The walk

So I walked in the March of Dimes walk this past Sunday. It was hot and fun and 6 miles (although we also had to walk about 3/4 of a mile to the parking area and back...shouldn't that count?). I had a great time chatting with my 3 friends that also walked, got a bit choked up as we read the poster boards about some of the babies, and got a few blisters from my sneakers. Um, I've had them for 4 years...shouldn't they be broken in by now? It made me wish that I could always socialize like this...instead of sitting around eating. We got to talk and get away from the kids, with the added benefit of feeling good about what we had done. But I doubt I'll be able to convince my friends to "walk" as a social outing. Which is why I'm fat. Why aren't my friends?

Anyhoo, one of my favorite things was walking out my front door and leaving Jeff with the 3 kids. I was busy getting ready in the morning...getting dressed, printing out my pledge sheet, getting suntan-lotioned up, etc...so I wasn't much help to him. And I found a sick, deep-seeded pleasure at watching him struggle with the kids. I swear to God, when I heard him yelling at Andrew to leave his sister alone, I almost broke into a happy dance. And listening to Lily ask him over and over to play castle AND take Mikey away all while Andrew begs to be read to...and then watching him struggle to address everyone's needs and desires... I'm getting a little light headed just recalling it now.

I'm not really that mean. I don't think I like seeing my husband uncomfortable and overwhelmed. But... Being a stay-at-home mother, you don't get performance reviews. You don't get periodic recalibration of your job description and goals. You have no idea what kind of job you are doing until one day you realize that your kids are contributing, functioning adults. And even then it can be a crap-shoot...because you could have one screw-up and one CEO kid...how to you rate that kind of parenting? So listening to Jeff get frustrated makes me feel better...because I get frustrated. Watching Jeff struggle to make everyone happy makes me feel justified that I can't make everyone happy.

Also? I think it is good for him to see what exactly staying at home entails. Jeff has never once made me feel like he thinks I have it easy. He never complains that I have the lighter burden to bear. But I know he must feel that sometimes. He's sitting in his office in the middle of a chemical plant on a gorgeous day. He's got to be thinking how great it must be to be at home enjoying the great outdoors with 3 fun playmates.

The best part was coming home 3 hours later. The kids were still in the their pjs, even though it was a gorgeous day out. The baby had refused to nap, the children refused to dress, and there was much fighting and boredom. It embodied my daily frustrations...although I should admittedly be better at it, since I've had years of practice ;)

No, no, the BEST BEST part was when Michael saw me. He's rarely been away from me...usually I steal away from the house when he's napping or already asleep at night. He saw me and LIT UP. Then he desperately worked to get over to me (he was mid-climb on the Elmo couch when I arrived). Once he got to me, I scooped him up and he instantly cuddled his head down on my shoulder, pressed his entire body close to me, and started patting me on the back. We sat like that for 5 minutes...precious precious baby. Then he started whining and crying...he was desperately thirsty, but never thought to ask Dad for a drink. ;)

So I think I'll definitely do the walk next year. Too bad their won't be a baby there to great me...

Rip Van Winkle

So...um...I think I must have fallen asleep for a few months. Because last thing I remember, it was Tuesday, April 21 and it was in the 40s and raining. But now it is in the 90s. So I slept until, like, August, right?

Oh, no, wait...that's right. There's no sleeping in this house. It's too damn hot. -sigh- Someday I'm going to live in a one-story house so there isn't the 20 degree discrepancy between the first and second floors.

Okay, enough complaining about the hot weather. No, wait, one more thing. Okay, so I'm SUPER grouchy when I'm hot. SUPER. I like the cold because you can always add one more layer of warmth to your body...or drink something warm, etc. to help change your temp. But when it's HOT...oh...you just can only get down to the skin. And then the hot children still want to be held and cuddled. And your husband still wants to... Ugh. I just am crabby. And if I were to move to Houston...this would be December. Oh. My. God. If we ever have to move to Texas, I think I will just shoot myself in the head. Because living with this heat in the WINTER....I can't even imagine how I would react to the summer temps.

Seriously. Enough.

