No More Meetings, No More Books, No More Students' Dirty Looks!

School is out! School is OUT! SCHOOL IS OUT!!! I have one week to try to relax and catch up on things around the house before I start commuting two days a week to Grand Rapids for grad school. I am dreading the thought of all the work and driving, but am trying my best to stay positive. Aron was out of town again this weekend so it was just me, Mac, and the kids! I decided to put off my to-do list and instead dove into all the fun of having two little ones. Over the last month I have been so stressed with end of the school year "stuff" that I haven't really been enjoying motherhood as much as I should be. So...this weekend it was ALL about Russell and Sloane. Needless to say we had a BLAST!!! We spent our days playing outside, going to the park, and running in the sprinkler. Both Friday and Saturday nights after the kids were bathed and in their PJ's, I plopped them in the double jogger and went for glorious runs! The kids loved it and barely uttered a word. We called these our pajama runs. Here are some pictures to tell you more about our fun and relaxing weekend. Now I have to get ready for a week of cleaning, laundry, and reading (my thesis research is beginning to collect dust). UGH!

Fun in the sandbox (AKA the pirate ship)!

Sprinkler Excitement!
I caved and bought the kids squirt guns. It was a four-pack so Aron and I can play defense. The kids and I had so much fun chasing each other around the backyard!

Mac LOVES to chase bubbles! He would chase them all day if we would let him. Sloane is usually the one working the bubble machine and therefore has become Mac's best friend!

Both Russell and Sloane are into learning letters, singing the ABC's, and reading books. They spent much of Saturday morning placing magnetic letters around the house.

Sunday morning, Sloane wanted to play dress-up. She happily pranced around the house wearing her princess dress and princess light-up shoes.

3-2-1 Water Fight!!!

We had another lovely weekend! Aron was out of town Friday & Saturday and I threw a baby shower for my best friend, Heidi, on Saturday. Aron's mom came to town for the weekend to help out with the kids. It was great to have her here!!! The kids were spoiled by her attention and I was able to enjoy a wonderful Saturday with my girlfriends. I ended up staying over at Heidi's house. We stayed up late watching hockey, enjoying girl talk, and I indulged in a glass of wine...sorry Heidi, you can have some soon...only 7 more weeks until Baby Whirley makes an entrance :-) And since I know Heidi is one of my blog fans and will be reading this... I LOVE YOU HEIDI! You are the BEST FRIEND a girl could have!!! I can't wait to meet that little one!

Sloane and Grammy Carlson playing baby dolls.

Today started out rainy and cool, but by the time the kids woke up from their naps it was HOT! We grilled up some chicken & veggie kabobs for dinner and played outside until bath time. While Aron was trying to water the landscaping, the kids took off running straight for the hose! Before Aron and I could blink, both kids were drenched in water, laughing and screaming the entire time. Sloane kept repeating, "I all wet Mommy, I all wet." I asked Russell how he felt thinking he would say cold, but his reply was, "I feel happy, playing in the water!" I just love these unplanned events. At 7:30, I stripped the kids down naked and sent them in the house for a warm bath. They giggled all the way in!

At first, Russell tried to get the hose away from Aron, but we quickly realized that this was NOT a good idea!

I wish I would have recorded the laughing and screaming going on throughout all of this. Neighbors had to come outside to find out what all the commotion was about.

Russell was absolutely SOAKED and he loved every minute of it!

We finally reigned them in by convincing them to wash their hands.

Super Russell to the Rescue!

We had an awesome weekend at home! We did a ton of spring cleaning inside and out. The kids are at a perfect age to help out and when they're not helping they have each other to play with. Aron has our yard and landscaping looking superb and our house is clean enough to eat off the kitchen floor :-) The best part of the weekend was Russell's imagination. He pretended to be everything from a police officer to a super hero. Watching and listening to him brings me pure joy!!! Check out the super hero for yourself:

Super Russell to the Rescue!

Russell currently loves Super Why...a wonderful educational show on PBS. Here he is displaying his very own why writer and super duper computer.

Friday evening we could hear the ice cream truck in our neighborhood. Russell was begging to get something so I told him he would have to be patient and wait for the truck to come down our street. He ran to retrieve his lawn chair and firmly planted it in front of our front door to watch and wait.

While Aron and I were working in the yard, the kids kept busy "fixing Daddy's lawn mower."

After nap time on Sunday, Sloane wanted to eat her snack out of her special Easter cup that Papa and Bevie gave her. She sat outside eating and watching Aron work on the lawn. She picked out her own outfit too...a favorite outfit from Grammy Carlson. She is such a doll!!!

A Weekend full of Pictures!

Our Memorial weekend has been busy, fun, and memorable.

Thanks to my parents and my cousin Katie (AKA #1 babysitter), Aron and I were able to escape Detroit (and our kids) and spend two nights in Grand Rapids for a friend's wedding. We stayed downtown at the JW Marriott and enjoyed EVERY minute of our alone time! We walked around downtown, hung out with old friends, and relaxed!

Enjoying our night without kids!

We left Grand Rapids and headed north to celebrate the holiday with my family. My brother, Keith, and his girlfriend, Mary, hosted a FABULOUSLY FUN day at his property near West Branch. The kids had a ball swimming (I forgot to pack swim suits), learning to play croquet, riding the golf cart, tractor, and quad, and fishing! Keith's property is always a wonderful place to go and rejuvenate. We hated to leave!!!

I forgot to pack swim suits, but the kids still managed to go swimming.

Sloane would only let Katie take her for a ride on Keith's golf cart.

What would we do without cousins?!?!

My dad and Aron tried to teach Russell the rules of croquet.

Russell seemed to like his own rules better...he is a LOT like his Uncle Keith!
Today we joined our neighbors at the annual Royal Oak Memorial Day parade. The kids love to watch the bands, trucks, and soldiers march down Main Street. We came home and stuffed our bellies with hot dogs and chips!

The Countdown is On!!!

I can not believe I only have 16 1/2 more "wake-ups" until summer vacation! Every year goes by faster and faster. Overall, my year has been a great one! I will miss my students, but am SO EXCITED to have more time with my own kids all summer.

We spent this past weekend with my parents. I had a bridal shower to attend so we trekked up north for some R&R with Grammy and Papa :-) The kids were of course spoiled by the awesome playroom in my parents' basement and I was spoiled by having two more sets of hands (and eyes) keeping up with them! We hated to leave, but are thrilled to be headed north again for Memorial Weekend at my brother's.

Grammy bought the kids new, motorized tooth brushes. They were a HIT! The kids brushed their teeth at least 4 times between dinner and bedtime on Friday night. This picture shows them brushing in the tub...their teeth must be clean after this weekend!

Sloane insisted on having Grammy polish her finger nails after watching Grammy finish her own. Sloane sat so still as each nail was painted. She was so proud and held her hands so delicately while blowing on them afterward.

While Sloane was upstairs getting beautified, Russell was downstairs building log cabins with Papa. It was fun watching him use the same Lincoln Logs that Keith and I once used!

Russell was so cute "reading" books to Sloane. He told her, "Come sit on my lap Sloanie. I will read to you just like Papa."

After a fun evening playing at the park today, we walked home just in time to catch the ice cream truck driving down our street. Russell chose a Spiderman flavor ice and Sloane chose a Dora one. Yum!

Mothers' Day

We have had a wonderful relaxing day at our home. I was a little worried about Sloane when she woke up with a 103 temperature this morning, but between Tylenol and Motrin I think she is pulling through. On the bright side...I woke up to fresh bagels for breakfast, a full vase of roses on the table, and a brand new lap top computer that is ALL MINE!!! Yeah!!! The kids and I had fun playing games on it this morning and I am having a blast getting it all set up. I can't believe I am saying this, but I am actually excited to start typing my thesis!?!? Am I crazy?!?! I spent all day Saturday in Grand Rapids for a grad school researching class. It was actually extremely productive and has me itching to get working. Prior to class, I met up with some old sorority sisters. We had a great time catching up and reminiscing. After class, I raced home just in time for a Cinco De Mayo party at Jorge and Jen's. The kids had a blast! Russell was so tuckered out that he slept until 9:00 this morning! I have no pictures to post today, but wanted to share a poem that was presented at our daycare's annual Mothers' Day Celebration. I also wanted to say HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY to my mom...I love you so much!!! And to my mother-in-law, grandmothers, aunts, and friends!!! Thank you and I love you all!!!

Dear Lord, its such a hectic day,

With little time to stop and pray.

Life's been anything but calm,

since you called me to be a mom.

Running errands, matching socks,

Building dreams with wooden blocks.

Cooking, cleaning, finding shoes,

And other stuff that children lose.

Fitting lids on bottled bugs,

Wiping tears and giving hugs.

A stack of last week's mail to read--

So where's the quiet time I need?

Yet, when I take a moment, Lord,

Just at the sink or ironing board;

To ask the blessing of Your grace,

I see then, in my small one's face;

That you have blessed me all the while,

And I stoop to kiss that precious smile.

A Beautiful Weekend!

I have been stressed lately and overwhelmed with all there is to do at work and home. It is my busy time at work with trying to close up the school year and meet all the goals I have set for myself and my students. I also decided to take on a home bound teaching position in which I go to a child's home and teach after school hours. This particular child is too ill to attend school so I teach him in his home 4 hours a week. I am really enjoying this challenge, but it does mean I am away from my own children that much more. I also just began the last stretch of my Master's degree through GVSU. I began this process way back in 2000, but between moving and having children, grad school was put on the back burner. So...I will be writing my thesis this spring as well as taking an additional class this summer. Beginning June 22nd I will be traveling to Grand Rapids two times a week to attend class. The positive side is that I will see a lot of my old GR pals while there!!! Sooooo...I desperately needed a nice relaxing weekend at home with my family! Friday night we had popcorn and sat around watching our favorite PBS cartoons :-) Saturday we met friends for a picnic at the park. The kids had a ball racing around with their friends and showing off their imaginations, but unfortunately the wind picked up and we were forced to take the picnic back to our house. We didn't want to be catching flying napkins all afternoon. We ended Saturday with a walk to DQ and as Sloane would say, "nummy, nummy, nummy"! Today was absolutely GORGEOUS! We have played outdoors most of the day and Aron grilled up the BEST burgers for dinner! It sounds like most of our weekend revolved around food. Good thing I fit two jogs and a killer yoga session into my weekend! I'm off to take the kids to the park (again) before bath time!

Sloane, Russell, and Antonio playing on the horse wagon. Sloane and Alejandro enjoying the double slide together.

Sloane was cracking me up this morning. She lined up all the sippy cup lids and counted them over and over and over again...