Hair With Friends and Roller Girls

I was startled out of sleep this morning. I felt some one watching me.
I opened my eyes to see Chloe's eyes peering back at me! 
She was inches away from my face.
Chloe stated, "Mom...Today and I keeping my roller skates on. I am rolling all day long!"
Grace chimed in," Meeeeee Too!"
Then the phone rang...8:20?!
It rang again...8:22...8:24...8:26.
I ignored them all. I wasn't awake enough to talk to anyone.
Where was my coffee?
The cell phone rang!!
DAMN IT!! That means it's important.
I pick up....Addison's best friend's MOm is on the line.
She asks if Addi can spend the day being treated to a hair style at the salon and lunch, followed by shopping.
Me: Ofcourse. When would you like her ready?
Debbie: We're outside of your house send her out.
(WHAT??!!)
I looked out the window in disbelief. There they were in the car.
Me: Deb, she isn't dressed yet.
Deb: That's ok...We'll wait.
Me: Oh, Ok.
(Is it just me or was this really strange?!...But, ok...whatever floats your boat.)
30 minutes later and Addi was out the door, English Muffin in hand.

It was roller derby time!


They rolled on and on and on!
Our poor dog is such a good sport.
He was pushed and tugged all morning and went with "the flow."

I made a picnic on the go and packed it all into Gracie's magenta, leopard back pack.
I was stylin'!
We were going on an afternoon adventure...
...a twenty five minute roll to our friend's house.
The girls were super psyched.
This was the first time that I was crossing major roads and intersections with them. I had thought about it the other day but big sister Addison isn't ready for the challenge yet.
Grace and Chlo Chlo have logged far more road time.
Addison is more of a rink girl.
She and I will practice on the road. We can steady each other as we fall!

My road warriors and I were off.
Dylan and Cody here we come!
Chloe fell on her butt five times. She confidently, cruised and the cracks got her every time! My poor speed demon.
"Step on a crack and you break ...Chloe's butt!"

The last fall was a doozie.

Chloe cried for what felt like an eternity.

I plopped down on a stranger's lawn to soothe her.
Gracie patted her head and smoothed her hair. She's such a great sister. Full of compassion.

Cars slowed to watch the Mom with injured child on the side of the road.
Chlo calmed down and continued on the path to our friend's house...This time holding my hand tightly and rubbing her butt with the other.
Put... Put... Put... went Grace.
She is always the cautious sister. Gracie slowed at every bump and crack...never wanting to fall like her little sister, unsure of the new terrain.
"Chloe I stay on the smooth parts...Seeeeeeeee!! You should follow me!!" - always preaching.

My children are so funny.

We made it...sweaty hands, bruised butts and all. 

The girls were ready for lunch and bouncing with the boys.
They have a trampoline.
If I get my way, we'll have one by the end of the school year! I'm working Jim over daily. He's worried about liability. I say stop being an attorney for just a little while and jump with us! It's fun for the whole family and a great work out too! Plus...we'll get lots of "cool points" with the kids...that can't hurt.

They bounced.
They fell.
They piled on top of each other.
It was boys verse girls for a while.

They chased and crashed into each other some more.
Tons of fun.

I had a few minutes of adult conversation with Dylan and Cody's babysitter.
She's wonderful.
Then the kids begged for me to jump too.
I never turn down a bouncing session. I'm a bigger kid than they are sometimes.
They piled on me!
I was dared to bounce them higher.
I did.

They fell time after time and loved it.
The boys and girls separated.---Typical at ages five and six.
This is one of the reasons that they don't appear in my photos!!
DRAT...Every time that I wanted to snap a pic of the little boogers they were running away from me.
They were too fast for the little "point and shoot" that I carried in the leopard bag today.
Dylan and Cody, along with their cousin played ball.
I should say they batted.
Balls were flying high into the air and landing all over the yard!
I'm not used to boy play!
I thought that it was kind of funny...I kept this to myself because Melissa was not amused.
She has the patience of a saint and calmly requested that they "please stop"...over and over and over again.
Her two charges listened... Their cousin was another story!
His bat was taken away after hitting rocks, poles and the hammock.
Then they were back to bouncing with my girls.
I am a girlie mom. I wouldn't know what to do with a boy.
He would be very loved and...very gay? 


