Long weekend...

...oh, how I love you!

Since Chris was off today he had some guys over to grill last night while some neighborhood friends and I went to grab dinner and play trivia. We had a great time!

Today we slept in, had breakfast then headed to the zoo. The weather was wonderful and the kids were so excited to have Chris with us! We took the wagon (which was the greatest hit. Ever.) and our lunch and made a day of it. While walking in Anna-Kate said, "I need to show my daddy where stuff is, he not know." I have officially conquered my debilitating fear of snakes. I still don't like them, don't get me wrong. But, I am no longer frozen with fear at the sight (honestly? mere mention) of them. Ryan LOVES them. Figures. We were in the reptile house and Chris took Anna-Kate (because she's heavier and it's situated such that she can't see a thing without being held) and I took Ryan, who asked to look at every blasted snake, turtle, lizard and alligator in there. He finally knows what snakes "say", sssssssssss, he says.

The kids on the lions. They love to climb and play on these (and I remember climbing and playing on them as a kid!).




The kids with their wonderful Daddy and Willie B.



Riding the carousel.



A side note. Speaking of things he says...poor kid's gotten short-changed on "atta boys" in his life. So, here's the newest of what he says, "me-mam"(yes ma'am-but hey, he's consistent!), "peese", "tate" (Anna-Kate), "dog" and "per" (both referring to Copper), "bear" (he was extremely excited to see panda bears today!), ball, "roo" (car, as in vroom...), "hi", "bye-bye", "up", "auk-u" (thank you),as well as nodding emphatically yes or no at the appropriate times. I'm sure I'm forgetting some, that's just what's coming to mind...(One of my favorite things he does is every morning I get him out of bed and change his diaper, pick him back up and walk back to his crib where he throws his paci and lambie back in then waves and says bye-bye.) So cute. He signs "please", "more", "all done", "up", "eat", "snack"
He knows the animal sound for snake, dog, cat, monkey (his favorite), lion, sheep, elephant, fish, bird, cow. We're working on rooster (it's currently "dooo") and pig, owl, and horse. Another development, after I got him up from his nap on Wednesday (and he had played for a little bit) he grabbed himself so I asked him if he needed a clean diaper and he nodded yes. hmm. At least he's starting to understand the concept. Maybe? He's since done it 2 other times. (though, to be fair, I asked him if he needed a new diaper because he went "stinky" he said no).

Back to today. During naps I ran errands. Alone. In the middle of the day. Ahhh. I picked up Little Caesar's for us and some friends and we went to the pool for dinner and play. Ryan had a ball! He was jumping in, floating on his back, kicking his feet when I put him on his belly...I really feel like he'll swim before Anna-Kate does. hmm. She talks about wanting to learn to swim, but as she won't jump to me even if I'm holding her hands, this doesn't seem imminent.

I topped the day off with a long bath and pedicure, all I need now is a bowl of icecream! (though, I do have to work tonight...)

Tomorrow we are going to the Botanical Gardens (it's free for Bank of America card holders on the first weekend of the month. If you have BOA, check and see what museums in your area are free). Although, we have effectively moved all of our money from BOA (we are seriously praising the Lord for finally being allowed to get USAA!!). Whatever, we're still going. We still have the cards and that's the only stipulation. After that we have two 4th of July parties to attend. Needless to say, we'll be eating some yummy hotdogs, burgers and all that goes with it tomorrow. Happy Birthday America!

Now, on to my icecream...

Hilarious.

As Ryan climbed the stairs Anna-Kate said, "Oh Ryan. You soooo in trouble boy!"

***

AK: "Mommy, what 'pretend' mean?"
Me: "When something isn't real. Like, when we pretend to be princesses. We aren't really princesses, we are just pretending, right?"
AK: "Well I really a mermaid princess. You just pretending."
Me: "Well, actually, you have legs, so you are a girl, not a mermaid."
AK: "Well, probably I pretend to be mermaid, but I really am princess. I not pretending that mommy."

Of course...

I forgot to add to yesterday. I was (amazingly) ready for church on time. (and by on time, I mean, we had to leave our house at 8:30 for the kids to be there in time for their VBS singing thing--that's early!). Anyway, I came downstairs fully confident in my outfit choice (new shirt, coordinating jewlery, cute shoes and the perfect earrings). I walked into the kitchen and Anna-Kate said, "O mommy you look so pretty. I like the baby in your tummy!". I said, "Do I really look like I have a baby in my tummy?" (while Chris is frantically trying to wave her down and violently shaking his head no in the background) she replies, "O yes Mommy, you do."

Certainly turned right around and went upstairs to change. Coincidentally, we were late. Can you blame me?

