mommy whining

Okay, I'm going to whine a little.  I'll sandwich it with the truth.  The truth is that I LOVE being a mom.  I LOVE my kids.  I know God has put our family together in a way that can bring Him glory.  I know that these things that are driving me crazy are not unique to me and my family! 

On to the whining.  First of all, I am about ready to go to Play It Again Sports and purchase a bunch of black and white striped shirts (vertical stripes) and whistles, because if I am going to be a referee all day, I might as well look the part.  Maybe the calls I make will be more respected if I actually LOOK like a ref!  I just get tired of thinking "what can we all learn from this", "how can I just be a facilitator and help them to solve this on their own", "what are the right words to say to prevent this from happening again"!  I get to the point where I really just want to say "beat each other up. Whoever wins gets the __________ (front booster seat, pink cup, chance to sing alone)!"  I haven't gotten to that point yet, but I have been WAY too close!  I have a friend with three kids who told me that this summer she has a new tactic; every time her kids come to tattle on each other or are fighting/arguing, she hands them a rag and has them wipe spots off the floor!  Genius.  That might be my plan of action tomorrow morning (when the first scuffle happens before any of our neighbors are even awake)!

The other thing that's driving me crazy (and that I'm feeling a little guilty about) is that I REALLY don't like playing pretend with them.  Today, the four of us where in the pool (it's one of those round, plastic ones) and we were pretending to be on a raft paddling through rapids and dodging waterfalls.  So fun!  But it can't ever stay that way.  It somehow ALWAYS takes a turn and I become the mommy and they are my newborn babies.  Now, this is where the guilt comes in.  I know that it's really healthy and good play for the girls.  They are basically doing their own play therapy!  They curl up on the ground and I hunch over them and they pretend to be born.  That's fine.  It's once I have the three (Seth usually joins in) "newborn" babies, the pretend play becomes just like my normal life.  I suddenly have three little ones who are literally climbing over each other and pushing each other to be in my arms and have all my attention.  And, I know this is dumb, but as they tell me how old they are (0 or 1 day or 2 weeks) and they do things like crawl or say words or whatever I get so annoyed because that's just not "pretend age" appropriate!  I know, I'm lame:)

I am so thankful that I have three healthy kiddos that have all their limbs (to hit and kick each other with) and working minds (to come up with great arguments) and adorable faces (to make us keep them)!  It really is a super big blessing.  I'm thankful that we have a home and a yard and that they even want to play with me.  I'm thankful I have the "luxury" of staying home and being able to play with them (at the expense of laundry being done, floors being swept, food being prepared, phone calls being returned).  I do know that there is really no room for whining or complaining in this incredible life the Lord has blessed me with.  Thank you, God for your grace and mercy:)

Summer Thus Far...

We started summer with what is probably my favorite tradition of the year...strawberry shortcake for dinner.  Every year on the first day of summer (June 21st) we have strawberry shortcake for dinner and I think Laura and I look forward to it more than the kiddos do!  This year our friends Josh and Becca joined us (and gave us the great idea of putting some of the strawberries in our champagne) and we went deluxe.  We had the biscuits, strawberries and whipped cream (canned and homemade) of course, but we also had the options of vanilla yogurt, vanilla ice cream and/or chocolate syrup.  I had classic for dinner and then later had some with ice cream and chocolate syrup for dessert!

The kids were into the chocolate syrup and ice cream!  They loved getting to build their own "dinner"!

Also during the first week of summer, Haley and Abby went to Vacation Bible Camp at a local church.  This is their third year going and they look forward to it all through the year.  This year Haley made a very sweet little friend (as she tends to do wherever we go) and Abby, as usual was adored by her leaders.  It's funny dropping her off and picking her up, because she's the kid all the leaders know and think is so adorable!  This is a complete side-note, but I think it's really interesting that even though Haley is much more shy and reserved in new situations, she ALWAYS makes a friend and has a special little bond with that girl (so far no boys).  Abby, on the other hand is super out-going and charming, and she tends to be loved by, and really love, the adults/teachers wherever she is.  That's just something I've been noticing lately.  Not to say that Abby can't make friends, she just really like to engage adults!  Anyway, they loved VBC.  Seth and I stayed for the morning chapel every day, because he loved singing the songs and learning the motions and the verses!  He really wanted to go this year (although if I had actually been dropping him off, I'm sure he would have changed his tune), but I think he'll really love it next year! 

The theme was "Pandamania" and they wore these shirts each day.  Seth really wanted one, and he wore one of his red shirts each day!

The 3-5 year old chapel:)

The other thing we've been doing this summer is swim lessons.  All three kids at the same time:)  Their swim teacher is FANTASTIC and they are all really loving it.  Abby is really excelling at "airplane arms" (freestyle).  I've been loving a half hour twice a week to sit in the sun and just watch them.  Oh, and, the first day I kept thinking the teacher looked so familiar and she asked me if she had taught my kids before.  All of a sudden my lightbulb came on and I asked if she had gone to Camp Hammer.  I told her I was Snipe and she said "Oh my gosh.  Snipe.  These are all your kids!"  Such a fun little connection:)

Dance Recital 2011

The girls took ballet classes again this year and both did a really good job learning their dances (and making friends in their classes).  They had their dance recital this weekend and we are so proud of how well they did!

