Welcome to the Funny Farm

These children have had us in stitches lately. 

Episode 1:

We had many early mornings a few weekends ago creating some very tired kids.  We have completely ruined Kiera as far as helping her become a good sleeper, but we got it right the next time around.  The twins are very good sleepers, especially Garrett.  The boy likes his bed, and loves his sleep.

It was nap time one Saturday, too many hours after the early wake up.  We put all Simpson people in a bed for some shut eye.  We thought we would get at least three hours of rest.  Then an hour into it, we heard Brie crying.  Not completely unusual as she is a short napper, but concerning as she was lacking in the sleep department.  Apparently, Garrett agreed because he yelled: 

 Sissy, no nigh nigh all done.  

 In other words, be quiet and go back to sleep.  I am exhausted!

Episode 2:

Our awesome neighborhood had a Cinco de Mayo celebration on, well, May 5th of course.  I made the most awesome sombrero cupcakes.  They were so cute, I let the kids have two.  Yep, I am that kind of mom.  After full bellies and lots of swimming, we decided we weren't done having fun and I started a game of dominoes with the girls of the 'hood, leaving Kevin in charge of the children.  Mistake #1.   He puts them in the p.j.s and turns on the TV in our neighbors nice, immaculate house.  Mistake #2.   They actually sat there for 2 minutes, and then were themsillyselves.  Brie used the furniture as a trampoline and Garrett tried out the remote, hoping to come across a car show.  He's over cartoons, by the way.  So, Kevin goes in and sits them back down and covers them with a blanket -- the dog blanket.  Mistake #3.  A few minutes later, I look through the window, and they are nowhere to be found.  Marker art on the walls, potty finger fishing, and millions of choking hazards filled my head.  So I alerted Kevin expecting a huge mess.  He carefully opened the door and there sat two little toddlers at the kitchen table enjoying yet another Sombrero cupcake.   They were so cute that we grabbed the camera -- a few minutes late because the cupcake bandits were fleeing the scene.

Episode 3, 4, 5......10, 11, 12.....

As mentioned before, Kiera absolutely hates to sleep.  She hates everything about it.  Being alone, the nightmares that may happen, having to lie still, etc.  Everything.   So the last couple of nights here are her excuses as to why she can't sleep:

I can't straighten my legs.

I can't stop thinking about Crocodiles.  And Mommy, don't tell me to think about other things because I can still think about Crocodiles.  I can think about two things at once.

It's 9:09 and I am still awake.  How about I come downstairs until I am tired?`

The best one:

I don't have enough air to breathe.

Do you know how hard it is to keep a straight face when dealing with these kind of shenanigans from a child who can skip count by 11s?  I usually melt in a puddle of laughter only to be told by her, "It's not funny!"  

Oh, but it is.  It is very, very funny.

Where we live....

SICK HOUSE
Welcome to the Sick House.   We have had virus after virus that can knock even the wildest down:

 

We have even had pneumonia:

  

But after one crazy middle of the night trip to the ER, 2 doctor visits, 4 meds totaling nearly $200,  the boy is feeling MUCH better.

Let's talk about that middle of the night ER trip.   I went to bed worried about Kiera.  She had a headache for the first time in her life and it was literally knocking her out.  After a call to the doctor and an informative explantaion of worriesome symtoms that accompany headaches, it was determined that Kiera was most likely ok and just getting over her own series of sicknesses.

As I started to drift off into dreamland where no one is sick, Garrett started really crying.   It was so out of character, that it immediately woke Brie up as well.   After an hour of him falling asleep only to wake again, I came to my senses and thought something must be wrong.   I was right.  He wasn't breathing right.   He sounded as though he was grunting every time he exhaled.   I woke Kevin up (who was inconveniently located in Lake Charles, LA) and had him listen to his son over speaker phone.   After much back and forthness as to whether to take him and whether or not to take the others or seriously inconvenience someone else, I decided to not only take him, but take all three.

I am woman, hear me ROAR!

I was afraid to wake the other two for fear of whininess and hold me demands.  But as I roused Kiera she immediately went into empathetic big sister mode.   "Is he going to be ok?" was one of the many questions that poured out of her mouth at 1 am.   Then she went to wake Brie.   Instead of being her grumpy wakeful self, she thought we were going on a field trip.  It was so funny.  She was so excited.

So off we went and about 2 am we returned home, only to return to bed (me with a sick one in my arms).

6 days later, we are starting to see the light (and the dust!)

SCHOOL HOUSE

Homeschooling is going very well.   I got Kiera this amazing little school desk that she really likes.   She enjoys homeschool, and the babies enjoy bothering us!   I am really enjoying planning her day and watching her learn.  And am happy to report that while I do endure quite a bit of whining, only once have I heard "I am not smart enough for this!"

