Friday, March 21, 2014

Freeze!





We LOVE Kates teachers Mrs. O and Mrs. L. They are the most caring women I think I've ever met.  She is having the best time and I am having a hard time believing she's ready for school!  I got over that quickly (when she locked us out of the house on the first day of school and I had to push her through the back family room window that happened to be open.  Thank God she is a girl and can focus long enough to meet me at the back door and unlock it! The boys for sure would have found something along the way to play with complicating the situation even more)  I am now enjoying my free time and my tennis game loves that she is in school. 

I love this letter.  They have captured her personality perfectly-- fiercely independent yet so sweet and helpful (in her own time!)


Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The Homestead

Over the river and through woods... to the Homestead we go! My sister and her husband were so gracious to invite us to The Homestead with them on President's Day weekend.  I think I started giggling the second we got there and didn't stop until I almost barfed from the windy/icy road home.  It was too much fun had by all.  The kids made the trip so fun by being so good.  My littlest friend got left at home with Nana and Pop Pop and we managed to non stop with older two.

The kids had so much fun ice skating and swimming in the hot springs pool OUT SIDE in the middle of winter.  Is there any thing more fun than that!? Swimming outside... in the winter... minds blown.

The first night the kids went to "kids club" that they deemed LAME!?... Saw that coming.  But the parents went to the dining room that was not LAME at all.  It was so adorable/classy.  Our table was right on the dance floor where there was a three piece band and all these cute people getting up from dinner to dance.  It felt very old fashioned - like I had been transported back in time and was channeling my inner fancy nancy. 








Hot hubbies
Tubing where I was sure one of them (or us) was going to break our necks! You get some speed on those puppies.
 Love these boys
So much fun skiing together.  A run with Auntie Meg.


And of course some skilift selfies    

We had a rocky start to the skiing business.  Fortunately a lot of things have come easy to the kids and let's face it skiing is hard stuff... but once you get it... you got it.  No shock that Crazy T figured it out first.  I got so nervous taking him up for his first big run that I forgot to put the lift gate down and said "hail marys" and "don't move" the entire way up.  My skis gave him a good smack on his fall but he got right up for more. Me - i need to recover from my ride up sans lift gate. I am so proud of them for pushing through the tears and 'owning' that mountain.  I never thought they would be riding the lift by themselves to the top no less.  I lost a few years of my life when AJ took T to the top and he came whizzing down like he was in a downhill ski race at Sochi.  They really rocked it.  And made me smile to see them all encourage each other.  

After skiing these knuckleheads (after a "$5 bet you won't" by the supreme knucklehead) jumped from hot tub to snow.  Cray Cray. 

I wish I had some footage of the lipsync contest - priceless.  It's all about the song choice.  And these kids can pick some songs.  I'm getting my songs lined up for next year.... 


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Old Man Winter 2014

I mean if this doesn't sum up January/February 2014 I don't know what does... 

The Winter That Nearly Killed All the Moms

Oh it was fun, oh so fun.  The 5:30am "All Call" messages proclaiming "no school!"... hot chocolate...cozy movie days... 
    
     Epic snow ball fight.
 Sledding The Mount
My little helper.


And then.... not so much.  The kids don't even want to sled anymore.  And I for sure do not want to shovel anymore.  I really do not want to shovel any. more.  

Expensive Winter

Dear Husband, while you "enjoy" balmy London, I've bought a snow blower and generator. Hurry home before I buy a house in the Keys. 

Xo, k

*AJ has been in London for 3 out of 4 storms this winter.  Coincidence? I'm about to jump in front of a snowplow (kidding).  I love you guys... and I really love playing in snow with you.... but I'd rather play in a pool... on a sunny day... or better yet the beach.  Can we play at the beach? 

Friday, February 21, 2014

"He" was a "She"

**2/20/14: I just found this in my drafts... I must have had to referee something and pressed save instead of publish.  The funny thing is if I had known this existed 2 weeks ago i could have given Sare a much more accurate memory of her birth... Just prior to her own little ones birth!

