Valentime's Day 2020

Valentine's Day this year has come and gone

Lee and I went out the night before and I grabbed heart donuts on the way home for in the AM

They were a hit

The girls got their flowers 

to go with the donuts 

and A and J got balloons : ) 

Then came the class party sugary goodness

ALL OF IT.. the big girls had a half day so EVERYTHING was unloaded and looked over all at the same time 

My first Valentine : ) who had to go to the doctor for a check up and shots : ( Also, we did cards at the end of the day because I still am getting up when the kids get up (instead of getting up earlier to have time to collect my self/thoughts/life) and wouldn't you know I could not find the crazy Valentine's Day cards I had bought just the day before and put my hands on that morning!!!!!!!!

Infuriating people I tell you! And just for the record I still haven't found them. So thank goodness for blank cards I got for writing E letters at camp over the summer! Once I find those cards I'll be all set for next year!

Eight is GR8

That grin!

R turned eight the other day. We had her party over the weekend. She requested spaghetti and meatballs - which was a crowd pleaser! She chose to invite her friend from preschool even though they aren't in school together anymore because she said - they're still best friends.

She doesn't love being the center of attention : ) 

So we ate and R opened her presents - Legos, American Girl stuff, Barbie stuff, a scooter, an art project and an art kit! - all everything she really really likes.

Then it was time for birthday cake (made by Grammy)

On her actual birthday R requested waffles for breakfast - another crowd pleaser!

Dinner that night was tacos (her next favorite dinner after meatballs) and leftover cake which she had one piece of her piece that she didn't finish and she wouldn't let me throw it away 'because it's too good to waste it'

7QTs - Hard Rice Krispies, Dances, Outdoor Habitats

Linking up with Kelly ... first week of February 

---1---

This week has been an interesting one culminating with some whacko weather yesterday afternoon that canceled everything. The wind was pretty scary. Today the big girls had school and the preschoolers were on a delay which meant we did not opt in for preschool. So they enjoyed a morning of PBS and general fighting and bickering and snacking while I attempted to get work done pretty well if I may say so myself. 

Also this week, much to E's great disappointment the AHG summer camp she went to last year is not operating this summer - I'm telling you last summer she had the best summer and didn't even know it. So that was a tear-filled conversation which is strike number two against summer 2020 because her (and mine) favorite local drama camp also got axed (we found out about that late last year and she was depressed for a week). So I had high hopes to try a non-AHG camp that is only an hour away and after careful coordination with her friend from school and getting R on board... E got in and R and her friend are on the waitlist!!!!!!! because registration opened last week and I said no to this camp originally because of the AHG camp. The irony of it all. So we are crossing fingers for two openings. 

Finally in other I don't want to hear it news... we met with the builder about our addition plans, cut the fat and talked about a bare(-ish) bones addition to the kitchen and laundry room - I mean the whole thing is truly a want as opposed to a need but you get the point... before he left I asked him if he'd do what we were talking about and he basically said no. For a variety of reasons, sinking money into this house... trying to live in a house without a kitchen for AT LEAST 45 days... nothing major or anything. 

ALL

THE

SIGHS

So now I will stop the whining and because there's a whole lot more to be grateful for...

---2---

Tonight is the Daddy Daughter Dance at school 

M insisted Papa not see her until she was ready

E insisted that she not match her sisters 

R, along with the others, was thrilled for the flowers and the dab or two of lipstick I let them wear

LOVE THEM!!!!

2019 - didn't post pics!?!?!
2018
2017
2016 - I think they went?

---3---

Today was Pizza Lunch at school which it is required of each class once a year to do the treats for pizza lunch. I have and probably will always do Rice Krispies - because I'm OCD like that. No deviation, please. So E's class had treat duty two months ago and there were reports of crunchy Rice Krispies, which normally would mean nothing to me but Lee said something about them and how they were REALLY crunchy... too crunchy (insert all the annoyed-ness because he's probably right, and nobody has EVER said anything about the texture before and heck I'm making homemade treats instead of getting Zebra cakes people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) nothing against Zebra cakes or anything but you know

Eating the last one...

Well, let me tell you. If you Google hard Rice Krispies then you will know the problem because I am always running short on time. Turns out if you power-melt your marshmallows your Rice Krispies will be rock SOLID. Well you know what happens if you DON'T rush through the marshmallow melting process... 

THEY ARE WAAAAAAAAAY better. 

So after five years of making Rice Krispies for pizza lunch treats, guess who won't be rushing marshmallow melting EVER again. MOI - it is worth the wait and makes all the difference!

---4---

Why can't all the bananas have stickers?

This girl might just drive me over the edge with her sassiness at school. Continuing to try and reign her in but not break her spirit because I love her. 

This guy might be driving me crazy but not taking his rests nicely so I'm trying to figure out alternatives for afternoon break time.

---5---

I'm pretty sure boys were meant to exist outside. I really think that outdoors is A's habitat. He loves to be outside and the warmer weather this week has meant even more outside time. 

He loves to dig a hole and this week he decide to dig a hole by the gutter to which I asked him if he thought Papa wanted him to dig right there and he said 'probably not'. But he did find a 'sleeping snake' - an earthworm. Then when all the rain came it was filled up with water to A's delight. He would have been outside all day today had I let him but it was blustery and cold so I nixed his hole digging plans. 

---6---

I mentioned here that I evicted J from the nursery bed. Well that didn't last long but he is falling asleep in the crib now so I have the bed to myself for part of the night. 

---7---

On tap for the weekend is practice and pancakes, church, celebrating R's #8!!!!!!, and hopefully running 12(ish) miles. The half marathon is two weeks away and I finished the 12.5 miles last weekend so I know now it is possible to finish - maybe not in the time I'm hoping for... but then my crazy foot decided it needed to hurt but it has been getting better over the course of the week so I'm banking on a solid run before the party. 

Next week is R's actual birthday and Valentines Day with all the valentines that are needed for school plus dinner with Lee and our third wheel J because he still doesn't take a bottle because nobody's tried... 

I'm Sleeping Alone

Tonight I'm sleeping alone.

For the first time in 12 and a half months I'm sleeping alone.

Sleeping without you.

For nine months you slept on the inside. I knew you were there before I could feel you and you were our little secret. Then there was lots of excitement and anticipation and kicks and elbowing.

A little more than four months ago out you came and doubled up our brother population.

We've been basically inseparable for four months. We've been bunking up despite the pediatrician not loving the set up - but this time they never asked what the sleeping arrangements are - maybe because they didn't want to know.

Over the past few weeks you've gotten bigger and are taking up more of the bed and don't like covers and I need space and covers so we are having a bit of a conflict.

I wasn't ready for the crib yet. You are still so little. I want you to stay little forever but I know better. You are a growing little bean and before we know it you'll be going to kindergarten.

I wasn't ready to put you in the crib but I knew it was time because we both needed to not wake each other up.

So tonight I'm sleeping alone and so are you. I'll be an arms length away and I'll be checking on you like crazy and I'll miss my little bed mate but I think we'll both sleep better. Maybe with a tear in my eye because I'm not ready for you to be this big.