Missing him

I'm a married single mom. I don't know how else to say it, but Ryan works six 12 hour days with Sundays off. It's a hard routine some days, but we have hardly seen Ry this past week due to moving his shop and working longer than normal hours. He hasn't been home since yesterday either. He works way to hard and needs to be recognized for it. We miss him all the time but when he's home we try to make the most of our time. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. 

We hung out at the library this morning to keep cool. I can only take so much heat! 

Henry learned about colors. 

Remember how I talked about toy vomit? Well it happened again today. The girls played with Ava Jo so there were toys all over!! They were busy but had so much fun! For me it was nice to just be able to sit and actually talk with my mom while Jaedyn played with the girls! (Thanks!!)

Yes-THAT bad!! 

I love stormy clouds and this afternoon they were amazing! 

This boy MELTS my heart! 

We ended the day playing outside with water again! 

Tossing water all over! 

They love this! 

Both passed out right at 8!! Very easy night!! 

Love them!

Don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know I need sleep!

Until tomorrow! 

Our passions

Fridays are the best day of the week! Am I right? I know a lot of you (ok probably all of you) look forward to it because you get  two days off and don't have to go and do anything. Me? I love it because I can get up and go and do stuff with the kids! It doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is. Today was extra special! 

After we dropped Ryan off at work this morning we went and got Jaedyn. She's going to spend some time here with us. The girls won't leave her alone either! 

The girls and Henry having a chat with Papa D (my dad). They ate breakfast while we waited for Jaedyn to get ready. Iz had a lot of stories to share (as always). 

When we got back to Ames we stopped at the center to say hi (I also had to pick up a bag of clothes for Iz as hand me downs)! It was SO good to be in my second home and see SO many parents and staff again! I seriously, seriously miss my job, my kiddos, the parents and co-workers. Henry got to show off how big he's gotten and his smile! 

He had lots to smile about with Mary Jo! 

I'm so fortunate to have worked in such an amazing center and that I still get hugs and huge hellos when we stop in! Love Bright Horizons! :-) This is my passion-babies, kids and raising smart kids! 

Ok-moving on (and jumping off my work soap box), we got groceries today. 

I have shoppers in training. AND I only got hit in my heal once! So I didn't have to take any drivers permits away. 

We then headed to Lesges! After taking one wrong road, we made it! 

Water lover! I've decided she is passionate about water. She loves to be in it and talk about it! Hopefully she's a swimmer some day soon! 

Viola was nervous at first, the water was cold, but she warmed up! Viola is just passionate about doing what others do! She's the most observant child! 

Love this bond they have! 

Digging up sand and throwing rocks!

We only stayed here about a half hour. It was lunch time, hot and nap time too! Henry sat on the sidelines today and watched. I didn't have a hat for him so I improvised and made him a turban! 

He was less than thrilled! 

Busy day with a mellow night! 

Until tomorrow! 

And yes- he's sitting :-) 

Let's get wet

I've been saying all week that I would have the girls play with water outside. I finally followed through on my words this morning. I took a trip to walmart last night to buy water balloons at 930-only because Ryan forgot and I really didn't want to disappoint Isabelle. 

Now, I have to say-water balloons are meant to be filled outside on the spigot. NOT a kitchen sink. Living in an apartment I didn't think we had one out in the court yard. Well-we do. As i found out after getting everything outside and in place!

So I took the time to jimmy rig the thing that goes on the faucet to fill the actual balloon to the sink. It took me over an hour to fill up enough to be happy with the amount. 

That being said (and really besides the point too) the girls really had fun! 

My mom insists I need to send this next photo to Ellen. She thinks it looks like Viola is in a trash can. I assure you these are their toy buckets! 

It's the impromptu pool for the apartment living life style! :-) 

This is Viola trying to throw one of her balloons. It's funny because she gets it but didn't at the same time. 

This water day lasted forever. 

What kid doesn't love getting wet and running around! 

 I can PROUDLY say that Viola crashed hard at nap time (3.5 hrs!). 

