ThatToddlerTown

Wednesday Wrap Up

2013-05-16T16:17:00.001-04:00

Today I am all messed up. I switched my teleworking day from yesterday to today and now I can't figure out what day of the week it is. Ever have that problem???

In other news . . .

Took Sir T to the ear doctor this morning for a follow-up hearing test and he didn't pass. The next thing I knew I was discussing ear tubes/SURGERY. I know it's not that big of a deal (remember we have done it twice now with T) but it still makes me sad that he has to go through it. I will say, this morning he was a COMPLETE trooper. The doctor numbed his nose and then stuck a camera on a long skinny wire into his nose. He didn't even reach for me once. When did he become so brave? I missed having him grab for my hand to comfort him.

Sir K is as happy as happy can be. See, a neighbor's tree fell down the other day and into our yard. The tree struck our fence (which we need a new one anyway) and unfortunately the trampoline (not fixable). This is like a new toy for Kevin. Have I ever told you he's a climber? He is such a monkey.

Lady E is in her final preparations for her bridging ceremony. She is graduating to the Brownie Girl Scout program. I'm so proud of her. She has really worked hard.

Lady A is doing great as well. She also appears to have monkey-like tendencies. She's right in there with Sir K. I think the house is going to be VERY sad this afternoon though. The neighbor called and the tree company is coming sometime today to cut and remove the tree.

Willy is fine. I'm fine. The weather has been perfect. The family had our first picnic of the season last night in the backyard. Life is good.

Happy Friday Everyone

2013-05-10T18:16:00.000-04:00

Things here at the ToddlerTown are surprisingly going well. Willy is out of town for a day or so and I was left in charge. I'm not going to lie I always get uneasy that I can't handle 4 kids alone but so far so good. I dropped everyone off at their respect daily hangouts and did a quick trip to the grocery store, gas station and bank. I got really ambitious and stopped by Bed, Bath & Beyond for a little casual shopping and that's when the cellphone rang - "hello Kate, this is the nurse from school. Sir T isn't feeling well" That will teach me to go window shopping. Anyway, I darted over to the school and Sir T looked awful. Got him home ok but while talking to the crew about some grouting issues, we all heard a loud BLAHHHHH. Oh well, he finished up that stage and has been sleeping ever since. I'll do the mommy-look-over once he wakes up. I hope it's nothing serious.

In other news . . .

Sir T is sick (see above).

Sir K wore the most adorable blue shirt today for his teacher's favorite color day. He was super handsome.

Lady E woke up ready to go this morning. Literally, it was pajama day and she really wanted to wear what she wore to bed. EASY. She took her American Girl doll with her. She asked me to make her doll's hair look just like her hair this morning. They both looked adorable walking out the door this morning.

Lady A was as stubborn as ever this morning. She insisted that she also wear her pajamas to school today EXCEPT she wanted to compliment her pajamas with patent-leather shoes. It was quite a look.

I'm doing great. I ordered pizza for the workers for lunch and we sat outside and enjoyed the gorgeous weather. They are a group of really nice guys.

That's about it. I hope you don't have any throw up in your future and that your family is healthy and happy heading into the weekend. Until next time ...

Thursday Tidbits

2013-05-09T16:47:00.001-04:00

The last week and a half has been such a blur for me. We had Sir K's First Communion which was such a blessing. He took the Sacrament VERY seriously. He was very concerned after the rehearsal last Thursday night about the sipping of the wine part. After we left the rehearsal he asked me if he could drink a bottle of wine when we got home to prepare himself for the taste of it. Kids say the darnest things. I think I have mentioned this before but Sir K is probably one of the niciest people you will ever meet. After Mass, he went around and told all the girls that they were beautiful in their dresses. It was so sweet to see him in his suit working the ladies. Willy and I are so proud of him and who he is becoming.

After Mass, we headed over to the Marriott Westfields for brunch. The brunch was spectacular. The grandparents loved it. We presented Sir K with a few gifts (his first official Bible and some hot wheels cars - perfect combination don't you think?) We also seized the opportunity to celebrate Sir T's birthday which was last week. All in all it couldn't have been MORE perfect. These moments are what it's all about. Such joy!!!

