Stuck Like Glue

I’ve always wished for my babies to have a lot of love for each other. And lately, there has been. It’s just been a little one sided…

Finally, she got the hint when he said, We’re not playing that game anymore, Lujayn!

Spring is Springing

Slowly but surely. We have been enjoying more daylight and have resumed our tradition of playing outside when we get home from school. Yes, it can make for a rushed dinner and bedtime routine, but it’s totally worth it to see Z and Lu out in the sunshine having fun. They usually ride bikes, which means Z on his bike, and me pushing Lu on his old bike (hopefully that will change when she gets her cozy coupe birthday present).

Last week we played with bubbles and the Easter eggs Z brought home from school, and yesterday, they were all about the ants (until they got on them). 

I love our little after school tradition. I can remember 2 years ago playing in the yard with Z and worrying that that little tradition would end when Miss Priss made her arrival, but so far it’s still going strong!

Speaking of Spring, a couple weekends ago, we busted out of our Saturday bubble and went to the Mt. Laurel Spring Festival. We had a blast!

Z couldn’t resist this (messy) Batman ice cream bar.

Lu set her sights on this orange Kenyan Paper bead bracelet. She walked around with her arms stuck to her to protect it, hilarious!

Lu was surprisingly interested in the petting zoo. Although this was as close as she got to any of the pets, especially after a goat barked? at her.

I felt sick just watching this thing go round, and I’m not sure it didn’t make Z and Nick a little nauseous either.

Z was begging for “Cottom Candy” the whole time, so we went back in (after we really should have left) and got him some, he took one bite, and he was done. Little miss didn’t like it much either, but she had no problem wiping it all over her outfit!

Spring Soccer

After several rainy Sundays, we finally started Sunday Soccer this past Sunday. Z was so excited! He kept asking Is today soccer? When’s my soccer game? We were pretty excited too. Nick had already taken him to buy new gear and had been practicing some with him in the yard. He was dressed and ready to go a good hour before we had to leave!

The past couple of seasons he has requested to be on the red team, and it’s really a get what you get kindof system, so we’ve been purple once and green twice, so you can imagine the excitement when they handed us a red shirt, oh and Z was pretty happy too ;).

He’s in the U5 league this season, even though technically he still qualifies for U4. He was noticeably bigger than the rest of his team in the Fall (and a parent made a couple of comments about it, which I think is hilarious). Besides, without fail at least one kid in the U4 league would cry every week and not because he or she got hit or pushed, but because they just didn’t feel like getting on the field, or their shoes didn’t feel right or they were hungry or thirsty or had to go potty. I know, they’re 3 and 4 year olds, but we were ready to get a little more serious… (insert soccer mom joke here).

The kids do seem to know what’s going on a lot more, and we have really organized coaches, but there is still pretty much one kid that does all the scoring, and unfortunately for us, that kid was on the other team…

He may not have scored the most goals, but he definitely had the best cheering section!

Lu slept through the game at home with Nunna, but I’m sure she’ll be joining the cheering section soon.

What's On... Link Up

I'm trying something new today and linking up with Momfessionals. She's asking what's on your DVR, and anyone who knows me knows I'm passionate about my TV watching (yes, I just admitted that).

First and foremost always is:

Been watching it since the dawn of time (somewhere around 9th grade). I've not missed more than about one episode since about my sophomore year of college (thanks to my handy VCR). The fact it comes on every day and has for so long makes me feel that all is right with the world!

Second:

I love this show! It's hilarious, realistic, and refreshing, and as an Everybody Loves Raymond fan, I love seeing Patricia Heaton in the mom role.

Mr. Selfridge

We never really got into Downton Abbey (Gasp!), but Nick and I both really like this British jewel. The Brits are just so darn clever, and you really fall in love with the well-developed characters. It doesn't hurt that it's set around one of Britain's finest department stores.

Game of Thrones

This one's for hubs. He's read all the books, has the app, and pretty much knows what's going to happen before it happens, but he still gets all excited when it comes on on Sunday nights. I have started watching it with him, and I probably know what's going on about 10% 25% of the time. (Although he says, if I can keep up with all the people on GH, the GoT should be a breeze).


John Stewart

 

Because it's so much more fun that watching the news. 

Well, that's just a glimpse into my DVR, I also have Project Runway: Under the Gunn (Hello, Tim Gunn!), Jimmy Fallon, and a bunch of Shark Tanks on there. Tell me what's better than snuggling up on the couch with a sweet treat and watching your favorite TV show with your hubby while your kids are snoozing? 

Nick’s Birthday, Books, and My Shopping Buddy

We had a most fabulous weekend, as evidenced by the fact that I had to wake not one, but both babies up this morning! Nick had to be at work early, so I had the distinct honor of getting myself and both kids ready and dropping them off. Did I mention there is massive flooding in Birmingham today, and the power was out at my office this morning. Yeah, crazy, but once I figured out that Lu was screaming because she wanted her cereal in a cup (duh), all was well with the babies.

