Mother's Day Program

On Thursday afternoon, Alivia's class performed a little play about the real story of the 3 little pigs, told through the eyes of the pig himself, followed by some cute poems, snacks and Alivia presented me with a book she had made, all of this for Mother's Day! It was so cute! I always feel lucky to be able to attend these things, and Asher was lucky to be the only sibling to attend, too. :)

Making Mud Pies

Today was the first time I have ever taken any kid to Mud Pies at the Fontenelle Forest and we have been members for at least 4 years (that is REALLY sad!). I have seen it in their monthly newletter, and I had decided to start taking Asher in January. Well, it is May and I finally took him today. What can I say, it took me a while!

Today's theme was worm play. There were real worms and worm activities throughout the room in the basement of the forest building where Mud Pies is held from 9:30-11:30 M, T, and W throughout the school year. Yes, I said the school year. There is only 1 left of this year until they are off until summer. I barely got Asher to one of them! I know, totally bad mom here.

Anyway, Asher and his friend Xander started with Dot Art, play doh, looking out the window into the forest, searching for worms in the sand, making an art project on the easel (Asher's was very colorful), having a snack of a graham cracker (dirt) with a gummy worm on top, playing around in the rest of the basement awhile before making it back to make a worm out of clay. Oh, and they had bubbles and chalk to play with outside. It was a fun morning. One could come and go as you please, it was not set up so you are stuck there. This was my real fear. So, I may actually go back! Asher did not socialize with any kids except Xander, but he was able to use his mind and creativity. And, it is just good for him to get out and experience new things (and play with worms).

Now it is time to clean up this messy house since we have not been home lately. I have laundry screaming at me from all parts of the house...so better get to it.

To the OCM, the Mall, and More!

What a crazy day! Yesterday Asher and I hit the Omaha Children's Museum's members hour (which is from 9-10 on Tuesdays) before going to the Gene Leahy Mall so Asher could go down the slides.

The museum has some new exhibits, at least some we had not spotted before. Asher wanted to start with Art, which is crazy for him. After doing a little water coloring, we walked over to see a pizza parlor. How fun! Dare I say this, but it is better than the Lincoln Children's Museum's Pizza Parlor exhibit. There is a station where the kids can put together their pretend pizzas before baking them. There is a big soft pizza for the little ones, too. There is a restaurant area with a ringing phone where people call in with their order. Asher was there by himself for 10 minutes answering calls and making pizzas. Um, Mama's Pizza, do you need a new employee? Asher rocks at speed and accuracy! I guess that may break a child labor law or two. Anyhow, it is a great exhibit for creativity, imagination and fun!

Asher played in the ball room, the main big room and on the zoo animals. The upstairs is between exhibits right now, but it was still pretty busy there. Asher likes to play until another child comes and takes a toy away or pushes him aside, then Asher is done. I need to work with him on playing along side other kiddos better. He is just a little too shy for that right now unless he knows the child really well.

When Asher was ready, we drove down to the Gene Leahy Mall to slide the big slides. He loves the slides! It looked like someone had just been there with wax paper making them crazy slick. Okay, on this trip, the park was disgusting smelling. I won't go into great detail...but it caused me to want to leave a little sooner. YUCK! It is still pretty...but Omaha needs to keep that area looking and smelling beautiful...just saying.

After our big morning, lunch with Daddy at Freddy's in Papillion, shopping for tree replacements with Daddy, back to pick up the girls to go to swim camp, ugh...we were wiped. All in a days worth of fun though, right?!

New doors with doorbells and knockers near the puppets. Asher loved this area on this trip too.

Funny spot to nest...but what a view!

Underwater Asher

Underwater Addison

Jumpy Alivia

Chrisisms

Seriously, this boy has had some zingers or Chrisisms lately. Where does he come up with this stuff?!

