Storytime Sheep

I know you were all waiting anxiously to see what craft the kids would make this week-wink, wink! Here it is! It was sheep week at library storytime. The kids all did great this week, no crying or having to take anyone out! Way to go team Kelly!

A Day at the Zoo

What a "zoo" it was! We drove in to Brookfield Zoo that morning behind about seven school buses! It seems everyone thought it was a beautiful day to go to the zoo. The kids and I went for our first time this year. We met our friend, Kelly and her son Owen there. We both said we hadn't seen it this crowded even on a weekend! Oh well, we were still able to get around and see our faves like the lion, tiger, and bears. "Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh MY!" (sorry, I couldn't resist) The tiger put on a show as he ran from one side of his exhibit to the other. It was cool as we'd never seen him that active before this.

We were a little bummed we didn't get to see the new female lion, she must've been hiding inside. The polar bears did not disappoint tho'! Hudson the youngest polar bear kept jumping in the water and coming back up with fish and was met with cheers from the crowd. We had a little picnic and enjoyed the sunny weather and warm temps that day. Han, Owen, Josh and Ryan also liked the huge animatronic dinosaur, new this year. Check out the video...

Two weeks in a row?!

Yes, it's true, Pat and I got out again by ourselves on this past Saturday night! That's two weeks in a row...that hasn't happened since...ummm...sometime before kids! Anyway, we started out tired, but ended up having a really good time with our friends and some nice "Pat and Aimee" time.

The kids had fun with our new babysitter and she only had to have them up for an hour or so before she put them all to bed. The boys went to bed fine for her with a little crying from Josh, and she even got Hannah to bed-now THAT'S impressive! She's a keeper! What could be better than a babysitter you can text, who also gives you text updates while you're gone??? Ah, it's the little things...

Our Fruity Caterpillar

Inspired by Strawberry Shortcake library book

Earth Day at Storytime

We made it to our Storytime/Craft class today at the library. We couldn't go last week because of the kids' colds, but they all seem to be getting better now-whew! Today is Earth Day evidently because they did a tree craft and we listened to Earthy stories. Hannah and Josh did really well singing and doing hand motions and things, but Ryan can't seem to warm up to a crowd. I had to take him out twice because he was crying, and still be able to peek inside the class to see Joshy pouting and almost ready to break into his full-on cry. After class, we stayed at the library with Jolynn and her kids for a bit doing puzzles and checking out new books to take home. It's a beautiful day outside and supposed to only get warmer and warmer through the weekend. Has spring finally sprung?? We can only hope...

Date Night

Yesterday, Pat and I had a much needed date night. Originally, we were going to go indulge ourselves at Wildfire (our favorite steak restaurant), but Pat has a bad cold/sickness so we decided to wait until another time when he will be able to actually taste the food. I told him we could call the whole thing off, but being the trooper he is, he wanted to go out anyway. He arranged for his mom and dad to come watch the kiddies, and off we went...

We saw the movie "State of Play" at AMC and it was really good. We'd recommend it to all. It was a murder mystery type starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, and Rachel McAdams just to name a few. After the movie, and a large popcorn (naughty, naughty) we were still hungry enough for dinner so we went to Friday's so it wouldn't matter if Pat could taste it that much and we wouldn't go broke either with him not tasting it. :) Anyway, it was fun, and my food was really good. I had the Bacon wrapped BBQ shrimp with garlic mashed potatoes and onion rings. It had that Jack Daniels BBQ sauce that I like. Pat had fajitas (that he couldn't taste). It sounds like I'm giving him a hard time (which I am-just a little), but I was so glad that he decided to go out despite his feeling crummy and we both had a great time. We were able to actually enjoy a dinner without wondering when someone would meltdown or do some other embarrassing, unpredictable activity in public. Pat even surprised me with a stop at Oberweis for some chocolate sundaes on the way home-yummm...(now we both need diet and exercise).

"Until we meet again, Wildfire..."

What a beautiful day for Easter...

