Ice Cream

Last week we were getting out of the car after open house at the kids’ school when I heard the old familiar sound the the ice cream truck. I knew I had cash with me so we set off to track down the music. Caitlin wasn’t sure what was going on, but she followed along when I promised ice cream.



We went through all the different options. Strawberry? Watermelon? Pink? Blue?



Then she saw the penguin. She HAD to have a penguin!



Caitlin has been looking for the truck ever since. I don’t often have cash with me, so I have put away a couple of bucks to serve as a back up stash to pay for another penguin ice cream truck treat!

(We’d have gotten one for Sean but he doesn’t like the cold. He is happy enough with his yogurt and that’s okay with me!

Not Me…

It has been a long time since I did a “Not Me Monday.” So long that I went back to see if the blog carnival even still exists. It seems to be gone, however this seems to be the best way to tell about these things, so humor me.

~~~~~~~~~

 

Saturday we did NOT spend all day working on the house and the patio only to have nothing to show for it. I keep telling the Irishman it has to get worse before it gets better, but I’m not so sure! And while we were NOT working on the patio, a certain little boy did NOT manage to fall and make himself a Harry Potter look-a-like.



Of course we did NOT promise to take the kids to the pool Sunday after Mass. If we did we would have checked to be sure the pool was open. I would NOT have parked the car and spent 15 minutes loading everything (including a cranky one-year-old) into the double stroller only to discover the sign posted on the gate.

Someone who goes to all that trouble would have to think quick for an alternative. I did NOT call Lyndsay to tell her we were going to the beach instead of the planned swim lesson. That would mean a trip to the beach with 4 kids and 3 adults.



I also did NOT suggest the beach while the All-Ireland was on. The Irishman was NOT glued to his phone to hear the end of the big game being played across the pond.



Then there is this little guy. Sean did NOT insist on eating sand.



He did NOT continue to eat sand even after I gave him snacks.



(The pictures that follow do not match the story. We don't have that kind of a blog. You are VERY welcome.)

I did NOT forget to pack a diaper to change Sean into after the beach. We did NOT not realize this until after we removed his wet swim diaper and swimsuit. I did NOT decide to just chance it and wrap him in a towel until we got across the street to the car.



Caitlin did NOT decide that we needed to take a trip to the potty at this point. Then the Irishman did NOT have a panicked look on his face when Caitlin and I returned from the potty. I did NOT turn the corner to see my son standing so that he looked like he was peeing on the stairs. I did NOT walk closer to discover that the problem was not pee.

(I’ll give you a second to process that one. Yuck!)



We did NOT let out a sigh of relief when the park ranger walked by right AFTER we’d cleaned up Sean’s not-so-little mess. I did NOT walk to the car with Sean wrapped in a towel in the Ergo carrier. I did NOT wonder in terror if it was sweat or something else that I was feeling. Ummm. Yeah.

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In all seriousness it was a nice couple of hours. The beach was lovely and all the kids had fun. The funny part is that I made a trip back to the house for wipes because I’d forgotten them last time. I won’t make that mistake again. At least we can laugh about it now!

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!)