July

This month is flying by just like I knew it would. Last week was crazy. Last Wednesday Macie destroyed her glasses. Okay, maybe that is exaggerating. She only destroyed one lense. I found out the real story. Her teacher leaves her glasses nearby during naptime. Macie got a hold of them and popped the lense out and chewed on it. This is the result.



Unfortunately the lab did not have two lenses in stock. The one that they cut on Thursday was for the wrong side so we had to wait until Monday to get her glasses back on her. Today I ordered her a second pair so that we will always have a backup pair. They are going to be so cute and they are purple! I'm excited about them.


We headed out for the lake last Friday. I forgot many things on this trip. One of which was my camera. Oh well! That has been happening a lot lately. I haven't taken many pictures since the move. Brian's family has a cabin on the lake. The kids got to swim when we first got there. Nathan did not care for it at all (as I expected). Macie like it better than Nathan but wasn't really thrilled. I don't recall seeing Katelyn much after we got there. Ha! She was with her cousins in the water throughout most of the trip. She was able to ride the intertube with them this year instead of with her daddy.


Later that day we rode the pontoon to get some gas at the marina. This always means ice cream. K, M & N all got pushups. M&N had eaten them at home but we didn't have the melting factor there. What a big orange mess! It was a good thing we could just dunk them in the lake to clean them off (well, not exactly). We went out on the pontoon that evening to watch the fireworks. They didn't seem as exciting this year. I'm not sure if it was the distance because we were far away or if I am just old and grouchy. M&N slept through the whole thing. Katelyn said she liked them. The battery did die while we were in the middle of the lake. Thanks to daddy and Jamie we were able to get it started back. I'm not sure what plan B was.


Brian had bought a "kiddy pack" of fireworks that we did before heading out for the fireworks show. That was exciting. Well, Katelyn and her cousins seemed to like them and no one caught on fire. It was a success!

Saturday we went out on the lake and swam for a while but it was a cloudy day. It eventually started raining. Then Jon's "new" boat ran out of gas (you're supposed to check that?) so we had to go to the marina and get gas for him. It was raining and cold at this point.


That evening we were invited to a birthday party for Uncle Adam who just turned 30. It was located at a lovely place right on the White River. They had great food and it was a lot of fun. All of Adam's family and Aunt Lynette's family got to wear blue t-shirts with his date of birth on them. It was quite a sight to see all those people dressed alike. Even M&N had shirts like everyone else. The kids had a blast throwing rocks in the river and standing in the cold water. We ended the evening with Macie doing a nosedive on the sidewalk but it wasn't too bad of a boo-boo. I was just relieved that Nathan did not run into the river. It could have easily happened.


Sunday we swam some more. Macie was enjoying the water by that time. Nathan sat with his daddy on the pontoon (he is just like his daddy). Katelyn is just a fish. I was in charge of Macie's sunscreen and I guess I didn't do a very good job. Her face was burnt except for one stripe on her forehead. I really think that the sunscreen washed off in the lake but I never did reapply. I am such a bad mommy. Brian applied Nathan's sunscreen and he did not burn. Of course, he is not fair like Macie either.



Nathan did get a big knot on his head a few hours before we went home. It was right above his eye. He fell on some concrete steps. Luckily it wasn't too serious but it wasn't very pretty. Katelyn cut her toe right before we left too. So everyone came home with a slight injury!


All in all we had a great 4th! It was so nice to get out of town for a few days. I think that next year will be so great. This year was so much easier than last year since they are now toddlers instead of babies.

Life

I don't have time to be blogging right now. What am I doing? I have so much to do. I will never get it all done. Is that okay? Is that normal? The days go by so fast and I feel that nothing gets accomplished. Why does life have to be so fast paced? I feel that I am never going to get this house organized. For those who know me you realize that is killing me. I don't know where to put anything. Everything is a mess. There is so much to do and so much to buy. I used to have my mornings to do cleaning/organizing but now Nathan gets up at 5:00. He gets up. We put him back in bed. He is back up by 6:15. I can get nothing done because he is into everything. I guess this too shall pass.

So I think that maybe I can get something done when everyone is in bed at night. By then I am too tired. Since I am working from home two days a lot of time I am trying to catch up on what I didn't get done during the day because I have been spending time with Katelyn. She gets bored if we stay home all day and I have to work. So lately we have been doing something fun during the day for a couple of hours.


Today we went to see Kung Fu Panda. It was pretty cute. The problem was we went to the $2 movie that all the other kids in town went to see. I knew we were in trouble when I saw two school buses in the parking lot. Of course, we got there late. So we had to sit on the very front row. It was hard to see the screen but Katelyn didn't seem to mind. She just loved that it was so loud. She said that is how loud she wants the TV turned up in the house. I believe her.


