Summertime Fun

So, with preschool having just ended and summer looming ahead, not to mention two little girls to entertain with a third making her appearance soon, I need some ideas. I want to do either an activity jar, with ideas we can draw from each day, or whenever the girls are really bored, or I want to do theme weeks, where we have a theme and do something different every day of the week that pertains to the theme.

Since we'll have a new baby for most of the summer I need ideas for things we can do at home. I have a few so far:

Homemade ice cream
Build a fort with the couch and blankets
make cereal necklaces
bubble day (blowing bubbles, making solution)
tea party
make homemade instruments and have a band
run through the sprinklers
sidwalk chalk
paint rocks like animals
make rock candy
water balloons
no sand sandbox (this is for indoor, you get a big tub and fill with rice or oatmeal and let the kiddos play in it)

for theme weeks, there's:

science week
bug week
bubble week
water week
baking week

and we would do something different every day that had to do with the theme.

I just don't want the girls to get too bored this summer and while we may not do something every day I'd like to have some ideas on hand, especially cause I know they're gonna get a little bored of being home so much. I don't think I'll be too excited about going out a bunch at least not for a little while. So, I'm asking for help from all you creative women, whenever you have the time, Please feel free to leave ideas, I'd love to hear them all!

Myrtle Beach

Last weekend, Kevin and I took off for a few days for our little "Babymoon". We ended up heading to Myrtle beach, cause Kevin really wanted to go to a beach somewhere, and there was no way I was going to florida or someplace like that with skinny girls in bikinis running around while I sat there like a beached whale.

It turns out Myrtle beach was a perfect compromise, and we absolutely LOVED it. Neither of us had ever been there, but it was really nice. The weather was great, and the beach was really nice and fairly quiet. After a long walk on the beach our first day there we were both totally fried, since it wasn't too hot and cloudy we didn't use sunscreen, so that kinda ended our hanging out in the sun for the rest of the trip. I'm just now starting to peel, should be fun!

We flew into charleston, South Carolina, and thanks to Jamie found some great spots to visit, and the homes there are amazing and beautiful. I can see why she's so in love with southern homes. They look so inviting. After that we drove down to Myrtle beach and were amazed at all the bikers there, I guess it was bike week or something, all you could hear driving down the road was the roar of the harleys. One lady at the resort said they're like ants, cause they're just everywhere, and boy was she right.

It was so great to get away for a few days and have nothing to do, but I was sorely missing my little girls, and it didn't help when we called home and Halli said she would never let us go on a trip again. I was more worried about how Peyton would do when I left, but it turns out that having Halli be able to tell us exactly how she was feeling, really pulled at my heartstrings. I don't know if I'll be taking a 6 day trip anytime soon without the kiddos. (just don't tell Kevin that, he would be so sad.) Plus Halli is pretty persistant that if we go on a vacation again, we have to take them. But thanks a ton to Grandma & Grandpa for watching them, I know they're a handful and it's probably alot harder when they miss Mom & Dad, but they did a great job taking care of the girls and running them around to various activities. All-in-all, it was a great trip and we definitely want to head back next summer if we can, and we'll be taking the girls, yes all three, next time we go.

The beautiful homes in Charleston, and the only picture we have of the two of us together.

Enjoying the beach, pre-sunburn. It was beautiful there.

Our resort, it was amazing and we LOVED it!

Our awesome room, Kevin has spoiled me, and now I'll fully expect a five star resort for vacations. No more holiday inn for me!

(by the way, if you click on the pictures, they'll enlarge so you can get a better view.)

Serious water fun

Well, on saturday we didn't really have anything planned or going on, and the weather was pretty decent, so we decided to get the pool out for the first time. But an inflatable pool just doesn't cut it for us, so we slid it under the slide on the swingset and added a hose for our very own waterslide. Halli was beyond excited and LOVED to go down, fly across the pool and slam into the edge. Peyton was a little leary at first.

But the girls loved it! Peyton warmed up to it very quickly and continued down the slide for the rest of the morning, till nap time. Not only that but she took a GREAT nap cause she was so worn out, that's always a treat!

The girls slamming into the edge of the pool. I was sitting at the end trying to get some good pictures. That is until Halli came down and literally soaked me cause I was in the wrong spot. Luckily it didn't do any damage to the camera.

Halli coming down the slide. She had a blast!

This is a sequence of Peyton's first time down the slide. Had I not got these pictures, I never would have realized just how scared she was. The third picture says it all, she's only half on the slide, eyes shut tight and she looks scared. The good thing is that when she reached the bottom she was all smiles and more than willing to go again. But when I saw that picture for the first time I could NOT stop laughing! What a cutie she is!

Halli thoroughly enjoying herself.

Peyton at the top of the slide contemplating if she's really going to do it! She did of course:)

Research Associate in the Fields of Child Development and Human Relations

okay, sometimes I go on babycenter and read the bulletin boards when I'm bored. Today while reading I came across this and thought all moms would appreciate it! Enjoy!

