A few weeks ago we enjoyed a week off from our hectic schedules for Spring Break! We had playdates with several friends, our first trip to Great Wolf Lodge, a slumber party at Aunt Emily's, and a visit to see Great-Grandma Monty. Yep, we reallllly relaxed. Ok, so maybe the kids still work up b/t 6:30 and 7:00 a,m., and we had an agenda for the day, but it was way more fun than going to work! :)
Here are some pictures from our week of fun!
We decided to take a mini road trip a few hours away to The Great Wolf Lodge. We were completely amazed and impressed by all there was to do there! The kids favorite part was the indoor pool. We were awe struck when we first walked in. There were multi-level climbing structures full of water play activities, a wave pool, lazy river, a pool for little kids complete with slides, and tube slides for the older kids that you rode on with 2-4 person intertubes. It was AMAZING!!
Big Sister leading Caleb to the kiddie slides
....of course he wanted nothing to do with the baby slides that went straight down. He preferred the curving slides, and went down them over, and over, and over, and over again!
Big Sister was a fan too. But she preferred tubing down the HUGE slides with Mommy and Daddy (wish I had a picture of these slides, but we were having so much fun I never caught it on camera).
Mommy and Daddy's favorite part was watching our little dare devils have the time of their life!
...but that's not all. The Great Wolf lodge also had....
an arcade,
bowling alley,
icecream parlor,
an arts and crafts room,
build-a-bear (or wolf) workshop
story time at 8 p.m.,
...and the cutest bunk beds for sleeping, watching tv, or playing video games!
...and kid-friendly restaurants and buffets!
It was the pefect 2 day trip to unwind!
Next up, was a girl's night with Kenzie and Aunt Emily. Emily went all out and made it a night to remember! She and Uncle Cody grilled out dinner and rented Kenzie's favorite Disney movie, Rapunzel. Before bed we had icecream sundae's with a dozen toppings!
Settling in for Movie Night!
...and after movie and dessert, it was storytime before bed!
After sleeping in ('til 8 a.m.!) Emily made plain, apple and chocolate chip pancakes with fruit salad!
Later in the week, we visited Great Grandma Monty for Lunch and play!
All in all, it was the perfect break from reality! Somehow we lucked out and had unseasonably warm weather, which has unfortunatly disappeard! Now the countdown to Summer has begun...bring it on!
This weekend we attended our city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Last year, Jeremy took Mackenzie with our friends, the Essman's, while I stayed home with Caleb. This year, we all caravaned together and enjoyed a whole day of fun! We started off at the Pancake break! The girls got in line for breakfast, while the boys staked out the perfect spot & set up blankets and chairs. We feasted on pancakes and sausage, and then let the kids run wild through my old Middle School stomping ground.
The weather was unseasonably warm and the kids had a blast! There was some great entertainment and the kids enjoyed collecting candy. The kids loved the drumline, leoprochaun sighting and the pot-of-gold at the finale. The adults loved soaking up the sun, watching our kids cheer in excitement when candy hit their bags, and spending the day outside together.
Waiting on the Parade
The Essman's
the "kid's blanket"
Ready for candy!
After the parade, our friend's stayed for lunch and to watch the OSU Basketball game. It was a great day with friend's and we can't wait for the parade next year...of course we will have to bring a much bigger blanket with the addition of baby Essman! :)
When I started this blog, I wanted to document moments of our life, so one day my kids could look back and read/remember their childhood. As a rule, I typically share the "fun" stuff. Birthday parties, holidays, milestones, etc. However, I will be the first to admit, "it ain't always sunshine and rainbows." Of course, like anyone else's children, mine wake up in the middle of the night, throw tantrums in public, make big messes, and spend their fair share of time in "time out." Yet, who wants to read/share the less than flattering moments of life? Well, we all do. It makes us feel a little more human. It reminds us that no one is perfect!
I think all too often, we women especially, strive to do it all seamlessly. We want to be good wives, mothers, neighbors, friends. We want to appear to have it all together. When we have company, we make sure the house is in tip-top shape. We plan the perfect meal and bake homemade dessert. Of course, on any normal work/school night, we are serving more simple meals like hot dogs and mac 'n cheese, and dessert consists of something store bought. Our family room would look like a toy-nado hit and there would probably be laundry sitting wrinkled in the dryer.
So, why am I blowing my own cover you ask? That is a good question. One of my good girlfriends said not too long ago "you make everything look so easy. You're like the perfect Mom." I had to laugh b/c this is so far from the truth. In fact, the Director of my chidren's preschool told me one day at pick up, that one the weekends, she asks herself "what would Jill Buzzard do in this situation?" I told her through my laughter, "she would probably be yelling at her own kids!" Like anyone else, I have my moments of frustration, irritation, and annoyance with my kids. I have moments where I long for just a few quiet moments to myself. I just don't always share them. However, saying this, I would not trade what I have for anything else in the world. But by no means, is everything easy!
