The Forest in February

Yesterday's high topped out in the 50's! There is usually one day of the month that is a little nicer than the others so we can keep up with our monthly visits to the forest. Yesterday Asher actually asked me if we could go to the forest.

So, we invited his friend Cameron along to run off some of that extra little boy energy (and they had a lot of it!). We arrived shortly after noon to a quiet forest, at least it was quiet until we arrived. The boys and I walked (well, they ran, but I walked) the 1 mile boardwalk. They collected sticks to throw, watched for trains on the train tracks below, looked for wild animals and birds, and got some much needed fresh air. The forest is so peaceful.

The boys played a bit in the acorn acres area before going inside to play with the blocks. Asher loves playing with the blocks. He could play there for hours.

After all the fun of the forest, we visited a park briefly before going home to wait for the girls.

It was a beautiful, fun afternoon. Both of the boys said they had fun. Forest trip: Success. Now, I just need to go back with just Asher so I can hear some of that silence. :)

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the kick off, or sorts, to Lenten Season. Yesterday Asher and I attended the 8:15 Mass. As soon as we sat down, I realized that I had wanted to go to St. Vincent's (Our previous Parrish) for Mass.

Oh well, we were at Saint Columbkille now.

This is the first year since Asher was old enough to realize that he was willing to get the Ash marked on his head. He did not say a word about it. I found him to be listening through Mass, too, which is nice.

As the Scripture was being read,  I believe it was Matthew 6:6, they read about going into a room, shutting the door, to pray. Asher pipes up, not so quietly, and says, "What room?!" as he looks around the Church. It was kinda funny. This is after he asked in a previous Mass if we had to go to Church even after we died and went to Heaven. :)

This Lenten Season, we are trying to give up things and do things that will bring us closer to God.

Me: Go to confession, pray with the kids every night before bed, attend weekly Mass (this gets tricky when I work weekends. I am sleeping during Mass), and no facebook (which I have done already, but Chris would like me to get back on after I fix my settings a bit).
Chris: Pray with the kids at night, attend weekly Mass.
The kids: Pray every night, attend weekly Mass.

Let's see how we do.

365 Project Update

You know, Chris and I are sort of doing the 365 project (really, the 366 project due to leap year) together in 2012. What a challenge that has turned out to be! Chris is too busy updating his resume and portfolio to take pictures! And I, well, I have no motivation.

So far, I have been taking most of the pictures. I have lost interest really. It is more of something I have to do every day. I now find it annoying. Last year it was fun. Now, it is getting old. But, I am plugging along. Chris is helping with the editing. So, it is still a team effort. This will definitely be my last year, if I complete it.

Here are some of my favorites...

POPULAR PAGE image of Chris and I...team effort!

Shadow Lake sunset

Another 365 POPULAR PAGE winnter...idea from pinterest

Loved the flare in the eye, Chris' Editing at work.

Another great editing job by Chris

Me and You make We...this was really a difficult idea to execute.

Love the blue sky as Asher swings high.

This was taken at Walnut Creek.

Winter Scene

2012 Valentine: Again, really difficult to execute.

Taken yesterday, sleepy little guy. So sweet as he took one look at me before going to sleep.

Fun Filled President's day

Sleepover Feet, at Movie Time

Yesterday the kids had the day off of school for President's Day. We had a lot of fun things planned to make the most of it.

First, the kids wanted to get in that sleepover that I promised (and was supposed to be Thursday night, if they were not sick). Addison and Alivia both had friends. They ate dinner, played (all together well, which was nice), and watched a movie quietly (amazing!). Then it was time for bed.

Addison and her friend were asleep within minutes. So sweet as they cuddled together.

Alivia and Zoe...not so much. They were loud, laughing, texting me on my ipad (with Alivia's touch, something I was about to take away from her), etc. Finally, at 10:30, they went to sleep. Asher stayed downstairs, watching a movie and falling asleep, with Chris and I.

The sleepover (or should it be called awake over) went well. The morning was crazy. I got up early to get my insanity in before the kids got up. Addison and Kaitlyn were awake at 6:20! No way! Alivia and Zoe slept until 7:30 or so. Then it was time to get everyone dressed, teeth brushed, hair combed, breakfast and out the door by 8:30. I wanted to get to Zumba at 9 at the YMCA, then open swim at 10. I wanted to get there right at 10 for open swim since it was open house day at the Y and I figured it would be crazy.