We were in Battle Creek for Easter this year and it turned out to be a beautiful day! It was so nice to be able to get outside for the kids' Easter egg hunt. Mom made a delicious meal (as always) and it was gone in a matter of a few short minutes (as always)! Good job, Mom! We know it's a lot of work that gets devoured that quickly!

Hannah woke up Easter morning not feeling well, but was still a trooper wearing her Easter dress and looking pretty regardless. Too bad we don't have a lot of pics of her, but poor girl wasn't feeling up to it. She rebounded a little in the afternoon and took part in the big hunt tho' with her cousins.

The boys donned their ties (even tho' I was sure they wouldn't) and looked handsome as ever. :) So did their Daddy by the way, sans tie.

We all got to meet baby Olivia for the first time, and what a cutie. She wore a pretty plaid dress and cute bunny slippers! She weighed next to nothing compared to holding my kids! What fun...

Easter Eggs!

We dyed eggs Thursday for the first time! Hannah helped and I just let the boys watch as I was picturing 2 little boys dyed in colors of red, yellow, and green! Sorry boys, maybe next year! We only did 7 or so, b/c who's going to eat all those hard boiled eggs? Hmmm...just thought I could've made deviled eggs with them...oh well, an idea for next year!! I lost my prepackaged coloring tablet thingys, so dyed the eggs the old fashioned way with food coloring and fun was had by all! Hannah liked the pink ones especially!

First Storytime & Crafttime at the Library

This morning we went to our first class of a 6-week session at the library. It's called Toddler Storytime and Craft and all three of the kids can be in it (Hannah just barely). We went into a cute little room where the kids and moms start by sitting on foam circles around the teacher. The teacher reads stories, this week Easter themed, and in between stories, she does some songs and dances to go with them. Hannah, Josh, and Ryan started out very apprehensively even though we had our friends JoLynn, Hailey, and Ryan in class too. Ryan wanted "up" and they all took turned sitting on my lap instead of on the circles. Josh warmed up to the dancing the quickest and we all made it through. I think next week they may get into it quicker since it won't be so new.

After the stories/dancing part, we moved over to craft tables and made a paper egg guy with hands that were traced from each child, and a beak, and googly eyes and such. It was fun for the kids to use glue and scissors and feathers. Hannah really liked trying scissors for the first time. The teacher took mercy on me and came to help cut out hands and help glue. She said, "you have your hands full!" (a completely new thought, but I welcomed the help anyway).

Josh was cute as we were leaving; he wouldn't let me hold his egg guy and he held him all the way out to the car. I think he was very proud of him. We came home and put them all up on the fridge.

More Pics

Disney Surprise...

I forgot to mention that we went to Disney World for the first time as a fam, and we kept it a surprise from the kids...

Yes, I still update the blog...sometimes...

Ok, so as usual it's been a very long time since I've posted. My sister-in-law, Deb introduced Pat and I to Facebook, and...need I say more? No, really, I will try to do better.

Since I last wrote, we've gotten new carpeting and some recessed lighting in our family room and kitchen to replace the fluorescent number that I never turned on. Yes, that does make for a dark kitchen, but I REALLY hated it! We've gone and have returned to/from Florida for two weeks-one of our best vacations EVER! And...we're STILL waiting for warmer weather to arrive! The kids and I are going a bit stir crazy being inside again after our escape from reality in Florida.

We were able to be gone for two weeks because Pat had to work in Lakeland, FL for the first week, and then we made the second week into a vacation at the beach. I keep saying that we took a two week vacation, but Pat keeps correcting me, that only WE got the two weeks-hee, hee. We tried Indian Rocks Beach for the first time since it was about straight West from Lakeland to the Gulf. It was great, and we'd love to go back! We stayed right on the ocean which we don't get to do very often and we were spoiled! The kids loved the beach and Hannah started swimming in the pool for the first time by herself (with floaties)! We had perfect weather everyday the second week.

Josh and Ryan are talking all the time, and Hannah's about to turn 4 years old! Wow, how time does fly. Hannah will start preschool in the Fall, and we'll see how mommy will adjust to that. She can already write her name and other short words like zoo. Can you tell I'm a little proud?