Dinosaur Train

That's the title of Evan's favorite book. Wow, do those publishers know little boys. Dinosaurs, Trains, even a volcano, all in one book. We discovered it yesterday when we were going through Henry and Seth's bookshelf this weekend. He loves it, and carries it around with him everywhere, sharing it with anyone who will look at it with him.

I'm a BIG BOY, Mom!

Evan is highly offended in this picture. He is appalled that we would even think to have him use a baby spoon, as he considers himself much beyond that. (All of our "big kid spoons" were in the dishwasher.) He is also trying to convince us that he really does not need to sit in a booster at the table. And that he can do many things by himself. He wants to do what his brothers and sisters do, and is even trying to sit on the potty like them. Now that is one big boy thing that I am REALLY looking forward to!

Two Brothers Share a Laugh...

How Sarah Got Her Groove Back...

...and how Sarah keeps said groove. Read this post at your own risk. This blog serves as my journal as well as a way to share our lives with family and friends. What follows is my newest set of resolutions. Not the most exciting post, but very therapeutic for me to journal about. :)

I think that my winter sabbatical has been a very good thing. Organizing, decluttering, donating, setting up systems and routines, jumping in with both feet, focusing, prioritizing...I've felt empowered by the past couple of months...So many things that I kept putting off because they were overwhelming to me, and I felt I didn't have the time to do them, I made the time and gathered the courage to accomplish them. I had been feeling weak, scattered and ineffective... and through this past couple of months I feel like I'm making a big impact on my family and our life, and am excited to tackle more!

My big goals for the next couple of months are:
1. Finishing the organization in our closet and our room...I've already had AmVets pick up 10 boxes! I am definitely learning that less is more. I am able to think more clearly and keep on top of things better when I have less.
2. Organizing and setting up systems in the kids' bathroom. We are going to put beadboard on one wall so we can hang hooks and shelves, as well as redo the linen closet with bigger shelves. Mainly the whole family works out of the master bath, and I'd like to reclaim that space for just Dave and I.
3. Implementing a better system of chores and daily routines for the kids. I'm reading a couple of books that my sister, Karen, leant me, and trying to find ideas from them that best fit our family.
4. Tackling health issues: I bet a lot of moms are like this. I always am good about getting the kids into the doctor when they are sick or for well-checks. I'm not so good about getting myself in to the doctor. So that's one: get myself in for a check up. Second: soon after Evan was born, I was exercizing and eating well. I am not doing so well with that right now, and am definitely not liking the results :). I am starting tonight.

How will I do this and keep up with family life? I'm still going to keep it simple. I've added some playdates to our schedule. This past week we've had a lot of them. It is fun, but I need to keep that reasonable. We're still holding off on activities, just Cub Scouts, CCD and school. Simple is good. We need time at home so that we all chip in as a family to take care of our responsibilities, school work and our house.

There. I've said it and put it out there. You can hold me to it.

I've got to set a good example...these kids are watching me...(or maybe they were just watching Tom and Jerry? They are sweet first thing in the morning with their sleepy eyes, snuggling together. I do love that.)

The Polka-Dot Carpet in the Playroom

This morning, right after I dropped the boys off to school, I was setting up a computer game in the playroom for Caroline. Caroline was waiting, pretty patiently for a little sick girl, because Mom was having technical difficulties. (She's doing much better today!) Evan, I thought, was doing a rather good job of entertaining himself. He was walking around the playroom, and I thought that he must be looking for one of his toys. I turned around in the swivel chair to check on him, and noticed what I thought was red fuzz all over the floor. On closer look, I figured out that I was actually looking at was little spots of blood, and that whenever Evan took a step, he made another spot!

Apparently, he cut his toe. It must not have hurt him too much, because he never cried or complained about it (that is, until I tried to wash it and put a bandaid on it!). He might have even been fascinated by the process of walking and leaving tracks. I could see that happening.

So, I spent the morning cleaning the carpet. Looking on the bright side, I've been meaning to do that.

I'll spare you the picture of my polka-dotted carpet, and instead share with you a picture of Henry and Seth looking for tadpoles this afternoon. What a nice day it was!

She's Got the Fever...

Caroline had a headache this morning. I felt her forehead, and she felt cool. So I gave her a dose of Tylenol, and we just proceeded with getting the boys off to school and our regular morning routine. The Tylenol must have helped because she was pretty much her normal self, playing and eating as usual.

At lunch time, she requested yogurt and "jelly fingers" toast "because that's what you eat when you are sick." Hmmm...I thought, "Is she OK?" I asked her if anything hurt. She answered that her head, her nose...and her knees hurt. Hmmm...she had me until she said "knees." She had a normal temperature, ate all of her lunch, and still was acting pretty normal.

So we proceeded with the afternoon...she was quieter, and wanted to watch a movie, and I thought it would be good for her to rest...then right before we went to pick the boys up from school, I was on the phone with a friend making plans for tomorrow. Right after I hung up, Caroline said to me, "Mom, my throat hurts." Ugh...why didn't I think of it? My poor daughter probably has strep. DUH! I guess that I thought we had past the window of opportunity for that, plus she wasn't complaining about her throat until right then. I took her temperature--101.

By the time I had picked up the boys at school and got over to the doctor's office, poor Caroline wasn't doing well at all. She had a headache, a sore throat, a fever, and was nauseous. Then I noticed that her skin was getting blotchy. All over. I pointed it out to her. My sweet daughter, despite all of her ailments, retained her sense of humor, and said, "Mommy, I look like PINKALICIOUS!" (For those of you unfamiliar with Caroline's favorite book, its about a little girl who eats too many pink cupcakes, and actually turns pink!) So, there we were, me with 4 kids in tow, including 1 very sick child and 1 squirrelly two year old. They informed me that the doctor was running 45 minutes late. I totally understand it and almost expect it that late in the day, but I was feeling a small sense of desperation at that point. That's when a very kind lady, a good samaritan, walked up to the reception desk of the office and offered Caroline her earlier appointment. God bless her!

The doctor quickly diagnosed Caroline with Scarlet Fever, which he described as a fancy form of strep. He said that it wasn't any worse than having strep, it just came with brighter colors.

So, now she's home, with 2 doses of antibiotic in her system, antihistamine cream on all her itchy spots, and tucked in bed. Maybe tomorrow, as per the doctor's advice in Pinkalicious, we'll treat her pinkness with some green foods. :) (Leftovers from Grandma's party?) (Just kidding!)

Either this is a really comfortable couch...

...(three out of our four children have fallen asleep on it this week, and I have to admit that I fell asleep on it too) OR...
...all these girls at his house are completely wearing our boy out! Poor little boy was watching a show while I cleaned up the lunch dishes and promptly fell asleep, staying sound asleep there through two little girls playing none too quietly. Its hard to be a little brother.

Can you feel the love?

These two little girls are so funny. They did more than their fair share of hugs and giggles today. They even had some for the little brother! Caroline is a lucky girl to have such sweet friends.

We've usually scheduled playdates for the afternoon, when Evan is napping. But today I thought we'd try one in the morning. I tried to make sure that the girls had time on their own, playing pets, puppets, "sleepovers" and bakery :), as well as time with Evan. They played Ring around the Rosie and Hide and Seek with him, and even included him on a few of their pretend sleepovers. Of course, he ate it up. They wore the boy out. I am sure that his nap will be a long one this afternoon! :)