Happy 5TH!

So Griffy is FIVE!! I can't believe it. He had a great birthday and got EVERYTHING he wanted. He's so animated and loves everything, it's really fun to give him gifts. He asked for a Pink Panther birthday at Fun Run, so that's what we did.  He got this spider man mask and glove from his friend Charlie. 

Sully had fun with his cousins also. They spoil him rotten!

He had 2 friends from school come to his party. Pretty cute. Both are little short guys like Griffy so they are equally matched. They had a BLAST!

Here he is opening presents.

Pink Panther cake. I was pretty proud of it. It was hard to cut. He even let me color the cake part pink. B asked him if he liked pink now, he said, "Dad, I like PINK PANTHER." DUH!

Also, there are ZERO pink panther decorations except for baby showers, so I had to create them. You know, PP isn't exactly politically correct with his smoking and all. Luckily the graphics were free on the internet. turned out cute!

Snowpocalypse 2013

So I don't know if you heard, but it snowed here. A lot. Last week it snowed about 14 inches, then another at least 7 this week. I swear if we weren't stuck living here I'd never come back.  I HATE snow. I hate cold. I hate the inconvenience and mess of it all, I hate the kids out of school, I hate driving in it. B has been real nice to me- even getting me ice cream one night. HA. I'm surviving.  BUT, the children LOVE it and they've been in heaven. Since I am now a mother, it is my job to get the hell over it and get out in it and play with my kids. So that's just what I did. I built this snow fort for the kids. They played in it for 5 minutes.

I usually don't let Sully out in it because it's such a pain to get him dressed, it's cold, the mittens don't fit, and it's all around annoying. I usually wait til he's sleeping, but B was home the other day working and Sully was SCREAMING at the window "JACKET! OUTSIDE!" So he got him dressed and ready, so we decided to let him out. He loved it and threw a huge fit when I made him go in. I pushed him down the hill in the sled a few times which he thought was fun.

He walked around in it pretty well, but in the end he wanted "Uppy" too much and he had to go inside.

Griff in his fort.

Sully wanted to play loaders, but baby mittens don't have thumbs in them so he couldn't hold anything.

This was the other day when he was obsessively watching the snow plow. Man this kid loves trucks and loaders.

Grandma Dorothy is in the hospital after having surgery, so I took Mira and Sully up to see her. She read to her. The story is long and for another post, as Grandma is declining at a rapid pace, but the picture is cute.

Grandma Betty turned 89 this week!!! Only 11 more years til 100! She's funny. We went up and had cake and ice cream with her and Mira read to her too. So cute.

That's all for tonight!

Colorado!

We went to Colorado last Thursday to see Mike and Theresa.  We made the decision to leave Sullsie at home so we could take the big kids skiing and not have to worry about him. for whatever reason, it really bothered me to leave him this time. I think I hadn't seen him much that week, he did fine, of course and was spoiled rotten, but I missed him a ton!!

This pic  is of all 3 kids on their tablets in front of the TV the night before we left. Sigh. Spoiled much?

After he skied all day, down some fries and Reese's cups, he was OUT at the lodge.

Skiboy was super tired. He tends to get that way (probably from his lack of fuel to burn).

After falling multiple times and twisting my knee again and again, I decided I much prefer skiing from this view. Miller lite in hand, watching OTHER people fall. My knee is still not quite right.

Here we are as far up as I went. Pretty.

Aren't we cute. I was still having fun at this point.  I enjoyed myself on the kiddie runs. I don't like the lack of control I feel on steep hills when going fast. Finally to end the day I ended up sitting down on my skis and riding them like a sled down the mountain.

Mira in Ski school. They take the kids from about 9-3 and teach them how to ski. Pretty cool. Not for those of you who are cheap. Ha!

Griff. (with the yellow vest on).

Ready!

We went to the Aquarium friday. Look at my man. He's so cute.

Mira climbing the coconut tree. She was really good at it!

