Happy Easter

Today we spent the day with the Schiller's at our normal Easter spot, John & Dort's house. Great Grandpa Schiller couldn't make it today. He was feeling really dizzy yesterday. His lung cancer treatment is over for now and we were all hoping to see him.

Junior came home from college and spent a few hours at our house last night. Seth & Sam came home late last night from their dad's.

The first thing Sam did this morning was scour the entire house for Easter eggs. No luck. Seth slept until 10am at which point I woke him up. We sent Seth and Sam each outside to get random things hoping they'd see the Easter cupcakes. Neither did! Hmmm.... "Hey Seth, look out the front window. Is the flooding stating away from our house? No water in the rocks?" Finally he questioned a cupcake. I told him I'm sure someone was walking past our house and threw their cupcake I out yard. "No momma, it's plastic" he said. Then he mentioned how he saw another cupcake by the grill when he went out earlier. Further investigation was needed.

While with Nick's family, Uncle Brad helped Addy find her eggs. Addy doesn't see him much but they sure love to hang out with each other at holiday functions.

Easter Fun

Addy missed Easter festivities at daycare since she was running a fever the last half of the week. I was bummed when I saw our daycare provider/friend post other bunnies. Today I got a surprise. Addy got to do hers today. Yea!

Cooking and Crafts

These are two things that I just have a hard time doing. I don't like making meals, even for myself. Seth and Sam are on their one day of spring break today. Sam, Addy and I woke up at 7:30am and snuggled on the couch. Around 9am Addy went down for a nap so Sam and I made some monkey bread. Seth woke up moments before the timer buzzed that the monkey bread was done. (10am - too bad Sam isn't one who likes sleeping in.) We watched "The Day After Tomorrow" per Seth's request. By noon we were coloring Easter eggs.

I enjoyed spending the day with my kidlets. Half of my plan was almost squashed when Nick pointed out that we were out if brown sugar. He loves us so much that he hurried out the door to buy some at the gas station down the road.

Selling Again

It seems like our kids are always running a fundraiser for scouting or sports. In the fall Seth sells wreaths and Sam sells discount cards for dance. In the spring Sam finished up Girl Scouts Cookies and Seth begins his camp cards and wraps those into his Otis Spunkmeyer cookies next week.

It's good for my kids to get out and sell. It helps them understand money management, you have to make money to spend money, as well as boosts their self confidence with strangers and that they can achieve many things if they put some time and effort into it.

I asked a few girls at work to see if they'd like to buy a Camp Card from Seth. Their response was that Seth needed to sell them on it. He put together a 30 second sales pitch which I recorded on my phone. He did such a great job selling his cards. It took around six takes before we got the perfect one. I wish my phone would allow me to pause recordings to get all of his cuteness.

15 mo check-up

30 3/4 inches in length, 57%
22 lb 0 oz, 35%
18 3/4 inch head circumference, 90%

In three months she grew an inch, gained 2 lbs and her head grew a half of an inch.

Describe your child: Happy, Independent, Easy-going.

Any concerns: Dahdee says he'd like her to be little bit more naughty. Just wait we assured.

Words: Mah, Dahdee, eth (Seth), Chloe, no, mine, go, uh-oh, bye-bye, hi, what, that, peek.

Achievements: toddler-bed, de-nuked, and ideally potty trained in two to three months.

No more pulling my hair!

 

 Me: "Sam, wanna get your hair cut yet?"

Sam: "yah"

Me: "Should we stop on our way home?"

Sam: "At my normal place?"

Me: "Sure"

Sam: "I want boy short?"

Me: "But still long in the front right?"

Sam: "No! Seth pulls my long hair in the front!"

End result...

Tuckered Out

Addy came down with a fever while at her well child check on Wednesday. It's been holding on pretty good since. Low in the morning, gone by noon and starts its journey upward around 4pm. She spends much of the day wanting to be rocked. She is still very clear when she's tired by rubbing her eyes. Since she stopped using a nuk, her afternoon naps are hit and miss. I tried putting her down twice this afternoon for a nap and she would just cry. I'd rock her more and she's nod off until I attempted to shift.

