Niki's 3rd birthday was the 12th and her party was the same day. (I'll have to insert a post for that, come to think of it.) Among her many presents was a Toys r Us gift card, from her aunts Lori and Anita. We took her shopping on Saturday and she bought a few things, including an umbrella and a little yellow buddy.
None of that left me missing my youth. Even putting her to bed and sensing the photo op had me feeling the warm and fuzzy of a proud mama.
When I reviewed the photos though, while walking into my room and sitting on the edge of my bed, it became so clear. I don't take anything to bed with me anymore. When you're young that is the most obvious choice. If you love it, sleep with it. And with only 25 more shopping days until my birthday, I have resolved to pick my favorite gift, and tuck it in with me for the night. And I'm really hoping it's a new camera. =)
And Merry Christmas! Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Halloween! Happy Labor Day and every other holiday I missed in between.
We had a wonderful 2012. Well, it seems that way since I was on vacation for almost two weeks there at the end, which was awesome! Love being off with the children, especially when Christmas and New Years are in the mix.
We are having a great summer! Nicole's ear is officially healed and she can begin swimming and bathing without earplugs or headbands. Yippee!
The house is looking AMAZING with everyone's help in our new cleaning routines. Joseph, Nicole and I had a great time the other night - just being crazy and cleaning the playroom as fast as we could go! I love it! It is so relaxing to be able to enjoy your home and not stress over it. And clean toilets and sinks, now there's something to cheer about.
We've had some fun game nights and movie nights too! This movie night coming up I even got a fire pit (of sorts) and have all the supplies for campfire smores. Yummy! Loving all the desserts we've been having too, with all my extra time on my hands to make them.
Like I said, it's been a really great summer!
Here's a video of combined bowling from today and a shot of the scoreboard and the winner and her final scoreboard.
With Joe's new schedule, I had been very anxious all week and decided to take Friday off and get the weekend started early. And we did, Thursday we ate out for dinner - Juke Box Diner - won't be going back there anymore - wait staff was okay - but management and kitchen staff SUCKED. Anyways - I guess that was good in a way - because if you start off the weekend bad - it can't get much worse - RIGHT?!?!?!!? =D
After dinner - we uncovered the pool...
Looked a lot worse than it was - but we knew it was gonna take all weekend and then some to get it clear! Definitely need a new cover before Fall!
Almost Full! (Important First Step)
Friday night ended up being an unscheduled Family Game Night - Joseph's choice - Mousetrap - and I was the first and only mouse trapped so I lost and Joseph won and Joe just kept landing on the space that sent you back to start (forfeit).
During the yard sale we had - I took a moment to film Joseph's wiggly tooth.
The first swimmer of the season! Yeah Joseph! Jaime was actually the first one to go underwater, but Joseph was pretty close!
We had to hurry out of the pool to attend Owen's 4th birthday party at the Putt-Putt place. Everyone had a great time!
Here's Nicole just before we headed home, loving up on the Nathan's Dairy Bar cow.
Following dinner out again - this time - Golden Corral (much better dining experience), we had Family Movie Night - Jaime chose Courageous. One of the best movies I have ever seen in my life. Just awesome! Both girls agreed! We loved it!!!
60 hours since opening.....
The littlest swimmer of the season was so excited to finally swim that she peed her pants! =)
After 3 straight days of backwashing and shock and clarifier, still not quite perfect, but with forecasts of rain for the next three days, it may be a little while yet.
After taking the photo above, Joseph came up onto the pool deck to show me his loose tooth was bleeding. I told him to have Sabrina get him a little salt water rinse and he turned to head toward the house. I thought to myself "It's too bad that thing doesn't just fall out". And sure enough - it did. I saw him put his hand up to his mouth and turn back toward me "Mommy it fell out!!!" I burst out with a chuckle and asked to see his tooth and altered grin. Then I said go show Daddy, and as he ran through the back door he shouted to his sisters "I lost my tooth". I have never seen them pause a youtube video faster so they could jump up and congratulate their brother. =)
Thank you God for such a wonderfully enjoyable weekend!
This is the end of a 45 minute scene with Nicole very upset that she has lost her husband. I have to say that I was a little freaked out wondering if there was possibly anything more to what she was saying. I should mention that she had just watched E.T. for the second time in a week and wanted to keep watching it when I sent her and Joseph to bed. I just don't see a link between Niki losing her husband who ends up being E.T. outside in a car, and the movie, but then again - I don't have the amazing fortune to view the world and it's movies through two-year-old eyes.
