Trying, golf, baseball, fathers day

 I feel like that old lady from the Titanic movie... [crackly, crachtey voice] It's been 84 years.... since I've written a blog post. I could make a lot of excuses here... no one prepared me for 3 children, I've been working my tail off... but I've been tired and when I get 20 minutes or an hour to myself I want to play mindless games on my phone, look at the facepage, and scroll through potential ideas to torment Matt on Pinterest. 

This is my pledge moving forward, I will try to not be so lazy in documenting the memories (good and bad) that are unfolding throughout our days. 

So let's take this one bite at a time... here's how this past week has rolled out. Matt is coming off from a week where he got to golf 3 times. And he didn't skimp either... aviation teams, business contacts, and me. Between you, me, and the rest of the internet - I'm hoping he didn't pout after a his idea of a "substandard" drive with them like he did me. But then again, I have a feeling none of them would have told him to shove it like I did. He also spent a TON of time on the course this week too as Eleanor had her week of lessons. It rained most nights but she got out there and Matt was impressed with her work.

G had his first baseball games. Last year it was helter skelter full on chaos -- balls flying, kids running, all in the same direction but none of it correct. This year there's a bit more understanding. I'm not saying we are headed to the playoffs but there is less globbing of players. 

Ains is mad - what's new - that she doesn't have an activity to be carted to. She's also mad when we don't cook things she likes at night, when she doesn't get to stay outside longer, when she has to wake up, when she has to take a bath, when she has to get out of the bath, and when she has to wake up... yes I said that twice, I stand by that.

Last Sunday does deserve it's own special call out. Father's Day. The rule is for these days that the honoree gets to sleep in and the collaborating parent prepares meals and also coordinates the gift exchange. Shopping with these kids is excruciating. While not all of these kids... Eleanor. She has decision fatigue... she will wander hours on end through a store, carrying objects and pontificating on other ideas weighing the pros and cons. The other two usually have an idea and when they find something there is conviction. Before heading into the store, I asked about what they wanted to get. Ains wanted to get golf balls, G wanted a tie. Both marched right up in the specified sections with ideas of what they wanted, grabbed their item and there was no swaying from it. Eleanor was mystified by a golf ball melted into a glass and I was just happy the shopping trip had come to an end.

What made my throat catch was the morning of. I came downstairs and Ains was still sleeping. The other two said they were waiting for her and when she woke up they'd work on a final card - which they did. Upon hearing him stir, they organized a greeting line and Eleanor worked to rehearse a "Happy Father's Day" song. Now, the catch is weekend mornings are the only time they get to watch TV, with very little intervention from us. They love weekend mornings. They decided to do all these things versus watch TV. This was an actions speak louder than words moment. 

E at Golfing.
E: First I'm going to hit the ball to the green flag (50yards), then the red (100 yards), then the white (150 yards) and then the black (300 yards).
MJR: The black is really far, but I'm proud of you for having goals. Let's focus on the green first.
E: I want to be a professional golfer.

G in the bathtub
G: What sound does a whale make [attempts to produce whale sounds]
ALR: Hmm, Let's ask Google: OK Google, what sound does a whale make?
Google: A whale sounds like this...[whale noises]
G: I was super close.

Driving in the car
G to Ains: You are being mean to me.
Ains: No I'm not
G: You are.
Ains: I'm not.
G: Yes, You are.
Ains: I'm not and if you don't shut your mouth I'm going to kick you in the face.
MJR: AINSLEY RUTH!

Labor Day Routine and Relaxation

 It was a nice weekend. Sure, everyone says that about holiday weekends but it was nice. We got so much done around the house - organizing, cleaning, sorting, AND also the kids played well and played together. Don't get me wrong. There was squabbling but it's getting to a place of harmony with little intervention. 

Let's breakdown the week....

G was kid of the day on Monday - for his birthday. Part of me was very glad that he got to celebrate his birthday with classmates. When daycare closed up, my heart broke a bit as he wasn't able to bring snacks in for his friends and was stuck with celebrating just with us. We brought spiderman colored donuts (red, blue, and black). 

E is blossoming in school. She's bringing home work that she is proud of and is putting her heart and abilities into. I haven't seen her color this well in a long time. Matt says dropoff with her is a DREAM... she can't wait to get out of the car. She gets to school a bit early and goes into the gym where she sits with her classmates or can have breakfast. We are encouraging her to have breakfast but she rarely does. She comes home chattering and talking about the things she's learned. It's exciting to see her exciting and retaining info. 