Last week we went to the park and she played in the sprinklers and on the playground and we had a little picnic. There are a lot of things that I want to do this summer. I can't believe that June is already over!

Can you find Katelyn?

Macie and Nathan are adapting to school really well. They have not been crying when I leave them. I love their teacher. She is so sweet and upbeat. She will put things on Nathan's paper like: "He was quite adventurous today." Nathan had a little trouble listening today." "Nathan has been unplugging things in the room. We are having to work on that." Ha! I know Nathan. I can imagine what those comments really mean. Macie always has good comments. She is probably an angel while she is there. When she is good she is really good. When she is not good, you better watch out!

This is how Macie feels every night at supper time. This time she just couldn't make it.


Katelyn finished swimming lessons last week. She passed with flying colors. It would be great if she could do another session but I can't go through that again. That was two weeks of entertaining M&N for 30 minutes when they were in horrible moods. Katelyn is swimming a little. I think that by the end of the summer she will be a pro.
We are gearing up for our annual 4th of July lake trip. We might have to rent a U-Haul this year...

Happy Father's Day

It's a little late, and I didn't take any pictures on Father's Day. I am so ashamed. I searched through all the pictures from this year and there was not one of Brian with all three kids. So it is now my goal to get a picture of all them this week. With the way things have been around here lately, I'm not sure if I will get that accomplished.

We did celebrate Father's Day on Sunday. I wanted to make sure that he got plenty of father time, too. Hey, I did not get off the hook on Mother's Day. Macie and Nathan were not in the best mood on Sunday so he got a little taste of what it is like for me each day from 5 to 7 pm.

Brian provides the strength that our family needs. I don't mean just physically! He is our solid rock. He always knows what to do. He is the family nurse, handyman, chef, bedtime monitor (meaning he watches the twins on the monitor to make sure they stay in their bed), gadget guru and human trampoline.

Katelyn, Macie and Nathan sure do love their daddy. Macie thinks she sees him wherever we go. Every vehicle on the road makes her say and point, "daddy!" One time in the morning after he had left (early as usual) Katelyn told Macie, "Look, there's daddy. He's going to come tickle you!" Macie got so excited. She thought he was in the house but Katelyn was just playing a (mean) trick on her.

They love jumping on him, especially his belly. If he ever lays on the floor, all three are on top of him or waiting their turn to "fly in the air". There is something special about that daddy relationship.

We love you!!

Silly Stories

Life with three kids is never boring - especially when two of them are twins. I have to say that sometimes I really wonder how I have made it. I never envisioned myself as a mother of twins or a mother of three. I always knew that I would be a mother though. Being a mother is the greatest blessing from God. And I know for sure that God has a great sense of humor. He knew how badly I wanted a second child. I guess I just bugged him so much that He said, I'll show her! I am so happy to have the three children that I have, but some days I just don't know if I am going to make it.

For example, one day I took Macie and Nathan up to my office on one of the days that I was working at home. I needed to make some copies. This was right before we moved and I had a few boxes at work. I decided to take a few home that day. Nathan thought he was so big and he carried his own box. I was holding Macie and Nathan was walking. We got on the elevator to go down. I was thinking about how I was going to leave the boxes in the lobby and then come back and get them after M&N were in the van. So with that on my mind, Macie and I get off the elevator. I was assuming that Nathan was right behind me. He was NOT and the elevator closed with him in it. Luckily the front part of the building is open all the way up to the 5th floor. I heard a man on the second floor say, "Where's your mommy?" I screamed, "I'm down here!" So Macie and I jumped back on the elevator and went up to the second floor and got him. He was just standing there without a care in the world. Luckily he only went up one floor!

I bought some chalk for the kids to play with outside. My only concern was that the twins would try to eat it. No, Nathan decided he would write on the siding on the front of our house! Thank goodness it wiped right off!!

The other morning we were all trying to get out the door. M&N were dressed and ready so I let them go out in the garage. The garage door was up but they go out there a lot and stay close to the house. I was helping Katelyn get her shoes on. Then I stepped out to check on them and M&N and were walking down the street. I start calling out to them and running towards them. Of course, what do they do? They starting running from me. I'm sure my new neighbors got a kick out of that. I am so glad that no one was coming down the street at that time.

They keep me on my toes. I really think that I have a guardian angel. Someone has to be looking out for me. I know that I should watch them closer but it is really impossible. They do so many things and I can't remember all of them. I didn't want to forget these events that all just happened in the last few weeks.

