Friday, December 21, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
A day in the life...
I was thinking this weekend about how much I want to capture our daily life right now. The days are going by so fast, and I already know I'm going to blink and they are going to be teenagers. We are having SO much fun with the kids, and know this stage won't last long. There a lot of fun stages ahead, but this one is worth remembering. :-)
Now that we are back in the 3-kids (under 4), 2-jobs routine, things are crazy. I'm amazed that I have enough time to even write this post (let alone awake enough for it too!)
It takes about 2 hours to get ready every morning. We go from one kid to the next, plus ourselves, changing, washing, dressing, chasing, and hoping that at the end of it they have weather appropriate clothes that match, and shoes and coats on without much searching. Hopefully, minimum crying during the process.
I start work at 7:30, and we try to all leave the house at the same time - I go to work while Matt does the kid drop off with Cheryl. Sometimes it works that way, sometimes it doesn't.
We're pack mules leaving in the morning. Between computer bags, diaper bags, daycare supplies, and various other needs of the children (Blankets, stuffed animals, and random toys) we look like we are leaving for a weekend.
When Matt gets to Cheryl's, the kids bound out of the car and go in search of mom #2. Have I indicated how lucky we are to have her?! We. are. so. lucky. to. have. her.
After a long day at work for both of us, I usually pick up the kids around 5:30 and head home for dinner. Maddie and Caden usually play well together while Matt and I scramble to get a well-balanced meal on the table. Attempting to resort to takeout only once a week or so. Sometimes it works that way, sometimes it doesn't. :-) Usually getting Caden to eat dinner is a fight, while his sister puts down whatever we give her.
Matt and I usually make coffee with dinner, just to make it through the night :-) After dinner, it's kids bathtime and jammies for one of us, and the other cleans up dinner. Maddie goes to bed earlier than Caden, and Cameron later than both of them. He still takes a nap in between every bottle. :-)
On the weekends, we try to take the kids out somewhere for an activity so that we don't have them in the house all day. The warm weather seasons we are outside as much as possible. Monday and Saturday is hockey for Caden, Wednesday is swim classes for Maddie and Caden, and Cam is along for the ride in all cases. :-)
Among all of this is laundry, dishes, house cleaning, bill paying, etc.
Our days are filled with all of the above, but most of all, laughter and love. Caden says the most hilarious things now, being incredibly observant of things around him and our conversations that we don't think he is listening to. He asks questions all the time, and always wants to help with whatever we are doing. He is incredibly caring towards Cam and Maddie. He is very good at holding Cam's bottle or giving him his pacifier. He tries to correct Maddie when we do, which doesn't work out so well because she doesn't want to hear it from him. It usually ends with one or both of them in time out. Caden loves to read books, and does so very quietly. Unless Maddie is there, then they fight over who holds the book. Once they work that out, Caden usually reads the story to her. This is hilarious - I really need to get it on video.
Caden and Maddie are really starting to play together, which is great at times, and sometimes bad when they don't share nicely. Their latest game is to chase each other around the house screaming while we make dinner. We usually let it go because they are screaming and laughing at the same time, and having fun with each other. We usually only have to intercede when one of them trips, falls, or pushes the other one. :-) Thank goodness Cam is a sound sleeper, because he is usually napping in his swing or sitting in his bouncer while this is going on.
Maddie is hilarious, usually wanting to color because she is getting so good at it. She doesn't clearly articulate too many words yet, but she doesn't hesitate to express her feelings. When she doesn't like something - you know it. She has about a 20 -30 word vocabulary and mostly we understand. She gives the sweetest hugs, laying her head on your shoulder, or leg, depending if you picked her up or not. She smacks her lips together when she gives you a kiss. Her hair is halfway down her back now and I don't want to cut it because I'm afraid the beautiful curls will go away! She also loves to wear anyone's shoes but her own. If you visit our house - watch out - new shoes for Maddie to try on. She was wearing Matt's size 12 hiking boots today. They went up to her thigh. :-)
Cam is getting big already - 13.5 pounds today when we weighed him! He is a lot more alert now and holding his head up well. As I type this, we are waiting for him to wake up so we can give him his last bottle and put him down for the night.
Funny story from the other night that epitomizes our life right now. Matt and I successfully got all the kids to sleep at 9:30 and were going to watch a show and have some wine. We opened the wine, poured a couple glasses, turned on the show and....both fell asleep. We woke up on the couches at 3AM. Wine hadn't really even been touched.
We recorked the wine, and just went to bed, ready for another day to start in a couple hours.
It might be crazy, but it's our crazy, and we love it. :-)
Now that we are back in the 3-kids (under 4), 2-jobs routine, things are crazy. I'm amazed that I have enough time to even write this post (let alone awake enough for it too!)
It takes about 2 hours to get ready every morning. We go from one kid to the next, plus ourselves, changing, washing, dressing, chasing, and hoping that at the end of it they have weather appropriate clothes that match, and shoes and coats on without much searching. Hopefully, minimum crying during the process.
I start work at 7:30, and we try to all leave the house at the same time - I go to work while Matt does the kid drop off with Cheryl. Sometimes it works that way, sometimes it doesn't.
