The Fabulous Fourth

I love the 4th of July. The kids have so much fun every year, how could I not? This year was hard for me though. We have many very good friends and we were invited to several BBQs. It's awesome, except when you realize you can't possibly go to all of them and you'll have to make some tough decisions. So, I decided that we'd take me out of the picture and let the husband and kids decide where to go. Denver's new job requires him to be up at 4:00 in the morning, so he wanted to go to the earliest BBQ possible that the kids would still enjoy. And so we did. But well before that, we had some pancakes that Chase made. Red, white and blue of course!

While it was still pretty early, I thought I'd get the pictures out of the way so I didn't have to worry about the kids messing up their outfits. I'm glad I did, because I think it would have been pretty awful if I'd tried to make them stop playing just for some pictures.

Mia was hiding at first.

Of course, then she was dominating.

Say cheese.

She LOVES Karli.

Once Mia got to hold Karli, I could no longer get her to look at me.

He's a stud. A teenage stud.

Another stud. Only this one is 4.

I'd asked him to do a dance for me.

She was done looking at me before we even got to her solo shoot.

Mischevious.

Karli was enthralled with the grass.

Still loving the grass. I gave up trying to get her to look at me while sitting in the grass.

But even up high she was still looking down. Who knew grass was that cool?

This is my favorite one of her.

So when she finally looks up-goofy girl is what you get.

I got below her for this shot.

"Okay Mom, I'll give you one picture."

 After the photos, we went to get a few little fireworks for the kids to do at home that night. I let each of the kids pick out one firework. Corbin was ecstatic about the pack of helicopters he found. After the fireworks stand we returned home and I put the toddlers down for naps and then ran to The Z's to check on Emilio's neck. Everything looked great and after a nice visit we headed back home to get the cookie salad made for the BBQ. Mia was a big help.

 We were trying to hurry to get to the BBQ but we're also planning on camping this weekend so we had a few stops to make on the way. It didn't help that we've never been to The Warren's new house before and got lost, but we did get there. And we had an amazing time. The kids were in heaven and the food was delicious. We were planning on leaving after we ate, but Chase begged and the kids were having so much fun that I didn't have the heart to tear them away so Denver hitched a ride home so he could study and get some sleep before work. I was glad we were able to stay longer, but I did miss Daddy Rabbit. I hate watching fireworks without him. I got over it though, because I had to and because the kids kept me so busy I didn't have time to miss him too much. Karli wasn't sure about the fireworks because of the noise, so I had to hold her the entire time and talk to her after the loud ones otherwise she'd start screaming. Mia started out sitting with Bonnie, but after she fell, she only wanted me. Corbin loved every minute and didn't take his eyes off the sky once they started. He kept telling me how beautiful they were and that the blue and red ones were his favorites. I don't think Chase could have had a better time because he got to light quite a few of them. It was a great show. By the end, however, Mia was begging me to make them stop because they were too loud and she was tired and wanted to go to bed. Karli was asleep in my arms. I'd wanted to take some time and try out the new camera, but with all the children in my lap, it'll have to wait until next year...

Mia getting ready for the fireworks in her stylin' new coat.

Corbin was pointing out the fireworks.

I was trying so hard to get a picture of her startled face. She was jumping every few seconds.

Mia showing off the fireworks.

Sparklers.

I had Chase take this picture and then put the camera away for me since there was no more room in my lap.

Once the show was over we packed up the kids into the truck and they were all asleep before we even reached the main road. Well, except Chase. It was fun. Happy 4th of July!