In other news . . .

Sir T's soccer team is on a roll. We have won 2 games straight. We are definitely not all about the wins but we have been "NOT" winning for so long, it's nice to enjoy a few wins. This weekend we are travelling to St. Mary's County for a game. Should be interesting. Word on the street is this team is fast and big. Wish us luck.

Sir K finished up with First Communion and now is pumped for an upcoming trip to Hershey Park, PA. Like me, this is one of his favorite places in the world. We have been going to Hershey now for years but we always go in the winter time (for Breakfast With Santa) so this will be our first "official" visit to the amusement park. He is over the moon with excitement.

Lady E is doing fantastic. I had to give her a big pat on the back this morning. This week has been a little hectic with all the Teacher Appreciation activities going on. With 4 kids, it's quite a full time job to keep track of what kid needs what each day. This morning when I woke Lady E up and said don't forget it's wear blue day for your teacher (it's her favorite color), she said (and I quote) "got it covered mom". She reaches under her pillow and pulls out an adorable blue top with little blue shoes. She said when I mentioned it to her last week, she put the outfit under her pillow so she wouldn't forget. I LOVE THIS GIRL.

Lady A is as happy as ever. She is also participating in Teacher Appreciation Week. They have a schedule for us and each day we bring something nice for her teachers. She strayed a bit this morning. Instead of taking cute school supplies for each of her teachers she wanted to take a small back of potato chips for each of them. We didn't fight her. Nothing says I appreciate you more than a bag of chips.

Willy is doing fine. He's participating in a 7 mile race this weekend with a cousin of his. We have a few local soccer games and then the FAR AWAY game. The construction is almost completed. The team told us this morning that 98% of the job will be done by tomorrow afternoon. They plan on returning a few times next week to finish up the punch list. We are very pleased with the results.

That's about it. I hope you are cruising through your week with ease. Until next time . . .

Finally Friday Forum

2013-05-03T12:11:00.003-04:00

Well I didn't do so bad after all. I guess with the construction and the busy schedule we have been living lately, I hadn't given too much attention to what to do for Sir T's birthday. In the past, Sir T's parties have been legendary to say the least. I have spent months planning out these little shindigs. I'm on a first name basis with every moon bounce company, laser tag manager and I hold a Gold Card with Oriental Trading Company. My parties always have 20 "close" friends and fantastic party favors (if I do say so myself).

So, I was really worried how his birthday was going to play out. Of course, we started with the donut breakfast (that's mandatory). Willy dropped off cupcakes for his class (and yes they did sing happy birthday). When he got home from school, I had to rush to get Sir K to First Communion rehearsals and Willy quickly got Sir T and Lady E to soccer practice. After Sir K and I finished up at rehearsals, we stopped by and picked up Sir T's best friend. We met Willy and everyone else at Sir T's soccer practice and THEN - WAIT FOR IT - made the quick trip over to Chuck E. Cheese for a dinner celebration.

Turns out it was great. There was not a soul in the joint. The kids played for 2 solid hours, we enjoyed pizza and we were home by 9:00 pm. I had a chocolate cake ready and we did the candles, wishes and singing. It was nice.

BEST PART OF THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Sir T said this morning it was his best birthday ever. AWWWWW.

In other news . . .

Sir T has a soccer game on Sunday (as usual). He doesn't know it yet but I'm planning a haircut for him in the morning. Have I ever mentioned how much he hates haircuts?

Sir K is as ready as he will ever be for First Communion. We went out the other night and got a new suit/tie and I'm planning a haircut for him as well tomorrow (he doesn't mind haircuts).

Lady E is doing well. She did a nature walk with her Daisy troop the other day and really had a good time. She got muddy and wet but I think that's what made it so fun. She is really excited about her new bathroom. They are finishing up the tiling in her shower today so she is really starting to see how it's going to look.

