Father/Son Campout - Mommy/Daughter Date

The boys are all off at the annual Father/Son campout.  It's been raining.  A lot.  I hope they're okay and not too miserable.

Because then I might feel a teeny bit guilty about the lovely evening I had.

Gigi and I took our girlies out for dinner and pedicures, because that's what girls do, right?  (Well, these girls, anyways.)

*True Story:  Josh asked me if we have mommy/daughter camp outs and was quite shocked when I told him no.  "But that's not fair!  You should get to go on a camp out, too!"  To which I replied "If we wanted to go on a camp out we would.  But this mommy would rather spend an evening with her friends and then sleep in her bed."  Josh now thinks I'm crazy.*

Bergen and Tess were too cute for words getting their pedicures.  They actually had to wait quite a while to get them done, but they both behaved so well!  Okay, yes, I had to tell Tess a couple times not to splash or sit in the foot tub, but she's three and that alone forgives/explains a lot.

I only had my phone with me so the pictures aren't fantastic.  But better than nothing!

Tess was pretty excited to get to sit in the pink Hello Kitty-ish chair.

Bergen chose teal for her toes - it was super cute.

Tess, of course, chose pink.  They even put a little flower on her big toes!

Where were Gig and I?  Off to the side, getting our own pedicures and chatting about life, the universe, and everything.  It was a lovely evening.

And now it's time for bed.  In my warm bed - not in a soggy tent.  I really, really like being a mom.

Like Rabbits

An actual conversation I had with Josh at 6:45 this morning:

Josh: Look!  There's a rabbit!  Oh - there's TWO rabbits!

Me: Well, where's there's one rabbit there's always more.

Josh: They're fighting.

Me: Um, what?

Josh: Yeah, they're fighting.  One is trying to jump over the other one.

Me: And soon there will be LOTS more rabbits. (*rimshot*)

Josh: What?

Me: Go get dressed.  It's too early for this conversation.

Josh: Okay.

Winter Blues

Despite the 84 degree weather I am still suffering from the winter blues. I keep finding more and more winter damage to my landscaping.  So far I have lost 2 mums, 4 raspberry plants, 2 lavender plants, and 1 hydrangea.  (Okay, in all fairness I'm pretty sure at least 2 of the raspberries were overtaken by curious children.  But still, the cold certainly didn't help.)

My fruit trees seem pretty upset, too.  Only 2 of the 3 apples have a few spotty blossoms, and the peach tree is really, really angry.  I'm not sure about the pears yet, but since I only planted them last fall I'm just glad they're still alive.

This means I have a lot of work to do outside.

But I also have a lot of work to do inside, because I've become the unofficial travel agent for Aimpad and we're going to Taiwan for a week at the beginning of June. (Taipei, to be exact.) It is both exhilarating and terrifying to be going somewhere so completely foreign.  I have to decide where to go, how to get there, what to do, what to pack, how to entertain myself for the 22+ hour flight, on top of getting the house and the kids ready for the Silvers to watch them again.

It's a lot.

I need a nap.

But I suspect there will be no napping until I'm on that plane!

Another Season, Another Reason...

... why I never buy school pictures.

Me: Josh, why aren't you smiling?
Josh: I thought I was...
Me: You thought wrong.

Me: Spencer, why in the world did you wear pants with such big holes in the knees?
Spencer: Because I know you don't buy school pictures.
Me: Truth.  Go Cougs.

Cole's Preschool Program

Devestation.

I am so, sooo devastated.

Not because Cole went crazy during his end of the year preschool program.  Far from it - he did great! 

No, I am sad because all of the video and most of the pictures I took are gone.  GONE!!!  I'm pretty sure either Cole or Tess deleted them while they were playing on my phone today.

I know, you're not too sad about not having to watch videos of his class singing.  And you know, it was a pretty typical preschool program, with goofy kids, one really loud and off-key child, and songs with lots of actions.  But there was this one part where they sang "Mr. Sun, Please Shine Down On Me" and they were supposed to whistle in the middle and it was HYSTERICAL.  Seriously, it was all I could do to hold my phone still and record.

And now that moment is lost forever.

And all I have are these two not-very-great pictures to remember it all.

Sad.

Oh well, better than nothing, I guess.

So this preschool is pretty fancy.  They had a slideshow of pictures of all the kids playing as we waited for the show to start.  And all the kids made their own shirts and wore them.  And then after the program we got to paint on a canvas and take that home as a memento.  And then we got to have lots and lots of snacks, which turned into lunch for my kiddos.

What I'm saying is, kudos to Christ United Methodist Preschool - they know how to put on a good show.  (You'll just have to take my word for it.)

Important Qustions

I was sick most of yesterday.  Thanks, Tess.

Tess was also sick.  And she is still sick.  But I'm feeling a little better.  But not a lot better.  

At least better enough to be sitting here at the kitchen table helping Josh with his Timeline project.  I love this kid - he's a total perfectionist like his mom.

He also asks awesome questions, such as "Mom, when you go to the hospital to have a baby..."

*It must be noted that at this point I was getting a little nervous.  My innards are in no shape to be having baby making/having talks this morning.  Fortunately, Josh had other concerns.*

"...to have a baby, do they choose the name for you?"

"Ah, no, Josh.  The mommy and the daddy choose the name."

"But what if they can't think of a name?" 

"Then people give them suggestions.  Do you like the name we picked out for you?"

"NO."

Try as I might, he wouldn't tell me what he wished his name was.

Exciting Things

The most exciting things to happen today (in no particular order):

• Finding Tess and her bed covered in puke when she woke up.
• Watching Frozen - twice - with Tess during the day as she sipped Sprite.
• Tess tricking me into thinking she was better by running around and eating like normal and acting perfectly healthy.
• My friend Deidra bringing this over.

Isn't she awesome?! (The answer is yes.  Yes she is.)

• Asking Josh if he wanted to walk down to the Bishop's house with me. (It's about a 10 minute walk and I needed to drop something off to him.)  At first Josh said no, but he surprised me by catching up to me about a minute into my walk.  It was nice to have a chance to chat with him, even if it did rain on us a little!
• Tess puking all over Josh's bed and floor at bedtime right after this little conversation:

Me: Are you feeling sick?

Tess: No.  Yes.  Yes, my tummy hurts!

Me: Are you going to throw up?

Tess: No.  NO!!  

Barfing commences

• Me telling Josh to run downstairs to tell Lance I need his help.  Apparently this conversation ensued:

Josh: Mommy needs your help.

Daddy: Why?

Josh: Tess threw up.

Daddy: Okay.  Why aren't you in bed?

Josh: Because she threw up on my bed.

• Discovering that Red Wine stain remover will, in fact, work wonders on the barf of a three year old who ate macaroni and cheese for lunch.
• Learning that Lance and I are going to Taiwan the first week in June. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

You read that right.