Kindergarten Program

See him?  In the front row on the far left?

Zander had his kindergarten program Monday afternoon.  It was so sweet.  He sang his little heart out.  I got a real kick out of all his facial expressions.  He told me after the program, "Mom, I have zero stage fright." 

I am so in love with that little man.

Back Talk

After my conversation with Gavin (4) this morning, I'm certain I'll have my work cut out for me when he's a teenager. 

Me~ What a beautiful morning!  Lets go play outside with our new sidewalk chalk!

Gavin~ No.  I want to watch a movie.

Me~ You can watch a movie later...when the girls are taking a nap.  Come on, lets play outside. 

Gavin~  NO!  I said WATCH A MOVIE!!  You are SOOOO mean!  **cry**

Me~ Really?  You're crying because I want to play with you outside?

Gavin~ No, I'm mad at you cause I want to watch a movie!  You never let me watch TV.  You're sooo mean!

Me~ That's enough.  And that's not true.  Keep up this attitude and I'll give you something to cry about. 

Gavin~ You better not.  I'll call the police. 

I would never DREAM of talking to my father like this....maybe I'm not very intimidating?  Zander (knock on wood) usually does what's expected....but Gavin, oh Gavin.  He has a flair for the dramatics. 

After I told Gavin that he wasn't being nice, I took the girls in the front yard to play...leaving him alone to mope.  Eventually (about 5 minutes) he joined us like nothing happened.  I made him hug me and apologize.

Have your children started talking back?  If so, what's your reaction? 

Graduation & Mother's Day

What a busy weekend!

Saturday my sister graduated from OSU...I am soOoOoOo PROUD!  She has worked so hard putting herself through school and now has a degree in interior design.  Smart and beautiful. 

3 sisters

And single, I might add...yeah this just turned into match dot com.  I've set her up before and it was disastrous.  Now she thinks I have no clue...but I am determined...if you know a single guy that can handle this sass...

send me his resume.  Now that she's out of school she may have time to date.  She's gonna kill me. 

Happy Mother's Day!!

It was kind of a weird Mother's Day.  The boys spent the night at their PaPa'a last night and Ely went to the Temple this morning.  So it was just me and my two favorite girls.  They decided to take me out to breakfast.  We went to Coffee House on Cherry Street and had pancakes and fruit.  And I had my current obsession a dirty chai latte...mmmmm...

It was really nice.  We had our breakfast then read books on one of the couches for about an hour. 

Later on we met up with the rest of the family for Jacque's graduation party.  What a fun....and looong...weekend. 

Freaking Out!

Ok ladies.  I am seriously freaking out. 

Let me back up a bit.

Remember the new year's resolutions I set earlier this year?  If not, you can read here, in the Year of Dana.  One of them was to go on a vacation with my sisters.  No kids.  No husbands.  Well, that's happening next week....and I'm totally excited. 

We're going to Eureka Springs for 4 days.  Spa, wine tasting, spelunking, and shopping.  I can't wait. 

A few days ago I called the wonderful Suchness Spa and spoke to the owner, Caterena.  I told her I was a busy mother of 4 young children and wanted the ultimate spa experience.  She suggested the Ocean Essence Cocoon with chakra work and a massage.  Sounds amazing. 

 Why am I freaking out?

At the end of our conversation I say, "Thank you Catarena for all your help.  Is there anything I should do or avoid before coming in?" 

"I'm so glad you asked," she replied.  "No alcohol and no coffee before you come in." 

Fine.  No problem, but better schedule on first day of vacation!  hee, hee.

Then she asked, "Do you go to the spa a lot?" 

Ummmm.  No.  I have 4 kids.

"Well, you're more than welcome to wear a bikini if you are uncomfortable in the nude....a g-string and topless would be best." 

Ahhhhh!  What?!  I don't even own a bikini!! 

And as for the g-strings....well, they have been replaced by boy short panties. 

