Saturday - Part II

I'm waiting on Daddy and Marie to get home from the game. He's called several times and even once during the game. Astros lost the game in the bottom of the ninth inning but all-in-all it was a good game. I know that they had a great time; good quality Daddy and Daughter time which they needed. Katie has been at the side window at the front more than she's been playing today. She really has missed her big sissy Ree Ree! I don't think the boys have really noticed; they've been the normal playing hard, pooping up a storm, selves all day. I've really missed my little helper. She needed some one-on-one time with one of us and the others needed some time away from all the fighting. There wasn't much fussing today; other than the normal he's/she's taking my toys that goes on all the time.

Miss Katie "I'm afraid of the dark!" requested to be carried to her room and put to bed with a movie. I tucked her in the bed, put a pillow and blanket on the floor for Ryan, threw Dora on the DVD player and turned off the light. So far, Ryan has come out for some bananas and a baa baa but no screaming from Katie and no getting out of bed. It's early yet for that; if she isn't asleep by the time Dora is finished playing then I can pretty well guarantee that she will be coming out for a snuggle by then. Now if I can just get the boys to settle down for the night I just may get to bed by 1:00 tonight. Wish me luck!!

Saturday update

Today is the day that Marie and Curtis go see the Astros play the Rays in Tampa. I think she figured out yesterday that she was going because she and Katie were up before 5:00 a.m. this morning. She claims Katie was afraid of the dark and crying but..... The light from the television woke Logan up so he came in to snuggle/kick me around 5:00. The only one who got to sleep in today was Ryan. Lucky little guy!

The good thing about everyone waking up so early was that Katie and Logan both fell asleep for about an hour this afternoon. Kind of nice to have two of the three at home sleeping and quiet for a little while. I couldn't get Ryan to take a nap until a few minutes ago. He wanted to snuggle so he climbed up into my lap and quickly fell asleep. Of course, the other two have been awake for about an hour or so now. Oh well, I've had my coffee and I can stay awake with them later tonight.

Marie and Curtis got off a few minutes earlier than planned but the weather was looking really nasty so I'm glad they got a head start. Of course, they did leave a couple of things at home. One thing being the directions on how to get to Trpicana Field. It's okay as I was able to give him the few instructions he needed over the phone. I'm sure you've run into the same thing; you get directions off the internet from MSN Maps or Mapquest and the directions aren't quite what they should be. You always have to take into consideration that there may be construction going on wherever you are traveling. They are going to have a great time!

It's Tuesday.... when does school start back again?!?!

It's the second full week of summer and already I'm counting the days until school starts. The kids are always bored and never have enough toys to keep their attention. Hmmm if you could see their playroom I doubt you would believe it either. Marie is always bored and wanting to do something else. Today we started out with therapy for Ryan and we played outside the whole time. She brought over the cutest little doggy sprinkler that she bought at Cracker Barrel. (Think I may have hubby stop in to their place in Ormond to check it out!) The kids had such a ball with that. Okay, everyone but Logan enjoyed the sprinkler. He didn't want to get near it and hung out at the swingset up on the perch where he could watch everything without getting wet.

After they played with the sprinkler we got the slip-n-slide out and they all loved playing on it. Logan finally came down off his perch and would walk on it. Marie had been sliding down the slide and slipping over the end of the slip-n-slide. After she gave that up and started playing with the sit-n-spin Logan decided he wanted to slide down and across the water. He really had fun with that and would giggle and grin the whole time. I stuck the hose to the sit-n-spin so Marie could play with Ryan and Katie. Katie still isn't into that as the water is too intense for her but Ryan loved it and even wanted to do it by himself. Too cute! After two hours in the hot mid day sun we gave up and went in for some lunch. They have been eating non-stop since we got everyone changed and dry!

I'd say that the morning festivities were a hit with all of them; now if I can get them calmed and quiet for the afternoon movie that will make for an almost perfect day. How could it be perfect you ask? We'd have Daddy home and playing right along with us! Speaking of Daddy, he plans on taking Marie and going to an Astros game in Tampa this weekend. We haven't told her the plans because we want her to be surprised. I'm so excited for them; wish I could go too but I don't think the other kids would enjoy it as much. Maybe in a couple of years, when the kids can sit still for more than one minute at a time and if the Astros come back this way!

It's Monday!

Things are somewhat calmer around here this week. Or at least I like to think they are; at least school is out for the summer! Katie fell asleep in my arms yesterday for about an hour in the early evening and I fell asleep right along with her. I must have had some kind of premonition because I made myself a small pot of coffee around 6:00 last night while making dinner. At 11:30 Ms. Katie was still awake and very whiney so I put her in a nice warm bubble bath for about 20 minutes. Everyone else except for Ryan and Daddy had been asleep already so we had to be very quiet and that's almost impossible when you give a three year old a bath. Somehow we were able to keep things quiet so that even Daddy and Ryan could go to sleep.

