Pondering...

Why don't they make pants with adjustable waists like this for adults?
I'd sure like a pair right about now.

Bro's 7th Birthday

He arrived on May 25th at 7:30 PM weighing 8 lbs 5 oz and measuring 20.5 inches. It's hard to believe that it's been seven years! Bro wouldn't let anyone say he was 7 until 7:30 tonight when I had to sing him Happy Birthday again! He's still so cute.

We decided to skip the big birthday party this year, opting for a family celebration instead. So we headed to Chuck E. Cheese, where we did meet up with a friend for a few hours of fun. Then checked into a hotel, making full use of their swimming pool. Afterward it was out to dinner Big Bro style (a buffet...YUCK!). And back to the hotel for a movie and popcorn. More swimming followed this morning before driving back home where we threw together a cake just in time for a nice, if not quiet, celebration.

It all amounted to a very memorable birthday and two exhausted kids (as well as parents). So I'll quickly just leave you with these photos. You'll have to excuse the red eye, etc. as I am just too tired to do much editing tonight.

Mommy Did It...

but it was a total accident. I was tossing a football with Big Bro this weekend, you know one of those small, hard plastic balls banks give away. Well, he missed and it hit smack in the middle of his forehead. It left quite the bruise. This photo is from the day it happened. It took on a deeper purple tint by Monday. So when his teacher asked him what happened he replied, "Mommy hit me..." and I jumped in "with a football and it was an ACCIDENT."
So then he changed his story, telling everyone "Mommy hit me with a football", to which I felt the need to chime in "on accident".
By tonight he had caught on and started saying "A football hit me in the head." Smart Kid!

Emergency Spelling

I saw this on another blog a while ago and am still giggling when I think of it. I just have to share it with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvMJ1Walco0

Soccer

Big Bro finished up Soccer last week. He had a much better year than last (when he spent more time looking at clouds than kicking the ball). He is still not very aggressive when it comes to taking the ball from another player. I think he worries too much about hurting someone's feelings. At the beginning of the season he would dribble the ball up to the goal and then take 5 minutes to attempt a goal. He ended the season just kicking it more naturally and has seemed to quit second guessing himself so much. Such a perfectionist that boy...don't know where he gets it from!

The birthday girl

My baby turned 4 today. I think 4 is one of those tougher birthdays for a mom as such huge changes seem to take place between 3 & 4.

We purchased a play kitchen for her. It was a total hit. It's a good thing too as we were up until 1:30 last night putting the thing together!

She helped me make her princess castle cake this year. She was pleased with it but it wasn't nearly as cute as I had hoped for. I think it's because I tried to make it slightly healthier (what an oxymoron - cake and healthy) by making homemade cake and frosting. I need a little more practice to get the consistency right.

She is very into princess stuff this year, which is so funny because she wanted nothing to do with it last year. So she was quite pleased with all the princess cards, clothing and toys she received. What surprised me (not nearly as much as it surprised her brother and uncle) was that she got the most excited opening her new clothes and shoes!

The funniest moment came as she was opening her cards. The first few had a little money in them and then she got to the last one, which she opened, looked inside and said "Aw, no money in this one". Boy, they grow up fast.

A Special Hug

A couple of months ago my six year old asked how babies get into a mommy's tummy. I fumbled a moment and then told him that when a mommy and a daddy really love each other they give each other a special hug. During this hug part of the daddy mixes with part of the mommy and the baby is made.

He was totally satisfied with this answer...until tonight.

We were at the dinner table (I think this is where the most interesting conversations in our house take place) and he asked hubby and me if we still loved each other. After we said yes, he said "Then do that special hug now, 'cuz I want a baby."

Mommy Gets A Break

The hubbie had a conference in Spokane this last weekend. I decided to tag along and dropped the kids with Grandma for the weekend. It was fabulous!

We stayed at the Davenport, which is a fancy hotel in downtown Spokane. Hubbie's schedule was pretty full during the days but I managed to keep myself entertained by leisurely reading in bed in the morning before heading down to the amazing fitness center for an hour workout, followed by a dip in the hot tub and a loooooong shower. And since I didn't have any small heads peaking around the curtain asking what I was doing, I was actually able to shave BOTH legs! It was AMAZING!

I then walked down the street for a little shopping. Upon entering the mall though found myself shopping at Gymboree and Whiz Kids. It was quite nice to shop for the kids without them tugging at me, begging for things and only having to worry about my own stomach and bladder! The biggest joy...I found a two story new and used bookstore which I browsed in uninterupted for TWO hours. Hubbie and I were also able to enjoy a couple quite dinners and even a movie for his birthday.

After two days/nights completely off, I arrived back at the in-laws refreshed and missing my children. This is going to have to be a yearly, make that bi-yearly, event!