Snap.

Today has been... rocky for me. I guess it started last night when I tossed and turned in bed for well over an hour before falling asleep. I even put my compression socks on to try to help the situation. True, this isn't all that uncommon for me (the not sleeping, that is), but it seems to be getting worse lately. Enter, this morning, 4:48. Brooks wakes up. I go and put his paci in his mouth and comfort him till he's quiet. Then I do that five more times over the course of the next hour or so. I feed him and hope that will lull him to sleep. It didn't. So 7:00 found the two of us sitting together, me with a dazed look and a cup of coffee, him with a big gummy grin. Sigh.

The girls got up shortly after. I got them their drinks and breakfast. I lugged a clearly-tired boy around. I tried to put tired boy down for a nap. No dice.

At 8:45, I couldn't really take it anymore, so I told the girls that we were going somewhere. "Somewhere" was apparently the beginning of the end.
Riley: Where are we going?
Me: I don't know.
Riley: But can you tell me where?
Me: I would, honey, but I'm not sure.
Riley: (starting to lose it) But can you tell me when I'm snapped in?
Me: I really would, Riley, but I don't know where we're going.  I just needed to get Brooks in the car, so maybe he'll sleep.
Riley: BUT CAN YOU TELL ME?!
Me: Yes.  As soon as I figure it out, I'll tell you.
Riley:  While you're driving?
Me: Yes.
Riley: When we're in the car?
Me: Yes.
Riley: But I'm tired!
Me: Do you want to go home and sleep?
Riley: (bellowing) Noooo!
Me:  But you're tired?
Riley: I want to sleep somewhere else!
Me:  We can't sleep somewhere else... just at home.
Riley: (inconsolable tears)

I swear to you that I really, truly did keep my cool this whole time.  Even though the tears didn't stop, no matter what I said.  And even though Brooks was STILL AWAKE!  What?!

We ended up going to Trader Joe's, where Noelle almost lost it when I didn't let her fill her cart with veggie chips.  Then Riley almost lost it when I let Noelle put one bag of veggie chips in her cart.

We headed home.  This was around 10:00.  That makes it over five hours since Brooks woke up.  He was still awake.  Then... he fell asleep.  For 10 minutes.  Then we got home and he woke up.

I unloaded the groceries, and we headed over to this little children's consignment shop where I was going to deliver my old fall and winter clothes, which I had just washed and folded nicely yesterday.

We get there and I lug in a filled-to-the-brim Rubbermaid and an equally full paper bag of kids' clothes.  A nice lady held the door open for me because try to picture me with a Rubbermaid on my hip, a bag perched precariously on the stroller, one little man trying to kick said bag off and two little girls swirling and twirling around while Mom tries to pull the stroller with her pinky.  We finally get in the door and I bring the clothes over to the counter where I am quickly informed that they're closed for clothing until the Fall/Winter switch, which is July 3rd.

Outside, I  maintain control.  Inside, I'm pretty sure I actually felt something snap.  I said, "Okay!  We'll come back then!" and I went back to the kids, still lugging our clothes.  The girls wanted to play with every toy in the store, but I had just lost my last ounce of will, so I told them it was time to go, and I REALLY needed them to listen because it was really hard for Mommy to get everyone and everything to the car.

We walked out and my bag of beautifully folded, freshly laundered clothes ripped and sent its entire contents tumbling into the street.  I felt the tears start welling up.  But I quickly chucked the Rubbermaid in the car, corralled the kids in, told Riley that "I don't care if you want to stay; we have to go" (not my best moment), grabbed the clothes in a big armful (though I was tempted to just leave them) and left. 

And that is how I ended up standing in the kitchen, stirring mac and cheese for the girls and scarfing three hummus, wild rice and avocado wraps (I realized that I forgot to put the chicken in when I was 2 wraps deep.  Dang it.). 

Please, tell me that the kids will nap for the next 8 hours.  Please.

Sprinkler and Homemade Ice Cream!

Daddy was out of town for a couple days, this week, so we celebrated his return with some good ol' fashioned fun. 

We donned our swimsuits... Noelle in this schnazzy little number!  (Thanks, Bella!)

Ran through our new "wiggly worm" sprinkler...

Practiced some crazy spoon skills!  Impressed?

Oooo!  Busted! 

And ate some chocolate ice cream that we made in a baggie!

The girls couldn't get it in their mouths fast enough.

And we showed off our ice cream beards.

But to get the remaining spills off, we had to run through the other sprinkler (you know, for a little variety).

Yes.  We are the all-American family, living an all-American summer day. :)

Memory Lane

I was just looking through old pictures of Riley, trying to decide who Brooks looks most like, and I had to post these.  It makes me a little sad, just how BIG she's getting!  Oh, sweet Riley-girl, I love you so much.

Here she is with her buddy, Robbie.  She looks like my little Amish girl.  Hehe.

Look at that!  An early family photo!

Smooches, Riley!  Love you!

Fathers' Day in Lake Geneva

After a little morning rain, the boys got to go golfing up at Abbey Springs, again, this year!  And while they were away, the kids and ladies hung out at Great-Grandma's house.

Noelle quickly snuggled up with Great-Grandma for some light reading. :)

Then she determined to have a go at Goldilocks on her own.

Is this not the cutest little dude you've ever seen?

Here's the crew that took the golf cart to the beach.

Noelle was totally cute-ed out for the beach.

Riley wasn't quite as pink but, clearly, still adorable. :)

When we returned from our rigorous adventure, Noelle sidled up the food.  She actually pulled this end table up to the appetizer table and dove right in.  Hilarious.

Hannah focused on getting her locks under control.

And, of course, there was much climbing and playing.

We had a blast.  And as a bonus, we got news that Aunt/Cousin Katie went into labor!  Jackson Scott has now entered the world... and on Fathers' Day!  Woohoo!

More Fathers' Day

I almost forgot!  Here's a picture the girls gave Michael for the big day.  They LOVED posing for it.  It was probably the easiest picture I've ever shot of them. :)

Brooks can't exactly stand yet, so he got a solo shot.

And I got this one of the three kiddos.  Bonus!

Fathers' Day

When I asked Mike what he wanted for Fathers' Day, he said, "I want gluten-free, dairy-free, neon-colored pancakes for breakfast!" 

No.  No, he didn't.  But that's what he got.

 Look at that neon-y goodness!  I mean, if this doesn't scream "DADS' DAY!", I don't know what does.

Oh, and everyone, clearly, had to eat in their pj's.  That's the only way to do it.  

Happy Fathers' Day to the best daddy around! :)

Just a Little Playtime

In the following drama, King is played by Riley, Rarity is played by Mom.

King: Hi.
Rarity: Hi, King! Did you bring us treats?
King: Well, it's my birthday, so they're just for me.
Rarity: It would be so kind if you would share.
King: I'm just going to go back to my house now.

The End.

All Three...

Here's a picture of each of the kiddos, at 7 to 8 months old.

I think it's pretty clear that we have really cute kids.  'Nuff said. :)

Just another breakfast convo

Mike to Riley, this morning, over eggs and bacon: "Stay away from boys with long hair and fuzzy dice in their cars. No good can come of that."

Cousin Playdate!!

This post is long overdue, but here are some cute pics from a fun day we had with the Waltons aehile back!

Brooks: Hi!
Haley: Nom nom nom!

Aunt Sarah makes a mean grilled cheese!