We're Swingers

Punishment?

This hardly looks like a punishment, does it? BUT IT IS! When my sister and I were very little, and the bickering got too much, my mother told me she would have my sister and I hold hands, and run laps around the backyard, without being able to let go. By the time we were around a few laps, we'd forgotten about the bickering, and were laughing at each other.

We decided to try this on Cooper and Ava, and, for the most part, it works (for now!) Of course, two weeks ago, when they were getting a little loud, Cooper asked "can we hold hands and run in the backyard?" Hummmm.....

Graduation Day

*Sigh* Cooper had his Preschool Graduation on Thursday. It was a ceremony for all the kids moving up to Kindergarten this year. Those kids who weren't graduating, performed in the ceremony. I was all chocked up, could barely keep it together. I'm sure I'm not the only one, but it sure felt lonely without Joey there.

Here's Cooper and the invitation they made. I'm so proud of Cooper, and Ava, too for that matter.

Ashley's 6th Birthday Party

Last weekend, the kids were invited to their friend Ashley's 6th birthday party! It was at a local gymnasium. What fun!

Tiger Cub

I enrolled Cooper and Ava in Tiger Cubs, Tae Kwon Do for 3-5 year olds. I figure it's fun, healthy, and keeps them occupied while Joey is gone. So far, Cooper enjoys it, while Ava stands on the sidelines. She hasn't participated yet, but I can see her doing the moves on the periphery. The Master (instructor) says at her age, it may take a few weeks, so I think she'll test the waters soon.

Updates

Hi all!

As you know, Joey has left. Getting into a routine with two is harder than it was with one. But we've gotten adjusted, and now I'll be posting up here more often!

I Love Everybody...

Ava was singing "I love Mommy and Daddy and Q-Purr, and Betta (Cooper and Greta)" but it was very run on. She got smart quick and changed it to "I Love Everybody." Smart girl!

What Oh What Does Mommy Do?

Mini Golf Time

We have never taken the kids mini-golfing, so we figured, what better time that Joey's last weekend home?

Sasha with Ari and Jim

Go Fly A Kite

Flying kites in the backyard with Daddy...

Our New Niece

Sasha Elizabeth arrived on the scene, Friday May 1st, 2009! Welcome, baby!

Strike A Pose

Yesterday at Disney Hollywood Studios, Cooper got the meet some of the Power Rangers! He was so excited! Even Ava got in the game and struck a pose with Cooper!

Disney Storybook Character Breakfast

Yesterday we took Ava and Cooper to the Storybook Character Breakfast in Epcot's Norway. While we'd probably never spend that kind of money for breakfast alone, all Ava asked for when we told them about going to Disney was to meet Cinderella and the other princesses. In fact, for the day, she wore on of the princess dresses Auntie Ari and Uncle Jeff gave her for Christmas. She was thrilled, and even Cooper was excited (for Ava), and enjoyed it himself, even though he got a little shy a few times!

Splurge!

Vacation Tip: Splurge on the hotel you can afford (or justify) for a special vacation! It's worth the money when your going to use the amenities and friendly, superior customer service is worth it when you come back tired! We are staying at Nickelodeon Hotel and it's worth it! The kids LOVE the pool with huge slides, and it starts at 1/2 foot, so Ava and Cooper can wade in to their comfort level. A game room, Character Breakfast, Characters all over the place, special shows and events (kid centered) all day and night, and a "Kidsuite" that gives them their own bedroom with bunkbeds and a TV, they are in heaven (and so are we!) The only problem so far is fighting over the top bunk!

On the Way to Orlando!

Blockasaurus in Action

Easter Bunny

Baptism

We baptized the kids Easter weekend. It couldn't have been more beautiful!

Climbing the Mountain

Easter Egg Hunt @ School

Mmm, Cotton Candy

Friday Night Slumber Party

We had a slumber party in the living room last night, which was fun! Family movie, popcorn, sleeping bags, Greta scarfing up the droppings.

About 1am I tried lugging the kids upstairs into their beds and that's when you realize just how much they are growing, especially Cooper. He's getting huge!

Kindergarten

Friday I was able to tour the new school we intend to send Cooper to for Kindergarten in the fall. I was so happy. The ciriculum includes foreign language and comptuers in Kindergarten, very small class size (and small school at that, only 1 Kindergarten class), very open and friendly. They want Cooper to come see the school soon, too, so he can get a preview of where he'll be going. Joey will take him in the next few weeks. I'm sad about him going to Kindergarten (growing up) but I'm very happy he'll be going to this school!

Princess Leia (Ava)

First Bite of the Season

Last week we had a relatively nice day outside, so we had the kids play in the backyard while Joey and I were in the front cleaning out the car, rolling the hose, etc. Maybe 10 minutes past before I heard yelling and Cooper screaming that Ava had ants on her. She came around the corner crying, I picked her over the fence and sure enough, even though the warm weather really hadn't arrived, the ants had. Ava seems to have a sweetness to her that the ants can smell, and they got her, her first bite of the season.

Penicillin

A week and a half ago, I went to the doctor because I had a been sick for what seemed an eternity. The doctor diagnosed me with a bad sinus infection, and gave me amoxicillin. Thursday, I broke out from neck to knees in small red itchy bumps. I apparently am allergic to penicillin. I've never been before, but I guess the body changes! It felt like I was a big mosquito bite!

Tonight, Cooper was giving me a hug goodnight and said, "come here, let me hug you tight so I can hug those red dots away!" That'll fix me up faster than any medicine!

So Far Behind!!

So our last post was February 11th!! I'm WAY behind, but I plan to catch up and get back into the blog swing of things!

Sick

So, I'm sick. Nausea and all that goes with it. When I picked the kids up today, I explained to them that Mommy wasn't feeling good, so I needed them to behave extra good. Ava got this concerned little look on her face and said "You feel better Mommy" and gave me a tight hug as I strapped her in her car seat. When I went to strap Cooper in, he said, "Mommy, I'll make you feel better." I replied, "You will? How are you going to do that?" He said, "I'm going to give you pancakes in bed!" We've got sweet kids!

Our Other Little Baker

Yesterday, Cooper was very impressed by Ava's crescent rolls. He told her they were "scrumptious" (I'm not making that up) and that she "did a great job, Ava." What a supportive brother! Then he asked if he would get a turn to make us something. So I told him he would, and that he'd get to make us something for breakfast.

This morning he made us Banana Nut Muffins, and he was really excited to make us breakfast. When they were done, it was Ava's turn to compliment him; she told him they were "good Cooper, yummy in my tummy!" Cooper asked, "Do you like them Mommy, are they the most delicious?" And they were.