I think that Grace and Chloe are sure to be exhausted tonight.
For Melissa and their parent's sakes I hope that Dylan and Cody are wiped out too!

Today is gymnastics day.

Hip hip hooray for Chloey Oh!!! Our Tiny has been promoted!
Coaches continually approached me and congratulated me and Chlo, telling me that she was:
"fantastic"
"advancing beautifully"
"doing things that only she and one other girl at her level could do"- Asking me if "I had seen her back bend into a back "something or other."...I can't remember the name, but I saw it!
Chloe will be on the Gold Mini Team.
Now we will be there two days a week rather than one.
It looks like I'll be crazy gymnastics Mom rather than a crazy one with a soccer ball stuck on her car.
It was a proud moment. I'm happy that Tiny has found something that she loves to do.
That comes first.
Apparently this is a big deal. I had no idea. That is second.
(Note to Self...Next week be super excited if approached by coaches)

I had a "check in call" from Addi. She was having a good time and would see me at gymnastics, just before her class. (Sounded good to me.)

This whole "blow out thing" is something that I never do...not with out a hair cut first anyway. Hopefully, Addi won't expect me to spoil her with salon shampoos and blow outs in the near future.
Got news... a wash will be in our kitchen sink and the blow out will be by me.
My Addi love is going to meet us at gymnastics.
Hopefully she'll have something to eat with her friend as promised.
Addi and her buddy are joined at the hip.
Thanks to fate I'm joined at her Mama's hip...like it or not!
Mom is a really nice person...just a little unconventional.
Who am I to talk, right?!
I should say that we have completely different parenting styles.
Hopefully she doesn't give my daughter a grande cappuccino instead of food. 
I know, crazy...but believe me, it could happen.

Time to put the ipad away and pay attention to my little ones as they tumble. I don't want to fall in a Bad Mommy Ditch and get caught by my daughters!!

PS...Chloe rolled into gymnastics as promised. She was mad at Grace for about two minutes. Grace didn't stick with the program!

Addi's hair was shiny, straight and lovely. She's got the best hair in the family to begin with...pampering makes it that much more lustrous. ----AND SHE ATE REAL FOOD! YAY!!!
I missed my oldest...even though she wouldn't stop complaining about the way her gymnastics outfit fit her and that it was too tight! (It's actually fine.)

Hop to It! Easter Came and Went.

 The kids bounded through the yard on sugar highs all day and night. Easter was a big hit!
On Saturday the girls had voted. They decided that they had "plenty of dresses to wear that were great." I was relieved that one task could be scratched off of my list of Bunny tasks. At the same time mixed Mommy emotions reared their heads. This would be the first year that new frills wouldn't be worn.
- One of many signs that our babies are getting older.

The morning was an average. Jim did his errands with Gracie in tow. She had a party to go for a boy dubbed as "mean and a bully." You might ask why she was going if the boy wasn't nice to her. I asked the same question.

Here is testament to my child's angelic heart and old soul.
Gracie's response: "I would feel badly if nobody went to his party. That would probably make him really sad. That wouldn't be nice. You should be happy at your birthday party."
I will again say, that age six, my daughter is a better person than I could ever hope to be. I pray that her spirit holds fast. I was in awe of her.
Not only was Grace doing a good deed but she took the opportunity to ask Jim to come with her. She asked her Daddy saying "that it would be the perfect time for a Daddy date and they needed a date."
How could anyone ever say no to that?! Jim was wrapped around her little finger.

That was their afternoon.
Mine was different.
I was off to a gymnastics make up session with Addi and Chloe. This is not the way that the three of us wanted to spend a gorgeous afternoon. This was an after effect of the dreaded stomach bug. When you miss a day you have to be responsible and make up the time. Those gymnasts...ever resilient and responsible. Unfortunately, this means that Moms and Dads have make up time in the waiting room. Two hours of no wi-fi and strangers?! Grace's party with "the mean boy" sounded like a blast in comparison.

