Staycation Day 1

This week is Alivia's spring break. Since Alivia's spring break falls on a different week than Addison's spring break, we could not really go anywhere. Additionally, Chris is in overtime drive at work and could not break away. So, we decided to take a staycation!

So, on day 1 of our staycation, we first visited the Dentist (which the girls actually found to be fun!) and then went to the zoo with our friends Laura and Simon. It was a fabulous, but busy, day at the zoo. It became a little windy as the day went on, but nothing too major. Asher tried to go potty at the zoo, but I just could not remember where the restrooms were quick enough. So, after an accident, we put back on the diaper (Asher went potty at Target, the dentist and tried at the zoo today! Every time he cried, "I want to go home!" Not sure he is ready for the public big restrooms that flush on their own quite yet).

At the zoo, we went through the desert dome, saw the tigers, monkeys, gorillas, giraffes, seals, fed the fish, saw the butterflies and walked through the aquarium. I was exhausted and still do not know how my friend Laura walked all through the zoo while pregnant! What a work out! Alivia liked the seals best, Addison and Asher liked the monkeys, and I liked the sunny weather and the giraffes. I just liked a day out with all three of our kiddos and good friends.

We ended our day playing in the dirt ad getting dirty with Daddy. It is amazing how much fun a big pile of dirt can be!

What will day 2 of our staycation bring? I am not even sure yet, but I am sure we will have fun!

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Alivia's 1st Official Play Date

Alivia & Ellie

Today was Alivia's 1st official play date away from home. Alivia has been on play dates before, but none where I left her without me. Alivia was so excited, once I told her that was her surprise for today, that she could hardly contain herself. Ellie and Alivia are friends from Standing Bear, and Ellie lives right up the street from our previous address. It is sad that we moved in that the girls would have played together all the time, probably. The girls had not met prior to starting school.

After making Ellie some cookies and a card, we were off to our old neighborhood for the 1pm play date. Addison, Asher, and I went in to say good-bye and Addison started crying as we walked away. Addison was seriously out of control crying she was so upset that Alivia was staying. She did not understand, either, why she could not stay and play.

So, I convinced Addison that we had fun plans, too. We ended up going to Pottery Barn Kids, one of Addison's favorite stores. Then we went home for a while to eat some of those cookies we made in the morning. Mmm! After Daddy got home from work, it was time to go and pick up Alivia.

We arrived at 4pm and the girls were playing outside. They had fun playing with Barbies in Ellie's "beautiful" room (I thought it was funny that Alivia described Ellie's room as beautiful! I'm sure it was painted something other than brown. :) ). Alivia also said they had fun playing outside. Alivia was in tears when she left. I wished I could say, "she just lives right up the street so we will play again." But, I could not say that. I could, however, say that she would see her soon as Alivia is going to visit her old classmates this week while Alivia is on spring break.

Alivia had a fun afternoon. It was decided that there are more play dates in the future and they should be longer.

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Addison's Owie

Addi's Owie :(

During the night last night, Addison came into our room, "I'm scared," she told me. She crawled into bed next to me, Daddy, and Asher. Yes, Asher was already in bed with us. No, this is not typical. But, Asher fell asleep in our bed and I left him, assuming Daddy would put him to bed when he came to bed. But, Daddy didn't, so Asher stayed.

All was well until Addison went to roll over. She rolled out of bed landing on the corner of the night stand. OUCH! Within a hour, her little cheek was swollen and bruised. Poor Addison now has one big owie. :(

I think they will stick to sleeping in their own beds now, maybe.

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March into the Forest

Yesterday, Addison, Asher and I enjoyed a very cold trip to Fontenelle Forest. When the high is in the 50's in March - that is NOT warm enough to go for a walk amongst the trees...just FYI.

We started our visit with a walk in the forest. Brrr! I had to run most of the way so our hands would not go numb. Once at the visitor center, we went downstairs to play and to meet up with our friends, Laura and her little 2 year old boy Simon. It was a lot of fun!

We love visiting the forest and look forward to returning on a sunny and warm day someday soon.

Chris at Work

Nobody can say Chris is lazy. He is now working his seasonal overtime at work (even in a new area, he still gets overtime. Yeah!). So, he has been working about 10-11 hours a day. Now if that was not enough, last night he came home and finished organizing the garage until midnight. Then, tonight he came home and mowed the stubble we call grass (we will be lucky if our newly sodded yard makes it. It looks nice and dead) before coming in and installing a ceiling fan. Oh, then after putting the kids to bed, he went for a run and worked out with weights!

Thank you Topher for your hard work!

Now, I want to know where he gets his energy?