Dentists and Poop

Today the kids all had dentist appointments. Or so I thought. When I originally made the appointments, I spent 45 minutes on the phone with a woman who sounded as if she'd never made an appointment before in her life. So when I came home and listened to the message on the answering machine telling me that there were only appointments for Corbin and Mia, I didn't bother to call back and check. I just couldn't take the chance that the same woman would answer and I figured we'd deal with it when we got there. So we made it a family affair and we ALL went. That's right, even Denver. He didn't have anything super pressing at the time and I told him that this appointment just became his top priority. That or he could stay home with Karli so that I could focus on keeping the others in check. Silly man decided to come. Good news-Chase and Corbin were able to see the dentist and neither one of them had cavities! Oh yeah, that's right. Bad news-Mia has to wait a couple of months until her appointment, and she was very sad. I really didn't think she'd care, but I was wrong. Now, every time I go to leave the house she's asking if it's her turn to see the dentist. And Corbin keeps begging to go back. I wonder if it's because the gal that cleaned his teeth was so awesome and he got to wear glasses, and sit in the moving chair and count his teeth and tell her all about dinosaurs having teeth. Or maybe it was the time spent in the waiting room. Everyone was very nice and there was an elderly woman in an electric wheelchair that let him push a couple of buttons and then when she mentioned something about singing he stood right up and sang his favorite Primary song, "Stand for the Right." I'm not sure she caught all the words but I did and I loved it. And on the way home I told my boys how very proud I was and then we reminisced about the first time Chase went to the dentist. I'll admit it wasn't as fun as Corbin's, but it makes a good story. The first time Chase went to the dentist, I was anxious. I was a single mom at the time and there wasn't a whole lot of wiggle room for appointments. We arrived early and all was going well until Chase, who was roughly 4 at the time, gave me a look and said, "Mom, I need to go to the baffroom. I pooped." Chase had been potty trained for months, and had NEVER pooped his pants. Until that day. I thought he may have mispoken and meant that he just needed to poop. Nope. He'd pooped. A lot. So I stepped out and told the receptionist that I was going to have to run home and change him, which might put us a little late. She was a little skeptical at first, but I knew we were close and there was no way I could reschedule-I just had too much going on. So we jumped in the car and sped all the way back home. During the drive, I was prepping Chase for what we were going to do. He'd run in the bathroom and get his pants off while I ran and got him some clean clothes. I had him take his shoes off in the car to save a little time. And I thought things were going well until I went into the bathroom and saw-well, poop. A giant smear of poop all the way down the side of my tub. Chase was trying to do what I'd asked but his little legs and arms just weren't coordinated  and he fell while trying to get his pants off. Poor little guy. We pressed on and I got him clean and back to the dentist five minutes after his appointment should have started. I was impressed. And when they took him right back and he hopped up into the chair and opened his mouth as wide as he possibly could, before the dentist even got his gloves on, I knew he'd be fine. And he was. No cavities that time either. I'm so glad that he's following that trend-I mean the no cavities trend, not the poopy pants!

Corbin is 4!!!

Corbin has been looking forward to his birthday for some time now. I was getting worried that I'd never live up to his expectations. I knew the best chance of making it a special day for him was to give him the one thing that I know would make his day. Donuts! I've never seen a kid so infatuated with a food before. He once snuck a box of donuts into the pantry and finished it off in less than 10 minutes. I watched him cram the last pieces into his already overflowing mouth because he knew I'd take them away when I got close enough. It's a little frightening. Today, his birthday, we got star shaped donuts. He ate 3. I let him have the first one. The second one he snuck off Mia's plate when she wasn't looking and wolfed it down before I could stop him. I'm still not certain how he climbed up to the top shelf of the pantry for the third. Let's just say that the donuts made a perfect breakfast for Corbin.

 I tried to get a picture of him with his donut before he started eating it, but I was too slow. Even though I had the camera in my hand and on when I handed him his donut. I'm telling ya, he LOVES donuts. 

While Corbin was busy scheming on how to get more donuts, I was busy finishing his cake. I'd started it the night before but ran out of frosting and just wasn't in the mood to make more seeing as it was already 11. Thankfully, it wasn't too hard to finish.

 When Corbin was watching me finish it up, he kept thanking me. "Thanks for the green dinosaur, Mom. And the orange. Oh, Mom, it has blue! Thanks!" And I just reveled in it.

 Corbin doesn't think you can have a birthday without balloons. So of course he got some!

Don't you just love his hair? I had to distract him while Denver snuck outside and got his bike out of the trunk and put balloons on it. I told Corbin he needed spikes like a dinosaur and it worked! He was happily distracted.

You know all those pictures of Chase's birthdays where Corbin is blowing out Chase's candles? This is Chase's revenge! When I asked Chase about it, he said he didn't even realize he was doing it.

PRESENTS!!!!!

 "My green dinosaur bank!"

Okay, so he was with me when I bought it. He was still excited.

 "This is for shooting the zombies"

Uh, maybe we shouldn't have given Chase an air soft gun with zombie targets...

