Summer Part Uno

We have been enjoying ALL of what summer has to offer around here.  I've vowed to let go of rigid nap schedules, let the kids run and be dirty and say yes to lots of popsicles and ice cream.  I started this blog post awhile ago, but today is August 5th and sadly I can feel summer slipping away from us faster than I wish it would.  I love that we live in a place where we have seasons and truthfully, fall is my favorite but summer is a close 2nd place.  There are only so many weeks of splash parks and pools and hot evenings outside and cookouts and sweet corn and ripe watermelon... so we are taking full advantage while we can.

We enjoyed a BBQ with our community group to kick off the summer back in early June.  We are so thankful for a group of faithful 

believers and so many kids for our kids to run around with.

SOOOOO many rides home end this way and it is amazing.  He transfers nearly flawlessly to his bed and sleeps long and hard after a morning outside!

We were fortunate enough to win a summer pool pass from our awesome pediatric dentist through a Facebook contest and we have tried to take advantage of that as often as I feel up for the challenge.  And a challenge it is.  Swim suits, sunscreen, swim diapers, puddle jumpers x2, dry clothes x3, towels x3, picnic lunch or snacks x3, pool toys, etc. etc.  

But each time has been SO fun and SO worth it and I love watching my kids getting more and more comfortable in the water.

Tiegan equally loves our pool and splash park days!

Lainey doesn't transfer quite as flawlessly but every once in awhile Mom has the touch and I'm able to plop her on the couch for a quick snooze.

We have hit a few garage sales this summer too.  I usually let my kids either choose 1 book or spend $1.  This Mack truck from Cars was probably the best buy I've found so far this summer.  It comes out every day.  Lightning McQueen is huge over here.

When we added one more baby to the family, we started implementing the "divide and conquer" strategy a lot more.  I love observing the unique relationships each kiddo has with another.  They are precious all 3 together but it's fun to watch Wyatt own the big brother role a lot more when Lainey is gone.

Summer mornings should look like this!

I'm thinking we are nearing the end of Lainey napping every day.  She almost always will when we structure our day that way but many days she can go without and I let her and she is just fine.  Makes me both slightly sad but also excited to have a little extra time with just her in the afternoons.

Tiegan has gotten so good at sitting up and can do the bathtub with the big kids now!

This is how our Target trips look sometimes.  Yes, I know about the giant 2 seater carts and we use those frequently too but L loves to ride under there and if she's under there then she's not seeing the merchandise,  And if she's not seeing the merchandise, she's not asking for it.  See what I'm getting at here?

T learned to sit up early this summer and has officially entered my all time favorite baby stage.  Sitting and playing but NOT moving.  As long as she has a few toys within reach, she's happy as a clam for quite some time.

We have played a lot this summer with our neighbor and both kids just adore her.  The girls love to play pretend and dream up funny scenarios and Wyatt just runs behind and plays along and begs to ride in her giant battery powered pink truck.

Lainey had a fabulous time at the Arts Festival this year and hit all of the kids craft tents.  I hope some day she appreciates what an awesome place Des Moines is and all of the fun opportunities we have near by!

Lainey and her besties, the three musketeers who have been friends since before they were born!

After the all congregation service, Celebration Sunday, there were kids games and face painting - L LOVES getting her face painted but this was Wyatt's first time and he was so stinkin adorable and proud!

After reviewing all of these pictures, which only represent a small, small part of our summer so far I"m definitely leaning towards not wanting summer to ever end!!!!

Part II to come!

Our Dancing Queen

Lainey finished her first year of ballet this spring.  Her class, for 3 year olds, is appropriately called "Dance To Your Own Tune" as most kids her age do just that.  She loved her class, loved her teacher and the assistant, came to really enjoy meeting a few new friends and REALLY loved her sparkly pink costume for the recital.

I was a little nervous all year about how Lainey would handle the chaos of the end of the year recital.  Even though she ADORES dancing and dances all of the house all of the time, I just wasn't sure but I was hopeful.  It's one thing to dance in the confines of a studio with a mirror and your teacher right in front of you but for recital, there's a huge stage and a huge auditorium and bright lights!  I remember the butterflies of performing so well.  Thankfully, there was a dress rehearsal so we could try it all out and get comfortable before the big day.

I'm not even that good at doing my own make up, let alone attempting to modestly apply make up to my wiggly 3 year old.  Mascara was the hardest (girl has some serious lashes!) and I didn't even attempt eye liner.  She thought it was so fun and I thought it was so weird (and also pretty adorable in a way).

These are a few of the little darlings Lainey danced with.  It was fun to meet and get to know a few new moms.  We had good conversations every Monday for 30 minutes while the girls danced!

The girls were "Carnations" and looked sooooooo tiny on that big big stage!