Lady A is as funny as ever. She was a blast at Chuck E. Cheese last night. We would give her one token and say go play something (which we could since we were the only people in the joint). She loved the horse ride and the Noah's Ark ride. The funniest part was when she realized the machines gave tickets. She was in Chuck E. heaven.

Willy and I actually had a few moments to talk over pizza last night. We really don't talk anymore these days. It's sad but we are just so busy it seems to be the last thing on our list to do.

I hope you have moments to talk to your significant other this weekend. As if we don't have enough on our plate, the family is going to a Kentucky Derby Party Saturday afternoon for a few hours. I'm looking forward to having a few drinks and engaging in adult conversation.

Enjoy your weekend and I'll catch up with you soon.

Thursday Tidbits

2013-05-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today is a BIG day at the ToddlerTown. Sir T is turning 11. Whenever we have a birthday in the house, I always go back to my "Cast of Caricatures" tab (see above) and re-read what I wrote about each member of the family. I must have done a good job with my descriptions because I always love what I wrote. Here is what I wrote about Sir T (almost 2 years ago):

SIR T

Sir T holds the coveted spot of first born and he takes this job very seriously. Weighing in at 7 lbs 2 ounces, he entered this world with an aura of complete tranquility. When I first saw him not a sound came from his mouth just a loving stare and a look that said “glad to be here”. He has been the proverbial perfect son (in our eyes). He’s really smart (but he's humble about it); he loves soccer (and he’s good at it); he loves to cuddle (works for me); and he loves spending time with his family (almost to a fault). Our nickname for him is Old Soul. He spends way too much time assessing situations instead of having fun; he worries about things that he shouldn’t worry about; and he loves the History and Military Channel. He amazes me every day and the twinkle in his crystal blue eyes melts my heart.

We don't have a lot planned for him. With the house all under construction, we are just doing a family thing this year. I feel a tad on the guilty side. Sir T has ALWAYS had infamous blowout birthday parties. I feel like I'm not doing enough. Of course, we started out with a donut breakfast and a huge mommy birthday hug as he went off to school today. I'm planning on dropping off cupcakes for his class (and hopefully they will sing happy birthday to him) and I'll work up a surprise for after school (thank goodness I'm teleworking today and have "some" freedom to make something happen tonight).

I love this young man SO much. He has far exceeded all my hopes and dreams and I can't wait to watch his life play out from a front row seat (God willing).

I love you Sir T and all that you are.

Tuesday Tidbits

2013-04-30T15:06:00.000-04:00

Today is rainy and dreary here at the ToddlerTown. This could be the reason for my "down-ness". I hope you have nicer weather where you are and your disposition is brighter. We have A LOT going on this week. We have soccer practice almost every night this week, a birthday to celebrate and a First Communion.

In other news . . .

Sir T won his first soccer game of the season on Sunday. It was rainy and cold but a GREAT victory for the boys. I absolutely love all the boys (and their families) on Sir T's team. They are all nice, respectful and kind young men. I was over the moon to see them win. We are not all about winning here at the ToddlerTown but it was a very sweet victory. Thursday is Sir T's 11th birthday. He is so excited. I'm happy for him but in a state of complete disbelief. It seems like just yesterday I was holding him in my arms for the first time. I have loved EVERY second of this boy and am SO proud of him.

Sir K has almost completed 2nd grade Religious Education classes and his First Communion is this Sunday. After the Mass, we plan on taking the family and grandparents for a nice brunch to celebrate his sacrament. Sir K announced after his soccer game on Saturday that he does not like soccer. He wants to run and all but soccer is not his sport. So, with that said, we are in hot pursuit of a new sport for my little man. We are thinking gymnastics or some kind of marital arts.

Lady E had a great game on Saturday. Unfortunately we had to split up because Sir K's game was at the exact same time so I didn't get to see her play. I was excited though to hear about her 3 goals when I caught up with her at home.

