why I live for weekends

weekdays consist of school, drop offs, pick ups, playdates, classes at the gym, online classes, L's ballet classes, library storytime, the never ending cycle of dishes/laundry/cleaning, etc.  It has great moments, is usually never as productive as hoped, but barrels along our usual schedule with only a few new highlights to share.

We enrolled E in a mom-and-me music class called Music Together.  We did it with the big girls but once there were three of them, it was too much to juggle and we've missed a few terms.  But Fridays is just me and little E, so we have begun attending again and she loved it right off the bat.  She bounces and sings and plays.  My favorite is hearing her sing our class songs outside of class and watching her dance.  She's stubborn and independent but make me melt cute and I love this precious, one-on-one experience I get to share with her.

L had another report card come out along with Parent Teacher Conferences.  She's brilliant, excels in every area, scoring far above the goal for her age.  She's reportedly helpful and friendly and her favorite activity is centers (usually art projects or computer time).  Her best scores were in Language Arts Foundational Skills (comprehension, phonics, sight words and reading) and together we set goals to focus more on math and punctuation/capitalization.  While "on level", she forms the letters/numbers like a picture, not necessarily top to bottom/left to right.  For math, she's learning addition and is beginning subtraction. She regularly asks me for "Matilda books", chapter books with little or no pictures.  She used to just leaf through them, imitating me (or Matilda) reading them.  But lately she excitedly points out words she recognizes or sounds out words correctly.

A's favorite part of school is her art and music classes.  They focus on a different composer each month and her favorite so far is Beethoven.  She begs to listen and then conducts the music while L practices ballet around her.  She's making lots of friends at school and tries to finagle playdates as often as possible.

With the new year, husband and I talked about some things we wanted to improve upon.  Not necessarily goals but areas to focus or be more diligent.  We've now set a record for Family Home Evening 4 weeks in a row, using a quick and easy trick I learned from a friend.  We have a set of the library pictures, with the stories listed on the back.  I put them all in clear sleeves in a 3 rings binder.  So instead of trying to come up with a lesson, or brushing it off because I didn't plan a lesson, we are going to try to start at the beginning and do one picture each week, introducing the girls to all of these classic scripture stories.  So far, its going well and the girls are enjoying it.  Not easy, I get frustrated when they bounce in every direction, but at least we're trying.

I'm also trying to be more diligent in cooking with pre-planned monthly menus.  I cook healthier food, try new recipes and spend less on groceries when there's more planning.  With our chaotic schedule and habit of last minute changes, it doesn't always work out but again, something to work on.

Husband and I began attending a community offered parenting class based on the Step program, Love & Logic and the 5 Love Languages.  The girls get a kick out of us going to "mom and dad school" but it's been pretty fantastic so far and well worth the time.  You can never learn enough about what matters most right?



But the weekends are always a new adventure with tons of stuff packed in, a departure from the norm, generally chaotic and usually exhausting enough to warrant wanting another day to rest before diving into another Monday.  :)

1st weekend in January: Friday night we had a good friend (one of husband's mission companions) come over for dinner.  The girls fawned over him and then we stayed up late into the night talking.  The girls were ecstatic to find out he had spent the night and stayed for breakfast.  I loved watching them flip through photo albums and reminisce about friends and experiences.
We spent Saturday with husband's family.  We went tubing on a huge beautiful hill.  Husband took the two big girls to the top while E and I were resigned to the toddler hill.  But after a few runs she was bored and unsurprisingly, began begging to do the big hill (bonafide thrill seeker at age 2).  A did not enjoy the tubing (I should have predicted that, she loves the idea but instantly regrets any thrill ride/ferris wheel).  So eventually, I sat in the ski lodge with A asleep against me while Husband took L and E for another ride.  We had a big family dinner at Grandma's house and then ventured over to the infamous ice castles, which the girls are convinced were made by Elsa.  The best part was watching the stand and sing "Let in Go" in the middle of the crowd.  The worst part was getting separated and spending half the time looking for family in the large crowd.  But all in all, the ice castles were amazing!
oh, and then that Sunday, I was called to be the new committee chair for the Enrichment Committee.  Being on the committee for the past few months, I had become good friends with the previous chair and will miss working with her.  But the calling itself is exciting and fun and pretty much the best ever.  Updates to come I'm sure.

