Winnie the who?

Another old post.... from last fall.


Winnie the Pooh, that's who.  Introducing our Winnie the Pooh, oh and Tigger too!



 Until next time,
Angie

Wordless Wednesday: Channel brain

This morning on the way to school Michael said, "Mom- last night I dreamed that I gave MacKenzie (the girl in his class he likes) a ring." 

A very mature Michael,  not to be confused with the 6 year old Michael I dropped off at school today.

"Oh that's nice Michael," I responded.

He continued, "Actually, you know what Mom, I feel like I have a remote in my mind and I can change the channels in my brain." 

"Say what?" I inquired.

"Yea Mom, its like if I want to watch a scary movie, I turn the channel to Scooby Doo and then I can be scared." 

While I continued to let him tell me all about scanning the channels in his mind, I just smiled and thought, where do they come up with this,  you can't make this suff up.

Until next time,
Angie

Last few days...

Last weekend and in the last few days, we've been purposely trying to slow things down a little.  Dad is really busy at work, and therefore requested that I not plan any extra activities.  And while I thought a weekend of nothing planned sounded wonderful, I found myself feeling antsy and bored.  I know, bored.  How can that be?  Maybe I should rephrase that.  I guess I just didnt' know what to do with myself when we weren't racing from one thing to another. 

Maybe that's a sign we should try to slow things down a little more often.  And with that being said, the kids seemed to really enjoy the free time.  They found toys in their room they hadn't played with in ages, they played with Play-Doh for several hours each weekend day, we went to the park, we rode bikes and Jeep Car and we had quality family movie night.  It was a great relaxing weekend and while it felt strange for me to have so many hours without something planned, I told myself it was probably good to feel that way.

For stopping to enjoy the simple things in life are often the times when the best memories are made.

Here's a quick recap of our low-key, loving-life, weekend...



Gabriel acting like Captain Underpants (the book he was reading a few minutes before).  I'm sure he'll be completely embarrassed in a few years that I shared this picture, but for now he's the one to told me to post it.

Watching some football!  Of course I was cheering on the Packers!

A trip to the park to play in the cool morning breeze.  Although it was still probably in the low 90's it felt glorious.

Playing with their Lego's.  I think they forgot they had Lego's but once they found them again, they spent probably 3 hours creating all different masterpieces.

And a rare moment of all three of them playing nicely together.  Don't they look so precious.  I"m so glad I captured this moment, because it wasn't 5 seconds later that the boys were screaming at me to get their sister, "MOM- ISABELLE IS TOUCHING OUR STUFF!"  and that was the end of the precious moment.

Isabelle giving her color a kiss.  No matter how hard I beg, I still don't get all the kisses I want, yet this nice color, seems to get all the love and more than it could ever want.  (Oh and we colored a lot this past weekend)

And of course there was lots of time spent working on homework.  I'll save my rant for another day, but let me simply say, I don't ever remember having this much homework in first and second grade.  Just saying.

And Gabriel begging me to drive a street or two over to his  "friend" Emma's house so they can "play gymnastics together.  We didn't find time to do that.

And all three of them going for a joy ride.  Notice wild man Michael is suppose to be the driver.  Good thing Gabriel has his helmet on and Isabelle is maintaining control of the wheel.  Should I be scared for when they turn 16?  You, don't have to answer that question, I already know the correct response.


Until next time,
Angie

Yogurt....

The other day, Isabelle needed a snack and the boys needed help with something else.  I sat Isabelle at the table with her yogurt and quickly went to assist the boys.

What I should have known is that it is never safe to turns one's back on a curious and mess-seeking toddler.  When I turned back around after helping the boys, I saw Isabelle like this...

At least she tried to eat it at the end right?

Until next time,
Angie

Future Batmen of the world

With Halloween being only 9 1/2 weeks away, you can imagine we've had plenty of conversations about what everyone will dress up as  this year for the big holiday.

I'm trying to encourage the boys to be Transformers since I bought those costumes last year on clearance at the end of the season, but no matter how hard I try, their time old classics of Batman and Robin, Superman and Spider Man, or Captain America or Iron Man seem all much more interesting.

