Hello Spring!

Mommy was away for work so Daddy and the kids were on their own...McDonald's and hot dogs were consumed (Mommy does not like those options so the kids only get it when Mommy is gone :) All is well with A^4. We are all happy and healthy and for that we are thankful!  The weather was great over the weekend so we made sure to play outside in the spring weather!!

Monday night resulted in three "turtles" sitting on a "log" (pillow :)


Mason enjoying the quiet time before the kids go crazy again!


Mommy was away for work and the meeting reception was held at a local museum and we got to ride the merry go round!!!  Mommy's colleague Deborah having a great time!


A fantastic whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling!



On Saturday, we went for a walk in the orchard because we had to check out the creek!


The water was pretty high and moving fast!


We got the bikes out of the basement and Addie requested to have her training wheels removed!!


Grandpa Chuck and Pama came over for a visit!  Daddy made lasagna (a request from Addie :) and we had garlic Tuscan bread...yum!

Pama played tons of games with the kiddos!
Honey Bee Tree,




Candy Land,


and Dolls!


We showed Grandpa and Pama the cool Ivory soup science experiment :)


Mason wanted to be a scarf on Mommy Saturday night.


On Sunday we checked out a new (to us) walking path.  Addie got a little more practice in and Ayson rode his bike on the entire walk!




Ayson had a few hills he had to navigate down :)  He did a great job and did not "crash and burn" OR ride into a ditch or a pond!




We then headed over to the Big Park so that Ayson could ride his bike and the kids could play.


Back porch fun while Mommy folded clothes.


School work:
Love this note (with macaroni commas) from Ayson!  Ruby is a girl from his class (we checked, Grandma Collene :)








The kids conducted an experiment in class.


Mrs Zehner took a photo of the kids watching and waiting for the results :)






Great picture, Baby Doll!

Science Experiments, Ice Skating, and Neighbor Denise Came Over to Play!

A^4 is thankful that we are all happy and healthy and we wish the same for all of our family and friends! We had a "hands on" activity week with the kiddos and then a fun weekend of ice skating and a lunch date for Mommy and Daddy!

More Gross Science Lab experiments! Instead of the traditional volcano project, we used a little toilet with baking soda and vinegar (food coloring to make a gross color) to make an "emergency" (hence the toilet in a baking dish ;)


By Wednesday, the egg shells had disintegrated!  All that was containing the raw egg was the eggshell membrane...too cool!


We could sort of see through the egg!  Of course we then had to make the eggs go "splat" out on the front lawn:)


On Friday Mommy got the kiddos into their jammies early (we were all in bed by 8:30...yes!  Still part of the kids punishment from last Friday but Mommy and Daddy's reward...lol!)
Friday night fun with Sand art!


and legos:)  We have been telling Ayson that he NEEDS to wiggle the front tooth so that he can pull it out!. That front tooth is sticking out at such a crazy angle....


Look, a Clemson Tiger paw in the jello:)


Ayson chose a Rubik's Cube as his reading prize on Friday and Daddy would NOT put the toy down until he solved it Saturday morning :)


On Saturday, A^4 went to an ice skating Birthday party for Emmett (Emmett is a neighborhood friend of the kids and he attended their party 2 weeks ago :)
Addie's 2nd time ever on skates and after a little help from Mommy, she was doing great on her own:) Yes, she would still fall but she would get right back up and believe it or not, there were NO tears!




Addie on her own


Ayson had a blast playing with his friends






Addie's homework for the upcoming week!  Addie will be the class leader!!!




Addie working on her poster:
Her favorite foods (in order): ice cream, fish sticks, and spaghetti :) :)


A jello mold of a brain (a real human brain (the cerebrum and not the cerebellum or brain stem)) was used to make the cast!


An experiment on electrical impulses


Addie finishing up her poster :)


On Sunday, our fabulous neighbor, Denise, offered to watch the kiddos for us so that Mommy and Daddy could go to lunch and then for a hike!  We checked out a new Indian restaurant and then went for a walk at Clark Reservation State Park!  Denise and the kiddos played tons of games, built forts, and just wore each other out!  Thanks so much, Denise!!!

Focus on the Now

In an effort to move past the "Character Building" from Friday, Mommy purposely separated Addie's Birthday celebrations from the post and planned to post again soon after and not dwell on the incident but to share and learn from it (just processing my thoughts for the post helped immensely! ;).

On Sunday, the kiddos wanted to do another "Gross Science Lab" but we ran out of time so we four made sure to conduct two experiments on Monday.  The first experiment (chemical reactions and osmosis...a raw egg and white vinegar) won't be ready until Wednesday but the second experiment was instant gratification :)

THIS experiment was about gas expansion: steam and the crazy reaction with ivory soap. Ivory soap has lots of air pockets in it (that is why it floats) and it also has water in it. So when you put it (a new SMALL bar) in the microwave, the water heats up creating steam (and expands) and busts through all of the microscopic air pockets creating a big blob that looks sort of like shaving cream:) Tons of fun and the house smelled clean too.


Expanding in the microwave...how crazy is that!


Ayson said the smell reminded him of the smell of ants when they bite/attack. Good observation, Big Guy!

