Spring Break...Snow Break!

As stated before, our weather this "spring" break has been far from spring-like! However, we have been able to still have some fun in and around the house, and out and about!

Friday morning we rode with friends to see the movie "The Croods." We went to the 10:45 show and must have barely made it in time because shortly after we found our seats we learned that our showing had sold out! The kids had fun and did really well during the movie. It was something I tried to soak up as I know that pretty soon it just won't be as easy as piling in to a friend's van to head to the movies!

 "The Croods" crew!

Mmm..."popcorns" as Gavin likes to call it! (this was also the day after he started referring to himself as Superman...hence the shirt he chose to wear that day!)

The next day was Joe's day off. Hooray! He and Gavin had some "boy bonding time" taking the 4 wheeler out into the country to refill deer feeders and replace batteries in trail cameras. :) Sydney and I stuck around and headed off to the grocery store. Fun, fun! When the boys got home Gavin had something really exciting to share with us....

That afternoon it started to snow. That evening it snowed some more...and some more...and some more. We woke up to about 6-8 inches in our driveway (according to our chief snow-shoveler aka Joe) with drifts up to about a foot deep. The kids played in the snow while he shoveled and we've just been enjoying the snow days ever since! 

 Getting the seed starter kit ready...if spring ever truly arrives!

 Part of our African safari that Sydney set up in the living room today on our snow day...

 Gavin wasn't entirely interested in exploring with us....

Our very own "gator boy"....he wrapped him up and was preparing to return him to the water. :)

Yes, they are still in pajamas. Maybe tomorrow we'll have to return to reality, but until then, we are just going to be "hanging out" as Sydney likes to say!

"Spring" break!

Today marks the first day of Spring and luckily, so far, the sun is shining...but that is about the only thing to enjoy on the first day of this beautiful season. The temperature has not rose above 50 degrees since probably Friday...it snowed yesterday...and will snow/rain/sleet tomorrow....and the next day....and the next day. It hardly feels like Spring around here! However, knowing this is more than likely our last "free" time before Baby Time, the kids and I are trying to take it easy, have some fun, and do some silly things!

First off, we have been going outside. Yes, it is cold, yes it is even kind of wet and muddy. However, it is crucial that these children get outside and run about, if even for ten minutes! Yesterday we bundled up to head out and water the "baby" apple trees. Although I told them that it was probably just going to be a quick trip to water the trees, it turned in to much more! Bike riding...replacing old corn cobs with new ones for the squirrels...some driveway mowing (by Gavin)...shoveling to search for "treasures"...some hide and seek. We even enjoyed looking at the chalk drawings that were created earlier this week and noticing how the rain/snow had changed them just a bit. 

 

 Sydney's message to Gavin...have I mentioned that she is the sweetest thing??

Today, Sydney requested breakfast for lunch...YUM! Gavin requested that we eat at the "baby blue table." So I whipped up some yummy pancakes, some sweet potato hash browns and we had a delicious lunch. (We decided to enjoy it at lunchtime because it isn't exactly Daddy's favorite meal!) Afterward, Sydney and Gavin set up a campsite in the basement...complete with tents, pillows, blankets, and their favorite things to sleep with. We even threw in a "campfire" and some scary (turned silly!) stories.

Tomorrow will bring some yucky weather, but probably a play date with a couple of their best buds! Maybe a movie day (with popcorn!) and some puzzles. Friday, as long as the weather cooperates, we'll be having a movie morning with friends and then Saturday is Dad's day off--woo hoo!!!

Nesting.

