Mother's Day

Mother's day (May 13) was special around our house because of the excitement from big sis!  She had secret gifts and plans that she just couldn't wait to tell me.  It was quite cute!  Little man and big sis lavished me with an abundance of homemade gifts and a great gift card.  I have a feeling Disco helped a bit with the decision for the gift card :)

For the 2-3 weeks big sis was making her Mother's day plans, we all got to watch robins build a nest and raise 3 young robins right on our porch.  Momma robin was the most prominent member but once the babies hatched we saw daddy robin quite a bit too.  Our kiddos enjoyed learning about the birds and watching the baby robins eat worms - we heard a lot of "ewww" and "yuck" followed by giggles.  Not long after our own Mother's Day past all the baby robins left the nest.  We didn't get to see them take off from the nest and I know that can be tricky at times.  But I choose to believe they all safely made it during their first flight. 

The whole process was another gentle reminder to slow down a bit and enjoy our own "babies" at home while we can!

Best After School Activity . . . Ever!

I volunteered/worked at Camp Aldersgate from junior high through college.  Aldersgate runs several summer camps for children with special needs. I have to say I might have been "leading" groups of youngsters while I was there but they taught me more about life than any other experience.  Another great thing about working there was that I met so many future health care workers, teachers, and community leaders - some of whom I still call friends.  :)

It was one of those friends who hooked us up with a tour of Angel One, the med-flight helicopter for our local children's hospital.  It all started when I randomly posted on Facebook that little man wanted to ride on a helicopter because he thought they were cool.  One of the Aldersgate alums is a nurse that works on Angel One and he set up a time the NEXT DAY for the kiddos to check it out!  I was thrilled!  The kiddos were thrilled!  And it was the best after school activity . . . ever!

Annoying Neighbor

This young woman has set up residence at the back of our property.  Not only is she destroying our rock wall by expanding her home but she is RAISING HER FAMILY there as well!  We have 4 groundhogs living in our yard.  Heaven help our garden this year!  As Disco contemplates his assault on our furry neighbors I hear the voice of Kenny Loggins singing "I'm alright, nobody worry 'bout me. Why you got to gimme a fight? Can't you just let it be?"

Zoo Field Trip

Little man's class took a field trip to the zoo in April.  I think I was as excited about the field trip as little man was!  His first big field trip to the pumpkin patch was cancelled due to weather last fall so I knew he was due a "big boy" trip.  It was a fun day with beautiful weather and a whole lot of enthusiastic kiddos.  I spent my morning at the field trip and then Disco joined little man for lunch. 

The whole class stuck together throughout the park.  They are such a sweet group of kiddos - they were so cute pointing out animals to each other and making sure everyone kept up together.  Love me some 3-4 year olds!  I'm definitely going to miss the kids and parents from his class when little man moves up to pre-k this fall.

Final Soccer Post

Oh soccer!  One week little man would love it.  The next week it would take him 30 minutes to warm up to playing.  Most of the time if one of us got involved playing with him initially he would stay out on the field once his team and coaches got started.  Most of the time. 

We think little man got a good introduction to the "fun" of soccer.  By the end of the "season" he was running up and down the field with all of the kids.  Following the ball.  Not necessarily even trying to kick it.  Just following the ball and the crowd.  Sometimes waving his arms and giggling like a mad man.  Makes a mom proud!  ;).  Seriously - it was great watching him get out there and have fun. 

On the final night all the kids received a medal, t-shirt, and candy.  Little man was PROUD of his end of the year medal.  He was almost as excited about the medal as the candy they passed out.  Almost.

No hands!

Getting into the action

Something was funny....

Pretty sure he is shouting "NO!" in this pic

Goofing off ;)

Soccer champ

Soccer champ again ;)

Easter 2012

Easter fell on April 8th this year.  Since it is mid-May and I am just now getting back to blogging I don't remember many of the details from our Easter weekend.  We did attend our church's EGGstravaganza the Saturday before Easter.  As well as a much smaller egg-dying event at catlady's house.  On Easter day we attended church and loaded up for our family egg hunt at Aunt K's house.  Of course the egg hunt at Aunt K's house was my absolute favorite because it was my grandparent's old place.  So it was where I spent my childhood searching for eggs as well.  Yup.  That pretty much sums up what I can remember about Easter.  Pics from my sister's house below:

Lack of Blogging

Oh how this spring is flying by!!!  I have a list of blogs posts near the computer that keeps on growing.  It will all be out of order at this point but I am guessing that I will just need to post what I have and include the dates so that I don't drive myself crazy getting in "correctly."  That is the problem with being a perfectionist - sometimes I won't even start a project if I know it won't be perfect.  So the next few weeks of catching up will be a therapy of sorts. ;)
 
Still enjoying my new job.  And realizing how much the change in jobs was needed.  I have to admit I still struggle with doubts about whether I am doing a "good job."  But everyone tells me that is normal when starting a new position.  So I am just riding the wave at the moment and seeing where I land.  Day by day.

Lots of pictures of recent kiddo activity to come.  More soon!