***

I came home from church in desperate need of a diet dr. pepper. Wouldn't you know it, there wasn't the first coke in the fridge. (don't you just hate that? I do...). So Chris solved that problem. He put twenty-four DDP's and 12 DC's in the fridge. (Who's got the room??) Super, only problem, where to put my groceries for the week, plus, with all that in there, they weren't getting cold.

Enter my brilliance. Me, "I'll just pop this DDP in the freezer for a few minutes and get it a little frosty and delicious". Fast forward to this morning. In my early morning fog I tried to get some ice water and the ice was, uhh, dirty. I opened the freezer to investigate. Voila, problem solved. Too bad it involved doing a deep clean of my freezer and ice maker. It exploded. Everywhere.

Good (Monday) morning folks!

Vbs and the weekend

I asked Anna-Kate a question and she responded "yes ma'am. Oh, and my pinkie (the pig) says yes ma'am too. So, I get a sticker and Pinkie gets a sticker, but pinkie give me her sticker for my manner chart."

Got it all figured out.

VBS (finally!) came to a close this week. We had a wonderful week but are all SO very tired. In case I had forgotten, we do not live close to our Buckhead church. Leaving my house at 8:15 is a killer for sure. I got a couple of sweet pictures I'll share.

I went out to watch her at recreation on Friday and got this picture. She was sad because I said I had to go back inside afterwards. She had such a good time though! I look at this picture and cannot believe how big she is. I was looking through some old video of the kids today and found one of Anna-Kate when she was Ryan's age and it was all I could do not to blubber...



Dancing in the closing assembly. Ryan was so cute. He was watching the big kids and trying to do all the hand motions like they were.





Anna-Kate was totally in to it, watching the choir director, then she noticed me and became a total ham!



Poor Ryan, every day on the way home from VBS he ate lunch in the car and fell asleep. (He usually naps at 1, we weren't getting home until 1:30ish).



***

Saturday night we took the kids to a cute little market area to eat at Moe's (Anna-Kate's favorite place to eat). Hey, kids eat free on the weekends, what more reason do I need? There was a fountain area they loved running around playing in.





I promise, this happened all on it's own. I had my camera out and was just waiting to snap pics as they happened. Anna-Kate walked over to Ryan, put her arms around them and they both just looked at me and smiled. This was cuter about 3.5 seconds before I snapped the picture, but still sweet. I love how much they love each other!



***

Today the kids led worship at church. Mom and Dad came up to see Anna-Kate sing and to celebrate my Papa's (Mom's dad) 84th birthday. A delicious spread for lunch followed by chocolate cake. Weekends like this, full of sweet family time, make me so thankful for the family God has blessed me with.

Wonderful and relaxing day...now, for Monday.

What she's learned

I asked Anna-Kate what she learned about today at VBS.

AK: "I not 'member"
Me: "Was it about Paul and Silas?"
AK: "Umm, I think I learned about mean guys and turtles. Yes, mean guys, turtles and nice guys too. And turtles."
Me: "Are you sure you didn't learn about Paul and Silas and how God kept them safe and opened the jail doors for them to go free?"
AK: "O ya, we did, and turtles too".

Well alrighty then. It's really sinking in.

VBS

Vacation Bible School is a fond memory for me. I used to love to go as a child, help as a teen and now I get to enjoy it as a mom watching my children enjoy it. Well, kinda. Anna-Kate talks about it at home, says she had so much fun, can't wait to go back. Etc. Etc. Go to drop her off--crying for me to stay, for Ryan to stay with her, or for her to come with me. Why oh why?

At our church they have a preschool program for 2 and 3 year olds, but it's only available to those who volunteer to work. So, I work. :) For the past 2 years I've been in snacks, this year kinda heading that up (as in, doing the shopping and prep work for it each day). Not a bad job at all, I'm inside the whole time and surrounded by food (and diet coke!). Who can complain?

I'm trying to capture a good picture of all of us in our matching shirts. Bless her heart, that shirt is SO big on her, but she loves it anyway.



Ryan and me waiting for closing assembly to end.



He's had a bit of a rough week. I think he's going through a growth spurt as he's been sleeping about 8-8:15/30 in the morning and 1-4:15/30 in the afternoon. I've had to wake him up to leave for VBS the last 2 days, feed him in the car, drop him off, feed him lunch in the car, where he falls asleep, then transfer him to his bed. He and I aren't getting much time together, so I picked him up a bit early and ran around with him. He also got a goose egg on his head yesterday and then fell and got another 1/2" away last night. Hrm. I'm calling this "boot camp" for him. He's reached that stage where he cries, well, falls apart when I drop him at the nursery for church on Sundays. So, I figure going every day should help him get used to it. Right? :)

And of course....

Happy Father's Day!

To all the daddies out there, I know there are fives of you who read this blog, I hope you have a wonderful day and know how much you are loved and appreciated. Speaking as a mama, I know I certainly couldn't do it alone! Love you Chris and I love you Daddy--thanks for everything!