Oh, and I need advise about my dog. And apparently how to spell advice. Michael is OBSESSED with her...as I have mentioned. And he is not gentle. And he is super-de-duper excited and squealy when near her. And she has started snapping at him. No teeth on skin...yet... I wouldn't blame her...who would want harassment from a 1 year old. Except that he is slow and not walking and not climbing. She is quick and agile...there is no reason she can't just move away from him. But she CHOOSES to sit next to him. She CHOOSES to stay near him. And when he starts to pull on her or touch her, she should just WALK AWAY. He is not very fast (compared to her).

So I don't know what to do. It is too hot to leave her outside whenever Mikey's awake. I can't really shut off a room to keep her in. I can't put her in her box, because Mikey's even more obsessed with her when she's in there, and then she really is cornered. I can't watch Mikey's every move and intercept each exchange between him and the dog because I have two other children. I am trying to teach him how to be gentle, like I did with the other 2 kids. I just am not around him as much as I was with the other two (terrible sounding, I know). But because Shadow is too STUPID to walk away, I don't know what to do. I would feel horrible if she finally did bite and hurt Michael. She's really a good dog...just dumb. Any advice would be appreciated. ;)

The clip show episode

Michael's new favorite activity. Fitting into the cabinets.

Andrew on Wacky Wednesday. Inside out pants, different socks, different shoes, Daddy's shirt, and Dr. Seuss hat. Fun day!

Andrew and Lily playing nicely. This lasted about 45 minutes...hence photo worthy. Moments like this make me really glad they have each other. And it helps to balance out all the fighting.

Newsflash: It is much harder to blog when you have 3 children. I know, I know, shocking. It is true that there is less time to sit and write a thoughtful blog. But also...there are 3 children all doing cute and funny things. So rather than one well put post, I seem to have a lot of posts like this...little groupings of crap. Kind of like when a sitcom puts together a "new" show that is really just a bunch of old clips. Fun...but not very creative.

So here comes my clip show:

1) Stop me if I've already told you this...Andrew is seriously transforming into a pre-pubescent girl. He is moody and emotional and says things like, "Sometimes I don't feel like I'm part of this family. I don't know why...my heart just feels it." Or if he doesn't get my attention immediately, "I think I'll go sleep for a million years. No one will care." Oh. My. God. I know it must be hard having two very needy younger siblings. But, honestly? It's been a year...let's adjust. (Gee, where does he get the lack of flexibility from...hmmm...let's think...)

2) Lily is a RIOT. She is often infuriating, but as her language gets clearer and clearer, she just cracks us up. Some of her latest...(uh-oh...we're going to go into an outline form)
a) "I have a kes-tion" This is usually said right before she goes into a long story about something. There is never a question at the end.
b) Lily spends a lot of time in time-out on our staircase. She was there this week for hitting, and she heard us turn on the tv for Andrew. She starts yelling, "Guys! I gotta get out of here, guys!"
c) Jeff came home from work this week and asked Lily what we had done. With a disgusted tone of voice, she said, "Nothin'"
d) She got out a game where you dress these bears with magnet clothes. I warned her that if she didn't play at the kitchen table, then Michael would probably want to play too. She played happily for a few minutes and then Michael started her way. She stood up, looked at me with a furrowed brow and said in the most pleasant voice, "I'm going to get MAD." Then Michael changed direction and she said, "Oh! Dat's okay. I not be mad anymore." and sat down to play.
e) She is infernally bossy. Is infernally a word? I don't care. She tells Andrew what he should eat for breakfast, she tells Michael what he should play with, she tells us what music to listen to, what color is our favorite, what shows to watch, and what activities we should be doing. We, for the most part, do not listen to her. Must be frustrating...maybe that is why she tantrums so much.
f) She regularly refers to Michael as "my brudda". She never refers to Andrew that way.

3) Michael is showing his smarts. Unfortunately for me, his smarts are of the "figuring it out" variety. For example, he has found that he can chew up the dog food easier if he dips it in the water bowl first. Uh, yea, gross. I was lying Lily on her bed to change her and Michael booked it over to the stack of clean ones and handed us about 6 clean diapers. Then he wandered off to do something else. Like he KNEW what we were doing. He calls Jeff dada. He points at everything and asks, "Dah?" He WILL NOT say mama...instead smiling mischievously and saying dada when I ask. He giggles maniacally at Shadow...he loves to hit her with things, pull her hair, and most of all feed her. She snapped at him a few days ago when he had a good handle on her collar. He was so so so upset...like he'd been betrayed by his best friend.

