CASTOFF Day!

This morning we went back up to Akron Children's Hospital.  Dawson had his cast removed and one final X-ray.  Of course he screamed the entire time.  He wouldn't even stand on the scale to take his weight!  Funny thing:  we need to keep his feet firmly on the ground for the next two weeks.  No playgrounds, couches or beds.  His arm could be easily re-injured if he were to fall again.  I'm going to add to the list no toliets or kitchen tables.  Apparently his doctor does not read my blog, ha ha.  

Conversation with Ava today:

Ava:  Big girls don't wet their pants.

Mommy:  yes Ava that's true.

Ava:  Big girls don't cry either.

Mommy:  Big girls do cry.  It's ok to cry if you feel sad or upset.

Ava:  Mommy, don't cry when I leave you.  It will only be a little while and then I'll be home soon. 

Mommy:  Ok Ava, I won't.

Although let's be honest, I'm usually doing a happy dance when I have a little time away from the crew!  But then again, I start missing them in twenty minutes or so!

Mom, take my picture.  I'm a monster, Dad won't even know me. 

Can we go black gopher hunting?

Happy Friday!

Monkey boy and my sweet girl

Dawson Robert, this boy keeps me on my toes.  I caught him in some situations today, boy oh boy.  First, I heard him fussing and I came around the corner to see him STANDING with both feet inside the downstairs toilet.  I really have no idea how he managed to get into the toilet, but he definitely could not get out.   So it was off to the bathtub for a little soap and water scrubbing.  NOTE TO EVERYONE:  the bathroom door MUST be closed, I'm looking at you Ava!


After Dawson's impromptu morning bath, I decided to get Ava dressed for the day.  Then I went to check on Carter and Dawson.  They were in Carter's room, which had been painted this weekend so all the furniture was pushed to the center of the room.  Carter was sitting in the doorway and as I walked around the corner of the furniture to the back of the room I saw paint. all. over. the. floor.  There was little Dawson who had picked up the paint roller and was using it to roll the carpet blue.  Yes, I know this was totally my fault for leaving the paint roller in the room.  But I had asked the kids to stay out of the room until it was finished.  Anyways, as you can imagine I was seeing red but locking myself in the room with carpet cleaner and a bucket of hot water helped.  Thankfully I caught it immediately and all the paint came off the carpet easily.  After 30 minutes of scrubbing.


Thankfully we had a couple of uneventful hours.  Then came the 5 o'clock hour, which remains to this day a witching hour for Dawson.  As I was making dinner I heard silence, which is incredibly unusual.  Usually he spends the entire time I am making dinner under my legs, fussing.  This is where I found my little boy:

Yes, he had climbed up on top of the table.  

Seriously, I need your prayers to keep this kid safe.  He regularly falls off my bed, and unfortunately he is able to climb onto it by himself.  He is a seriously obnoxious climbing monkey right now.

Three cheers for Ava!  She wrote the letter A for the first time today without any help!  Also, three cheers for Mommy!  I french braided her hair today for the first time!

      

Water balloons

Last night as I was returning from getting my hair cut, I stopped and picked up some water balloons for the kids.  I know that it was supposed to be really hot and humid today, and Carter has been begging to play with water balloons ever since seeing them on a commercial.

I made the mistake of mentioning the water balloons to the kids last night before they went to bed.

7:30 am  Can we do water balloons now?

No. Not yet.

Finally, go time.  I swear it took me about 30 minutes to blow up the water balloons.  And another 30 minutes to clean up after them.

They had fun with the water balloons for approximately 3 minutes.

But I also set up our little baby pool and that was also very well received.

I bet this little boy is going to get really light hair this summer.

Now?  They are pooped.  We went out around 9:30 this morning and didn't come in until after 12.  We even ate our lunch outside.  I'm so happy that summer decided to make an early appearance!

Little Memories

Here are some of the little memories that I wanted to write down.  I'm sure when they are teenagers and adults I'm going to love reading these little stories.

