Heaven....or HELL!?!?!?!

The trip....well I will just tell you I don't know what we were thinking. Honestly. Were we high on crack we didn't know we had taken when we planned this?

I am glad that I am optimistic and hopeful and think of all of the positive attributes of my children while planning a vacation, (instead of all the missed naps, temper tantrums, random crying, sauciness, frustration, me getting angry about all the insanity and then feeling like a bad mother for yelling at her children during all of the ensuing madness). But...it would be helpful to remember some of them. I tend to have rose colored glasses when planning trips and I just think how many wonderful, fun, memory-making times we will have together. The reality is very different. I need to remember the WORK involved in a trip.

I'm not saying that I have not had fun. I have. We have had some very great times and I really appreciate them. I am grateful how after some time, most bad memories fade a little and good memories grow a little. Maybe in 6 months I will be telling everyone what a great trip this was. We'll see. I miss everyone. I miss my house and my washer and dryer, my family and friends, my daily life grind that I so desperately wanted and needed to get away from. I am ready to be home right now.

5

We decided to do a cousin-only birthday party for Aidan, since it gets too crazy with a million friends. I found a great coupon for Chuck E Cheese's so we just took a cake he asked me to make,(white with chocolate-sour cream frosting)and had the kids eat pizza and play. I think Aidan had a really great day. He was celebrated in pre-school, we took him to his choice of lunch, (Red Robin) and then took him to Build-a-Bear Workshop to pick out an animal. He named it Kaden, which he says is his favorite name and he is going to name his little boy that when he grows up. It's hilarious. After that he got to go to Chuck-E-Cheese's. What a fun day! I am so grateful for this sweet, loving, amazing little boy and for the joy he brings into our lives.

The gang

best buds Aidan and Tyson Sienna, Kaitlyn, and Savanna

Kaitlyn, Ty, and Aidan

grownups get to have fun too!

29

This is forever late, but my 29th birthday was on February 19th. For some crazy reason, I kept thinking that I was turning 30. It would drive Spence crazy whenever I would say that, but I finally got it into my brain. Spencer had to work, but my sweet little brother Paul decided that I had to have a birthday party. I originally thought just he and Kelsey were going to come over, but he invited my brother, Robert and his wife, Michelle, my parents, and even Shannon, Tyson, and Savanna were able to come. It was so fun. He brought hats and a cake and just his fun self. It was a great day.

The kids in full party gear

Shan, me and Kelsey

Growin' little ones

I took Aidan and Madelyn to the pediatrician's office today for their well-child visits. They are both doing very well. I just wanted to post their stats so I can remember everything.

AIDAN:
Height: 43 inches (50th percentile)
Weight: 41.1 pounds (50th percentile)
He has been in the 50th percentile his ENTIRE life. Crazy!

MADELYN:
Height: 30.3 inches (15th percentile)
Weight: 21.2 pounds (10th percentile)
Her head measures in the 50th percentile.

Little baby. She was sick and lost some weight last week and I feel bad that she is so tiny. How do I get her to eat?