Early Summer Days

I started this post on Sunday but didn't have much to write so held it thinking I would add more.  Guess its been a quiet week because not much to add.  I figured I'd go ahead and post it.  Hope everyone has fun weekend plans, we are heading to the beach!


(Sunday 5/22)We had fun at our neighborhood pool for the first time this year yesterday.  First we had to run to target to get Amanda a bathing suit, maybe one day I'll be the type of person that plans ahead but probably not likely!

The water was cold but not unbearable, Amanda seemed to enjoy it too.  Jackson went down the slide a bunch and Lauren had fun jumping in.  At swim lessons they swim better than they did yesterday, hopefully they will put it all together soon.

For dinner Jason grilled steaks and we ate outside. Then cupcakes for dessert. The kids, Lauren especially, have my sweet tooth. Not the best trait to inherit.

Yum, I can't wait to eat this!

Licking fingers clean. 

  Yesterday I got a babysitter and had my hair cut/colored.  Then Jason and I went out to dinner, with Amanda. He ended up getting a work call so I ordered a nice blue cheese and pear salad and had a beer while waiting for him. It was a local restaurant and they were slow so everyone was pretty chatty. One of the waiters said he felt bad for me sitting there alone but I told him I was enjoying it! Then Jason and I enjoyed a nice dinner before heading home and sitting on the back deck talking for a while. 

Tomorrow is the kids last day of school, and I finally registered Jackson for Kindergarten this week!

Yesterday Jackson asked why his "feet cry" when he plays on the playground with socks/sneakers-I've never heard sweating described that way!

Meatballs!

Making Meatballs is "gross"

Laurens dinner was a success!  I had the kids help make the meatballs which was messy but I think they liked them because they helped make them.  I cut Jackson off at 6 meatballs, then him and Lauren both "sneaked" one off Jasons plate (he wasn't home from work yet).  I did notice Lauren put half of hers back on his plate....  Here is the recipe, I only used ground chuck and baking them in the muffin tins cut down on the greasy kitchen mess you usually have after making them!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/baked-meatballs-recipe/index.html
Bean and pasta soup from the freezer tonight, then a new chicken kabob recipe tomorrow, hoping its not too adventurous for Jason!
We were going to pick strawberries today but the place said that they are mostly gone, slim picking:(.  We are going to go to the bookstore and then the greenway to ride bikes instead. 

Carowinds!

 We took the kids to carowinds Sunday night and had a fun time, we even ended up buying season passes. At first, they were hesitant to try the rides but by the end of the night they both had a blast. Jackson was definitely more adventurous than Lauren. 

a little excited:)

Lauren sitting with Jason, Jackson alone.
They said I could ride with Amanda if we
took her out of the bjorn and had her
"sit" in the seat-we decided not to attempt that!

Jackson rode on the last car because
another kid told him it went the fastest!
Lauren wanted off....

He wanted to drive the car alone and then did the little roller coaster alone too!  He was really cute on the roller coaster, I went with him the first time and he was nervous but seemed to enjoy it, then we rode again and he loved it.  After that he rode with Jason and by himself.  Lauren did not have as much fun on it, she looked terrified!  She said that maybe when she is 4 she will like it.  I think she enjoyed the cotton candy as much as the rides.

Lauren Loves Cotton Candy!

On Sunday I told everyone that they had to pick what we were having for dinner one night this week.  I picked turkey chili, which we had last night.  Jackson and I had it again for lunch today and he said it was so good he wants it every day!  yeah!
Tonight its Laurens night and she wants meatballs.  "No spaghetti, sandwiches, or sauce, just Meatballs" she said.  I'm trying a new recipe so I'll let you know how it turns out. 
Jackson wants hot dogs, mac and cheese, corn and carrots and Jason wants chicken kabobs so those will be coming later this week.

Camping!!

I went to blog about camping the other day but blogger was down so here is the delayed run down of our adventure.
Much thanks to Michael for motivating us to camp and for getting the sites for us.  I know its out of his norm to "car camp" at a campground but we are glad he did!  We are also glad that Chappy was there to scare away any bears or Pinkfoot.  Michael and Marie were there, along with Patrick, Allison, Nathan, Luke and the five of us. 

Looking in the Cave!

We got there just after lunch on Saturday, pitched the tents and let the kids run around and play.  We even remembered our tent poles this year...  Our tent has a cover that extends on one side which Jason calls the "nursing nook," so I spent some time there with Amanda.  Then we all hiked to a waterfall and cave.  Nathan and Luke tried to see who could go the furthest back in the cave, it was small but had a really narrow section in the back.  We read that at one time 100 people were hiding in there, I can't imagine how they all fit!


Jason cooked us some hobo packs for dinner and Nathan was in charge of hot dogs.  Of course, camping can not be complete without smores, which the kids especially loved.  

yummy smores!

Thanks Tracy for the smores pop tarts and goldfish also!
It started to rain around 1030 at night so we all took cover in our tents.  It rained all night long but luckily we didn't have any major leaks.  For me, the low part of the night was when the air mattress had deflated and I was laying on the tent floor with nothing underneath, Lauren had stolen the sleeping bag and Amanda was on the other side of me so I was scared to move.  All I could think about was going in the car and turning on the seat warmers to warm up my bottom.  Eventually I maneuvered a sleeping bag under me and was much warmer! 