Haley and Abby with their beloved Teacher Ruth

Haley's dress rehearsal

Abby's dress rehearsal (her dance had flower props)

 The day of the recital, Abby had swimmers ear and it was hurting her really badly.  She was certainly not quite herself, but still loved getting all made up for the recital.  Both of the girls thought they looked SO gorgeous with the stage make-up on!  It was funny since really they looked kind of strange all made up.  They even asked me "is this how you did your make-up for your wedding, mommy?"

Seth looked at the girls and said "you look beautiful"

It was cold waiting to go backstage, so they shared my sweater!

Haley and Abby both looked darling and did a great job on stage.  I debated for weeks about whether or not to bring Seth with us or to have him stay with a babysitter.  I finally decided to have him come, and he LOVED it.  He sat nicely through the whole thing and really loved seeing the girls dance on the "big, big stage".

Pretty much as soon as I got the girls off the stage at the end of the recital, they fell apart.  I think Haley was overwhelmed by all the people there to see her, and Abby's ear was really hurting her.  I had a lot of pictures I really wanted to get, and I just had to let it go.  They just weren't up for taking pictures.

We got them out of their costumes, some more tylenol in Abby and took them (with Auntie Laura and Uncle Nate) to a self-serve frozen yogurt pace.  They loved putting on whatever toppings they wanted and we had a really fun time enjoying our yummy treats.

 Way to go Haley and Abby!  We love you so much and are really proud of you:)

On the way home!

Current Life

I've been thinking it's a good time for a general update on the life of the Webber family.  I am not much of a "reflecter" but I have been doing some reflecting lately.  With the girls going into kindergarten in two months, we are coming to the end of a very, very challenging and wonderful season.  The season that began almost four years ago when our daughters were placed with us and our lives changed from being a married couple to being...PARENTS! 

Right now, I am working on convincing my kids that if they are friends with each other, it will be like a playdate every day!  Abby and Haley are really good at playing together if they are supposed to be doing something else (like having quiet time or getting ready to go).  Haley and Seth are total buddies and play together really well.  Abby and Seth can once in a while play together, especially if they are playing "band" or practicing dancing!

Some of the things that they love are:

• playing Hullabaloo, which they call "the family game".  Seth constantly wants to play this game!
• swim lessons
• batting- Haley and Seth are both lefties and Abby is a really good batter.  I think that they all are, actually.  Especially considering what a terrible pitcher I am!
• being in a band.  Seth is in love with EVERY instrument and usually directs us as to who will play what instrument.  He just got a saxophone, and now he really wants an accordian (thank you, Backyardigans, for all of his instrument knowledge)
• playing hide and seek ("I hide under the covers and you come find me, mom"!)
• swinging on our porch.  Carey put a bunch of eye hooks on our front porch and we have a few different swings that we hook on and off.
• jumping on the trampoline

Seth loves to dress like his "sissies".  He recently told me "I not like boy clothes.  I like girl clothes"

Haley LOVES to make "bug homes" this particular one kept her happily occupied for a good 50 minutes! (That's a tiny little snail on her finger)!

Abby is very into making her hair look "perfect" (her version is perfect is VERY far from mine)!  The amount of hair clips she gets in there is incredible, and she will actually work on getting it just right for quite a while!

Swinging on the front porch!

Preschool Graduation

I LOVE that Abby's diploma is up-side-down!

My sweet graduates!

Today Haley and Abby graduated from Rocking Horse Ranch, which is really bittersweet for all of us.  The girls are going to miss their incredible, wonderful teachers, and all of the FUN things they get to do at preschool.  I am really going to miss it as well.  I adore each of the teachers and will miss seeing them four mornings a week.  When I drop off at preschool, we all go in and all three kids play while I chat and laugh (and sometimes get much needed fashion advice) from the teachers.  It's always a bright part of my day:)

Graduation was adorable.  All the teachers were dressed up, and they came walking out into the play-yard with the kiddos in their graduation caps.  They played that classic graduation song (maybe if I paid more attention to Little Einsteins I would know the name of it), and I got a little teared up.  All the kids sat around in sort of a circle, and Teacher Nancy (the director and most amazing woman) talked to the kids about how she knows that they are ready to be in kindergarten.  It was precious.  Then, they handed out diplomas and lollipops, sang a song, and it was over.  There was a potluck afterward, and we had so much fun watching the kids play and chatting with other parents and the teachers.  We will miss Rocking Horse so much, but only for the summer, because Seth will be there in the fall!