The kids had fun in kids club, seeing their friend Katy and coloring with her, while I worked it out at Zumba. Let's just say an hour of Insanity followed by an hour of high impact Zumba is a major workout (but Zumba is just too much fun to skip).  We got into the pool right after 10. Initially, it was not too busy. Addison and Alivia played with Addi's friend Kate, who was swimming with her brother, Henry. Asher just splashed around, playing catch with me. Then Addison's friend Kaitlyn came with her Mommy and her little brother. Funny, Asher had to friends at the pool, Henry and Will, and really was more entertained playing alone in the pool. So funny.

At break time, the kids wanted to get out and go jump on the Y's bouncers that they had for the open house. We showered and set out to the bouncers. We then found out that they Y had to close the pool for a bit anyway (Poo found in the pool!! GROSS!! Did I say that was why I want a pool IN OUR YARD?! POO FREE ZONE!!).  By 11:30, the kids were tired and hungry, ready for our next adventure.

The kids had a picnic while I raced to the zoo to catch the 12:15 showing of Sharks. Funny, everyone else had that same idea. We were in line for tickets when at 12:05 they announced the Sharks showing was sold out. Ugh!! So, we set out to see some animals before coming back to see the 2:15 sold out Sharks in 3D IMAX. The kids were wiped (and so was I!). We took our time going through the desert dome, jungle, tigers, orangutans, gorillas and monkeys. The monkeys and tigers were in the middle of their naps, making all of us sleepy. They were so cute!

The Sharks movie was CRAZY! We waited in line until 2:13 for a 2:15 showing. We barely sat down and the movie started. Nothing like standing for 25 minutes with 3 tired kids. The movie itself was awesome. I love the underwater IMAX movies. It is so cute to see the kids try to reach out to the fish. But, they were all 3 asleep within minutes.

After the movie, we set for home. Soon, their friends Kate and Henry came to play. The boys and Addison helped me make donuts while Alivia and Kate played. This time, I threw come cocoa in with the chocolate chip donuts. They were delicious! They were a hit with all the kids except Alivia, who refused to try them ("I don't like donuts.") The boys challenged me with their endless energy before I started a movie for them so they would chill. I am always amazed where kids get all their energy?! 

It was a fun filled day. At dinner, I asked the kids what they liked best.
Asher, "I liked Ycare with Katy, swimming, jumpy jumps, the zoo monkeys, the sharks movie, and playing airplanes with Henry." Addison liked her sleepover and the tigers at the zoo. Alivia said she agreed with Asher, except she liked playing with Kate.

Day off, success.

Now, today is going to be a day of rest. I'm exhausted!

Scotch Tasting

Last night, Chris took my Dad on a date (or did my Dad take Chris?).

Okay, those are Chris' words actually, as a joke.

Chris and my Dad went to a Scotch tasting in Omaha. My Dad and his bad influence (ha ha) have gotten Chris to drink a little scotch, with my Dad only. It sounds like they downed a few old ones (really, is this like old, moldy cheese?!) that burned as they go down (like gasoline?). Chris says he remembers talking to everyone at his table.  Chris, talking?! Wow, that is quite some scotch! I guess they had fun, and that is all that is important. Nice, male bonding or something.

Oh, and Chris got a sandwich on the way home, but he can not remember eating it. Hope he did not do anything else he can not remember. :)

Deactivated

I am officially deactivated, from facebook anyway.

I have been contemplating it for a while, for many reasons. Today turned out to be the day.

First, if you want to talk to me, talk to me, visit me, call me, or maybe text me (still not sure of that method of communication, but I am conforming). If you can not talk to me in person, than I prefer not to talk to you on facebook either. Additionally, I have people who are so nice in person, but defriend me on facebook. Really? Are we really in the second grade? I'm too old to be in the second grade or be part of second grade activity.

I find people like to add insult to injury, brag, flaunt and just be plain rude on facebook. Some can do this to your face, but most find it easier to do on facebook. I, again, don't care.