The girls complained about gymnastics until their coaches called them in. Jim called me in a panic. Gracie was ready to wimp out.
Jim: What should I do? She says that she changed her mind.
Me: What do you mean? I don't know. I'm here. You have to take this one.
Jim: Oh thanks. I don't know what to do. I called you.
Me: (thinking, what a cop out) I'm not the one with her. How is she acting? Is she really serious? You're with her. You have to gauge this and decide what to do.
Jim: Great. I'll figure it out. Bye.
Me: Bye...Love you.
...and that was that. Everyone was where they should be and complaining about it.

JOY.

BY 3 PM THERE WERE HIGH SPIRITS ALL AROUND.

We were all home.
Chloe had her roller skates on.
Jim was doing yard work.
My guy's favorite spring hobby is to rebuild our front lawn.
Eight seasons of not-so-great lawn experiences and his determination hasn't wavered.
WE WILL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LAWN NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.
...NO MATTER HOW MANY BAGS OF FERTILIZER HAVE TO BE USED.
...NO MATTER HOW MANY FOOTBALL FIELDS WORTH OF SEED HAVE TO BE SPREAD.
...NO MATTER HOW MANY ARGUMENTS WE HAVE WITH THE NEIGHBOR ABOUT OUR SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
...NO MATTER HOW MANY FENCES WE HAVE TO BUILD TO AVOID THESE ARGUMENTS! (and we have built fences)

Grace and Chloe jumped at the chance to help with the yard work.

Addi declined. She had better things to do with her time. The DSi was calling. Pets had to be rescued and fed and given weird names. Ahhhhh...the life of a fourth grader. So stressful.

Chloe was true to form.
She raked.
She weeded.
She picked up piles of grass.

...all in her roller skates!!

When she outgrows them I'm having them bronzed. (I hope they still do that somewhere.)

Grace had her own style when it came to yard work.
She is more meticulous by nature.
Gracie peered across the front lawn.
THEN!
AHA!
"IT'S NOT EVEN. THERE ARE SOME TALLER SPOTS THAT NEED TO BE TRIMMED!
I GOT IT!!!"...then she ran into the house.

Jim and I exchanged knowing smiles. We knew exactly what Grace intended on doing.

Gracie Sklyar emerged.
...scissors in hand.
...ready to trim the grass!

After great efforts made by my trio the front yard looked worse than it had before. - It is now a work in progress. Supposedly, amazing grass will grow where there is now turned over soil and freshly scattered seed.  MY FINGERS ARE CROSSED. Can you cross yours too and knock on some wood for me?? Maybe do a rain dance or two while you're at it?

By 6:00 pm we were ready for round #2 of egg making and bundt cake baking.
Jim tells me that only fat people make bundt cakes.
I disagree.
I've never heard it deemed the fat cake nor do I care.
The pan was a pretty shade of turquoise and a really cool shape.
I had to have it!
Spring bundt cake here we come!
The girls thought that it was super cool and dubbed it "the big donut."
They also repeated BUNDT like parrots all night and into the next day. It's a funny word!

By 7:00 pm we were done with our eggs. Tonight's dozen were gold rubbed and painted. My kitchen table and fingers are now gold rubbed and painted too.
I hope that we cane eat all of these! Eggs will be a constant snack for the next week and will most likely reappear in lunch boxes. This is the price we pay for going overboard with holiday fun.
It could be worse.
The theme of the evening became egg naming.
Chloe named the lone brown, organic one, with the smiley face drawn on "Stinky."
Grace called her white, markered egg "Curley Coo-Coo."
Addison named her favorite purple egg "Shiny."
They acted as if their egg buddies were dolls.
Pet Rock people beware! Stinky, Curley Coo-Coo and Shiny could replace you!


The kids fell asleep with a babysitter. Jim and I went out for coconut martinis and whiskey. I'm the martine. He's the whiskey. They were all tucked into their beds when we arrived home and our sitter gave us a stellar report and told us how much she had missed them and was glad that I had called her. I'm so happy that other people like my kids! It makes life that much simpler.

