Indoor Play and Outdoor Play

FRIDAY we woke up slowly...that is, we crawled out of bed slowly, spent extra time in our pajamas, and took our time making breakfast. Sometimes it's nice to wake up and not have to move fast! I know that Calla, for one, prefers this kind of morning!

below: helping make pancakes from scratch. I ran out of pancake mix, and Aunt Katelyn makes pancakes from scratch (and they taste yummy) so we thought we'd give it a whirl.

Kelsey prayed for our breakfast. She likes to sing the "Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus" prayer, although she ends it with her own twist....instead of saying "And our many blessings, Amen." she finishes off with a very enthusiastic, "How many pieces do you wish!" Hahaha. The 'pieces do you wish' is actually the conclusion of that elementary-school rhyme "Bubblegum, bubblegum, in a dish...how may pieces do you wish!" (Jonathan taught it to the girls.) I am not sure if Kelsey means to get the prayer/nursery rhyme mixed up or not. hahaha.

Speaking of Kels, I include this pic for Aunt Kimberly because she tried to teach me how to do a french braid when we were on vacation. (Kimmi can do so many neat things with hair....I hope she has a baby girl someday!) Sometimes it looks pretty rough but I was actually pleased with this one:

Anyway, sometime after breakfast and some playing (and walking practice), I put Jay down for his nap. I did some housework because Jenny and I were planning to meet at the splash park at 11 or so once Jay woke up. I have done the splash park a few times in summers' past, but we haven't been there yet this year and so Jenny and I were in the mood to go.

Well, Jay had only been sleeping about a half hour before thunderclouds started rolling in. Our area desperately needs rain, so I wasn't too disappointed when it started raining. The girls, however, were SO bummed. I felt bad for them.

Well Jenny devised a Plan B. She had some coupons for Monkey Bizness and suggested we go there instead since the weather was so disappointing. So once Jay woke up, we packed a lunch and headed across town to Monkey Bizness. I forgot my cell phone on the way, and it is really amazing how suddenly you feel like you lost your right arm if you forget your phone. I just get so used to having it. Poor Jenny was still waiting to hear if I was going or not (I had left it a little in the air) but I just hoped she would come no matter what and sure enough she did. Yay; a mark of a good friend is to be able to read somebody's mind. haha.

Normally, hanging out at an indoor playland place on a summer day seems pretty distasteful to me, but it was the perfect indoor activity on a rainy day. The girls were SO excited. Splash park, what splash park?! They played happily with the Moo kids the entire time we were there. In fact, Norah and Calla and Kelsey and Erik were in their own little world most of the time...Jenny and I just had to keep track of Dane and Jay.

Jaybird is pretty easy to spot...he was obsessed with this steering wheel and stood and played with it over and over. Dane, however, is 19 months and in constant motion. Jenny was working overtime making sure he wasn't lost/getting hurt/hurting somebody else the entire time. Our conversations were pretty disjointed, to say the least.

We took a break to eat our lunches, then the kids headed to the craft room. I checked on them once, but after awhile Jenny and I returned to the playland with the babies while the big kids painted. It least, painting is what they were doing when we left them. After awhile, they had decided to stand on a table that leaned against a window facing the playland. They began smiling and banging on the window. At first, I smiled back and waved. Then I realized they probably weren't THAT tall and had to be standing on something...so I began making my way to the craft room to intervene. Somehow, in those 30 seconds, a Monkey Bizness employee beat me to it and shooed the kids out of the craft room.

Jenny and I were so embarrassed! Unfortunately, I don't think the kids were embarrassed at all. It is uncanny how children who, individually, would never think to stand on a table would decide, as a group of four, that standing on a table is a good idea. Norah and Calla blamed Erik. We blamed them because they are the oldest. Regardless, I made them all apologize to the employee before we left. (I got the employee's attention and told him that the kids had something to say...and the kids were completely silent. Fortunately Norah got up the nerve to apologize first, and Calla was right behind her voicing her own very soft-spoken apology!)

Well after that incident, Jenny and I felt it was time to go. It was nearing 2pm anyway (naptime). Norah invited Calla for a playdate, but Calla wanted to have a playdate at our house since she is so afraid of Norah's dog. (Which they keep locked up, the entire time Calla is there.) So Norah came home with us.

I put Jay to bed almost as soon as we got home, and then the girls played outside while I did some weeding. Well, I attempted to weed. I feel like as soon as I put on those weeding gloves, somebody always needs a drink or has to use the bathroom or is desperately hungry. Or all three at once. I think I got all of a dozen weeds picked before Jay was awake. Oh brother!

Once Jay was up, I just really felt like nothing was getting accomplished. I love that little man, but he is just at a tough age for housework! I managed to vacuum and fold some laundry, but in the meantime the girls were turning their bedroom upside down playing "house." Their formally clean room was in shambles, which normally doesn't phase me but I must have been cranky because it was starting to bug me.

We needed a change of scenery! The rain clouds had cleared, and it was hot and sunny outside. At 4 or so, I texted Jenny that I was going to take the kids to the pool (or I offered to drop Norah off if she wasn't comfortable with me having her at the pool - Norah can swim but she is only 5). Jenny texted back that Luke was out of town for the evening so why not she and her kiddos just meet us there? We could pack dinners and make a night out of it.

I thought that was a great idea. Jonathan wasn't due home until 6, and after that he wanted to power-wash the back deck in preparation for staining it today (Saturday). I knew it'd be easier if his girls were out of his hair.

So at 4:30 or later, we arrived at Northside Pool. Ahhh it felt so nice. It was SO hot and the pool was very empty. A wonderful combination. I've decided the late-afternoon Friday swim might be my favorite!

Calla, Norah, Erik and Kelsey Mae just had a wonderful time. Erik has a soft spot for my girls and it is so nice that he does because otherwise he'd probably be wishing for a boy to play with! The poor child is always 'the dad' when they play house! haha. Yesterday, Kelsey Mae was the mom, Erik was the dad, Calla was the kid, and Norah was the "teenager." haha.

