Here is what I know about being a parent to these three little crazies:

You can never have too many superhero costumes.

Or too many garbage trucks.

Here is what I don't know about being a parent to these three little crazies:

Pretty much everything else.

Or at least that is what it feels like some days.  But this morning we finished a craft, put together puzzles, played trains and did some chores.  So one day at a time, one moment at a time.  Wish me luck for ballet class this afternoon!  Ava is going through a clingy stage and dosen't want me to leave her at ballet class or Sunday school.  Keep in mind that by "leaving her"  I'm walking into the very next room where I can see her and hear her the entire time.  Although she cannot see or hear me.  And yes she has seen the other room, and I let her watch me walk into the room.  She holds my "key" in ballet class, and I tell her we aren't going anywhere until she is done.  But still, tears every time.  Funny that I didn't have a problem with this over the summer.  

Meme keeps telling me I just need to beat my kids more {JOKE} then they wouldn't like me and wouldn't have all this separation anxiety.

We've given her a key to hold onto, special trinkets, given her extra stickers for separating, but it dosen't seem to work.  At least not consistently.  If anyone has a brilliant idea I'd love to hear it.

But I feel like I should at least be working on this because next year she will be going to preschool and I'd prefer not to start the year off with a scared, crying, clingy little girl.  Or do I just wait until next year and she will grow up and this problem will disappear?  

Thoughts to ponder....

  

Oh, the Drama

Yesterday afternoon we took a brief walk in the woods behind our house.  About ten minutes later we had come inside and the kids were sitting at the table drinking hot chocolate.  All of a sudden Carter starts bawling.  I run over to him and ask "What in the world is the matter?"

Carter starts crying "I can't believe this is happening to me.  Why did this happen to me?"  

Finally I get it out of him: he was scratched by the bushes in the woods.  He has two small scratches less than an inch in length.

I just had to laugh, because he was on level 10 drama.

Although I realize in hindsight I've probably reacted this way to circumstances in my life that were also not life-threatening.  Being a parent really does open your eyes to all the funny things that you have done in your own life.    

Nightmares

The past two out of three nights, we've had a nighttime visitor in our bed because of nightmares.  Poor Carter was shaking like a leaf because he had a dream about Batman and the Joker in a fight.  Then on the other hand, there is Ava.  Her bad dream?  Someone took her hat.

I just have to laugh at this, because really the scariest thing her little head could dream up was someone took her hat?  That is just so Ava.

By the way, she loves the Minnie Mouse hat that you got for her, and she wears it quite frequently.

Christmas Card Worthy?

Camo Bo and his Grandkids

It's no secret that Carter is very interested in hunting.  So over Thanksgiving while we were visiting Bo and Grandma's house we took a little hike out to the tree stand.  Everyone wanted a chance to get into the tree stand, so here are the pictures.

Daddy helping the littlest over the bumpy ground.  

And yes, Carter was wearing his camo vest, hat and made sure to pack his nerf blaster.  I think it is hilarious that when we went to leave Bo mentioned that there might be snow on the ground the next time we visited.  Carter said "But I don't have any white camo!"  I guess you'll have to ask for some for your birthday {Santa is already done with your gifts!}   

Date Night and other photos from this week

Recently Mike and I have started date nights with the kids.  Each week on a rotating basis a kid/adult goes out alone.  Usually these are errands we already have to run, but we add in a little special treat.  On this night I got to take Carter out and we stopped at a book store to browse and I treated him to a hot chocolate.  I have found this little bit of one on one time to be really valuable.  Carter talked my ear off on this night, and I got to hear so many little stories that I miss on a regular basis trying to juggle all three.

Every night we check on the kiddos before we go to bed, and we've jokingly said to each other many times that Ava looks like she was in the middle of playing and just passes out.  I can't believe that she is sleeping like this!  Her arm is bent back behind her, touching the pillow behind her.  Looks painful!

These three love to paint.  I love to watch them paint.