Lady A is perfect (as usual). She is really into having a "best friend" at school now. It's not the traditional best friend. It's the kind that changes daily. She comes home every day with a new best friend and of course a cute story about how much fun she had with her BFF.

Willy is fine and I'm o.k. That's about it. Take care of yourself and I will catch up with you soon.

Monday Morning Mayhem

2013-04-29T19:26:00.003-04:00

Hope your week is full of laughs.

Finally Friday Forum

2013-04-26T15:08:00.000-04:00

We have been so busy here at the ToddlerTown. With the construction in overdrive and soccer just about every day of the week, it has been crazy.

In other news . . .

Sir T has been really busy with soccer these days. The team practices 3 days a week with games on Sundays. The team just got accepted for a tournament in Hershey, PA. The ToddlerTown is SO excited because Hershey is one of our favorite places on earth. We plan on turning the tournament into a mini-vacation for the family.

Sir K is doing fantastic. His First Communion is in 2 weeks. I need to take him shopping for a new suit and tie. I'm so proud of him and how hard he is working to really understand the sacrament. He is also doing well in soccer. His first game got rained out so we are really excited to watch him play this weekend.

Lady E is also really into soccer now. She is still at the age that they don't keep score (BUT SHE DOES). She is so competitive. She actually gets really upset if the coach takes her out of the game for a break. She scored a goal in her first game last week. YAHOO for her.

Lady A is doing fantastic as well. I noticed the other day that her face is changing. You know, the change from baby to little girl. It's sad for me to watch her grow so fast. She has been such a delight. She fits in perfectly.

Willy is finally (I think) healthy. The kids got their report cards the other day and all of them did a great job. The remodel is coming along nicely. As of today's date, they are done with the boy's bathroom (it looks fantastic) and they are shifting into high gear to get the other two bathrooms finished. They say they will be done by next Friday but I'm not sure that's possible. It would be great but again, not sure if it's possible. The team that comes every day is so nice and helpful. I will say, as much as we love them, I'm looking forward to them completely the project. It's just starting to get old. I feel like I have been camping for weeks now (and I'm not a big camper).

That's about it. Have a wonderful weekend and I will catch up with you soon.

Daily Dose of Divine

2013-04-18T11:39:00.001-04:00

With everything that is going on in the world right now, I thought this would be a good time for a Daily Dose of Divine:

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:16

Wednesday Wrap Up

2013-04-17T15:31:00.002-04:00

Today is not going well at all. I'm still SO sick to my stomach over the recent events in Boston. I can't stop thinking about the direction this world is going in and the future of our children.

I know for me, my children's faces are filled with such promise and hope. In a way, I'm thankful that they are oblivious to their surroundings. I'm glad that they are unaware of the horrible reality that surrounds them. Right now, it's time for them to laugh, hope and cherish today. I just hate the fact that they will have to understand one day that there are terrible people in this world. Sad sad reality.

Yet again, Boston teaches us to count our blessings EVERY chance we get. Life can change in a blink of an eye.

My Heart Hurts Today

2013-04-16T13:44:00.004-04:00

I knew yesterday was going to be a little different. You see the kids were off of school for a teacher workday and I was watching them while I teleworked. Before Willy left for work in the morning, we had made plans for all of us to meet for lunch near his work. Around lunch time, I called everyone together and we headed out. As we were walking out the door, I saw a news alert on my phone that said someone had won the Boston Marathon. I really didn't give it much thought since I'm not a runner and didn't know anyone running. So when a few hours later I saw there had been an explosion at the finish line, I was confused. I thought the race was over hours earlier.

I turned on the television and my heart just starting aching. It just brought back all those horrible feelings from 9/11. Living in this area, the thought crosses my mind several times a week that something like this could happen around here easily AND now it has happened in Boston.

This picture literally breaks my heart

It's just so overwhelming. Be strong Boston. You are in our prayers.

Merriment Monday

2013-04-15T10:05:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday Everyone!!!

Thursday Tidings

2013-04-11T12:26:00.002-04:00

This is a tree Sir T and I saw on our walk

through the neighborhood this morning. Beautiful.