The other thing that happened I will never forget. Macie and Nathan were pretty little. I know they weren't even one yet. I was getting gas and they were in their car seats. I always leave the van running when I get gas. Well, I got it started and I was going to get back in the van and the doors were locked. Everything was in the van including my babies!! I went inside and the clerks were so nice. They let me use their phone and I couldn't even think straight. I called Brian and I was panicking! Then one of the girls in the store gave me the number of a guy that can open cars. He showed up about 30 minutes later and unlocked the van (for a fee). It was worth every penny!!

Summer Haircuts

Katelyn and I both got our hair cut for the summer last week. Katelyn has been swimming a lot plus her hair is so hot so I thought that we would try it cut shorter. She thinks that she has "short" hair. In reality it is not really short but I guess it is short for her.

BEFORE

AFTER!

Wow! Life Moves Fast...

Included with this post: pictures of my kids acting crazy

I'm trying to remember what has happened in the past week or so. Time is just flying by and I don't remember one day to the next. We moved the weekend before last. Yes, I'm still unpacking but the majority has gotten put up. I'm sure that I will move it several times. You can ask Brian. I like to move stuff around trying to find the perfect place for everything! I love the house. It is so nice to have so much room.

It has been such an adjustment for the kids. Macie and Nathan are now in separate rooms in their toddler beds. They seem to be doing just fine being in separate rooms. I think they are still getting used to their beds. They now can get up whenever they want and they do so. There has been a lot of waking up at night and lost pacifiers. Nathan gets up anywhere from 5:00 to 6:15 every morning. He is so tired all the time. He is just not getting enough sleep. I am going tomorrow to find him curtains for the huge window in his room. I think that is part of why he gets up so early.

They are still getting used to preschool. Macie does really good in the morning. Nathan still cries. They are doing better and better. Here is what their teacher put on their sheets today (I was so proud).

Macie's behavior today: Great! Macie has good listening ears and is learning how to line up and sit in her chair and clean up very well!

Nathan's behavior today: Great! Today Nathan did really well playing with the other kids. He was happy and playful.

Katelyn is doing great. She is staying home with me two days a week and she is having a great time playing. She loves her new room and is being the best helper with M&N. She is the best big sister anyone could ask for. Sometimes she thinks that she is their mom. I know that she will be a great mother one of these days (a long, long time from now).

We've been swimming a couple of times. I've already had my first bad sunburn since I never put on sunscreen. That is so wrong, I know. Katelyn starts swimming lessons next week. I'm so excited for her. She loves getting in the pool but she is still a little scared. M&N haven't made it to the pool yet. I'm still trying to figure out how I am going to manage all of the kids since Brian is usually not around to go with us.

This summer is bound to fly by. So many plans in the works. There are so many things to do around the house, too. It is going to be a good one!

Macie and Nathan start preschool

First Day of School

The time is here. The time is now. I cannot believe that M&N are finally old enough to attend preschool. I wanted them to go to the same school as Katelyn and they have to be 18 months old to attend. So once they turned 18 months we had to wait for two openings.

Day One: Katelyn and I slipped out of the room while they were distracted. I felt so bad because I could hear Macie crying when we were leaving. I didn't want to say goodbye because I knew it wouldn't go well. When we got there to pick them up they were playing and were SO excited to see us.

Day Two: The morning was REALLY bad. They knew as soon as we got in the parking lot where they were going. They both screamed this time as we left. I called later that day to check on them and the teacher said they were doing okay. The new schedule and only taking one nap plus playing out in the heat really took its toll on them. They passed out at 7:00 that night. They probably would have gone to bed a lot earlier but I held them off as long as I could. They were completely worn out.

Day Three: We arrived at morning snack. Macie marched herself right on in and found a seat at the table. I think she likes snack time! They get to sit in chairs at the table and at home she has to sit in a highchair. She thinks she is so big! Nathan was not happy to be there. It was quite funny because they all told me that Nathan was going to adjust a lot easier than Macie. Well, leave it to M&N to prove them wrong!

Day Four: Macie went in and sat at the table again. Nathan cried and screamed again.

Day Five: They were both completely exhausted by the end of the week and so was I. It was a lot of changes all at once. They have been getting up most days before 6:00 and they are just so tired. They made it through the whole week though and I am so proud!! They are really big kids now!

Katelyn has started going only three days a week now. A couple of weeks ago they had a fun day for the kids. "School" has ended for the summer and now it is more relaxed and fun. They played lots of games and had a picnic lunch. I got to eat lunch with Katelyn and her friends.

Katelyn and Molly enjoyed popsicles!

How low can you go?