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The Master Bedroom...New Fan

UGLy Fan BEFORE

Finally, we replaced the fan in our bedroom. We also, against our better judgment, brought the TV up from the garage, all 206 pounds of it thank you. This is the TV that we had in our family room at our previous address. We will rarely watch it there I would guess...but we had not a clue what to do with it otherwise. Here are the after pictures.

If you need a great ceiling fan, the new one is a Minka Aire Concept II. It not only looks cool, in my opinion only here, it is the most quiet fan we could find. It hugs the ceiling too, which we wanted in all rooms except Asher's room (because his ceiling is vaulted). Not sure what we will do in his room yet. We love this fan as you will now find it in 2 rooms. It is definitely not the least expensive fan on the market, but we were willing to pay for a quiet fan that we liked.

Now, onto the next project...the fence. Whose kidney is going to go this time?

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Garage Transformation

Finally, the weather has been nice enough for us to get in the garage and get it organized. Finally, we know where everything is at (and no, Addison's missing clothes and missing things were not found :( ). So...here are the before and after pictures.

You all (and all of Omaha as seen on the news) remembers the before footage:

and the After! We unloaded and unpacked, clearly, organized and put faux wood blinds over the windows from Blinds.com (excellent quality at a great price - about half of the price of anywhere else I priced!).

And that is why we needed a 4+ car garage! Look at all that crap! On the car side - we have NO BIKES, NO TOYS, and NO WAGONS HANGING ABOVE THE CARS! There is still a dent in the van from where the cozy coope fell on it. Future plans include a drop zone/bench by the door to the house in which Chris hopes to build this summer. We leave our shoes in the garage, and a bench to sit on and store the shoes would be great! Of course, I will post before and afters whenever that happens.

And any day now we will welcome Chris' motorcycle home after a winter at my parents. Then, we will be full. :)

Onto the next before and after.

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1st Visit to a Park in 2010!

In a typical winter, we used to walk up to our park in our previous neighborhood a few times during the winter. I am not so sure we would have done so this winter, however.

Today marked the very first visit to a park in 2010...for Asher and I at least. We went to a little park in Harvey Oaks near Addison's preschool. I thought he deserved that much after going to Lowes and shopping for toys for our nephew's birthday (Oh, and we met another little boy named Asher! The other Asher was 5 years old, though). Asher jumped out of the car and practically skipped to the park because he was so excited! A robin greeted us under the play equipment as we walked up. It was a small park, but Asher did not mind. He pointed out airplanes (he loves them!) and squirrels and went down the slides. We had to run to the car so we could get Addison picked up on time. It was nice to have some fresh air in a beautiful spot, too.

Asher is such a different little boy when we are out together. He reaches for my hand and we are off. He talks a lot more (if at all possible because Asher can talk up a storm!), points out more, and just does whatever he wants. He loves his Mommy time and I love my Asher time. I just wish I could have more Addison time and Alivia time, too!

Oh, and the fresh air helped Asher fall asleep for nap, too. He is asleep and snoring as I type!

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March into the OCM

Another month, another visit to the Omaha Children's Museum! What I forgot, however, was this week is OPS's spring break (I think). It was CRAZY! Addison and Asher did not mind though. We started upstairs in the construction zone working out way downstairs to shop for groceries, play house, get wet in the water area, make an Easter craft before going to the ball room. Addison was running all over the place. She so likes being in charge of where we go, and Asher just grabs her hand and run along. They ran so much that they fell right to sleep after lunch!

Until next time...

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Breakfast & Books

Breakfast & Book 2010

Today was Breakfast & Books at Bell. Alivia invited Addison, Asher, and I in to read stories, eat some donut holes, drink some juice, all while reading her favorite stories for a half hour. It was fun, powered sugar donuts aside (what a mess!). Alivia was not herself as I read stories, and grew upset as the time neared for us to go. She was in tears by the time we left. It was really hard to leave her like that. I was just like her when I was a kid.

All in all, we had a good story time together. Next year, Daddy is coming, too!

