bruiser. Finally I pulled open the door of my closet and this is what I saw:

Bruiser had gone in my closet pulled the door closed and got trapped! He napped right there on the floor! I guess he had been in there for a while because the floor was nice a toasty from his body heat! Amazingly, I was able to lift him up and lay him in his bed and he went right back to sleep. That's where he is now...I think!

Tea Party, Slumber Party!

I didn't take a picture - I was too tired - but I probably should have! Last night I put the kids to bed at 8:00, as usual.

About 8:45, I heard a couple of doors opening and closing. I shouted up the stairs for them to get in bed and go to sleep. All was quiet, so I assumed that was what happened. I should have known better!

At about 9:15, I heard something hit the wood floor - a toy perhaps? So I drug myself off the couch and headed up the steps to check it out. Bruiser's bedroom door was open and there was no Bruiser in his bed. Tater's door was closed and I quickly opened it. There on Tater's bed sat Tater and Bruiser with very guilty looks on their faces.

What were they doing? And what was that loud noise I had heard?

They were having a tea party! And the sound had been the plastic teapot falling off the bed!

I quickly sent them back to bed and told them that it was too late for playing. I worked very hard not to laugh at them!

When I posted my status on Facebook, one friend commented that I was just jealous that they didn't invite me! Not so much! I was more upset that they could play that nicely at 9:00pm instead of 3:00pm!

What I Learned This Week!

I learned...

...an ear infection in a child with tubes looks like his ear is draining blood...ugh!

...children with ear infections don't sleep!

...that when the nurse at the pediatrician's office sees that crazy Mommy look in your eyes after the receptionist tells you that you are going to have to come back in three hours with all three children again - in the same day - they amazingly find an immediately available doctor to check your son's bleeding ear!

...there are times you can reason with a 4-year-old but only if they are willing to listen!

...bribery is a natural part of motherhood! While we were at our local Target shopping for any toy Tater wanted so she would go on stage and dance all four of her numbers at her recital, we ran into a good friend and her son shopping for any toy he wanted so he would take his medicine for the week! And we are both educated teachers!

...children love interactive, creative learning experiences (well I already knew this!). Now that we are at the end of the school year, I have taught my required curriculum and have few weeks left for some fun learning! We started a unit on graphing this week and the children have never listened or responded better! Makes you think about how we are teaching them!

...it is fun to win giveaways from fellow bloggers! Thanks Occupation Mommy and Mommy Needs Therapy!

...I have amazing friends who know just when I need some help! Thanks, Dana, for taking G-Baby last week! Thanks, Kim, for the yummy meal! My back is on the mend...barely! I wish I knew how I hurt it!

The Ear Bug Strikes again!

So I load all three kids in the car and head to the pediatrician so G-Baby can get her 6 month shots (I think we were behind because she was sick at her 4 month check-up...I think!). As I'm driving, I decide I'm going to ask if anyone can take a look at Bruiser's ear because there was brownish, reddish stuff leaking out of it. I thought maybe it could be an infection but no one has shown me what an ear infection looks like in a kid with tubes, so I didn't know. My fear was that they were going to laugh at me and tell me that it was just some really dirty earwax...but I decided to brave the possible humiliation!

At first they told me that the doctors were jam-packed and that I'd have to come back 5:10. I think I got that crazy mommy look in my eyes as I processed bringing three kids back to the doctor's in the same day because miraculously one of the doctors was able to squeeze me in after G-baby's shots! It must help to be so familiar with the staff- I swear we are there once a week!

So the nurse checked Bruiser Boy in (29 1/2 lbs, temp of 99.4) and told me another nurse would stop in to give G-Baby her shots. Okay, not a problem...until G-baby got her shots and began to cry and then the doctor walked in! Luckily, G-Baby settled in her car seat with her Nuk. Bruiser gave the doctor a real hard time when she tried to look at his ear - poor guy, it must be really sore! She confirmed that it was VERY infected (no silly earwax!) and that his tube was clogged. So instead of the drops we should have gotten we are now on an oral antibiotic.

On the way home I called Daddy to justify the reason Bruiser was still awake at 9pm last night and why he was up by 7am - and he's our good sleeper! I also called our sitter to justify his atrocious behavior this morning! Now, after I spell-check this, I must go upstairs and put Bruiser back in bed for his nap - he doesn't want to lay his little (well, big!) head down!

Quote of the Day

Last night we put Taters to bed and she fussed for a bit...Papa had spoiled her by going to bed WITH her each night! So finally I went upstairs to see what the problem was and she said she had to go potty. This was the conversation that followed:

"I called you like TWELVE times, Momma! You know, it's really hard being 4...it was much easier being 3!"

Sweet, Sweet Boy!

It is beautiful outside today - we can't wait to get outside! Daddy went to Home Depot with our friend N to buy the lumber for our deck project that will commence next week (watch for the photo journal of the big weekend!) so we are waiting for him to get home so we can head out yet another zoo we are anxious to check out (also more to follow!)

So, on to the point of this post! While Daddy was gone and both kids were still sleeping, I got ready, put laundry away, started another load, swapped out G-Baby's clothes for spring/summer (and she has some really cute things!), and began to wonder how long Bruiser was going to sleep. I realized he had had a busy day yesterday - a short nap at the neighbors', a trip to the playground (where he wore his hat backwards and really looked like a bruiser - too bad I forgot my camera!), and Family Night at our church (also more to follow!). So at 10:00 - yes that is "a.m."! - I woke him. He popped up with a smile, happy to get up and get dressed so he'll be ready to help Daddy in the yard! I picked out his clothes and told him we would go downstairs and get dressed. He nodded his head and turned back into his bedroom "Bye-bye, taggies! Bye-bye, Momas!" Then he headed down the stairs to get his day started - guess he needed closure from his long night!

I'm a Big Boy Now!

Bruiser transitioned into his big boy bed this weekend and did wonderfully! I put him in for nap yesterday and he slept for 2 hours without getting up. Then last night he went to bed without a problem and slept until 9:30 this morning. In fact, he loves his new bed so much that he doesn't want to get out of it! If you ask him what he thinks of his big boy bed, always answers "It's fast!"

Big Boy!

Bruiser was laying down in his crib the other night and I noticed that he was trying to use his Taggie ball as a pillow - not an easy feat! So, I asked him if he wanted a pillow and he quickly responded with a "yeah, yeah, yeah!" I grabbed a pillow from my bed and he quickly plopped his head on it and went into a sound sleep. Bruiser slept until 9:15 the next morning!

When I put him down for his nap the next day, he did the same thing and quickly drifted off. When I went to get him out of bed, he cried, "Momma, Momma! I ove my peeyo! I ove my peeyo!" (translation: I love my pillow!) Now, I don't remember how old Tater was when we gave her a pillow for the first time but I know she was younger than Bruiser is now. Talk about feeling like a terrible mother!