11:30pm....EASTER BUNNY TIME!!

I made sure that Stinky, Curley Coo-Coo and Shiny weren't rolling around the house somewhere.
They made it into the fridge with their siblings.
One more thing to worry about...
I fear that smelly eggs (not Stinky) will be found hiding at Christmas time.

Out from the closet with the baskets.
Up from the basement office with the goodies.
Bing.
Bang.
Boom.
Toss it all in.
Label a few items with the appropriate names in order to avoid fights  and "stuff" confusion.
Fill a dozen plastic eggs and pile high on the table.
...label them too.
...four for each kiddo.
Ready for a glass of wine and some HGTV.

The bunny stuck with Easter straw as basket filler this year. I'll be cleaning this up and finding it under furniture until Christmas.

The girls and I went to church today...minus a sleepy Daddy. He had a mission, assigned by me. Jim was on egg duty.
It was his job to stash  eggs in the front yard.
Now that the kids are older and wiser this was the only eggy option without them being "up our butts" and figuring it all out.
The days of Grandma and Grandpa distractions are over.
Jim wasn't at all upset by this. He went back to sleep.
I threw a note in his direction with his "orders" on it.
We gave kisses all around and were on our way to the 11am service.
We arrived at church with five minutes to spare.
An usher, ushered us to a pew.
We were obviously seated in the "family zone."
...next to a nice couple with infant twins.

They were lucky that Chloe, the sweet one was next them.
Their baby girl kept on grabbing for Chloe's new stuffed chick. She had begged for it for weeks and the Bunny was so awesome that he put one in her basket!
The baby swiped it, slobbered on it and threw it.
Chloe smiled at her, turned to me and said, "Mommy, I think she wants my chickie."
The other Mom looked nervous.
Chloe looked at her and said," It's ok."
Sigh of relief. This woman is a newbie. She has no idea how lucky she is to be dealing with  "the right sister!"
The chick was tossed about for the length of the service. Chloe seemed flattered. Addi was incredibly worried about the chick. "Will they take it home? Why doesn't Chloe care? Isn't she worried?"
It was cute.
My thoughts.
A miracle in church. How fitting.

Service was over and we made our way to "Buster." (aka the Pastor...this is what the congregation has called him since Addi mistakingly labeled him at age two. The name stuck.)
Buster hugged me, kissed my cheek, squeezed my shoulders and said,"So good to see you and the girls here. Two weeks in a row!"
We aren't regulars. I'll get there weekly some day.

Onward! THE DELI WAS WAITING.

Perfect timing on our part. Great minds think alike. We pulled into the lot and parked next to Jim's truck!
The kids ran inside screaming their usual cries of "Daaaaaddyyy!!!!"
They jumped on him.
He almost fell over.
They jumped on him again and again.
Egg sandwiches all around and a specialty hero for Gracie. (She is a Monte Christo girl.)

NOW...ONTO THE GOOD STUFF!

The bunny put new dresses into the baskets amongst the chocolate and jelly beans...sneaky bunny.
Grace commented: Mom..How does the Bunny know what we like? My dress is perfect for me. Chloe's dress is perfect for her and he knew that Addi hates her underwear so he got her pretty ones! Maybe the Bunny isn't a bunny.
-I momentarily panicked. Had she figured it out?! Grace would be the first to crack the code...very fitting.
I looked the other way for a moment so that she wouldn't see the panic streaked across my face and the fear in my eyes.
Kids are like dogs...They sniff out fear and lies.
Grace continued: Maybe the bunny is a person that watches us all the time.
-I thought: Little do you know, baby...the bunny does live with you!
-I said: Baby...that's a little creepy.
Gracie giggled. I  giggled too.
We smiled at each other.
Gracie said: Yeah. I guess it is weird!
-SAFE...for now!

We made it home. Grace and Chloe decorated the Bundt cake on the front porch. It was beautiful.

