No Rest For the Weary

This is what the past several weeks of my existence looked like:

I would be completely lost without my calendars, both the
one on my refrigerator and the one that comes with me everywhere,
sending alerts to remind me when I need to be somewhere.
Thank you, technology!!

It's entirely possible that May 2012 (along with the first week of June) has been the busiest month I have experienced since I became a mother.  See that block of emptiness that follows June 9?  I had been anxiously awaiting it, and it's finally here!  Can I get a hallelujah!?


Here's some of the reasons I was running around like a crazy person:


· T-Ball ·
Ava decided she'd play t-ball again this year.  I was extremely surprised that she didn't complain once throughout the whole season, having quit a previous year because she was too cold.  I, however, can completely understand because, as is the case every year, t-ball game days are ALWAYS cold, wet and/or windy.  (It must be a curse.)  Which is why this year I watched most of her games from the comfort of my car.  I suffered some degree of guilt for doing this, but apparently not so much that I was compelled to sit outside in the cold with her.  Meanwhile, Fiona spent the hour crawling all over me while adjusting the settings on my lights/radio/air conditioning.

Don't let their team name fool you.

Goofballs!

· Violin ·
Ava was also busy with her violin this month.  Along with her recital, she earned a spot in her school's talent show.  On both occasions we attempted to record her performance, and on both occasions we experienced technical difficulties.  Brilliant.  On a side note, she is now practicing her violin daily without any reminders or complaining.  I'm sure bribery had nothing to do with it.  

Notice that this photo was taken at neither a recital nor a
talent show, but it is definitely  Ava playing her violin.
(She's serenading Ellia with the "Happy Birthday" song.)

· Subbing ·
I had a lot of opportunities to sub in May.  Teaching preschoolers and kindergartners is a lot like being a mom.  The lack of listening.  The consistent whining and tattling.  The boogery noses.  And the fact that in spite of all of this, the kids really grow on you.  I feel right at home in the classroom.


· Preschool ·
Ellia finished up her first year at preschool and her class put on an adorable program, "We Love America!"  She is a natural performer.  Not once was she distracted by, say, her star necklace with a penny taped to it.  Not Ellia.

"Dinah, blow your horn!"

Miss Heather & Miss Lori, who haven't seen the
last of us.

· Dance ·
Dance recital time is always hectic, especially now that I have another dancer in the house.  Lots of costume changes.  Lots of practicing.  Lots of hairspray.  And lots of relief when it's all over.  They both did a great job, and what they lack in skill, they make up for in cuteness.  Let's just hope they don't take after their mother, who is possibly the world's worst dancer, next to Elaine from Seinfeld.

The end of the girls' dance recital marked the beginning of my Summer of Freedom, which I have just dubbed it.  And by freedom I only mean lack of schedules.  I realize that I can never escape the constant demands of my three lovely children.


I have set a goal to work on my bajillions of unfinished projects this summer.  So far, so good.  I'll be posting my progress in future blogs.  I'm sure you'll be waiting with anticipation.  (There really does need to be a font for sarcasm.)


I also have a goal of making a tank of gas last longer than a week.  Prospects are looking good.    
  

An"udder" Year Older

(More cheesy puns.)


It has now been 4 years that I've had the joy of being Ellia's mom.  With her, it is truly as if I live on the set of "Kids Say the Darndest Things."  In her birthday post from last year I mentioned that she is a milk-aholic, which is why "milk" was the perfect theme for her latest birthday party.

(The invite was slipped into the chevron striped sleeve.)

Which milk was most popular?
Strawberry.

You would think that with three girls I would be completely sick of the color pink, but I just can't seem to give it up.  You would also think that I should have known better than to expect smooth sailing at a party full of 4-year-olds.  Chaos at its finest.

They started off with a plain ball of cookie dough and got to add their own mix-ins. 

 

Some added so much that their dough wouldn't stick together, while others ate the mix-ins by spoonfuls directly from the bowls.  Sanitary, I know.

