Crazy busy!

We have been going non-stop for the last week!  Brad's parents were in town last weekend for our Gage's and Matt's first communions.  We spent Saturday afternoon at Melissa's house and Will and Ady had a great time!  Will disappeared upstairs to Gage's room right when we arrived.  Gage gave him one of his old hats and Will has worn it non-stop since!  He loves getting the hand-me-downs from his cousins!  It makes him feel like such a big boy.  Then, Saturday night we went to a hibachi grill for dinner after the service (we didn't go, the kids aren't really at the age to sit through a Catholic service).  It was a lot of fun, even though the kids were really tired.  Will ate soup for the first time ever, and really enjoyed watching the guy cook right in front of him.  Ady ate everything, but just kept insisting on getting down from her highchair...she was so tired, she didn't want to sit still!  The kids had a blast and it was an enjoyable dinner.  Then after dinner, we went over to Melissa's agian and just hung out for a little while.

On Sunday, we met the family after Matt's service at Culver's for ice cream and cake.  It was fun and then we took the kids to the park after.  They had a blast running around and showing off for their grandparents and cousins!  Ady would go down the slide and then wait for everyone to clap for her....she would get so excited and go up and then come down again.  They were pooped by the time we left!

We took Bill and Barb to the airport on Monday morning and the kids got to say goodbye to them at the airport....Will of course wanted to get out and see the airplanes and go on one, but had to settle for going over to his cousin's house!  We went and saw April, Aleia and Clara after the airport.  It was really fun to get to snuggle baby girl once again!  Ady even got to see her uncle Casey for a few minutes and that made her day!

Tuesday, April and I took the kids to the zoo.  We had a lot of fun and Clara was such a peach!  She was just happy as a clam most of the time (only fussed when she was hungry and had dirty pants!!).  The kids were exhausted by the time we were done and slept like rocks when we got home!

We have been just on the go and now when the kids get dressed in the morning, Will says to me, "mommy, are we going in the car again?"  I think it is time for some serious relaxing at our house!!

Kids say the darndest things...

Ady is starting to talk in sentences already.  She has amazed us from the beginning with her "skills."  Her words are becoming more clear everyday and she is using them more instead of just screaming.  She still gets frustrated pretty easily especially since she can't quite communicate how she wants.  I feel badly for her and have to remember to be patient with her...she is learning!  Her first real sentence was last Sunday morning and she said, "Daddy, will you go get my blanket, please?"  We were shocked!

So Will has been so funny lately with the questions and things he says.  I was making dinner last night and he came in and said he was mad and that Ady needed a timeout.  I asked him why and he said, "Ady went upstairs and I wasn't done playing chase yet.  She needs a timeout for not playing with me."  I just cracked up...and then had the conversation about why they get timeouts and how she can make her own decisions about playing and that he needs to get used to the idea of her making her own decisions just like he does.  I don't think he got it, but it made for a good story!

Crazy spring time fun!

Yesterday we decided to start our visits to Como Zoo....the kids LOVE LOVE LOVE the zoo and it is the perfect size for them to run around and see all of the animals.  It is a small zoo, but still has their favorite animals....they have an primate building with all kinds of monkeys....the gorillas are my favorite...I could just sit and watch them for hours, they are amazing and fascinating animals.  They love to interacte with the people, especially the children.  One time last year, one of the gorillas was sitting right by the glass and Will was standing their looking at him.  Will hands were on the glass and the gorilla put his hand up on the glass on Will's.....it was awesome!  Yesterday, one of the gorillas was giving a "show" to the people....he was pretending he was sleeping and then he would pop up.  It was funny. 

Will appropriately wore his monkey "packpack" as he calls it...(it is the little monkey that you hook on to little kids and has a tail for a leash).  He has worn it for two days straight.  It is so funny how he gets attached to things.  Lately it has been his Thomas watch and now his backpack (he is still wearing the watch as well!).  When we got home the kids ate lunch and took naps and then since it was so nice outside, we decided to go to the park.  Will was so excited to show all of the kids his backpack....there were a group of about 7-8 boys (probably 10 years old) and he was so proud and showing them his backpack.  The boys were so sweet to him and telling him how awesome it was and giving him high fives.  I wanted to tell them to say thank you to their moms and how proud their moms should be to have raised such sweet boys! 

Ady had a great day yesterday!  She didn't have any meltdowns while we were out and she just loved seeing all of the animals....she finally is old enough this year where she "gets" it.  She even got to walk a little bit out of the stroller and she did an awesome job of listening and staying by me.  She loves the park and we spent most of the time in the swings with me pushing her and she saying, "higher, mommy, higher!!"  She has no fear of anything!  When we got home last night the kids were running around and jumping off of the furniture, of course, and I was watching Ady.  She went dive bombing head first off of the couch and did a headstand for about 3 secs and then fell over on her back.  She got up and screamed in excitement and then tried to do it again.  That girl is too much!!  We are thinking we want to encourage her skills and get her in to gymnastics next fall.  I think she has some real talent...she is so strong and coordinated and doesn't fear anything....I think she would be an awesome gymnist!

We are looking forward to many more zoo trips and park trips this spring and summer!  They are great outlets for my little "monkeys!!"

Umm.....where have I been?

So I just went to Omaha and visited some of the most important women in my life......and I realized that I really want to start blogging again....I have so much that I want to talk about and I need a venue to write down some of the crazy happenings in my everyday life....

Today I went and visited my nieces and my sister-in-law.  It was so wonderful holding baby Clara....it is amazing how much she has changed in the last week!  What a sweet little baby.  And Aleia....she is a spit-fire....how I miss her too!  Never a dull moment with Aleia around!  She and Ady are getting to the age of "mine" and didn't leave a minute of "un-girlyness" today! 

After our short visit my kids and I went to IKEA and did some shopping.....oh how I miss shopping for ME!!  I actually got some new curtains for my bedroom and bathroom....I am ready for a sanctuary to retreat to at the end of the day instead of this crazy dumping ground we have now!  I got new artwork, and some random decorations!  It is crazy how changing small things like curtains have such an effect on everyone's mood! 

Will and Ady did so great at the store today!!  I was so proud of them....they were troopers....no meltdowns, no whining, and no fighting!  It was an enjoyable experience for everyone! 

Favorite quote of the day:  "Mommy, does Ady have a weiner?"