He's Back!

So at 4:56 today...Peter got back from Texas! He's been gone all week and we missed him so much! So, so appreciate all military families go through for all of us, (especially our favorite one in NC!) but wow, just a week is enough for me! He goes for a week about 4 times a year. But now - he's back! So appreciate my parents help this week. Between late meetings, dentist appointments, and my nerves at night, they were awesome! 

This is the most random awful picture, but here's how we huhh out this evening. Everybody HAD to be together. 

And yes, that plane was his surprise from daddy. And he is currently sleeping with it in his bed! 

See? Yay for Friday!!!

Thankful on Thursday

• Friday. Tomorrow is Friday. We are very excited for 4:56pm. ALL OF US!
• We are also very thankful for Grandma and Pa Pa F and their help!
• Here’s the biggest thankful that I alluded to yesterday. We had the most random bizarre 2 or so inches of snow yesterday morning. It started snowing around 5:30am. Too late to call anything for school. And no one thought it would stick anyway. I had a training on the other side of the county, so I dropped the kids off at daycare and started driving. No big deal, right? Um, wrong, so wrong. I guess with the perfect timing and perfect temperature and some other crazy mix of stuff – the roads were awful. There was a moment where the traction light warning came on in the car – I didn’t even know what that was! There was a moment where I thought okay, well, if I crash now I’ll run into that embankment there and I’m not going that fast so I’ll probably be okay. I was SO thankful the kids weren’t in the car. A person a few cars in front of me was going WAY too slow, so it actually made it worse. Anyway, after I got off that one road they actually ended up shutting it down for a few hours. Uh, yeah. Wild. FOUR school buses in our county had accidents. And then two hours later – poof, gone, everything fine.

FRIDAY people! Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!! Do you know why we are super-di-dooper excited? You’ll see!

Win.

Today was one of those days for Logan that he knocked it out of the park. 

We had a happy morning, win (um, mine was a little wild but we will cover that inthankfuls tomorrow). 

We had the sweetest little ride to the dentist, just me and him. Cute conversation where at one point he said, "I agree." When he says such grown up things it just floors me. Win. 

Awesome dentist appointment. The kid rocks the dentist. Always has. But that's because he's my compliant with adults kid. Talk to me in August after Aubrey goes! But anyway, passed with flying colors. Went to the treasure box! Got a Jake toothbrush in his goodie bag, just by chance. Win. 

Then it was off to swim, just him and I. He was doing really well and them I saw his coach smile really big, then they called for me...he graduated to level 5!!! This level has been foreeeevvvvver. We knew it would be because there are lots of skills. But I was so proud! And he was over the moon happy. And there was bell ringing and another treasure box trip. Win. 

(Um, another shameless SwimKids plug. Best.lessons.ever)

So I'm not quite sure how we move forward after this fabulous day, what can compare? TWO treasure boxes in one day?  

We're just aiming for the end of the week here. That's the next treasure at this point! 

Cool Cats

I feel like that's probably supposed I be "kool Katz" but I'm not that cool. 

Here they are...in their finest!

I want to squeeze him forever he is so cute!!!

Cool girls wear their sunglasses upside down apparently. 

Yes, we take our fun where we can get it! 

Video Bonanza

Do you know what we did this weekend? We played. A lot. OUTSIDE! We soaked up some major vitamin D. It was in the 60’s both days. Do you know what I didn’t do? Take pictures! The horror! I’m annoyed with my phone pictures. I feel like if the kids move at all they’re blurry (ahem, what the heck iPhone 5? I don’t feel like it was like this before the update, if anyone has advice…). So I don’t whip out the camera as much. But hey, we had FUN! That’s all that counts, right?

So anyway, here are a few videos that I’ve accumulated over the past few weeks.

Here’s Logan at swim. The funniest part of this is the other kid that keeps jumping in the pool, so the instructor keeps going back to the wall. I had to laugh. He’s hysterical. But hey! My kid swims, alone! And this isn’t even the best, at all!

L swims

I just don’t even know what this crazy girl is doing here, it’s a whole lot of random Aubrey. She is stubborn – as you’ll see here. And oh how we love her so!

Logan invented this really cool simple machine today. Because that’s what we do now apparently. He did this totally and completely on his own, I promise. And this is really not the best launch at all, some were super high. Love it!

Launch

We have crazy fun around here people. Crazy!

Thankful on Thursday

It's 11:36 on a weeknight. I'm thankful for a bed. And pillow. And the start of a clean house. 

That is all. I just couldn't go without a Thankful post!

Port Discovery

After a very rough weekend I was determined to end on a high note. I’ve been wanting to take the kids to Port Discovery in Baltimore. It’s an hour and a half drive, but I had heard it was very worth it. Turns out, it definitely was! This was a trip I couldn’t do by myself (you’ll see why), so my mom went with us (Peter had to work on President’s Day). We were so glad to have her along. The kids did awesome in the car (without any extra toys or anything – lots of talk and some naps) and we were the first ones there when they opened at 9:30. Seriously, first in the door!

I started taking pictures with the good camera, but it was just too much, so I turned to the phone.

There was a gas station, car,  and supermarket (everything pretend of course).

Aubrey counted the apples when she put them in the basket just like I do when they’re with me at the store. I thought it was hilarious!

So here’s why my mom had to go with us. The GIANT climbing structure. Aubrey wasn’t big enough for it, and of course it’s pretty much all Logan wanted to do. It was huge and there were exits all over the structure. When it wasn’t very crowded I let Logan go on his own because I could see him. Then it got crazy and I went with him. Yep. Me. On that. Totally.

There was a giant soccer field!