4) I'm confused about phrases such as "hooked up" and "worked out". When someone sees a person who they "hooked up" with, does that mean sex? Making out? Went out on a date? I don't know how to imagine it in my head. And "worked out"...does that mean at a gym? Or does just a stroll around the neighborhood count?

5)I signed us up for professional portraits next Saturday. Lily hasn't had one done since she turned 1. Our family not since Andrew was 9 months old. We'll see how it goes. I've got the big plan to get a nice family portrait every 5 years of our marriage so that when I'm old and gray I will have a big wall of pictures from our wedding day on showing our family changing in 5 year increments. I'm kind of hoping that someone will be crying or harassing each other, that my eyes will be baggy and tired and Jeff will look like he wants to escape. Because otherwise it won't be an accurate depiction of this time in our lives. Of course, that's what this blog is for.

6) I'm walking in the March of Dimes walk tomorrow morning. I signed up months ago, but never asked for money, because that makes me uncomfortable. Now it looks like it's going to be in the 90s. 6 mile walk in 90 degree heat? This could well be my last post.

7) Jeff and I are spending every night discussing our anniversary trip -ALONE- to the Adirondacks in June. I'm worried that once it is finished we won't have anything to talk about. Except how we never get to be alone ;) Or how many poopy diapers we've changed that day.

Speaking of marital bliss, I think Jeff is going to leave me if I don't help him with the kids right now. Of course, he wouldn't...our deal is still whoever initiates the divorce gets the kids. ;)

Ice cream for dinner

We are admittedly lax on making our kids do anything around the house. Occasionally we remember to have them help us with picking up, but we hardly have regular chores. Off and on I get a chart for Andrew and that helps motivate us...but usually we just do the chart so he can earn something that he really wants.

The latest? He really wants a new Wii game. So we dusted off the old chart and thought of 6 goals that he can earn stickers for. I like this chart because there are smaller goals set...so you get something at 10 stickers earned, 21 stickers earned, and then 40 stickers earned. Andrew has YET to clean the bathroom sink or to wipe the pee off his toilet (I keep getting to it first, believe it or not). But he is rockin' the "eat 3 bites of a veggie" and "try a new food". These used to be the most challenging when he was 3 and 4...I can really tell he's growing up...he has no problem anymore...which makes me wonder why he doesn't eat them normally. ;)

So he earned a prize on Monday night...one of the early prizes. "You choose dinner." This was quite overwhelming to Andrew...such a huge decision. It took him nearly 12 hours to decide what he wanted to have...and I'm sure you've guessed what it was based on the title of this post. Ice cream. I immediately start thinking of these fabulous ice cream sundae's, what a cool mom I am to let him have ice cream for dinner, how much I would like to have that for dinner, etc etc.

We went shopping yesterday to pick out the ice cream. This is tough for Andrew, since he detests chocolate (yes, I'm considering genetic testing...but I'm afraid what we would find). We stood in front of the freezer case and pondered all the flavor choices. Well, I did. Our conversation went something like this:

Me- Wow, Andrew, Look! There are so many to choose from. There's cherry vanilla, raspberry swirl, strawberry...

Andrew- I want vanilla.

Me- Really? But look at this one. Doesn't it look yummy? Something different for a change.

A- No. Vanilla is my favorite. Where is the vanilla.

M- Okay, okay. Here's vanilla. Now let's go look at the toppings.

A- I want rainbow sprinkles.

M- Like the ones we have at home? How about waffle cone bowls? Whipped cream? Cherries? Syrup?

A- Just sprinkles.

M- sigh.

Sometimes your children are just different than you. And even though having a bowl of vanilla with a few boring sprinkles on top doesn't seem like much of a prize to me...Andrew was thrilled. Literally jumping out of his skin excited as dinner time approached. Lily was so confused/delighted/shocked that we were serving up ice cream she was almost hysterical..."We having ice-ceam? I want ice-ceam now. Mommy? Ice-ceam. Peese." I think she wanted to get that bowl in front of her before I changed my mind. And we tried to explain to her why and how Andrew had earned it. But apparently it is not something she can understand since she turned to him and said, "A-U, dank you for the birt-day." And then she began shoveling spoonfuls into her mouth (they. could. change. their. minds. at. any. moment.) Andrew polished off his bowl and then asked for something healthy so his tummy wouldn't get sick.