The rest of the day was calm. It was just the five of us with a quick visit from my Nana.
She prefers to be known as Nana S. from Greenlawn...very Shakespearean of her.
She is definitely of another era.
Nana's visit was lovely.
She focused on the disfunctionality of our relatives, including my cousin's new, drunk girlfriend and the relative normalcy of my household.
She's a riot!

We ate lamb...The kids disliked it.
-That's ok. They tried it.

 Addi pretended to fly with my umbrella.

We went for a walking roll around the block afterwards.
We ate our bundt cake.
Jim liked it!!!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
Look who's eating "the fat cake" now!
We relaxed...
The kids bounced off of the walls until 10:30pm...literally!
Sugar, Sugar...SUUUUUUGGGGAAAAAAAAR!!!!
I passed out again.
Sorry to my honey. Someday I will stay up long enough for us to have alone time.

Happy Easter Everyone. Bunny hugs to all.

Breaking into Spring Break

The first two days of Spring break were a little crazy. I should say, I felt crazed! I needed Thursday to unwind and get out of work/teacher mode and into VACA. MODE.
This normally isn't an issue.
I don't know what my deal was.
We lazed around until 10am.
It was a morning of eggs, bacon, toast and the HUB. I am not normally a TV Mom. My kids can often be heard telling others that "TV is bad for your brain."
This is a direct Mommy quote.
I'm proud that my girls are earnest believers of this.
Jim thinks that it's un-American. He turns the tube on as soon as he walks in the door. He uses the TV as background noise...as if we don't have enough of that already.
I'm not against ALL TV. I limit it. We have favorite shows that get io'ed and watched weekly. My girls and I never skip an episode of Once Upon a Time or The Voice.
Friday has also been deemed movie night. If it's been a good week we either go see a movie in the theatre or order one "on demand." It's an evening filled with tons of popcorn, ice cream and arguments over movie choices.
--- Fun all around.
 I usually play referee.
What else am I for, right?!

Thursday morning the kids played with their dolls quietly. It was a miracle!
...Are they really my kids?
...Did aliens invade and replace my kids with droids?
It was real and I was able to sleep until 8am...truly unbelievable.

The HUB is my favorite channel.
If you don't know it...find it.
Old school family classics and cartoons, 24/7...perfect.
I have no qualms about my children watching Tom and Jerry hit each other with frying pans or fight to save/eat little Tweety Bird.
It's stupidity like Sponge Bob Square Pants, that I can't tolerate...Sorry to all of you Sponge Bob fans out there.
Mindless, make believe violence, between cats and dogs I can handle...nature at its best.
...purely mindless, I can't.
...getting to the point...It was a HUB morning.

Then I was off and running. This was another time where I Thanked God for our au pair, aka taxi, aka side kick, Julia. I had three and a half hours to scramble like a lunatic and become the Easter Express!

THE LIST

* 6 chocolate bunnies (1 dark, 1 German, and 4 "normal")
* Basket grass
* Basket plastic wrap...Oh I  almost forgot...It's called cello wrap.What can I say, I'm not an elementary art teacher...These things escape me.
*  Candy, candy and more candy! That's what the kiddos look forward too...I normally limit sweets too. I know, I'm a Mommy Monster.
* A toy or two for each basket...I'm thinking Summer/ beach stuff.
* Anything else that will act as filler! (Last year "the bunny" brought roller skates and filled them with candy. The year before he ditched the messy, grass and filled the baskets with ballerina skirts...clever, little bunny)
*A trip to The Pork Store...This is the only place to get the German bunny. Jim is on a very specific chocolate kick.
* Pick up the lamb...or be in deep crap with the hubby. I know nothing about selecting decent meat. Wish me luck.
* An Easter dress for me because I deserve something nice to wear to church that isn't two sizes too big, faded because of age or permanently stained.
* Easter dresses for the girls. They love their dresses!
* Pick up Miss Grace from play date #1 at 1pm.
* Drop the social butterfly off at play date #2 by 2pm.

THE AFTER HOURS LIST

* Clean house
* Make dinner
*Take down Summer clothes from the attic and begin to sort into 3 kid friendly piles! SLAVE WORK...If you've been there you know that it is pure torture for everyone.

