Everybody has a Laughing Place

Sunday Caitlin decided to play dress up. I went through the clothes telling her “Auntie Julie wore this one when she was a little girl” or “I wore this one when I was a little girl.”

While she put on Auntie Julie’s old ballet costume, she told me, “Mommy. I want to wear the one I wore as a little girl.”

After a while the tutu had to go. I think it is her circus look – complete with a tiger.



(We’ll throw in a basketball hoop for good measure!)



The living room was a mess, but the kids had a grand old time!



I swear you can hear her laughing through the pictures!



I love that honest to goodness pure laughter.



(Sean had had enough of the tent by this point and was off playing with musical toys in the kitchen.)



I love everything about this girl!



She makes us all smile!

Lazy Days

We spent most of the weekend in our PJs building forts in the living room.



Nothing fancy – an old torn up sheet that belonged to Grandma Jo long ago, the basketball goal, a chair from the kitchen.



But they loved it anyway!



Caitlin played all day and didn’t take any sort of a nap. After bath time when I wanted to take a picture of the fort she wanted nothing to do with it. Thankfully Sean was happy to cooperate instead!



Within 10 minutes of refusing to take a photo she was out cold!

(So was Daddy, but I’m being nice and just posting his toes! Love you, babe!)

Happy Birthday!

We wanted to send some birthday wishes to Grammy this morning!

Caitlin also wanted to type a message:

 

c

 

(“C is for me!”)

 

ccccccccccccccccccccc

 

(“Look Mom! I’m doing lots of c!”)

 

ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc

 

(“It’s not your turn anymore, Mom. That’s enough c for Grammy.”)

 

happppy birrrrrrtthday

We’re Having a Picnic

Tuesday after school Caitlin decided we were having a picnic.



She spent half an hour setting up all the food just right on her little table.



Truth be told by the time she got everything set up we had to take a break for dinner!

Sean was allowed at the picnic, but only if he wore a bib.




I get chills when they play together like this. It is still a bit rare, but I love it!

Fun times!

Hungry Little Guy

Caitlin sometimes eats a snack or lunch on her little table. She is about to learn though that she is going to have to keep a closer eye on her food!






He was so proud of himself!






Truth be told, Caitlin is not the only who is going to have to watch out for what he goes after!



After all,



Sean is a growing boy!

The Little Things

I decided last night I would try to put together a blog post and I found that I had NO pictures. To put it in perspective my June folder has 376 photos, July 524, and August 472. September 2012 has 83. I can take more photos than that in a day.

It has been a month though. We had just recovered from back-to-school when we all got sick. The Irishman hasn’t been able to shake it. He made a third doctor’s appointment last Friday. The man never willing goes to the doctor. Three trips in as many weeks is a big deal.

He was on his way to drop off the kids and spend some time in the office before his appointment when Sean threw up. The school nurse took his temp and deemed it a day home for the little guy. Thankfully it was a quick little bug. By that afternoon the fever was gone and he was feeling better.
I had my filming at school Friday, so the Irishman took Sean along to his doctor appointment. Another round of antibiotics and a number of tests – still waiting on the results. In the meantime the Irishman is still feeling pretty crummy.

Saturday was my birthday. I didn’t even get out of my PJs. Caitlin loved making cupcakes. It was a fun little family celebration.

Then the stomach bug hit.

Caitlin wet the bed at about 4am. I felt lightheaded and sick to my stomach. I tried to send the Irishman in to take care of her but she only wanted me. I was dozing on the twin bed in the kids’ room when she woke up again. Sick.

It was one of those moments when it all clicks and you start to realize what you are dealing with.
I HATE stomach bugs.

By morning light it was clear that the only one of us feeling 100% was Sean. I was worried that the Irishman would end up dehydrated because he was already feeling ill to start with so I sent him back to bed and managed not to pass out or puke on the kids. It was looking bleak there for a while…

By mid afternoon we were starting to feel better. I hate stomach bugs, but this one gets credit in my book for being as short and mild as we could have hoped for, all things considered.

Today was a “fall holiday” at school. I left school early on Friday afternoon because of my sick guys, so I dropped the kids off at school this morning and took a couple of hours to play catch up. I ordered lunch for the Irishman and then picked up the kids. We stopped at GGB’s house to pick up soup she made for the Irishman.

Then we went to Publlix.



(I tried to get a picture of them both looking. It didn’t happen!)



Caitlin LOVES going to Publix. I told her this morning that we would be going after school today. It is one of her FAVORTIE places to go!



(Sean doesn’t mind too much, either)



I got a bit done this morning, but we are so far behind in so many things. The house. The laundry. Work. Mailing gifts. Buying gifts. Sigh.



But for now? I’m going to focus on the little things.

