Flutterby

We took the kids downtown yesterday to see an exhibit in the Natural History Museum. I was so proud of Jeremy for braving the crowds down there on a Saturday, and it was even a busy Saturday because of the Cherry Blossom Festival, however it was not as bad as it could've been due to the soggy weather. Our attraction was the butterfly garden that they had set up to walk through. I've never been to one of these before and it was truly magnificent to see hundreds of butterflies flitting around you and landing on a sea of colored blossoms. Had we not had the kids I could've stayed in there for hours, as it was, Cameron was scared to death that one would land on him while Gavin was trying to grab those poor little butterflies. With the crowd control involved, it was impossible to get the pictures I wanted, but it was still a neat experience. The kids enjoyed the dinosaurs more and the highlight of the trip for them both? The metro. Next time we may just sit and ride all day long, that would be an adventure for them. It doesn't take much to make them happy, I tell ya.

Complete

I had a dream last night. I dreamt I found out I was pregnant. In my dream I was crying my eyes out lamenting the fact that we would be starting from square one again- diapers, breastfeeding, sleeplessness, and I had gotten rid of my maternity clothes. Maybe I was most sad about the fact that Mason wouldn't get his fair share of youngest attention, and I hadn't sucked all the babyness out of him yet. I was devastated. I think this dream was spurred on by the fact that in a couple of weeks Mason will be turning one and thus will end his infancy. That, I am not ready for, I want him to be a baby forever, well, maybe not forever, but at least for another year or so, especially since he is such a joyous baby.

Today I was leaving Target and I saw a woman with a brand new pink baby in an outfit identical to one that Mason wore when he was the same age. The mother caught me staring, a few seconds longer than the norm, and I remarked about her adorable bundle and then walked on. I'll admit that there was a pang of longing there-for only a second! Until I snapped back into reality.

Our family is full. We have been blessed to have been able to have all the children we want and we enjoy them each individually and completely. I don't even long for the daughter I once wanted so badly. I have evolved. I think there is a part of me that would wish for a baby for half an hour every day for the rest of my life to absorb my fill, but that's not exactly how life works, is it? Instead, I will grow along with my three little weeds and move on to enjoying the next stage. I love that I can now share the world with them and they can begin to grasp it. It is wonderful to be able to have a fairly adult conversation with my six year old, I really do love his company. My three year old pushes me to learn more patience, all the while telling me he loves me. And my sweet baby is not so big that he doesn't enjoy just sitting on my lap and looking at me like I am everything to him, those days are becoming fewer, but I will hold on to them for as long as I can. My name is Mom and there is no sweeter sound than to hear my name from those three mouths, even if it's the three thousandth time that day. My joy is complete.

Oh yippee, another picture!

I went through the pictures on Gavin's camera today that have been on there for months. I am always impressed or laughing at his "talent." They're not all his work, so don't give him all the credit. Enjoy.

My poor, patient visiting teacher





Ashley, the little poser



Can't you see why I love him??

I wish I were Irish

St. Patrick's day has never been celebrated in our home, apart from the "wear green or be pinched." This all changed yesterday when Cameron came home from school. He very excitedly announced that a leprechaun would be visiting our house that night and would leave footprints and chocolates in our house. I asked him where he heard this. "I just know it, mom," was the reply. Then he told me that another kid on his bus told him that leprechauns weren't real and he faithfully told him he KNEW they were real. I didn't know how to respond. I called up my intelligent husband. He said to tell him that they only celebrate St. Patricks day in Ireland or we would get roped into a tradition we may not wish to continue year after year. Humbug! Then I called my friend Angie, dear Angie that celebrates and decorates her house for all holidays, big and small (I'm pretty sure she even has Cinco de Mayo, and Chinese New Year decorations). I remembered something about a leprechaun trap that she had made with her kids in years past and sure enough she was the source I was looking for. She told me about leprechauns loving shiny things and how to decorate a shoebox and stand it up with a stick so that the leprechaun would get caught inside. We were up for the challenge and covered our shoebox with tin foil and shamrock stickers, and hung a shiny bell on our stick so we would be alerted to our leprechauns capture. At first the trap was placed next to Cameron's bed, but he soon decided that he might not want a leprechaun that close to him, so it was placed out in the hallway, but not so far that the boys could not hear the bell ring. Cameron told me of his plans to take the leprechaun in for show and tell the next day and he was completely giddy with excitement. It took a bit longer for the boys to fall asleep, but eventually they did and come morning Cameron came to whisper in my ear that the leprechaun had been there, but the trap did not work. But there were footprints! and gold! and chocolate! and that silly leprechaun had peed in all our toilets! Who knew that all you had to do to invite a leprechaun into your house was to set a trap? That boy on the bus doesn't know what he's missing.

Finger lickin' good

Wordless Wednesday

While the cat's away...

...the mice will play. Jeremy is out of town until Thursday for training. I am so not used to being alone with the kids and miss him terribly! I hate not having anyone to hand the kids off to at night to get a break, I hate being in the house alone at night with all of the sounds (I am grateful for our dog during those times), and most of all I hate sleeping in that big bed all my myself. To all of those moms who do this on a regular basis, where do you get your super powers? Anyway, to keep us occupied this week, we planned some fun activities including Cub Run Rec Center with the indoor pool and play area and slides, dinner out at the new Chick-fil-a, and a few play dates. Keeping busy definitely makes the time go by faster. We miss you daddy! As you can tell, Mason was a big fan of the pool (it was a bit chilly)

Best Buds

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

Jeremy turned 34 today. He is really starting to make me feel old. I mean, aren't you supposed to act mature when you're in your thirties? We are so not there yet, but our ages tell us otherwise. It was a pretty low key day, we went to Chili's for dinner (thanks to Kimberly's gift card :)) and then came home and did presents and cake. Jeremy got the Wii Fit and some new running shoes, and we had a butterfinger ice cream cake. We love you Jeremy, you are our rock! Here are 34 lesser known facts about Jeremy:

1. He whistles constantly, especially in the car if it is a commercial on the radio, he will whistle the same three bars of the song that was last on over and over and over and over...