We sort.
The kids are forced to try it all on.
It goes well at first...whining happens...you resort to nods of approval or grunts of disapproval...
Whining happens again...head is now throbbing...more whining...head throbs in places that you didn't know it could...
The house looks like the laundry monster puked all over it.
Hell on Earth...This is no joke.
The bright side. We save a fortune on clothing. Hand me downs are the way to go...vintage is cool.

Can I do it? Straight from Bob the Builder...Yes I can!
...because I don't have a choice!!!

EIGHT HOURS LATER...I'm sitting with Jim and Julia. We are eating chocolate and sharing a bottle of wine. Aaaaahhhhhhh.

I managed to accomplish most of my goals...
Minus the Pork Store, the dark chocolate bunny and the dresses for the girls.
Those have been bumped.
They are Friday morning's problems now.

FRIDAY...

Here's my minute to minute report.

- Up at 7:40 am...Thank you kids for letting me sleep again. Mommy loves you dearly.
- 8:10 am ...off to the bank. I need $$ to spend.
- 8:30 am...I walked 20 min. to the hair salon and got a fresh cut.
- 9:20 am...Walked to the train station and swiped the Trailblazer from it's usual parking spot. I count on Jim's predictability so often. Love ya honey!
- Headed for the wholesale store in search of dresses. They have beautiful, girlie dresses...Who knew?! Lucked out...nothing in Addi's size.
- I spent $$ that I didn't need to on stuff that we don't need. I realized this in retrospect...of course.
- 10:30 am... Headed to Target, home of holiday dresses...No luck again!!
- Made it home in time for Julia to catch a train to NYC. the lucky girl is off to Miami for a week with an au pair friend. You'll hear more about this in another blog. Stay tuned! It's bound to be a good read. Full of youth hostiles and stories of inexperienced, young people.
- Attempted to buy roller skates...not blades. The kids say that I need to roll with them! Stay tuned for more on that as well. It's been 10 years since I've "rolled" anywhere!
- 4 pm... Alexis is picked up. I watched my friend's little girl for the evening. AKA...impromptu play date.

This was more than I had expected. It was a full day's energy packed into 3 hours! Little Alexis was a ball of bouncing energy! I love this kid to pieces, but man, I was wiped out after her visit. Did she eat chocolate before she came over? I don't know yet...her Mom is on a recon mission at the moment and in the process of Dad interrogations.

- I boiled eggs (for decorating) and cooked Aunt Annie's Cheesie Bunnies and corn for dinner... (The bunny action continues.)

- 7 pm... Jim walks in the door early!! I love it!! The girls loved it too. "DADDDDDYYY!!!" was shouted as he crossed the threshold...such a lucky guy.

- I dropped Alexis off at 7:20 and was on my way home to DECORATE EGGS!

LATE NIGHT...

We made funtastic eggs! They are vibrant. They are kooky, unique, splashed with swirls and glittering with gold.
Shortly after, Chloe had enough.
The day was done!
It was melt down time.
Every syllable was stretched a mile and followed by whining and tears.
The "soft nigh-night" was cuddled close to her elfin, little body.
Chloe begged for Lord of the Rings to be put on..."in Mommy and daddy's room, the one where Shmigle becomes Shmigle."
THERE IT WAS.
THE ULTIMATE CLUE.
LORD OF THE RINGS!
...Chloe's perfect end to a long day.

That's how it ended.
The five of us crammed into our bed, as we've done so many nights before.
We watched Chloe's favorite movie.
There was grumbling about being too smooshed but that died away with exhaustion.
The kids dropped off one by one.
Within 20 minutes Addi and Chloe were "out."
Gracie lasted an hour.
I lasted an hour and ten minutes! Jim tried to bribe me with a cold glass of my favorite white wine.
Two sips later and I was passed out!
...just label me one of the kids.
Mommy had a busy day.


SATURDAY... 8 am. I opened the fridge.

There sat my glass of white wine, covered tightly with saran wrap.
Let the weekend roll on!
Easter here we come!