In some conversation several weeks ago, which I don't remember nor claim to actually have happened, the boys claim I told them that Batarangs and grappling hooks are real.  I guess in my conversation of unconsciousness, I stated that the real ones are only for adults so they wouldn't be able to get one until they are like dad (this statement actually leads me to believe the conversation must have happened because I would say something like this).  The boys took my comment to mean that although they couldn't get a real grappling hook or Batarang, Dad could get one and thus that means they would have access to touch and play with it. 

As a result of that conversation the boys are convinced Dad needs to be Batman and they can be Batman (Michael) and Robin (Gabriel).  As they tried to convince me today, their plan is prefect because Dad can get the "real" tools and then they can use them with their costumes.  While  I continue to remind them that the "real" tools are very sharp and they'd probably hurt themselves or someone else, they continue to have some answer to address my concern. Take in point Gabriel's defense remarks to my statement about possibly hurting another little kid if he has the real Batarangs at Halloween. "Mom, although I will try not to hurt anyone, its okay if I accidentally hurt another kid, we can just take them to the hospital and the doctor will fix them."  My response, "Gabriel it is not okay to do things to hurt someone, even if it is an accident, plus going to the hospital is expensive."   Gabriel's response, "Mom, it is really okay, I have a lot of money."  My retort,, "Really Gabriel, how much money do you have because just to walk into the emergency room at the hospital it is $125.00"  His response, "See Mom's it is perfect, I have $150.00 so see, there is no problem.  Now can we please get the real grappling hooks?"  Me:  "No." 

So following the conversation about the hospital the boys decided we needed to spend the afternoon looking up costumes online.  They found a $499.00 Batman costume for Dad that, "WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO GET FOR HIM!" (which we will absolutely NOT be getting) and they each picked out their costumes too.  And then we went to Amazon where we found the real Batarangs and grappling hooks, which then became their focus for the next several hours.  "Mom, if I stop arguing with my brother and stop talking back to you will you get me these."  I could tell by their bargaining, they were really desperate. 

After finally telling them I would talk it over with dad, and get back to them, they went on their own to create their own grappling hooks.  That's when out in the street in front of our house they found a broken tire strap, and some string in their garage to make their own "Batman tool" While I told them they could play outside while I made dinner, I observed them trying to climb the pool fence,

 

which of course I put the stop too as they mastered actually getting over the barrier and then I saw them trying to boost one another up to get onto the roof. 

Yes that is Michael behind that pillar, climbing up the pole like Spider Man.

At this point, Mom had to intervene and kill all the fun again. As I went outside to see Michael climbing up the back pillar to get onto the roof, Gabriel said, "Never mind him Mom, that's just Spider Monkey."  I responded, "Great to hear Gabriel. That's good it isn't Michael because I don't take Spider Monkey's to the hospital when they fall."  And then I returned back in the house to resume dinner.  I guess they got my point because I noticed they left the pillar climbing moved onto pulling out twigs from one of our only living plants in our backyard. 

As I called them in for dinner they proudly announced, "Mom, are you happy?  We are pulling all the branches out of the plant in the backyard.  You don't want that to be alive anymore right?" 

Man these boys, they have more energy, creativity and determination than I could only dream of having.  Now that I've filled Dad in on all the latest requests and demands, we are taking votes as to when they'll ask us for our final decision about getting them the real Batman tools.  My guess 6:01 a.m. tomorrow morning when they get out of their beds.

Until next time,
Angie

We lost Michael... again.

For those who've read this blog for the last couple of years, may recall the time I lost Michael at a busy city park during the middle of a birthday party.  That event was traumatic enough that I still, to this day, remind the boys about staying close, the dangers of strangers and what to do if something terrible would ever happen.

Fast forward to today.  As a normal Thursday afternoon, I loaded up Belle in her riding car and headed for the bus stop to greet the boys.  Now that we are a few weeks into school, I've become more lackadaisical in my pick-up routine, I wait until the very last minute to leave the house as I walk to the stop and wait in the peak heat of the day for the bus to arrive.  Thankfully we have two wonderful families on our block that also have children that go to the same school,  ride the bus and get off at the same stop.  So the waiting part isn't bad, when you can catch up on all the news of the day from the other moms. 

