Love It, Love It!!!

Or in Avery's deep little voice, "Wuv it, Wuv it!" I love the little adventures the kids and I have, while we are on walks!
Avery and I were on our way to the library today, and the noon fire whistle went off. Then the church bells started chiming. Then we saw a bunch of birds pecking around in someone's yard. And finally we saw the water tower. Avery gets so genuinely excited about what is going on around her!

"See dat (that) water tower? Wow! Big, big water tower!"
"Hear dat, Mommy?! Where dat toming (coming) from? Go see it?" (fire whistle)
"What's dat sound?! Pretty song? Princess song?" (church bells)
"Touch 'em? Tute (cute) baby birds!" (all little things are babies, these days :)
"Here we are! We at da wibrary (library)! Wuv it, Wuv it!"

Video Games and Movies

Bryton loves playing video games and watching movies; however, we have to greatly limit both around our house. Otherwise, he'd want to do this a lot more than he currently does. A trend we are seeing...Bryton is having a hard time, at the age of 5 (since he's playing 10+ yr. old PS2 games), distinguishing between make believe and real life. He'll often ask me "Is that in this real life?" when he's watching a show on TV. I suppose this is normal, but for now he's on a break from video games. Movies I'm not as worried about, since we don't watch many... but Spiderman and Transformers aren't the first options out of my mouth these days.

Funny Kid

Last night the kids and I made chocolate chip cookies after bath time. As usual, we made them as an excuse to eat cookie dough :) Bryton had a little too much...he was literally bouncing off the walls from about 8-9:30 PM. We couldn't get him to chill out! He said he was trying to be "Spidey," and he did have some good moves...but his father and I didn't want to have to make a trip into the ER. We were watching the movie Second Hand Lions, and we kept telling Bryton to "please be quiet" (not only was he bouncing off the walls, but he was talking NON-STOP). After what seemed like the 100th time saying "shhhhh"...he replied "I'm just talkable tonight!"

Princess Worm Killer

My little princess is a bit obsessed w/ worms lately. She and I dig up many worms these days...looking for a "mommy worm" and a "baby worm." The problem is, they end up dead within 5 minutes. Avery will ask me "ohhhh...what happened?!" in her very concerned little voice. I have to hide a laugh every time, 'cause sure enough, "mommy" or "baby" worm (and sometimes both) are torn in half. So...then we look for more worms. Luckily, we've got a lot of them in our backyard! And when we ask if Bryton and his friends want to find and play with worms, their responses are "nope!" (I do remember when Bryton loved worms, as well...it just isn't his past-time of choice these days).

Springtime Fun

The weather is finally beautiful! I guess I didn't realize how much I'd missed waking up to birds chirping, sunshine filled longer days, playing outside, grilling dinner, and later sunsets! I'm anxious to start planting in my flower beds and garden, now that they are cleaned out ...
The kids are loving this nice weather, as well. This morning, Avery woke up at 5:45 and yelled, "Mom, sun coming up! Beautiful day! HAVE TO PEE, MOM!" Had to smile at that one :) Yeah, I'll be getting darker shades for her room. This has been her average wake up time.
Bryton has been falling asleep the second his head hits the pillow at bedtime! Lots of running, jumping, playing ball, etc. w/ friends. We were at a hometown track meet last night, and both kids had a blast running with school friends, and their siblings.
Yesterday , Avery and I were on a walk, and we heard a different sound coming from the trees overhead. Avery asked "what's that sound?" I replied, "I think it is a bird." Avery then says, "pecker bird?!" At closer inspection, she was right...it was a woodpecker!
We are loving Spring!

No Turkey for This Chick

Nope, didn't get a turkey first season. Had a great time, though! Brian and Dad weren't successful, either. Saw and heard quite a few, but they didn't cooperate. Too many females w/ them, from the looks of it...so I don't think they were interested in having to "work" toward our calls, in order to get a little action! Brian and I have 5th season, so hopefully I'll get one over Mother's Day weekend.

This Week's Favorites

Golden Wheat Wheatables - so much better w/ cheese, than Wheat Thins
V8 Fusion + Smirnoff - a great drink
Glade 2 in 1 "Creamy Custard and Blushing Apple" candles
Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion - original formula - this smell takes me back to being a kid again
Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN-4100PC) - I only wish I had one of these while I was still in college
Clorox Wipes - makes cleaning a breeze
Merle Norman Nail Color - Rose Sorbet - pretty on toes.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

Tomorrow is opening morning, first season turkey hunting. The day will start early, with me leaving home by 4:30...in order to be out in the woods by about 5:15. Will I get a big gobbler on opening morning?! Only time will tell! (I'd be happy with a nice Jake...but don't tell Dad or Brian that!) Brian is letting me hunt opening morning this year, since somebody needs to stay home with the kiddo's while they sleep, and then get ready for school. The weather will be chilly, but I don't think we are supposed to have rain. Wish me luck! I'll keep you posted.

Nose Problems

Avery is sticking Lego's up her nose. I don't know why, for sure, but I think it might be the age she is at and the fact that she's been into playing with Lego's a lot lately. Her little cousin was sticking pea's up his nose, and Brian swears that Avery has heard me talk about that, and that is why Avery has pulled this trick three times now. However, my mommy intuition tells me she's thought this up on her own. This morning was the third time we've had to use tweezers on the little stinker. She says she understands when I tell her "Do not put anything up your nose!" Why does she keep doing it, then?! This morning she had one little round Lego shoved way up there, and it must have hurt because she started crying. So, maybe this will be the last time we deal with this issue. I sure hope so!