Thanksgiving

We are so wonderfully blessed and we are so thankful for each and every one. Of course three wonderful children top my list, but I'm so thankful for my husband, extended family, and each and every new friend we've made in our new home.  It was about a year ago that we found out about this new opportunity for Mike in Akron, Ohio.  I have to say that this move has also been a blessing.  We no longer have to make the five hour trek to visit grandparents.  Although we still have to drive three hours to see my family, for some reason three hours just doesn't feel quite as arduous as five.


We had a relaxing, delicious holiday spent at the Grandparent's house.  Of course we were visited by Aunt Tiffany and Uncle Jason for part of the day.  {Yet another blessing, a new baby cousin in the new year!

Oh this baby, he really has my heart.  We had to laugh because after devouring a piece of pumpkin pie he leaned back in his chair and started patting his belly.  Too much food!

Thanksgiving dip in the hot tub?  Yes, please!

Thanksgiving pinata

Or as Ava called it Piana {rhymes with Tiana, Like from the princess and the frog.}

A little help might have been needed

The kids loved playing with the slinky's from the pinata.

Ava and Doc had a great time playing peekabo with the cat Hobo, at Grandma and Bo's front window.

Although I wish we could have seen Meme and Grandpap Bob for Thanksgiving too, I'm so grateful for Dad's new knee.  After he heals, he'll be running marathons with Patrick, right Dad?  

Oh yes we did!

Snack Time

Five is Fantastic

Carter, you are becoming so helpful.  Not toddler helpful, where it is one step forward to three steps back, but genuinely helpful.  Today you helped me rake leaves and pick weeds in the backyard.  I was shocked to see you focusing on this task for at least half an hour.  You filled an entire bag of leaves by yourself!

Three is Terrific

Ava, it is so fun to watch you relate to all the wonderful females in your life.  Whether it is Meme, Grandma or Aunt Tiff, you flock to the females in your life and follow them around like a little lost puppy.  You are very blessed to have such wonderful role models.

{Almost} Two is Awesome {but exhausting}

Dawson it is awesome watching your little personality budding.  By watching closely I'm starting to see that many times you are the little instigator.  I watched Carter coloring contently and you walked up and grabbed his picture and crumpled it up into a ball.  What am I going to do with you?

Come with me, and you'll be in a world of pure imagination!

We had a fun morning today, visiting a local chocolate factory for a tour.  The kids were very excited to see the chocolate factory, one of their favorite books is Curious George Visits a chocolate factory.  We met some new friends there, it's funny to see how the kids react to new people.  Things change quickly, but right now Dawson was glued to my leg, hanging on for dear life.  Ava made all sorts of friends and Carter said "Don't worry Mom, I'm going to watch all the kids for you."  He was the oldest child there, and he did keep an eye out for all the little kids!  

A chocolate factory decorated for christmas?  Must be pretty close to heaven!

But anyways, the chocolate factory.  On the way there, I was discussing with Carter how he was not allowed to eat any of the chocolate there, that it was all processed with peanuts.  But I had a pack of Hershey's in my purse that he was welcome to have.  Ava then asked me what chocolate she was going to have.  I told her she could have the chocolate from the factory.  She burst into tears and started crying "but I don't want to eat peanuts!  Please don't make me!"

It's funny how she has already picked up on the whole peanut allergy thing, but when push came to shove and she was offered a cherry cordial processed with peanuts she gobbled it down. 

The kids loved looking at the big vats of chocolate, the white pipes running the length of the factory with liquid chocolate running through them.  I thought it was interesting learning how they make the gigantic chocolate bunnies and santas.   

Weekend Happenings

This weekend we went to visit Meme, Grandpap Bob and Nana.  We had to make a trip down to Beavercreek, so we decided to visit the Air Force Museum for awhile.  Carter was very excited about visiting, almost as much as Uncle Patrick!

They Flew a helicopter

Even Dawson

Played with Airplanes

Saw Huge Tires

{Check out Daddy in the background, he had to see if it was a Good year Tire.  It is.}

Sat in a Cockpit

It was so great to spend time with family.  

Funny Ava Story:

We are at Bob Evans and Ava is eating a roll.  She looks at me and says "Look Mom, it's my daily bread!"