The kids spent a long time camping out in the sand building something. Jenny and I sat in lawn chairs and chatted. Jay is content in the sand if he has a lawn chair to climb around on. He also stands by this faucet that spits out the coldest water ever.

After 6 o'clock had rolled around, we interrupted the kids and moved to the picnic tables to eat dinner. That went well until the big kids finished eating first and Jenny and I and the little boys were still going strong (Jay going strong means = eating goldfish crumbs. It's his favorite. ha. I'm not even kidding.). The big kids started running around, which we thought was an acceptable way to burn energy (there was nobody else around, so they weren't disturbing anyone) until Kelsey fell down not once, not twice, but three times. After the second time, I told her if she kept running she would fall down. Hence, the third time. And after that I forbid her to run. She was all scraped up...she has a black and blue spot under her eye and a black and blue spot on her little thigh. Falling on cement while wearing a swimsuit cannot feel good.

Once dinner, and the running, was over Norah decided she wanted to do the diving board. So we all went and cheered her on. I think Calla believes that as long as she is cheering, nobody will notice that she doesn't want to do it. (-: The diving board is pretty high up...Norah entertained us with some tried-and-true jumps...the belly-flop, the sort-of-flip, the "pencil." We gave her big applause.

Daddy stopped in at the pool to give us hugs on his way to HOme Depot to pick up the stain for the deck. He had gotten done power washing it. We told him we'd see him at home. Jenny left shortly after Norah's dive performances, and I meant to tell my girls it was time to go but we were just having a fabulous time.

The pool was almost empty, the sand was empty, and my girls were having the time of their life. Even Jaybird was super content to hang out. The temperature was in the upper 80s, so there wasn't any of that wet-and-chilly feeling that sometimes accompanies evening swims. (-: The pool music was an eclectic mix of hits from the 90s, which is always easy listening in my book. haha.

7 o'clock came and went and by the time 7:30 rolled around, the lifeguards were stacking chairs and putting sand toys away. We decided to get going. I changed the girls from their suits to their pajamas. I put Jay in pajamas too. Then we headed home.

Jay was super tired by this point, so I told the girls to lay in bed and wait for me to tuck them in while I quick put Jay in his crib. I returned to their room five minutes later....the light was still on, both those girls were already fast asleep! ha! It was so cute! It was probably my easiest bedtime-routine ever. I think a couple hours of evening swimming will need to be on our regular schedule. haha jk.

Jonathan came home and we ate a frozen pizza like we were in college. Then he surprised me with a milkshake, which he did not do in college. Yum.

Callaism~

~ Calla: "When can I have a cell phone?" Me: "When you learn to drive." Calla: "How old is that? Ten? Eleven?" Me: "Sixteen." Calla: "Okay, so i can drive and have a phone when I am sixteen. Okay that sounds good."

Kelseyism~

~ Kelsey, at the pool, in the sand pit: "Mom, Mom, I have to use the bathroom!" Me: "Okay, ok! Quickly rinse off the sand and we'll go use the bathroom!" Kelsey rushes out of the sand to the water faucet and rinses off the sand. She pauses and stands very still as the water slides all the sand off her legs. She turns to me and giggles and points to the ground, "It's ok, Mommy, i peed right here." OOPS.

Jayism~

~ Jay loves his walker. He walks it to one side of the room, it runs into the wall, and he grunts until somebody moves it for him so he can continue walking. I remember Kelsey doing this, although she used to shriek and scream when the walker would hit something. I much prefer some manly grunting. (-:

Kelsey's 3-Year Appointment

YESTERDAY we had to get up and get our act together right away because Kelsey had her 3-year well visit at the doctor's first thing. I got everybody dressed, and was putting Kelsey's clothes on when she got very, very nervous about the doctor. Aw I felt so bad for her! She said she was going to cry.

Calla was totally up for a pep talk. She kept reassuring Kelsey that she wouldn't get any shots and that the doctor is actually a very, very nice man. Kelsey didn't look too convinced, but when Daddy told her that the doctor was going to check for animals in her nose and her eyes she started to giggle.

Kelsey started getting nervous again as we got in the car. I guess the doctor's would cause a lot of concern because she sees Jay screaming his little head off every couple months when he goes to get vaccinated. And she's always been sensitive at the doctor's office; I remember she wailed her head off during her 2-year well visit because she didn't like being poked and prodded (Mimi could hear her from the lobby!).

We stopped at Dunkin Donuts on our way. I thought we'd just whiz through the drive-thru but the line of cars was literally wrapping around the entire store. So we pulled into one of the empty parking spaces and all climbed out of the van and went inside to order. There was nobody in line. I think it was ironic that the person with three children decided to quick run in; I guess people have patience to sit in a line for ten minutes if they can sit and get "work" done on their smartphones. ha.

We got to the doctor's five minutes early (probably the first time I have ever been early for a doc appointment) and were called back right away.

below: the nervous patient. New Baby was along for the ride.

 below: Calla wore her sunglasses the entire time. The reception said, "Who's the movie star?" but obviously Calla didn't get it. They both wanted to look nice and wear dresses for the doctor. I am sure he appreciated it.

below: Jaybird got squirmy. I am assuming a doctor's office has very clean floors. ha.

Kelsey's appointment actually went great! She did fine, although she barely spoke to the doctor. This was especially a shame because I asked the doctor if I should be concerned with her speech, since she is still difficult to understand. He said that at her age she still has lots of time for growth in that area, and told me to keep an "ear" on it and make sure she continues to improve. I am supposed to notify him if she seemed to plateau.

We also got Kelsey's stats. I didn't realize how small she was at 2 years old - she was in the 6th percentile in weight last year! I don't have the papers with me right now, but she was approximately 36 inches tall (in the 22%) and weighed 28 pounds (in the 23%). So she is very proportionate. (-:

After the doctor's, Kelsey breathed a sigh of relief and we went home. Jay fell asleep on the ride home; he was pretty beat after climbing around every square inch of that waiting room. Once we got home, I did some housework while the girls played.