2nd weekend: Friday night date night!  dinner and a movie with my smokin hot husband.  We went to a local steakhouse that I had never tried before.  One of my clients from the gym works there so we chatted with her, had delicious steaks and enjoyed relaxing and talking through our first-in-a-long-time date.  We saw Saving Mr. Banks, which was more deep and complex than I had predicted but was fun and beautiful and was a wonderful tribute.  I loved the movie and immediately had to call my kid sister and Disney-geek with her about it.
Saturday morning, L had a dance rehearsal and Daddy went hunting so the little girls and I played through the morning and then as soon as L was finished, we headed north to spend the evening with cousins at a giant play center.  They played and chased and giggled for a long while as my mom, sister in law and I sat and chatted and planned upcoming family activities.  We spent the night at my mom's, attended church with her and lounged around through the afternoon, watching a movie with the girls and playing.  In the evening, the girls and I met Daddy at a family party with cousins on his side.  There was plenty of  tasty food and two birthdays to be celebrated with tons of family and friends.  The girls flirts with the cousins twenty years older then they and ran around with the cousins their ages.  L showed off her ballet, A preformed check ups and pronounced diagnoses (she's an avid Doc McStuffins fan), E charmed everyone in the house with her toddler chatter and renditions of "You are my sunshine"

3rd weekend: The big girls didn't have school on friday (teacher prep day) so they got to attend music class with E.  It was particularly noisy and chaotic but a lot of fun and they happily dove into the familiar songs and games.  Their favorite part is the instrumental free play or dancing with scarves.  After lunch the girls and I (Husband had to stay home for work commitments and church meetings) met Grammy for our long drive south to see Grandma-Great.  We stopped along the way to let them run and fill their tummies but arrived in the evening, eager to visit Grandma.  The girls bounded in to see her, squealed and then immedaitely recoiled when they saw the dogs (every visit).  They quickly warmed up to the dogs again before and soon declared them to be best friends.  Since w hadn't been able to do a trip during Christmas break this year, we brought gifts for Grandma and she generously gave the girls special presents too.  E loved her new baby and accompanying diaper bag, playing with her all weekend and ever since (she's currently asleep with her in her crib).  The bigger girls got a little etcha sketch that they found fascinating and another gift.  Upon opening their gifts, they were ecstatic, shrieking about their new "twinkle twirler"s (otherwise known as a sock monkey ballerina).  Their excitement was priceless and adorable.  They doted on them throughout the weekend, playing with them, exploring and pretending.  And now, they have a prized spot among many stuffed animal friends.
Saturday: We ran some errands, explored the thrift store, drove around the charming town and best of all, found the perfect fabric for a "new yellow".  Yellow, A's faithful companion since birth, is beyond repair and literally falling apart.  I fear we are within days of a traumatic end but we happened to find a shockingly similar fabric to the very unique original and with A's approval, have charged Grammy with creating the replacement.  We took Grandma out for dinner and spent most the rest of the day watching the girls play with their new toys, playing games we brought from home, being introduced to Grandma' new favorite musicians (Celtic Thunder, who are quite amazing and well worth it)  Each night, the girls cuddled in, arguing over who got to sleep with Grammy.  E had her first night in a "big bed".  Her crib was set up but she charmed Grammy into putting her to bed in the very comfortable, large queen sized bed.  Lounging on a giant pillow and tucked in gracefully with her baby blankets, she looked like an angel and obediently never even tried to slip out of the bed to go play.
Sunday: we attended church with Grandma Great, with the usual wiggling and shushing through sacrament before the girls eagerly went to their Primary classes.  After church, lunch and quiet time, we visited the cemetery where much of our family rests to help collect Christmas decoration and leave and little Valentine's decor.  The girls giggled and explored with more energy and volume than likely appropriate but they were helpful and sweet.  But eventually evening came, we dressed the girls in pjs and loaded them into the car to begin the drive home.  It was much quieter than the previous trip as they slept most of the way until we arrived home where Daddy was waiting to help carry them to bed.