We're pack mules leaving in the morning. Between computer bags, diaper bags, daycare supplies, and various other needs of the children (Blankets, stuffed animals, and random toys) we look like we are leaving for a weekend.
When Matt gets to Cheryl's, the kids bound out of the car and go in search of mom #2. Have I indicated how lucky we are to have her?! We. are. so. lucky. to. have. her.
After a long day at work for both of us, I usually pick up the kids around 5:30 and head home for dinner. Maddie and Caden usually play well together while Matt and I scramble to get a well-balanced meal on the table. Attempting to resort to takeout only once a week or so. Sometimes it works that way, sometimes it doesn't. :-) Usually getting Caden to eat dinner is a fight, while his sister puts down whatever we give her.
Matt and I usually make coffee with dinner, just to make it through the night :-) After dinner, it's kids bathtime and jammies for one of us, and the other cleans up dinner. Maddie goes to bed earlier than Caden, and Cameron later than both of them. He still takes a nap in between every bottle. :-)
On the weekends, we try to take the kids out somewhere for an activity so that we don't have them in the house all day. The warm weather seasons we are outside as much as possible. Monday and Saturday is hockey for Caden, Wednesday is swim classes for Maddie and Caden, and Cam is along for the ride in all cases. :-)
Among all of this is laundry, dishes, house cleaning, bill paying, etc.
Our days are filled with all of the above, but most of all, laughter and love. Caden says the most hilarious things now, being incredibly observant of things around him and our conversations that we don't think he is listening to. He asks questions all the time, and always wants to help with whatever we are doing. He is incredibly caring towards Cam and Maddie. He is very good at holding Cam's bottle or giving him his pacifier. He tries to correct Maddie when we do, which doesn't work out so well because she doesn't want to hear it from him. It usually ends with one or both of them in time out. Caden loves to read books, and does so very quietly. Unless Maddie is there, then they fight over who holds the book. Once they work that out, Caden usually reads the story to her. This is hilarious - I really need to get it on video.
Caden and Maddie are really starting to play together, which is great at times, and sometimes bad when they don't share nicely. Their latest game is to chase each other around the house screaming while we make dinner. We usually let it go because they are screaming and laughing at the same time, and having fun with each other. We usually only have to intercede when one of them trips, falls, or pushes the other one. :-) Thank goodness Cam is a sound sleeper, because he is usually napping in his swing or sitting in his bouncer while this is going on.
Maddie is hilarious, usually wanting to color because she is getting so good at it. She doesn't clearly articulate too many words yet, but she doesn't hesitate to express her feelings. When she doesn't like something - you know it. She has about a 20 -30 word vocabulary and mostly we understand. She gives the sweetest hugs, laying her head on your shoulder, or leg, depending if you picked her up or not. She smacks her lips together when she gives you a kiss. Her hair is halfway down her back now and I don't want to cut it because I'm afraid the beautiful curls will go away! She also loves to wear anyone's shoes but her own. If you visit our house - watch out - new shoes for Maddie to try on. She was wearing Matt's size 12 hiking boots today. They went up to her thigh. :-)
Cam is getting big already - 13.5 pounds today when we weighed him! He is a lot more alert now and holding his head up well. As I type this, we are waiting for him to wake up so we can give him his last bottle and put him down for the night.
Funny story from the other night that epitomizes our life right now. Matt and I successfully got all the kids to sleep at 9:30 and were going to watch a show and have some wine. We opened the wine, poured a couple glasses, turned on the show and....both fell asleep. We woke up on the couches at 3AM. Wine hadn't really even been touched.
We recorked the wine, and just went to bed, ready for another day to start in a couple hours.
It might be crazy, but it's our crazy, and we love it. :-)
Back to the Grind
As it did twice before, Maternity Leave went WAY too fast. This time, I don't even have a finished baby scrapbook to show for it! :-) Perhaps that is due to the 3 year and 20 month-olds running around. :-)
Cameron and I had a great time hanging out together. I took 12 weeks off, which was very nice after such a long recovery. (Trust me ladies - labor is WAY better.) Cameron and I spent a lot of time at home together. I tried to make sure we kept errands to a minimum, and Matt came home for lunch a lot. It was very nice to slow the pace down....a lot. :-)
Matt prepared me well for the first day. The night before, he bought me a People magazine, a large pizza, and a Dave Matthews Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon to make me feel better about going back for the first day. He knows me so well.
To finish off a great maternity leave, we went to PA for the whole week of Thanksgiving. Here's some pics!
Cameron and I had a great time hanging out together. I took 12 weeks off, which was very nice after such a long recovery. (Trust me ladies - labor is WAY better.) Cameron and I spent a lot of time at home together. I tried to make sure we kept errands to a minimum, and Matt came home for lunch a lot. It was very nice to slow the pace down....a lot. :-)
Matt prepared me well for the first day. The night before, he bought me a People magazine, a large pizza, and a Dave Matthews Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon to make me feel better about going back for the first day. He knows me so well.
To finish off a great maternity leave, we went to PA for the whole week of Thanksgiving. Here's some pics!
