7QTs - Valentines, Laundry, Goggles

Linking up with Kelly and co... 

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Laundry seems to be a bigger chore than it was in the past...

I am still married to my only-do-wash-on-Saturday philosophy and I can usually get it done but it doesn't ever get all the way put away or there are a pile of mismatched socks on the chair or the uniforms are still hanging up in the bathroom and need to be fluffed.

Attack of the laundry MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Splash away little girl!

She didn't even try to take them off for a few minutes : ) 

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Speaking of goggles... 

M and R have had some good swim lessons this winter. Last winter I think I only got a few session in 

But this year we've gotten more than a few which is great because R is basically swimming by herself. She is still working out the whole side breathing thing and I still would keep a close eye on her but she's going to be rocking out this summer in the 6 and unders. M is close and she can swim as long as she doesn't have to take a breathe. 

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Valentine's Day... The 2018 Catholic conundrum not to be confused with Pascha/Easter falling on April Fool's Day. So Valentine's Day this year fell on Ash Wednesday but as Eastern Catholic we started Lent on Monday BUT since our kids go to Latin Catholic school they go to Mass for it and with Papa Deacon being attached to a Latin parish sooooo... Ash Wednesday all around except not because Ash Wednesday is a penitential day but there were still parties at school (don't understand it, but not worth the fight) and preschool (not Catholic) so it was a wacky day. 

Which consisted of some prepping of class Valentines (and I already got Valentines for next year at Target for 70% off )

Our family Valentine's celebration was moved to Tuesday donuts, card and flowers all around

A

E

R

M

C

There were entirely too many sweets that crossed the threshold of the house but since it is good 'ole Lent we have select dessert days in addition to our Lent fasting and abstaining and praying and alms giving. 

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E went to summer camp for AHG and received a few badges for her activities

She is super pumped about her badge-filled vest and cannot wait to go back again next year!

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There is something therapeutic about doing a fresh box of Legos. 

R and M and I did a new set of R's Saturday afternoon. They are not too much help but I enjoyed it. The family project remains doing Eclipso's castle from Christmas but that requires E and Papa

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C fell asleep like this at work the other day.

She is fresh off the 8 month mark and still coming to work with me. She is still nursing. She loves her yogurt breakfast and jar food (yes the actual glass jars and not the pouches because hello landfills) with a side of banana for dinner. Still no teeth to speak of but they are all probably going to come in with a vengeance. My favorite time to watch her is in her bouncer/jumper thing and in the morning when I bring her out of her room and all the other kids are at breakfast and tell her good morning or hi-hi. She lights up at them and they light up when they see her. 

I'm not sure why it took him so love to discover the heat wave but it acted so surprised . It was great. 

7QTs - Another week late

Linking up with Kelly and co... 

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Last Friday (actually 2 Fridays ago)  R came home with the class pet

FIDGET!

Fidget has taken up residence here on several occasions. A few short weekend stints when E was in K and then somehow E was named (or self-named) Fidget summer vacation keeper so he's hung out here the past two summers. 

Fidget had a grand time complete with getting rubbed in purple chalk and rolling around in the mulch. All was documented in his journal complete with drawings and black and white pics - but R colored Fidget brown in the pics?!?!?!? because he's definitely brown. 

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The moment

You realize... 

Your mother...

Is a terrible person because she is dutifully washing Ninis. 

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E had a swim meet on Saturday and M wasn't sick so we went

There was lots of snacks involved

C hung out in the stroller on Saturday and helped me be a timer in the Beco on Sunday while the 3 middle kids stayed with Jibbe and Lee tended to deacon duties here in the Mount. 

Can't you tell this is E? She did well for her first meet of the year round season. Times in 25s didn't improve vastly nor did that pesky IM count because breaststroke kick BUT she's determined. 

With my mind on my cup and my cup on my mind... 

We shot over to do some grocery shopping right after the meet without too much ado. But somehow I always get conned into getting some cereal they want - this week it was baby pillows AKA Mini Frosted Mini-wheats - there's a difference. 

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M had a soccer game Monday

Which did not end well but I have a really low bar set. E has been the assistant coach this year 

A is all about the NAK-NAK-NAK and crushed his up on the ride home

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The weather has been beyond nice so we've had some time outside...

A likes to play with the weeds I've pulled

My shoeless little boy

These girls really do play quite well with each other

Twirling in the sun

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School news: 

R brought her zebra for blessing of the pets at school. It is probably E's least favorite morning of school because there's a bunch of dogs and this year it was a full house 

This came home from school last week.... and even E looked at it and said, "Hey we don't have a cat." Also I don't know if M has actually watched an episode of Paw Patrol. 

Rewriting biblical history on the way to school: 

M - Mama, did you know Adam and Eve disobeyed God?

Me - Yes they did

M - Adam and Eve ate from the sycamore tree and disobeyed God

Me - Oh yeah

M - YES!

