Dr. Seuss Storytime

We've discovered that there are storytimes at Auntie's Bookstore. Since the boys are rightly jealous of the girls' weekly attendance at the library storytime, this is a good way to have some quality time. This week the theme was Dr. Seuss. Our favorite story reader, Auntie Violet, dressed up in her Dr. Seuss garb. The girls dressed up for the occasion as well. It's an hour long storytime, so it's a little bit hard for the girls, but the boys do great! And really seem to enjoy it!

After said storytime (in an unusually busy day) we met Auntie Kim (Ba) and Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Larry for lunch. (Daddy was at Guard this weekend). Look at my cute bunch!

Then Thomas and Joshua got some "big kid" time and went to a free Kid's concert with the grandparents and Auntie.

Phew! What a day! Thanks to everyone who helped!

Chuck E Cheese

Chuck E Cheese. Most parents say it with dread. A groan in their voice, a roll of the eyes. We say it with glee. We love Chuck E Cheese (in moderation)! It's an enclosed environment. They are occupied with games and therefore stay out of trouble. And everyone is worn out in the end. We love it! Plus, we like playing the games too!

It's a popular jaunt for birthday parties the last couple years so I've developed a little bit of a method to the madness. 1) I have a couple games that I can quickly amass several hundred tickets from. This means we generally experience CEC with about 400 tickets. 2) I use coupons. We don't generally buy food there because we are there for a birthday party. But we'll buy a drink and I'll use several coupons for free tokens with a purchase. 3) When we check out and use our tickets, I allow each child 1-2 picks and then get a voucher for the rest. That way we just build up our stash of tickets for something good instead of some junk I have to throw away at the earliest opportunity.

We finally saved up 2400 tickets tonight and got the one thing we've been waiting to get..

A CEC pinata, pre-filled with tickets (which I will be trying to snag out of there if possible) and candy. Sweet! The boys are so excited to have friends over to do a pinata!

Twinkle Twinkle Little STAR!

You know those small moments? Those moments that really shake your world? Those moments that you see through the eyes of a child and see that joy.

It happened last night. We took a late night walk to FROYO (frozen yogurt). The girls in the wagon, the boys in the jogger. As we were walking back I could hear Molly singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and staring into the sky. I stopped walking, knelt down beside her and sang with her. Then I attempted to show her that those twinkling lights in the sky were indeed stars. Real stars. There was a pause and then a huge moment where that connection took place. You could see it. Her furrowed thoughtful brow turned to a total expression of awe. Magical people. It was magical.

"Star! Star!" Then we sang again. Then she pointed, "Star! Star!"

I didn't even want to start walking again. I wanted to sit in that little spot on the side of the road and look at the stars with her all night long. Those moments, those special moments, they mean everything. And with all four of them they are happening all the time right now. I'm so thankful.

Joshua the Hero

Our weekly trip to McDonald's was a bit more stressful this week. We go once a week with grandpa Bob (and usually grandma Patti). It's routine. But on this particular day, the play area was a zoo. If I was by myself, I would've walked right back out and found somewhere else. But with extra hands and the knowledge that the kids are really comfortable there, we continued to a table and set out to enjoy lunch. My lunch is stopped by the screaming of a child easily identified as Molly. I start to search for her screams. I find her up in a hexagonal part of the structure. She is attempting to get to the slide but blocked by two big(ger) boys. What happens next makes my jaw drop. They surround her and push her back into a corner and begin screaming in her face. She struggles, trying to get away, whilst my blood pressure soars. I attempt to yell at Molly to use her words, I tell her to move, I tell her to let those naughty little boys know she doesn't like it. My passive-aggressive attempt to get those little boys' parents involved fails.

Plan B. I call over Joshua. I point out Molly. I instruct him to get to her as soon as possible. And to save her from these mean boys. He hauls butt up the structure and gets to her in no time (with mass food in mouth as I have interrupted his lunch). I tell him to tell those boys she doesn't like it (they won't let him get to her). No go. I then tell him to shove his way in, grab her, and drag her back through the tubes with him. The good little boy that Joshua is, follows my instructions to the very last word. He shoves his way in, and literally drags her through the netting and tubes to a place where I can help. Those naughty little boys though, follow him and continue to yell in Molly's face as she's drug through the structure to safety.

I then lose my cool and begin telling (loudly) those little boys that a) she doesn't like it, b) they better stop and c) I will come up there myself if they do not stop. Luckily I must've scared them (and I should because my fangs were out!) and they backed off.

But my heart was racing and I was about to go off my rocker. I never did discover who the parents were. I packed up fairly quickly and left out of frustration and knowing that I might really lose my cool if it were to happen again.

But I cannot tell you how proud I was of unconfrontational Joshua. He really stepped up to the plate. To be fair, both boys will save/protect/help their sisters when asked or when needed. But this was a time where there wasn't a lot of explaining, he listened and helped. Thank you Joshua.

Puddle Jumping

Thomas had skate class tonight. It worked out that Dan was able to take Thomas and really focus on him while I stayed home with the other three. We took the opportunity to go for a puddle jumping walk. It was dark outside so we just took a quick jaunt around the block. The kids had a blast!

Yoga

We've recently reintroduced yoga to the household. And I don't mean for the adults. Right before bedtime Joshua will ask for it. And he usually has a partner. It's soooooo cute!

Halloween in March

The littler personalities are shining through right now. So much fun! The girls decided that instead of coats they wanted to wear Halloween costume tops to the boys' speech class. It was ADORABLE! The last picture has that darn foggy spot. Augh! It was raining! The girls were actually crying because our  neighbor was moving the van and they thought instead he was stealing the van. Good times. :)

Yes, I realize Molly is wearing two different shoes. It's just the way she rolls. :)