I thought it would be appropriate to end this blog entry with a list of things I love about Rocking Horse Ranch:

• they have animal time, where the kids get to go into the goats corral and pet and play with them, then collect any eggs that the chickens, ducks, or geese laid.  Then they do eenie-meenie-minie-mo to see who gets to take an egg home.
• they get to play in the mud.  They even get to use the hose to make mud.  One time when I got there to pick Abby up she was "surfing" (aka lying on a boogie board) in a huge mud puddle.
• the teachers absolutely LOVE and adore the kids.  Teacher Nancy, Megan, Johnny, Tara, Su, Kelly, Alyssa and Terri, we LOVE and ADORE you!
• if you are going to miss days because of vacation or whatever, you put a note up on a bulletin board and other parents can buy the days from you.  Also works out when you want to send your kid on a day that's not normally theirs, because you can almost always find a day for sale:)
• there are trees that the kids can climb
• I know I already said it, but I have to say it again...the teachers.  They are INCREDIBLE.
• One morning I dropped Abby off and there were a bunch of logs, nails, hammers, and even an electric sander for the kids to use.  Kids were just happily hammering away!
• They do things like set out bowls of flour, oats, and pasta with shakers full of cinnamon, some spoons and some glitter and just let the kids create and explore.
• The outside play-yard is SO big and the kids have so much freedom (supervised freedom, of course) to just explore, make up games, etc.
• It's mixed ages, so the 3-5 year-olds are all together.  It's really neat to see how the older ones know they are the older ones, and they really do look out for and help the younger ones.

Basically, I love everything about it.  I really don't think I could think of one possible complaint.  And now, we are on to bigger things...KINDERGARTEN!  Look out Mainstreet Elementary, here we come!

Family picture in front of the preschool (Seth was too busy with his juice box to look up)

Oh, That's What You Where Doing!

This evening, just before dinner, Haley and Abby were playing really nicely together on the front lawn.  They were taking turns sitting in a swing and pulling each other (or trying to pull each other)!  It looked like this:

I kept hearing the person sitting in the swing say "yah" as they pulled on the rope.  Carey and I both assumed they were playing horses or something like that.

Fast forward a half an hour, and we were all at the table eating dinner (if you can call apples and peanut butter and some cottage cheese, dinner).  At dinner we each say the best and worst parts of our day, and when it was Haley's turn, she said "the best part of my day was playing reindeer and Santa with Abby"!  Carey and I both burst out laughing as the lightbulbs above our heads came on!

Best Day Ever!

(Warning, this blog is mostly about me, and not so much about the "wonderful wee Webbers")

Okay, I don't really know why, but today was a SUPER GREAT day!  At 5:30 this morning, I walked out of my room and Seth, who was standing right outside my door, said "I was waiting for you, mom"!  So cute (even though I would have rather him be sleeping)!  Abby woke up and came out of her room at 5:45 (way too early for her) and when I told her she needed to go back and lay down...SHE DID!  No huge tantrum that woke everyone else up!  Then, the morning went along without any huge meltdowns, sibling violence, or any of the normal unpleasantness of mornings around here!

Around 8:00 we went outside to ride bikes, and ended up playing with the wagon.  Haley was pulling Seth along and Abby came over and said "hey, Haley, hook me up with a ride"!  Where does she get these things?  They had fun, Haley pulling and Seth and Abby riding, pretending they were on the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, and "the Happy Hollow" roller coaster.  Then, one of the WONDERFUL preschool teachers came over to babysit, and the doctors appointment that I had originally gotten the babysitter for got canceled, so I just had a free morning. 

My sister came over and we went on a run and ended up running 6 miles (a 10K!) and it was really fun and felt like a good accomplishment.  Then, I went to Bed Bath & Beyond to get a gift and the only one they had left was the display one, so I got10% off, plus I had a coupon for 20% off! 

I went home, and teacher Kelly stayed with the napping Seth while I dropped Abby off at her playdate.  When I went to pick Haley up from preschool, I randomly brought a gallon of milk that a friend had brought over and we didn't need, and preschool was almost out, so they were super stoked.  After that we picked up Abby from her playdate (on which it was reported that she was SUPER polite and well-behaved).

Once we were all home, we filled up a kiddie pool and the back yard and Seth played in the pool, Abby and Haley jumped on the trampoline and I (drum roll please)...sat next to the pool, in the warm sun and read a magazine!  I know...I felt like I was a mom on a sitcom or something.  And that really is how the rest of the afternoon was.  (I should note that Seth did come ask me to wipe him, and when I looked, he had poop all down his legs, on his feet, and in a nice little trail along the front patio.)  The kids played nicely and I enjoyed being in the sunshine with them.

For dinner we had tacos and margaritas, for Cinco De Mayo, and it was delicious.  Seth and Haley ate really well.  At dinner, Abby asked if she could be done and jump on the trampoline and we said no, because she hadn't really eaten and it was getting close to time to get ready for bed.  She started to whine a little (no big meltdown!) and Seth said "Abs, watch this: [turned and looked at Carey] Daddy, can I please go on the trampoline"!

Then, Carey and I went to Bible study, which was great!  And when we got home, my sister, who was babysitting, said all the kids went down super well!  Now, we're going to watch the new episode of Modern Family, which our Bible study friends said is hilarious:)