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far. The high was 100 or so, but with the heat index I think it got up to 108. Needless to say, we planned on heading to the pool! I fed the girls their lunch, and then right when Jay woke up we headed out to Rice Pool.

It was the kind of weather that was so uncomfortable that I told Calla she could sit in the pool while I applied Kelsey's sunscreen so she wouldn't have to stand and wait in the heat. Ha. The water felt SO good. A bunch of our friends were there, and it was fun for the girls to swim and play around with them. We stayed in the deeper water ("deeper" meaning 2 and a half feet! ha) to stay cool.

I was surprised when the girls said they wanted to play in the sand, because it didn't strike me as a "sand" day but we found a spot in the shade and the girls got busy building a sand castle with their friends Brooke and Cameron while Jay splashed around in a puddle. My friend Hannah was there...she was a son, Levi, who is only three weeks older than Jay. He just started taking his first steps. Levi also crawled before Jay, so I told Jay he should take notes!

Well I thought Jay was pretty busy but Levi didn't even stop to take a breath! 100 degrees and all, that little boy was moving constantly. I realized that Jay doesn't require as much energy as I thought. haha. It's all perspective! Levi and Jay kept wanting to play with the same little toys. That always happens!

Since it was such a hot day, we stayed at the pool for pretty long. All our friends had left, and so shortly after 2 we decided to pack it up. I knew Jay would be ready for a nap soon. I planned on keeping Kelsey awake so she could go to sleep early since we had a babysitter. Sometimes it's easier for Kelsey if she doesn't even know that we have a sitter!

Once we got home, Jay was fast asleep....

Thursday afternoon we mostly stayed inside. It was just too hot to be out. At one point, the girls wanted to play with their bikes in the driveway but they literally dragged them all out, played for five minutes tops, and were telling me they were ready to come in because they were so hot. Calla even told me her head was sweaty (she was wearing a bike helmet, ha!).

Thursday is cleaning day, so I was busy cleaning inside anyway. After Jay woke up, I brought all the kids into the big whirlpool tub with me and we had a long bath. It felt good to get all the grime and sand and sweat off! Jay loves the bath. He always shrieks in protest when I take him out!

Jonathan had to work late, so I had to juggle the post-bath/dinnertime/bedtime ritual myself. It was a little touch and go, but we got it done. I have a hard time (no pun intended) with proper time management sometimes...I tend to be optimistic about our pace and end up running late.

Well last night was no exception. I got Kelsey in bed by 6:30 and she was asleep by 6:31 (no joke), and then I got Jay ready for bed. The babysitter, Stefani, arrived early which worked out because she and Calla cuddled on the back couch reading books while I got Jay to sleep. Then I said goodbye to the girls and headed out to Bible Study.

Our small group got together last night for a cookout, followed by a discussion on what we were going to study next (we just finished "Momentary Marriage"). Jonathan met me there, and it was such a fun evening. It was nice to have some social time!

We got home at 9:30 or so, and Stef reported that Jay did wake up once (oh my goodness!) but a couple pats of the bottom and he went right back to sleep. She said she put Calla in bed, and a few minutes later Calla resurfaced to tell Stefani "I love you very, very much." haha. Stefani put her back in bed and a few minutes later Calla called Stef to her room to report that she is "now 4 years and three-quarters." Good to know. After that, Stef said she fell right to sleep.

Well I wanted to post -isms but a big thunderstorm is coming (yay for rain!) so I better get off before we lose electricity and I have to crawl to my bedroom (a fear of mine haha).

*Happy Weekend*

Call Me Maybe

WEDNESDAY morning went as our typical mornings go...Kelsey Mae and Jay wake up first, and are usually awake to wish Daddy goodbye (he leaves for work at 7:30). Then Calla wakes up sometime between 7:30-8, and I feed everybody breakfast. Yesterday we decided to go to the sports center, since everybody was in the mood. I knew that Thursday (today) I wouldn't be able to go because Kelsey had her 3-year well visit, so we decided to get in a workout yesterday instead.

I don't normally go to the gym on Wednesdays, but it was a good day to go because it was fairly empty! Jay went to the childcare worker without any complaints...he even sat on her hip while she and I chatted for a few minutes. I am just holding my breath that my boy skips over that separation-anxiety phase...goodness knows, my girls got it bad enough to make up for all three of them.

After the sports center, we headed home. Jay went down for his nap, after an hour of crying. Sleep training isn't always a breeze, I told him. Waaaa, he said back. Poor little baby.

It was another hot day, so the girls and I planned to go to the pool at noon. While Jay slept, the girls played indoors and I got some housework done. They don't usually play outside in the morning; they are too busy "playing house." I was "dad" which was very confusing because Calla kept yelling for "mom" who was Kelsey. I did a lot of "Yes?" only to have somebody yell back, "Not YOU!"

At around 11:30 or so, we were eating lunch and Jay woke up. Nothing like waking up from a nap and being ushered right out into 90-degree temperatures! That must be so jolting. He took it in stride. Maybe that's because he knew where he was headed....

aaaaahhh...sweet, sweet mud....

 below: Kelsey and Calla playing in the mud with a new friend. Her name was Joy. (She had a baby sister named Agnes. I can't imagine "Agnes" is coming back into vogue? Maybe?)

Several of my girlfriends were there, with their kiddos. Oh it just makes it so terribly fun for Calla and Kelsey when they have little playmates along. What a nice little life...go in the pool, there's a bunch of familiar faces. Go in the sand....more familiar faces. There was even the Moo kids arriving when Kelsey and I were using the bathroom! Familiar faces everywhere. (-:

My friends and I have sporatic conversations, usually depending on what our kids are up to. I usually get the most in during our time in the sand. I pull up a chair, then somebody else does, then someone else, and soon we are all chatting, until somebody makes a good point and then all the sudden they are interrupted by so-and-so throwing sand. "Stop throwing sand!" they call (unconvincingly) and then continue their sentence. Then somebody else contributes a thought, but before they can finish it so-and-so wants to go back in the pool and mommy won't you please come along. Ok, they say and we all smile (wondering how they were going to finish their sentence). Then someone else pulls up a chair and begins to chat and before they are even getting warmed up, everyone else's children are saying they want back in the pool too and so the sand clears out and there I am, in my chair. (-:

I spend a lot of time in the sand because these three happen to love it....