We watch Ellen every day. This is how Isabelle watched:

Doesn't everyone wear a swim diaper as a cap to watch her? 

Safety first I guess! 

Oh and even though he didn't get wet he joined in the swim suit wearing fun! 

Henry's sisters got playful with him too. Just a little bit of fun! :-) 

We venturerd back outside to collect rocks. As Isabelle says we are adding to her collection! :-)

This day flew by! Tomorrow will be fun! My sister is going to spend time with us and I don't think the girls are excited enough! 

Until tomorrow! 

Inspire me

My inspiration for the day stemmed from me feeling like I haven't done much for the girls lately. I felt as if I hadn't been giving them the adequate attention they more than deserve. I'm constantly looking for ideas on Pinterest to keep them busy. Half the time the things I try either a:fail or b:last a whopping 30 seconds to one minute. I will say that I have found some activities that work and work well. I repeat those without trying to over do it. I was going to do a water activity but it was too chilly for that this morning. Today I just went with the flow of the mood and used the girls' signals of bordem to find something to do. (Warning-lots of pictures today!)

For instance-we painted the side walk. Corn starch plus water and food coloring:

Gives you a much more fun way to be creative. Also, science meets art. Corn starch with water can be a solid and liquid...and making new colors. 

And the best part-it stays outside, dries brighter than normal chalk, and is easy, cheap and fun!

After this the girls just ran laps and before I knew it, it was time for lunch and naps. 

Iz did this this morning, and I didn't know how else to add it other than at nap time. She is creative. Only she would use an apple in a crazy way. 

I got a ton of silly (ok not a ton but a lot) faces Henry made while doing tummy time. He is really starting to get the hang of it! 

He also had several faces in his bumbo while watching his sisters on the deck:

I tried to teach the girls how to play kick ball-in a sense. They just liked throwing them up-as high as they could (easier for Isabelle than Viola).

Getting the up picture is much harder!

Viola tossed hers :-)

I know, I know. The ball is huge in comparison to her body! 

The outside fun ended with running cat laps and chasing each other:

And one stubbed toe. You would have thought Iz was dying by her reaction. No worries though-she was up and running in the dirt five minutes later!

Ouch! 

Hoping tomorrow is warmer-I want to play with water balloons. I mean-the girls want to! Haha :-) 

Until tomorrow! 

Work it...

I feel like I'm in a funk. Like I'm just waiting for the next thing to happen. What that is I don't really know. I think if I had a car to go somewhere it would be better. For now, I just have to hang in there and make this work. 

We will be moving in July-I can't tell you where because we are still working on finding a place. I get very stressed about this. I don't want to leave Ames-it's home here, but closer to Des Moines is what we have to do for Ryan's job. 

Days like today I wish things would just do themselves. For example-laundry. I cannot even begin to explain how much we have just after two days. My goal of doing it every other day is going well though. 

I took the kids outside to play on two different occasions. I feel like they need to run and exercise and be active and healthy.  Isabelle starts tumbling in June and I'm very excited for her! 

This morning we used chalk:

For some reason Iz is obsessed with drawing a long line (as in around the entire surrounding area). 

We also did some running:

These girls are goofy. Iz is obsessed with wearing either a dress or pajamas-no happy medium. Never mind all the summer shorts and what not we just got her. :-) 

Henry was my snuggle bug today. He had a belly ache. He would arch and then scream. He got business done after his nap and was much happier! 

Viola tried SO hard to fight her nap. She was jabbering away one second and the next I looked over and saw this:

We played outside this evening as well. Seriously, the imagination these girls have is crazy. I was told over and over to say "the queen and the prince are married", followed by a fancy walk. 

We picked flowers and blew the petals around. And also wore them:

Henry did a lot of talking to the tv. He loves to watch some of the PBS Kids shows-must be the colors?! He played with a bracelet too (I know-so exciting).

I guess I will take my queens and my handsome little prince out to run and play again tomorrow. Maybe I'll add water to the picture...life is more fun with water! 

Until tomorrow! 

Love my babes!!