A big water room, which was a total hit with the kids (they have raincoats you can wear if you want).

A diner where they served Grandma (and she saved Aubrey from eating plastic fries!).

A construction zone…

And about 15 of these scary bridges attached to the climbing structure that Logan kept wanting to go across.

There were a TON of other things I didn’t take pictures of (can you believe it?) and wow, would I recommend this place. My only regret is that we didn’t get a family membership while we were there (2 visits a year would pay for it). So, so, so much fun. We are so glad Grandma F could go with us! We’ve promised Peter he can go next time.

So yes. A fun end to the crazy weekend. We needed it!

Randoms

Could we please discuss the fact that I'm pretty sure this is the most bizarre winter since 2010? We had Christmas break. Great. Then we had a 6 day break because of snow for MLK Day. Now we've had a 5 day weekend due to snow +Presidents Day. And I wonder why we feel out of the routine???

Anyway, we had a fun adventure today, but I have to get some pictures off the camera to do a blog on it. So instead let's do a very small phone dump. 

Most people have seen this from Facebook, but this is how out crazy Aubrey sleeps now, surrounded. From the mommy who allowed literally NOTHING in the crib, this is pretty funny! As long as she sleeps, I'll allow it!

We made snow cream during the snow days. I do realize we probably ate acid rain and squirrel pee, but it was delicious. 

This is what Aubrey did when she opened her card from Grandma and Pa Pa F and found money. Ran with it. 

Logan built a 3 Bears house today and then proceeded to retell the entire story of Goldilocks. Which we've never read here, but he has read at school. Want to make your teacher mommy happy? Do a story retell. It's an awesome skill and I think he thought I was out of my mind with my excitement, which may be why he has a crazy face! 

What, you can't tell that's a bear's house? 

I suppose it's time for this break to end. It's been a roller coaster of ups and downs. Glad we ended on a high note!

Better.

Today was a better day. Aubrey slept last night (while coughing, so it means I didn’t sleep as well, but she slept and I got to stay in my bed – I’ll take it!). Abby is eating well. She even sat by Aubrey tonight! I am no longer hiving out. Grandma and Pa Pa F took the kids for a couple hours this afternoon so I got some cleaning done. Better!

And now, my pride and joy from the past week. Friday night, before Aubrey got sick, I got a picture of both of my children. TOGETHER! It’s possible that I bribed them. But mission accomplished! Please excuse the fact that Logan has Baked Cheetoh stuff on his face. He and Aubrey got a special Valentine’s dinner, baked Cheetohs included (Fine, fine dining here people. But they don’t get chips often, so to them it is SO special!). But you know, other than that…love.

Um, love.

Okay, trying a little too hard here..but still, love it!

Yep. About as good as it gets here!

Here’s to the start of a better week. If it snows again, I am going to lose my mind here people! I am so ready for spring and being able to go to a DRY playground!!!

Weird Weekend

So we were supposed to celebrate a little boy's birthday in PA this weekend. Then it snowed. And snowed more. And snowed more. But I still thought okay, maybe. 

Then there was this. 

That's our Abby, at the emergency vet on Friday morning (our vet was still closed due to snow). When we woke up she had gotten sick...everywhere. Then more. And was so, so not herself. Not going to the bathroom, not eating, not "talking" to us, not even running from children. 

So I took her in and yep, there went the trip. Such is life in a family, right? We knew we couldn't leave her like that, and not knowing. Plus the snow. 

Turns out she had pancreatitis. No clue as to why. Could be something her body just did, something she ate, or even a tumor. They'll recheck her in 2 weeks to see if it's decreased. Till then we have to keep an eye in her, let her rest, and feed special food (oh how I hate wet cat food). 

Then last night? Aubrey was up 7 times. I'm not even exaggerating. She is usually a super sleeper so I knew it was bad. She got a yucky cold super fast and just could not sleep. Ugh. So we had all that fun today too. She was in a crudddddy mood. And it snowed more! I am done with the white stuff I tell you! Done! 

Anyway, we are trying to keep our heads up here! I did Valentines breakfast before we realized how bad Abby was, and it was pretty cute. 

(Pancakes and apples)

Then I started hiving out when I took Abby to the vet, because well, stress, animal hair, all my favorite things! 

Can you see it starting up there in the corner? Got a lot worse after that.  Um, Andplusalso turns out I had a hairband around my neck with barrettes attached to it the WHOLE time I was in there. Because I put it on upstairs so I could put it in my hair later and then I DIDN'T. So I'm sure they thought I was all kinds of crazy. Add in no makeup and whew! Shannon, for the win!

So I say uncle, and am ready for a quieter rest of the weekend. Because, you know, that would be awesome! 

Please and thank you. 

Thankful on Thursday

Snow! Real snow! Today that's what I'm thankful for. 

I'm thankful for a day of snuggles and taking our time. 

I'm thankful that nobody had to even attempt to drive on our street today. 

I'm thankful that school is of course already closed tomorrow. 

I'm thankful that while our weekend plans look like they might have to be cancelled, E knows we are just big chickens over snow and driving and can laugh at is and also understand. 

I'm thankful for neighbors to make outside time more fun. 

Good day. Good stuff. 

This is our back deck. We got about 12 inches (more tonight). 

Aubrey was not a fan. She could not figure it how to walk in it. And without shoveling her a path I couldn't either! 

Logan on the other hand. He approved. 

Aubrey was hating it. And Logan wanted to play. And we needed to shovel. So I put a bunch of snow in the water table right inside the garage and she LOVED it. 

She was so happy she did all the shoveling for us! 

Enough for today. Plenty more out there for tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday: Mail Call!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa K! 

Superheroes and princesses - heaven!