After her nice bubble bath I had to go in their room and put on a Dora movie so she could slowly relax and fall asleep. I decided to go ahead and sit on the floor next to her bed and read for a little while. Right about the time by bottom was getting numb, I looked over and thankfully she was sound asleep with mouth wide open! Off went the light and television, on went the flashlight so I didn't kill myself getting to my room. It was 12:35 and it took me a while to fall asleep. It seemed like just a few minutes passed but it was closer to 4 hours when Logan came in to join us. Up onto the bed, taking my spot the little stinker and just as I was thinking I should give up and go out to the living room Ryan woke up. Poor little guy was having a tough time with his stuffed up nose so we went out the recliner for a while. I gave up trying to get him to go back to bed and made a bottle around 6:00 and just lay down on the other end of the couch and put on cartoons for him.

Katie came out to join us around 7:00 just about the time I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I did get to cat nap for a little while in between screaming and fighting over toys. Marie started playing with those balloons that are attached to the long rubber bands that you kind of punch and they bounce back and forth. Those things are soooooo loud when you are exhausted! Ann and Charlie have officially become our newest set of grandparents. They brought them each one when they came to babysit on Saturday night. It reminds me of the time my Mom purchased a very loud and obnoxious toy for my oldest brother's son. I believe Cory was maybe three at the time or maybe it was for Blake. All I know is that started my other brother thinking and the war of the obnoxious toys began! Lord those battles are always fun aren't they???!!!

Someone remind me to tell the story about the water pistol fight between the ADULT children a couple of years ago. Now that was funny!

I hate mornings like this....

No time for a shower because I woke up later. Hmm, could it be because I went to bed only to wake up two hours later by Logan who was upset and wanted some company. I did try to get comfortable on the other end of the couch and just go to sleep but he wasn't having any of that. He wasn't into sharing any leg room so I had to grab a book and read for about an hour before he finally settled down for the rest of the night. Of course it took a little longer to fall asleep so I'm sure I nodded off after 2:30 or so give or take 30 minutes.

Once I was up and getting lunches/breakfast ready; Logan decided he wanted to watch a Barney DVD. The only problem was he threw the actual DVD behind the entertainment center last night. That thing isn't easy to move so I said forget it. In the fit that ensued from that the DVD holder ended up behind the couch (believe that was my fault but not 100% sure) so when I went to look behind the couch for it I saw all the cookies and crumbs that he had thrown back there. He threw the toy box over because I refused to get the DVD or DVD holder right then and there so I picked up all the toys put them back into the toy box only to have him do it again. I know I'm PMS'ing because that brought me to tears and I tried my best to hold on to my temper. Most times stuff like that causes irritation but not quite that much. Marie started in at that point by trying to take something to school that she was told no about yesterday. Another battle popped up faster than a brush fire in the middle of August. She couldn't find the other gift for her best friend's birthday so she was very grumpy too.

I was able to get those two calm and on the bus although Marie was still not a happy camper. I've gone through the playroom; moved the couch out and vacuumed, moved the entertainment center over so Logan can't throw every toy and DVD behind it anymore and still no little gift wrapped package. I did go in her room and attempted to look through everything but when I found the newly washed clothes thrown in the corner with her pencils etc I thought it best to get out of Dodge before I blew a gasket. I've cleaned up the entry way and no sign of that gift package. It's small; just a sample cross stitch pattern and materials I received from DMC in their mentor program. Marie did her class project last week on how to cross stitch so I thought it would be a nice gift for her friend who was interested in learning about it. Hopefully, we will find the gift today as tomorrow is the last day of school for the year. This afternoon Marie and I will be cleaning her room together and looking for that gift as well as sitting down to make nice cards for their teachers for tomorrow.

If all else fails, I will give her the other kit I received for her friend and we will keep looking over the summer. It should be easy to find as she wrapped it in Christmas paper but we may never find it until we move someday (NOT in the near future; more like when Ryan graduates from high school!)

The only good thing about the way this morning started is that it's not Monday and it's not quite summer vacation yet. (that starts tomorrow at 12:15 when school lets out; for me it's when they get off the bus about an hour later) Katie and Ryan both woke up in a good mood so that turned this crappy morning into a pretty good one.

Okay, the kids will be home in about two hours so I'm going to go enjoy some peace and quiet (or as much as Katie and Ryan will allow me to have) before I jump into more cleaning and then laundry. Coffee and chocolate HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!