 

SUGAR SHACK
Turns out that I like to bake.  Figures.  Goes right along with crafting, gardening, cooking and sewing, right?   But Kiera enjoys it just as much.   Recently we made Ladybug cupcakes.   They were quite fun, very adorable and most enjoyed:

 LOVE SHACK
Every once in a while we get a glimpse of some twin love.  Many times it's Brie crawling into Garrett's Pack-N-Play while camping:

 

But sometimes, it is just to get a little comfort from him while the vacuum is running:

Although, our house can be called many things, it will never be called boring!   Wait til tomorrow when I tell you what Handy Andy, I mean Krazy Kevin has been doing.....

Discoveries

Since we have made the choice to homeschool, I have discovered a few things:

1.  I am learning a whole lot more. 
For instance, I never knew why Palm Sunday was called Palm Sunday.  But thanks to this website, I now know that those that did not have jackets to lay down in front of Jesus' donkey, laid down palms to show their respect as He entered Jerusalem.  

2.  We take the time to explain something to our children.
Since we are now parents AND teachers, no question goes unanswered.   I have even found my husband finding a way to explain to a five year old how the world works.  No more, I don't knows, or I don't think you'd understand from us.

3.   The children actually want to be schooled.  
Now I know this will wane.  In fact, we are currently struggling with finishing a task and realizing that sometimes school has to be done while the little ones play.  It's a tough lesson, but an important one.  I read the other day (goodbye fiction reading, hello non-fiction!) that as kids begin school, we teach them to complete tasks.  Never before have they really had to do this in their play or creativity.  They jsut move on to something else when done.  But, one walks a fine line because you don't want to overdo it.  School should be fun as well as educational especially at a young age.

4.  My house has never been messier.
I am trying to come to terms with this, but find it a constant battle.   I have been working really hard to incorporate the kids into the cleaning and am happy to report that my 2 year olds will bring me their plates after they finish eating.  So what if the plate is held sideways and all the food falls to the floor, right? 

5.  My time is my own.  
This is one of my favorite things about homeschool.  No longer are we a slave to our activities.  We have a schedule, but sometimes things get bumped and we do a lesson on volume while in our tutus a few minutes before ballet, and sometimes we do science at 9:00 at night.  But, we get the lesson in and no one is pulling out their hair because they are stressed, too tired, or too hungry.

6.  I have never been happier.
For a whole year, the decision of whether or not to homeschool weighed on my shoulders.   I am so happy that my husband and I have come to an agreement. 

Saturdays with the Simpsons

Most families run around from field to field on Saturdays cheering on their little ones.  Not us, Saturday around here is probably like your Monday.
Daddy is at work and Mama is at home with the littles.
Another day of laundry, lunch and lay down and take a nap time, right?

Not today!   While I cleaned, the kids cleaned:

 Well some cleaned (Kiera) and others acted crazy (Brielle)

 and some just acted cute:

After an exhaustively fun time of cleaning cars, we built tents on top of tables:

 While Mama vacuumed, one concerned little boy peeked out:

 A quick break from work for some Goldfish

 and a cheesy (literally) smile from the eldest:

 It's very important to give your hardworkers a lunch break:

 and they are off to the park, the pretend park that is.  Kiera's driving while her passenger is showing off her latest booger.   Oh that girl.

It was a fun Saturday.   The kids had fun and Mama got lots done.  

 Best of all, Daddy comes home tonight!

Flintstone feet

I just love seeing their little feet taking them places:

 

And their funny faces:

 But nothing tops when the flintstone feet leave the car and run full force at you for some lovin'!

She's only 5

To you she may seem little and cute.....

but to me she seems beautiful and big.

This picture was just taken at the beginning of the week.  

It captures everything that Kiera is:

Beautiful, carefree, and simple.

Kevin said it is a glimpse into the future.

Sometimes I forget that she is five.  

She has chores.  Several of them and she is quite good at all of them.  She cares for her brother and sister as if she were their mom.  

She can change a diaper better than half of our babysitters.

It is easy to expect too much of her.

She is a people pleaser.  But she has a breaking point and I saw it last night.

All day she had been speaking horribly to her brother and sister. 

 I had had it!

I asked her to do something in the evening and she shot back mean words at me.

I yelled at her and sent her to her room.

She hates to be yelled at and she despises being separated from her brother and sister at bedtime.

I knew that, but I had had it!

She calmed down and tried to come join us again.  I didn't let her.

Desperate cries filled the hallway.  

After I got the twins down, I went into her room.  I told her I didn't like the way she talks to her family.   I went on and on about everything I was mad about.  She sat on the end of her bed and with quivering lips and said, "I am really trying".  

Right then I scooped her up in my arms and kissed her and told her I knew she was and she needed to try extra hard the next day.  I felt her relax in my embrace as I stroked her head.   I really wanted to just yell at her and go to bed, 

but then I remembered she is only five.

Little Chickies

 Today we got the opportunity to meet some new friends: all 2 legged, but some with feathers.   Although our human friends were very nice, it is very clear which new friends we fell in love with:

These chickens were only a few weeks old and very cute.   They have some larger friends in the backyard in a coop.  We got to take home two eggs, but turns out you can't spin them around in a bag or they will crack...who knew?  
So to the trash they went.   Oh well.  Maybe our non furry friends will invite us over again soon!