As the bus rounded the corner, I saw Gabriel sitting in the front row of the bus right across from the driver.  The bus came to a stop and the doors opened gradually.  And while it seemed like it was going to be another normal after school, I quickly learned it wasn't so.  As fast as he could jump out of the bus Gabriel did.  "MOM- MICHAEL'S NOT ON THE BUS!!!!"  Followed by four more comments from the neighbor kids about Michael's absence.  At first I thought Gabriel was joking.  I said, "Gabriel is he hiding?"  You know Michael is the prankster of our family.  And when Gabriel's serious as all seriousness face responded NO, I immediately knew he was telling the truth.  By now the kids had all departed the bus and as the driver was getting ready to shut the doors.   I quickly went up to ask for clarification.  I guess, I assumed (that is where I went wrong) that if you tell the school your kids will be riding the bus on x days, that they will be on the bus when you expect them to be.  I said, "Mr. Matt is my son Michael on the bus?"  To which he replied," I don't think so, I'll walk the bus to see though".  Within a minute he came back to the front of the bus and said, "I"m sorry he's not."  Trying to keep myself calm, while my mind started racing, I asked him what I should do.  He said to call the school. 

As I tried to remain calm, my mind was off, replaying every possible place Michael could be.  Of course every lost or kidnapped child case that has been in the news in the last year, raced through my mind.  Where could he be?  How could he not get on the bus?  He wouldn't have just walked away from the school.  And while I knew he had to be somewhere back at school, I tried my best to not think of the worse case scenarios.

I dialed the school.  Thankfully the secretary picked up on the second ring.  I explained, "Hi my name is Angie and my son Michael was suppose to ride the bus home from school today.  I'm at the bus stop with my other son but Michael is not here."  Sensing the urgency and concern in my voice, the nice woman at the other end of the phone politely said, "I will contact Michael's teacher right away, hold one moment please."  And within one minute she was back on the phone.  She said, "We believe Michael went to Kid's Club (the after school program).  Ms. T is on her way to check and the other teachers are walking the school to make sure he isn't around the campus.  I will call you back immediately as soon as we find him.

I hung up.  And while it didn't alleviate the racing of my mind, it did reassure me he had to still be there.  I called Jarrett and explained the situation.  He said, just go to the school, I"m sure he's there, he probably forgot he didn't go to the after school program today. Before even hanging up the phone with Jarrett, I was buckling Isabelle in her car seat and telling Gabriel to climb in.  As I set my phone down to clasp the two buckles together, my phone rang.   It was the school.

On our way to the school, I asked Gabriel why he didn't say anything to the bus driver or any other adult when he didn't see Michael waiting to go home on the bus with him.  He said, "Mom, I thought someone took him."  And then I said, Gabriel that is even more of a reason to say something to an adult.  Please promise me that if you ever get to the bus stop and Michael isn't there, that you tell a teacher or ask an adult at the school to help you find your brother.  "Okay," he responded, "Mom- should we put up missing signs like people do when they lose their dog or cat.  I smiled, (always trying to help that boy), thinking let's hope we NEVER have to do that.  I think he could sense how worried I was.  I said, No Gabriel, Michael has to be at the school  We are going there right now." 

Seeing that it was the school calling me, I immediately picked up.  The kind receptionist  without even introducing herself said, "I'm looking at Michael right now and he is sitting here with his teacher waiting for you to come pick him up.  He was at Kid's Club, he forgot today was a day to ride the bus."  I'm on my way, I replied and in less than 3 minutes I pulled into the parking lot.

As I entered the lobby doors, there sat a smiley and happy-go-lucky Michael, without a worry or concern in the world.  He smiled and said, "Look Mom, I have a loose tooth!"  Obviously he didn't realize that my heart had been in the bottom of my stomach for the last 20 minutes.  He teacher apologized profusely and said how sorry she was that Michael went to the wrong location after school got out.  Although I know it wasn't  her fault, I did appreciate her jumping into help.   As Isabelle made loud noises and fought me to get down to run, I shared with Michael, his teacher and the other crew of staff who all joined in on the search, how scared I was, that we didn't know where he was.  After thanking the teachers and staff for helping, we all piled into the car and I called Dad to share the crisis has been adverted.