As recalled on 5/11: I was supposed to call my OB at 3:30p on Sunday to let him know I was feeling... absolutely no signs of labor pending. He was convinced I was going to go on my own that weekend and not need to be induced. There was also some concern about how quickly I tend to go and didn't really want me to continue to dilate prior to active labor and then deliver in the car. Naturally I agreed with that theory as our car is not equipped with an epidural.  So at 3pm I barfed. I started to remember this was the way I went into labor with Crazy T. Barfs but no contractions... great. I called Dr. and we decided that I would come in Monday morning to start the pitocin. I got in the shower to hopefully feel better. Dr. called back and talked to AJ and said - ehh why don't you come in tonight my friend is the one on call and he'll put your cervidil in. Barfed again. So la-dee da- blow dry my hair...put on make up. I am having a baby after all - you do know how many pictures are involved in having a baby, right.... a girls gotta look good for her newborn (whose eyes can't even see more than a spec infront of them and in black and white!) Mom - Mom came over to watch the boys and off we go to the hospital - I think we got there around 5pm. During the car ride i was starting to feel much more cramping... continued to barf and felt like maybe... my water had broken. Not like in the movies broken, but just a little broken. When I got there i was 3+ dilated and sure my water did break - which was a bit of a relief because the alternative was that I peed in my pants... and well, I'm glad it was the water breaking. I was staying and we were having a baby!

Let the drama begin. I go fast... I had pushed it one contraction too far in previous births so I immediately asked for my epidural- I had magazines and movies to watch. That was THE PLAN. Country Strong with Tim McGraw and Gwennie and some USWeeklys to catch up on while I watched the contractions on the screen and say - "wow that was a big one" without really feeling it. That was THE PLAN. Enter anesthesiologist... a face that is now forever etched in my mind because after not one, but two attempts at getting me my epi cocktail, we had nothing. As in nothing numbed by my right foot. And well if your right foot was where babies came from I would have been all set. But we all know that's not where babies come from so THE PLAN was foiled and I was REALLY wishing that I had taken that labor class at some point. The anesthesiologist wanted to try for a third time but after she told me that could result in an indefinite headache (as in forever), I saw the writing on the wall... I was likely still going to feel this birth AND have an indefinite headache. It wasn't the call I was looking to make, but it was time to get my head in the game and... go sans drugas. Thankfully they broke the rest of my water around 7pm I went from 4 -10cm in 45 painful minutes. And after a couple quick pushes -bam she was born at 8:03pm. And "he" was a .... "She!"

After all the drama during her birth, I can definitely say - I would not change a thing about this experience - the sheer amazement and surprise and instant love for this little family we have made was irreplaceable. Two boys and a girl! I couldn't believe it. I hope I will always be able to remember that feeling of pure joy.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Epic Fail.

Recently my friend Chrissy responded to my text ramble "I can't wait to read your blog... get started!" And I thought - "Yeah, I should write a blog- what a great creative outlet since I don't have time to sew, craft or DIY much these days"... and then it dawned on me... oh wait,  I DO have a blog.  I've just abandoned it for TWO (almost 3 but who's counting at this point) years.  Between changing all those dirty diapers, making lunches, working, class momming and shuttling those stinky boys to soccer, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, soccer, baseball. I missed it.  I missed jotting down the minutia.  The minutia that today I think might break me and one day so soon I am going to miss.  And then I'll want these days back... all because I forget why it was all so perfectly exhausting. 

I am so sad that I haven't written one memory of the kids in 2012 and 13... so so SAD.  Aren't these supposed to be the best days? The ones filled with "he touched me" and "that's MY ball." And I'm missing it.  I'm missing the memories of all their funny (and not so funny) moments! Augh! I could cry...

Once I dust myself off.... I'm getting back to blogging... for my kids (not at all for my sanity and attempt at remedying a terrible memory).  For my kids.