Boy is it gorgeous here in Virginia. I haven't had a chill in days. Last night I sat out on our patio and just soaked it in. The kids are spending a lot of time out in the backyard this week which is fantastic. Lots of laughter and good times.

In other news . . .

I pulled Sir T out of school early today for a doctor's appointment. Since we had a few hours before the appointment, we took a walk around the neighborhood together. He even held my hand. It is so hard with four of them to get a one-on-one moment SO I cherished it completely. He even thanked me at the end and said he had a good time. MENTAL NOTE: Try and get more one-on-one time with the kids.

Sir K and Lady E are so cute together. Everyone thinks they are twins since they are only about 14 months apart. I love watching them play together. It's beautiful really. Don't get me wrong, they have their moments but the last few days have been awesome to watch.

Lady A is also enjoying the nice weather. She is outside from the second she gets home until basically bedtime. She is definitely sleeping better too. Thank you weather for that.

The construction is going great. Phase II starts on Monday. Phase II is the destruction of almost every single interior wall on the top level. This will be the true test. The granite comes tomorrow and the boy's bathroom will be complete (I think). We are still really happy with the progress.

Everyone has soccer practice tonight so it's going to be a lot of running around. Oh well, at least it's beautiful outside.

I hope you are happy, healthy and enjoying life. Remember to count your blessings and I'll catch up with you soon.

Midweek Confession

2013-04-10T15:26:00.000-04:00

I'm linking up with E, Myself & I for her awesome segment called Midweek Confessions. If you haven't stopped by her blog, please do. It's a great read.

So off I go with my confessions:

I'm finding myself jealous of everyone and everything lately.

Maybe it's the fact my house is in complete disarray right now from the construction;
Maybe it's the fact we didn't get away for Spring Break;
Maybe it's the fact I'm still FAT;
Maybe it's the fact that soccer season is dragging me in 3 different directions;

It just seems everyone's living life and I'm just constantly struggling along. Please don't judge. I love everything about my life. It just gets overwhelming from time to time. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES.

It could also just be Spring Fever.

Tuesday Tidbits

2013-04-09T12:29:00.001-04:00

Today is just as gorgeous as yesterday EXCEPT for one minor detail - I'M SITTING IN MY OFFICE WATCHING IT FROM WORK. Boo-hoo for me.

The renovations are going great. They have almost finished the boy's bathroom. They put the first coat of paint on Friday. I selected Benjamin Moore Brandon Beige and it's gorgeous.

Brandon Beige 977 by Benjamin Moore

Today, I believe, their goal is to finish up the painting and trim and get the vanity and toilet installed. Then we just wait for the granite to be finished and delivered. We are still really happy with the progress.

In other news . . .

Sir T is in full swing with outdoor soccer. His first game last Sunday didn't go like we would have hoped. We lost 3-0. I'm not sure what was going on but the team as a whole didn't play well. Sir T did a great job on defense but the offense just couldn't score. Let's chalk it up to Opening Day Jitters and move forward. This Sunday is a BIG game. Sir T will be playing against a team that has 4 of his friends on it. We are really excited to play this game. It should be fun to watch as well.

Sir K is doing fantastic. He started soccer as well last week. He is definitely not as excited about soccer as Sir T and Lady E but Willy and I want him on a team and exercising so it is what it is right now. He is also just a few short weeks away from a VERY important milestone in his life - First Communion. I still remember when Sir T walked down the aisle for his First Communion - still makes me emotional just thinking about it. Such a precious moment. I can't wait for Sir K to take his walk. He has done a fabulous job preparing himself and I am overwhelmed with joy for him and his new journey.

Lady E is wrapping up Cheerleading this week. The squad is giving their Parent's Performance on Wednesday and the whole family will be there to watch and cheer her own. She also started soccer last week. She is on a team that has been together for awhile so she is in her "social" element right now.