I guess she is listening when we say the Our Father.

READ!

I have always, always, always, for as long as I can remember, loved to read.  It was not uncommon for me to ask for books for christmas or my birthday {which, lets be honest are pretty much one and the same} even as a kid.  Lately as Dawson has gotten older we are in a great pattern of reading during breakfast, lunch, snack, before nap, before bedtime and of course, whenever they plop down with a book.  One of the biggest benefits of reading to kids is expanding their vocabulary.  Here is just a little example from today:

Ava and Dawson are playing with cars and wooden blocks.  They had lined up the blocks to make a little road on the floor and were running the cars back and forth on it.  Then Ava decides to play Godzilla and knock it all over.  As Dawson is screaming I ask Ava "Why did you knock over the road?"

She looked at me and said "Well, Mom, it's a complex situation."

Goofy Goofy kid.  But she did reassemble the road for Dawson.

{Shh, still working on Mike but I'd love to get rid of television for awhile.  I'm hoping to do this at lent.  I tried to convince him last year, but it was a no go.  Luckily lent does not fall during football season.}  

A little Voting Humor and more

Heard around the House:

On Tuesday we ventured out to the polls, and after an hour wait we were settled in the van driving home.  Ava asked me "Mom where was the water?"  

"What do you mean, I'm not sure what you are talking about?"

"You said we were going boating."

"Oh, no no.  Voting.  With a V."

After that little bit of excitement we took a walk down to our neighborhood park.

One of the best parts of being a parent is remembering all the fun things in your childhood.  I remember hanging on swings like this, and these two had a ball.

My little Dawson is crawling all over the the play set.  

My little three year old is slowly growing out of napping.  But on this particular day she took it really hard.  While we were riding our bikes back to the house she suddenly stopped and started crying.  She started sobbing "I'm too tired to ride bikes any more."  Then lucky me, I get to pile a bike on top of the stroller and piggy back her to the house while pushing a stroller {don't forget about the bike on top!}  I'm sure if anyone had seen me, they would have been laughing pretty hard.

Tonight was an exciting night for the kids, I was watching two neighbor kids over dinner time.  It was pretty big to have friends to play with, but then we had a pizza party as well.  Mike was running late from work and I realized that I had a 5,4,3,2 and 1 year old.  And then I poured a big glass a wine.  

Little Moments from the week

Thursday is a BIG day in our household, its garbage day.  In our old home, the garbage truck came really early, between 5 and 6.  But now, the garbage truck comes around 8, so we all rush to see it.  The kids will hear it cruising down the block and run to the nearest window, and out of everyone Dawson loves it the most.

Can you tell that Meme came to visit?  Don't worry the window markers and crayons only took approximately 3 cleanings to finally get off.  Oh, and don't forget the half a bottle of cleaner.  But don't worry, Meme forgot that she has some of the biggest windows the kids have ever seen!  Maybe I'll need to bring those special presents to her house!

Evening Wrestling time with Daddy

I just realized it looks pretty dangerous that Dawson is wrestling with a recorder in his mouth.  No worries, no one was hurt during the wrestling session.

This weekend Mike and I had 24 hours kid free, thanks to Grandma and Bo.  The plan was to get Christmas shopping for the kids done, so we were asking the kids about gifts.  Ava told me "Well, I really want something grown-upish."  

WHAT! You are three and a half! 

But speaking of our kid free day, it was wonderful.  Mike and I slept in past 8 for the first time in five years maybe?  We enjoyed the peace and quiet, but I missed them all.  I forgot how easy it is to get out the door!

Also, we've recently had conferences at Carter's preschool.  She had a wonderful compliment about him and I wanted to share it here on the blog for future Carter.  Ms. Riki said "He is such a kind and loving little boy.  I wish I could just clone him and fill a classroom full of him."  

Ava also had a wonderful compliment from her ballet teacher.  Ms. Michelle said that she is a leader in her class.  She is very attentive and all the other little girls follow her.

I'm 1000% convinced that they are great little kiddos, and it's my job to make sure that in raising them I don't screw up!