The cheering squad, and, a jam-packed weekend!

My college roommates, Liana, Blair and Megan, came in town for a quick girls weekend (more like a "girls 24 hours"). Friday we went to a cute restaurant downtown--so yummy! We felt like crazy kids being seated to eat dinner at 9! We had a lovely 3 course meal then headed back home to watch The Soup. Anna-Kate slept on her special air mattress/princess sleeping bag in my closet to let Liana and Blair have her bed, (it's huge in there and even has an air vent, don't feel sorry for her, she was so excited!) and Chris kindly offered to play video games all night sleep on the couch downstairs so Megan could sleep in the bed with me.

The next morning we got up, had some coffee and headed out to Anna-Kate's first soccer game! It was miserable hot. Thankfully, there was a lone sapling that provided shade if you stood just right (Poor planning, park and recreation planners, poor planning. Amy Pohler would have thought that one through better. Anyway.). There are 12 kids on her team, the Thunder. We played the Tigers and they divided each team in half (the first 6 from each team to arrive played on one field and the last 6 from each to arrive played on the other field--so everyone got to play. In theory, great idea, in actuality, too much running (45 minutes) for a 4 year old on a hot morning (Additional bummer, her buddy Adam was the 7th to arrive so he was playing on the other field.). Lucky Anna-Kate, had her own cheering squad and finally started chasing the ball!

With Max, her class monkey, who attended the game with us.



Her friend, Kaitlyn and her watching the game (while on the field...) with arms crossed behind them. At practice they will often hold hands and chat mid-play--ha!)



Kicking off!



GOOOOO Thunder! :)



We celebrated the first game at Chick-fil-a and then Chris took the kids home for naps and we headed out for pedicures, Starbucks and a little shopping. It was glorious! So fun to reconnect with these dear friends and laugh at memories of old times (thanks, girls, for making this weekend a priority and leaving your babies!). We came home, made a quick dinner and they headed for home.

We ate Mexican food....





Sunday we attended Sadie's baptism and a celebratory lunch at Leigh-Ann's afterwards. Such a sweet time and we loved getting to see the whole family. :)

Chris went to a baseball game with some friends last night while I stayed in. I had planned to attend our home group from church but it absolutely didn't happen. I wasn't feeling amazing, so something had to give. HFG was that thing.

Now, let the new week begin. Hello, Monday! (and yes, in honor of Monday, we are all in our jammies!).

A visit with Aunt Julia

Alternate title: OK, so I over-document my kids' lives.

So, Chris had to return to work Thursday (BOOOO and sad, sad day!). Thankfully, my moms' sister, Julia, kindly offered to come up for a couple of days and lend a hand (or take over for me and become a cleaning, reading book, playing on the floor, present bringing, outside playing, going on walks with the wagon woman!). Clearly, we are extremely thankful.

Anyway, she got to our house in time to drive me and Jack to school for the kids' Easter parties. Anna-Kate's egg hunt began at 10:45 and was followed by her party...where she had (in this order) a piece of candy from the hunt, a rice krispie treat with jelly bean egg and blue bird peep craft, fruit, pizza and a very large cookie. (Sidenote, she is wearing the dress my mom made for me to wear to the hospital when my brother was born. And, she refers to it as her "strawberry spin-dress"--I used to call it my spin dress. She is a complete mini-me!)









Next, we moved on to Ryan's class for his party (cheezits, pretzels, PB sandwiches, cheese sticks, raisins, cookies, cupcakes...sheesh). Julia was holding Jack (I had just fed him) when a mom said, "what are you doing here with him...a child in this class had pneumonia on Tuesday." Super. So Julia kindly offered to take Jack outside in the stroller for a walk while I spent time with Ryan at his party. After the eating craziness was over, the kids had their egg hunt. Evidently, at the hunt last weekend, Ryan was completely uninterested in eggs (was more excited that the big kids had vacated the toys and slide) but he quickly learned from his mistake last week (there were treats to be had) and took off running, completely filling his basket! So cute. (my camera was in the stroller, so I only have this one picture of Ryan's party that I stole off facebook)



As we were driving home, I was turned facing Julia talking, when, out of the corner of my eye I saw Anna-Kate licking the bottom of her shoe. Yes, you read that correctly. When I calmly asked screamed "STOP, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?????" she matter-of-factly replied, "well Mommy, I'm licking the bottom of my shoe because there is some icing on there." (so much for sick-free environment for my poor little infant). Julia was no help as she was near tears laughing. I tried to hold it together to discuss the merits of good health.

Me: "Anna-Kate, we don't EVER lick the bottoms of our shoes. (Again, another mother moment of, "I certainly never imagined saying this. Ever.") You know how when food falls on the floor it turns in to trash?"
AK: "Yes:"
Me: "Well, the bottom of your shoes is kinda like trash..."
AK: "MY SHOES AREN'T TRASH!"
Me: "No, your shoes aren't trash, the bottom is yucky like trash..."
(Julia still laughing hysterically)

Ryan wasn't too sure about Julia at first, but quickly warmed up (I guess the big basket of presents and the marathon book reading didn't hurt!) He went potty for her and went to naps easily. She then read books to Anna-Kate for an hour, and she didn't even fall asleep! (Poor Anna-Kate, that is so often the case with her Mama) :)

A picture of me cuddling with my baby. Julia took such good care of us I was able to sit and enjoy my newborn.