*Photos from our walk were taken by Addison. (except for the one with her in it!)
*The portrait of "me" was taken by Chloe.
*The blue dinosaur was photographed by Chloe.
*All other images were photographed by "me."
*The window was photographed by Chloe.

Here are some more photos of our Easter  Eggstravaganza!!

Lightning, Lightning, Lightning!!

Our "boy" is three! It's true... Lightning is no longer a teenager.
We love our boy sooooo much.
Our family trips on him every morning.
He doesn't move.
He doesn't make a sound.
He plants himself in the middle of the kitchen floor as we all make mad dashes to flee the house on time.
We nudge.
He refuses to move.

Lightning lazes about the house all afternoon.
He plants himself in the sunny spots of the floor...like a dog twice his age.
Although he's a lab...he's no fool.
Our boy conserves his energy.

He knows that he'll need it to run wild with his three sisters when they get home from school!

Lightning is showered with love...even though he has been known to nosh on favorite toys and hair clips.
Today, his special day, he was given extra special attention.
Lightning was the talk of the house.

"We need to play with the birthday boy!"- "Where is he??"- "Lightning is 3!!!"
"Be really nice to Lightning...It's his birthday!," reminded Gracie.
"Mom, I'm going for a walk to tell my friends that it's Lightning's birthday!!...Bye!," shouted Addi.
"We need to make Lightning a special dinner with three bacon candles," said Chloe.

Today Lightning played tug and catch in the yard all afternoon. The kids exhausted him! Unfortunately he didn't tire them out.
The girls are bursting with energy this evening. It is, after all, the first night of Spring Break and one day closer to Easter. Gracie has been counting down. She is our calendar girl...eagerly checking off boxes and keeping track of monumental events. At six Grace is more organized than I will ever be!

While Addi and Grace were out with the other neighborhood kids Chloe sat on the floor with our pup. She had made him a special dinner (with a little Mommy help). Chloe is forever thoughtful. A truly generous soul.

-Scrambled eggs
-Cheese
-Sliced hot dogs

...topped with 3 Beggin' Strips.

What more could a dog ask for?
Lightning was confused. He sniffed it...stared at it...and didn't touch it!
Chloe was confused. She thought that she had made it wrong.
Then...
Problem solved!
Chloe had decided that it needed to be stirred. That should do the trick!
"It didn't look like dog food," she said.
The stirring did the trick.
The bowl was licked clean.
I congratulated Chloe on a job well done.
This is why she's Lightning's best friend. Chloe knows him better than any of us.
Jim always jokes that she smells like our dog...she cuddles with him so much.

Grace and Chloe are now fast asleep.
Addi is wedged up against me, ready to pass out.
Lightning is resting in his favorite 10pm spot...
...his body is on top of Jim's slippered feet.
Jim complains about this but I know that he secretly loves it.
The day that Lightning stops is the day that Jim will announce that there's "something wrong with him."
It's my turn to snuggle now.
It was a good day.
Happy birthday Lightning.
Sweet dreams everyone.

The Bunny...and Other Stuff!

The wind died away and left us basking in the warmth of the sun.

Easter is drawing near. I am unprepared. This is unusual. I typically have all of the goodies, bunny trinkets and baskets stuffed and hidden away by now.

This is proof that 2012 falls into the category of whirlwind.
I don't mean this to be a negative statement.
If teaching and being active with my children, while trying desperately to maintain some kind of order amongst the chaos of my home is "whirlwind"...

I say: Give it to me any day.

We have been celebrating Spring.
What better way to do this than to be out in it?!
We have gone on bunny hunts. It might be too early for this, but our neighborhood is a bunny breeding ground! The little fuzzy guys can be found hopping from yard to yard all Spring and Summer.
My children always leave treats for animals at the foot of our Giving Tree. It's the old oak in our front yard. It gives our little green house shade during the summer and helps the little critters of 4th Street year round.
The garden is bursting with baby buds and a beautiful garden sign, handcrafted by Gracie.
The window box that hangs from our porch rail has a lovely window. Yes, Chloe has given the window box it's own window, complete with yard view.
Addi has been diligently training Lightning as if readying him for a grand circus.
He's a happy boy. I don't think that our dog has ever been bribed with this many treats before.
I love the way that my children perceive the world.
I love my job as Mom.