My very unofficial definition of "nesting" goes something like this: a largely pregnant and hormonal woman trying to organize everything in her life physically possible to make up for the fact that she has no control over one, very big thing: when the baby actually decides to arrive. (Because that is the truth, right? It all boils down to this agreement between your baby, your body, and God...which can be slightly maddening. :))

Right now I feel like we are in a holding pattern as we wait and see when our #3 will decide to arrive. I don't like the uncertainty or unpredictability. I don't really consider myself a planner, but when it comes to something big like this, I want as much "lined out" as possible, especially for the sake of Sydney and Gavin. Up until about a month ago, just getting all of the material things "necessary" for the baby was sufficient enough for me. I instantly felt a little relief after a large package from Amazon.com was dropped off at our doorstep by UPS. It contained all of those "necessary" items that I just knew would make me feel more prepared and ready for Baby. Items such as: a new diaper bag (that looks like a purse!)...baby record book (actually something necessary)...new aden+anais swaddle blankets (maybe more for me than Baby...will s/he really care if they're swaddled in 100% cotton muslin? probably not...) and a few other little things. I promptly washed, dried, and packed them up for Baby...relieved that we were "finally" ready. Right? Fast forward to about a week ago, I woke up shortly after Joe left, worrying about whether we needed a single stroller or not. I woke up and started researching and emailing him YouTube links to possible options. (This particular search is still on, by the way.) Do I really need this? (I could justify any baby gear purchase), but maybe if I buy this one more thing it will make me more prepared to have this baby. (I think it is all mental, though I would never admit that to my husband. :))

So now I am nesting. I bought all the "things"--I packed all of our bags--made all of our calling lists--and now...we...wait. To occupy my time and expend my energy I have become obsessed with cleaning and organizing the most random spaces in our home for the most bizarre reasons. The urge to clean that "something" truly hits me like a ton of bricks and I have to get it done right away. A few weeks ago, it was the top of my washer and dryer that I cleaned, the laundry room floor that I swept (because maybe whoever stays with the kids might need to do laundry and I wanted the laundry room to be presentable...)--I washed the bedding in the extra bedroom...just in case!--I cleaned my stove top burners this past weekend (instead of cleaning for G's birthday party), because they were filthy and driving me crazy--I am constantly wiping down my counters, the table, sweeping the floor, and keeping my sink clean (though not always a top priority). I love the smell of my vinegar+Dawn+ water cleaner, and my vinegar+water cleaner, and lemon Clorox wipes. I love the smell of freshly washed clothes. I even love the smell of the cleaning spray our custodian uses at school. It just smells clean--and I am obsessed with that right now. WHY?

The end of pregnancy is such a waiting game and so much of this is out of my hands. I am truly trying to keep myself busy with things that are in my control and I am trying to prepare as much as possible. Our baby is coming! That much we are sure of. Maybe I am trying to ensure that our environment is ready for Baby too? Maybe by my constant cleaning, it will make our transition from 2 to 3 kiddos just a bit easier? Maybe it is a type of foreshadowing that once Baby is here, almost none of this stuff will be done for a very, very long time, so I need to do it now. ?? I don't know. For now though, it does give me peace of mind, a little sense of calm in my heart, and a little sense of control in a completely unpredictable situation that involves a lot of waiting. Just...waiting. :)

From just a bun in the oven...

my silly last second way of sharing our news with Joe...he came home early that day!

to almost fully "baked"...:)

 We cannot wait to meet our newest little addition!

5!

You got it. She is five and fabulous at it! This little lady of ours blows our minds every day. She is inquisitive--always wondering the why, how, when, where, and what...she loves to learn...she loves to take charge (especially when it comes to imaginative play--I can't ever seem to say the "right" lines for what she has envisioned for our storyline)...she is reading! (makes this mother of hers beam!)...drawing and coloring pictures for the people she loves the most is one of her very favorite things...she is thoughtful and considerate...gentle and maternal--the perfect little mother hen...she is ambitious--already planning her life when she grows up (she assures me that she'll visit us as much as she can, but she will have a house of her own! A pink and purple one, of course.) She is such a clever girl...responsible and an amazing helper! She will soon become the best big sisterx2 a person has ever seen and she could not be more ready for her newest role in our family. Also, in just a few short months, this little lady will be heading off to Kindergarten. An adventure that she is completely excited to begin. She's ready right? We've prepared her right? I'm not so sure I am ready for it....however, we are doing our best to raise her to be the best little person she can be so she can go out into a not so great world and be the light that others may need. I can see her now, taking quieter friends under her wing...trying new things and "never giving up"...taking charge and hopefully, hopefully standing up for herself. Although my heart constricts and my stomach tightens when I think of her being thrown in to a completely different setting, with brand new people from all walks of life, facing new challenges every single day...I am still excited for her. I need to be. She needs to face this knowing that we believe in her and that we know she'll be awesome at it. Enough about that...more to come on this topic as August approaches...I am sure of it!