 When I took this pic, it was 2pm and they were still going strong. All our friends had left the pool but nobody noticed. They were too busy making mud pies.

 I knew I wanted Kelsey down for a nap by 2:30 at the latest, so finally I convinced the kids we had to leave. I feel like I always need to convince myself too. Our conversation usually goes like this: "Kids, we are going to leave in five minutes. Kelsey needs a nap." (Ten minutes pass.) "Calla, do you think we should go? Are you tired of the pool?" Calla: "No not yet." Me: "Okay, well five more minutes then." (Ten minutes pass.) Me: "Kelsey, you ready? Are you ready to leave?" Kelsey: "Yes, mom." Me: "Okay, let me tell Calla five more minutes then."

Sheesh! I just love the pool too much to leave.

So does this little man. Here he is in the locker rooms chewing on his cup while he waits for his sisters to change out of their swimsuits....

 Cups are almost as fun to bang and throw around as they are to chew:

We, somehow, finally left the pool. Jay and Kelsey napped when we got home. Calla and I cleaned out the laundry room. It needed cleaning before Aunt Katelyn comes into town next week and asks to throw something in the washer and I say, "Oh no I can't let you in there because it is a mess." So Katelyn feel free to use my washer. In fact, you must. (now that I've cleaned it.)

The kids woke up from their naps and we straightened up the house a bit. Jonathan surprised us by coming home on the early side....I was sweeping up the kitchen floor and said, "What are you doing home?!" We usually spend the last 30 minutes or so cleaning up the houes before he gets home from work and so he definitely came home to clutter! "You didn't give me time to de-clutter!" I told him. We were still glad to see him. (-:

We ate dinner on the early side because I wanted to take the kids to Norah's last softball game. It was 90 degrees...seems like a perfect night for watching softball. hahaha.

I gave Jay some watermelon for dinner. He loved it! But he also choked on it. Go figure. How do you choke on something that is 90% water?!

At 6, the kids and I left to go to Norah's game and Jonathan left to go find stain for our back deck. He has ambitious plans to stain in this weekend. Bless him.

It turns out, I couldn't find the softball field. I don't know why; later when Jonathan explained to me where it was I wasn't sure how I missed it. The girls were disappointed, so we cheered ourselves up by stopping at the candy shop. They each had 50 cents to spend, and bought a lot of candy. Then we sat across the street at the fountains to watch the trains go by. Except we had only been sitting there for five minutes when Kelsey had to use the bathroom. Oh brother.

below: Jay tried to climb into the fountain. No really, he did. He stood up on that step on his left and tried swinging his one leg over.

 below: The girls watching for a train....

We found a bathroom at a Starbucks and then headed back to the car. When I got to the car, it was 7:30 and 90 degrees. Ahh, no wonder we were all sweaty by our walk back.

We decided to head to Target because I needed to get ingredients for a pasta salad I was making for tonight (Thursday). It didn't take too long, and the kids were doing fine until I ran into an old friend, Jill, and we stood talking and all the sudden Calla started complaining and Jay kept shrieking. How did they know I was just trying to get in a friendly little conversation?! I told Jill we'd have to get together and please excuse us it is bedtime (she was out shopping while her kids were in bed - good idea, Jill!).

We got home and Jonathan was home so we put the kiddos to bed. It took a little while. I started reading books and then couldn't stop. First the pool, now the books. I have a problem. I just love the pool, and love books. Jonathan kept saying, "okay, Carly, it's really time for bed!" haha.

Jay only cried for five minutes at bedtime. Poor little lad is learning. Love him.

Callaism~

~ Calla started singing that "Call Me Maybe" song (by Carly no less!) and knew quite a few words. I asked her how she knew so many more words (she used to only know the title words) and she said matter-of-factly, "Oh, Brooke and Leah and Ashlyn and I were just singing it together in the sand today." HAHA.

Jayism~

~ I practiced Jay's steps with him for it least fifteen minutes today. He has no problems standing alone. You can plop him in the middle of a room and he'll just stand there for a while. But as soon as I try to get him to walk forward, he hesitates! He will look like he is going to try it, and then just lean forward and fall to his knees. A posture of prayer. I guess that's not all bad.

Making Mud at the Pool

TUESDAY all the kids woke up at the same time. There's definitely no easing-into-the-day when that happens. (-: (I am a slow mover in the morning.) The girls ate waffles (except Calla ate hers without syrup...I guess that girl figured out that I bought the cheap version of syrup, because she was NOT a fan of it! ha).

We decided to go to the sports center...it's been awhile! Jaybird grabbed tight around my neck when I went to drop him off, but he didn't cry when the lady took him. But when I picked him up an hour later, he was kicking his feet and smiling. (He always kicks his feet when he's excited.)

We got home, I put Jay down for his nap and the girls and I got ready to go to the pool. Calla's favorite part about getting ready for the pool is picking out a swimsuit, which she changes into and then puts her swimsuit cover-up on before I can see her...then when we get to the pool she unzips it and says "Ta da!" Sometimes she has me guess which swimsuit she is wearing on the drive over. (-:

I made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch while Jay was still snoozing. Kelsey has been taking some time off from eating peanut butter and jelly for some reason, but she loves grilled cheese.

We got done eating just as Jay woke up, so we packed it up at 11:30 and headed to Rice Pool.

below: playing in the sand. Calla built this "baby pool" especially for brother to stick his feet in. She is so thoughtful sometimes.

 below: This was the most muddy Jay's ever got in the sand! He was crawling around in it and being adventurous (usually he sticks close to his mama). He splashed in the puddle, but always seemed surprised when the muddy sand got all over his face.

below: YAY! DIRT!
 
below: Sissy playing with Jay. Her little hair bow was made by my friend Debbie, and Calla got it as a favor at Debbie's daughter, Avery's, birthday party. Calla was hoping so bad that Debbie would be at the pool to "see her bow." haha.