-sigh- WHAT? Judging by the level of disappointment I had at Andrew's reward, apparently I need to get my own chart and earn ice cream for dinner. Except I would have brownies, fudge, caramel, mmmmm...I'm just getting started.

Obsessing about change

Ah...change. I've always said that I don't handle it well, but I have to admit that the past 10 years have trained me otherwise. I think that I handle it quite swimmingly now. (Um, YES, I'm writing this by the seat of my pants. Um, NO, I will not go back and change the word swimmingly.)

When we lived in California, I was a mess. How I got out of there with an intact marriage and no scarring on my wrists is amazing to me. But I actually started enjoying it the last few years there, which I think is a sign that I had finally adjusted to living far from home (so it took me 4 years to adjust...I told you I was bad at change). Life in California, regardless of whether I was happy or not, was full of me imagining moving away. I knew that we were not in California forever. I spent much of my free daydreaming time imagining where we would live next, what our house would be like, how close we would be to family, etc etc. Not a very productive way to live, since it prevented me from putting down roots and making connections.

Then, oh happy day, we moved to Louisville. I had never set foot in the city, but it was only 90 minutes from where I grew up...as opposed to 5 hours by plane. We picked a beautiful house and within months that friendly mid-western/southern city had adopted me as one of its own. Now here was a place that I could relax and feel settled. Except...Jeff was miserable. MISERABLE. So I knew that it was also a temporary assignment and to not get too attached. Sure enough, 18 months later we were picking up and moving to Philly...another city I'd never set foot in.

HOWEVER. Philly was the site of the international HQ of Jeff's company. There were 3 plants, central office, research, and central engineering...6 different sites for Jeff to change jobs as much as he wanted. Which translated to me as...No. More. Moves. Here, finally, was the place we were to settle in. And for the first time in our married life I was driving by the high school thinking about when Andrew would start there. I was looking at neighborhoods with large houses and imagining moving up into them in 10 years or so. I was cataloging all the places that we could visit when the kids were in elementary school. Making friends that would be with me for life. A very nice way to live...this permanent thinking.

Until Jeff's company got sold this month. Now Philly isn't the HQ. Now the future is uncertain once again. And I find myself slipping back into the "old" way of thinking. My protective layering to prepare myself for another move. I find myself daydreaming about how to get our house ready to sell. What the cost of living will be in the new location. How close will I be to family. Etc. All this...and we have no indication yet that anything is changing for Jeff's job. All that has changed is my mindset. Back to obsessing about the next move. Which could be in 4 months or 4 years. But it is almost certain to happen.

-sigh- How do I pretend to myself that this is permanent? I like living like that much more, but I think one of the ways I cope is to imagine every possible outcome so I feel more prepared. I just have to figure out a way to fool myself... Because Jeff is seriously going to go postal if I ask him one more time, "Did you hear anything at work today?"

Making them better people than me

So the blog world (or my little one) has been all abuzz about religion and beliefs and stuff. Whew...heady. And this after I just read the Newsweek article about religion disappearing in America (or something like that...) For the record, we do not currently attend a church. I like the idea of church and the whole community thing, etc. I personally don't quite get it...listening to faithful people explain how they "found Jesus" is kind of like me listening to America's Next Top Model. I hear the judges tell the models to "be fierce" and "be present in the photo" and it means nothing to me...my pictures would never improve because their advice is gibberish to me. As it is gibberish when someone tells me to "open my heart to Jesus" or "quest for Him" ...uh...huh? And, quite frankly, organized religion bugs me sometimes. Like everything good is because of God but nothing bad is...there is a comedian who says athletes always praise Jesus when they win but you never hear the losers saying, "Jesus made me drop the ball!"

My children have each been baptized. Andrew goes to a Presbyterian pre-school where he learns much about God and Jesus and seems really really interested. We talk about God sometimes. I would love to expose them to religion, because I am quite envious of people who have a strong faith. I think it brings much comfort and peace in times of strife, and although I can't seem to find that, I would be happy if my children did. But we have lived here 2 1/2 years now, and we have yet to step into a service. I don't know why...I think we just don't have it in our routine and we just don't miss it. Maybe if we actually started going...maybe next week. Oh, wait, I'm walking the March of Dimes walk next Sunday morning. Okay, maybe the next week after that...see how it goes?