Anyway, back to the recap. Thursday afternoon we got our Scholastic books. It was the first time we’ve ever done Scholastic, and we did it because Z fell in love with this Power Rangers Roboknight book he saw in the flyer. It was the perfect entertainment for our end of the week ride home!

It turns out that Lu actually enjoyed the purchases even more than Z. Since that day, we have read Pinkalicious and Buzz, Buzz, Baby! at least 10 times, and I have to admit they are pretty cute books!

My dad came over (Mom’s in Florida) and we celebrated Nick’s birthday. I only have one picture because I was busy making 8 calzones and this cake!

I love my little helper, so okay it wasn’t the prettiest (mostly because I didn’t wait to let it cool all the way before I released it from the pan, but it was DELISH, and Z (as you can tell by his mustache) ate a lot of frosting!

Speaking of Z, on Friday, he asked for a PB sandwich, and of course, we are now totally peanut-free, thanks to Lu’s allergy, so I made him a SunButter sandwich, and he ate the whole thing! He didn’t even notice a difference! I was very excited, because Z is a pretty picky eater and PB is one of the few things he loves. On Saturday, he ate a Jif Almond Butter sandwich and loved it equally as much! Sweet!

These days Z is always proclaiming that he is a Power Ranger or a superhero of some sort. The other day when he said “I’m a Power Ranger” Lu said “I a Pincess!” That works, because, after all, every superhero needs a damsel in distress!

Friday night, we stayed in and ate with Dad again. Then, we put the kids to bed and watched a Shark Tank marathon, perfection, I tell ya!

Saturday, we got up early and went to the gym. Z had a group swim lesson, and we remembered why we took him out of those last year. There’s just so much sitting around. I think we’re going to stick with the Saturday group lesson and just add Friday private lessons back. Hopefully, he’ll be swimming confidently by his 16th birthday…

Saturday night, we went out to eat and to the mall. You know Z and his games. This time, me and Miss Priss went up to Gap and did some shopping. I had the BEST TIME! It’s like a lifelong dream of mine was realized (okay, maybe that’s an overstatement, but I was really really excited, and she was so cute). She kept pointing out all the “pitty shoes” and she tried on several. I loved watching her model the clothes and shoes. And I’m pretty sure sister’s going to have her own opinion REAL SOON, but for now, I’m still calling the shots on wardrobe (yeah, we’ll pass on the short shorts, ha).

We hit up the Lego Store, Build A-Bear (just to look) and ABC Toys, then went and got cookies from Great American Cookie Co.

We ended up buying Lu a Puzzle and Z a Nerf-like bow and arrow set (because that’s what he REALLY needs…). And of course, they are both obsessed with their new toys (for now). In short, it was all about them, and we couldn’t have been happier!

After we put them to bed, we stayed up and watched a movie.

Sunday, we stayed in most of the day and got stuff done around the house, like this:

 

I LOVE standouts, and we get all of ours from Mpix. Nick had done the first three rows of Z’s wall a while ago, and we had those three new ones from three separate photo shoots (obviously, we have gotten more selective with our prints), and they made a perfect bottom row.

and this:

Lu only has a few standouts so far, so we put hers up in her room too. I LOVE the way it all turned out!

Sunday, after nap, I took Lu to the grocery store and Nick took Z back to the pool. We love doing things as a family, but it’s also really great to have one on one time with each of the kids too. Why do they always behave so much better when they’re separate?!

Dinner, bath, and puzzles, and a great ending to a great weekend!

My Weekend with the Babes

Last weekend Nick left for a guy's trip (to Atlantis!) and I had some major bonding time with the babes. When Nick tried to explain to Z about where he was going, Z said "Well, it looks like I need to go with you on the trip!" You can't get anything past him anymore!

Thursday morning, they must have known something was up, because Lu cried most of the morning, then when she stopped, Z started whining "I don't wanna go to schoooool!" I was relieved and felt majorly accomplished when I got them to school that day (Nick usually does the drop off, and usually drama-free for that matter). 

That night we did double baths and double story time, but Lu wanted Z to read to her.

 We didn't do much on Friday, but we did run a few errands in our PJ's

Z practiced writing his name

We hung out a lot with Nunna and Jido, which was great. On Friday, I brought them over and Mom played with them and fed them while Dad and I sat around and chatted. It was really nice!

Saturday we went out to dinner and spent the night at Nunna and Jido's. They slept great, and Z was beyond excited!

Waking up at Nunna and Jido's! What a treat!

It was a long weekend, and we were VERY excited when Baba came home!