 Love this picture!....

 below: haha. Calla is very expressive.

Jenny and her kiddos were at the pool, along with a couple other friends and their kids. Norah really wanted Calla to go down the water slides with her, but Calla did not want to. She does not give into pressure very easily, because Norah was begging her to come along and Calla would not have it. I don't think she's gone down the slide in a couple weeks, since that time when she got disoriented and ended up head first.

So after swimming a bit, we spent a long time in the sand.

I introduced Jay to the faucet. He was in love:

 below: hanging with sissy...

 Straightening it up...

 Kelsey stomping in the sand....

It's always hard to leave the pool when everybody is having such a fun time, but I knew Jay was due for his nap and I didn't want to wait until he got cranky to leave. We headed back home. I gave the girls popsicles to cool off and then I put Jay down for a nap. He was so ready to sleep!

Yesterday afternoon was pretty low-key! The girls played indoors, and then after Jay woke up we did some weeding outside. We came inside to make spaghetti before Jonathan got home. Jonathan had a rough day yesterday because he injured his back playing softball on Monday night. He went to the doctor to get it checked out, and the doctor thinks he either cracked some ribs or pulled some muscles. We think now (Wed night) that he must have pulled muscles because it is already starting to feel better (Jonathan is on an anti-inflammatory med) and cracked ribs take much longer to heal.

At any rate, Jonathan came home and laid on the couch with a heating pad until dinner. The girls greeted him, but then went right back outside to play. Jay stood at the patio door in the back room begging to go out...his version of begging involves lots of loud grunts until he starts to get upset!

By the time we were done eating and doing the dishes, it was 6:30. I knew Kelsey could fall asleep at any time because she hadn't napped. Jay banged around in the play kitchen while the girls and I read books on the floor of their room, then I tucked them in and went to put Jay to bed.

Confession: i have done this a half dozen times since Jay has been born, but I need to start sleep training Jay again. He hasn't been sleeping well since we got back from vacation, and I think it's time to kick this little lad into high gear.

So last night I gave him lots of extra kisses, and then did pick up/put down. Pick up/put down is a battle of the wills (when he cries for mama to hold him, I lay him back down until he gets tired of it and rolls over and falls asleep) and it turns out Jay's will is even weaker than mine! (I do not have a lot of resolve when it comes to sleep training! haha.) It took about twenty or thirty minutes, which is much less time than I expected. Hopefully, I can help Jay have better sleep habits!

Callaism~

~ Calla to daddy: "I love you as fast as the wind blows." I am not sure where she came up with this, although I have used "as fast as the wind" in everyday conversation with her. Yes, I realize that is weird too. Call it a Carlyism. haha.

Jayism~

~ Have I mentioned that Jay has four teeth now? haha. just kidding. I know I have.

A Slow Monday

MY girlfriend Kate sent me some pics that she sent from our day at the lake.

below: The kiddos hanging out on the huge mat Brad bought.

Left...Braden, Calla, Kelsey Ann, Kelsey Mae...

 below: A guy who works at Brad's office invented this mat when his kids used to love playing with gym mats in the water. So, if you want one, you can buy them online (-: ha

below: The girls hanging out on the end of the boat (-:
Calla, Maggie, Kelsey Ann, Kelsey Mae...

 Playing around...

 below: ahhh so fun..

The girls chilling...

YESTERDAY was a typical Monday at home! We had a slow morning (i feel like I type that about every other morning). But I felt like we needed to get our act together after our busy weekend. The kids ate breakfast and I started the laundry. It's always tricky starting the laundry when Jay's awake - he always sprints over (so to speak) as soon as he sees that laundry door open. haha.

Jaybird took a pretty long morning nap. I worked on a grocery list and caught up with my mom on the phone while the girls played "house." They were off in their own world; I love when they play nicely like that. I usually try not to bother them.

When Jay woke up from his nap, we headed out to go to Target. Typically, we usually walk right over to the grocery store from Target but I had plans to meet up with a couple friends at a park nearby since it was such a nice day.

The kids were happy to head to the park! It was only a high of 75, so it was perfect park weather and we headed over to Atten Park, which we haven't been to in a long time (as we pulled in Kelsey Mae said she didn't remember it but I doubt it's been that long!). The kids played with their friends, and we even ran into our new baby-sitter, Kari, who was there with the two kids that she nannies.

Calla filled her in on everything that's happened in the two weeks since we've seen her. (-: I also set up for her to babysit for us on Sunday haha. She held Jay for awhile...I think we need to head over to Atten Park more often if it means I get some help with the kids while I'm there! just kidding. She also got a pool pass for her and Russ and Whitney (the two kids she nannies) so we will run into her more often!

Whitney and Jay are only five or six weeks apart, so they stood and stared at each other for awhile. Jay always seems really interested in other babies. He usually tries to touch them. He always tries to take their pacifier or cup if they have it with them. He is a thief.

I didn't want to push my luck and stay too long before heading to the grocery store, so at 1:30 we left and headed over to Ultra to grocery shop. We were in and out in 45 minutes, although I was annoyed to see I missed paying for a few groceries I had thrown in the bottom of the cart (the shelf below the main section). I had unloaded the rest of the groceries into the car before I noticed them, so I took the kids back out of their carseats and we walked back into the store to pay for my mistake! I must have had my heads in the clouds to miss all that. ha

I thought Jay would take a nap when we got home, but he never went down for his afternoon nap (after a couple failed attempts!). This is becoming a new story with him; he has taken only one nap for 3 in the past 4 days. He's growing up I guess!

I decided to make the best out of the no-nap situation and the kids and I went outside to weed. well, the kids dragged the riding toys out of the garage and played while I did some weeding. 75 degrees is perfect weeding weather, so that made the unpleasant task less unpleasant.

