Plato?

I remember being little and not always getting to play with certain messy things such as play-doh, and boy when we did, we were for sure doing it OUTSIDE!  I distinctly remember also saying, "I'm gonna let my kids play with play-doh all the time when they're little."

Fast forward 20 + years
This has entered our home:

Just in case you were not able to read it - here is the best part!

That's right - FIFTY - 5-0 pieces of fun that are full of spirals, hidden compartments, and crevices that hide the play-doh from the naked eye.  Then, we you pull it out again, you find the play-doh all hard and crusty.  We played with this over a weekend and had an amazing time.  My favorite part was trying to pry apart the colors that had been smashed together into one large clump.  The kids really did have a good time and Brooke frequently asks to play with the "Plato."  .

But...the really crazy thing is that the play-doh box and all its contents have mysteriously disappeared.  I'm sure it will reappear when the weather is nice and we have a table outside to play on!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY...Chad's Genes Run Deep!

LOL!  :)

Morning Routines

I have learned over the course of time that I am a creature of habit.  Something that disrupts my routine usually makes me a little nutty.  That's how this morning went.

Chad usually leaves the house while I am getting myself ready for the day.  The house is quiet.  I sometimes throw a load of laundry in while I am doing my hair or putting on make-up.  I get dressed, usually pick up some things in the bedroom or around the house, and then head to the kitchen.  While in the kitchen, I grab something to eat, get something ready for dinner that night, or make my lunch for the day.  Sometimes, I even read part of the newspaper, but all in all, this is my quiet time, where I prepare myself for the chaos that will erupt when I head upstairs to wake my three darlings and that will continue throughout the day. 

This morning, I walked into the kitchen and flipped on the light.  Immediately, I heard a loud - MOMMY that sounded like it came from right behind me.  (This is where my quiet was interrupted!) I spun around and looked up the stairs and my sweet Luke is looking back at me.  I shushed him and told him to come downstairs all the while thinking, what the heck is going on?  Why is he outta his bed?  He crept down the stairs, sat on the bar stool, and said, "What're you doin'?"  To which I replied, "Mommy's getting ready for the day."  "Why," he asked?  Again...my quiet time of the day was supposed to be happening here.  So, I went on to explain that it was Monday and he was going to his school and I was going to mine to teach the "big kids" as they say.  I turned to put the meat in the crockpot and when I turned around there were FOUR eyes watching me instead of two.  I almost wet myself. 

This couldn't be happening, my routine was going to be all messed up.  I kissed Brooke on the forehead and she says, "Zachary's still sleeping, I want to be here with you."  I might have melted a little then. 

Somewhere along the line, they both headed back upstairs to get their clothes.  Zach was awake by that point.  I heard Brooke say, "I'm going to get dressed."  Followed by Luke saying, "Me too."  About that time, I heard, "NO LUCAS, I'M GETTING DRESSED HERE, GET OUT OF MY ROOM." slamming door sound.  OH SHEESH.  Is this going on already, really???

Needless to say, I was at school on time, but not the time I'd like to be and I think I'll have to plan a new morning routine!

Rewind...Happy New Year!

Chad took some days off while the rest of the family was home. I don't think he realized all the fun stuff we'd be doing and many times throughout those days, he pleaded to go back to work.  Oops.  We got some much needed reorganizing and cleaning accomplished.  After seeing the progress, I mentioned that maybe we needed to put Brooke's day bed up.  So...on New Year's Eve 2010, at 5 pm, we started assembling her big girl bed.  I put the new sheets/comforter set on it that she got for Christmas and we stood back to admire it.  That is when she proudly announced, "That's my bed, I'm going to sleep in that tonight."  WHAT?
The rest of the conversation went something like this:

M:  No, not tonight honey, after your birthday you can start sleeping in your big girl bed.
B:  No, I do it tonight.
M:  Are you sure you want to sleep here by yourself?
B: Yes!
M:  The boys are not sleeping in here, they are going to sleep in their room in their beds.
B:  Ok!