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk'soffice, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?' 'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom.' 'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' Said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myselfin the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar'.'What is your occupation?' she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. 'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest, 'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone moredistinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom'.

Grandma came to town

Okay, so it's been awhile since I've been on, but we have been very busy around here for the past week or so. Last week my mom came to visit, which is so fun and we LOVE having her here. Although, I'm not so sure this was her most fun visit. We put her to work and started putting the girls room together. Peyton will be moving in with Halli shortly after little Lexie arrives, so we had to get the room ready for both girls. We spent the first part of the week looking for fabric, I had my heart set on a pink and yellow room, and you have NO idea how hard it is to find those two colors together. Pink and green, Easy as pie, pink and yellow, not so much. But I think we finally found a decent solution and set to work painting. The girls were eager to help and they thought painting was really fun for the first two minutes, and that was it. I don't have any pictures of Halli painting cause she was being camera shy. But here are some pictures of ms. Peyton doing her thing, yes she is in her pajamas and looking kinda shabby, but don't we all when we're hard at work. :)

This is the semi-finished product. I found some really cute beds on Craigslist, that really weren't so cute when I bought them, but we cut out the middle of the headboard and then made some custom upholstery to go in the middle, and I have to say that I love them, and sitting at night with Halli reading bedtime stories is actually very comfy. The dresser was bought at a garage sale and actually came from Melanie Williams. It was a good find and I love the color, even if it seems a little bright. It'll go with the room when I'm done with accessories and what-not. Although, that could take many months to be done with that.
There is still a ways to go to get it all finished, but I love how bright and welcoming it is, and Halli really loves her bed. I think she's really excited to have a roommate soon too.

Thanks mom for coming and doing all that hard work with me! Hope you got to rest and relax when you got home. I know I've been very lazy these past couple days!

Spring Fling

So every year, the preschool that Halli attends has something called a "spring fling" its a kind of carnival for the kiddos. This is the second year we've been and the girls really enjoyed it! We met up with some of their cousins to start, but unfortunately, Halli is a little more adventurous than the babies are so we went our separate ways and they ended up spending time at the petting zoo and playing by the water, which we did alot of last year.

We ended up sticking with non-other-than, Blake, and his little brother Braden and their cousins and our friends, Sydney, Spencer and Seryn. It was alot of fun and it's always great to spend time with the kids doing something they enjoy that doesn't stress the wallet. One of the first things we did when we got there was a little mini carousel and Peyton loved it! she had the funniest smile on her face the whole time. Not a huge smile, but a kind of nervous smile. It was really cute. Halli could have spent all day on the inflatables of course. Those are always a favorite of the older kids.

My sweet girls enjoying their day

The gang relaxing with their feet in the water. The bridge is a cute picture and just shows how much Halli and Blake really do love each other. Best Buds!

These pictures just melt a mommy's heart. These two seem to fight a lot, you know, little sis following big sis around all the time. It can get a little old, but this day they were just so cute with each other. They wanted to be together and I'm so glad it was one of those times when I had my camera and could actually get proof that they love being together. When they're teenagers I just may need it.

How did Eric get here?

Well, Eric, my little brother is in town this week from Cali doing some job interviews and apartment hunting. Because he'll be moving down, he drove here from California instead of flew. Now that we know that, let me go back to yesterday when I was driving home with the girls. Halli asked me if our car could fly. I thought this was an odd question, but she's asked weirder, so I told her yes it could, but only if the kids weren't in it cause it would be too dangerous to fly with kids in the car. I obviously had no idea why she thought cars could fly, maybe she saw a cartoon about it, I don't know.

Fast forward to this morning, I was in the car again and here is our basic converstation:

Halli: Mom, how did Eric get here?

Me: He drove here.

Halli: I know, but how did he get his car here?

Me: Well, he got in his car and he drove it here from California.

Halli: I know he drove here, but how did he get his car here?

I am totally lost, then I realize that we have only flown to california, so maybe she thinks its on a different planet. ( I think this because of my cousin-in-law, Julie's post about her little boy thinking sweden is on a different planet.)

Me: Halli, when we go in a plane, we go up in the sky then back down to earth, we don't leave the earth when we fly somewhere. So California is connected to Texas, and you can drive from one place to the other. (I really have no idea how to explain this to her without a map or something.)

Halli: I know that, you have to be in a rocketship to leave the earth and go into outerspace.

So I tried to explain a couple more times about where California is and where Texas is and why you can drive from one to the other. She just isn't really getting it, so I ask her to tell me what she thinks so I know where she's coming from, and her is her explanation:

Halli: Well, California is in a cloud, so I don't know how Eric got his car out of the cloud and down here to Texas, maybe it flew or something.

I just bust up laughing, poor girl. The carebears live in a cloud and when we fly we go up in the sky, it really all does make perfect sense. So I just agree with her, yes honey, maybe the car flew! (We'll have geography lessons later.)