She grabbed her snack cup and sippy cup, then sat on my blanket at my feet. Five minutes later she rolled to her tummy and knees then passed out.

Hardwood floors definitely are not comfy. It's a sure sign that she's tuckered out.

Easter Hunt

The Taylor's invited us to the Rosemount Rich Valley Easter Egg Hunt. Each age bracket had three golden eggs hidden in the snow. Each child could gather 10 eggs. Seth returned saddened because he didn't find the golden egg. Once officials realized there were extra eggs the kids ran back out to collect more. That is when Seth found the last golden egg. He reenacted his discovery of the egg at least four times as other kids asked where he found it. "Over there in the corner of the field!" He'd set the egg down and bury it so only the top of the egg peaked out. His prize was a cinch sack. When askedif he would have had the chocolate Easter bunny or the sack, he said the sack. Sam was sad that she didn't find the egg so Seth gave her all of his eggs. What a sweet brother!

King of the Hill

Last Monday we got a lot of snow. Then the wind kicked in. All of this equals a big ole snow pile by Grandpa's driveway.

Neither of them wore gloves, Sam was in leggings and a funky skirt. This picture was taken seconds before Nick and Grandpa Jim unleashed the furry of snowballs. It seems about time to play in the snow again. Soon it'll be gone.

Good Music ~ Good Friends

Friends at work invited me to see Andy Grammer in concert at the Skyway Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. I heard his name before but couldn't think of his songs. Concerts are always fun. Even if you don't know what they sing.

It was general admission which didn't sound bad seeing that the theatre is relatively small. When we got there we discovered the only place to sit was the floor. Standing for three hours isn't a big deal. Except when I'm pregnant. My last two pregnancies it has been pretty bad. If I'm not moving I feel short of breath like I'll pass out. I was optimistic that I could make it through the concert. All I needed to do was keep moving to allow my blood to circulate oxygen throughout my body better. It worked. I made it. Although I was struggling during the last intermission. It's hard to move when there isn't anyone singing. Amy was a saint and bought me a $3 bottle of water. It seemed to make all the difference.

There were three performers. Andrew Ripp was first out. His songs were great! I've already bought a few of his songs on iTunes and I'd see him again. Next out was Parachute. Who? I thought. I wasn't too impressed with this group. Good music but not one that I would buy. After they finished a lot of teeny boppers cleared out. Lastly was Andy Grammer. He started out singing on the streets of Los Angeles. Just him and his guitar. He was really good too.

The night was a lot of fun. I'm glad I went. I was also glad to lay down when I got home.

Curly Q

I was following Adelynn up the stairs to go visit Seth and Sam in their rooms. As she climbed, I played with her curls.

I love curls. I was so happy to see them starting to pop out on Adelynn.

She's got her Dad's curls. Although he's never let me see his hair long enough for the curls to form.

Grandpa Schiller has curls, and he's proud to show them.

Graffiti

All kids have an obsession with making their marks on dirty cars. No matter how many times I explain why they shouldn't be using my car as their own personal drawing board they still do.

I don't often look at the back of my car so I'm not quite sure how long Sam's latest graffiti has been there , but she apparently wants to tell all who are behind me that she loves Joey.

Only one way to go

Seth is our family garbage man. He is often the one who takes the trash cans to and from the end of the driveway. Occasionally Sam will ask to bring the empty cans back but not very often. They are always "too heavy". Since our driveway is dirt we tend to have a few low spots where water accumulates. These are Seth's most favorite places to play. What boy doesn't love to explore the depths of the muck. Although Sam was the one making mud pies yesterday. (In her freshly washed snowsuit and gloves. Yup, good work Sam!)

Cats ~n~ Baths

Addy was playing in the tub with a curious friend came along. Squirt put her two front paws down the slope of the tub and I sat watching to see if she'd slip. Addy scooted closer to say hi then bam, swung her hand out to get Squirt. She missed a d Squirt dashed away only to creep back for another attempt. This time more cautious.

Singing at Church

Sam's class sang a song at church with her class. They are still a pretty quiet group but did a good job.

