According to Blogger.com this is my 200th post!!
Signal the balloons and streamers!
And yet, this post is not my typical. This is one of those rare entries that wraps 2 weeks up into 1. I try to post once a week, but with this being the busy season at work, I've got less energy and less time for blogging. (Thank god the end of the semester is quickly approaching.)
I don't know how people only blog once a month (or even less, like some of my friends). I literally cannot remember what happened 3 nights ago. I'm hoping that's more a sign of frazzled parenting than my own intelligence. But who knows?!?!
Anyway, I'll do my best to recount the activities of the last 14 days.
In short, we had a snowy weekend indoors, followed by a warm weekend outdoors.
Spring storms arrived Saturday. April is such a tease!
I'm looking for sunscreen one minute, and mittens the next.
While it makes me grumpy. It didn't phase the kids. Sage was pretty excited (and baffled) to see snow outside his window.
That afternoon, we drove to Loveland for a birthday party.
Sam's little sister Joanna was turning a year old.
The photo booth was a hit with all the kids.
Being indoors doesn't mean there is a shortage of creativity. The kids are ALWAYS inventing new ways to make messes. This activity - which Sage calls "the experiment" was the preferred game for a week straight. They moved "the experiment" from room to room, arranging the chairs into shapes of all sorts. (At one point I caught Kale sitting in a chair....on top of another chair!)
"The experiment" is sort of like an obstacle course. Some resemblance to the "floor is lava" game I played as a kid. Smart idea. Cute to watch. But when Sage blocked the entrance to both the kitchen and the stairs, I had to kindly protest. Time for a new game!
Sometime mid-week the kids found my stash of fingernail polish. Sage was just tickled to paint his nails. And announced to his family "I'm so excited to show my friends at school tomorrow!"
He even got to show his nails to the dentist!! :)
According to the dentist, we are doing a great job brushing Sage's teeth. It's a battle on most nights. Not all. But enough of them that I dread it.
But with such a good report, why not celebrate with a chocolate-dipped rice krispie treat?!? Sage also earned himself a toy from the dentist's treasure chest.
For the most part - Sage totally digs going to the dentist. All fun, great prizes, and no pain. He's so cute to watch in the exam chair. He asks lots of questions. "What's this? What's that do?" And at one point reached over, pushed a button, and shot the dentist with a blast of air. (Thank goodness it wasn't the water squirter!)
Friday, Matt and I resumed our lunch date. We went to the new Fort Collins outdoor mall. Which is pretty dang awesome. They have a big grassy knoll in the middle of the shops, with speakers, a water fountain, and big rockers. Yes - we'll be coming back!
Then, on Saturday morning, Matt and I arranged for a babysitter to come over for 2 hours so Matt and I could have breakfast together. We sat on the patio. It was a balmy 55 degrees. Forecasts predicted low 70's...but the temperatures were on a very slow rise.
We were cold. But we still enjoyed a little adult time to kick the weekend off on the right foot.
Then back to business as usual.
The lawnmower made its first appearance of the season.
Sage and I made a run to Costco.
Then swung by the park to burn off some energy.
And then it was Sunday.
And a sweet moment was shared between brothers.
These two have a love-hate relationship. Well, to be more precise, it's mostly love, with some jealousy-infused tantrums. Some of my favorite moments are secretly watching Sage lead Kale around the yard/room/school by his hand. "C'mon Kale. This way, Kale." Friggin melts my heart!
And on that note. The other day, Sage told his dad that he wants us (Matt and I) to have another baby. And... he would also like to have a baby of his own. When we ask him if he wants a girl or boy, he always says "a Kale." And then he counts, "One Kale, two kale, three kale...."
So yeah... mostly love. :)
Matt's been staying busy this Spring preparing his garden.
Check out these tulips!!
And then the rat race began once more.
Tuesday night on my drive home from work I was starving. So I ran through the Burger King drive thru for some french fries. (So indulgent and perfect!) Then I sat in the parking lot of the boys' school, eating my snack, and enjoying a quiet moment to myself before the "second shift."
And I got caught!
Sage was on the playground with his buddies. He saw me in my car. And then they all tried to climb the fence...
Ha ha! Busted!
And now...your weekly gratitude update.