• Carter my four year old puppy love, is growing so big every day.  We have even been allowing him to play in the woods behind our house with other kids by himself for short periods of time.  It is amazing how long he can occupy himself by digging and scooping dirt in the garden.
• Ava my three year old storyteller is hilarious!  One day during dinner she busted out a story that had everyone rolling on the ground laughing.  Right now you love to play "Train to Abba-buh-blab-uh" with your brother.  We sit on rocks in the garden, while your brother the train conductor hands us tickets and drives the train.  When we arrive there is some sight-seeing before we get back on the train and drive back home.  I think that I played "Train to Abba-buh-blab-uh" for approximately 32 hours yesterday.  Swimming class is going well, you are becoming so brave.  I have seen you jumping off the edge of the pool to the instructor, which you have never done for me!  I must say I love swimming class days because you and your brother come home and eat a HUGE lunch and then pass out.  It is incredibly rare for both of you to nap, but it happens every time on swim class day.  
• Dawson, you are my little one year old disaster waiting to happen.  Falling down is the name of the game and you have first place in that game.  Recently I ducked inside the house to grab a napkin while you were on the porch with your siblings.  When I returned 1 minute later you had face planted and are now sporting a scab on your chin and elbow in addition to the broken arm.  You love books with DOORS, aka books with flaps.  I have read Dear Zoo at least 1,000 times in the last three days.
• This past weekend was Healthy kids day at the Y.  We happened to be there due to soccer and enjoyed this event as well.  The kids got to jump in a bouncy castle, play with a lemur, collect various treasures and finally  Ava and I got to attend a kids Yoga class.  It was a blast.  Ava loved every second of it and it was so cute to see her trying the various poses.     

Lake Farm Park

Busy, Busy weekend.  On Sunday we met Bo, Grandma, Jay and Tiff at a place called Lake Farm Park.  It is a working farm where you can see and pet the animals, explore gardens and visit different demonstrations.  Here are some pictures from our trip. 

Vroom Vroom Dawson!

Carter the ice cream man

Pigalicious

Wow, that is a big pig.

By the way Aunt Margie, Carter LOVES the new camera you sent him.  He carried the thing with him the whole time.

petting brand new baby lambs

milking the cow

Ava too!

It was unanimous, all the kids said their favorite was riding behind the tractor.  Mike enjoyed it too!  

  

The Wolves

Our neighbors have a set of dogs, one whom looks like a rottweiler and the other a German shepherd.  They are incredibly well trained and I have never heard them bark or growl.  However, they are big and they look like they could be mean if they want to.  The other problem: they only speak French.  Seriously.  Our neighbors are french and the commands they give the dogs are only in french.  When the dogs are let outside they do not have a leash or chain, but the stay in their own backyard.  Until the other night.


Mike was in the backyard playing with the three kids while I was cleaning up after dinner.  I hear Carter yelling "Mom Mom there is a wolf in our backyard!"  I went to investigate and apparently Carter had thrown a ball and it rolled into our neighbors backyard.  The dogs took this as an invitation to play and went and bite a hole in the ball, which deflated.  Then they came and sat in our backyard staring or maybe glaring at the kids while they were playing.  I felt a little uneasy about this so I called the kids inside.  Mike began cleaning up, but the dogs were following us.  Keep in mind, they were not barking or growling, they just seemed more interested in these tiny smelly little beings.  Carter and Ava were fascinated by all this, and Mike said "I'm going to go outside to see if I can get the dogs back in their yard."  


So Mike tried throwing balls, taking them to their yard and telling them to sit and a number of other doggie tricks.  I tried to distract the kids and they kept telling me "NO Mom, we want to see Dad fight the wolves!"  


Apparently Mike lost the wolf fight because they were on our back porch and barking at me running the vacuum.  Eventually their owners called for them because they went running home.  So does anyone know the command for "go home" or "get lost" in French? 

Soccer Girl

Today Ava started her soccer class.  She was beyond the moon excited about this!  She ran around the entire time with a big grin on her face, just happy to be there.  Which really, that's what it's all about.  I want my kiddos to have fun, meet some new friends and get a little exercise while they are at it.  Mission Accomplished!

Soccer Girl Shooting a Goal

Ava was so happy to be at soccer she even put up with wearing pesky shorts. This was the first time in months I have gotten her in something that wasn't a dress!

1....2.....3....SOCCER!

Carter also enjoyed his league and made a new friend.  He was excited because he was placed on the blue team!

3 is such a funny age.  She wants to be a big girl, she can do it herself, but please Mommy let me be the baby in the stroller.

Dawson has realized that his cast makes an excellent club.  Twice he has given me a big bash to the head.  It hurts my head, but he just laughs and laughs.  So if you see the baby raising his cast up like this......beware.

Ava, I was so proud of you out there running around, having a ball and smiling from ear to ear.  It makes me so happy when I see you happy.  I must say you are about the cutest little thing in your pink soccer shorts.