Trey Thielbar, Ruben Hunter, Sam, Emma Dibble, Cora Meyer, Isabel Siple, Meghan Motz and Trevor Preston

Self Portrait

Occasionally while looking through pictures on my phone I come across something like this...

Ms. Bear

One person is Ms. Bear. The others slowly approach Ms. Bear chanting "Ms. Bear are you awake?" Over and over again until Ms. Bear wakes up and chases them back to their house. If she catches someone, they then become Ms. Bear's cub and assists in catching the rest. The last one caught becomes Ms. Bear and the game starts over again.

The kids had a lot of fun playing the game at the end of Girl Scouts.

Dance Dance

Sam's dance team has had a lot of fun this year. They haven't really had any recitals besides their winter performance which was a little routine to begin with. She's now scheduled to dance on April 13th and the second week in June. I was hoping she'd have more dance recitals but I guess I would of had to sign her up for competition.

Mine

Lately everything in Adelynn's sight is considered "mine!"

Grandpa Jim was watching TV so Adelynn grabbed a remote, marched up to the TV and began pushing buttons.

Grandpa laughed because she had the wrong remote.

Little did he know she now controlled the volume.

Snow is cold

 Addy has never been fond of her hands touching cold things.

She stops in her tracks and cries until someone melts the snow off of her little fingers.

This time she fell backwards while climbing a slight hill covered in snow.

Puppy Love

I was at Brian and Mary's house for two hours holding Bella's puppies. I have fun with the puppies. One was sleeping and one was barking. It is a Friday in March. I am nine years old and this is my very first time holding a baby puppy. Brain and Mary have seven puppies. I held two. One was a boy and one was a girl.

Cub Scout Tubing

It was out second time having a scouting event at Afton Alps. The scout love it. We had a great turn out too! Addy and Brooklyn hung out in a tube getting spun around in circles.

Sleep Over

We spent most of today dress shopping for Melanie and Dan's wedding. Maddie and Sam convinced us to let them play for a while afterwards. That then turned into a sleepover. They've never really had this much fun playing together before. It would be a shame to cut it short.

Maddie came home with us and got a tour of the house. They ate some mac and cheese then settled down to a few movies and popcorn. Addy even tagged along like all good little siblings do.

Who are you?

I have been out of state for work two of the last three weeks. While gone the kids and I chat on the phone. With Addy's love for the phone she has to be a part of the call too. We mostly say hi and bye to one another, with some jabbering from Addy and filler from me. Each week when I return she seems a but more grown up.

She lost her cell phone somewhere around the house. Good thing she has a baby just the size of her hand; it has become her stand-in cell phone.

Dr. Seuss Week

Each day this week has a different theme to celebrate Dr. Seuss.

Monday: Green Eggs & Ham, wear green.
Tuesday: Pajama Day - but school was closed due to the 8" of snow that dumped over night.
Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday. Seth wore his shirt and pants backwards. Sam wore a tank top, jeans and a funky skirt with spray glitter galore.
Thursday: Sock Day. I cut socks of Nick and mine to put on their arms. Sam put socks as pony tails.
Friday: Pajama day due to popular demand.

"We're gonna go shovel"

Is what Seth & Sam told Grandma Schiller when she said it was bedtime. Figuring they'd shovel the driveway or sidewalk she let them go outside.

Nope.

They shoveled a path through our backyard, the historical society's yard and Greg's yard so they could walk to school the next day. It's the most productive time shoveling. Unfortunately, not where we would have liked them to shovel first. Oh well.

Hey Mr. Snowman

It was a long day of Epic training and some friends were in search of some much needed energy. Amy, Loriann, Molly and Debs went out on the deck and made a little snowman. He'll provide a few smiles to the next group of trainees who will see him before he melts.

My Little Rainbow

Finger painting, it's one thing I have rarely done with my children as they are growing up. Maybe crafts in general is a better way of saying it. It doesn't help that I am the least bit crafty myself.

Jenna, Addy's day care provider and a new friend of mine, must have been brave. I'm sure Addy loved playing in the slimy colorful stuff. I absolutely love the picture they made together. She is a little rainbow; so beautiful and bright.