* "Ask and I shall receive." hesitates, then, "Wait, that is not right." But really, I think it is. :)
* "I think I am losing my hair. Check out my receding hairline. I should not be surprised with 3 kids, a wife and a bleapy job." Okay, the kids and I are right before the bleapy job?! I think he thought he was funny...but I did not see it. :)
* I was fanning him off after his run and he said, "Just like the goddesses used to do only they were sexy" Um, what?! He quickly correctly himself saying I was not dressed sexy, but I feel what he was saying.


OM...he has so many, and I have forgotten them. I will have to come back to this.

Swim Camp Begins

Tonight was day one of Swim Camp for the kids through Swim Barb Swim School. The kids were excited, especially Asher who has been taking lessons there for a few weeks now. The girls both learned how to swim there as well, and now just take annual swim camp lessons to fresh up their skills before hitting the pools this summer. Alivia rocks in the pool this year! I clearly put her in the wrong class! She should have been in a level where she was challenged more. Addison and Asher are in a full class plus one, which is a little frustrating (3 is full and they have 4 kids including one very small new swimmer). Is is crazy busy with 2 sets of lessons plus one set of private lessons going on at the same time. YIKES! But, the kids are learning. Alivia has the same instructor as she has had for the last 2 years...which is especially nice.

Let's hope we can advance a little before we head out to enjoy all the area pools.

I love that they are like stair steps in height. That will not be forever.

Matching swimming suits suiting their personalities and favorites (Alivia pink, Addi purple, Asher all blue).

Crazy full pool!

Asher's turn.

Taking a Safari

Last Thursday, Asher and I took another Safari with our friends Krissa and Will. The weather was perfect for it, too, although the boys kept saying it was hot. The wildlife safari is a fun place to visit, and this day was no exception. We drove through to see Elk, wild turkeys, deer, water fowl, buffalo and more. We stopped and had a picnic and visited the petting zoo. In the end, the boys had to get their endless little boy energy out on the playset.

So much fun. I do believe another Safari is in our near future, and maybe next time we will try and visit Mahoney while we are out that way.

Sitting in the middle of the road.

The baby goats in the petting zoo are so cute!

Look real close and you can see a turtle on the log. I NEED A ZOOM LENS!

Childhood Chores

Asher giving vacuuming a try. That spot was VERY clean...then I finished. :)

When I was a kid, I remember doing chores. Now remember, I grew up on a farm, so I may have started doing chores from the time I could walk. Really, I don't remember how old (or young) I was, but I do recall not liking chores. I remember cleaning my Dad's bathroom (which was always gross and a major undertaking. Funny, he only had a single sink and a shower, but I remember it taking me FOREVER to clean it!), giving the dog, Angel, a bath (I so hated doing this and many times cried my way through it. Now, I wash our dog so often she is like the 4th child I always wanted but a little messier),  mowing the lawn (which I did in my bikini on a public highway, on a riding lawn mower, and my parents have so many acres to mow that it took 1 1/2 days to mow. NO JOKE! I liked the tan, but I am sure I will look 90 years old by the time I am 40 since I never wore a hat or wore sunscreen), walked beans (I believe my Dad may have paid me some for this grueling job that I again cried through. Yes, I know, I was and am a total baby), and lastly, cleaning the chicken house (something I had to do once all by myself as a punishment. I took me hours and I smelled like crap for days I am sure. I again, cried through the entire experience. Funny, I have no idea what I did to deserve such a fun experience and memory, but I am sure my Mom knows. :) ).

So, in my mind, whatever I come up with for chores will give our kids a sense of responsibility over entitlement, something I see most kids having now adays. I believe household chores will help the kids by giving them a sense of household responsibility, perhaps lead them to taking better care of their things and our home, gives me time to bond with them as I help them complete their tasks, and teaches the kids to do important tasks like cooking, cleaning, doing their own laundry (eventually). Kids who do chores around the house are found to be better team players, co workers and spouses. This is especially important for Asher (in the helping out respect and Asher will be the best husband ever, right?!). The kids actually love to help out, boosting their self esteem, giving them an important since of family pride. By giving the kids chores like laying out their clothes for school, packing their lunches, etc, will give the kids a sense of personal responsibility and foster independence (something Alivia, especially, needs). And, lastly, it helps me out so we can play more and do more fun things together!