Caden and Grandma cooking together.
Caden and Brady Paul playing together.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Happy Halloween!!
The kids had tons of fun this Halloween! Maddie and Caden went trick or treating with Matt while Cam and I handed out candy. Maddie was intent on collecting as much candy as possible. She went to every house, insisted on carrying her own bucket herself and wouldn't hold Matt's hand. She is so headstrong! She came back and we had to pry the candy bucket out if her chilly hands. :-) Needless to say, bedtime was a little more difficult. Matt and Caden went back out after dropping Maddie off so Caden could finish off the neighborhood.
There was lots of negotiating after they returned regarding how many pieces he could have before bed.
Mommy took care of those butterfingers. I know Caden doesn't like them anyway. ;-)
There was lots of negotiating after they returned regarding how many pieces he could have before bed.
Mommy took care of those butterfingers. I know Caden doesn't like them anyway. ;-)
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Pumpkin Daze
Soo many pumpkins...so little time. We carved one pumpkin last Sunday... The other two weren't carved until last night...starting around 9:30. Oops! Caden was already past bed time so Matt decided to speed things up a little....
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Halloween happenings...
We are getting into the Halloween spirit as the kids gear up for trick or treating :). Here's our costumes we wore to Wendy and Dale's Halloween party on Saturday.
Caden-Buzz Lightyear
Maddie- Duck
Cameron- Monkey
Mommy- waitress
Daddy- Father of Three :-)
I told Matt he should wear one of those drink hats with straws and put coffee in one side and beer in the other...but he didn't go for it ;-)
Caden-Buzz Lightyear
Maddie- Duck
Cameron- Monkey
Mommy- waitress
Daddy- Father of Three :-)
I told Matt he should wear one of those drink hats with straws and put coffee in one side and beer in the other...but he didn't go for it ;-)
Monday, October 22, 2012
Fall Fun
We are having lots of fun these days as my maternity leave is winding down - only a month left!! I thought I might get this ML to go slower, but no luck. Might be because of the three munchkins under 4. ;-)
Our activities recently are Caden's hockey practices, trips to the Pumpkin patch, animal farms, and leaf raking (which really means piling up the leaves so the kids can run through it until it doesn't look like we raked).
The Midland Pumpkin festival was also last week. This year, it was a mom-son date night as the two little ones stayed home. Caden made friends with Lou E. Loon and made for an interesting night for mom. During the pumpkin rolling contest, Caden decided to take off down the hill chasing his pumpkin. He was dressed as Buzz Lightyear, so there were folks yelling "To infinity and beyond!" I ran to catch him, but didn't succeed until the bottom of the hill due to my heeled boots. :-). Everyone got quite the laugh :-)
Here are some pics from the last couple weeks!
Our activities recently are Caden's hockey practices, trips to the Pumpkin patch, animal farms, and leaf raking (which really means piling up the leaves so the kids can run through it until it doesn't look like we raked).
The Midland Pumpkin festival was also last week. This year, it was a mom-son date night as the two little ones stayed home. Caden made friends with Lou E. Loon and made for an interesting night for mom. During the pumpkin rolling contest, Caden decided to take off down the hill chasing his pumpkin. He was dressed as Buzz Lightyear, so there were folks yelling "To infinity and beyond!" I ran to catch him, but didn't succeed until the bottom of the hill due to my heeled boots. :-). Everyone got quite the laugh :-)
Here are some pics from the last couple weeks!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Caden starts hockey!
We signed Caden up for hockey this fall, and so far he loves it! He tells us that he "doesn't know how to skate, but Daddy will teach him". :-)
He looks so adorable in his tiny hockey pads and uniform and he already has daddy's hockey stance. :-)
He looks so adorable in his tiny hockey pads and uniform and he already has daddy's hockey stance. :-)
Aunt Pat visits!
Daddy went to North Dakota to reduce the local population of ducks, so Pat came up to visit us!! We had so much fun! We went to the Pumpkin Patch, Chippewa Nature Center, the Homestead Farm, lunch at Cafe Zinc, and also had lots of fun at home.
My blogger app doesn't let me caption the pictures individually, so you'll have to figure out each location. :-)
Thanks for visiting Aunt Pat!
My blogger app doesn't let me caption the pictures individually, so you'll have to figure out each location. :-)
Thanks for visiting Aunt Pat!
Cam is One month!
Cam was 7 lb 4 oz at his one month appointment - totally skipping the 6's from his 2 week appointment. That's over an ounce per day growth!
Grow baby grow! Before you know it, you'll be at your brother's and sister's birthweight!
Grow baby grow! Before you know it, you'll be at your brother's and sister's birthweight!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Fun at Taylor's Birthday Party
We had a blast at Taylor's Birthday Party! We got some great pictures too - even a family picture. It was shocking all 5 of us were in one spot long enough for a picture. :-) Maddie wore one of the outfits Taylor gave her, which I L.O.V.E. Maddie kept the hat on all evening- I was shocked. It might be because I gushed a little too much when she got dressed. She was just so darn cute. ;-)
Happy Birthday Taylor!!
Happy Birthday Taylor!!
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