The party

Celebrated Teag's birthday on Monday with the fam.

Waterpark fun

This one has been asking to go to Coco Key for his birthday for like, ever.

So on Sunday, that's what we did.

It took Tess a little while to get used to the water, and while she never did decide she liked that huge dumping bucket, she did enjoy the water jets that came up in the pool.

The big boys pretty much disappeared to the big slides, although I did forbid Tanner to crack a smile, laugh, or have fun in any way, because aw man, he really didn't want to go.

Travis

And Tanner

I think, oh wait, there he is.

After several hours and an almost $40 lunch, we headed home. Cold and tired but having had much fun.

Teagan is 6

 My baby boy is a 6 yr old today.

Just 6 short years ago he came barreling out into the bathtub and he hasn't slowed down since.

Despite the fact that you can be moody and withdrawn like your mother, and despite the fact that you pick at your older siblings until they want to kick your butt, you are still and will always be, my sweet baby boy.

Happy Birthday Teag Man!

A lot

That's what has been on my mind lately. A lot. No time to blog just because I can't seem to put my thoughts down. This is my apology. I hope to do better.

Anyway, rumor has it that we're expecting again.

Not one of these.

Some of this.

Geesh, people. Cut me a break.

I start thinking it's spring and someone always says "you know, it's supposed to snow".

Haven't seen it yet, so let's hope they are wrong.

My brain has been on overdrive lately, but it will have a forced slow down this week. We will say goodbye to my grandma on Friday. This is her and Tess at her 100th birthday party. We would have celebrated 102 birthdays in June. Wow. Just to say that out loud..... 102. How many people can say that? 

I'm not sure how I feel about the whole thing. I am sad, of course, but for a couple different reasons. While my logical mind knew she wouldn't live forever, I guess my heart thought she would. So despite knowing that this was inevitable, I just never really expected it to come. I'm also sad because I don't think I've seen her since that party. I just always assumed she would be there, like I remembered her. Not the way she had been for the last several years. The Alzheimers took so much from her. She had a hard enough time remembering her own five children, let alone the multitudes of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren. I feel guilty that I didn't go to see her in the nursing home, justifying it by saying I was so busy with my own family, but really not wanting to face that she wasn't the grandma I remembered from my childhood, that she didn't even recognize me. I have such great memories of her from when I was young that I didn't want these new memories clouding that. Does that make sense?

It is because of her that I have my own big family. I always saw her as the strong matriarch of this wonderfully large family, and I wanted that too. To grow old surrounded by my children and grand children, little cousins laughing and playing together at my feet. I think that's what would make me happiest, and I like to think, it did her too. 

#2 is 11

Travis is 11 today. Or rather will be at 11:15 tonight if you want to be all official like. This one snuck up on me. No, not really. How could it with "my birthday is in 2 weeks, 6 days, 4 days, 2 days, tomorrow...."? Know what I mean? The boy has been asking for a Lego train for like, ever. And every day since then.
Teagan told me a little while ago "If Travis gets a Lego train for his birthday, I will be so proud. Because he will help me do Lego crashes." Yes, apparently there is a whole Lego crash movement out there on You*Tube. And my 5 yr old said he would be proud. That was the funniest part of that sentence.

We will be officially celebrating tomorrow since I will be headed to work shortly. Or maybe not. I guess I'll be on call. So I can keep my cooties at home.

Conversations that may never be repeated

The littlest T has caught the germs that have been floating around the house for the last week. Despite falling asleep twice on the couch today, about 8:40 tonight she says.....
T: Mama?
M: What?
T: I tired.
M: You're tired?
T: Yes. I wanna go bed.
M: You want to go to bed?
T: Yes. Where's Dora blankie?
M: Your Dora blankie is in your room. You want to tell Daddy nigh night?
T: No.

Then we walked to the stairs, she said "Hands", so I took her hand and we walked up the stairs.
Her latest thing is to sleep with every blanket in her room, so after throwing "Dora blankie", and "balloon blankie" into the bed, we had to throw in "bear blankie" too. I put her into bed, bundled her under her blankies, she curled up on her pillow and said "Guh night, Mama." And that was that.

It is these memories I savor. Sometimes they are almost too sweet for words.

Hits and misses from the weekend

Hit: Got to spend time with this chubby cheeked fella.

Who am I, you ask? 

I'll give you a hint......it starts with an "O" 

Miss: Although I loved snuggling with the boy, his mother insisted on reminding me about this huge paper we have to write AND made it a point to tell me it is due a whole week earlier than I realized. Darn it.

Repeat the mantra....last major paper, last major paper, last major paper....... 

Hit: Taking the peeps to the Children's Museum on "free day"! 

Miss: Frugal Mom fail. Apparently every mother, father and grandparent in Indiana and Ohio had the same idea. And it was raining. 

Hit: The kids enjoyed it anyway and I got to count activity points for the massive amount of walking. 

Miss: It was freaking packed. So much so, I'm surprised the fire marshall didn't show up to shut them down. 

Hit: Packed a sensible lunch and stayed within my WW points.

Miss: This is what I looked like when I stepped on the scale this weekend. Freakin 1.8 lb gain.

Hit: Four free kids meals at Frisch's with Valentine card coupons. Woowoo!

Miss: I don't really like Frisch's. 

Hit: Had a nice long week off of work.

Miss: The kids gave me their cough and chest congestion the day before I'm due to go back to work. Heathens.

Hit: Tess peed in the potty all day long today.

Miss: She only does it if she is naked from the waist down. Not sure how well that will go over at daycare.

Hit: Finished my state and federal taxes. Should get a big fat check!

Miss: Can use it to pay my city taxes. Blah!