I have had many conversations with my own mother questioning why my children may have behaved the way they did at a certain age/stage or how I felt like I never behaved/disobeyed (as a child) the way my own kids do at times, And more than that, how I'm sure my own parents never had the feelings of annoyance/frustration with me and my sisters, that I have with my two. But, I have come to find that I am wrong. I served my fair share of time in time out, had my "less than desirable moments," and drove my parents crazy like any other normal child. It's just that, those are not the types of things we want to share. But I have to say, having had these talks with my amazing Mom, and having similar ones with my girlfriends, it lifts a little weight off the shoulders. It makes us feel like even the people we think are the "perfect Mom's" in reality, really have the same struggles that any other Mother has.
So...As much as I want my kids to remember the good times, I also want them to know that sometimes there were some less than desirable moments in there too. Why? Because, I don't want them to grow up thinking that life is perfect. Perfect is just not realistic or achievable. Life is messy at times. I want them to know that Parenthood is a like a road trip. Sometimes you feel like you have everything under control. You are on cruise control thinkin' "I've got this parenting thing down. I'm doing pretty good." And then you hit a dead end and have to shift gears and recover ground that you thought you wouldn't have to retrace. You rediscover things along the way that you failed to see the first time, and at the end of the day, you appreciate what you had at the very start of your journey.
So, to my children who will one day read this when they are grown, remember that "It Ain't Always Sunshine and Rainbows." As parents, you may question yourself, regret decisions that you made, knock your head against the wall at times...but so does every other parent. Because, if we didn't, then we wouldn't care. So, while I may not record many of your "less than desirable moments" on here, or mine for that matter, they did exist. And sharing these moments with others will provide some good laughter, keep reality in check, and give you the confidence that you are doing just fine.
Happy Bday to my very best friend in the whole World! You are an amazing father and husband and I am so lucky to be your wife! So... we may not have rung in your bday with an expensive dinner out at some trendy restaurant like we used to back in our early years, but Chinese take-out and a Kroger cake with the kids was just as memorable (not to mention much cheaper!:).
Wishing you a year full of health, happiness and love! We love you!
I cannot believe Caleb turned 2 this past week! Where does the time go? I still remember the day we found out we were having a boy!
*don't forget to pause the music on my playlist to the right :)
I remember the first time I laid eyes on your adorable little face!
And the day I held you in my arms for the very first time!
And of course the day we introduced our son to the family!
....and to your big sister who had no idea how much she would actually love having a brother (instead of a sister named Maddie)!
The first time you smiled at your Daddy and completely melted his heart!
...and your first real best friend
I remember your very first steps caught on video!
Sadly, my baby boy is slowly disappearing. In the past year, he has mastered walking, talking in short sentences, feeding himself, sleeping in a big boy bed, counting to 20 (with assistance), singing the ABC's and lots of other nursery rhymes, putting on his own shoes, and is learning to identify different colors.
Here are some of his favorite things:
food: yogurt drinks, apple juice, watermelon, pineapple, grapes, goldfish crackers, hot dogs, mac 'n chesse, cereal with milk, oatmeal, donut holes, and any type of sweet!
activities: puzzles, building with blocks, running, jumping on the trampoline, coloring, painting, looking at books
shows: Dora, Sesame Street, Frosty the Snowman, The Elf on the Shelf Movie
comfort items: paci's and blankie
cutest phrases: I love you, all done _________ (night night, car ride), Good Morning, Nice to Meet You, Uh-Oh Skeddy Oh's!
favorite recent pictures of my 2 year old:
All About YOU at 2:
Since day one, you have had the sweetest personality. You continue to be very laid back and love to be around people. You LOVE your family and especially love your Grandma and Grandpa and Nana and Grandpa. You are great with names and even though you are the youngest and newest in your preschool class, you learned everyone's name in just a few weeks. Your teachers would quiz you over all the kids names and you would get a big grin, point to them and say "right there!" They are amazed at how quickly you learn and have told us that although they try not to have favorites that YOU are theirs. Here is a video of you singing Jingle Bells at your Preschool this past Winter.
You are very social and love to be around people. You have a very warm and cuddly personality. You will gladly give out big teddy bear hugs and kisses. You love to make people laugh and love to perform. You will say "Look Mommy, Daddy, Kenzie" and will then show off something that you are proud of or that you think will make us laugh. You are very tender hearted and I invision you being a people pleaser in the years ahead. If I give you a disapproving look when you are being mischevious, you will put out your bottom lip and begin to cry. It makes disciplining you pretty easy, although I'm sure it won't always be! :) You are one active little boy. You love to climb, jump, run, roll....anything that involves any type of movement! You are curious about everything and love to put things together and take them apart. We have learned that babyproofing does not really work for you, you have figured out how to squeeze your little hands through the locks to open them and enjoy taking out the outlet covers and pulling out the vaccum and trying to plug it into them. The fact that you have not been electricuted, broken any bones or harmed yourself in any way is AMAZING to us! I guess boys will be boys! I love this video of you and your sweet Sister enjoying your Christmas toys in the basement.
....and here you are checking out your "big boy boy!"
To celebrate your big day, we went out to eat for your favorite meal: chicken fingers and french fries. We finished dinner with your favorite dessert....icecream! This coming weekend we will celebrate with the family!
We love you more than you will ever know and are so proud of you! Happy birthday, sweet boy!
Married to my best friend and blessed with 2 amazing children. I work fulltime, but my most important job is being a wife and mother. I created this blog to preserve our family memories. I hope my children visit this often to remember our story.
