Well, I've been away for quite some time!  It seems that blogging ended as easily as it began:(  Since I spend all of my spare time on the computer trying to keep up with facebook, I forgot that I really enjoyed writing the little snip-its of our days to share with family and friends.  Ah, yes...an obsession with facebook.  While it is wonderful to have such a great way to catch up with old friends and keep up with new ones, WHAT A TIME PIRATE!  And I'm ashamed to admit that I am totally addicted to facebook status updates.  In fact, I was looking up google+ and ended up in my gmail account which reminded me that I started this blog months ago and have been very delinquent in updates.  So, I'm going to be setting a timer for myself as well as the kids from now on to tame my crazed facebook time and maybe force me to do more productive things with my computer time.  Like check my bank account and update the blog:)  Well, I'm done ranting.  Have a fabulous day!

Another busy week...

Eva's 5!!!  I can't believe that my baby is five already.  Nan and Pop dropped in on their way from FL back to PA and got to enjoy some time with the kiddos and of course, partake in the 2 day birthday celebration:)  On Thursday, we went to the mall and the kids played in the play area.  We had dinner at UNO's.  I picked up my preordered copy of Tangled.  And Eva got her ears pierced!!  I'm so sad that I don't have pictures of the whole thing.  It was not planned.  She just decided while we were walking past the Piercing Pagoda that she was ready to have pierced ears.  And while I was unwilling to stick around for the whole process, Daddy tells me that she was very brave and just said, "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow."  So proud of her!  Then she got her birthday cookie from Barnes and Noble Cafe.  Then Friday on her birthday she got a chocolate cake and singing for breakfast at 8:34.  She got to open her presents from the family and play with her new dress up stuff.  It was really a lazy day until lunch.  We went out for Chinese buffet, her favorite:) And then on to Toys R Us to spend her $3 gift card.  Of course she picked out a new Barbie:)  She would have liked to buy every girlie thing they had, but $3 doesn't go too far. LOL.  Then we had to rush home to get her into her ballet gear and go for her last class and little performance.  The little girls in that class are totally adorable!I totally forgot my camera AGAIN!!  There was a serious lack of camera at all of the birthday events.  Total FAIL on Mommy's part:(  Then after ballet, we met the Geis' at Outback for some more birthday fun. 

For this, I have a picture:)***To be posted later***

And now off to do all of the work for her birthday party this coming Sunday.  Wish me luck!!

The week in review

It's been a kind of busy week here with Daddy off and all of this "get the kids outside" weather, so I'm just gonna have to sum up the week.

Ethan managed to wreck his elbow while riding his tricycle.

These pictures in no way indicate the amount of screaming that took place inside this house JUST TO PUT  ON A BANDAID!  Cool bandaid on top of a plain one in an attempt to make the whole idea more pleasing.  Didn't really work, but he insisted on having both in the end, so...

 Kori totally proud of herself on the Princess tricycle.  She even has one of her toys stashed in the princess pocket:)

All kinds of fun while Daddy starts to work on the front yard landscaping.  Another project in the works.  I am definitely not looking forward to it, but I'm sure that the finished product will be worth it?

Ethan and his sunflower seeds.

Eva and her cornflower seeds:)

Daddy pretending to be having fun planting with three sets of not so helpful hands:)

Then the worms finally arrived for our homemade compost bin:)

Eat, worms, EAT!

Goobers!

Fun in Dick's Sporting Goods:)

And Daddy has also decided that it is time for the kids to have some t-ball equipment.  I think that they had the most fun running around Dick's trying out all of the stuff there.  But we have two new kiddo size gloves.  Two Mommy and Daddy sized gloves and a new t-ball bat.  And that wasn't enough for Eva.  She wants a tent and a "perfect size for her roaster". AKA little camping BBQ grill.  So much fun in the mall:)

And my tulips are blooming!!  I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I'm super happy that I managed to get something to grow.  Quite an accomplishment.  I think I"ll treat myself with some Starbucks :)

Headlines Read "Insane Mom takes on too many projects and CRACKS!"