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Working Gal

I have been working very casual at night, 11 to 7:30am, for just over a year now. When I started last March, I was working Saturday night every other weekend. Right after we moved, I started working 2 nights in a row every other weekend, by accident really. I emailed my boss and asked her to put me down for the next 2 Sundays with my Saturdays to help pay for our moving expenses. The next thing I knew, I was scheduled for all the Sundays every other weekend as far out as April. I thought I would give the schedule a whirl to help out the short staffing situation and so we could update the house some. After 2 cycles of this, I found that I was giving up more than sleep. I missed the kids and Chris, Chris was crabby when I worked and so was I, the laundry piled high, and the take out food bill increased. Oh, and then I was losing a lot of sleep, too. You see, when I work nights, I nap the afternoon before the first shift (so Saturday afternoon), work Saturday night, then sleep most of Sunday away if I can, work Sunday night, and then Monday with the kids is a total fog. I try to go shopping or take them someplace so I can stay active and awake. I put Addison and Asher down for nap directly after lunch so I can get a good 2 hours of sleep in before having to pick up Alivia from school. Again, Monday night is a fog as I am completely exhausted. Come summer, however, I would not be able to take a nap at all until Chris got home at 5 or 6pm because Alivia would be home and does not nap.

I decided at first that I would just resign. But, then there are a few things that make me think I should stay. One, I need to work to keep my license active. Two, this job is one in a million in that they let me only work 2 days a month to begin with and three, it would be nice to have an option to pick up more shifts if Chris does lose his job at some point. So, I am staying put for now, but dropping back to one day every other week starting in JUNE! I took off a couple Sundays between now and June...so I think I just have 3 more times that I have 2 days in a row to get through.

Now....let's just hope I can make it to June without falling over.

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The Best Gifts

It has been a few months since Christmas. So, what presents are the kiddos, ages 2,3, and 5 still playing with from this past Christmas and from previous years?

1. The Little Tikes Bouncer: This has been the best gift by far. The kids get their exercise, exert some built up winter energy, and play on this daily. Asher generally asks to play with it every chance he can get. He will even jump in it alone. We have it in our basement and will probably keep it here throughout the year, putting it away only as needed. Spider inside not included. :)

2. The crayola glow station: This has been another fun toy. All of the kids like to play with this, although we put it up on the wall in Alivia's closet. It helps keep little minds creative without even a little mess!

3. Melissa and Doug Toys: We love these toys. They are made well and get hours and years of play time!.
Melissa and Doug Cookies: Yummy and fun, the kids play with these several times a week.
Melissa and Doug Cupcakes: We did not decorate ours as it is permanent (weird that they would make it that way). But, just as with the cookies, the kids play with these for hours.
Melissa and Doug Parlor Set: Who does not like icecream? This pretend icecream set steals the show!
Melissa and Doug Pizza: We have had this for a couple years and the kids still play with it. They use it as pizza or take the toppings and stir them in a bowl.

4. Little Tikes Play house: I could not find a picture of the play house we have. Chris' parents bought this for Alivia, I think, when she was small. Grandma bought it from someone at her work at the time (and they are expensive new I believe). We thought, "Lord, where is that going to go?" But, it fit into the basement of both our old address and present address. The kids play in this house a lot.

5. Step 2 Lifestyle Kitchen: This was a Christmas gift for all of the kids in 2008, I believe. It is still played with a lot. These toys take up a lot of wall space...but they are only small for such a short time. It will not be long and they will be on Craigslist and our basement will have extra room, but our kids will be bigger. We like it this way!

6. Little Tikes Picnic Table: DO NOT GET THE JUNIOR! The Jr size is pathetically small. But, the larger one is perfect. We eat on this on most nice days spring through fall! LOVE IT! The kids are already asking to eat on it soon. Who knows...maybe this week!

7. A play set: I hesitate saying, "Get a Rainbow Play Set!" We did not have such good luck with ours. For the price of a nice used car, we thought the play set would hold up better. I think a nice wooden one from anywhere would do the trick. Obviously, it needs to be able to withstand NE storms, which the Rainbow has, to an extent. It was beaten to near death during a hail store a couple years ago, but stained nicely to cover the damage. Our kids play on ours all the time. That is, when it is installed.

8. Character cups and plates: Don't laugh...but the plates we found at the $1 store a few years ago have been a great find! Addison and Asher fight over who gets Spider Man! They are nice in that they slip into the cooler nicely to take on picnics at the zoo, park, or forest. And, they are 2-3 years old and still look great! All of that for a $1!

9. Parent's Brand (sold at Target) picnic set: This set is great! It includes different colored plates, cups and plastic utensils. Alivia got this for Christmas when she was 2 maybe, and it is still a set that they still play with.

10. Pottery Barn Stroller: We have purchased too many strollers, but this dolly stroller has held up the best. It was the Pottery Barn Zooper Stroller (I have a real Zooper Stroller and it is my long time Fav! I will have a really hard time giving it up someday). Addison and Asher themselves have had rides in this thing and it has not broken. Worth the money!! (The one in the link is the twin version of the one the kids have. Theirs is a single. Love the wheels on this thing!).