As I have been known to say before, Alivia is lazy, unmotivated, lacking a passion. So, as summer approaches, I decided that all the kids will have to have at least one main responsibility they will need to complete prior to going or having playdates, going to the pool, or basically going any place fun outside of the home - every week.

Alivia is approaching 8 years old and is clearly old enough for more responsibility. We are hoping to get her moving and make her more motivated, goal oriented even, like her parents. Alivia is already responsible (as are Addison and Asher) for making her bed and having her room cleaned up every morning prior to breakfast. I figure if they keep their rooms clean daily, than there is never the big push to clean hoards of stuff in their rooms. This method helps somewhat. There room is usually picked up, but it still needs the occasional organizing. Alivia is pretty good at the morning task, and usually makes her bed and picks up her room without even a reminder.

Alivia's new responsibility is to clean the kids' bathroom and collect all the trash every Monday. Today was day one. She was excited (as kids generally are for anything new) to get started. I taught her how to clean the toilet. Funny, she found it gross (afterwards, I went to the store to pick her up her very own cleaning gloves :)). Then she cleaned the sinks, bathtub/shower, then the mirrors. Lastly, she was excited to clean the floor. Alivia has clearly watched me enough to know what to do as she picked up the rag and went to cleaning rather quickly. I was impressed with her precision. I did not feel like I needed to clean up after her. I'm sure Alivia will need guidance for at least the first 4-6 times, but after that she will be a pro.

Addison, who is only 5, is to clean the main level bath, which includes a toilet and a sink. Addison was only excited to do this as she saw Alivia's excitement. Addison quickly lost interest. Addison, being only 5, needs total guidance. I will probably have to walk her through this for months, cleaning beside her. She found it funny all the things we have to clean in such a small space (like the light switch and the door -she was amazed that we have to clean that. Seriously, they are probably dirtier than the toilet sometimes!). She did okay.

Asher is only 4. He is quick good at picking up his toys and putting them away after use, especially if he gets to watch Netflix afterwards. Asher is to help clear the dinner table, which is usually does without asking anyway. I was going to put him on trash duty, but I soon realized that was too much for his tiny little frame at 4 years old to do. Helping me to clear the table is a big enough job for him, and he likes to help me. He is such a sweet boy, after his Daddy, and so helpful. I want him to continue to like helping and not overwhelm him too early.

Let the chores begin. The reward...playdates, fun places to visit and visits to the pool just to name a few. Oh, it will be so worth it!

Alivia, scrubbing the bathroom floor.

Who's Reading?

I would love to know..."Who is reading The Austin Life?"

I have a vague idea of who is reading, but I have no idea specifically.

So, who is reading this blog? It does not matter so much other than I am just curious. I mean, I write the blog to document our family life, not for readers. I also blog to vent occasionally. I try not to offend anyone, assuming someone is actually reading.

What other blogs do you read? Or, maybe you have your own blog you could share. Well, I add and delete some every week. I delete the ones that I find offensive or just no longer interesting, and try to add some that I can learn from or find interesting.
http://oursmallmoments.wordpress.com/
A girl a virtually met through the 365 project who lives in Fremont. Someday we will actually meet!
* http://averycan.blogspot.com/2012/05/avery-lynn-canahuati-111111-043012_02.html
This blog I added last week. Really sad as the bucket list for Avery is now complete, but she is probably still working on it in Heaven.
  http://snydermonkeys.blogspot.com
A friend's blog who has 2 adorable little girls.
* http://skillyo.blogspot.com
Also a friend...but she has not updated in a long time.


I am always on the hunt for home updating blogs, too.
* http://materialgirlsblog.com/
Everything home
* http://www.fluffyourstuff.com/blog/
Local interior design firm that posts amazing before and after shots! LOVE!

And lastly, food blogs or websites:
* http://www.laurenslatest.com/
* http://amandeleine.com/

So you see, I don't keep it a secret what blogs I follow. So, please share your good ones. Please just post me a comment.