Like baby giggles and happy trips to Publix.

(And taking more pictures!)

Weekend Fun

It was a busy weekend! Saturday we went to Rylee’s birthday party. It was at one of those places with inflatable jumping “things” which was a lot of fun…though a certain little girl has a bit of a phobia of inflatable jumping “things.” Thankfully she got over it, but it meant that she would not let us out of her sight…or even her reach! Thank goodness the Irishman had been feeling better and came with us. I’d never have handled both of them on my own!

While playing was fun, Sean’s favorite part was the cake! Yummy!



Caitlin was thrilled with the Barbie themed goodie bag. She wore her hat all day…



even to Costco on the way home! I was shopping with royalty!



Yes, this is a different outfit, but the same day. They had Disney and Hello Kitty swimsuits on clearance. We got home and decided to go back for more. Caitlin had spilled smoothie on the pants so an outfit change was needed. = )

Daddy wasn’t feeling so hot by this point, but he heard there were Christmas decorations and toys to see so he toughed it out!



I sent this as a picture message to my mom titled, “Please Grammy?”



This one was her favorite, though we do not need a Minnie Mouse bigger than Caitlin!



This one is actually from Sunday. I got to my grandparents’ house to find Sean had fallen asleep reading his favorite book.



So sweet!

If you give a kid a cookie…

Sean has become out little Cookie Monster.



To be fair, he loves cake as well, but they don’t hand out free samples of that at Costco.



He is loving it though!

 

We love this happy boy!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I just reread last night’s post. I was so tired when I wrote it I was almost afraid of what it said. Thankfully it still (mostly) made sense.

It has been a long couple of weeks. We were feeling pretty down on ourselves Saturday night. Then at Mass on Sunday the priest talked about being happy with what you have. I talked about celebrating your little accomplishments at home instead of thinking about the big things you haven’t done in life. It was what we needed to hear.

After Mass and a swim lesson for C, I left a sick Irishman at home and took my babies to my grandparents’ house for an early birthday party. I was spoiled with flowers from my cousins and my grandmother. They are all over the house and they are beautiful. Caitlin loves them as much as I do! She checks on them daily to see if they have grown.

I am blessed!

The Big Bad Wolf

Caitlin loves to talk.

A lot.

I was on the phone with my mom today and she got to listen in. It always starts with , “Mommy. (pause) blah, blah, blah.”

The big bad wolf is one of her favorite topics. The wolf has shown up in books and on both Little Einsteins and Super Why. He has almost become her imaginary friend.

“Mommy. (pause) The Big Bad Wolf is coming to get me.”

“Mommy. (pause) The Big Bad Wolf is being bold.”

“Mommy. (pause) The Big Bad Wolf is not being bold anymore.”

“Mommy. (Pause) The Big Bad Wolf is my friend.

“Mommy. (pause) The Big Bad Wolf is very nice.”

I accidently blew the Big Bad Wolf out the window last week. He was sitting in “Daddy’s chair” in the car on the way home from school. We were practicing our “Huff and Puff” when Caitlin declared that I’d blown him away. I opened the window a little (in the rain) and coaxed him back in.

One day last week she came out with this one:
“Mommy. The Big Bad Wolf is sad because the other kids won’t play with him.”

It bugged me. I was trying to convince myself that there was nothing more to it.

The Irishman and I both noticed that Caitlin doesn’t seem to be enjoying school. Monday morning she say me in my dress and looked at me distrustfully.
“We we going?”

I told her I was going to school and she threw down her stuffed animals and blanket and started with the “No!” and “I don’t WANT to go to school.”
I asked her teachers about it when I picked her up. They said she is very well behaved. She is doing well. They love her. All is good. I asked about friends and they admitted that she plays by herself most of the time. The other kids play rough. I’ve seen it. They are quite rough. Caitlin is very quiet at school. Even the boys who tried to hug her when she walked in nearly knocked her over.

When she got to school today they said to her (in front of Morgan) “Mommy says you are crying every morning.” We are so not impressed.

We want to give it a fair chance, but I don’t know how it will get better. We don’t really want her to start playing rough. I don’t see anything being done to change the way the kids play.
So we’ll see what happens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Irishman is ill. Still. It has been two weeks. He went back to the doctor on Friday for more meds.
We were joking this weekend about just how much he does around the house. After two weeks of this the house is showing it. He typically watches the kids while I work on the house. I’m hoping he feels better soon.He went to work today and has a 99.8 fever now. Sigh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had more to say, but I am tired. I just caught myself dozing with the space bar held down. Opps.
I’ll try to post some pictures tomorrow.
Good night~=!

The Park Through Her Eyes

Caitlin confiscated the camera when we were at the park last weekend.

She's getting to be quite a photographer!