Musical Beds

I don't know about you...but I take pride in the fact that we somehow manage to put our kids to bed early every night, with a bit of time left over for us to have our "grown up" time...
We talk, watch television, finish up on our blogging, emails, and work.

We try to get into bed by 10 or 1030. We do this because that gives us a bit of time in our own bed before the musical bed game begins.

98% of the time, Boy is in between us by 2am. Bluebird is a little less. This is good because when she comes into bed she is a bed hog and usually has a few blankets and toys and a purse or two that make he journey with her downstairs. Boy usually only brings a mask or boots.

Usually one of us ends up trying to sleep at the end of the bed for more room and cover control. Inevitably, this will prove to be too much and I will pack up Bluebird and all of the blankets and toys that trekked down with her. We will go get into Boy's bed since it is bigger than hers.

Boy will soon wake up and ask Daddy where I am. He will then come get into bed with me and Bluebird (what can I say, he is Mama's Boy).

When they fall back to sleep, I usually creep back to my own bed (I love my bed and the extra space).

(Then Buttercup will start to cry and I will send Daddy her way. He will sleep with her the rest of the night on the spare bed in her room (he loves the cuddling).

Boy will wake again and realize I am gone, so he will end up in my bed again(this is actually my favorite little moment of the night...my bed feels like I have it all to myself, but I can look over and see a little innocent face beside me).

...and then at some point we all gather in our bed and the kids will say "the sun is up" and they will jump around and we try to keep them from hurting us, or themselves...and morning begins...

My Mother-in-law caught this morning action with her camera a few weeks ago:

Dinosaur Hunt

We went to a birthday party yesterday for our friend Jack. It was a Dinosaur birthday. They had a great time. The kids did several crafts, talked about dinosaurs and "hunted" dinosaurs in their safari costumes. It was very cute. They are still playing with the dinosaur bones, "noculars", and masks that they brought home.
One of the crafts was a volcano where the kids pour vinegar and it mixes with baking soda and explodes out of the volcano. The leader said "repeat after me...I will not touch anything and will wait and follow directions"...Boy: "I will not touch anything and will wait and follow directions"...then he quickly grabbed the water bottle (filled with vinegar) and took a big swig...
Natural consequences!

Yo Ho Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me

I'm a pirate! That I be!
I sail me ship upon the sea!
I stay up late - till half past three!
And that's a peg below me knee!

I like to fish, I like to fight
I like to stay up half the night
When I say "starboard" ye go right!
Me ma, she says, "Ye look a fright!"





AARRGGGHH!

My sweet girlie, Bluebird

Bluebird is really coming into her own.
When we ride bikes in the neighborhood, she has such a friendly demeanor and waves and waves at everyone we pass. When she finds me ironing a dress for her to wear to school, she beams and says "I LOVE dresses, Mama". She told me today that she loved Emma, and Abby and Stone..." then said "I love all the boys"...."and all the girls too". When I take her to her class the kids rush her and tell her how happy they are to see her. I can't blame them. if she is anything like she is at home, then I am sure she is sweet to them all.

Still a little mother, I often hear her tell Boy or Buttercup what a good job they are doing. She is always full of encouraging words. She is full of hugs for Buttercup.

She sings the songs from Tangled with such passion that even Boy will join in and sing them with her. If I start singing they both say "shhh, Mama, don't sing". =)

She is so helpful. I recently got her a kitchen stool and she has been taking utensils out of the drawers and washing them one by one before putting them back.

She finishes the sentences as I read her stories. She loves butterfly and Eskimo kisses. She loves making silly faces.

She has a dozen purses and carry cases and they are always full of her favorite tiny things. She carries at least one of these cases, three blankets and a bear downstairs with her each morning.

She loves to pick flowers and see rainbows and birds and butterflies. Yet she can still navigate around a ball and dirt and trucks and cars. I find she actually has a way of getting the boys to carry a wand.

She loves to have me fix her hair and dress her and then run in for Boy and Daddy to tell her how gorgeous and beautiful she is. The other morning she walked into the family room and Boy said (in a low monotone and trained voice), "woooow Bluebird, you look beauuuuuuutiiiifuuuul".

She is training us all, I think.

It is hard to believe that three years ago she was in incubators with breathing tubes, hard to believe we came so close to losing her.

I am so thankful and blessed to be the mother of such sweet and wonderful children. My cup runneth over.

My Walking Girl

I am a little behind on some posts, I still need to fill you in on our trip to New Orleans, and Grandma's week with the kids.
Buttercup was walking when we left for our trip, but she was still choosing to be held most of the time (Buttercup does not favor crawling).
However, when we returned, she had found her walking feet. She is now all over the place and has developed a new independence (much to her parent's delight).
She also has proven how truly girly she is...because when she isn't pushing a stroller, she is carrying around a purse.

Here are some photos of her last week:

Rainbow Toes for Makiah's Heaven Day

Makiah Kaitlyn King was killed in a tragic car accident by a teen under the influence of marijuana on October 8, 2010.

This week we are wearing rainbow toes, in memory of her beautiful innocence, a life ended too soon and a community still mourning her loss.



Here is the beautiful story of her mother's heartbreak and hopeful healing
www.rachelsuzking.blogspot.com

Fall is Here at Last

Fall has finally arrived. The breezes picked up and we had to pull out our sweaters.
We woke early and Bluebird and I went on our special Saturday morning date. We were on a quest for a "princess potty". Bluebird has been somewhat resistant to put her princess poops in the potty, and we are trying something new. She is VERY excited about her Princess potty. It sings when she goes potty, a nice reward that she seems to like. Our fingers are crossed that we have found our answer.

I have been on call, which keeps things slightly hectic. It seems everyone is just a tad bit angry for one reason or another, and they all want to call and tell me all about it. So, most of my day was spent diffusing the situation (and I must say that none of them were directly angry with our Cancer Center, but wanted an ear to vent)...so happy it got to be ME (hint of sarcasm).

I got to go to a few garage sales and to Goodwill...and I found an old but sturdy rocking chair for our front porch.

After our morning date, we came home and had a picnic lunch in the back yard with Boy, Buttercup and Daddy. The wind was blowing and the leaves are just starting to turn...I made some chicken chili (I love welcoming fall with a pot of hot chili).

The kids rode bikes. They are finally big enough where they ride the entire block and don't want to be held halfway. It was nice and relaxing. Bluebird waves and waves at everyone we pass. She is just so friendly. She had on leggings, a princess dress, a sweater, a helmet and sparkling shoes.

When we got home we painted our toes rainbow, for Makiah's Heaven Day, which I will give its own special post after this one. Even boy had me give him a rainbow of blues and greens.

Clemson won the football game. Which is pretty cool!

It was clearly a busy day...but a great one. Looking forward to a peaceful Sunday.