I will have friends, real friends. Not the "facebook" virtual friends. I was virtually and really getting upset by stuff in this virtual world. I have stuff in my reality to do that.

I will miss out on coupons, events, etc. But, so be it.

For now, I feel better. So much better.

Chris has selected to defriend pretty much everyone. That way he can view body rock without seeing how rude one person is or what some guy from highschool is up to, someone he does not even remember. Perhaps I will fish out my "friends" someday. This just seems easier at the moment.

Again, I feel much better in my reality, not in a virtual one.

Too Much Insanity

Chris and I are well into the Insanity work out for the second time. Gees, we did not remember how difficult the second half was! 1 hour of vigorous cardio, jumping, and more is so much work!

This time, my right foot is bothering me (remember, the first Insanity I broke my LEFT foot). It is not broken, but bruised good at least. I am plugging along at the Insanity anyway, hoping for the best, to finish. Chris has a little injury now, too, but he is a tough guy about it. So, he does not complain.

Chris and I have been throwing in a nice run here and there, too. I do feel a difference. I do have a more well defined core and muscles in my legs that I have not seen before. My butt must be more toned as it is so sore most of the time that I can hardly sit on it! :) And, I can do 16 push ups IN A ROW! Okay, for a 5'4", 100lb girl, doing A push up is impressive. I have no upper body strength, but it is improving.

Chris has toned up a bit, too. We are both seeing the difference this time, where the first time of Insanity we just felt it.

So, Insanity and all those suicide jumps, moving push ups, jumps, in and out abs, basketball jumps, power squats, mountain climbers, butt kicks, switch kicks (oh I hate these!), power lunges, full body drills, etc, etc, ...they may just work. Not sure they work well enough to do a third time, but we will see.

On the Table

With all that is going on in our household right now, I did not think anything would surprise me.

But I was wrong.

It is no secret that a couple years ago I was yearning for baby #4. Just so you know, 3 is not a good number of kiddos to have as one is always left out. In our family, the one left out is usually Addison. Addison and I share a close bond because she is so much like me. I also feel sad for her since she is left out so often. Anyway, I brought it to Chris' attention that I was ready for baby #4 after moving to Papillion 2 years ago, and Chris did not feel we had room in our home, wallets and hearts for a 4th baby. So, it was decided...we are a happy family of 5.

Until recently.

Chris dropped a big bomb on me, asking what I thought about having another baby?! What?! Um, no. Too late. We are older, the kids are older, too big of a spread between the kids, we would be older parents now (even older parents than we are now), etc, etc. Really?! What changed?!

Who knows what changed for Chris. But, it is now on the table. Really? Job insecurity, a possibly move, and he wants to throw adding a baby to the mix of Austin fun?

Perhaps if we were younger, wiser, richer, it would be a definite possibility. For now, this suggestion is just that, a suggestion. I am quite happy (and do I say blessed) with our 3 kiddos and our family of 5.

Strep in the House

It began with Addison last weekend and has now spread to Alivia and Asher...strep throat.

Addison went back to school on Wednesday and has been fine since. Yesterday, Thursday, Alivia complained of a sore throat when she woke up. But, I took her temperature and she did not have a fever. Alivia rarely complains, so I did take her seriously. With that said, I can not keep her home for every little scratchy throat. So, I gave her a little Motrin for her sore throat and sent her to school. I did tell her that if it got worse to go to the nurse, and I would come right up and get her. I was more worried than normal because Addison had strep earlier in the week and because Alivia was having a sleepover Thursday night (the girls are out of school Friday and Monday).

At noon, Asher and I went up to school to check in on Alivia. She was eating lunch with her friends and said she felt fine. Huh. Guess it was nothing.

Asher, meanwhile, developed this strange case of hives on Wednesday night. They were all over and itchy. He did have some soy crackers, so I thought maybe they were the cause. He did not have a fever. Thursday morning the hives seemed better and he acted fine, still without a fever. So, Asher and I went off to the YMCA for a bit. He was still fine. I noticed his hives coming back, creeping up his neck into his hairline, just before lunch. I took his temp; still no fever. Hum. What is this?! After lunch we were playing trucks and out of nowhere he had an accident. Asher is 4 and just does not have accidents unless something is wrong. He was crying and I knew something had changed. Now he had a low grade fever.