Addison's Kindergarten Music Program

Last night Addison had a little Kindergarten Music program based upon nursery rhymes. It was so cute! It is always fun to see the kids sing and do the actions, especially at this age. Addison rarely (if at all) smiled during the performance and kept her eyes on her music teacher, perhaps fearful of looking at all the people in the audience. She looked scared to death! She had huge smile on her face when it was all over though!

Bright colored shirt (and this is what Addison selected) with a denim bottom. :)

Waving at family!

Sing! :)

The BFFs

April in Review

April 2012 was one wild and crazy month. The weather was beautiful, so we got outside and enjoyed many soccer games, Easter!, the Safari, the zoo, the Children's Museum, the forest and just playing outside. The kids stayed with their Grandparents while I went to visit Chris in Tampa FL for his 40th birthday! Yes, he is now 40! After 2 weeks away, the kids were thrilled to have him back at home for a while. Asher and I are adjusting to Daddy working from home, and we like to see him here while he is here (as he goes away in a little more than a week).
Asher has been swimming once a week and making great progress. He keeps busy with a toddler exercise class at the YMCA once a week, swimming, soccer on weekends, and many playdates with his friends (and my friends too!). Addison finished up her weekly art class she took with her friend Kate and keeps busy with her many projects in her room. Right now she is working on cards for Jesus (when he comes back again, she says). Alivia is also in soccer and is learning to actually like it after getting off to a really rough start. She goes to practice once a week, then just keeps busy playing with Addi and Asher at home. Alivia is very laid back, with an emphasis on very, so we are working on giving her more responsibility around the house. Chris works. That sums up April. He was gone to Tampa for 2 weeks working at Central Command, now working from home on widgets (that part itself is not classified...what kind of widget is). He is set to go back to Tampa for another 2 weeks soon. He is adjusting to working at home, but finds it difficult to turn off his laptop (working until 9:30 at night is the norm). Meanwhile, I am Mom and Dad a lot of the time as Chris is really busy or just not here (or we are to pretend he is not here when he is here). So, I have been hiring more Daddy work (landscaping) and picking up some of it on my own. The rest is just waiting for that someday when we decide to get it done. I hope this is temporary, so things could be worse, right? I am still going to Zumba, running nearly daily and chasing the kids. :) Pippa...she is just a cute pain in the butt. That is all we need to say about her.
School will soon be out for summer break, Chris will be leaving for Tampa again, and Alivia will be turning 8 years old! May has a lot in store for us...better get back at it!


HERE ARE APRIL PICTURES!!

Dear God,

"It's me, Addison."

Addison has a drawer full of cards. She even hand makes envelopes for them.

I had to ask, "Who are the cards for, Addison."

Addison told me, "They are for Jesus, when he comes back again."

Ahh, how sweet is that?!

This is after asking Sunday how Jesus escaped from the Tuba, aka, tomb?

Asher Swims!

Today was Asher's last weekly swimming class before he begins swim camp with the girls next week. He is doing awesome! He is advancing in his level, but he can not swim the length of the pool yet. And, watching other 4 year old kiddos dive in, Asher said, "I am NOT going to do THAT!"
There is always next year, right?

May Day 2012

May "baskets" were made of spider man and tangled cups, treats, with a ribbon handle.

Run!!

Addison's expression is priceless!

Gees, does nobody know what happens on May Day anymore or am I just that old or just from the sticks (or all of them?!). :)

The big Wikipedia states, In some parts of the US, "May Baskets are made. These are small baskets usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The giver rings the bell and runs away. The person receiving the basket tries to catch the fleeing giver. If they catch the person, a kiss is exchanged."

Okay, no kisses were exchanged (and I did not know THAT part!). But, the kids had fun. And, they actually got two back this year. Perhaps we are starting a new trend. :)

Addison's Art for All

Tonight was Addison's recital for Arts for All. She was excited to go and share her art with us. She looked so cute as she stood up there with her teacher. We would recommend the programs they offer.

Addison with her self painted selfie.