I thought wrong.

Well, I mistakenly thought that with our new washer and dryer, I wouldn't be doing as much laundry as before (or spending as much time doing laundry). Ha, what was I thinking?

A Loss for Words

I think about posting quite often... well, everyday actually, sometimes even twice a day. We've been so busy lately but at the same time, just progressing through our everyday routines. I guess that what happens when you have an active, animated 5 year old boy and a sassy, lively 3 year old girl. Don't get me wrong... life is good- great actually, but boy, am I tired at the end of the day (and at definite periods throughout the day)!! I have been thinking a lot lately about, "Wow, are my kids really 5 and 3? Is Lo really going to Kindergarten in the Fall? There's just no way." Hence, I have been trying to slow down and thoroughly enjoy the "little things in life", the everyday routines I mentioned above... with some examples below.

The way Leah tells me so seriously in the morning (with her hands on her little hips) that she will not wear a specific shirt "because it has blue stripes and blue is a boy color and she needs to wear girl colors because they are her favorite and blue is so, so boring".

How Logan will beg me to let him ride his skateboard to school because he "needs to practice his tricks" (and trust me, he is pretty darn good).

How it doesn't matter that the kitchen is destroyed and things are thrown all over the place because Logan was finding a container for Leah's new pet caterpillar named Fuzzy.

How yes, we can stop and get ice cream and walk along the beach even though it's way past bedtime.

How Leah manages to get glue, glitter, stickers, paint, and sparkles from one end of the house to another because she has been working so hard on projects for Grandma, Papa, Uncle, Monet, Abby, Sara, and even Logan.

How sweet it really is when Lo and Le pick all of the tulips and flowers in our yard (and some of the neighbors, too), leave them on the front porch, ring the doorbell, and run away... all because they wanted to surprise me on Mother's Day.

How it takes us 45 minutes to walk around the block because the kids are so observant and notice every little detail from bugs to flowers to houses to animals.

How Logan was so excited to give me 4 packs of gum on Mother's Day because "I know you love gum, Mama and you always share it with me and I was wondering if I could have some now. I actually got it for both of us."

How "my babies" are now 5 and 3 and they continue to make me the happiest Mom ever and help to remind me about the magical "little things in life"!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Addicted

I love these things... could eat them all day... and night.

Oh, yes...

Things Happen in Threes

Just a few words about our weekend.

Thursday- Lo falls and cuts his lip. One stitch on the outside, one stitch on the inside. Fun, fun!

Friday- Lo decided to jump out of a tree house and fractures his little foot. Yes, more fun for all.

Saturday- After screaming in pain all night because of a toothache, Logan has to have a tooth pulled because of a cavity that is down to the nerve and is beginning to get infected! Fun, fun, and more fun.

Poor guy had a rough few days! However, he was a TROOPER, so BRAVE and COOPERATIVE at ALL the doctor visits. We love you Lo... and no more accidents!!

Why I love the neighborhood kids...

1. They are all kind and polite kids who will spend hours entertaining L and L.

2. The older girls are amazing babysitters, who love to play, play, play, can walk to our house, have reasonable rates, and their parents are close by in the event of an emergency.

3. The kids teach L and L new games which forces them to learn turn-taking, sharing, following the rules, and that winning isn't everything!

4. They help the L kids learn to respect the needs and feelings of others.

5. They are extremely creative and spark the creativity in L and L- perform plays, make up their own games, role-playing, acting out scenes from books, and creating "magical" worlds.

6. The kids all remind me of when I was growing up... when we would run to our neighbors houses, play in the backyard, sell lemonade, start a game of kickball, and ride bikes for hours.

7. They help the L kids learn that "if you aren't nice, then we won't play with you".

8. The kids help Lo and Le to problem solve, negotiate, create, and think in new ways. They also model appropriate behavior and manners for Lo and Le.

Thanks to Ivy, Shawny, Sara, Clare, Ben, Gabe, Sophie, Abby, Max, Henry, Annabel, Lauren, and Jack!! Lo and Le are so very lucky to have you in their lives.

Fairy Houses

There's something magical about building a fairy house in the backyard!!
Way to go, L Kids. I love your work.

Leah- "Maybe the fairy will come and leave us a surprise."
Logan- "Yah, like candy."