Jaybird kept busy hanging with his cars:

below: All men love cars (-:

We came inside and the girls helped me make dinner. They are always clamoring to help. Jay stood at the chairs at their feet and bothered them:

Jonathan got home from work and had about 45 minutes before he had to leave for a softball double-header. So we ate dinner and then he gave the girls a bath while I put Jay to bed. Jay had been awake for a record-breaking (for him) 8 hours straight without a nap. He's a crazy man! (-:

Jonathan said goodbye to the girls and then I put them to bed. That wraps up a pretty uneventful Monday!

Kelseyism~

~ Kelsey is a bit of a klutz. I feel like she is either always spilling something or tripping over something. Yesterday when she was assisting with the dinner prep, she spilled a half of a cup of milk all down the kitchen cabinets and as I said, "oh no you spilled!" she said (over my voice), "It's okay, it's okay, it's just a spill, it's okay mom!" haha. I guess she thought if she reassured me it'd "be okay."

Jayism~

~ I forget if I've mentioned this...Jay's top teeth have cut through so we are up to a grand total of 4. I have to take a pic sometime!

SUNDAY we woke up early and gave the kids baths before church. Since we had arrived home after they were asleep, they went to bed with knotty, tangled hair and dirty feet! They smelled like sand and lake water! Ha. But Jonathan and I put the three of them in the tub and they smelled like roses when we got to church. Or johnson's baby shampoo. Which is even better! Ha

Sunday morning Kelsey had a rough time getting dropped off at her class. She cried and cried. She is lucky that it was daddy dropping her off because I don't have patience for that. When she was 12 months old and cried at drop off time then she didn't know better, but 3-year olds know better and she was cruising for a bruising!

But daddy was a softy and either asked or Melanie the childcare coordinator offered to keep Kelsey with her. So Kelsey got to spend the first service helping Melanie make copies and do paperwork. (- :  Melanie said she loved it. Melanie was always stuck with Kelsey back when Kels was a baby wailing her head off so maybe those two bonded! I will say that our church staff does such a
great job trying to keep kids happy! They rarely call parents out.

Jay was a trooper and stayed awake for both services (I nursed him between services). He was SO tired as  we were leaving. In fact, our friend's Corey and Debbie asked if we wanted to come over to their house after lunch and I said "yes" even though I wasn't sure how Jay was going to handle it!

It turns out, he handled it just fine. Jay fell asleep in his carseat on the way there and we just tucked him away in their son Connor's bedroom to sleep and he got an hour and a half snooze in!

In the meantime, Debbie heated up her griddle and made "breakfast for lunch." it was delicious and of course the kids loved it. She served eggs and chocolate chip pancakes and fruit. Calla and Kelsey could hardly concentrate on eating because they were having such an enjoyable time with Avery (who just tuned four; calla went to her birthday party a couple weeks ago).

Here is a pic from Avery's birthday that I never posted...



It was a hot and sunny day, so we ate outside in the shade. Corey and Debbie are such sweet people, we always love spending time with them. Calla and Avery will be the same year in school. Debbie is also involved in the youth group as a core group leader so she and Jonathan have that in common.

She also makes hair bows so if you are ever in the market for one you should ask me for her info! She is so talented. I'd love to make bows. Calla would think I was amazing (-:  haha. (Debbie says that Avery always gives her "bow orders!" ha)

Anyway, at 2 or so we headed home. Kelsey was so ready for a nap! I hoped Jay would go down for one too since we had a busy evening planned but I had two failed attempts with him. He had woken up at 1pm and just wasn't tired yet.

Sunday afternoon, I made some BBQ pork sandwiches for a birthday party we were attending at 4:30. Kelsey woke up, we changed out of our church clothes, packed up the pork and headed over to little Ellie's house to celebrate her 3rd birthday.

Ellie is in Kelsey's Sunday school class at church and her friend Ashley is a close friend of mine. Ashley had a small party in her honor and our whole family was invited. Calla was beside herself with excitement; she spent a long time working on a card for her!

I wondered how Jay's party spirit would be since we arrived at just about the same time he would have normally gone down for an afternoon nap. But it turns out that Jay is a party guy! He had a fabulous time crawling around and standing at the beverage bins, scooping up ice cubes and attempting to pick up drink bottles. Haha.

Ashley threw a wonderful party. It gave me some good ideas for my girls for the future! They loved every detail! It was a hot day so we were outside some...the girls cooled off in a little kiddie pool and warmed up in a rented bounce house.


Calla and her oldest, Robbie, have a fascinating relationship. Typical four-year olds! Jonathan noticed that they alternated between playing together and tattle-taling on each other! Ha!

My favorite part of the night was probably watching the kids attempt to hit the piñata (Ellie's dad eventually had to take matters in his own hands and bust that thing open). The piñata was in the shape of a huge cupcake but watching the little ones try to whack it, you'd think they were taking aim at a little pine cone (by how often they missed it or got it at an awkward angle...especially the
girls!)  In their defense, nobody is in t-ball just yet so perhaps we should have had a batting practice beforehand! Haha . And no my girls will probably not be playing t-ball. (-:

It was almost hard to leave because we were all having such an enjoyable time, but the little ones were getting tired! We got home and I put Jay right to bed...he'd been up for over 7 hours straight which is a record for him! He was so happy the entire time...he is a very good-natured little fella.

The girls had a harder time falling asleep. Calla needed time to dissect every wonderful detail of the party, and Kelsey needed time to eat more piñata candy hahaha. Eventually they both gave in to sleep.

Callaism -

- Calla was delighted to discover she was the oldest at the party. I guess it made her think - "well if I don't tattle tale on everybody, who will?!"

Kelseyism-

- I showed Kelsey the bathroom during the party and then waited outside the door while she went. I could hear her singing to herself, "one, two, buckle my shoe; three, four, shut the door; five, six, pick up sticks...." (she loves that nursery rhyme)

aaand...a video from today *Monday* because I didn't take any pics on Sunday...

Our Weekend: Part 1 (The Lake)

I HOPE you all had a great weekend. I wish I could read about it. (-:

FRIDAY was Calla's last morning at Neighborhood Bible Club. We had a slow morning...I made breakfast, we started some laundry, and got ready to head out. She told me over breakfast that she loved Neighborhood Bible Club but that she was ready for it to be done. "I'm ready to spend more time with Jay," she concluded.