Sleepover was off.

We drove to pick up the girls and the girls were mad about the sleepovers being cancelled. They both stomped to their rooms to pout. Nice, eh? I went up to check on Alivia and found her snoring in bed. I took her temp and it was 102. She finally admitted to having a sore throat. Come on! She was going to deny it until I allowed the sleepover?!

Come to find out, both Alivia and Asher have strep. Hives can occur due to the strep virus. Huh, I did not know that?! Yes, I know, I am a nurse, but I do not recall seeing hives associated with strep when I worked around sick kids every day. Learn something new every day.

So, Addison and Asher are on their 10 days of antibiotics and Alivia is on her own non penicillin 10 days of medications (Alivia has a penicillin allergy). This is Asher's first antibiotic since he was one! So, he has been a challenge to give Benedryl, Motrin and antibiotic. He even vomited it all up on me the first dose. That was nice.

So, our little weekend vacation will be quiet, at least until they all are on the mend. Then, I am going to bleach my house!

Hope they feel better soon!

Ouch! These look so itchy! He itched it until he had bleeding scratches. Poor thing.

Sad hives boy.

Itchy hives.

Alivia, camped in her room with Pippa and her iPod touch.

Asher looks dopey here, but you can see the hives/rash on his head/eyes.

Valentine's Day 2012

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a very busy day, at least it seemed that day. The kids awoke to find Valentine Treats next to their breakfast. They each got a little Valentine outfit. This may be the last year Asher will care about clothes, but we will see. I was even surprised to roses and M&Ms from Chris (anyone who knows me knows that flowers are not my favorite unless planted in the garden. But, with that said, it is nice to be surprised and loved every once in a while).

Alivia went to school while Addison was still too weak to go to school. She spent the day just trying to gain her strength and appetite back. She did not seem to mind missing her party, and was able to complete the party craft last night. She ate dinner last night, finally eating something, and had nice color to her face by bedtime.

Grandma Bet and Grandpa Bill came by to watch Asher and now Addison while I went up to school to be co room mom for Addison's party. I felt strange going without Addison, but I did not want to leave the other room Mom alone. That just did not seem right. I was lucky my parents could help me out, too.

After the party, it was time to prepare dinner. We had Lauren's Latest Pizza again (our new favorite recipe) with hot and fresh Valentine brownies for dessert. It was delicious.

We had a fun and love filled Valentine's Day. I have never been a huge fan of Valentine's Day, but I am happy to spread the love to our kids and to my hubs (who got cologne for Valentine's day).

Happy Valentine's Day!

Our Valentine's Day Card 2012

Our Little Valentines, 2012

Hot Heart Brownies.

Pizza was so yummy!

Craft from Pinterest that the kids did in Addison's class, so she made one at home!

Sick Addison

I, unfortunately, say that a lot...Addison is sick.

She has had a break, luckily, from being sick. I do not believe she has been sick since winter break, which may be a record. But, don't quote me on that.

Yesterday, Addison slept in. Addison usually falls asleep around 7 and wakes up around 6, if we are lucky. Sunday morning, she slept until 8:30. She visited her Grandparents for a bit, returning home around 11:30, going straight back up to bed. She was asleep before we realized where she was. She slept until nearly 2, waking for a while, going back to bed until I got her up. She was burning up, fever, sore throat and had that smell of strep.

A  quick 2 hour trip to urgent care proved me right...strep throat.

She is much better today with Motrin and her antibiotic. I am still not sure her Valentine's Day party is in the cards for her or not. I am thinking of sending her to school at lunch time tomorrow, maybe. We will just have to see.

Let's up our little Addison is soon on the mend and done being sick for a long, long time.

2012 Valentines

This year we made our Valentines, thanks to finding an idea on Pinterest. Chris is not a fan of Pinterest as it just seems to give him more and more things to do. :)

You're Just Write For me

Now let 's just hope Addison is well enough to go to her party!

Cousin Rodney Visits

My cousin lives in Kentucky and came to visit us on Saturday with my parents. He was just driving through our area on a little vacation with his soon to be bride. It was fun to meet her and catch up a bit. Now, it is our turn, we are told, to visit him in Kentucky.