I get to keep the magic alive!

There is time for me to play Easter Bunny.
---PS...Please don't breathe a word of this to my girls. Thankfully all three of my lovelies are still believers.

Now, Off to gymnastics we go!

The Evil Villain Mom and The Architect Strike Again!

Do you see the bear?
He has a secret.
This cuddly, fluffy, mushy guy is an agent.
He is a teddy with a mission!
According to his boss...
...One, Miss Addison, Covert Ops. Agent...
He is meant to guard a treasure.
Addison's treasure is sought out by many and MUST be well protected.
Theives come in many shapes and sizes.
The top offenders are Secret Agent Grace, Secret Agent Chloe and the Evil Villain Mom.
Mom often destroys the booty or throws it away.
How dare I ??!!
Do I not recognize prized possessions when I see them??!!
How dare I go beyond Bear??!!
How dare anyone go beyond Bear??!!...

The Evil Villain Mom is currently the worst of Bear and Addison's concerns.

Addi's bedroom, aka Headquarters is under demolition and re-construction.
The Architect...I like to call her Julia...is on the case!
Julia is tearing her room apart piece by piece.
You see, her treasure is so valuable that even non-humans seek it out.

ADDISON'S ROOM HAS BEEN INVADED...

BY ANTS!!

They have all travelled to the heart of the room.
Addison's bookcase, where Bear is guarding the remains of 1/2 eaten candy bars, gum wrappers and candies meant "to be saved for later."

I was called in yesterday, by Addi (who was freaking out) and Chloe.
"Why are they here?"
"Get rid of them Mom!"
"Help, Mom. I'm afraid of them!"
"I don't want them in my room."
 THEM??
WHAT IS A "THEM?"
I followed the trail of little explorers to Bear. I saw the look of worry on Addi's face.

MISSION COMPROMISED. ABORT! ABORT!

Addi headed out the door as I reached for Bear. (smart move on her part)

I had to hold back the laughter. This was no easy feat. So out I blurted:
 "AAAADISSSOOON! THIS IS GROSS!!"

Addi, innocently from the hall," What is it Mom?"
Me: Seriously?
Addi: What Mom?
Me: Get in here right now!
Addi: What is it Mom? Did you get the ants?
Me: Yeah...How many times have I told you that you CAN NOT keep food in your room. Baby, this is nasty. I know that bugs gross you out but they are gonna keep coming and make happy, little homes in your room if you keep this up.
(I fought the natural urge to laugh. I think that I did a stellar job!... I kept the tone moderate, called my wimpy kid "baby" and held her hand while we talked)
Addi: I know Mom. I'm sorry. I won't do it again.
Me: OK...because this could get really icky. This is why I say no food in bedrooms.

I knocked most of the toys off of the shelves hoping that I wouldn't expose more ant buddies.
Then I dumped out a few containers that were stored on the shelves. Ffweeww! Only Littlest Pet Shops here! No moving, mini, undesirables.

Addi spent the night curled up with Chloe on the bottom bunk.
She woke up twice in the middle of the night.
She was having bad dreams.
She was being attacked by marching ants.
Addi now says that she won't go back into her room until the ants are all gone.

This leads us back to today.
Julia told me that she laughed the entire time that she was sifting through the mess that was Addi's hidden snack, feast.
Julia is also convince that the ants weren't drawn to the chocolate remains or the dozens of candy wrappers stashed so carefully behind Bear.
They were, in fact, moving in for the big haul. Booty beyond their wildest antie dreams! They wanted the moldy cheese stick that was wedged behind the shelving unit.


Don't frett. The Architect was on it! The ants were vanquished. The cheese stick now resides in the garbage can.

Did Addison learn a lesson? I hope that she did. Will she bring food into her room again?
 I hope not...
...however, I know my daughter. 
There will be more ants in the future.
Next time we'll get rid of them together.
...Julia I hope that you heard that. You are off ant duty for round #2.