Spring Breaking in Flaggiestaff

We got out of town for a few days at the end of the girls' spring break last month and it was lovely. The kiddos and I went up to Laura and Amy's cabin on Thursday afternoon and Craig joined us after work on Friday, and we all stayed through the weekend. The girls pretty much stayed outside and played with the neighbors from across the street all day, building forts and having tea parties. Craig hiked with the kids and did lots of important things with his Game of War nonsense, while I read a couple of books, went for a run, and looked out the window. Spencer busied himself pushing a play shopping cart up and down the street, and also digging, sweeping, wandering, and climbing out of the playpen at nap-time and bedtime every day (this was SUPER fun, especially since he decided to bring that thrilling habit back home with him.)

Savanna had quite a list of things she wanted to accomplish while we were there, and, I have to give the kids props for steadfastly accomplishing most of them. I'm pretty sure that the only thing they didn't actually do was "build bird house."

Not bad, considering we were only there for 3 days. These guys really packed it in.

Here's a sampling of just some of the stuff they marked off the list:

Then there were the extra things they fit in, that weren't even on the list, like...

 Mommy smooching,

tree hugging,

getting as dirty as possible,

cereal eating,

...and funeral planning.

{"King Arthur: A Mouse

Notes:

Found under tree dead

in Amy & Laura's Yard"}

Ask anyone and they'll tell you what a wonderful time was had by all. 

(Except maybe King Arthur, the mouse. Since he's dead, and all.)

  

See you next time, cabin!

Whoops

Sometimes your 5-year-old accidentally knocks your bathroom trash into the bathtub. But, because you are already running late to her dance class due to her "idon'twanttowearTHATleotard" meltdown, you leave the mess there to clean up later and you rush out the door.

Then, sometimes, you forget all about the garbage in the tub, and your husband finds it when he goes upstairs to give your two-year-old a bath that night. And sometimes your husband doesn't want to be your friend right at that moment, not only because of the trash, but also because you got your two-year-old undressed prematurely and he pees on the bathroom floor while your husband is cleaning up the giant load of trash out of the tub.

But sometimes your husband forgives you because you are feeling miserable form a random stomach bug that has left you helpless and stranded on the couch. And, just for good measure, he switches the laundry for you, too. 

And sometimes you remember that family life is two parts bliss and butterflies, and eight parts giant messes, vomiting, tantrums, grouchiness, and just plain old-fashioned making it until bedtime.

And sometimes, that's okay.

Smarty Pants

Julia recently applied to be a member of the National Elementary Honor Society. She came home super excited and told me that she had started loving school (that afternoon, after she received her application, that is).

Some highlights of the rough draft of her application essay included:

"I wish to join the National Elementary Honor Society because I am smart..."

"...most of the time I like to learn"

"I help others and include others (usually)"

and, my personal favorite,

"If I get in NEHS it will look good on my college application which will get me into a good college which will get me a good job to give me good money so I can use some of my leftover money to donate to schools like Mabel Padgett."

Yep. She's a schemer just like her dad.

{I love my little studious girl.}

Don't worry, we toned the essay down just a little bit for her final draft and tried not to bribe the review board with promises of future monetary donations.

Relishing Spring

While Spring is just getting started pretty much everywhere else in the country, I can feel in my bones that it's already winding down  here for us. Yep, sadly, pants are already getting to be a thing of the past. Time to start stocking up on flip flops, deodorant, and sunscreen, peeps.

In anticipation for our infamous bazillion-degree summers, we are trying to relish the few weeks we have left where it's actually nice to be outdoors. It's hot in the daytime, but the nights sure are beautiful. (In my estimation, heaven will be a perfect 75 degrees all the time.)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to start thinking about the yummy dinner that we'll be eating outside tonight. 

After I clean all the bubble solution off the table. 

And sweep up the bag of grout that Spencer spilled all over the back patio.

What To Do?

What to do with an adorable, energetic boy who, up until two weeks ago, slept until at least 8 in the morning and now (that he's climbing out of his crib like a serial escape artist) thinks he can start getting up at 6 am?

What to do with a bored baby who dumps out all of the Little People toys just so he can turn the bin upside down, push it to the counter, and climb into the sink to play with the water?

What to do with a stubborn kiddo who all but refuses to say "Mama" while Mama happens to be the one that deals with his exhausting antics all the livelong day?

What to do with a hungry monkey who only wants to eat fruit snacks, crackers, and Pirate's Booty from morning til night because he is too busy to sit still long enough for an actual meal?

What to do with a handsome hulk who man-handles the "childproof" locks open so he can get into the bathroom and eat toothpaste and/or use it for hair gel?

What to do with a silly boy who used to scream bloody murder because he couldn't play in the backyard, and yet, now that he can, doesn't want to?

What to do with a terrifying tornado who, while I am endeavoring to clean up Mess A, runs off to get started on Messes B, C, and D?

What to do with a clever toddler who stealthily pushes a chair over to the kitchen island (while I am writing this very post) so that he can take a sponge bath in the bowl of sugar that I innocently left there?

Seriously, guys...what on earth am I supposed to do with this kid all day?

I sure love him. I really do. But I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.