More Soccer

Each Monday night we all meet up at the soccer fields for little man's practice.  He is pretty hesitant for the first 30 mins of practice.  We have volunteer coaches from the local university's women's soccer team.  So far he hasn't had the same coach twice.  Little man finally warms up about halfway through the practice and joins everyone on the field... until someone touches his soccer ball.  He is VERY possessive of his soccer ball.  I can't blame him, it is a SWEET ball!  :)

 

Transitions

So . . .  our house has been in full on "transition mode" as we ALL adjust to mommy's new job.  I'm feeling much better at this point and the constant worry and tears (mostly after hours) have subsided.  I don't think I was prepared for the "culture shock" I would experience.  Uprooting after 14 years really was a bigger change than I anticipated.  But I love the new folks I work with and I am starting to enjoy some of the work I do.  Progress :)

People ask me all the time "how do you do it?"  Either in regards to trying to balance school/work/family or more recently in my current work/part time work/family.  I don't have a good explanation.  Because a lot of times it is difficult and I have to accept not being able to do everything to the best of my ability.  Which is actually pretty hard for me because I like to do my best.  When it boils down to it I don't do this alone - I have a GREAT support system.  Disco has really been a BIG support and taken on extra household duties and roles with the kiddos to make this work.  And of course our family has stepped up time and time again to listen, support, and truly be the extended family our kiddos need right now. 

One positive out of all of this transition is that I have stepped back and watched Disco be the sweetest dad.  He has taken on the responsibility of picking up little man for soccer - we all go to the practice/games but Disco has the tedious job of getting those darn soccer socks on little man!  Disco also took some very special pictures for big sis' room.  She is going to LOVE these when we print them for her walls.  So I'm feeling pretty lucky these days to have a partner and best friend like Disco to be there during the ups and downs of job transitions and family life!  :)

Disco's pictures for big sis' room:

SOCCER!!!

Little man started soccer this week.  He was SO CUTE!  It was pretty entertaining watching 3-4 year olds running around the soccer field.  Few kiddos listened.  Few followed directions.  Most of them wandered back to moms and dads for drinks and snacks while their coaches were talking. And several cried.  Oh the drama! 
Little man actually was pretty great as long as when he checked in with us he got goldfish and water.  He was also quite possessive with his soccer ball - actually no one else needed to touch it, AT ALL.  After soccer was over I asked him if he had fun.  His response was "Yeah.  But it was kinda LONG!"  ;)

We think he will be excited about going again after spring break.  He has already been practicing at home.  Too cute!

Pretty Yellow Flowers

We took our annual trip out to the daffodil fields on Saturday, March 10th.  The weather was beautiful and the place was packed with people!  As usual we met some of our buddies out there.  I would say it is a completely lovely experience but more often than not we end up shouting "don't step on the flowers, watch where you are going, be careful, please step out of their shot."  ;)  We actually do have some fun, though!  I thought there were fewer flowers in bloom this time compared to years past but I would guess our odd winter/spring weather may have contributed to that issue. 

Our kiddos enjoyed playing around the few trees/stumps that are scattered throughout the field more than the maze of flowers this year.  Usually we have more pictures but since they mostly want to run around these days there are fewer photo ops.  But here are some favs:

Circus Folk

Little man is currently training for the circus.  This means we have seen more than plenty of bloody noses and cuts and scrapes around here.  Sigh.

Birthday Fairy

In our house we are visited by the birthday fairy each year.  She does a great job decorating the birthday girl's or boy's seat at the dining room table.  This year she even treated big sis to a bit of pixie dust. ;)

Fancy Nancy

Big sis celebrated her 6th birthday with a Fancy Nancy party at our house on March 3rd.  Her birthday isn't until March 6th so she thought it was a real treat to celebrate early!

This year we only invited kindergarten girls (and their siblings).  Even when limited the crowd a bit we still ended up with 20 kiddos in our house!  It was organized chaos for sure but they really had FUN! 

Fancy attire was requested but not required.  The party was a spa theme and they had their toe nails painted, fingernail stickers, a foot bath, and aunt K and her best bud did make-up for the girls.  The plan had been to have them out in the yard but it was so windy and a little cool outside.  So we decided to stay on the back porch and inside the house.  Before we got started the girls got to do their own decorating - which was basically a free-for-all of streamers and rose petals.

It was another low-cost party.  Big sis, Disco, and I baked and decorated the cupcakes ourselves.  I picked up most of the supplies at the dollar store or collected them from the random assortment we had stashed from previous parties and projects.  We ended up with a lot of help from family and friends before and after the party - which was greatly appreciated!

Big sis had a blast!  I'm so glad we got to do the Fancy Nancy party before she grows out of the "dress up" phase.  I can't believe she is already 6 years old - as usual time keeps flying by!

Home-made cupcakes

The decorations and supplies before the guests arrive

Banner

Make-up time!

The Fancy Crew

Pinata!!!!

Waiting for pens with plumes

Make a wish!

The aftermath

Fancy Family (sans little man who wasn't
interested in getting fancy for the party)

Door banner - Happy 6th B-day Big Sis!!!