Lady A is just as precious as ever. Once a week, Willy is trying to get her over to the grandparents house for a day. It's a tad taxing to get her there and back but she has such a great relationship with them that it's so worth it. She is absolutely loving the beautiful weather as well.

Willy is still recuperating from being sick. I think it's just a cold but it's been lingering for about a week now. This too shall pass, right?

I had a night out with friends last weekend. There were about 6 of us and we went to the Legwarmers concert again. This is that 80s cover band that I went to a couple of months ago. It really is a great time. We dress up like Madonna look-alikes and make fools of ourselves. It's great. I must say it's very therapeutic to go out with friends and just laugh. Mental note to self: DO THIS MORE OFTEN.

That's about it. The sunshine is the perfect medicine for the ToddlerTown. I hope you are enjoying beautiful weather in your area. Remember to count your blessings and I will catch up with you soon.

Merriment Monday

2013-04-08T13:26:00.003-04:00

It is GORGEOUS here at the ToddlerTown. The temperature is 76 degrees and I am loving life. I hope you have a sunny day in your future.

Until next time . .

Tuesday

2013-04-02T14:24:00.003-04:00

Today it's cold and when I say that I mean in my house. When the workers left last night, they mentioned that the heating system was not working downstairs. HOWEVER, we determined later after they had left that it wasn't working period. The temperature in the house this morning - a balmy 54 degrees. First thing I did was jump in the shower to get warm. GUESS WHAT? No hot water either. Not a great start so far. Good news is that when I left this morning for work they were working diligently to solve both issues. Keep your fingers crossed. I'm the kind of person who believes anything below 75 degrees is freezing.

In other news . . .

Sir T had his first outdoor soccer practice last night. It was tough getting him there but when he got home at 9:30 he said it went well. He has practice tonight and then again on Thursday.
Sir K seems to be back to healthy status. He was down with a stuffy nose and cough for about a week. He is really into the t.v. series The Bible. I love that he wants to watch it with me. It's a special bonding moment for us (and it's good television for a change).
Lady E is doing well. She had Daisies yesterday and they made a picture frame. We didn't get to bring it home yet but I did get a sneak peak and it is beautiful.
Lady A is awesome. Last night as we were finishing up with the contractors, I had her downstairs coloring. When we finally finished and I went back downstairs, Lady A had colored her face like a clown. It was the funniest thing ever. She was so proud of herself. I freaked out at first, then laughed and then laughed again. We let her parade around the house for quite awhile before I washed it off. I couldn't help it, it made me smile. The best part of all was it came off really easy. She has such a funny personality.
Willy and I are still both under the weather. I'm hoping we just have colds. The granite guy came this morning to measure for the counter tops. We ended up spending a tad more but we decided to put granite on these 2 little shelves on either side of the glass shower door. I think that will be a nice touch.

That's about it. We are moving along nicely. I hope you are warm wherever you are. Remember to count your blessings and I will catch up with you soon.

Merriment Monday

2013-04-01T20:16:00.001-04:00

I hope you all had a blessed Easter spent with family and friends. Ours was nice and quiet.

In other news . . .

Sir T starts his first full week of outdoor soccer with his first game on Sunday. He is having a play date after school and then it's off to soccer practice at 7:30. I hate practice that late. He doesn't get home until about 9:30 and that just seems to late to be out on a school night.
Sir K is starting his first week of soccer as well this week. His schedule is not completely set yet but I believe he has one practice a week with a game on Saturday or Sunday. He is also having a play date after school today. His best friend went down to the Keys for spring break and brought him back something little from his trip. Such a nice friend.
Lady E also has soccer starting this week. She has one practice a week with her first game on Saturday. She is going to Daisies after school today as well.
Lady A is doing great. Since she took the week off last week from school, she wasn't that excited to get back to her friends. It lessened the blow slightly to see an Easter basket in her cubicle which the teachers had prepared last week for the children.
Willy and I, I BELIEVE, are finished picking out everything for the bathrooms. We finished up the paint colors and granite counter tops on Friday. This morning the workers are putting up tile in the boy's bathroom and completing the heating system repairs. It's really starting to come together. Again, we are still so happy with the process.