2. He doesn't know the words to any songs. He can whistle the tune, but the words? Forget it.

3. He used to be quite the dancer. He was a Swing Kid in college and knew a lot of country dancing as well.

4. He listens to a lot of books on tape in the car.

5. He really only reads/listens to self-help kind of books, I think I can count on one hand the number of novel type books he has read in the last 10 years.

6. He LOVES Christmas and maybe gets even more excited than the kids. He really likes to be surprised with his gifts and to see the looks on the kids faces as they open their presents.

7. He is still pretty fluent in Spanish even though he went on his mission to Argentina over 13 years ago.

8. He likes to fall asleep watching TV in the basement.

9. If you catch him falling asleep in the basement and ask him if he's going to fall asleep or was asleep, he will always tell you no.

10. Over the years he has come to like big band type music- making me feel even older.

11. He HATES to wait. If we go out to eat on a Friday or Saturday we have to go at early bird special time, between 4-5 pm so we don't have to wait for a table.

12. He also hates crowds. All these years in DC and he has never been downtown for the 4th of July firework or the Cherry Blossom Festival. Too many people.

13. He loves to wrestle/tickle his kids. Every night before they go to bed, the kids wait for their "tickles."

14. He likes nice things. He would rather get one expensive gift than several not so pricey ones. It's quality, not quantity.

15. He really likes technological gadgets. Things that other people don't have that are unique. I will never forget the mirrored glasses that enable you to read while lying down in bed, holding your book upright.

16. He prays every night. Even when he comes up at 2 or 3 am because he fell asleep downstairs, he still kneels down to pray next to the bed before crawling in.

17. He is very dedicated and invested in his job. He cares a lot about how other people perceive him and doesn't want to let anyone down.

18. He loves roller coasters.

19. He loves mint chocolate and Butterfingers.

20. He doesn't like chocolate ice cream, he's a vanilla man.

21. He's not a very picky eater. He is just as happy eating at Quiznos as eating at Maggianos. In his words, "you just poop it out the next day, why spend so much money?"

22. I can only recall a few times when he has gotten really mad, he is the most even-keeled person I know.

23. He loves baseball and golf.

24. He doesn't like to dress up or even wear collared shirts. He is happiest in some old t-shirt and shorts. You can forget a sweater, he has a closet full of ones that I bought him that he has only worn once.

25. He is loyal to Texas. There is a certain camaraderie he feels with anyone who has ever lived there. We also have a Texas shaped Christmas ornament he insists on putting on the tree. It's huge, but apparently everything's bigger in Texas...

26. He could eat at Chipotle every day.

27. He loves to watch movies- comedy, drama, action, it doesn't matter, he will even watch the chick flicks with me.

28. He likes to do yardwork/wash the car with the kids.

29. He is really proud of his kids and loves it when people tell him that they look like him.

30. He is very sensitive about his hair loss, don't mention it, he's really self conscious.

31. He loves candy and ice cream, but not baked goods. If I make brownies, cookies or cake, he will eat it the first day and them I have to eat the rest...

32. He doesn't like leftovers. He will tell me he'll eat them for lunch the next day but I find them still in the fridge a week later.

33. He drives like a maniac and I am frequently literally holding on for dear life and praying that we get to our destination safely.

34. He is a great husband and father and I couldn't ask for more. Happy 34!

March Snowstorm

Cameron prayed for snow last night- and lots of it. So many times this year we have had the promise of snow by the forecasters, and then nothing materialized. This time we hoped for the big one, a noreaster was headed right towards us and they were predicting 10 inches! Well, we wnded up with maybe 6, but that was plenty to delight our little snow bunnies and to cancel school of course. One last hurrah before spring. Jeremy stayed home in the morning because- shhh! don't tell, he loves the snow more than the kids. He told me the reson we were getting snow in March was because Heavenly Father knows his birthday is this week. All three big kids played in the icy cold wind and then warmed up with some cocoa. I took the kids out this afternoon for a walk on the golf course. My favorite thing about the snow is looking at the untouched, sparkly blanket over the landscpe- sans footprints and the golf course had plenty of that. Of course, we brought Aspen along, she is at her happiest when there is snow to run in, she bolts around like a crazy dog. See you again next year snow!

Medieval Times

We had an early celebration for Jeremy's birthday yesterday. We drove over an hour to eat at a castle and enjoy a royal show. Have you ever heard of Medieval Times? It's this place where you can watch jousting, sword fighting (and fighting with a bunch of other weapons), falconry, fancy horsemanship, and eat a huge meal with your hands. Despite the fact that it was a bit pricey and they are flaunting extra fun stuff to buy in front of your kids the whole evening, it was a unique and suprisingly cool time. The show really kept the kids attention and it was definitely worth the trip. If you have one near you, watch for coupons and go, you'll think it's cool too, like our birthday boy (34 on Friday!)