My Peeps

You have to know Riley to fully appreciate this.  On Monday, she came home from school and started talking very animatedly about this incredibly awesome, amazing Easter party that she was going to host at her house on Wednesday (less than 48 hours later).  She told me she had already invited 5 friends and she was so excited about it and so were they.  She started going on and on about everything that she was going to do at this party and I could hardly get a word in edgewise!  But about this same time, I start getting texts from various mothers that looked like this: (these are direct quotes from my cell phone) "Katelyn asked me as soon as I got home if she can come to Riley's Easter party.  I was wondering if you knew about it...."  and "Juliana can't stop talking about this party! She is excited to come over and celebrate." and "Abri will be there!!  She wanted to wear an Easter dress to school so that she would be dressed appropriately."

So.... what's a mother to do when you have a total social butterfly for a daughter with a myriad of girls in waiting with Easter extravaganza expectations..... well, put together an Easter party of course! (After having a long discussion about how in the future, she needs to ASK ahead of time and get permission before inviting a bunch of people over for a party her parents know nothing about!)  Anyway, while we had all kinds of outdoor activities planned, alas the weather didn't cooperate..., so we had an indoor Easter egg hunt (here they are, waiting to start). 

And we dyed eggs.

And we played games, had snacks and even braved the rain and jumped on the trampoline.  

Riley, you keep me on my toes, but amidst the exasperation, you keep me laughing at all your crazy, social antics!

We have a very short Spring Break this year.  It's just Thursday, Friday and Monday, so basically a 5-day weekend.  I figured, since we were staying in town, to try and institute our "Field Trip Friday" that we did over the summer.  So, I took Ella to gymnastics (since it was her last day - but she absolutely loves it, so I already signed her up for the next session).

And then we all hopped in the car and drove an hour away to Westminster to the 11th Annual Peep Show.

The Peep Show is where there are all kinds of sculptures and such that are all made out of Peeps.  It's very cute!

My personal favorite - it even rotated just like a real globe.

I loved this one too.  We read this for Lacey's book club and went to the movie too.

Snuggling with a life-size peep.

I had so much fun today spending the afternoon with my four favorite peeps. 💙💚💛💜

NinjaBe for T

Every Friday, these two buddies have gymnastics together.  So Claire's mom and I take turns having the other one over for a playdate afterward.  I just had to document a glimpse of their antics.  They had a "sticker party" and made up a dance and song and everything.  They seriously crack me up!

And then on Friday evening, I took Lacey and Tanner to perform at the High School.  Our local High School puts on a PHENOMENAL show every year called "Rock and Roll" with a different theme and a different set of songs and dances and musical numbers each year.  It's a brand new high school with a state of the art theatre.  It blew my socks off when I took Lacey last year, so this year, I brought T with us too since both L and T are in their school's "Mini Rock and Roll".  Our music teacher has arranged with the High School's Rock and Roll director to let our kids do a couple numbers before the show.  There's my cute Lacey smiling at me.... T is somewhere in the crowd too ;)

And then it was time for Tanner's scouting events...... we delivered hot chocolate in mugs that the scouts decorated to the Senior Center.  Technically, the scouts were supposed to do this, but alas, that never happened so I had my kids do it instead ;)

A couple months ago, I took Lacey to NinjaBe (an indoor obstacle course place) with all her friends for her birthday party.  Tanner was beyond bummed he couldn't go.  So, needless to say, he was thrilled when his Scout Pack planned an outing there this weekend.  He played endlessly with his best buddies from scout and was in 9-year-old-boy-heaven!

Activities like this have been perfect because weather-wise, March has definitely come in like a lion..... we're still waiting for the "out like a lamb" part to hit.  Come on, Spring!!!

Snow Much Fun

You'd never know it by looking outside, but yesterday was the first day of Spring and yet we spent today.... in the snow!  It was freezing cold and sleeting all day yesterday and then by the evening it turned to snow.  By morning, they had closed the schools and Dave was called off work.  So, we spent the entire day today playing in the snow, eating chili and enjoying our unexpected snow day!

And Dave got this crazy idea to take each of the kids outside one by one and then nail them in the face with a snow ball.

I mean, how do you look at that angelic face and then smash a snowball in it?

I don't know, but he did it!

Riley's turn....

Poor girl, totally unsuspecting thinking her dad just wants some pictures of her in the snow.... (btw, gotta love that hat!  This is Riley's FAVORITE hat.  She gets comments on it everywhere she goes (which is why she loves it - she's our "words of affirmation" girl) and wears it any chance she gets.

I have to say.... she was the most upset.  But Dave appeased her with a "daddy treat" (these gummy treats he orders online from Germany that the kids love, but he hides and only gives out on special occasions).

 Then Tanner

And finally Lacey

You gotta love sweet Lacey.  She kept smiling even when she was getting hit in the face with a snowball!

The only good part of any of this was that the kids then got to do it to us.

And then we built a massive snowman

And played with our friends

I'm a go go go person in a go go go world.  But sometimes it's nice to get snowed in, erase all the activities on the calendar and build a snowman. 

Luck 'O the Irish

Last night as we were getting ready for bed, the kids were busy getting ready for "The L word"'s visit.  Apparently if you say leprechaun then he doesn't come or something along those lines.  Anyway, I think "the L word" has been way too generous in the past going overboard with all kinds of decorations and things and so now these kids have all these hyped up expectations even though the L word is getting tired and has a severe lack of planning time.

But, how do you resist all these traps and notes?

Riley full on had a two page list of presents she wants including Nerlys and Lol dolls

Page 1

Page 2

Oh my!

Lacey's contribution

Riley laid out signs for him to go to the table to read the notes and get close to the trap that Tanner made and set.  And she also set out name cards for everyone for the L word to leave gifts.

So, I suppose the L word felt drawn here to make some sort of appearance.  He left lots of green and gold candy everywhere.

And he left each of the kids some St. Patrick's day jewelry and treats.

And, although he escaped the traps (Riley was understanding..... Tanner completely devastated), he did leave them each a note and a little toy inside the traps, which I thought was very nice of him.

And he even ate Lacey's apple!

(For the record, he also turned our milk green, our toilets green and even our cat water fountain green, that little rascal!)

Tanner was so excited to open his trap, but alas, the L word was long gone, leaving only this souvenir  behind. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day to my 4 Lucky Leprechauns! 

And in other news...... Lacey did a paint night

I did a colonoscopy (yuck! - I've lost count of how many I've had to do.  My Gastroenterologist wants me to have one every year due to my Ulcerative Colitis.  But I seriously hate the day before with the fasting and prep so much.)

Riley's been playing lots of Futsal - two games today and two goals to match.  She's one of only two girls on her team, but she's fierce and keeps up with those boys just fine!

And Lacey's been playing futsal too.  She loves every second she's out on the court and when she's on the sidelines, she spends every second counting down until she gets put back in.  She loves soccer/futsal and can't get enough.

And I took my long awaited exam.  I decided back in October that I was going to pursue a specialty certification and try to become a CSOWM - a Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management.  There's a lot that goes into this.  For starters, you have to have a huge amount of hours spent professionally working in the field and have a work supervisor/manager verify that.  Then you have to register for and study for the exam - which I've been doing for several months - no easy feat with everything else I have on my plate!  It's a 3-hour, 150 question exam, which I just completed today.  Unfortunately, I have to wait 6-8 long weeks until I find out the results.  And honestly, I'm not sure how I did.  It was harder than I anticipated and some questions on there really threw me.  But I'm glad it's over and I'm hopeful.  And hopefully the Luck 'O the Irish was on my side.....