 "I'm a dinosaur and I say ROOOAAAR. And this says Happy Birthday to Corbin."

 Mia really struggled with letting Corbin open his own presents. Quite the change from her birthday last year when she wouldn't open any.

 Corbin has been waiting for months for the green blanket that "Gama makes him". When he saw it he got so excited he didn't speak at first. He just started clapping when I asked him if he liked it!

 And then he began hugging it and telling us how much he loved it. "It's my blanket Gama made me. I love it. It has dinosaurs. And red and blue and orange and GREEEEEN!!!"

 We were able to drag him away from his blanket with the bike, but only just.

 Corbin followed me up when I went to put his blankent on his new bed. I love this picture of him because, well because I see the sweet little boy he's always been and I can pretend that he's not going to continue growing up and wanting me less and less. If only it were true.

 Corbin requested macaroni and cheese "the orange kind" for dinner. So that's what he got, with some dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets as well. He was very pleased.

Let's have some cake! Please don't ask why everyone but my husband looks happy. I can't even begin to understand what goes through that man's head when I say that I'm going to take a picture and to smile and look at Mommy. Maybe he doesn't want everyone to know what a devastatingly handsome man he is when he smiles. Good job dear, no one will think that while looking at you in this picture.

All in all, Corbin seemed to have a great day. And when I mentioned that it was time for bed he disappeared and this is how I found him...

It was a long day, and someone was so excited to sleep in his new bed with his new blanket that I didn't even have to tuck him in. Happy Birthday, my little man.

Karli's Space Ship

I have an amazing boss. Since he's done having babies he offered me his MamaRoo. What's a MamaRoo? Well, when I tried to explain it to Gama it was a train wreck and I gave up. Rather than attempting another verbal explanation, we created this...

I'll bet now you understand why we call it Karli's Space Ship.

Balloons

This is what we did with the balloons the day after the party. Kept the kids busy all morning.

Friends

Dear Corbin and Mia,

I took this picture to illustrate something for you. In the coming years, I have a feeling you will fight. At times, I am sure you will insist that you hate each other, that your life would be better off without the other. I'm positive that I will spend countless hours pulling out my hair trying to convince you that you really do love each other and that you need to quit fighting!!! So listen carefully...

When we first got to the park, neither one of you would go down this slide alone. In your own words this was a "really big slide", and you thought that you needed me to be there with you. Until I suggested that you do it together. If you look closely at the picture, you can see that you're holding hands. Now look at this next one....

You're happy! Together you did it, and you had a lot of fun in the process. That seemingly insurmountable task was accomplished because you were stronger together. Remember this. You are stronger together and together those scary, impossible things in life can be done. You have the power to make a difference, for good, in each other's lives-so use it. Please. I'm not asking you to do the impossible, you will fight. Just keep it to a minimum and then make up as you do now. With a hug and an "I love you so much", and you'll get through. You'll build each other up in ways only a sibling can. Trust me, I know. And I love you both. So much.
Love,
Mom

The Cave

I know he's mine. I remember sleeping in strange places when I was a kid. A hotel closet and a bathtub, for instance. I'm just not sure if I started when I was three. You see, when I did it I wanted to be cool and show off how different I was. I made sure everyone knew where I'd been sleeping. This is not how my three-year-old chose to do it. In fact, I'm not sure I would have been able to find him if not for Denver telling me what he was up to. And Denver only knew because he happened to be going past the door before Corbin was fully in place.

 This is how Corbin and Mia's closet looked when I first came in.

And after I removed "the door".

 No, he's not turning his head to look away from me, he is genuinely conked out. In no way does that position look comfortable to me, but I suppose things bend a little easier when you're three...He's been sleeping like that for a few nights now. I don't have the heart to make him move. Okay, I'm just happy because now he actually goes to bed when it's time because he knows if he gets up and plays he won't get to sleep in his "cave".

He's also getting pretty excited for his new room with the big boy bed and the big green blanket that Gama is making for him. It's all he talked about today. "I will have a big bed with my big green blanket that Gama makes me that's so soft and green and big. I love it. It's big and green and Gama makes it"-I think you get the picture. I'm hoping that it will hold the same charm and keep him where he should like the cave has done. We shall see...we shall see.