The big day finally arrived!

Papa drove down and stayed one night, came to the recital and then left right from the show to head back to Minnesota for my cousin's wedding.  What a sweet Papa he is!  Lainey loved having him there.

There is no doubt.  She is a Daddy's girl.

I have yet another new appreciation for my mom as I began to learn the ropes as a dance mom this year.  When I was young, I never really took the time to consider what a sacrifice dance was for my mom or our family.  The time commitment each and every week (multiple times a week as I got older), the gas to drive to and from, the tuition, the shoes, the tights and costumes... all for 2 minutes on stage at the end of the year.  Was it worth it?  I think my mom would say yes... dance was a huge part of my life growing up and into adulthood.  I have no way of knowing if it will be that way for Lainey, or Tiegan, in the future, but I am starting to understand that as a mom, I will gladly spend some of my time and energy on activities they enjoy and learn and grow from.  It's been something so special to watch Lainey do something independent from me and to begin to navigate that in her own way.

You can see, she really was excited! I was so thankful for that smile and that there were no tears (for her, but there maybe were for me!).

We reluctantly brought the whole clan but it went pretty well!

If I remember correctly, we often would go out for treats after a recital or performance, usually Baker's Square for pie if my memory serves correct.  We took the kids to Smokey Row for ice cream.

She felt pretty special waltzing around in that get up all over the place.

Wyatt will do just about anything for ice cream so it worked out pretty well to use that as some motivation.

Overall, the first year of ballet and the recital were both a huge success.  We have Lainey signed up to dance again this year and we are looking forward to watching her learn and grow even more!

The Best of... Spring 2015 edition

I am so behind with this blog... Tiegan maybe has MORE pictures of her than the others since I am constantly taking pics of her with my phone, but I never get my big camera out and I have yet to blog about her monthly updates or milestones (I'm sorry T, Mommy loves you sooo much though!).  So here is the most random assortment of pictures from our lovely spring...!

Many Monday evenings whichever of us who got to take Lainey to dance, would grab a quick dinner with her afterwards and before bible study.  This particular night was IHOP (kids eat free on Mondays!).  This girl inherited her mother's love of going out to eat.  She'll typically say and repeat something like, "This is so fun!" the whole time you're out to eat.  The one on one time is so sweet too.

Tiegan has and continues to love the water and her bath time.  She requires more frequent baths with all of that hair too!

Easter was so fun this year.  We hit a few different egg hunts, decorated eggs and did Resurrection eggs with the kids too.

Easter Sunday

With the nicer weather, we are loving getting outside and enjoying many parks.  There is a baseball complex near our house that is jam packed on many week nights and weekends but during the weekdays it's totally dead so we take advantage of the playground in the middle of all of the fields.

I love this baby and I wish I could hold her and snuggle her all day long.  She is not a high maintinence baby who NEEDS held very often but I sure do love to steal my snuggles whenever I can.

My dark eyed girls!  They are still absolutely smitten with each other.  Their love is so mutual and so lovely to watch grow.

One night as I was feeding Tiegan before bed, Lainey waltzed in with her sound machine (we rely heavily on those things around here) and said that she didn't need hers anymore and Tiegan could have it.  It was the most precious thing - she was so genuine and sweet about it.  She is such a fabulous big sister.

We registered Lainey for a spring soccer league through the city of Des Moines Parks and Rec largely because it was held right down the street from our house and Jed said he would coach.

I don't think soccer is in her future but she sure looked cute and I think she still had fun.  I couldn't believe even at this age, the difference in athletic abilities and intensity between boys and girls!

The cutest greeters at church!

We hit one of our favorite spring spots at the peak of lilac blooming season and it was so glorious!  The kids frolicked around the most giant lilac bushes and T and I followed and sniffed the blooms!

I love my little crew!

Lainey invited her friend Mia to "bring a friend week" at ballet.  It's funny to watch 3 year olds be friends.  These girls are 4 weeks apart and have been friends since birth!

We enjoyed a homeschool field trip with many other church friends a few weeks ago to a farm!  The weather was awesome and the kids loved it!

Tiegan...not so impressed.

Wyatt loved it most of all I'd say.

Sometimes I have just my littles at home and I love watching Wyatt really own his big brother role during those times.  Lainey, as the oldest, typically just runs the show when she's around but Wy is such a different kid when she's gone.  He LOVES his baby Tiegan and really truly is gentle and sweet to her.

I love baking (and much prefer it to cooking) and while it's typically easier, faster and less messy to just do it myself, I want to include the kids and let that be something they remember about their mom.  They are great at dumping in ingredients, getting started stirring things and helping me set the timer.  Oh and especially at licking the beater/spoons and watching things bake in the oven!

Spring was so wonderful and we are excited as summer is just getting started!