Ok, so I haven't really cracked yet, but I really need to evaluate and organize some of my "Let's craft with the kiddos" projects.  The lady at Michael's when I checked out today noted on my strange variety of purchases.  Clay pots, glitter glue, pipe cleaners, plastic easter eggs, cupcake papers, fondant rolling mat, card stock, a wreath, ribbon.

Project one:  Clay pots... My grandma passed away a few months ago and she really loved her apple trees.  So as part of our Chrismas gifts this year, my mom gave me an apple tree planting kit in memory of her.  The kit comes with three seed and you need to put them in pots and keep them indoors until they are strong enough to be planted outside.  Said apple seed are currently in my refrigerator for a two week cooling off period before they get to come out and see some sunlight.  I'll keep you posted:)

Project two:  Wreath, ribbon, glitter glue... I love hanging festive wreaths or decorations on my front door and I do not have something yet for Easter and springtime.  So, my brilliant plan is to make little Easter eggs with some cornstarch clay(recipe that I found on Family Fun) and then paint them with all of the pretty glitter and then stick them to this wreath.  Add a little ribbon and... VOILA!  I'm going to have a gorgeous homemade Easter wreath.  Probably going to cost me just as much to make as it would have to buy, but... whatever.  I'll keep you posted:)

Project three:  Cardstock...  We had family pictures taken a few months ago and I have yet to send the millions of pictures that I purchased out to my family.  I figured I'll make cute little personalized cards and send them out to everyone for Easter.  I'll keep you posted:)

Project four:  Fondant rolling mat...  This one isn't going to give me nearly the amount of time to dilly-dally around as all the other ones.  You see, Eva's birthday is right around the corner and I promised my little girl a Tangled cake and I'm giving it my all and stepping outside my comfort zone and making homemade fondant icing and well, we'll see what actually happens.  I'm in the middle of my trial run right now.  The cake is baked and the fondant is warming up to room temperature, so I guess I'll know by the morning what kind of learning curve I'm gonna have.  I've already decided that there might have been $19.99 worth of kneading and peeling sticky icing off of my buttered hands, but I'm actually looking forward to making this cake.

Oh, and our sunflowers are already showing some green:)  Which means that Ethan is thrilled and Eva, not so much.  Her "cornflowers aren't growing at all!"

I can't take all the whining!

So, Ethan has hit an age where it seems his only form of communication and his answer to EVERYTHING is whining, screaming, yelling and then innevitably, crying.  Chris and I are at our wits end!  In fact, a timeline for today's insanity.

Getting out of the car after lunch.

Mommy: Ethan, I'm gonna tickle you.
Ethan: NOOOOOOOOOOOO. Whine, whine.
Mommy:  I'm just playing, Ethan.
Ethan:  *scream*
Daddy:  Let me get you out of your carseat, buddy.
Ethan:  Flailing and screaming

Once we finally got in the house.

Mommy:  Ethan, I'm going to put your teddy bears on your pillow so they're ready for naptime while you take off your coat and shoes and put them away.
Ethan:  NO!  *Screaming*
Mommy:  They're on your pillow.  I just need you to get your shoes and coat off.
Ethan:  *More screaming*

I guess I should be content that this time didn't include the typical sit down and scream and pound my fists on the floor temper tantrum that seems to be a part of our daily life these days.  I've heard, "Meet the need and the tantrums will stop."  I'm not sure I believe all of that.  Today was a totally family oriented day.  We all got up and ate breakfast.  Left for the gym at 8:30am.  Dropped the kids off in the gym daycare for 35 min while Mommy and Daddy got their sweat on.  Then we took everyone out of daycare and we all went swimming together for an hour.  We got showered and dressed and took them out for a special lunch since we don't go out to eat very often these days. 

