Tuesday Tidbits

We are busy getting ready for this little girl's First Holy Communion  this coming weekend...

Just a few iPhone pictures of what's been going on around here...

A Friday fun lunch date with just the boys!!

J's new propeller hat was such a NEAT surprise from one of our sweet neighbors.  And what perfect timing... he had just told me days before that he really wanted a helicopter for his birthday....I'm glad he gives me 9 months notice:)

And in preparation for her big day this weekend... we have been practicing with the infamous pink rollers....can't believe I haven't used these more on her gorgeous locks.  She wanted to pose in her princess nightgown in front of one of the many baby pictures we have of her in our room.  :)

Easter and Spring Cleaning...

Easter came and went in the blink of an eye.  We had a nice and relaxing day (minus the stress of being forced to sit in the front row at Mass with a crazy, hard to control, almost 30 pound one-year old).  Thankfully...B held him tight the whole time and he fell asleep halfway through...whew!!! 

Here's a silly picture of the kids just before Mass....oh you can always count on the boys to stick their tongues out or do something silly when I'm asking them to "sit pretty."  But I love the pure joy in their smiles in this picture!

It's so hard to capture all three finding their eggs....they are too quick for this Mama!

Sam did get into the hunt a little this year... we had some practice rounds the day before....but mostly I think he just loved to open and close the eggs, and then of course put whatever was inside directly in his mouth.

In years past.... I have always had the E.B. ring our doorbell the day before Easter leaving only bags of jellybeans for the kids with instructions to plant the beans for a surprise on Easter morning.  This year we did the same...but instead of our rainbow colored lollipops growing...this is what the kiddos found in the morning...

Bouncy balls and rainbow candies...

But that little bunny didn't get away without leaving his mark.... Thank you to my sweet and amazingly talented cookie friend for sharing this tradition that she does with her boys.

I love how this little guy loves his cars!

Besides the plastic eggs...Sammy loved this little light up froggy!  He smiles so big when he pushes the button all by himself to make it light up!

A few more pics... can't believe how much they have all grown from last year!

We had a lovely lunch at Yiayia's house and came home to relax in the evening.....until B suddenly came down with Strep throat AGAIN.... Oh my....just keeping my fingers crossed that the kiddos can steer clear of it.

And in other news....we have been trying to do some spring time sprucing of our house.  This is what my living room looked like today...

It was utter chaos...and a complete mess...but I couldn't be happier because...

this is what resulted...

Yep...FINALLY B let me carry the downstairs hardwood into our bedroom.  No more carpet...no more Willie stains...no more lugging the giant vacuum in....YIPEE!!! And we are sooo close to getting it finished.  B is in there as I type beginning to apply a fresh coat of creamy mayonnaise paint on the walls...should make it all light and bright!!  Can't wait!

AND.... our new subway tile.... (my new jadeite cake plate looks pretty against the white, doesn't it???)  I was pretty excited to find yet another cake plate (yes.. I have an addiction) and it was sooo incredibly cheap!!!

When the fun is over the real spring cleaning will begin.... floor installation can stir up a huge amount of DUST!!! But it will be well worth it in the end!!!

Easter Preparations

Off to the Zoo

No...we are not headed to the zoo again.....

"Off to the Zoo" was the name of the musical the second graders performed this week!  Pretty perfect that my Sophia was chosen to be a Safari Guide... especially after we scored the perfect "Zoo Guide Vest" at the St. Louis Zoo last week! I tried ever so hard to get her to wear this hat of J's...thought it was perfect for her role....but I just could not convince her.  I told her that we (Brett and myself)  thought it was cute and perfect for the role....but her response... "You're just ADULTS... of course you'd say that!"  Too funny...and too stubborn.  She did wear it for one picture, however, before passing it on to her wannabe brother who more than willingly donned it the rest of the evening.

Sophia was "front and center"... the only problem being the microphone was blocking her face during much of the performance:(

I loved how animated she was throughout the whole show!

Here's another onlooker....but he's fooling you... he did NOT sit this still during the whole performance.  And yes...I am aware I am letting him chew on keys (don't even want to think about the germs he is getting)...but sometimes...you gotta do what you gotta do!!

Here she is ready for her speaking part... just a short line about going to the crocodile exhibit!

Whew!  A big smile when her line was finished!

J was very attentive.... he had been so excited about Sophia's "reformance" all day!

She was all smiles at the end of the program... she had me a bit nervous mid-way through....I had my zoom lens and all of a sudden I could see she had this horrible look on her face... I even turned to Brett and asked him if she was okay.... She looked like she was going to get sick!  But she survived and I think it was just nerves!

Whew... we only had a four day school week this week...but it seemed like an eternity after being on a relaxed spring break schedule last week.  I spent much of the week conversing with doctors (either my own....another story for another day) or the kids'.  The strep didn't end with Brett and Sammy....J picked it up too.   And I thought we were turning a corner today until B brought Willie home from the groomers...and of course as soon as he walked out the door to head back to work....Willie's tummy episodes began...uggghhh...and on the carpet of course!:(

But on a good note...we are working hard to keep Sammy awake all morning now...down to one nap (since he's not a great napper anyway).  It's rare that the two of us have time by ourselves...but we did this morning as Sophia was at school...Joseph was at preschool...and Willie was at the Groomers.  Wow....this little guy keeps me soooo busy... if he is not trying to break into cabinets, open the microwave or grab my computer mouse from my desk....then he is trying to sneak up the stairs.  

But those eyes...no matter what he is into.....they get me every time!

Happy Happy Weekend!

Sneaking Away

Our spring break started out with the hubby coming down with strep....no fun at all.  Thank goodness for antibiotics and a tough B, because that hardly put a damper on our week.  With gorgeous weather here....the kids and I were able to pull out the shorts and enjoy lots of park and outside time!  I am sooooo excited for summer already!  We had a few lunch dates and of course a trip to the book store (always a request from Miss Sophia) our bookworm.  I decided late last week that this girl will definitely be a contestant on Jeopardy some day when she shocked us by reciting the reading that she did at Church about a month ago from memory.  She never had to memorize this...nor did she have much time to practice...but apparently her photographic memory stored it somewhere in that amazing little head of hers.  She is truly remarkable!!!!

B had to work most of the week, but we decided to steal away for a short jaunt to St. Louis this weekend.  It's always a chore to pack up three littles and head on a quick vacation...but sometimes just necessary for a change of pace:)  We had a very short trip, but enjoyed some time at the Magic House and the St. Louis Zoo before we had to head home.  Needless to say... we ALMOST made it home without any illness.  Sammy decided to make a nice little mess for us about 20 minutes outside of KC.  He has just not been himself for a while....and when we came home his temp was 101...so off to the emergent care he went....diagnosis...strep.  Poor little guy!  It's always someone in our house, huh?

Well...besides a few mishaps, ( like getting stranded on the zoo train in a huge downpour) we had a nice couple days away....

Just a few more pics tonight before I load all the rest...

A prime example (below) of how HARD it is to get ALL 3 smiling!!!!

Well... Sophia gets one more day of Spring Break... before back to reality.  Hoping I can get all caught up in the laundry department...who knew we could have sooo much after just a few short days???  And I can't forget..Rock Chalk Jayhawk!  What a game!! Hello Sweet Sixteen!