Michael made a big breakfast of bacon, sausage and egg sandwiches, which was served to me in the tent because it was Mothers Day-the camping version of Breakfast In Bed.
We packed up and walked around the lake before heading to Shana's for lunch.
Michael also told the kids that he had recently been attacked by a bear, which of course Jackson fully believed.  Truthfully, Michael had fallen on a rock while rafting which caused bleeding, a bright red eye and bruising.  When I picked Jackson up from school yesterday the teacher asked me if anyone in our family had been attacked by a bear because Jackson had told the class about Uncle Mike and the bear attack.  Try explaining that one...

Amanda enjoying the outdoors

 

Marie likes to wave in pictures

Nathan cooking our hot dogs

Group picture near the waterfall

Thumbs Up!

this cool rock was behind our campsite,
its where the kids spent most of the time!

Amandas "bed"

Line Leaders



Line Leader Day

The kids were SO excited yesterday because they were both the line leaders at school.  Jackson said his favorite part of being line leader is that you didn't have to hold the door for others-glad he has such nice etiquette.....

You also get to bring a something for show-and-tell on line leader day.  Earlier in the week Lauren had decided to bring a Hello Kitty stuffed animal and an old baby toy.  Not what I would have chosen but she was happy.  Jackson had decided to bring a lightning McQueen car with remote.  However, on the night before school he changed his mind and about had a mental breakdown over what to bring.  "I just don't know," he kept repeating long after bed time.  Jason and I gave him several good suggestions but he found them unsatisfactory.  He came into our room in the morning still saying he didn't know what to bring and all of our suggestions were vetoed.  He finally decided on his "bugs,” so we packed them up super quick before he could change his mind!

You would think I would like them going to school (which is a nice break!!) but it’s also really hard for me because the house is quiet with just Amanda here and all I can think about is Megan.  I usually waste most of the time they are gone sitting on the couch crying.  I'm sure this summer I will welcome some quiet time when they are home all the time but for now I prefer the distractions.

I forgot our BIG news-Lauren stopped sucking her fingers!!!  All on her own!  We told her after camping that she needed to stop sucking and she totally did it the next day.  Her bribery was a trip to Carowinds so we are going there tomorrow as long as it doesn't rain.  She has "loved" those fingers and would tell me how yummy they were so for her to give them up cold turkey I find amazing and inspiring.  If only I could give up nail biting that easily I know Jason would be happy:).

Doing watercolors while Mommy
cooks dinner

Sister bonding-
watching Dora together

Have a great weekend!

Guess the gift!

We are lucky because our parents send our kids gifts occasionally.  Jason's mom had bought the kids some things for Easter.  I am assuming she had her husband mail it which is always fun because he usually puts something else that we will call "unique" in the box also.  This time it was.....

Underwear?  For who-too big for Jackson and fortunately too small for me!
Diaper cover?
Rag?
For camping?  Guess your bottom would blend in....not sure about the rest of you....
I looked at the tag but all it says is "newborn."  There is no way it would fit Amanda, its still way too big.

She is sleeping but I tried to pose the gift, it actually
looks bigger in person!

So, the mystery garment is sitting on our counter-any ideas? Comments?

Christmas is fun at the Kelley's because Jasons dad usually has some other unique gifts that he puts in the stockings.  One year he didn't do anything and I was disappointed, I actually enjoy seeing his treasures, the more unique the better!

Dictator?

Some days I feel like all I do is tell the kids "no," especially with Jackson:).  Although I want to be a parent more than a friend I also don't want to be a dictator.  Here are some recent examples:
On Saturday, Jason and I told the kids that we were going to ride bikes on the greenway.  We took Jacksons training wheels off about a month ago and he hasn't wanted to try riding his bike since the first day, saying he would try when he turned 5.  Well, hes 5 now so I said it was Bike Day and kids had to ride their bikes.  He laid on the floor crying and refusing to go, calling the bike "boring."  I wasn't sure how much to force but decided that he needed to try.  Needless to say, after about 5 minutes of Jason helping him, he was off and the laughter that he emitted was full of pure joy.  Now he loves his bike and I will never be able to keep up with him again...

No more training wheels!!

A more simple example-We always make him pee before bed.  Last night he said he really didn't have to go so I let it slide because I didn't feel like forcing it.  Well, guess who woke me up at 1 in the morning soaking wet?  I was mad at myself for not forcing the potty time earlier as I changed him and the bed, while trying not to wake Lauren who was in his room having a sleepover. 

Sleepover

Keep your gum in your mouth, don't yell in Amanda's ear, 1...2...3..., quit messing and go potty, be nice, don't yell, 1....2....3....., eat your food, food stays in the kitchen, get in the car and buckle up, sit in your seat, buckle now, go potty, listen to mom, don't yell, please stop, let me get the scissors so I can cut the gum out of your hair, stop, lets go inside and change your wet pants, no food in family room, 1....2....3...., get the vacuum and help me clean, don't yell in anyones ear, be nice to your sisters, listen to mom, go potty, the list could easily go on and on.
I had a friend tell me once that she read for every one negative comment you tell your kid you should tell them 5 positive comments-Wow, that's a lot.  I do mix positive in with negative but not on a 5:1 ratio.
So, when does the dictatorship stop??? 

I guess this is why we often hear these two statements as a child: Because I said so and Mom is always(at least mostly) right!



Aren't they so cute....