A Character Building Event

My goal as a human being is to be a participant in life and parent to my children in a way that is kind and respectful and not intimidating and disrespectful of my kids and of others. During our morning routine, I tell the kids I love them multiple times in the morning, I tell them to be nice to others, listen to their teachers, and to have fun at school.  Sigh.  On Friday, the kids and I had an EPIC fail.  On the upside, I am thankful that both kids are healthy and we had a great weekend playing together ;)

The 17th was supposed to be a no school day for the kids but due to the multiple snow days, school was in session.  I had scheduled their annual well child Doctors visits for the afternoon of the 17th so that the kids would not miss school and so that we would not be rushed.  Two kids with one visit...perfect!

The visit started out fine but went south when the nurse asked me if I wanted the kids to get the flu vaccination.  It was explained to me that the flu mist was not available this year and it would have to be a shot.  I said yes for both kids and Ayson perked up and said that he did NOT want a shot.  I explained to him the purpose of the shot (and that Mommy and Daddy both got the same shot already) and Ayson seemed to settle down...but not for long.  Addie then had BIG dramatic tears and crying for the finger prick lead blood test.  While Addie was crying, Ayson kept repeating "I'm not getting a shot" over and over again.  I tried to calm him down but nothing would work as he was not listening.

The doctor stated that the kids are doing great, health wise and after the Doctor left, the nurse came back in with 2 trays of shots (a total of three shots for Addie and 1 shot for Ayson).  Well things went straight to hell.  Addie starts crying and Ayson starts repeating his mantra "I'm not getting a shot" and they both got louder and louder.  The nurse asks who wants to go first and Addie is now crying hard and said Ayson can go first.  The nurse and I chuckle and then Ayson runs to the corner (of the small room) and hides under the table while repeating his mantra.  I explain to him the purpose of the shots (to keep him healthy) and he would not let me get near him.  Both kids are now crying hard and I am wondering how in the hell this happened and how in the hell are these my kids!?!?  We have never experienced this before during Doctors visits.  GRANTED, Mommy has never tried to take them together during a visit that required shots.  I felt like a horrible parent that my kids were so scared/frightened that they were crying and trying to get away. Looking back, I realize that they fed off of each others fear and got themselves worked up and would not listen to Mommy or the nurses.

I state nurses because another nurse was called in to help restrain the kids...WTH??!?
I sat Addie on my lap, restraining her arms and legs, with the assistance of a nurse, while the first nurse administered the three shots.  Once Addie's shots were done she STOPPED crying and gave the nurse a high five...sigh.

Ayson begins arguing with me and the nurses and won't let anyone approach him because he starts kicking and swinging his arms while yelling his mantra "I'm not getting a shot"... is this my kid?!? This has NEVER happened before for any reason...I am at a loss! I want to cry!!!!

Ayson's crying, Addie starts crying again, and the first nurse states she will come back with the smallest needle they have.  I sit on the table with Ayson in front of me while we wait for the first nurse to return. The 2nd nurse and I reassure Ayson that it will be over quick.  As soon as the first nurse returns, Ayson starts thrashing with two adults holding him down, the third adult trying to administer the shot.  I look up and watch Addie, who is now crying really hard/loud, open the door to leave the room!!   I yell for Addie to get back into the room, the shot is over, we are all hot and sweaty, I apologize profusely and thank the nurses, and they leave the room. HOLY HELL!  WHAT just happened?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

After multiple deep breathes, I explain to the kids how disappointed I was in all three of us.  I finish up the paper work (that I did not have time to complete earlier) and explain to the kids that when we go out to the lobby that I am going to apologize to the nurses and that I hope they do the same.  I apologize, the kids say "sorry" and we get in the car and go HOME!

1) I will not make double appointments EVER again.
2) Adam will be present for all further Ayson appointments.
3) I will do a better job of explaining what will happen during each visit and will also be sure to explain the consequence the kids will have if they do not behave.
4) The kids lost their allowance, all electronics, and candy/treats until next Saturday for their poor behavior
5) The kids have new chores and I mopped the floors :)
6) We three wrote apology letters





More Birthday thank you cards




Spin art!


Snow fort!!

Happy Birthday, Addie!

It was a short week for Mommy and the kiddos with school being closed Tuesday and Wednesday. We made sure to make the most of our extra days off playing indoors and outdoors! We celebrated Addie's birthday on Wednesday.  Happy Birthday Addie!

On Tuesday morning (after we snuggled in bed for a while) we had waffles with Daddy's homemade whipped cream and strawberries for breakfast!  yum!


We then worked on the cool Lego set that Auntie Fran gave to Ayson.


The set had a ton of cool tools to play with!




We made sure to spend plenty of time outside :)


Mommy made chocolate cupcakes (for Addie's birthday on Wednesday) and Addie was testing out Mommy's baking skills Tuesday afternoon ;)


Wednesday found us home bound again!  Look at all of that snow!




The kiddos had fun building snow forts and tunnels!




Writing thank you notes to their friends that attended their joint Birthday party.


Happy Birthday, Baby Doll!  Hard to believe that Addie is now FIVE years old!  Mommy and Daddy love you, Addie!




We saved the card from Grandma Pat and Grandpa Roger so that Addie could have something to open on her actual birthday :)


We love mermaids :)  :)