Skyler's 4th Birthday Party!!!!!!!

It was FINALLY the weekend of Skyler's 4th Birthday party! With kids, you prep for these things for months...talk about the upcoming birthday for months....it's a HUGE build up. And thankfully, we had an AWESOME time at Skyler's birthday party. After a lot of thinking, he had finally decided on a Karate party. It's his favorite activity and he's good at it. Plus, it hasn't been done before, which means something new for the kids. He seriously had a blast...came up to me in the middle of the party and told me he was having the best time ever. He had a smile the entire time. And it looked like everyone had a great time. All these factors=success!! He had lots of good friends there, my parents were there to celebrate and help and share in the excitement of it all. I breathe a sigh of relief that it all worked out for my special little boy. I can't believe how fast he is growing up and I am incredibly incredibly proud of the person that he is. I am truly very very lucky that I have the privilege of being his mom....

Ok, enough of the cheesiness...onto some pictures!

Letting out some steam while we wait for his party. Waiting is a hard thing to do! They look like tough kids here:)

Happy Birthday Skyler!!! So psyched we found this theme...the place is called Panda's Karate. How perfect is this cake? And, the cool thing is that it was actually cupcakes. I love Giant!

Happy boy before his party started:)

I snagged a hug before the craziness started.

Can you see how happy my kids are here?

A ladies man...already making them jealous:)

Notice anyone having a little crush on him? He is here with some friends from school.

Learning karate...they were all into it.

Loving Sadie in this picture. Attention stance:)

My boy can kick!!!

Blowing out his candle.

Happy Birthday Skyler....hope all of your wishes come true. We LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH!

A Week of Fun!!!

Yep, this past week was FUN!!! Mostly because my parents came to visit...which means lots of things going on and lots of fun and lots of attention for the kids. My mom came early to HELP! And she did...a lot...and I NEEDED IT! I got a lot done, guilt free, knowing my kids were still getting lots of love and attention while I focused on things I just had to get done. Like cleaning, pictures, stuff. It was really nice. The kids were thrilled and demanded Nana and Papa's attention as much as they possibly could. Here are some pics from this week. Some of them are mixed up but they will document some of what this week was about...

Snack time...and cuddle time....

Duck, Duck, Goose. It's their favorite game. Michael gets EVERYONE involved...including the dogs and ugly doll:)

Snap shot of their new mini-playground....

Bubbles and Nana=Smiles

She looks cute...don't let her sweet smile fool you.

Photographer in training:)

We took a field trip to Glenview Mansion while Skyler was at school. I just love this place.

Papa and Sadie were running to avoid the sprinklers.

My Dad's pictures...so sweet.

Here is where the pictures get scattered. This is from today(Sunday). It hit 90 degrees and Sadie had a blast in the sprinkler. Skyler isn't a fan of the heat and headed inside fairly quickly. But, this one refused to go in until I dragged her!

So, while we are skipping around a bit...let's talk about today. I always mention how close my kids are becoming. But there are always these moments that define their relationship. Today it was when Skyler had hurt himself and was crying, also from the letdown of his party and my parents leaving. Sadie went over to him, said 'Don't cry Skyler', took his cheeks between her hands and gave him a huge smooch. Skyler couldn't stop laughing. Other times it's reversed and Skyler searches for the one toy that he never lets her play with that he knows will make her smile. They do this for each other all the time.

A really fast week....

I seriously can't believe that it's already Friday night. This week FLEW! Which was impressive with two sick kids and rainy days. But, somehow we were really busy and it went fast. I have to say that I always do great, and then hit a point where I need a break...not a big one, but just a stress free hour where I can just chill. Not sure if it's possible, but we all need me to have this. The kids are great, but DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!! They tease, and taunt, and scream, and laugh with each other, and make lots of unnecessary noises that just get right under my skin. Skyler gets especially noisy when he has a cold...I have no idea why...I'm guessing it's because his ears get clogged and he can hear himself loud and clear...thinking it's really fun to hum loudly for a long period of time. Really??? And Sadie? She is so dramatic...I see myself in her and just sigh to myself getting visions of our future together. She knows just how to get to me when I am ready to break...and then gives me this sad face when I actually do break making me forget that SHE caused me to get frustrated and then I feel guilty....it's definitely an interesting ride. Today when we were getting ready for bath, I took her diaper off FOR A SECOND....she marched right into Skyler's room...Skyler came out and said, "Mom, why is Sadie peeing on my floor?". I almost cried...but didn't...got it together...and now they are sleeping:)

A pretty sun highlighted pic of Sadie looking so sweet and quiet....

Our houseguest who has been a PLEASURE! I think we might just have to keep her....

I love him.