What a Difference a Year Makes

We've been at the park a few times this week, and I can't believe the difference in Bryton and Avery and their abilities. Last year I was a "hovering" mom...Avery wasn't all that confident on the park equipment, and neither was her mother. I'd envy the mom's who'd sit on a bench, relaxed, as their kids played.
Wellll...I think I might get to be one of those mom's this summer! Bryton can work the monkey bars like just that...a monkey. He whips across them in no time! He climbs up the twirly tower (this is what we call it) with a lot more confidence, as well as parts of the equipment that he isn't supposed to be climbing on.
And then there is Avery...she marches up the steps, and goes down the slide over and over again. She also loves the teeter totter.
So far, I love this independence...it makes the park a lot more fun for this mom! Bryton and Avery are genuinely entertaining, talking non stop and playing together. We may have injuries here and there...but that comes with the territory.

Spring Weather is Here!!!

Why is it that when warmer weather finally arrives, we don't spend our entire day doing "fun" stuff outside?! Take this weekend, for instance. We had 60 degree weather, which is warm for us. Brian spent 3/4 of the weekend putting in the invisible boundary for our dogs...and as of last night it is just about finished! The kids and I were outside on Saturday, at the park and in our yard...so I can't complain about that day. But Sunday was church (we have 10 AM mass, so this pushes everything back ), making brunch for my hungry monkies, cleaning up our brunch mess, going to get groceries and such, finishing laundry, making dinner, and getting organized for the week ahead. What should we have done w/ our weekend?! A few ideas: biking on our local bike trail, hiking out at the state park north of town, taking a trip to the driving range, or just plain taking a drive out in the country with no particular destination in mind...

We have all spring and summer to look forward to doing these things, so I shouldn't be so gloomy about our "jobs" getting in the way of having fun :)

2 Big Dogs=(2xLove)+(2xFun)+(2xPoop)

Bailey and Jake are good dogs and we love them so...but MAN, can they fill a yard with poop over the course of one winter! I think its finally all picked up...now I just have to keep up with them, so it isn't such a chore every time I do it! We don't have what I consider to be a small yard, and I think they managed to cover almost every inch of it.
And after that lovely job was finished, Bryton, Avery, and a friend of Bryton's were asked to help with "stick patrol." OK, so I might have used a little bribery by the time this job rolled around...since we'd been outside for a long time and the kiddo's were getting hungry :) Got 'er done, with my 3 little helpers! So today we played outside in what is starting to look like a decent yard again...hurray!
What else do Bailey and Jake have to look forward to, besides me chasing them with a pooper scooper? An invisible boundary. Jake has gotten to be a little too adventurous, so the time has come. (1st pic is Bailey and Jake last fall, 2nd pic is Jake's size now!)

Pillows, Pillows, and More Pillows

I was putting fresh sheets on our bed last night, and I realized how many pillows Brian and I have! 7, total...and we use them all! I sleep with 4, and Brian uses 3. They are all very strategically placed when we go to bed, but I won't go into that! No wonder we don't touch unless we want to during the night, w/ 7 pillows acting as barriers!

Will I Ever Get the Hang of This?

We are approaching the end of the school year, and I still feel like I'm lacking in the "knowing school rules" department. Bryton has had kind of a rough week at school...crying a bit because he wants to be here at home with his sister and I. Why is he doing this? I think its because he's been out of his normal weekly routine these past few weeks. We've had regular visitors here at our house...then Easter break, and then the kids were down and out with strep and ear infections. Don't get me wrong, Bryton loves school, but he also loves home.
So this morning we didn't have any tears when I dropped Bryton off at school. Yeah! 1 PM rolls around, and Bryton jumps off the bus w/ his usual "hi Mom!" When I ask him if he's had a good day...

"Yep! Well, I kind of had a good day." (Bryton)
"Why kind of?" (Jess)
"I cried a little bit, but not because I missed you. I couldn't go play w/ my friends at recess because I didn't have my snowpants. I had to play on the blacktop w/ the girls. All the boys had their snowpants."

Oops! My fault, I packed snow boots (for the mud), but no snowpants. We haven't had snow for a week...and its been in the 40's and 50's...we even hit 60 degrees one day. His teacher is wonderful, and communicates well with me...so I must have missed this rule. Monday he'll be taking all his winter snow gear...even if its 50 or 60 degrees out! Heaven forbid he be stuck on the blacktop, playing w/ the girls again the entire recess!

This Week's Favorites

Shullsburg Munster Cheese - I love that we live 12 minutes from WI, and this cheese is very creamy.
Bounce Fabric Softener - I've been jumping around, but I should always stick with this trusty brand.
Bitty Baby (by America Girl) - Avery has LOTS of baby dolls, but this is the one she's most into right now.
Clamato Juice - Makes a great bloody mary.
Neosporin + Pain Relief - This clears up any skin irritation our family has, within 24 hrs, and I have a family full of sensitive skin.
Advil - I could live on this stuff.
Sponge Bob toothpaste, by Colgate - the kids are very excited about brushing their teeth, when they know good 'ol SB plays a part in their routine.

Effective or Ridiculous?! You Decide.

There was a break in the rain last night, so the kids and I went for a walk, enjoying the short-lived 60 degree weather we had. As we were approaching the community library, I asked the kids if they are excited to start story hour this summer. "No" (Bryton") and "Yes" (Avery) were their replies. I explained to Bryton that Avery should be old enough to attend story hour with Bryton this year, and he decided that sounded like a good idea! Then he explained to Avery, "You have GOT to sit criss-cross applesauce at story hour, understand?!"
As some of you know, Bryton shed many tears the past few summers over this easily forgotten rule. His story hour teacher was a real stickler about this...Bryton would be sitting still, but if he was not sitting "criss-cross applesauce" he was very sternly told to sit exactly that way.
Of course I have my own opinion on this rule, as well as his story hour teacher in general... but since it is a good program overall, and it is only one hour/week, we are going to give it a shot again this summer.