That ought to do it for now. Any of these things have been some of the best gifts for our kids, if they could vote! Now, what to buy for the next birthday to top the list? Addison wants a pool! Seriously, she does not ask for much. :) Think we will be looking for a little plastic version or just go to the Lake.

 

 

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Finally...A Sunny Day!

Yesterday was beautiful, sunny, with temps in the 60's. Addison and Asher went shopping for spring clothes and a little retail therapy after preschool. Alivia has no clothes for spring and summer. I guess I did not want to move them last year or something. I don't  know why I did not buy her anything. It does not matter because things seem to go on sale well before the season actual gets here. Anyway, after some retail therapy, the kiddos took a nap until it was time to pick up Alivia. We took another walk up to the school. It is just up the hill 2 blocks and then west 2 blocks. It takes like 5 minutes maybe to walk there. So nice!

After arriving at home, the kids played and played and played outside until a little after 4. Then I thought it was safe to try and go and get the mail. This time, Alivia rode her bike while Addison and Asher rode in the wagon. We got the mail and then took a walk around the lake. The wagon is not the best thing to pull Addi and Asher in around the lake. My arms were a little sore by the time we got home

Once at home, the kiddos played in the backyard, asking where the playset is going to go. Seriously, who can remember how to put that thing back together? Alivia wanted to know when and where the fence was going. Well, at $10,000 for a vinyl fence, not sure if it is going. I mean with new fans, the closet project starting today, planting trees and landscaping, paint, new bedding....ugh...we are running out of funds! Seriously, who has $10,000 to invest in a plastic fence (we can only have vinyl or rod iron in our neighborhood). Anyway, they had fun.

We even went out after bath time and took another walk around the "block" just like old times. Although right now, our block is just a piece of grass our home is on. We know it will not be that way forever.

LOVE the sun! It was fabulous! Now, if we can just change the ratio of cloudy to sunny from 100:1 to 1:100 I will be happy. Oh and it's official...we no longer have any snow in our yard, at least until it snows later today!

Snow left on 3/3/10 - Now GONE!

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Addison, The Big Girl

Addi in her big girl bed

Last night was Addison's first night in her big girl bed! Addison's bed is a convertible bed from a crib, to her toddler bed, now to a full bed. Chris put her bed together a couple nights ago, so she bunked with Alivia until Asher and I could go shopping for her mattress on Tuesday while she was in preschool. That was fun let me tell you! Asher stared at the roof of the car the entire way home worrying that the mattress would fall down. Anyway, last night her bed was finally ready to go, minus the complete bedding. I had sheets and blankets, but I have not found the rest yet. Addison wants something purple, so we will see what I come up with.

Addison loves her new bed. Alivia did not like it that Addison's bed was bigger than hers (wait until she sees Asher's bed - he has a queen sized bed!). Sleep tight, Addison, our big girl!

Who knew...it can be done!

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St. Patrick's Day 2010

St. Patrick's Day 2010

Today green became our favorite color, at least for today. I don't really think they get into "pinching" each in school if one does not wear green anymore, but it is still fun to dress in green today anyway.

After sending Alivia off to school, we jumped into potty training. This is getting old, let me tell you. Asher just is not catching on whatsoever! He will sit on that potty for 10 minutes, stand up and put on his undies, and then pee in them. Nice! I can not get the connection to the wet pants to the potty because he is always done by the time we get situated. Seriously, he is a challenge.

Anyway, to make our day a little sweeter, Asher, Addison and I made cupcakes. Mmmm! I was not sure there would be any cupcakes as much as they wanted to eat the batter! But, we were successful, and we even topped them with some yummy green frosting. MMmm! They were really good for afternoon snack and dessert, too!

It was a nice 50 something degrees outside, so we played outside after Alivia came home from school. Then, I mistakenly suggested taking a walk. Daddy brought out the wagon and all heck broke lose! Nobody wanted Asher on their laps. When I made room for Asher without him sitting on anyone's lap, the girls still did not want them in the wagon. Seriously, I kid you not, the neighbors and all the local contractors for miles were staring and glaring at us and our screaming, out of control kids. It was not pretty. Clearly, We did not even get 2 feet from the garage and I told Daddy we could not take a walk, obviously. He took the girls in the house, screaming, for their time out. I took Asher, still screaming, with me to the mailbox (remember the big walk to get our mail?). That walk ended up taking us on the trails around the lake. It was so pretty, and we even spotted a few geese on some leftover ice.

We arrived home to spot the last of the snow had melted in our yard. Okay, almost. There is a pile of it on the property line that the contractors placed there that are building the home beside us. But we are getting closer. Maybe it will all melt by tomorrow, just in time for more snow on Saturday.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here's to being Green!

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