Roller Derby

Did I mention that last week was utter insanity for us!!! We had a dance recital Friday night, a Mother's Day lunch on Saturday, a birthday party at 12:30 in Mattoon, a birthday party at 5:00 in Monticello and a final dance recital at 7PM on Saturday night back in Decatur. Sunday was Mother's Day so we went to church and then spent the remainder of the day resting at home...I think we have been recovering from the weekend ALL WEEK LONG! 

My niece Macy turned 7 on May 10th...yes, the day after Leah's birthday. She had a roller skating party at Silver Star Skating rink in Mattoon. I knew that Leah would want to give it a try. She was super excited about it, and I knew that Mitch would be patient and good with showing her how...of course he was! And she did awesome, it took her no time at all and she was out there going around the loop on her own. Yay, Leah!!! 

What I wasn't prepared for was Kiersten's insistence that she was going to skate too. The skating rink has a huge indoor play area so I thought she would be content to...you know, play. And I thought that surely Colby would be in there with her. Nope, I was wrong. Within 5 minutes of Leah being out on skates, Kiersten and Colby were begging to go to. "I skate too, I skate too!" So I went and got her skates, Gigi laced her up and off she went. Gigi started out with her and then Mitch took over since Leah was doing so well. Kiersten on skates was comical. She kept giving it her all. Everytime she fell on her toosh, she jumped right back up. She didn't ever really get the hang of it, but she loved it all the same. 

Halfway through the celebration we had pizza and cupcakes and ice cream and of course sang Happy Birthday to MACY!!! After that we spent most of our time hanging out in the play area. Leah did go back out to skate a few times. Kiersten and Colby were happy to just run crazy. Paul and Michele were there with Spencer and Tyler, and Tiffany came with Brooklyn and Parker so they got to play with cousins and I got to visit. Now I'm wondering about how long it will be before they are asking to go skating again.

Mother's Day, 2012

Four years ago I celebrated my 1st Mother's Day. Leah was born on Friday, May 9th and so my first Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11th. I laid in a hospital bed recovering from my C-Section, but that was of little concern. Being a mother filled my soul and made me realize that I was learning about a love that I never knew existed. To top it off, my mom had flown in the day before so I got to spend my first Mother's Day with my mother and brand new daughter. This year on Mother's Day I realize that the love only continues to grow. My spirit is happy and singing with joy in regard to the love I have for my 2.5 children. I'm one lucky momma! Not just because of these precious little ones, but because of their father. What an amazing gift HE has given me.

I'm not a perfect mother, not even close. I'm not supermom, but I do the best I can. I have to tell the story from earlier in the week...Mitch was working on the lawn mower in the garage. Leah kept fiddeling around in the garage. So he asked her to go draw our family with her chalk. Well, we didn't even know that she could draw people so imagine our surprise when she drew our family and more. I applauded her and told her how much I loved her artwork. She started to point out which person was which to me...Now look closely at the picture. I'm the 3rd one from the left. She tells me that my mouth is big and open because I was yelling at her for not being a good listener...God love this child, I had to laugh. But man, oh man...is that how you want your child to think of you??? Maybe next time she will draw a picture of one of the hundreds of times I have praised her, and in the meantime maybe I need to praise her a little more in the days to come. After she drew the picture of our family she drew a picture of Gigi and Papa. I'm supposed to know it is Gigi and Papa by all the flowers in the picture. Gigi has a lot of flowers at her house. Isn't it awesome to see how their minds think.

This morning I woke up to two precious girls who wanted to climb into my bed, give me snuggles and told me "Happy Mudders Day!" Then they eagerly ran downstairs to make me breakfast. Leah decided the day before that she was making me an egg sandwhich (Eggs on an English Muffin)...and they did great! Then they gave me a darling Tinkerbell Mother's Day card and a new purse from Coach. I'm a lucky girl...because what I wanted to most was just to spend the day at home with my girls, and that's exactly what we did. What a beautiful day! Oh, and for fun a picture of me 34 weeks and 2 days with baby #3. I think this picture is deceiving. Mitch always squats down like he is taking a picture of the girls and so the camera is always looking up at me. Most people say I don't look that big and can't believe I only have 6 weeks left. Looking at this picture, I think I look enormous!!! But regardless, only 6 more weeks until our little ones arrival. The anticipation is starting to get to me, I can't wait!