4th weekend: Friday was a girls night.  Husband had been gone all week for work and due to arrive at midnight.  But since it was Friday, the girls and I wanted to do something special.  So I let them pick a place to go for dinner.  To my surprise, they declared Taco Bell.  Recently L came home from dance, apparently convinced from a friend that Taco Bell is the greatest food ever and she has regularly begged for it since.  So we went to Taco Bell, we even went in to eat, rather than the drive through (me versus three kids, I thought it was brave.)  and we had a wonderful time.  Then we went to the grocery store to pick out a treat for our movie night.  L picked donuts, A picked sugar snap peas, E asked for popcorn and I chose cocoa almonds.  Quite the variety.  Upon arriving home, I surprised the girls by inflating an air mattress (they were delighted, it was a first time for them), we piled on the blankets and watched Monster University.  They were even more delighted when I agreed to a sleepover, letting them stay all night on the air mattresses. 
Saturday morning, they were thrilled to see their Daddy, piling on him and smothering him as much as possible.  Unfortunately we dove into our day quickly.  I had a team practice at the gym and errands to run while Daddy helped a friend moved.  We played together through the afternoon and L got to go with Dad to help with our church cleaning assignment.  Then he came home to get A and she helped wash the truck.  E got plenty of cuddles and finally, the babysitter arrived and I got to go on a date with him.  (two in one month!!)  We went on a double date with some good friends from our old ward.  We went to dinner, catching up on work, families, friends and the latest news about the pregnancy of twins.  We went to the movies to see The Secret Life of Walter Mity, which was amazing! Breathing taking scenery, excellent cinematography and a clever intriguing, uplifting story.  It also makes it the third movie we've seen in a one month span (having taken the girls to see Frozen--also amazing!!) and sets the record.  After the movie, we shared some ice cream to finish out the evening.
Sunday:  Another crazy fun filled Sunday starting with the morning blitz to make is to church at our new 9 am schedule.  After which, Husband juggled the girls while I had a committee meeting and then we piled in the car and drove to my brother's house to help celebrate our nephew's 1st birthday.  The girls ran off to play with cousins while the adults chatted.  We had dinner and watched as the birthday boy had his first tastes of ice cream and cake.

and that my friends, is January in a nutshell.

quote of the day

A must of picked this up in a book recently, but when she's feeling rather affectionate, she will put her forehead against mine and say, "mommy, I love you more than sheep."  I finally figured out that I'm supposed to reply similarly with something that I love her more than.  So we go rounds and rounds of this, getting sillier with each reply.  I love that cute kid.

quote of the day

me: "I'm really tired. L, can you drive? Then I can take a nap."
L: "What?! No! I can't drive!"
me: "please? I really want to take a nap."
L: "I can't drive! I don't know where to go and we will get lost and never get to Grandma-Great's house!"
me: "Oh.  okay, well Grammy will sit next to you and she will stay awake and tell you how to get there."
L: "No! Because she will say left and right I don't always know my left and my right and we will get lost!"
me: "uh. yeah I guess that's a pretty good reason actually."
L: "yeah, we have to wait until I'm older and then I can drive."
me: "ok.  good thinking."

quote of the day

Several weeks ago I came upon little Miss E, taking bottles of sunscreen out of their place under the bathroom cabinet and piling them next to her.
me: "whatcha doing?"
her: "I packing for my trip."
me: "oh! where are you going."
her: "disneyworld."
Just as simple as and as matter of fact as could be!  I thought it was adorable.

Two days later she brought me a bag, again telling me she was going on a trip.  She had packed socks and a blanket.

