Riding the bus TO school

Well, Jon is out of town this week and that leaves me trying to figure out how to get Kate to school before 7:40am.  Maybe for some that doesn't sound too difficult, but we are not "morning people."  By that I mean, my kids enjoy their sleep!  Jon and I both usually get up around 6ish, he gets ready for work, I get Kate up, dressed, backpack packed, and lunches packed.  Then I say goodbye and Jon takes Kate to school on his way to work.  I then enjoy a cup of coffee and some morning news and Facebook, then it's time to wake the boys and get Gabe ready for Happy Apple at 9am.  Everything runs smooth....until Jon goes out of town!  Now I have to get up extra early to get Kate ready and wake the boys and get us all into the car by 7:20 to rush off to school.  The boys are tired and grumpy, Grant is crying for his morning bottle, the boys and I are in pjs with crazy hair, no coffee for mommy...thank goodness for carpool...or so I thought!  Kate was the only one looking presentable the boys and I looked crazy.  As we got closer I was banking on a long line and Kate could just jump out before we turned into the actual driveway where school staff help kids open car doors.  I would then be able to pull out of the carpool line and avoid being seen...perfect scenario.  The only thing I hadn't factored in was the possibility of NO CARS in the carpool line.  I have taken Kate to school a few times before without the boys and there are always cars in this line.  I couldn't believe it.  I hoped that at least I wouldn't recognize the person opening Kate's door.  Well, the world was against me this morning.  :)  Not only did I know the person opening the door, it was Kate's teacher!  I was so embarrassed!  I decided I was done; I cannot get us all up at 5am to be dressed and ready, so Kate will be riding the bus to school for the rest of the week!!  :)  She already rides the bus home so I wasn't too worried, and this way she gets breakfast every morning too!

This morning we tried it out and it was a success!!  I had to get Kate up a little earlier than usual to be outside our house by 6:50am, but she was excited and the boys got to stay asleep!  The bus arrived right at 7:00am and a very sweet bus driver parked the bus to introduce herself to Kate and help her find another girl her age to sit with on the ride to school.  I think we found the perfect solution while daddy is out of town!

Fun with Fifths

Well, fifths disease hit Gabe's preschool....and now my boys have red faces for a week.  :(  Thankfully though they both seem to feel great despite the "rashy" red cheeks!  Anyway, we decided to make it a pizza night, and tonight Grant got his very own slice!!

Covered in cheesy goodness and goo, it's bathtime!!!

Watch me SPLASH!

I wonder how bubbles taste??! 

And finally, just for fun, caught in a very goofy expression!

Happy Birthday Casyn!

This cutie in between my two kiddos turned 5 today...so of course we had to celebrate by going out for frozen yogurt!!  Miss Casyn, it has been a joy getting to know you this year.  I hope this next year is your best year yet!!!  :)

Built to Amaze

Ringling Brothers have come to town...and it's time to take Grant for his first time at The Greatest Show on Earth!!  :)  We love going to the circus, and this certainly is quite a production!!

We got there just in time to watch a little pre-show fun.  It was super crowded on the arena floor though so I don't think the kids really got to see too much.  Seemed more crowded than usual this year....

Gotta love the clowns!!

Grant was actually okay with them tonight...until one of them tried to steal him!!  :/

She took off down the stairs with him showing him off to others and I think offering him for sale...scary clowns!!  :)

Moments later this guy arrived to talk to Kate about being in his band....Grant wasn't too sure what to think, but I'm certain he would NOT have let this guy grab him after the last clown!

Finally, time for the show!!

Built to Amaze was just that...Amazing!!!

These are just a few of our favorite acts from the show.

I don't usually pay for these pictures, but to commemorate Grant's 1st circus we just had to do them!  :)

Of course, the print has the cute backdrop added in...one day I'll figure out how to scan and add a picture...

Learning to Walk

Grant is on the move!  He isn't walking on his own quite yet, but he sure is loving being on his feet!!

I just love all his little faces!

While I walked up and down the driveway with Grant, Kate and Gabe flew by us on bike and scooter!

1st Sleepover

Kate has gone to several sleepovers, and each time Gabe is very jealous and doesn't understand why he is never invited to tag along.  Sadly, before Kate's last sleepover he even broke down and started crying in Wal-Mart, just not understanding why he never gets invited.  :(  I tried to explain that sleepovers aren't as popular for boys and that we could invite his friends to sleep at our house, but that just isn't the same....

Weeks went by and guess what?!?  Gabe got invited to a sleepover!!!  :)

Kate was invited too, but Gabe was so excited that he didn't mind at all.  His buddy Casyn and her big sister Riley invited the kids for a fun night of pizza making and a 3D movie followed by a sleepover!!!

I really wasn't sure if Gabe would actually make it through the night.  He still gets a little scared at bedtime, wishing every night that he could sleep in our room.  But, he did awesome!!  No middle of the night calls and all-smiles the next morning!  We'll have you girls over soon for a sleepover at our house!  Thanks for inviting Kate & Gabe.  They had SO much fun!!!

Tub Time

Grant loves bathtime...and he especially loves soaking the bathroom floor!

But, he is just so darn cute doing it that sometimes I just have to let him get crazy and splash away!!

I mean, who could resist a face that that?!?  :)

Green Apple Gang

I just loved how all four kids (unintentionally) wore matching colors today!

These four sweet Green Apples will forever hold a special place in my heart....slow down time....

I am NOT ready for these kids to be in Kindergarten!  :/

Gavin ~ Jack ~ Gabe ~ Casyn

Chalk Paint

I decided we would try something new that I had read about on a few mommy blogs...homemade chalk paint!!  It's hard to tell in most of these pictures, but it actually worked pretty well and the kids certainly had lots of messy fun!!  I went a little light on the food coloring this first time though to make sure it would really all wash away.  It did by the way.  :)  we'll definitely do this one again!

(By the way, I have no idea who the older boy is in this picture.  He lives nearby and has on a few occasions ridden his bike to our house and asked to play with the kids.  I always turn him away because I am far too fearful to let a stranger into my house or backyard...scared of the kid and/or a possible lawsuit.  Anyway, I decided to finally say yes today since we were just going to stay in the front yard.  He seemed like a harmless kid....but sadly you just never know these days!

Kate worked so hard on all of her designs.

Gabe & Casyn...making a mess!

Sweet Boys

After nearly three weeks together all the time, I think these boys missed each other alot while Gabe was back to school today.  Hurry home Kate...we miss you too!!!

Nature Camp

For their final days of Christmas Break, Kate & Gabe, along with their friends Mallory & Wyatt, came to a two day Nature Camp at Crooked River State Park.  The kids were so excited to be here and ready to learn all sorts of survival skills and outdoor fun.

This picture makes me smile.  All four kids loved the camp,

but girls sure do love the camera much more than boys!

One of the final survival skills the kids learned was how to build a straw shelter in the woods.

I certainly hope to never have to sleep in one of these things,

but I am thankful they will know what to do in the event of a catastrophe!  :)

Kate was so proud of her painted wood necklaces...

Thank you Crooked River State Park for such a fun experience for the kids!!!  They took away so many great memories and had a blast learning to shoot a bow & arrow, going on scavenger hunts, learning and meeting so many creatures, playing games, and just having good old fashioned campground fun!!!  They can't wait to come back again next time!!  Oh, and they each got to bring home their own survival kit....including water purification tablets and waterproof matches!  Yes, the kids loved everything about Nature Camp!!!