Mambo

Shortly after our arrival in Decatur, I signed Leah up for dance at Richland Community College. Last summer she was in tumbling tots, and this year she was enrolled in Creative Movements. For their spring concert they performed to Lou Bega's, Mambo #5...and aren't the outfits so appropriate?!?!? They rehearsed once a week and in the past 2 weeks started trial runs on the big stage in Schilling Auditorium. Leah didn't have an ounce of stage fright...in fact she was so excited to get out there and "shake her groove thing." And she did fantastic. Mitch actually took her to the dress rehearsal. I was a "stage mom" for the Friday and Saturday night performances. Which basically means I sat in the back stage room and helped get them up to the stage in time and then walked them back when they were done. There was 7 girls, and so we kept them occupied and together until it was their time to go on. Which also means I had to watch the performances from backstage :(  But thankfully Mitch got it on video.

After Friday nights show, Leah was so disappointed...not that she didn't love it, she was just sad that it was over so quickly and she wanted to go back out and do it again. On Saturday night Gigi came to Decatur to take in the show. The weekend was incredibly jam packed with fun stuff to do. She performed Friday night, Saturday we were up and out of the house early to go to Mattoon for a Mother's Day Lunch with my parents, then off to the skating rink for Macy's birthday party, followed by a second birthday party for Charlee in Monticello. Needless to say, on the way to Richland I wasn't sure how Leah was going to do. She was TIRED and a bit cranky. But we got her into costume and the minute she saw Gigi she was ready to go. She told Gigi to clap loud for her and was ready to put on her game face. And did she ever! I think Saturday night's performance was an even bigger hit. She had the biggest smile, did her summersaults, straddle rolls and even a back bend with perfect ease. She was GREAT! Afterwards Gigi took her out for ice cream which made the night even better. So proud of my little dancer.

Mitch said that Kiersten was awesome in the audience. Sat in her chair and watched all the performers before Leah intensely, and then was super excited when Leah's group came on. Kiersten had to watch the rehearsals so often she probably could have done the routine, poor kid! And she told Leah she did a good job and gave her hugs. They are so sweet. One thing I learned is that I won't be a very good dance mom...there were way to many pushy women backstage doing hair and make-up on 2,3 and 4 year olds for my liking. I put a little blush on Leah's cheeks and some lipgloss on her but felt that was enough. These girls were all glittered up, lip liner, eye liner, mascara, fake hair pieces...the works! I just couldn't do it, not with a 4 year old. Mitch called it "toddlers and tiaras" YIKES! Even though Leah wasn't all "dolled up" I thought she was BEAUTIFUL! And I am much more suited to being a soccer mom, Ha!

The Real Deal...She's 4!

After celebrating on Saturday, and dinner at Gigi's on Sunday...today we are finally at the real deal! At 10:37 this morning, Leah was officially 4! Yikes, my baby girl is definitely not a baby anymore and she is pretty quick to tell you what a big girl she is. It's been a bit confusing to her with all the birthday celebrations...she keeps thinking that we are having another party at our house tonight because today is her actual birthday, but we are doing our best to make sure that her "day" is special. We put a special outfit on for school today, and had cupcakes, juice boxes, and treat bags for a special celebration at school. I went to  her class room early so I could be there to help her celebrate. Her smile was a mile wide as they sang happy birthday to her! Even Kiersten got to get in on the action.

After we left preschool we went to meet up with Daddy for a special birthday lunch. We took her to Dairy Queen last year for her birthday and we took Kiersten for her birthday this year, so it seems to be becoming a tradition. Both the girls were super excited...probably more so to see Daddy than to have ice cream for lunch, that's how much we love him! But lunch was fun...and now we are winding down for the rest of the day. There have been phone calls, emails and text messages from family members near and far wanting to wish her a happy birthday. My girl is loved. She is so special and I can't even begin to count the ways that my life is better having her in it. Sometimes she pushes my buttons and she certainly tests the limits, but  that's what is so great about her. She wants to do things on her terms, she is adventurous and outgoing and not shy in the least. I wouldn't have it any other way. Love my Leah and looking forward to all that the future holds. Happy Birthday, my beautiful brown eyed girl!

Gigi's Birthday Dinner!

My mom, Gigi, has a long standing tradition of wanting to make a birthday dinner for whoever is celebrating a birthday. This past Sunday we went to Charleston so she could make dinner for Leah (the 9th) and Macy (the 10th). She even called the girls and asked them what they wanted for their special birthday dinner. Macy requested tater tots, and Leah requested Ravioli's...uhm, okay...how do you make that work in one dinner?!?!? Well somehow she pulled it off. She got some steak kabobs, fresh sweet corn on the cob, tater tots and then did some toasted ravioli. Different, yes...but it worked. The kids were happy and I didn't hear any of the grown-ups complaining.

