This past Sunday, after a most satisfying lunch out, Bleu cuddled up on the couch with her daddy and fell asleep. It was her first nap in exactly two years, with the exception of the one time she dozed off at my mom's house on December 27.
P.S. Speaking of Sunday, I made the best chicken corn chowder ever. I started with an all natural mix from Pine Island Herb + Spice Co. and added a ton of goodness. It was out of this world!
Before little Nick left our house on Saturday he had one request: to stay for an episode of Jake and the Never Land Pirates with Buby and Bleu. Have you ever seen three kiddos so totally focused before?
My friend Nicole and her daughter Mikayla.
Last night a bit of a pajama party ensued with four extra people in the house. My friend and college roommate Nicole stayed with her two cutie pies {ages five years and five months}, and Grandma DJ is visiting until Tuesday.
While Nicole and I put the babies to bed, Grandma DJ held a captive audience with the older three. I believe the book of choice was "Micky and the Beanstalk."
We finally got some. It was icy and wet and didn't last more than a day, but it provided some sweet snowballs for our walk to school this morning. We'll take what we can get :-)
Only 100 yards until we're home, and they decide to throw in the towel.
Buby drew this for his big hero on Sunday night.
I wanted to say a quick thank you--from Tom--for all the beautiful birthday cards he received this week. Aunt Mary--we love the big wheel photo circa 1979! Maria--you are too kind for words. Sid, Lily and Mason--you always send amazing cards {above}. Mike--you are funny. It's payback for the worst best man speech ever, right?
Yesterday was Tommy's 37th birthday. We lucked out that it fell on President's Day and everyone was home to celebrate. Actually, it was his fifth day home after the back procedure Thursday, and the whole long weekend was pretty sweet.
Recap: Friday afternoon we all ventured out, lunched with friends who had been on a beach for two weeks, ran errands {including picking up my eyeglasses from the vision center--they're red!--and Buby's new bandanna from the hippie shop}, and then stopped at another bakery for homemade chocolates and red velvet cake bombs. That was My Sweets' idea. I'd never tasted cake bombs/balls/pops before Friday, but I can assure you they are dreamy. We decided to keep them to ourselves and not share :-)
The children were wonderful sports. Oliver napped here and there, and it was a goooood day. That night My Sweets and I sneaked into our bed with a box of handmade chocolates and a full bottle of Asti. {P.S. I love marriage, and I love a guy who can make me laugh so hard I cry.} Later we watched "Return To Me" from our very old dvd collection.
Saturday night Oliver slept again, so we watched "Crazy Stupid Love" together. Surprisingly we both liked the film. Sunday we slept in and went to 11 a.m. church. We played at home, squeezed in a scooter ride to the park, and then I served up veggie chili while Tom went on a MANdate at the distillery with a friend of ours.
Monday morning My Sweets slept in while I tiptoed downstairs with the littles. He loves and craves sleep on his days off. Later I handed him a hot coffee and an ooey gooey cinnamon bun. We all sang off key. Around 11:15 we headed to Bleu's gymnastics class and then out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant. It was incredible!
Buby and Bleu ordered tacos. Oliver tried his first quesadilla and decided he can't live without fresh guacamole. During lunch My Sweets commented, "Another advantage to being a family of five... we get the big round table!" It's true. We had the best table in the house... tucked into a bay window on the first floor. Of course more desserts followed lunch, and this time the kids had a taste.
Before heading home we stopped at a bowling alley. It's just like My Sweets to let the kids choose the activity on his birthday. He was high scorer, as usual, and Buby and Bleu were super into it this time. Oliver was a bit of a wild man. He spent a little time in the stroller and Ergo backpack and a lot of time running down the ramp. Note to self: Bowling alleys are foolish places for 15 month olds. Anyway, my iPhone shots...
Friday morning Bleu finally got that coat of "No Boundaries" I promised her on Tuesday.
Our six-year-old has longish hair that doesn't always tuck nicely behind the ears. He doesn't want it cut, and we decided that's fine for now. Like father like son. But it drives me crazy when I can't see those beautiful blues! Once he walked out of school with his stripey winter scarf tied around his head like a pirate, and another time he snagged his little sister's black stretch band. He didn't take it off for two days :-)
So. I've been searching for really awesome BOY barrettes or wraps {constellations, treasure maps, pinstripe, hounds tooth}. Traditional bandannas we have, but they are difficult for children to tie and don't provide a soft/snug fit. We haven't seen anything--even on Etsy--until a friend suggested this little hippie shop near her house. We visited two days ago, and Buby was over the moon to find dozens of wraps like the one above for $9. It's great when he's playing tennis or tag and just needs his hair pulled back.