Just as three sounds big for Gavin, five sounds just as big for our sweet Sydney. How is it possible that our lives can fly by so quickly? How is it fair that this time flies by so quickly? I've been trying really hard to take more TIME and make more memories with our kids. It's hard and I know I fail sometimes because dishes need put away or dinner needs to be fixed or we have dance class or somewhere else we need to be...but it is definitely a standing goal of mine, every single day. So when we were invited to go see a production of The Nutcracker with friends of ours, I jumped at the chance! How much more magical could this be?! How often do I get time with JUST Sydney? We were so excited. The little girls got all dolled up in their Christmas dresses, we had lunch, and an absolutely magical afternoon at the performance! Sydney still talks about it and we are looking forward to going back next year!

As for her celebration, she wanted a rainbow birthday party in the middle of December. :) Perfect and so fitting for our sweet and cheerful girl! Here are a few pictures of her special day!

  

 Preschool Christmas program!

 Letter from Santa!

 Playing in the snow...

 Feeding squirrels...one of her jobs!

 Happy birthday morning, sweet girl!

Where has the time gone?

It seems like only yesterday we welcomed our sweet, handsome little boy into this world. It doesn't seem that long ago that he was exploring his world from wherever we plopped him (the rug, the bouncy seat, the swing...)--so anxious to keep up with his big sister and figure out everything around him.

aah! our sweet little guy!

How is it possible that this same blue eyed boy is now almost three years old? THREE. It just sounds so grown up and big and independent. Having an "almost" three year old brings a lot of changes in to a household...here are just a few examples:

•  he seems to be developing more and more of an opinion about everything (what shirt he wears, what show he watches, what he eats for snack or lunch...)
• no longer does he wear diapers...which makes everything he wears make him look even more like a big boy
• we said "goodbye" to the pacifier and to be 100% honest...it is bittersweet that it was such an easy transition (luckily he will forever have his buddy "Dog" to keep him company at sleep-time...and to keep him little...)
• he'll be attending preschool. PRESCHOOL. This will happen in just a few short months.
• he can verbalize when he is mad at you and tell you exactly WHY he is mad at you (This statement comes complete with crossed arms, pouting lips, and upturned nose.)
• jokes and ornery smiles and silly faces are intentional now...he loves to make us laugh!
• phrases like "oh my gosh!", "I'm busy..." and "come on Moooommmm..." are an everyday occurrence that I only once imagined I would hear come out of his mouth
• he reads by himself, makes up words to cards, plays trains and trucks whenever he can
• he is soon to be a big brother and he will be awesome at it.

Along with all of these new changes, there are still things that he does that reassure this momma that he is still our little boy. He loves to snuggle and give hugs and kisses. He still calls for us when he needs something and he likes to hold our hand, rub our arm, or give us a little love pat. I am trying to soak all of these little moments up!

Yesterday we celebrated this sweet, almost 3 year old of ours. It was such a happy day, as we all packed in to our house to celebrate his special day a few weeks early (just in case Little Sis or Little Bro decides to make an early appearance). Here are a few pictures from his day!

 He wasn't really sure about the singing until we all said....

 "Happy birthday dear Gavin..." :)

 Wish big, sweet boy!

We love you!!