"Mom, come in here quick!  We're just two floating heads!"

 



Whoa.

 

I got to go to my first Cub Scout Blue & Gold Banquet tonight and get a glimpse of what my future holds.

Holy cow.  Am I ready for all that comes with scouts? 

I have three sons.  THREE! 

 Right in a row. 

I think I'm destined to be a den leader...for at least a decade.

 

 

 

 

I took Sam with me so that he could get a glimpse, too.

 

He was in heaven.  Pure heaven.

 



 

 

 

 

Three days of no naps meant that Jake crashed on my lap this afternoon at 4:00 pm.

4 o'clock is usually a crazy time of day, but today it felt good to just snuggle Jake.

 



Today was beautiful!  Blue sky, sunny, and warmish.  To make it even better, Eric was post call and actually got home early.  We felt the need to rush out the door and soak up the day. 

 

 The zoo sounded just perfect.  So we gathered our things and headed downtown; only to get to the zoo and realize that it isn't open on Mondays during the winter.

 

Strike one.

 

The Children's Museum was our next option, but luckily before we drove all the way there I remembered that it isn't open on Mondays during the winter either.

 

Strike two!

 

So, we decided to just get out of the car and wander.

We couldn't waste this sunshine!

 

We ended up at the state capitol building and took a little self-guided tour.

The boys actually really liked it.

The building was bustling with action and is quite pretty.

 

We probably won't run back for another visit, but hey, it was an adventure of sorts.

 

 

Downtown Indy is a busy place this week.

The NFL combine is going on here and supposedly there are big wig football people all over the place.

To continue our adventurous afternoon, we were riding up and down the mall escalators with the boys when we practically ran into these guys:

 



 

I knew they looked familiar and Eric was quick to identify them as Rex and Rob Ryan; two big wig football people.  Kind of fun.

 

To end our downtown adventure we got to eat dinner with Andy Speyer.  Andy is married to my cousin, Lynette, and is a scout for the Philadelphia Eagles. 

It was fun to catch up and hear a little more about the combine.  I just wish that Lynette could have joined us!

 



 

"Who wants to go to the trail and throw rocks?"

 

I got three resounding "MEEEEE's!!"

 

My boys are so easy to please.

 

 

 

This afternoon was a good one.  I thoroughly enjoyed my boys.  Not that I don't enjoy them other days, but today was just good. 

We talked.  I felt like I had more time to listen. 

We laughed.  Hard.

It was just refreshing and just fun.

These three guys have my heart.  I love them so much.

 

 



 

So, not the best picture, but maybe our photographer was going for artistic?

 

 

Despite the bad photo, tonight was great.

We headed downtown with some of our friends, Megan and Mike.

Thai food and a stroll around the mall made for a fun Saturday night!

 

Again, I heart date night.

 

You know you're old when painting your bathroom on a Friday night actually sounds fun!

Our house at 4:06 pm

 A little homework for Sam.

A little skeleton drawing for Max.

 

A little peekaboo for Jake.

Along with a little chocolate chip begging.

 

And me laughing at two of the 6 half-eaten apples that I found on the counter today.

(All courtesy of Max)

Who knew that swimsuits in the bath tub would be such a hit?

These guys 'swam' for nearly an hour tonight.

 

 

We are all itching for summertime over here.

I think I am happiest when I can wear my flip flops.

Book Club

 

I remember my mom going to her book club every month while I was growing up.  I knew it was a night she looked forward to and a night where she would get home long after I was in bed. 

 

But what I didn't understand was how going to a place just to talk about a book could be considered fun.

 

But oh how I understand that now.

 

Book club was a highlight for me in Toledo.  I loved going and still miss the fun girls and nights we had together talking (or not!!) about the book.

 

And I love book club here.  I love the excuse to spend an evening with friends and always come away refreshed. 

 

Yes, book club is a must; especially when you're a mom.

 

 

Tonight we met at my house and discussed Killing Lincoln. 