Look at the belly....and those stretch marks!  I'm very blessed to have 4 healthy beautiful children, but man did they do a number on my body.  And nursing 4 kids....lets just say I won't be posing for Sports Illistrated anytime soon. 

I thought this whole "body image" issue was long gone with my 20's.  I guess sitting naked in front of stangers will bring it all up again.  *sigh* 

Most of you are probably thinking, "Oh whah.  You get to go to a spa and be pampered." 

Seriously, this is HUGE for me.  Taking time away from my family and the money.  I feel guilty.  Hey, that's what I'm working on right?  This is, after all, The Year of Dana! 

Bandana Dress

Have you heard of the pillowcase dress?  I have been wanting to make them for quite some time now.  They are super cute play dresses that grow with your child.  Long dress when they are a toddler and still fits them as a shirt when they are in grade school.  This is assuming that my sewing will last the test of time! 

Every time I go to a garage sale or thrift store I keep my eye out for cute prints.  If you have no idea what I'm talking about just google "pillowcase dress" and see all the possibilities!  So precious.  Here are some easy  instructions if your feeling crafty. 

Well, I didn't have any pillowcases that I wanted to cut up....but I did have 8 bandannas that I bought from the Salvation Army ($2!) several months ago.  At the time I had no idea why I was buying them....I just liked the print.  Lately I've been really into making the girls clothes out of recycled material.  I decided to sew 2 of them together for my "pillowcase."

Considering I'm a major "newbie" at sewing (I got my first sewing machine for Christmas this past year!) I think they turned out pretty cute.

Next time I think I'm going to use ribbon instead of making the straps myself.  They took a lot of time and don't look very good up close.  But then again, maybe I need the practice! 

Murphy's Law

"Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." 

There are two things that I am absolutely sure of by being a mother of 4 small children.  #1 I will have to do at least 15 loads of laundry every week .  #2 If we are running late to the bus stop in the morning one or both twins will have a dirty diaper.  Never fails. 

The other morning I was in ultra-frantic mode.  Running late....again. Trying to get 4 kids dressed, fed and out the door in a timely manner.  Like clockwork both girls left a nice deposit for me in their diapers just as we were trying to load up in the van.  I got aggravated and marched the kids back in the house. 

Zander (5) noticed my frustration and said, "It's ok Momma.  They just had to go poop.  It's ok if I miss the bus, you can just drop me off at school."  How is a five year old so much wiser than a 31 year old??  It isn't a big deal.  Murphy's law is true if you believe it...but my goal is to not give in the that frame of mind anymore.  Wish me luck!  

In a perfect world, I would get up 2 hours before my kids.  Take a shower, do a little yoga and meditation drink a cup of coffee with my husband before seeing him off to work.   Be totally awake and centered before diving head first into mommy-mode.   But that would put me at getting up at 5 am....ugh.  Do you get up earlier than your children?  If so when and why?  I totally want to try it, but the truth is I'm lazy in the mornings and kind of a night owl. 

just another day...

Usually I only post if the kids say something funny or we did something fun or I captured a sweet smile on film.  Today none of that happened....but it was perfect.  A lazy Sunday spent at home.  Played a lot outside digging in the dirt and collecting roly pollies for the biggest roly poly race ever.  (Maya not so much into bugs)  We grilled out and just listened to Zander talk for hours about George Washington.  Man, that boy can talk!

Camille

While the twins napped Ely started building a fence around our garden so the kids, dog, and rabbits will stay out.  I decided to go to Target...alone.  Unless you usually do your shopping with multiple kids in tow you just don't understand what a HUGE deal this was.  I wandered around the store for hours looking at whatever I wanted without rushing in fear of a meltdown for refusing to buy Dora fruit snacks.  There was no bribing.  There was no scolding.  Just me and my list.  The downside to shopping without kids?  Spending to much time at the store made my bill a little higher than normal...oops!

After dinner and baths I rocked and sang to my babies.  This, too, is a rare treat because my almost 2 year old twins are usually to busy for sitting still. 

Did you take time and truly enjoy the blessings in your life today?