Some people think it is hypocritical to baptize my children if I am not going to take them to church each week. Except...I feel it is kind of like an immunization. Just in case they get the religious bug, they've got the first step down. Or if they marry a Catholic or Christian...they can get married in a church. I feel like I am constantly trying to make my children better people than me...I cut up mango for my sons even though I HATE them. I encourage them to wait to eat their snacks and candy until after 11 am, even though I sneak some in the early morning hours. I send Andrew out to run a lap around the house when he is bored, even though when I am bored I nosh on bad food and make myself fat. I just keep hoping that by planting these seeds, they will grow up and be healthier and more in touch with God and fitter than me.

But, of course, that is not how raising children really works. They pretty much learn by example, so while they are listening with their ears, but it rarely sticks in their brains. They are actually just watching my every move and absorbing how life works that way. And in the end...when they hit adulthood...one of two things will happen.

1) They will, despite their best efforts and intentions, end up just like Jeff and I. It will creep up on them...one day they will say a phrase to their children, or see their waistline billow out, and suddenly they will have the epiphany..."OMG...I am my mother (or father)."

2) They will hate Jeff and I...really and truly hate who we are and what we stand for. And driven by that strong emotion, they will become exactly the opposite of us. They will be marathon running Bible beaters who eat no meat and have clean houses.

I think #2 might be a better option for them as far as becoming well-rounded people is concerned...but I really don't want them to hate us. I suppose I should instead start working on my "teach by example". Now where are my running shoes? And that dusty old Bible? -sigh- I think I'll go eat another cinnamon roll while I decide what to do first.

***edited to add: In re-reading this post, it sounds as if I am down on my own parents. I grew up in a house hold where we went to church every Sunday, ate healthy food, and lived very neat and cleanly. And I still love my parents, even though I am NOT following the good example that they set for me. ;) I guess really each person gets to choose for themselves...but my parents gave me the tools and example to know what the good choices should be...even if I don't do them ;) Perhaps there should be a #3...

#3- Your children will not be better than you until they have their own children...when they will be inspired to live your life lessons and finally build on that foundation you set so many years ago...just to start the cycle again.

Back in the saddle

I can hardly believe that it has only been a week since we packed up the car and headed back here to PA. I swear, the last week was 15 days long instead of the usual 7. I SWEAR. I had 16 days in Ohio with other adults keeping me company during the day, playing games with my children, going interesting and fun places every day (almost), doing the food preparation, clean up, and just general commiseration at the antics of my 3 children. It is so...restorative to have someone else to roll your eyes at when the 2 year old throws a fit when you serve her the very food she's been whining to get for the last 20 minutes.

Anyhoo...we've had a week of adjustment. For me...holy CRAP it is lonely to be a stay at home mom. For the kids...holy CRAP, Mom is a lazy son of a monkey who doesn't want to entertain us every minute of every day. For Jeff...holy CRAP, the house is friggin' LOUD and WHINY and EMOTIONAL when I'm not a bachelor. It didn't help that the beginning of the week was slow (no school Mon or Tues) and rainy and cold and Michael came down with some kind of high fever so we couldn't really socialize with anyone. -sigh- But the last few days of the eternal week were quite nice, filled with sunshine and bike riding and antibiotics. Tomorrow is Monday again and it is supposed to be in the 40s and raining again. -sigh-

Being away from home and routine for so long really changes you. Like, I was taking so many pictures that now whenever Lily is nice to Michael she says, "Take a pit-cher, Mommy? Of Mikey and me?" I have a whole new appreciation for my dog after 2 weeks of cleaning up crumbs off the floor in Ohio. No WONDER I don't wash my floor as much as other people...I have a mini clean up crew. Hence the rotting teeth. And school? It was like retraining Lily to drop off and pick up Andrew...such a struggle again this week. But our toys are like NEW. Awesome. But playing with the kids...yikes. I set a timer for myself to play with Lily...10 minutes was all. I thought my brain was melting from boredom. 10 minutes! I really have to build up my tolerance again.