Ains - well Ains is officially in her second week of daycare. I don't drop her off and I'm glad. Matt says it's a bit horrible. You wouldn't guess it when you pick her up, she's chatty and likes to play with her friends. She talks well of her daycare, until you pull into the parking lot. 

We stayed busy over the weekend.... Matt took E golfing on Friday night. We had smores on Saturday and he and the bigs slept outside in the tent. Sunday we did some running around, took care of some outstanding projects and cleaning. Monday, we went out to celebrate Mom and Dad mostly being done with their silage pile. The kids like hanging out with the kitties, which is not mutual. 

That night after golf...
MJR: Eleanor said she wants to it way up in the air.
ALR: What did you say?
MJR: I told her it took me a long time to be able to do it.
ALR: It's still taking mama years to get it in the air.
MJR: I didn't bring that up. I almost got a hole in one.
ALR: I don't want to hear it. I just want to get my ball in the air.
MJR: It took me a long time to be able to do that.

MJR: It's really nice to get into a routine.
ALR: What?? I feel like we are all over the place - family pics, I have that conference.
MJR: Well, yeah, but that's normal unnormal. We have places to go each day and I know where people are going, unlike August when each day was different.
ALR: Oh, well, yeah, I guess BUT they don't seem to know we are in a routine.
MJR: But I know. 

Split room start, stickers, water pitcher

My children really are beautiful - they have these souls that make my heart smile and there are things that they do that I never want to forget. This weekend, each had an experience that I want to hold onto.

Eleanor:
The children are growing older and with that there has become an awareness that they are different. Specifically that E and Ains are girls and G is a boy. We've been talking about putting the girls together and getting G into his own room but Ains hasn't been the most ideal sleeper and even worse at going to bed so we've held off. We had considered putting them together during the summer BUT when we had so many big changes already with new daycares and schools and friends and teachers that we figured it would be time for a hold off. However, my son is a boy and after a bath is in no hurry to get dressed and I decided maybe it was time to start the move in ways that we could - like clothes and dressing spaces. Here's the hold... E and G are buddies - they are total partners in crime and moving them apart will give them sadness as they like to be together (95% of the time). So I sat her down and began to explain what was going on... as we got deeper into the conversation it took a turn I wasn't expecting.

ALR: So, yes, in November, Grady will have his own room.
EER: And Ainsley will be in here.
ALR: Yes
EER: Because he is a boy.
ALR: Yes, and you are a girl and you can share a room with a boy when you are older and you are either in love or married.
Plain-faced, open eyes, earnest EER: But, I love him and I already married him. 

Later when Grady came to see what was going on, mid-move:
GRR: What's going on?
EER: We are moving your clothes into the other room because you have a penis and I don't need to see it. 

Grady:
With Matt and I leaving for GA soon so I went to Target to grab some last minute items we needed. G went with me. We shopped for 30 minutes, maybe an hour and when we were checking out, he asked the cashier with all his manners if he could have a sticker. The cashier presented him two - which kept him preoccupied for the next 10 minutes - looking the puppy in clothes and sunglasses and whatnot. When we got home, E met us in the garage to show him something. He promptly took one of his two stickers, peeled it off the paper and put it on Eleanor's shirt. She hugged him, said thanks and went to go show her dad. He looked at me and said, "I'm going to give this other one to Ainsey"

And that moment made tears sting in my eyes. This little boy was willing to give his sisters all he had because he knew that it brought smiles to their faces. He really is the best brother anyone could have asked for and his generosity of heart made me realize what a wonderful man he's learning to be... something to aspire to. I hugged him, kissed him, and told him how nice that gesture was. He almost seemed surprised for being commended... like it was a normal, everyday, unquestionable thing. 

Ainsey

Now my girls have fires in their bellies. Not the same fire but this deep conviction of personality and light. Eleanor's is this smoldering coal bed - a drive from within that runs deep and strong - not easily put out. Ainsley's is a massive fireball - with big flames and high heat, it's all show and quick to move. She's been our textbook two year old complete with "me do it" and the checklist before bedtime and the full on body drop tantrums. Well, we ran into one of those at lunch on Sunday. We've used a pitcher of water on the table - to prevent E & G from making 400 trips over to the sink to refill their glasses. Ainsey sees them and wants to too fill her own glass. 

So there she was, in a vehemently "I do it!" grabbing the pitcher and shaking it.. that is until the water came out and splashed all around, dumping on her. This creates a new level of pissed-off because now she has water all over her shirt and pants. 

Other things on the agenda - baseball, smores, cleaning, organizing, school   

Fall Fail, Easter Eggs, Easter Hunt, Easter Basket

 I returned to the living! I got my second negative on my COVID test and could return to work and emerge from the basement. The kids were excited! I was excited! 