That's about it. I hope you have a wonderful week and I'll catch up with you soon. Remember to count your blessings.

Tuesday Is In The Books

2013-03-27T16:14:00.000-04:00

Wow it wasn't easy finding this picture.

If you google pigtails, it's all X-Rated pictures

GO FIGURE

We are now in the third week of the renovations and everything seems to be running smoothly. We had an appointment early this morning with the inspector and everything went well. After we got the inspector's blessing, the contractors started laying the floor. They also talked to us about paint choices. Good grief it's going fast. Is it wrong that I haven't even thought about the paint colors yet???? The contractors are FANTASTIC and we are truly loving the experience (SO FAR).

In other news . . .

Sir T is dog sitting this week. This is his first "paying" gig. It's for our neighbors who are out of town for a few days. Sir T is taking it very serious. I'm (YET AGAIN) so proud of him.

Sir K has been feeling a little under the weather lately. I think it's just a stuffy nose/cold at this point. He's been a real trooper though. During Spring Break, he is concentrating on reading for 20 minutes each night. I'm proud of him for doing this without being prompted. He's fallen in love with the Magic Tree House books. I love just listening to him read to me.

Lady E is doing great. When I went up to tuck her in last night she was asking me lots of questions about boys (God help poor Willy in a few years). I absolutely loved our conversation. She was asking me about the first boy I ever liked, what was his name, was he nice to me, why didn't I marry him????? I answered all her questions honestly except for the marrying one. I skirted around that one because in truth I didn't marry Randy my first boyfriend because he had 6 toes on one foot. Hey, I was 11 and it seemed gross at the time.

Lady A is also on Spring Break. We decided to keep her home too so she could hang out with her brothers and sister. She is loving it. Her latest thing is having me put her hair up in ponytails (hence the picture above) so she can crawl around like a puppy. She calls them her dog ears. It's SO cute. Should I be worried?

Willy and I watched Argo the other day. I had heard a few people say it was slow but we really loved it. I'm not even a Ben Affleck fan and it still was good for me. We are taking the kids over to grandpa and grandma's house tonight for a sleepover. They are so excited. Is it wrong when Willy asked me what I would like to do with our free night I replied SLEEP.

I hope your week is pleasant. Remember to count your blessings and I will catch up with you later. Until then . . .

Status Check

2013-03-26T09:29:00.001-04:00

Considering all the "things" going on at the ToddlerTown this week, we are doing fairly well. I must say though I am starting to see tiny cracks in the armor. It's definitely NOT as bad as I thought it would be 2 1/2 weeks into a massive home improvement project but it's definitely wearing all of us (maybe just me) down a bit.

In other news . . .

Willy attended a funeral a week or so ago for a childhood friend. I didn't know the young man but apparently he was Willy's neighbor growing up and they played a lot as children. So young - such a tragedy. Funerals are hard enough but when it's someone your own age, UGH. Unfortunately, just a few short days later, we both attended a funeral for our friend's father that passed from cancer. I sure hope that's it on the funerals for a long time.

Sir T finished up basketball and indoor soccer this past week but moved quickly to outdoor soccer (no break - great). He had a tournament and the whole team did fantastic. They ended the tournament 1-2-1 (they played much better than the scores reflect). Sir T even scored a goal in the second game. I am so happy and proud of him. I love watching him do well. It warms my heart.

Sir K is still reeling from his birthday laser tag party last weekend. I will say it was a great party and all the kids seemed to really have a good time.

Lady E had a fantastic time with daddy on her last field trip of the school year.

Lady A is thoroughly enjoying the snow. She sure is a happy little lady.

My workload at the office has calmed down A LOT which makes home-life better and the first day of Spring Break was low key but enjoyable.

How's your week going so far?

Merriment Monday

2013-03-25T08:04:00.000-04:00

Woke up this morning to about 3 inches on the ground and it's still snowing. Isn't it March 25th? I will say it's beautiful. Have a great week everyone.