Lordy...this is a boring post. I shall try to be inspired. Take note of the cute antics of my children. And all that crap. Instead of hiding in the bathroom counting the minutes until Jeff gets home.

Michael's favorite person

Well, I was watching Andrew ride a bike out the front window with Lily when I heard Mike laughing uncontrollably in the kitchen. Yes, I had left him alone in his high chair. So what else is new? And, yes, he was feeding the dog. He missed her so much. Enjoy my Michael's giggles.

My mom's birthday was on Tuesday, and Lily called her in the morning and sang her Happy Birthday very sweetly. It was on key and perfect. My camera was out of batteries, so this is a bit delayed. Despite the ragged hair, this is actually Lily, not some ragamuffin that we picked up off the street as a charity case. The first version of the song (on the phone with my mom) was much louder and much cuter....and I suspect even made my mom teary eyed. But you get the idea. This time she was much more concerned with getting to see the final result than actually performing. -sigh- Take what you can get.

The pictures...Part 6 of hopefully 6

Oh, dear Lord. I'm sick of these photos, so I can't imagine you all. But this is it. Our Easter egg hunt is on video...the real video camera, so you won't be able to see Lily's tantrum and then Andrew's tantrum and then Lily's next tantrum...with a little egg hunting in between. ;) Tomorrow, back to our regularly scheduled programming...whining about the baby being sick again...2 seconds after we returned home. Ugh.

Hot tubbing with Daddy this time. It was F-ah-reezing out...about 45 degrees I think. I've never been so glad to not have a bathing suit.

The baskets all cute and pretty the night before. We e-mailed the Easter bunny (found it on Google) and let him know we'd be traveling on Easter Sunday. He happily obliged to our request to hide eggs on Saturday instead.

Trying to pose with baskets. Classic bedhead Easter photo.

We visited a sheep farm later that day. I only took this one picture because I was having so much fun. Oh, and I was helping keep little ones out of sheep poop (unsuccessfully). This is Andrew with a lamb that had been born that same morning. We actually missed seeing a new lamb being born by just a few minutes...I saw it in a field with it's mother all bloody and gross...the kids got to see the farm dog herd the animals and help the (dumb) sheep find its new baby. We also got to meet the llama who "owns" the sheep...did you know they protect the flock from coyotes and other preditors. And on and on...I'm such a nerd, but, then, Andrew gets it honestly. He had so many questions for the farmer. I loved it.

Frozen. Crazy.

The pictures...Part 5 of ?

As part of the 1st birthday celebration, Mike got his hair cut at Grandpa's barber...

Before

Before...getting curious about what is about to happen.

The first cut. No, I don't save the first lock of hair. Technically I've been trimming it out of his face for months now. I'm not sentimental that way...

Love this shot...

After, on the way home. He'd run out of patience so we didn't get a good "after" shot

From the side

From the front

This is what he was distracted with, and so couldn't pose for an "after" shot.

Lily shows no fear...as usual

The pictures...Part 5 of ?

Okay, these are totally out of order...but I am sick and tired of trying to download these 5 at a time and figure out what order they will be in. So use your imagination...

Andrew enjoying Michael's birthday cake

Lily enjoying Michael's birthday cake

Michael not enjoying his own birthday cake. He was quite disgusted by the icing. Wha???

Looking desperately around for someone to save him from the vile cake. Again, I say, WHA? I am beginning to wonder if they switched babies at the hospital or something.

Michael's birthday cake. I told you these were out of order...deal with it. I'm good at making cute babies, NOT at making cute organized blogs.

Michael had a lot of help opening his gifts. He didn't seem to mind. I have a LOT of these types of shots. I think 20 at least. Which happens for every holiday and birthday. Like I really need multiple still shots of a kid unwrapping. Think I'll ever learn?

Michael wearing his "Look Who is 1!" shirt. Actually, it was Andrew's first...so it is size 18 months. Michael is BARELY a size 12 month. Tee hee hee...

Andrew was pooped out, and fell asleep under the dining room table. Can't fall asleep on a 9 hour car ride, but face down on the hard floor...maybe I should strap him to the top of the car and see if he'd sleep...