I'm not going to be all dramatic about it and say I feel like I'm failing as a mom.  I know that kids have to go through this whiny phase where they aren't very good at communicating and this causes tantrums, but... that isn't making it any easier to deal with.  I've already made it through this once and we're all still alive to talk about it.  Or not.  I don't even remember Eva going through this.  It must have been so painful that I just blocked that memory:)  And I know that Kori is going to go through it and I'm gonna have to step up and be the bigger person again.  But do you know what I want to do in the midst of one of Ethan's screaming, I'm not gonna listen to you, throw myself on the floor, tantrums, THROW MY OWN MOMMY SIZE TANTRUM CAUSE I JUST WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH!!!!  Well, I feel a little bit better now.  Off to do some real housework now that all the kiddos are napping and Daddy is playing his man game(Black Ops, LAME!)

St Patrick's Day

Since Mommy is still sick(so sick I've been drinking apple cider vinegar to make my sore throat go away), the day of green didn't go off quite as planned:(  But I did manage to make green milk for their cereal.  Green cupcakes with green icing.  And they are wearing their St Paddy's Day t-shirts.  They aren't good pictures of them, but...  You do what you can when the kids really aren't cooperating:)

Ready for Spring

Daddy came home from a long five days away on night shifts and we were all so glad to see him.  Especially since it turned out to be such a nice day to play outside!  Eva was pretending that her sneakers were too small because she wanted to wear her favorite florescent pink dress shoes.  Ethan was too busy playing his Leapster.  And Kori, well, she was still wearing her jammies at 330 in the afternoon(Mommy was too.  It stinks being sick!!).  But Daddy fixed all that and we headed out for some fresh air. 

Kori trying on Daddy's Mets hat.  She got very upset when Ethan tried to take it off of her :)

While we were outside, Daddy and the kiddo's player some basketball.  Ethan even made a basket!  I wish I had gotten a picture!  Than Daddy taught Eva and Ethan how to throw a frisbie while Kori spent her time sliding:)  What a fabulous afternoon!

Helping hands

My day started out not so fabulous.  The kids have all been sick for the last 2 months.  It seems like they are all just taking turns being sick.  I have managed to escape most of this sickness, but now I have a sore throat.  Boo!  And no one is adjusted to daylight savings yet.  Kori is teething and stuffed up and she's been screaming since 530 this morning.  It just seemed like the deck was stacked against me this morning.  But when she started to help me with the dishes, all I could do was smile.

All three of the kids are always trying to help me out around the house.  Whether it's sweeping or vacuuming, dusting, mopping.  You name it and they want to help out.  Sometimes I really get frustrated because it always takes longer to do a task with my little helpers and Mommy's time is precious!  Most of the time I try to enjoy their enthusiasm and let them help.  Today, it was Kori helping put the dishes away.  The silverware never ends up exactly where it belongs, but really, "Who cares!"  She's having fun and I love watching her work so hard to complete her task.  Especially since she can barely reach the drawers.

And she's always so proud of herself.

Thank you kiddos for making my world brighter.

Backyard Fun

The last few day's have been full of fabulous weather here in VB and we have been living it up outside and having tons of fun.  Yesterday, while Ethan and Kori took their naps, Eva and I enjoyed some fun raking up the leaves and jumping in them.  We played dodge ball and laughed all afternoon!   

Do I have any leaves in my hair??

 

Then friends, Gena, Lizzie, and Charlotte(not pictured here), came over to share in the fun!

 

And it was a straight up leaf throwing, jumping, raking, sliding party!

 

 

Needless to say, we're all very ready for spring and summer to welcome us with open arms.  This is just the beginning of our fun times together in 2011.  Now Kori is big enough to join in the fun instead of just being an observer.  She has learned much from her quiet seat on the sidelines.  And... I'm not sure that her brother and sister know it yet, but she is one tough cookie!  I think there might be a new boss in town very soon!