Keep In Your Prayers

2013-03-18T10:45:00.003-04:00

Today would have been Jack Donaldson's 14th birthday. Keep him and his family in your prayers today. He IS a remarkable boy doing remarkable things in this world. I think about him EVERYDAY.

Happy Birthday My Little Leprechaun

2013-03-17T08:38:00.000-04:00

Today is a very special day here at the ToddlerTown. Our little Sir K is turning 8. Where did the time go? It's basically 8 years ago to the minute that I held him in my arms for the first time.

Willy ran to the store this morning for our special breakfast consisting of green donuts, juice, balloons, and a couple of gifts. We will spend the day at a couple of Sir T's soccer games and then off to Sir K's laser tag party. I'm so proud of my little man. He is EVERYthing I could possibly want in a son. Here is the blurb I wrote about him when I started this blog and it still holds true . . .

SIR K

Sir K is number two on the hit parade. Weighing in at 8 lbs 2 ounces, he entered this world kickin’-and-a-screamin’. He wanted no part of the whole baby process. He wanted to be up and running from day one (gave us quite a run for our money - but oh so worth it). Once he was up (at about 6 ½ months), he was gone. He loves running around the house in his boxers (it's too cute); he loves swimming (he’s like a fish); and he loves anything Star Wars (almost to a fault). Our nickname for him is Grabby (when he was a baby, Sir T said he was always grabbing his toys away and I love that the nickname stuck). He is by far the nicest guy in the house. He will give you the shirt off his back (and I’ve seen him do it); he always thinks of his sisters and brother first; and his hugs can transcend you to a better place. He has the darkest brown eyes I’ve ever seen (they are almost black) but when you look at them, you see a gentle boy who loves life. His kindness makes me a better mom.

Finally Friday Forum

2013-03-15T12:08:00.003-04:00

All Sir K's friends get this for attending

his St. Patty's Day party.

TOO TOO CUTE

Hi everyone. I hope you're having a terrific week and your weekend looks full of family, friends and fun.

First and foremost, Sir K's 8th birthday is this weekend (WHERE DID THE TIME GO????). He's a St. Patty's Day baby (God help us when he hits his teen/young adult life). He is so excited about his birthday. He took a treat to share with his classmates today and walked out the door on cloud nine this morning. As a birthday present, Willy and I purchased a telescope. For months now he has shown an interest in weather, stars, etc. so we are hoping to really nurture this interest. We have a laser tag party scheduled for this weekend with 14 of his closest friends so it should be a fun-filled weekend.

I must say, this week has been quite a challenge for me. With last weekend being so hectic (basketball, soccer, father-daughter dance, Daisy cookie booth sales, etc.), I did not start the week off prepared. I was REALLY behind on the grocery shopping, house cleaning, and laundry. To make matters worse, I have been extremely busy at work this week which always messes with my personal life.

Anyway, I'm back on track. I did A LOT of late night laundry, squeezed in several quick trips to the grocery store and all is right on the home front again.

In other news, Sir T had a hearing test yesterday and didn't pass. I am of course sad. As a mom, I want my kids to all be physically strong. The doctor is very optimistic that we can correct the problem with easy exercises but if not we will start talks on possibly a third round of tubes (ugh!!).

Lady E is on a field trip today with daddy. They are going to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. She was also SO excited to get to school this morning. I love that Willy is chaperoning. I did a field trip last week with Sir K and had a blast. With 4 kids, this is a great opportunity to snag some one-on-one time.

Lady A is growing like a weed and SO happy. Each night she dresses up in grown-up clothes and pretends she's the teacher. She sets up her chair in front of the room and reads books to the family. It's the cutest thing ever.

Lastly (I promise), as you know we started the BIG renovation this week on the upstairs. The workers have already taken down some walls and framed out the master bathroom area. I must say, all the anxiety has now turned to excitement.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone. Remember to count your blessings and I will catch up with you soon.

Merriment Monday

2013-03-11T16:59:00.002-04:00