Weekends

We had cousins night out last weekend!  My cousin, Matt, and his family live in Chicago, and we don't get to see him very often.  Actually, I don't see my cousins that live in town that often!  We are so bad about getting together, just busy lives.  Anyway sometimes the Chicago clan comes into town for the Blackhawks/CBJ game, and we all get together.  It was great to see everyone and catch up.  The "people watching" was priceless too.  Man...I'm glad I'm not that young anymore.  We hung out at Bar Louie in the Arena District, so there was every variety of young partier there.  One girl puked at a table near us and then proceeded to puke all the way downstairs and into the bathroom.  Eeeww!  There was a group of preppy chicks standing in a nearby group, and one turned around to see what was happening.  Her eyes nearly popped out of her head.  So funny.  My cousin, Katie, went to the restroom and could barely get through the girls trying to re-apply their makeup.  They were asking her for more makeup!  What the what!!!  Our waitress was wearing acid wash jeans that appeared to be high-waisted - a blast from my past...are those coming back in?  So weird.  And the DJ was hilarious to watch too!  The best was when he played a Christmas song - Mariah Carey of course.  And the place started dancing like it was Christmastime.  I think we were in the twilight zone. 

First ice cream of the summer!

It's gorgeous outside this weekend!  I'm so happy that the weather appears to be turning.  Do I pull out summer clothes for me and the kids?  I did put away the winter coats last night.  I also cleaned out the toys in the toy room.  Four bags out!  Two of them were stuffed animals.  I limited my kids to 10 each.  We landed at 12 each, so I consider that a win.  I need to go through the toys in the toy closet next, and I think most of them in the basement are just going straight to Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Emma has been in prime from lately.  She is definitely our strong-willed child!  She hates when we tell her to do something - or to not do something.  Even if she knows punishment is coming, she often defies us anyway.  Last weekend she was sitting on the couch watching her Kindle, which she pronounces Kaaandle, and she said, "I'm watching x show because nobody's going to stop me!"  I think she knows she a force to be reckoned with.  Whenever she does something she knows she not supposed to do, I ask her why she did x activity.  She usually responds, "Because I want to."  She knows that punishment is coming, but she decides it's worth it.  Ugg....we are going to be battling for years.  Any chance she will grow out of this defiant stage?  We hope so :)

In the meantime, we are trying to enjoy the special moments that are left of the kids being young.  Every morning Hannah and Emma want piggy rides from Dad downstairs.  Matt happily obliges.  And occasionally we let Emma sleep in our bed on the weekend.  They are growing up so fast, and that will all be over soon. 

Spring.. Or Not

Spring is here, and I was thinking about switching out my and the kids' clothes this weekend.....and then it got cold again.  So we'll wait for it to warm back up again.  Ohio likes to mess with us like this.  But the good thing about this time of year is that the cold won't last long, and it will be warm again before we know it.  So maybe I'll switch clothes next weekend.

2016 just won't let up for us it seems.  Just when I thought we were turning a corner and basketball was finally over, my back started acting up.  Actually it started getting bad in January, and unfortunately has progressively gotten worse.  This isn't a new problem for me, just one that gets worse the older I get.  It stinks getting old!  I am seeing a couple of neurosurgeons this month.  So say a quick prayer for me, and we'll hope for the best :/

On that note, I knew I wouldn't be doing my regular gardening this year, and we needed to get our back step fixed.  It is made of block and was slanting really bad.  It was at the point of being dangerous for anyone to navigate.  So we decided to have a landscaping company come and fix the step, clean up the patio, edge our beds, and mulch everything.  The weeds were already starting to take over, and I was not going to be able to keep up with them.  With a heavy layer of mulch, the weeding will stay to a minimum.

On a fun note, we recently had St. Patty's day, Easter, and Emma's 4th birthday.  And Matt sliced his finger on a can lid - eek!  Our kids l.o.v.e St. Patrick's Day.  I think it's because their school makes a big deal of it.  They wear festive clothes and necklaces and headbands, or whatever garb they can find.  We got them green cupcakes for in the morning.  I think they do some fun activities at school too.  Nothing too heavy, like green beer or anything.  But green milk and green colored lunch food :)

Someone is loosing teeth like crazy!

Emma's birthday fell on Easter this year.  Jackpot for me!  Meaning I didn't have to plan an extra party..hee hee (that's my evil laugh!) The kids hunted eggs at our house inside in the morning, and they hunted eggs again in the afternoon at Aunt Lisa's house outside.  Their goal is always to find the golden egg!  Of course Aunt Lisa hides three golden eggs, one for each girl.  She's so smart!  I'm pretty sure when I was a kid, there was one golden egg, or bonus as it was called then, for about eight of us....kids have it so easy these days.  Anyway, the kids love the egg hunt.  We also celebrated Emma's birthday with cake and presents.  It was a fun afternoon.

Hannah and the Diva coloring eggs

Ellen saying the throw back, "One for Money..."

Inventorying the loot

Emma telling me all of the mermaids on her cake

Sheriff Callie has a horse?

The kids spent last week with Papa and Grammy for Spring Break, while we worked.  They had so much fun...horse riding, playing in the woods, ping pong, games, movies.  It was a great week for them.  Monday, it's back to school.  Two more months, and summer is here.  Hopefully I will write on here more than once or twice.  But we'll see!