Again...WHAT?  This was not in my plan.  We were going to make the switch after their birthdays in February or at summer time, when I WAS READY.  Suddenly it dawned on me that my baby girl was making a big decision for herself.
About that time, Luke lugs his sheets/comforter up the stairs and announced that he too was going to sleep in his big boy bed.  There was only one problem with that and it was a big one...we had the beds, but no mattresses and nothing was ready.  After many, many, many tears and some pleading on our part, we coerced him into sleeping in his baby bed one more night.  It was not a good night.  Such excitement for one and disappointment for another.  I'm sure it will happen again, it was just hard to swallow this time around.  At bed time Brooke crawled in her bed, we tucked her in and kissed her good night.  We never heard another peep?!? 

I went to bed that night, the last night of 2010, wondering how my little girl and taken control of something that I didn't think she was ready for.  She made a decision that I wasn't prepared for and ran with it.  The next day Nana and Papa found some mattresses for us and we set the beds up in the boys' room too.  I was really, really, not ready for this transition.

So goodbye to our babies and 2010 ...

...Hello 2011 and the many new things headed our way!

Rewind...Christmas 2010

Okay, the procrastination must stop. I've put off going through the 200+ pictures that were taken the last weeks of the year and am ready to finally put some on here!

We started Christmas at Papa Dennis' side on the 23rd. Not successful in terms of Kris Kringle. Remember this?  Not even close...The jolly old elf himself found us celebrating Christmas and came in jingling his bells and ho ho hoed while his belly shook and my three wanted nothing. NOTHING. to do with him. They ever so lightly dug their tiny fingernails into our necks and held on for dear life.  (Chad thinks this is the slightly sugar-coated version!)

Zach's picture doesn't even need words!

Sitting on Santa's lap was less than successful - maybe next year? 

After Santa handed out some goody bags and presents, he wasn't sooo bad, Brooke didn't stick around for any longer than she needed.

We spent Christmas Eve with Nana's family.  Here are the cousins

We opened presents and relaxed for awhile ...

until we were entertained with a surprise performance by Dennis and the Polka Dude and Dudettes.  They played a version of "In Heaven There Ain't No Beer" to our dismay delight. That's right, that is a real accordion and some real talent shown here:

Notice Zach in the picture - he is checking out his papa and probably wondering what the heck is going on and what did you do with my real papa?

Sometime through the night, I heard reindeer on the roof. I tip toed to the living room trying to catch Santa in the midst of his delivery, but must have just missed him.  I saw this:

and quickly laid down on the couch to put the excitement in my belly to rest.  I guess the anticipation of seeing the kids open their presents was getting to me because my stomach was doing all kinds of flip flops and balling up in knots.  When the sun came out, I realized rather quickly that the anticipation and the feelings in my stomach were not gone, but were worse.  That is when it really dawned on me - the gift that keeps on giving was upon me.  UGH...........not a fun way to spend Christmas.  Anyway, we made the best of it and celebrated the day together as a family.

The kids couldn't wait to open the presents that Santa left for them, but they did pause long enough for a picture.

Brooke got a baby doll that coos and sings and a dress up set.  I can just hear the music as she walks down the runway at the Miss America Pagent - Here she is Miss America - for proof, just check out that crazy doo - she was one hot mess!

Luke got a Thomas the Train the moves on command when the whistle is blown.  Mommy and Daddy LOVE Santa for bringing that gift.  A whistle - who knew it could be so fun?!?

Zach got the "tractor-combine" he repeatedly asked for.  He loved it for a whole FOUR seconds until he realized that it wasn't a tractor to ride on but one to push.  Next time, he'll make sure to specify his exact wished to Santa!

After a nap, we headed out to Mama and Papa's house.  It was probably not the Christmas we were all expecting since there were quite a few people sick, but the kids had a good time. 

Toys, toys, and more toys were opened.  Brooke got lots of baby doll necessities, Luke and Zach got a farm set, and no one went home empty handed.

We got home and everyone was tucked in bed by 8:30.  I think the kids were still talking long after my eyes were closed.  Around 3:30, Chad received the gift I had earlier.  I hate that to think that I was the giver, but I think I was.  The 26th, we spent some time at Nana and Papa's house.

 Among the favorites were the toothbrushes and the comforter and sheet sets for their big girl/boy beds that are in storage!

Another Christmas come and gone, it is very hard to imagine.  But, it will be remembered!