Easter Cabin!

We spent this weekend at a cabin in Pennsylvania with the Blystone side of the family.  This is the second year at this cabin, but we have been going to visit this side of the family on Easter for awhile now.  {I remember the first year I went, I was student teaching first grade and Emma was in first grade!}

 

 

Anyways, here are some pictures from our Easter Cabin!

 



 

Right next to our cabin there is a scenic stream rushing by.  The kids spent so much time throwing rocks, sticks, and doing everything in their power to jump into it.

 

Of course, we spent plenty of time around the campfire.

 

How funny, I caught Andrew in a sneeze!

 

So cute!

 

Hi Cousin Andrew!

 

 

Blowing Bubbles outside the cabin.  Thanks Uncle Jason and Aunt Tiffany!

 

More pictures to come.............

Egg Dyeing!

What a crazy day!  Morning yoga class, Tiny tracks for the kids at the YMCA, birthday party, sugar cookie baking extravaganza, cooking dinner and finally we dyed EGGS!

 

 

She is my silly little roover.

 

This boy had fun.  He may have made a mess and left the table with green fingers, but it'll wash off eventually.

 

Carter has been looking forward to this for ages.

 

 

We had such a fun time doing this together, then right before bath time Dawson decided to slam Ava's fingers in the door.  He must have smashed them pretty hard because her finger is swollen and she took it pretty hard.  After some ice, tylenol and lots of snuggles she is fast asleep.  I love my awesome girl, I hope she is feeling better soon.



Bunny Fun!

Yesterday was a fun morning, the Bunny came!

 

The Easter Bunny did a better job this year of hiding the baskets.  Carter found his in the oven, Ava's was hanging out in the front hall closet and Dawson's was hidden under the kitchen table.

 

 

 

Yummy Chocolate!

 

We have trained this little boy well.  He immediately handed all the candy in his basket over to Daddy to check for peanuts. 

 

Dawson checking out his goodies.

 

 

The favorite gift from the Easter bunny this year?

 

Swim goggles!!! 

 

All three kids wore their goggles in the shower today.  While it would be totally inappropriate to post pictures of that, here are the kids fresh out of the bath wearing their goggles.

 

This kid wore his goggles while brushing his teeth, putting on his jammies, and reading his books before bed.  I even tried to fix the straps so they wouldn't push down his ears, but he was having none of it.

 

A Future Olympic Swimmer?

 

 

Recently Mike mentioned to me "We really missed the boat in naming this kid.  We should have called him Thomas Mike Tyson instead."

 

I have to say he has a point!

 

 

 

Little Stories from the week

 

Apparently Ohio has not gotten the memo that it is spring time.  They are talking 4-8 inches of snow Sunday/Monday around these parts.  While the kids are on spring break.  So I guess for spring break we are going sledding!

 

 

 

 

Lego's, seriously the BEST toy.  Hours and hours of entertainment around here.

 

This week we got out the Easter decorations.  Ava named this little chicken Vinegar.  Only one of my kids......

 

Dawson's newest favorite phrase:  NO WAY JOSE.  "Dawson it's time to get your shoes on so we can go drop Carter off at preschool."

 

"NO WAY JOSE!"  It is so stinking cute I just have to laugh, every single time. 

 

Dawson has always called Carter "darder."  I've been working with him on this, and he is now saying his brothers name correctly.  Another one of those little things that although I'm glad he can do it correctly, it made him my little baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Silly Stories

This morning I was showering my beanie boy with love, kissing and hugging.  He is such a wonderful, kind, amazing little boy and I wanted to tell him.  In the midst of all this love, Carter saw an opening and said "But Mom, when are you going to get me a Beebe gun?"  Maybe when you are twenty.

It is funny how children take things that they hear and use then during their dramatic play.  Ava was telling me about a little play scenario she had set up on the train table about a place that animals go to die.  All the various little people animals were littered about, presumably killed by her.  I was a little disturbed and started asking questions.  Finally she explained it was a place that animals go to die, like Mona.  Mona is a neighbor's cat and she has heard about Mona going to the vet to be put down.  So then I had to explain all the good things that veterinarians do for animals. 


Today I was unloading groceries from the car and walked in to find this:

 

They may have watched Mommy practice her tripod headstands once or twice :)

 

Hey Look Mike, now our kids will live forever too!

St. Patrick's Day!

Top o' the morning to ya!

 

OK, maybe top o' the evening.

 

The kids had a great St. Patrick's Day today.  Of course, we set a leprechaun trap and the little people did not disappoint.  A leprechaun even peed in our toilet this morning and left a green bowl! 

 

 

 

Dawson and Carter, my dapper dudes

 

Ava refused to be in a picture with her brother, just me and pinky only.

 

I love the look on his face when he saw the treasure the leprechaun had left. 

 

Everyone received gummy bears, chocolate bar, noise putty, a finger laser, one magnet, one princess wand, and a scented notebook.

 

Dawson dug into the gummy bears right away.