The aquarium was FAIR. Not overly cool fish to see, but not terrible. Griff was tired and grouchy so that wasn't fun. I carried his motrin with me, so it was helpful to have on hand. We had a great trip! Now I know since I don't need to ski, that we don't have to leave our Sully every time ;) 

Just stuff

Well time for an update. This last week I started working night shift. It's tough let me tell you. It's stressful as the day approaches. What time will I go to bed the night before? What time will I get up that day? What time will I lay back down to nap and how long will I sleep? Oh geez. I'm hoping to figure all of this out sooner rather than later.  I find that I have a really hard time when it gets close to "bed time" at work and then after about 11:30 passes I tend to do ok. I'm still trying to figure out what to eat when. My body isn't hungry, but it's meal time, right? So we should eat? Well I have been, and then I feel terrible. I'm hoping eventually I'll learn to quit eating.... I have also learned that crunching ice chips in the early morning hours really wakes you up! Ha!

I went to nights to give the kids more consistency. They still have daycare and such but now it's always me after school and we always eat dinner together as a family. I'm hoping it will help lots of things. The lack of consistency was really bothering me and I think it was hurting our kids. In march I will go to weekend nights which will be even better. I assume it's normal to feel as a mother like you are failing constantly. Especially with my strong willed Mira I always feel like I don't give her what she needs. She is constantly defiant and pushing the boundaries. I know I'm not as consistent with punishments and expectations as she needs me to be.  I feel like we never have any time together where things are going well. Everything is always a fight.  This week she actually got in trouble and kicked out of gymnastics class by her teacher. That's the first time she has been challenging for an authority figure other than family. It worries me. I want her to be self assured, but I also want her to be responsible, dependable, honest, smart, capable, and agreeable. I'm not so sure we are always shaping her that way. The only way I could figure to work on all this is just to be present. Every day. Consistently.  So, if I need to work while she sleeps, so be it.

People keep asking me if I can sleep during the day- uh people, I can sleep anytime, anywhere if I'm tired. Seriously. I do find that I don't sleep as long as I'd sometimes like, but whatever.


Valentines day is fast approaching. Mira and I worked on her box last night as her party is Friday. Turned out cute!

I found Griffy's old loader movie. BOY are we obsessed!

The weather has been really nice off and on and sully will stand at the door and scream outside. He is really becoming attached to his sissy too and asks about her all day long. She is good about playing with him and entertaining him for me when I need her to. She can be a really good big sister.

Lastly.....remember when we didn't have a cat? Yeah, that was sad.

Saturday morning with Sullsie

Sullsie is on the move today. He is showing quite a bit of interest in Thomas this week. He historically ignores the tv when it is on. He has shown zero interest in watching anything so I can't even use it as a distraction when cooking or anything. Finally he seems to enjoy watching Thomas some even if just for 5 mins! He is also playing with trains more and more- thank god since we have a million we have another kid who will play with them! I was telling mom when we are home I have to stand up all day because when I sit he is throwing books at me screaming READ! Which of course I love, but sometimes I'd like to just sit!!!

Sheet rock

Well the sheet rock is done in the basement!!! Just the finish work and some paint. The flooring will have to wait awhile, but it is finally at a functional point and we can spend some time down there! Hallelujah!!!!!

Another Griffy post

Ive had 2 days home with my boy this week and I'm enjoying him so much! he Has always been my sweet and easy one who loves to cuddle and spend time with mom. Griffy is growing up up and away from Thomas. It really makes me sad because I was always sure Thomas was good for him to watch and play and I just loved it as much as he did. He still loves trains very very much but just doesn't watch or play Thomas anymore. Today he got a new train from grandma and it prompted him to get out his tracks and play. I love that he isn't sitting on the couch with his kindle or watching Tom and Jerry or scooby (tho those are some of MY fav cartoons too), but using his imagination. I'm going to miss these sweet days with my griff when he goes to school next year!!!