I told her that actually she isn't missing any time with Jay at all, since he naps while she is gone. Oh.

After we dropped Calla off, Kelsey and I headed back home. I put Jay down for a nap, and then Kelsey helped me do some housework. One week wasn't long enough for her to get used to Calla not being home; she seemed pretty lost without her!

Friday was another hot summer day, so we packed a lunch and also some pool supplies. We planned to head to Rice Pool as soon as we picked Calla up.

I got a ceremonial last picture:

below: This was her Neighborhood Bible Club site. There must have been some neighbors that attend church together because the Club spanned across two or three front and back yards.

We said thank you to her "Club leaders" and bye to Norah and then headed to the pool. Calla was probably so ready for a swim after being outside all morning!

We ate lunch on our way, and got to the pool at about 11:45. Several of my girlfriends were at the pool with their kiddos. A friend and I were talking about how we think it's easier to go to the pool when there's several friends there, because it makes our kids more content to sit for a while and play in the sand or stay in the pool if they are doing it with their buddies. (Otherwise, there would probably be more "ok, now I want to go back to the pool" or "let's go down on the slide now.")

It was so hot, it definitely seemed like a stay-in-the-water day, but Calla and her friends spent most of the time in the sand. The sand is a little easier for Jay, because I can sit in a chair and let him play with toys. His favorite toy is the lawn chair...he loves to stand by it. He also discovered the water faucets on Friday; I carried him over and stood him next to one and he just stood there forever, watching the water and putting his hand in and out of it.

If I didn't have plans later in the day, I would have stayed all afternoon! haha. Jay doesn't seem to tire of the pool! But at 2:30 r so, we packed up and headed home. I was having Jenny and her kids over for dinner since Luke was working AND she was hosting a baby shower at her home the next day and I knew she wanted to keep the kids out of her clean house! ha.

Jay and Kelsey fell asleep on the way home from the pool, but the transition inside went terribly. Both of them woke up when I carried them inside. Jay seemed to think he had a good nap (all ten minutes of it). I decided to let him stay up until he got tired.

Kelsey didn't want a nap, so I put a show on for the girls so they could "rest" on the couch. Jay helped me empty the dishwasher and generally got in the way while I tried to straighten up the house. He watched me cook dinner...he actually seemed in good spirits, no nap and all.

We set up the sprinkler and the slip and slide and told the Moos to wear their swimsuits. They came over at 4:30 or so, and literally ran inside, threw off their shoes, and kept on running until they were slipping down the slip and slide. (-: They played outside the rest of the evening...they were busy in the playhouse, and on Kelsey's new horse, and of course in the water.

I never did put Jay down for his afternoon nap. He hung out "standing" by the playhouse and some of the riding toys. Miracously, he never got run over by any of the big kids.

Jonathan got home at 5:30 or so, and I finished making dinner. I just made for Jenny what I had planned to do for us anyway...a pre-marinated pork tenderloin, baked potatoes and rice, broccoli and a salad, and some strawberries and mac and cheese for the kids. We decided it'd be more manageable if we just ate outside....I was definitely grateful for that decision when I brought out ice cream sandwiches and there was mess everywhere. I gave Jay an ice cream sandwich to hold him over in his high chair while I cleared the dishes and he put a dent in it! I think the ice cream must feel good on his gums.

Jenny and her kiddos left at 7:15 or so, and Jonathan and I ushered our grass-and-ice-cream-covered children to the bathtub and gave them baths before tucking them into bed. I don't think bed could come fast enough for this little man! He was a trooper! An entire day with just a 1-hour morning nap!

On Friday, my girlfriend Kate texted us to see if we wanted to drive down to her lakehouse in Culver, Indiana, on Saturday for a day trip. Jonathan's day was already booked up because he had a charity golf outing with some men from work, but when Kate heard that she said the invitation was still open. I texted, "Can Brad [Kate's husband] handle all that estrogen?" (Kate and Brad have three girls and one son, so without Jonathan it would just be Brad, Braden and Jay tolerating the presence of seven women haha.) Kate said that Brad was up for it, and so after I thought about it for five minutes (I was debating in my mind if 250 miles in the car with Jaybird was worth it), I said yes!

SATURDAY morning we woke Jaybird up...yes, woke him up....at 6:30 so that he would be ready to go down for his morning nap at 8:30 when I wanted to leave. I thought if he could sleep the whole 2 hours and 15 minute drive, then we would all be better off. haha.

Jonathan helped me get the kids fed, and then we packed up the car with swimming suits and car activities and the pack and play and snacks, and headed out. Since I am not a punctual person, we left at 8:50 (only twenty minutes behind schedule).

On the road again...

Jay fell asleep while we were still on Roosevelt Road. Phew! I told the girls to stay quiet, and they were on their best behavior. I put in a CD of their songs, so for the first hour of the trip they looked out the window and sang along.

During the second hour, they colored and ate. Kelsey ate every single snack I packed...everytime I glanced back in the rear view mirror, she was chewing something. haha.

The last 45 minutes of our trip was on country roads in Indiana. It was a peaceful drive:

below: a little Indiana town....

I am all about one-lane roads with 55 mph speed limits. Sounds like a roadtrip to me! And it was good we were on this country roads, because both Calla and Kelsey had to use the pink potty at some point.

Jay took an hour and a half nap, which means he was awake the last 40 or so minutes. I gave him different toys, and did stop one time to nurse him because he seemed cranky and hungry. He wasn't all that pleased to get back in his seat, but he tolerated the rest of the trip.

Kate and her youngest girls, Maggie (age 2) and Claire (age 3 weeks) were the lakehouse when we arrived. Almost as soon as we got out of the car, we hopped onto their golf cart to join the older kids Braden (age 5) and Kelsey Ann (age 3) and her husband, Brad, at the beach.

The lake at Culver has been a family destination for Kate since she was little. She and her husband purchased a lakehouse a couple years ago, and they go every weekend in the summer. We visited them a couple weeks after they bought their lake house in 2010, but they've done a lot of improvements to the house since then. The kitchen looks amazing; it is so fun to see how they've changed everything.