At a park...where I almost had a heart attack watching my 2 older kids climbing on a train. Have I mentioned I have a problem with heights? Apparently that applies to watching my offspring on heights as well.

Lily posing with her easter dying kit. This is before the 2 MAJOR tantrums. Who knew that running out of eggs to dye could be so traumatic?

Andrew giving us his creepy look as he shows off his mad egg dying skills. Looks like a mug shot of some really evil dude. I have other shots with this pose that I chose not to share with you all. Sc-ar-y

Michael doing what he does best...emptying.

Back in Cinci now (I told you these were out of order). At Sharon Wood Nature Center. You Cinci folk had better check it out...it is great for little kids. This shot is of a tunnel of fish and turtles just Mike's size.

In the same building as the nature center was a play area for kids. Tunnels, slides, ball pit, and an entire village of pretend play places. Mike was wanted for being excessively cute.

Well, he got to go to "the" restaurant in Ribs Land (what Andrew calls Cinci sometimes)

But he was so sad that Daddy had to miss it.

Luckily, Pepere let him take it back to eat at home. Andrew talked to his Dad and said, "I ate 5 ribs and then got 3 cookies. So it was a good day for me." I'm thinking it is getting expensive to feed this kid...5 ribs???

The pictures...Part 4 of ?

Lily is ready to go to the zoo! Featured in this photo are her Cinderella and Ariel dolls. I bought them for the bike carrier (remember? I like one of a kind desirable toys to bribe my children into being good)...but they kind of got moved to the car for our trip. Best. Move. Ever. She didn't sleep on our car trips, but she played happily with her "pincesses" for hours. "Sin-da-weh-wah and Air-el" are her best friends!

Posing in front of the flowers at the zoo. It was absolutely the most perfect day EVER.
My mom's grandkids.

Lily was in a posing mood this day. She would run up to a statue and say, "Take my pit-ture?" And then immediately, "Can I see it?"...often before you'd even snapped the shot.

Andrew looking very cute with a gorilla statue. Not too far off...

Poser. He got this idea from Colin...who had hurt his ear on the metal teeth before was able to get my camera out.

Colin and Lily on the safer side of the alligator.

The boys watching the manatees. By far Michael's favorite part, since he got out of the stroller for a change.

Riding the carousel.

Self portrait. I could not love Mikey's face in this any more. And you can count how many times I have eaten ribs or chili by counting the chins...

There was this little playhouse in the membership building that Lily adored. Here she is posing by her window boxes.

And cuddling the house jaguar.

We played while the boys got their faces painted. Colin is a leopard and Andrew? Well, he is the Loch Ness Monster, except he wanted to be brown instead of green. So he just looked...well...weird. It was quite disturbing for him to not have eyebrows...very hard to read his emotions for the rest of the day.

-sigh- Do I have to explain this picture? Do I? Let's just say that bubbles were spilled, clothes were shed, and broomball was played. And my parents got their porch cleaned for free.

My uncle Chuck and Aunt Betty came over briefly to visit (they live in Chicago, but were visiting their own grandchildren in Cinci). Andrew and Colin were tickled mercilessly...and loved every minute of it.

Michael preferred to steal Chuck's glasses and then clap for himself.

The pictures...Part 3 of ?

Air Force Museum, Dayton, OH

Don't worry, there are no wings on this plane. Andrew could have stayed here all day.

Not the best shot of Lily, but you get the idea. She made me proud when she left without a fight to give another child a turn.

With my grandma in Dayton. This is BEFORE she stopped sharing with Lily. (a whole other story which details why it is best to keep 91 year olds and 2 year olds apart...they just can't share Barbies well.)

The first egg hunt. Lily ROCKED at finding eggs. Seriously. Put the boys to shame. My sister wisely pointed out that there is a reason that women were the gatherers and men needed a large moving target to hunt. Uh-huh. Evolution hasn't changed us too much yet..

Andrew opening his loot. We had eggs with toys in them...each labeled with their initial so they'd know which was which. Lily would exclaim, "L! L is for Yiddy!" each time. Very cute.

Aunt Kate and Colin. We had such a good time visiting with them!

Lily and I opening her eggs...there were tiny ponies inside. Oh! The excitement!

Michael prefered to chew on the outside of the eggs...and to shake them.

Lily hoarding her ponies.