Last night the kids had a "sleepover" in Ryan's room on their air mattresses and sleeping bags. You'd think they'd been handed the moon they were so excited.



When they awoke, Aunt Julia was ready to go and took them outside to blow bubbles (in their gift from the night before) before breakfast! We played upstairs for a long time then in the water table out back before lunch. Praise the Lord for the beautiful weather! The kids had nap/quiet rest time while Julia continued my laundry, ironing (I'm nominating her for saint-hood) and vacuuming and when Chris got home and pried them from their beds near 5 since they stayed up late talking last night and woke up early this morning and they both had about 45 minutes worth of tantrums between them this afternoon the kids woke up, she made Resurrection Rollswith them. SO cute!





Sweet Jack (happy 1 week "birthday!") opened his eyes to say goodbye to Julia.



Saying goodbye. Anna-Kate whispered to me, "I think Aunt Julia should come everytime."





Saying goodbye while wearing the Easter bunny sunglasses from her present basket.





Thanks a million Julia! :)

A little late...

Most Fridays this summer we've gone to the pool, ordered pizza and hung out with a couple of families. To mix it up, I decided to host everyone here in our backyard (I use the term "host" loosely. By that I mean, everyone chipped in for pizza, brought their own beer and I only provided plates, napkins, brownies and crystal light--how much of a slacker am I?). Anyway, the kids had a blast, and I think the parents did too. :) We had 2 baby pools, a slip 'n slide, the playground and all sorts of balls and ride-on cars, what more could a kid ask for? :)

This is Ryan "swimming like a mermaid" as Anna-Kate calls it:



My kids at the slip 'n slide. Check out Ryan's belly, not "failing to thrive" anymore, huh? :)(Funny side note, you can tell when Ryan is full because his belly button, which is normally an "inny", pops, much like a pregnant woman.)



After dinner icecream cone, cause that's just how we roll evidently, as it seems to occur a lot in the summer... (another fun side note, we were walking into a store the other day and Anna-Kate said, "there's trash on the floor mommy. we don't throw trash on the floor, that not how we roll". I about died laughing.)



Me and my sweet boy. Notice the blue-ness of his lips, poor guy was shivering, but did not want to get out of the water/slip 'n slide.



Anna-Kate was running toward me just fully into the moment and I was trying to capture it.



Then she noticed the camera, so I told her to smile for me. Little ham.



Seriously? What are we gonna do in 10 or so years with this girl??



Minus Katie, my mommy friends there for the evening (Ashley, Heather, me, Sara). Evidently Sara missed the memo to wear a shade of blue/green. :) PS, how am I a FOOT shorter than everyone??? Geesh.



The "big" kids, Annie, Anna-Kate and Andrew shouting "doody", Anna-Kate's made-up word that all of her friends have picked up courtesy of her. (To all my friends, your welcome for that little gem. :) ).

Fun week, and it's only Tuesday!

My college roommate, Liana, and her kids (her daughter is 9 days older than AK and her son is 2 days older than Ryan--so it's always perfect!)came up for a couple of days. We were packed! Yesterday we went to the pool all morning and stayed for lunch. The girls were super cute and so happy to be playing together. :)



We went home, put the boys down for naps and let the girls run around and play in the backyard--they had a ball taking turns pretending to be mommy and baby. So cute! My little booger Anna-Kate didn't take a nap after all that! I went in to see why she was still awake and she pops out of bed, "it morning time I go play with my friend Aubrey now?" (yes, all like that--no punctuation, just words all hurried together...). Sigh. Afterwards, we went to a neighborhood friends' house with the huge slip and slide, trampoline and playground to tire them out some more. Chris brought home pizza so I wouldn't have to be troubled with cooking, and we let the kids run around in the back (again in the pool, this time at the bottom of the slide) until Chris got home and we ate outside. Obviously, they were carried straight to the bath tub.

Eating icecream cones after dinner (we're healthy like that).



Later, Liana and I went out to Target and had a blast trying on clothes and just getting away. We don't get to hang out enough!

This morning we schlepped to the zoo and continued to enjoy the unseasonably cool weather (though the humidity is starting to eek back in...). The kids had a great time (though, to be fair, generally someone had a meltdown throughout the day). We met up with a couple of kids/Mama's from Ryan's playgroup to walk around and have lunch.



My boy LOVES the animals! He was so excited to see the zebras.



Here was Anna-Kate's turn throwing the tantrum as I tried to get a picture of all the kids in the bird's nest.



Ryan and then Adam and Anna-Kate with the gorillas




Sweet girls taking a break after looking at all the snakes and alligators in the reptile house. They are both (quite loudly) saying CHEESE!



The highlight of the trip? The carousel. Anna-Kate opted to ride alone on the peacock bench.



While Ryan chose a bear.



Despite the pitifulness of this picture, I'll include it, as it's the only one with both Liana and I in it. I asked a zoo worker to take a picture of all of us. Here's what we got. I mean, really? Who knew I had asked such a difficult thing?