Spring Break '17

Spring Break doesn't mean beach vacations for us (yet) but it does mean lots of family time! Ainsley is out of preschool, BSF is out, and our days are wide open to play. The beginning of the week was super nice and sunny, and luckily we soaked up all the sunshine we could. We played outside , went for walks and enjoyed the Vitamin D. 

  

 

Tuesday we really had no plans during the day and when we woke up we decided to take a hike at the Gorge. The kids had never been and we thought it would be fun. We hiked up to Natural Bridge, took the sky lift down and back up, then hiked (carried them) back down. It was for sure a work out for Philip and I, and Ainsley said her legs were "exhausted".

 

  

 

    

 

A hike at the Gorge isn't complete without a stop at Miguel's Pizza. Both kids loved the pizza- or maybe they were just that hungry. Maybe that's why the pizza tastes so amazing? 

 

That night we went to the Stearley's for a cook out. The kids were all running wild and having a great time, as Ainsley serenaded us with a guitar and Parker stuffed his apple into the baseball pitcher.

 

 Wednesday morning I met some girls from BSF and their kids at Jacobson Park. It was crowded and I may or may not have lost my kids a few times. Each. It happens. They played, fed the ducks, got some scrapes and left happy. 

 

 

 Wednesday night crazy storms rolled in and brought cold with it. Philip made it home from work in time to watch the radar while I worked on getting the kids down. 

Thursday we went to the Y, the library, chik fil a and sat by the fire at home. 

  

Friday we spent the whole day in pjs playing princesses, cars, crafts and games. 

 

 

Also this is what Parker does when he's ready to go to bed and you're downstairs getting him some milk. Runs and gets his blanky and waits for you. 

 

 

I know one day our spring breaks will look a lot different, but for now I really am loving spending this time with my kids. Well, most the time. Last night I told Philip I had to get out of the house and be by myself for an hour or so and he happily said go:) so I grocery shopped at meijer lol 

Life Lately

Well the biggest most exciting thing that has happened is my niece is here! 

Meet Amelia Rae, arriving at 1:31pm, 7lbs 10oz. She is perfect with the most gorgeous hair I've ever seen. 

 

  

Anna Beth is smitten (counting her toes and kissing on her). We can't wait for her to be to be running around at Nanny Pops in a princess dress soon:) 

 

 Parker cut 3 teeth at one time and they finally came through. He was not a happy boy for a few weeks but thankfully he's back to his happy self. 

 

We celebrated St Patrick's Day by having Ainsley's friend Liam over for a play date. The playroom looked like a tornado, an earthquake and then another tornado ripped through it:) but Ainsley and Liam cleaned the whole room up by themselves! My OCD self had to let them put toys wherever they wanted instead of where they "belong".  

Our sweet little Jack Man had his 3rd birthday party and it was Super Hero themed. All the kids ran around in capes and masks at The Little Gym and had a great time. I think Parker had the best time.  

 

 

 

The weather has been crazy bouncing back and forth between snow flurries and sunshine, but we have enjoyed being outside when we can and curling up by the fire when we can't! 

 

   March madness is in full effect- our household is cheering Go Cats Go!!

 

Life Lately

Life has been different around here lately. In such a good way. Philip became the Medical Director at St. Claire. Which means he's a big wig now. But it also means his clinical shifts were reduced to 8 a month. So he has to be at the hospital for a lot of meetings, interviews, etc. but those are all during the day. And by now I can handle the kids during the day by myself. We've got our routine and our activities. And if I know he will be home for dinner, bath time, bed time- my outlook on the whole day is different. I'm like I got this. So yes he still has to work 8 night shifts a month, but that's a lot less than what we're used to.

So we have been enjoying feeling like a "normal family" for the first time. We have been taking walks after dinner. Going to the Y at nights. I have been able to go to the grocery, kid free, several times. We can both feel a shift in our marriage as we are getting to spend more time together and getting to enjoy just being. And I have to thank God for this, because I have been praying for a change in Philips work schedule for over 2 years. I have prayed and my friends at BSF have been praying, and the Lord has answered ours prayers. He is so faithful and His plan is always better than our own. 

 

Look at his face. He just had his first Frosty at lunch with Nanny and Aunt Ellen. He made us all laugh at how happy he was. 

 

Ainsley's friend Jack got a drum set. And she fell in love with how much noise she could make. 

 

Last wwwk it was 70° which is crazy because yesterday it was 25°- but her friend Liam came over for a picnic.   

Ainsley is loving gymnastics at the Y. The session ended last week and she was very upset so we enrolled her in the next session too. 

 

After the mommies work out, the kids get to play basketball:) 

 

We frequently walk to the "bridge" where the kids can throw rocks in the creek (if there is water) and look for the beaver (grounddog).

  

Ainsley picked all the "flowers" in the back yard for me and was so happy. 

 

Girls Day! Mom and I took Ainsley to go see Sing during an afternoon we didn't want her to nap bc of time change. She ate a whole box of sour patch gummies and we had to refill her popcorn. 

We came home from the movies to this scene. Philip had been working on his car and a wrench popped back and hit him between the eyes. Luckily his ER buddy was off and came over to stitch him up.