But once we baked them up, their giant cookies, which they took home in these goody bags, looked delicious. 

The rest of the party was spent pinning udders on a cow, and loading up on sugar and calcium.

It was so breezy that the candles refused to stay lit.
So Ellia did her best impression of  blowing them out.

This last game ("Milk the Cow") got the axe due to the fact that rounding up and trying to organize the wild bunch seemed like a hopeless task.  But if you ever need a cow rear made, my sister is an expert.  We both agreed that when you are a parent, you find yourself saying things you never thought you would.  Things like, "I'm just cutting out this udder."  Or "I can make a couple of cow butts for you."  Being a parent is awesome.

4 Years Old!

I LOVE waking up to this face informing me that "It's morning time."
She brightens my day with her sweet (loud!) giggle, her extreme imagination,
and her happy-go-lucky charm.
So glad she's mine forever!!

Oh "Hoppy" Day

(I couldn't resist the cheesy post title.  Sorry.)


The Easter bunny may have procrastinated a bit this year.  I was at Walmart first thing Saturday morning (looking oh so lovely) getting goodies for Easter baskets.  We didn't dye Easter eggs until that evening.  And I was up until 1:00 in the morning trying to finish sewing the lining for Fiona's Easter basket, which I promised myself I would actually get done this year.  I didn't.  

Long after the girls had deemed their eggs complete, my mom and I continued to work, tediously gluing tiny little jewels onto eggs.  Are you seeing where I get it from?!  The apple did not fall far from the tree.

Nonetheless, Easter came and the day felt completely Easter-y.  Candy wrappers scattered all over the house.  Little faces covered in chocolate.  30 sticky little fingers.  Me yelling, "That's enough!"  Oh, and purple bubble bath on the carpet.  (Do you know how hard it is to get bubble bath out of carpet?  Never-ending bubbles!)

Easter morning.  "One of these baskets is not like the others..."
Way to achieve your goals, Hayley.

Our girls are always spoiled with two Easter egg hunts.  After Grandma Lupe's house (where Ellia scored an egg containing a $100 bill) we went to Great-Grandma Payne's for more egg finding fun.  We came home with more than enough candy...which I later separated into two categories: chocolate, and non-chocolate.  (OCD Tendency #117.  Thanks, Mom!)  

And no one threw up from candy overdose.  Success!

Seattle

I feel like a total slacker.  Let me quickly sum of the month of March:


· Ava learned how to whistle and the sound of baby birds followed me everywhere.
· Ava broke her collarbone, "NOT jumping on the bed."
· I got a job as a substitute preschool and kindergarten teacher.
· Carlos grew a mustache.  (You're welcome for not taking any pictures.)
· I complained about Carlos' mustache.  Several times a day.  For three weeks.
· Carlos shaved his mustache.
· I jumped for joy.


And there you have it.


As usual, Carlos' birthday fell during Spring Break.  This year he decided we should go up to Seattle and take the kids to the Pacific Science Center.  Our friends Cam and Rory were gracious hosts as always, letting us double the occupancy of their already full house.  (Thanks again, guys!)


Before I post pictures, I should explain that I can't so much as point a camera in Fiona's general direction without her pulling her extreme cheese face.  Don't be surprised if it becomes a trend in all future posts.

Looking for butterflies in the garden

(Like I said)

A wee bit cranky

Waiting for the IMAX movie

On our last night in Seattle we had dinner at the top of the Space Needle.  The girls were fascinated by the fact that the room was slowly spinning around.  Especially Ellia, who was so preoccupied that she barely touched her $10 grilled cheese sandwich.  Luckily grilled cheese sandwiches are my favorite, so it didn't go to waste. (Eating two meals happens to be okay when you're on vacation.)


Cue the bad quality cell phone pictures...

Waiter to Ellia:  Would you like fries or fruit?
Ellia:  Is this room moving?  I feel like we're moving.

 Next time we take on the zoo.