Today was "Truck Day" at Skyler's school. Sadie and I tagged along with his class. She felt like such a big girl.

There he goes...getting on a bus, which he has been wanting to do all year.

Really? love them.

Skyler's class in front of the police cruiser.

He had so much fun today:)

The teachers put Sadie in the mail truck. Here she is with another little sis. She loved it so much that I couldn't get her out! Everyone had left the truck and I had to climb in and then hand her off to the poor mailman when I realized I couldn't get out without help. Not my finest moment!

Skyler loved the mail truck.

It also happened to be Skyler's Shabbat day. This means he is the special kid for the day. Michael, Sadie, and I went in for their Shabbat routine, had lunch with him, and watched him on the playground. He LOVED it, loved telling us about his day, and showing us around his school. He seemed so grown up!

Lunch

Michael read the books Skyler chose to his class. Batman and a Dinosaur book.

The teachers loved Sadie...and she loved them! She felt like such a big girl in Skyler's room.

"Mommy, take a picture of me!" It's rare he asks, so I snapped it!

He gets to bring home the Shabbat box...couldn't wait to open it!

Rain Rain, Go Away....

Yep, that's right...no pictures. So sad! It's been rainy and I never know when it's going to happen, so taking my camera out is just to risky. I don't want to get it wet. We were rained out this past weekend, which meant Costco, food shopping, and playing at home. We did manage to run to our friend's house on Sunday morning to pick up a little slide and swing set. It's tiny but the kids love it. Skyler jumps from it, Sadie pretends to jump but ends up doing a slide/falling thing giving me mini-heart attacks:) Winnie is actually really into it...she jumps up on one side and flies over the slide on the other! Sadie actually waits her turn for Winnie. I think we forget she is actually a dog. I will definitely try to snag some pics of these things soon...but it looks like rain every day until the weekend, so we will have to wait. The up side to all this rain? The grass and trees are SUPER green and Skyler's pepper plants are out of control! I think we might just have some red and yellow peppers this summer:)

Gardens, Falls, Gardens....

Yep, still doing the whole field trip/garden thing. I can't help it...I am addicted!!! Spring time has me wanting to be outside as much as possible...thank you very much allergy medicine:) We lured Michael to Azalea Gardens again. It's such a pretty place. The kids ran around and explored, Sadie picked up rocks (she's addicted!), and we just enjoyed being outside. I was away again in the afternoon, so the kids and Daddy enjoyed some 'together' time. Michael was in bed by 8:15:) Oh, and the kids too!

Mother's Day was fabulous...Michael got the kids from bed (yey, 10 extra minutes!!!) and then they made me croissants:) It was sweet. We headed off to Great Falls where the water was out of control! It was loud and crazy and it scared the kids a bit, but it was amazing.

Today we attempted a venture to Brookeside Gardens to check out the butterfly exhibit. Unfortunately, there were a bazillion field trips that had the same plan. We never made it in and Skyler was devastated that he didn't get to see his 'monarch butterflies'. I promised him a return trip with a phone call to make sure we would definitely get in. I hate the whole disappointing thing...I always feel so badly:(

Updates....

Did I mention how much Sadie loves Skyler? She worships him... Of course they fight over their toys, and Skyler has finally started sticking up for himself. But she does EVERYTHING he does. When he is in time out, she follows him, sits with him, puts her arm around him and asks, "Is kyler happy?". If he says no, she gives him kisses till he laughs. I mean, really??? Time out is usually over because we are all laughing. I keep telling him that being a big brother is important and it means he has to follow all the rules, but I think he hears the first two words, and the rest is history. She literally will follow him around and imitate everything. In the car, she tries to carry on a conversation with 'Kyler'. I love it:)

She has also decided she is part of his karate lesson. Mr. Daniel gets the class started and Sadie is right there next to Skyler (and he asks his teacher if it's ok she sits with him). She says 'yes sir, hi ya, look in the eyes, and counts in korean!) She literally participates the whole time and gets so mad at me when I make her sit in my lap. Thank goodness Skyler's teacher is a patient man!

Azalea Gardens

This is usually the picture I can get of Skyler these days....he is either being a goofball or talking to us about everything and anything.

Wow...a picture of me and the kids...go figure:)

Mother's Day...Great Falls

Can you look at what she's doing? Really? Right above the raging falls and rickety fence? I was having a heart attack!

Another one:)

He climbed to the top of a big rock...looks like he's flying!

Brookeside Gardens...minus the butterflies:(

The sidewalk was made of rocks in cement...was driving her crazy that she couldn't get them!

Talking...asking questions....talking....making faces.....LOVE HIM!

He looks for every sign and asks me to read him the whole thing....

Finally, a HAPPY face:)

They actually cooperated:)