 

And I must brag on my little Avarooni for just a moment.  Whenever the kids get treats like this, Carter and Dawson immediately scarf whatever is in their basket, no matter how much.  Ava eats slowly, asks to save it for later and always shares that candy with her brothers very sweetly.  I don't even have to ask and she is doling out treats to her brothers.  She really has such a giving heart. 

 

Laser Finger fun in the laundry room!

 

Thanks for the fun weekend little guys!

 

 



The Thomas Party!

Today was the day of the eagerly awaited THOMAS PARTY!!!!!!

 

It was held by our local library, and the kids had a great time.  We read a Thomas book, played Sir Topham Hatt says {Simon Says} and played Thomas games like throw the coal into the tender.

 

 

Trying to get all three to look at the camera was impossible, they were so having so much fun pretending to be Thomas, Percy and James.

 

 

Playing with the Thomas felt board

 

Conductor Carter

 

Conductor Ava

 

Cookie Eating Dawson

 

 

My Thomas loving little boy had a ball, but then again so did his brother and sister.  Funny thing.... both Mike and I have accidentally called Dawson Thomas.  And now he is demanding that we call him Thomas.... So, parents of the year, right?

Winter Winter, Go away

 

We are so sick of the cold and snow.  The kids NEED time to run around and play outside.  At least it was sunny today, so we braved the 38 degree weather for a little walk to the park. 

 

Summer, I swear I will never complain about your hot temperatures again!  I am anxiously awaiting your long, hot days.  Ok, enough of my complaining, onto the kids!

 

Five is definitely the age in which "fairness" and "equality" become so important.  Carter gets so upset when Ava and Dawson go to a class and get candy or a treat.  Truth be told, he gets WAY more treats than those two because of preschool.  But in his mind, everything must be distributed equally THAT DAY.  We've been having lots of discussions about how "fairness" and what that truly means.  

 

Funny Dawson Story:  Right now Mike has a cold, and is very congested.  He was blowing his nose and it made a very loud honking noise.  Dawson turned around and said "Thomas Horn?"  Yes buddy, Daddy's nose sounds like a thomas horn! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Weekend Update

 

This weekend we went and visited Meme and Grandpap Bob.  The kids had a great time running around at the YMCA, eating pizza, watching movies, and of course the all time favorite, playing bar. 

 

Optimus Prime Baby

 

This weekend I slept with Ava, and this is the sweet sight I woke up too.  Boy, this girl is a hard sleeper!

 

Ever wonder why pinkie {or angel baby for that matter} are a skotch on the stinky side?  Well because the washing process ends in tears and Ava sitting on a chair in front of the dryer for over twenty minutes!

 

 

Dawson Exercise

 

He gets up on the couch like so, and then does push ups.  He is such a physical kid!

 

Thanks Meme!

 

Meme and Bob Bob, thank you so much for the package of goodies!  We are definetely feeling the St. Patrick's Day Spirit.  Apparently Ava is feeling the leg in the air spirit.

 

Love you guys!  By the way, Carter's glasses are Goodyear car repair goggles.  He LOVE.

Momma Blanket

Do you see the red, white and green blanket that my sleeping Doodle is laying on?  That is his Momma Blanket.  In the past he was most attached to his angel baby, but recently now Momma blanket is a close second.  We call it Momma blanket because it was mine thirty years ago.  Kind of fitting that my December baby took a liking to it. 

 

 

I just love this picture of Dawson sleeping soundly.  It is such a sweet little baby pose to sleep with his legs up under his body.  He is growing up so fast, today his little mouth was in overdrive.  He loves to talk, talk, talk and Mike said to me "I think this kid has said 5,000 words today!"  He is also engaging in imaginary play.  "Dawson Puppy" he tells me, as he crawls on the floor barking and sticking out his tongue.  He barely gave baby Andrew a second glance, but suddenly angel baby has become his little baby doll.  "Angel baby crying mommy, crying and crying" and so we cuddle and rock angel baby until he stops crying.  He also likes to pretend to make me tea, coffee and soup.  I love watching him toddler run over to me with a giant grin on his face and hand me a cup or bowl with his imaginary food.  He is so proud!

 

Today Ava said to me "Mommy do you know what brothers and sisters are, Mom?"  I answered "No, Ava what?"  She replied "best friends."  So sweet.

 

  

Chores

 

Carter:  Mom, can I clean the toliets?

 

{In my head:  play it cool.  Don't act too excited about this.}

 

Me:  I guess, if you want to.

 

Carter: CHEERS!!!  

 

 

People, this kid cleaned all three toliets in our house today.

 

Of course, Roover had to get in on the action as well.

 

Another Funny Chore story:

 

This afternoon Ava and Carter were unloading the dishwasher for me.  Only the silverware is left and Carter asks "Can I go and take a nap on the couch?"

 

"Of course not, you need to finish up the dishwasher with your sister."

 

Carter looks directly at me and says "But mom, I just want to make this as easy on me as possible."

 

Wow, he really is his father's son.

 

My Superheroes

 

Carter loves his batman pajamas, and if he is running around like a superhero, the other two like to get in on the action as well.  Ava and Dawson use their lovie blanket and it is the funniest thing to watch all three tearing up and down the hallway.  They will always be my superheroes!