 

Have you read it?

Any book club suggestions for me?

 

 

 



The boys were a little unruly at dinner tonight.

Lots of tears.  Lots of prodding them to eat and keep their hands to themselves.

 

I leaned over to Eric and jokingly said that one day we'll miss noisy, crazy dinners like tonight's.

 

 

 

Then we had a little Family Home Evening.  We snuggled on the couch and watched a few of our favorite church video clips and I felt emotional. 

One day I will miss nights like tonight.  Nights where I can hold my boys on my lap and share a blanket.  Nights where they want to hold my hand and be held close.

 

I love nights just like tonight.

I am so blessed.

Bedtime.

 

Max lost the race up the stairs to bed and kept telling us he was angry.

It shows.

 

We're a bit competitive over here.

I'd say that competitive edge is all from Eric, but that wouldn't be completely honest.

 

I hate to lose, too, Max.

Date Night

When you are married to a resident squeezing in a date here and there can be a tricky thing.

Finding the time, plus the extra cash for a sitter, is no easy task.

Luckily, we have friends in similar situations who are willing to swap kids and make date nights both more affordable and regular.

 

We hosted date night at our house tonight.

3 families.

11 kids.

3-4 hours of craziness.

 

Everyone has a buddy and plays really well.

It's fun and my boys look forward to date nights almost more than we do!

 

 

And I'm good with 3 kids for awhile.

Just sayin'.

 

 

It's been a pajama kind of day around here.

Jake is still a bit under the weather, so we just took it easy.

I like slow days like this once in a while.

It felt good to catch our breath for a minute.

 



Happy Valentine's Day!

Spending time in Sam's kindergarten class is one of my favorite things.

I love watching him interact with his teacher and his peers.

He is so sweet and takes school seriously.

I have to laugh too because he's a bit of brown-noser...just like, um, me.

 

Today, Max and I got to help with Sam's Valentine party.  Max was thrilled to get to be a kindergartner for an hour or so.  Sam made sure to go over the classroom rules with Max before school this morning and had Max practice sitting 'criss-cross-applesauce' and raising his hand at the same time.  Max was an enthusiastic listener. 

 

Miss Arnold let Max sit at Sam's table and gave him all of the same papers and assignments that the others kids were given.  Max was on cloud nine.

 

One of their assignments was to write a valentine note to someone special.  These cute kindergarten kids worked hard on their notes, drawing hearts, and writing things like " you are so nis" to their special Valentines.  My heart melted though when several of these cute kids walked up to Max and delivered their notes to him.  He was their special Valentine that morning.

 

I've never seen Max smile so big.

He felt so cool.

 

I was reminded (again!) of how amazing little children are...how they love everyone and reach out to new people.  I was touched with their thoughtfulness today and grateful for the lesson they taught me.

 

I think the saying 'all I really need to know I learned in kindergarten' says it all.

I love kindergarten.

 

 

 

 

I love all my boys.

I love what I learn from watching them.

They are happy, fun, smart, forgiving, and patient.

My heart is full.

 

I could not get Jake to smile for the world this afternoon.

Turns out he wasn't feeling so hot. He threw up twice tonight while my sweet friend was babysitting him.

 

Good timing, Jake.

 



 Max had a little talent show at preschool this morning.

He showed off a few skeleton drawings and some of his nicest name writing abilities.

He was so proud of himself.

And I was proud of him, too.

 

 

And after today he has a new talent to add to his repertoire:

haircutting.

 

Yep, he cut a good chunk of his own hair right off the top of his head this afternoon.

 

What was he thinking?!

 

 

 

 



Frosting, sprinkles, candy hearts, ninjas and pirates made for the perfect Valentine-y afternoon at our house.

This is how Sam chokes down dinner or parts of it lately.

 

 

He is good about clearing his whole plate; even if it means gagging and trying his best to not actually taste most of it.

 

Kids do anything for dessert.