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Last Friday (the one that started with Papa in the ER), the kids and I vacated for the afternoon to keep it quiet so where better else to go than swim practice: 

A tried unsuccessfully to scale the rock wall and was a screaming WRECK leaving - he was twisting and turning and laying down on the floor because he wasn't getting what he wanted. It was great, let me tell you. 

Let me tell you what else is great... Mom hearing you unbuckle your seatbelt before the van is parked. Know what that will earn you, a ticket out of the van to walk home. Of course E thought I was joking at first and then she thought it was fun but they when we passed her turning onto our street she was really annoyed. 

That night I baked them take and bake cookies for dessert... and then I got a few more batches at the store the next day

7QTs - Tiny Tim, Lots o Water, and Stuffed Animals

Linking up with Kelly and co

As if the first of the last week wasn't wild and crazy enough it ended something like this...

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EOY Preschool program... 

R and Tiny Tim M : ) 

I was disappointed I could not find a construction orange colored bow for M. But whatever. This year there was pizza dinner before which made my life generally easier but you know trying to hustle everyone in the door get seated for pizza and then run to the auditorium to save 4 seats while the 4 kids are eating makes for A+ parenting. More on the end of preschool later...

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Speaking of Tiny Tim...

I knew M felt pretty terrible the night of the preschool program but nothing alittle Advil can't handle but the next morning was a different story. I have 4 kids in 4 different places. E at school. R with a friend (because no more preschool - hello complicated next month). M with me. A at school (because thank goodness my life isn't that complicated). 

M announced she was ready to leave after about 20 minutes. Then she watched a Daniel Tiger and then slept for 2 hours until it was time to go - yes she must have felt horrible. 

Everytime I'd think she'd be getting better she wouldn't. This was a tough cold to kick and Lee and I were so tired of listening to people COUGH and HACK - fortunately we loaded up E and R on vitamin C and they were spared the fevers but not the coughs. 

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Just to make things REALLY interesting because that week was just comically off schedule for us... 

It was uniform fit day at E's (and soon to be R's) school. Fortunately we don't need a whole lot because hello hand me downs but E needed a new jumper (because those get real short real fast) and both E and R needed winter gym clothes because E had worn her little coat out and R deserved a new coat. 

So A decided to be obstinate and show off his full set of lungs in front of a bunch of strangers and even parents of one of the kids in R's class #winning

Then I discover E's been taking selfies #likeaboss while A is acting crazy. Finally it is time to go but then I get talking (shocking) to one just one, but 2 new parents to the school and that drags things out much to everyone's chagrin but ASK ME IF I CARE!!!!!!! Nope sorry, talking is what mama's do.

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And when we got home they wanted to play with water guns and the sprinkler... again after this week, I stopped caring because we MADE it through the week

So sprinklers it was

Last time A screamed at the sprinkler but this time it was much more enjoyable. 

Shoot me with the water gun again and I'll knock you out

Somehow keep the water out of the garage was slightly misunderstood... but whatever NOT CARING, NOT CARING

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R had tee ball on Saturday - no soccer game was schedule which really ticked E off because we've had rain outs and missed things because of conflicts. But E was the most helpful bat girl after being read the riot act due to some behavior at one of M's soccer games

She really does enjoy tee ball so very much

Baseball ready stance

This game she didn't hit as stronger as she has but she's definitely improving!

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Our weekend plans were totally whacked out because M still had a bit of a fever and was pretty lethargic so we nixed the trip to Grammy and Grandpa Joe's and Lee worked until 6 Saturday. Sunday we drove separately to church - which I really don't love but we had to. 

E and R had some things to do so we met Grammy for lunch and then headed 

To the NC State pool for an afternoon tune up with 100 other swim friends. 

E was nervous and R was impatient. I let her wear her swim cap that she really hasn't earned yet because we have got to get this diving off the blocks thing down. 

She looks so grown up here

I found out via her school journal she had a good time so that was gratifying 

R and I headed to Build a Bear to make a birthday present for a special friend. She was so cute to watch and had a million questions. She made a special recording which I waffled on but I'm so glad I let her make one : ) 

She stuffed Baseball Teddy and this Pony.

She made a wish and the teddy was sewn up 

She cleaned him up and got him dressed and that was that. 

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This week the rain was my saving grace with sanity. I don't think we even went to the ballpark because it rained almost every day but not enough to mess up Lee's work but just enough to get the fields too wet to play.  (not true, M did have one soccer game Monday but the one Thursday got rained out plus R's tee ball practice Tuesday and E's soccer game and R's tee ball game Thursday) 

So we just played in the rain instead...

Mental note to self don't leave pile of rain soaked clothes and towel in the laundry basket for a week - it will stink and possibly mold?!?!?! Throw immediately washer and wash. 

Here's to May and school and sports being almost done : )