It's been a windy week. Not just a little windy, crazy-knock-the-playhouse-over-and-blow-it-20feet-

down windy. This kids watched the playhouse and the smoker go over. The weather has been warming up but it's getting so dry. At this rate, there will be no campfires or fireworks, and those are the good things. It was be devastating for crops and cattle too. Matt righted the house and took the tarp off. Everyone has been loving the house and it makes my heart smile.

We headed to the Capitol on Friday - it was a nice day and it was time to check out the landscaping and walk a bit. They redid the entrance last summer and now this spring, it's finished and the gates came down. The kids got to play on the stairs and think it's the best thing. We did have a bit of an issue on Friday night - after a bike ride, we stopped at a nearby park. G tripped going up a set of stairs and that resulted in a trip to the urgent care. Scared the crap out of me was glad it was glue and bandaids but I reckon he'll have a reminder for a long time to come. 

We were a bit late on the Easter things too thanks to my quarantine. Eggs didn't get dyed until Easter day and this year I had some ornaments to paint too. We tried painting two different ways - the first was to put food coloring in whip cream and then roll the egg through the coloring. I liked but was harder than I thought to do and harder to clean the eggs off. We also used the coffee filter, marker approach. They colored coffee filters, wrapped the egg and then painted the egg with a vinegar solution. Worked so well! 

But the main event of Easter was heading to Denise's to celebrate. We had lunch and did a big egg hunt followed by bubbles, chalk, and kites. 

Another notable event was Easter baskets. The Easter bunny hides baskets in our house and the know to look all over. Ains's was easy behind the couch, G's was in some boxes, and E's may have been the hardest to find... under the entry bench. They love looking through before heading on a hike and quick park stop.  

On Monday, the kids were home for Easter break. We split the day - mom made cinnamon rolls and we played all over the house. Dad went out and about, taking in the river. It was one of those weekends that were crazy and all over the place but gave you that sigh at the end because it was good to welcome spring with the ones that we love. P.S. Eleanor filled out her entire new tracing book in 2 hours. G liked the new markers and proceeded to share them with his little sister who demanded to use them.

Dinner is over. 
ARR continues to yell.

ALR: Do you know what she wants?

MJR: No - should I?
ARR a bit garbled: Sandwich!

MJR: You want a sandwich.
ARR nods: Up Down Sandwich! 

Hand/arm gestures accompany demand of arm going up and down.
MJR: You want an Up Down Sandwich? 

Looks at ALR, MJR: What is that?
ALR: I don't know?!

MJR removes her from her chair: Show me.

ARR walks over to bread drawer. 
MJR: Okay, yes, you want a sandwich. 

MJR holds ARR up a bit as she keeps pointing to the bread drawer. 

MJR opens bread drawer up wide. 

ARR grabs at toaster.

ALR and MJR: AWWWWW

MJR: You want toast.

ARR: Up Down Sandwich.

Pics from Easter Day

Birthday wrap up, present shopping

 

Ainsey's birthday has officially come and gone. Party and day all wrapped up. Her day was nice. She got flowers from Dad in the morning, had a play day with Miss Kaylyn that was beautiful, and then ended the day with some family fun. I've wanted to do something different and have felt bad that we haven't been doing things, haven't been going places, have just been trying to stay safe so I decided that we'd head to Skyzone when it opened on her day. She was a bit unsure to start but warmed up. Her favorite was to jump off the platform of the tramp into the foam pit. She'd barely clear the ledge and it made me chuckle each time. E and G had a blast. They picked it up quick and were hoping around and falling down all over the place. We picked up Ains's favorite... Big Boy complete with flying styles and gravy for supper. We ended the night with Ains opening up her final presents and some ice cream. 

Last week before her birthday party, I took E and G to the Dollar Store to pick out presents for Ainsley. I told them to pick out three things - in retrospect, I could have done two. They'd give one at the party and then on our family night, they'd give the rest. It was a bit helter skelter when we got into the store. They were like ping pong balls at first looking at everything. But eventually, we did get into the toy aisle and I'm not sure how many times I did have to ask, "Would Ainsey like this?" G was pumped about some matchbox cars and was honest with me and said, "No, I like them." I gave him some credit but reminded him that we are shopping for her. They didn't do too bad. E got her a unicorn stuffed animal, a color book, and a my little pony, G picked out a garden flower, a stuffy bunny, and a helicopter. I knew that he was in love with that helicopter but I also knew that Ains would like it so I didn't push too hard on it. They wrapped the presents and I was proud of them! They had great behavior, great conversations, manners, and cared!