And while the thoughts of how lucky we were today continue to come to mind, I can't help but relate to what parents of missing children must go through.  I only felt for a few minutes the panic, the helplessness and the fear that those families must live with every hour, every minute and every second of every day their loved one is not with them.  My heart goes out to all those families.  What a horrible thing for any one to go through. 

I'm counting my blessings again tonight and I've made a vow to myself that every single day as I drop the kids off at school, I will remind Michael where he should go at the end of the day. While I can't promise he will remember, I tell myself it can't hurt.  I hope we never have an after school adventure like the one we had today.

Until next time,
Angie

Belle's balloon....

Isabelle loves balloons.  I think it all started with her fascination of Winnie the Pooh's  balloon in the movie we watch over and over and over.

 

And so while we were in Iowa, one afternoon we spent at my Grandpa's house, Isabelle was thrilled to see that he had a balloon.   And while the life of her little balloon was short, it entertained her and kept her wildly excited about playing with it for the whole 15 minutes it had life.

 

I share now, the life of the little orange balloon...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time,

angie

This is how we roll...

In the last few days before school started, the kids were desperate to get out of the house.  The summer has been long hot and mom was tired of the chaos of the inside fighting noise.  So on the last few mornings of freedom, aka summer break, I braved the extreme heat and took the kids to the park to play.

Although we only lasted an hour and a half (only because Jack and Mom couldn't handle the heat anymore), it was a nice break from the stircraziness, that comes with living in the desert in the summer.

Here's a quick shot of how we roll.. summer sweating style.

Its a little bright out here mom, just a tad bright.

 

I like to call these following shots...

 

Monkey see, Monday do....

 

Three little monkeys...

 Playing at the park...

 While Jack and Mom sweat, they just had fun.

Until next time,
Angie

Swiming beauty...

Flashback Friday....

 

Last summer Isabelle had 5 swimming suits.  Yes 5 swimming suits.  I guess one for every month old she was.  They were all so precious that I couldn't help but put her in each one and place her bathtub outside next to the pool so she could "go swimming" 

 

One of the swim suits was so darling I dressed her up and created my own mini-photo shoot.  In some ways it reminded me of when I was a little girl and played with my babies, dressing them in a new outfit every 10 minutes. 

 

Here's a few of the photos from last summer when we had Belle all dressed up.  Doesn't she look like she should be a baby synchronized swimmer?

 

 

Man, she makes my heart explode with love every time I see her.  You know how they say a mom thinks her children are the best and the most beautiful.  Before becoming a mom I wondered if that was really true.  There are some really beautiful children and super amazing kids out there.. But I've found out what "they" say is right....  I love Gabriel, Michael and Isabelle more than I ever imagined one could love.  And even though they were born from another mother, I firmly believe God's master plan was that we were created for each other.

 

Until next time,

Angie

Tie Die...

When we were in Iowa, I shared how we celebrated Christmas in July.  We ended up going to Valley fair as a family.  My sister Megan had the idea that it might be fun (and easier to keep track of everyone) if we all wore tie die shirts.  So one afternoon we each picked out our shirts, decided what colors we wanted them to look like and then we created our own masterpiece.  They turned out great!   

Here we are just beginning the tie die process...  To capture every moment, of course I had my camera and started snapped away.  I told the ladies to smile and this is what I got... I also told them these photos would end up online.  I wonder if next time they'll turn around. :-)

Isabelle's favorite part was stirring up the liquid color. It was kind of scary knowing what could happen when the bucket was spilled, so we stayed pretty close.

Meanwhile, my dad supervised and Aaron gave orders ahem, directions.

Mixing the concoction

While also mixing in a little whisker love.



Spraying off the excess die on our finished product.

We were all pretty excited to see what the finished product looked like.  Being that it was our first time tie dying shirts and all. 

 

We were so happy with how great the shirts turned out, in fact that the way they originally looked will be forever only in our memory.  See, in trying to follow the directions, we some how made a mis-step and ended up having all the shirts blend together.  The end result, see below.  Although some suggested we look like a Barney the Dinosaur fan club, it was still fun and Meg's idea worked.  It was a lot easier to find everyone in our group

 

Oh and other fun aspect of having the shirts together, we got lots of questions from others at the park why were all dressed like that.

 

Until next time,

Angie