And a week later, I found her trying to open the front door, wearing a backpack in which she had packed her princess dress up shoes and a cookie.

And each time, "I go on a trip.  I go to DisneyWorld."  And really, she's actually packed quite well so far.

Nothing happened for a month.  And then this morning she brought me a bag with fruit leather, daddy's tape measure and her toy camera. "Go on trip? Go to DisneyWorld?"

quote of the day

Among her many nicknames, I often call our baby my Love.  So yesterday I told her "You are the love of my life."  To which she replied "You are the mommy of my life." 

princess dancing time

A long while ago my parents got this clock.  It's a Seiko wall clock, classy and beautiful.  But the best part is that it chimes gentle melodies on the hour.  My kids have taken to calling this "princess dancing time".  When the chimes begin, they jump up squealing and then float and twirl like little ballerinas.  Last Christmas, my parents gave us the same still of clock which patiently waiting in storage until we moved into our new home and hung it in the family room.  And still, the girls jump up, exclaiming and professing "princess dancing time".  Even little E will declare, "mommy! It songing! princess dancing time!" and sway and reach and twirl.

wrapping up 2013

With our trip to Grandma Great's house cancelled, we stayed at home for the weekend.  We got home Friday and evening and spent most of the weekend unpacking and playing with our new toys. 

On Sunday evening, we invited family over for dinner including Grandpa and Grandma, Grandma's sister, her daughter and her little family.  The kids had a great time playing together and after dinner we got to see pictures from Grandma and Grandpa's trip to Africa again.  (They did a show and tell night one evening before Christmas.  We got to see all their souvenirs, received some gifts and ate traditional food that was surprisingly tasty.  Even the girls liked it, especially some of the chocolate they had brought home from their layover in London.)

We ended up making a surprise trip to Idaho for a funeral.  One of Grandpa's cousins passed away and we wanted to be with family to support.  So we dropped the girls off at my parent's house and piled in with Grandma, Grandpa and husband's kid sister.  We arrived at the end of the viewing, hurrying in to greet family and then joined some of them for dinner at a nearby Olive Garden.  It was fun talking with family, most of whom I'd never met but enjoyed meeting.  We spent the night at a hotel, rather enjoying the date night feel to it (despite circumstances), staying up watching a movie and talking for hours.  We attended the viewing and funeral the next morning and I really enjoyed hearing about his life, even though I didn't know him well.  We joined everyone at the cemetery for the dedication and then back at the church for the luncheon.  We sat with the aunties, family that I know well and love very much.  We talked through lunch and then I loved how family and friends were invited to share stories from the microphone and some even preformed favorite musical numbers.

The drive home was fairly quick.  We gathered up our girls and headed over to my brother's house for a New Year's Eve party.  We had Alfredo pasta and then laid out a huge dessert fondue.  But the kids were much more interested in playing with cousins and had a great time running around.  At 10:00, we watched the Times Square ball drop and singing the few words we know to Auld Lang Syng.  Except L who knows all the words perfectly and was upset with us for not doing it right.  We put the kids to bed, which took even longer than the usual cousin sleepover since they were so wound up.  Eventually they were quiet and on their way to sleep while the remaining adults gathered to lounge around and talk.  Husband and I introduced our new favorite game, dubbing it "slips".  We watched the midnight ball drop, toasted with sparkling cider and returned to our game which had all of us laughing too hard to talk by the end.  After that we stayed up until nearly two, talking and laughing through videos on YouTube.

The new morning, the men went hunting while the women played with kids.  Or in my case, laid on the couch trying to sleep some more while the kids played around me.  We made a huge breakfast, played awhile longer and eventually gathered the kids and took them to Carl's Jr. so they could run and play in the giant playplace.

And finally home again, still recovering from the holiday aftermath as we clean, organize and unpack.  The girls are loving their break from school and playing well together.  Their new favorite activities include L leading them in storytime while all of them pile onto her top bunk bed, or playing hide and seek in the house while I help them find the perfect spots to hide.