Anyway, it was a perfect day to spend at the lake. It was in the high 80s, the water temperature was in the 80s (according to the boat) and the kids were SO excited to be there. I packed a lunch for us to eat at the beach, but the girls were so excited they did not eat one bite. They haven't been to many lakes in their life, but they ran right into it and started playing with Braden and Kelsey Ann.

After an hour or so at the beach, the girls were chomping at the bit to go out on the boat. And Braden and Kelsey Ann were excited to take them!

We spent the next two or three hours on the boat. It was so much fun! Braden wakeboarded for us, and Kelsey Ann skiied. Brad drove the boat fast (Kelsey Mae kept yelling "more faster! more faster!"). Jay was due for a nap and I thought he'd nurse and fall asleep, but he was too excited. He loved standing and watching the waves.

Brad stopped the boat and we did some swimming. Well, the kids swam and Kate and I stayed dry with the babies. Baby Claire spent the entire day in the bjorn. I remember those days!

below: Brad with Calla and Kelsey Mae. Brad is one of my favorite people. He's so much fun! The girls felt really comfortable with him. He was a good sport about having their death grip around his neck while out in the water. haha.

 below: Kelsey Mae got in the water before Calla.

 below: Jaybird watching his sissy swim! I think the water was about 10 feet here.

Brad asked if Calla wanted to learn how to ski and she was SO torn up about it! She desperately wanted to, but she said she was so scared! She kept saying (with tears), "I want to, I want to, but I'm scared, so scared." Once she started crying, I told her to please stop thinking about it. Kate said, "This is just a day to do fun things! We can learn to ski another day."

Calla is SO cautious and I know she hates that about herself! She wants to be daring and try new things but her little nature makes it so hard! I was a lot like that when I was a kid so I feel for her! I asked Kelsey Mae if she wanted to learn to ski and she said, "Nope!" haha.

After awhile, little Maggie was due for a nap and neither Maggie or Jay were falling asleep on the boat, so we decided to head back to the lakehouse. I put Jay down for a nap in the pack and play and Kate put a little Curious George on for the kids so they could rest! Curious George wasn't even over before the girls got up to "play house." Calla, Kelsey Ann, Kelsey Mae, and Maggie were busy up in one of the bedrooms with all their babies. Poor Braden! He was so outnumbered!

Brad took Braden on the golf cart to the grocery store down the street to buy food to grill for dinner. Jay woke up just as they were coming back, and so we all headed outside. The kids played on the riding toys while Brad grilled and Kate cleaned off the patio furniture. As soon as the girls caught sight of her with a rag and soap, they were all in her way trying to assist her! haha.

Brad grilled some delicious hot dogs and burgers. I wasn't sure if he was amazing on the grill or if we were just starved after the hours out on the boat! haha.

below: the kid table! left to right...Maggie, Braden, Calla, and the Kelseys (-:

We ate dinner, and then Kate and I cleared the tables and Brad did the dishes. The kids played outside...Calla drug her markers and coloring books from the car and they colored in the driveway. ha. Jay hung out in their little red car...he has one at home but he can't get enough of that thing. ha.

After dinner, Brad and Kate asked if we wanted to go in the boat one more time or go to the park. Calla said "both!" so they agreed. Wow what hosts!

below: a pic on the golf cart before we drove back down to the boat dock...

silly faces...

 group pic! we thought it was funny the girls were all wearing pink and white.

We got on the boat and Brad took us around the lake again. He got up to 50 mph, which doesn't sound fast until you are sitting on the back of a boat. (-:

below: This man, when we weren't going 50 mph(-: He loves boats!

 below: This lifejacket didn't stay on for very long. He was ticked.

 below: Calla, Kelsey Ann and Kelsey Mae. They kept walking from the front to the back of the boat, over and over. Haha. Whatever one did, the other two were right on her heels.

 below: it was a little windy when we were speeding along...

 It was such a beautiful night. I think I could have just sat on the back of that boat until dark (and Culver is right on the time-zone line, so it doesn't get dark until almost 10pm!), but we still wanted to get some time in at the park.

below: nice nose, Maggie.

 below: Kelsey Mae was supposed to jump on the back too but she preferred the mouth for some reason...

We let the kids play at the park for awhile...Jay loved the swing. There was a disabled girl in a wheelchair and Calla kept asking me questions about her very loudly. That was kind of embarrassing, but otherwise the kids were busy playing.

Eventually, Maggie looked like she was going to fall asleep in her swing. And Kelsey fell down and was crying. So we decided to head back to the lakehouse.

I packed up our stuff and we gave the Clousing kids hugs goodbye. I couldn't thank Brad and Kate enough...it was such a fun day! Brad was such a good sport about having us! haha. And Kate may have a 3-week old, but she's so laid-back you'd never know she just recently began juggling baby #4. She could have 8 kids and make it look like no big deal. ha

I hoped the kids would fall asleep as soon as I got the car in motion, and Kelsey Mae was the first to close her eyes and drift to sleep. I knew Jay would either fall asleep right away, or get mad and he decided to get mad. I didn't know if I should let him cry for a bit or stop to feed him and attempt to calm him down.

A church sign caught my eye and I thought it'd be a good spot to pull over and check his diaper and nurse him! (-:

below: How can you beat "The Friendly Church By the side of the Road?!" haha

Well, it's a good thing I stopped because he had a messy diaper. Yuck. I changed it, and fed him, and put him back in his seat and he fell asleep within five minutes. Calla zonked out not too long after. It made for a very peaceful drive back home!

It turns out, if the timing is right...almost 5 hours in the car is no big deal with the kiddos! That's definitely the longest I've ever driven with just the kids.

We got home and Jonathan helped me tuck everyone in their beds. It was only 10:30 but I was so tired I went right to bed! A day at the lake is super tiring!

Jayism~

~ Jay's top two teeth are in!

~ Jay says "mama" now. Mama and Dada. (-: