my little buddy

Last night, the girls spent the night with Gramma and Poppa…so I was left with an evening alone with this little fella.  We rarely get alone time together and it was nice to slow down and really enjoy him for a few hours.

First- we attempted to take a walk around he neighborhood… but I guess he wasn't feeling it because we never made it past 2 houses and he'd always go back to our front door.  

We spent about 5 more minutes on our front porch with me holding him and him pushing the doorbell over and over again.  ;)  It's the little things, isn't it?

Then I asked him if he wanted to go play with the sand and he ran to the door.

So I pulled out my big camera for just him.

He's so sweet.  And he kept trying to 'fill' this cup up…even though it was already full.

We spent 45 minutes in the sand!
Then came inside for dinner.

Then I decided that my kitchen floors were loooong overdue for a good steam cleaning.  He's my little helper and so I thought I'd let him 'help' until he got tired and then I'd really clean the floor.
Well….he probably did this for a full 10 minutes...

He was really into it….

And if he got tired…he'd just lean against the cabinets or sit down on the floor.  :)

Then bath time!

We usually bathe all the kids together….so this was his face when he figured out he could sprawl out.  I know he misses his sisters….but he sure did love this one-on-one attention…and the fact that he didn't have to share any toys or the bubbles!

I just love my little buddy and so thankful for this time with just him.

weekend.

This weekend, Geoff went to the deer lease with my dad….so the kids and I had some good ole quality time together.  He left Friday morning, and we finished up a little school shortly after.  We had lunch and then headed to a nearby park.  The weather the past few days has just been beautiful.  Parker was able to ride her bike as I pushed Grace and Nolan in the stroller (Grace also has a bike, but would much rather sit in the stroller and be pushed.  Sometimes I make her, but other times, it's just not worth the argument.  :)  Then eventually made our way to the little playground.

So big riding her bike without training wheels (this happened a couple of weeks ago, but I'm, of course, behind on posting it here).

Sweet Grace.

We came home and put Nolan down for a nap.  The girls watched a show and then ended up outside on the trampoline.  And with a little static!

For the past few days we've had the windows open all day long, and when the kids are playing outside, the back door is open, as well.  We have all been loving this weather.  One night, the girls turned their chairs around to eat dinner with an outside view.  Ha!

Saturday morning was slow.  And good.  The girls wanted to draw and color…so I pulled out a piece of paper for Nolan.  He thought he was so cool.  This picture makes me so happy.  Sometimes I just still can't believe we have 3.  And they are healthy and we are so very blessed.

After lunch we played in the back yard for a bit, then headed to the school playground up the street for a little extra playtime (I'm trying to wear these kids out for an easy bedtime, y'all!).  Then a quick trip to Sonic for Happy Hour.  And back home for nap/quiet time.  Then dinner, baths, and movie night!  For some extra fun, I blew up our queen air mattress, and brought out the popcorn popper.  We popped away.  And seasoned and salted to our hearts' desires.  And it was so good! They also got to pick 3 pieces of candy out of their Halloween candy.  We watched the My Little Pony Rainbow Rocks movie and called it a night.  They were all in bed a little later than planned, but it was a nice ending to a really good 'ordinary' day.

Sunday morning…we ran about 15 minutes late to church.  No matter how early I get, up it's hard getting out the door on time.  This morning, I will say it wasn't my fault, but someone had to go the bathroom.  But I still got the picture!!

After church, we picked up lunch.  Nolan went down for his nap shortly after and slept for over 3 hours!!  This bub was so tired.  I was making all kinds of noises, opening blinds, taking pictures.  He didn't move.  

The girls watched a movie (while I snuck in about an hour nap…with a couple of interruptions, no less, for important things like... if they could have candy or a snack….yes…less than one hour after we had eaten lunch!!!)  But I did feel a little more rested.  The girls played outside for the rest of the afternoon and I spent most of my time in the kitchen and picking up a bit before Geoff returned.

We're glad he was able to get away for the weekend for some hunting and 'guy time'….but we sure are glad he's back!

Sunday

sundays used to sort of drag by for me for some reason.  but finally…over the past couple weeks…we've really gotten into a groove.  and i actually look forward to our low-key Sundays.

i usually do easy breakfasts on Sundays to help in getting us out the door on time close to on-time for church.  this morning i got up at 6:30 and was almost completely ready for the day by the time Parker came in there at 7:45.  i just really enjoyed taking my time….leisurely putting on my make-up….taking my time to blow dry my hair…just enjoyed some time for me.

my step-sister, Aubrey, posted a picture of her cinnamon roll waffles a few weeks ago and I haven't really been able to get them out of my head.  so i tried them this morning.

so so good!!  i don't think i'll ever make them in the oven again.  

what i like about them: 

-they cook more evenly than in the oven resulting in a super soft roll all around.

-those little grooves hold in all that delicious icing and very little drips onto the plate.  yum!

i didn't get a before picture of church (even though they all looked so cute…and Nolan even got a new pair of shoes that he looks adorable in) because a) i just wanted to give them a break from me taking their picture, and b) even though at one point in my morning i was way ahead schedule….we still left 4 minutes before Sunday school was supposed to start.  luckily we go to church 5 minutes away.  ;)  awww….  such is life.

we had a great morning at church.  picked up happy meals for the the girls and myself….and Nolan had just whatever i could find at the house.  i usually pick up lunch on Sundays because…it's just easier.  i won't go into my myriad of reasonings.

Nolan usually misses a morning nap and so he goes down for his afternoon nap a little early around 1:30-2:00.  then it's movie time for me and the girls.  and for the past couple of weeks…i've been trying to 'rest my eyes' during the movie and have squeezed in about an hour nap.  glorious!  (maybe that's why i'm really starting to love this day?)

this doesn't happen every Sunday…but today, the girls and I made sugar cookies for dessert for dinner. (they did help, but i didn't take pictures.  yay for just enjoying the moment!)

we were able to get the first batch of cookies into the oven before we went to get Nolan (he had been awake for a bit, but was content, so i got a few more things accomplished before getting him).  and i actually sent Parker to get him (which she loves, and i rarely do).

a snack of blueberries and milk while i get dinner started.

this boy is so good…and will play by himself or the girls almost always.  but Sundays he's a little more clingy after having gone to church, missing a nap, and just putting a bump in his schedule.  so he's on my leg quite a bit.  and i honestly don't mind the extra attention from him.  :)

we pretty much keep the tv on playing movies the rest of the afternoon.  and while i usually feel guilty about this.  today i didn't.

the boy 'helped' me empty the dishwasher.

and i got so tickled to see him take the little plates out, and because he knows they go somewhere….he took them to the table.

and even though the tv is on most of the afternoon…the girls usually get tired of it and move on to playing, regardless.  and today was the first in a long time that they played with the kitchen (of course they would, as i am seriously contemplating getting rid of it)

i totally meant to take a picture of dinner.  the girls pretty much don't want to eat a thing but fast food…and this week….this week i mean business.  they will eat what is put on their plate.  period.  (i talk so big.)

tonight we had tacos.  Grace loved them and ate 2.  Parker 'doesn't like' tacos anymore, but ate half without complaining and so i was very happy with that.  

and then there was this.  a clean dishwasher that needed to be unloaded.  and all the repercussions of cookie and dinner making.  (somehow, i literally spent 3 hours in the kitchen….from 3:45 to 6:45.  i sat down to eat for 15 minutes tops.  my feet hurt!!!)

my house can be a cluttered mess most of the time (because, well, i have 3 small children)….but to have my kitchen all picked up, put up, & cleaned up..…well it's just the yang to the yin that is the rest of the house.  and i can tolerate it most of the time.  :)

and this picture illustrates some of the clean laundry i need to fold and put away.  and how i had the best of intentions of doing today.  but will obligingly wait until tomorrow.

today.

I still have another post I will eventually (hopefully tomorrow) write about Grace's last days in the hospital….but I've sort of been in a funk since getting home.  Geoff worked today- and while it would have been easy to stay in my t-shirt and stretchy pants…I decided to throw on some clothes that didn't have an elastic waste band, put on a little make-up for the first time in over a week…and take my brood to Wal-Mart.  And if they were good- a sno-cone surprise afterwards.

But before Nolan woke up from his morning nap…I got up in the attic and got down this desk that my papaw had made me when I was little.  The girls have started to really get into playing 'school' and I thought they might like it.  And they love it.  I just wish I had 2!

**SO funny!  I just wanted to take a couple pictures of the girls playing and I didn't ask them to look at me or smile…but Nolan saw me with with the camera and decide to 'cheese!" all on his own.  Haha!  Love him!**

Turns out….they were so good at Wal-Mart with no whining or asking over and over for different things….and so I surprised them with a sno-cone.  

I didn't get one for Nolan…but he had lots of fun playing with the dirt and mulch.  (And Parker also shared some of hers with him when she was done.)

While in the Wal-Mart check out line (I chose the wrong one!)…there's this little side aisle with all of this "As Seen on TV" stuff…and the girls saw this "Hot Huez" hair color (it's just chalk…and while messy…not what I thought it was and would do again)…and I was a pushover and got it for them.  It was fun and made their day, I think.

Just trying to get back into the swing of things…I thought I'd make dinner…and even dessert.  After his afternoon nap- Nolan was being a little extra clingy and needed me to hold him…so I did.  And without complaint on my part.  I just embraced it.  Embraced this season of him needing/wanting me to hold him.  Of the girls playing loudly together making circles through the kitchen, living room, and dining room with their Little Tike cars and screaming and laughing one minute.  And crying the next.  These are the days.

The girls helped make the brownies.

Dinner!  Stuffed bell peppers.  They were actually pretty good!

While at Wal-Mart….I got the girls a dry-erase board to hang on the wall in their room.  There's this corner in there now that needs to be filled/decorated since I did some rearranging- and I was going to make it a 'dress-up' corner, thinking that if I brought out their dress-up clothes into plain view then they'd maybe play with them more.  But what they are into…is playing school (as mentioned earlier)….so now I'm going to make that corner their classroom.  It's like…how are we already past the dress-up/play house/play kitchen stage?  I mean…not completely, but those days are numbered.  And I can't believe it.  I digress…..  Anyways……Parker put this on the board….

And I'd have to agree.  

I love my family, too.