The weather was gorgeous so the kids had lots of fun playing outside. Macy recently taught Leah how to walk on the brick wall...an old trick that Aunt Laura taught Macy 3 years ago, thanks Aunt Laura. So the girls walked back and forth. Colby and Kiersten got caught playing in the garage. Papa found them sitting on his Harley, and so he started it up and boy did they jump. Uncle Matt even gave a few golf pointers in the backyard. Of course, the big hit of the party was the cupcakes and ice cream. Always a big hit! We love go to Gigi's house, it's always a special time.

Leah's Birthday Round-Up!

I am in complete denial that tomorrow, my beautiful brown-eyed girl, will be turning 4!!! I blinked and she went from being my beautiful little baby, to my big girl that is about as independent as can be. She started talking about her birthday back in March, right after Bug's party. It's been birthday this and birthday that for nearly two months. She was super excited to help me pick out the theme and I was so grateful that she liked the cowgirl theme and we didn't have to do princesses...Sometimes I am just princessed out :)

As the day approached she got more and more excited! We got sheriff's badges and bandanna's for all our little party guest. We planned a western theme cook-out with hot dogs, chips and queso, baked beans and all the fixin's. We even got a special cowgirl hat and T-shirt for Leah to wear to the hoe down. She was super excited to wear her birthday outfit, and we had to put her American Girl Doll, Ellie in her cowgirl outfit too!  The party didn't start until 5 PM on Saturday, talk about anticipation!!! She was so patient all day long waiting for her friends to arrive. She helped clean up all the toys, went to the store with her Daddy, and helped me frost and decorate the cupcakes. Such a big helper.

As her friends started to arrive she was super excited to show them the sheriff's badges and bandanna's and couldn't wait to get started playing. I had a few things planned, but didn't end up doing any of them. The kids were so content just to play out in the backyard. With a trampoline, power wheels, sand table, and swing set they were more than occupied. They all played really nice together, ate dinner and were patient waiting for the cake! I just love the pictures of Leah getting ready to blow out her "4" candle with all of her little friends around her. It was even more fun to watch her open her presents with all her friends quick to lend a helping hand. She was excited about the gifts and so were they...well, except for Kiersten who cried and cried when she realized none of them were for her :(

It was a great night. Mitch put so much hardwork into the day. He really had to carry the load with me being so pregnant...Not that I didn't help, I did. But he did most of the shopping, he mowed the lawn, got all the outside toys cleaned up and in place. He helped with the bulk of the cooking and was super-dad when it came to clean up...I'm a lucky girl, SERIOUSLY lucky girl. Leah told us it was "the best birthday party ever." And that made it all worth it. Yee Ha, cowgirl...glad you had a rootin' tootin' good time!

Let's Go To The ZOO!

I've been  a bad blogger the past 10 days or so. Mostly because spring sprung up on us and we are crazy busy, but also because Mitch has been away at a conference this past week and I was single parenting. It always makes me appreciate him so much more...It is hard to function without him. We miss him, and he is a big part of our routine. It's nice to want to be with my best friend all the time. I hate it when he is gone and am usually counting down to his return. Anyway, we knew that he would be flying in to St. Louis on Thursday morning so we planned a little family outing. And we surely picked a good day...the sun was shining and it was 89 degrees in St. Louis!!!

I made arrangements with my girlfriend Sidney a few days prior and we were so happy to have Sidney, Charlee and Van join us for our day at the Zoo. We arrived shortly after noon and wasted no time getting started. And talk about excited!!! The kids were so pumped about seeing all the animals. We got a good start and managed to make it until 1:30 before grabbing lunch. After a quick bite, we were back on the trail. The kids were especially excited by the bears, and then of course the penguins. Kiersten especially has squealing with joy over the penguins. I think Leah thought that the Zebra's and Lions were the best. But then again, they had lots of fun watching the Orangutan. He kept hiding under a sheet, and the kids thought it was pretty funny. Although it was nice and warm, we managed to stay until 4:30. The kids were so well behaved...I couldn't believe. It I thought for sure Kiersten would start to have a meltdown, afterall it was way past her naptime but she was a trooper. Girl was super happy about all the animals! And Leah enjoyed telling me all about her favorite parts of the day. It's really a great place, and we will absolutely be returning again in the near future!