Impromptu Zoo

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11am on Monday morning, Jeff's summer schedule changed.  Meaning he no longer had class at 2:30 & we found ourselves with a full Monday with zero committments!  We knew we had to get moving fast if we wanted to do something fun or nap time would hit & then it would be too late.  So we threw ourselves together & jumped in the van for what turned out to be a pretty much perfect little Monday.

Since it was a scalding 100 degrees we opted to hit up the Air Conditioning at the Children's Museum. 

We unloaded kids & rolled into the Museum's front doors only to find out, its not open to the public on Mondays!  What?!  So we loaded 3 kids BACK into the car & decided since we were already down town & had ourselves psyched up for a fun day, we'd brave the zoo!  We were not ideally "packed" for the zoo.  We had our 3 single strollers (& stroller clips), which we were nervous about, but it worked out fine & we fit everywhere we went.  Luckily we had sunscreen along.  We went ahead & bought a pass (only have to go 3 more times between now & March for it to pay for itself!)  Stayed for a few hours, mostly did the indoor stuff & had a great time!
One of these days I promise I will be brave & let them out of their strollers.  I'm just worried about how 3 toddlers can turn into 3 terrors oh so fast!
Lunch!
Hayden INSISTED on fries with ketchup.  He was a disaster.  Thanks for this one GG, pretty sure this is your doing!
 But their favorite part was the goats!
 Baby :)
 Hayden checking out the newborn baby goat
 Livi loved them.  I mean giggled like a school girl.  Squeeled with glee.  Ran up to them.  Petted them.  LOVED THEM!

Then they took a LONG afternoon nap.  We're talking, being loud & encouraging the boys to finally wake up after 3 hours long nap.  Livi was up earlier.  It was still HOT out & we knew we needed something to burn energy or we'd be up late tonight with such a long, late nap.  So Liv & I hit up the dollar store in search of a little pool.  Rarely do I get to take one kid out somewhere alone.  So I let her roam the store & explore.  She tried to break her neck climbing to sit on a STACK of 5 toddler chairs.  She cleared off a 7 foot gap on the bottom shelf of the toy aisle.  And snuck up to the checkout with a pack full of balls that I had not intended on buying.  {Think of the mess with 3 toddlers roaming!}

We spent the evening splashing in the *cold* pool {and mom & dad wound down with a much needed adult beverage!}

Hayden jumped right in!  And had fun bouncing on the edge of the blow up pool!
 Logan had fun too!
 Livi:  Not so sure!  She is going through this scared of water, even scared of baths stage. 
 Then the boys went for a drive.
 While Livi discovered the slide.  She LOVES slides. 
 Slidin' on the belly feet first!
 Very surprisingly, by the end of the evening she was having the most fun!  The water was COLD & it wasn't so hot by this point.  But she was splashing away & sticking her face in the water (without parental encouragment). 
 While the boys were still driving...
 ... or off roading!
 We even ate supper outside.  Which made after supper clean up such a breeze!  (Think Logan will ever grow a neck??)

Perfect Summer Monday!!

Christmas

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Yes I realize its June.  Just incase someone wants to know... I'm just throwing this out there.
Here is my Christmas list for this year!

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers

Trip to the POOL!

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Took the kiddos for their 1st trip of the year to the pool.  Place was BUSY.  Lots more kids than the days we went last year.  Went pretty well.  Didn't stay too long.  Boys had a blast.  Brave.  Walked around.  Played.  Semi-socialized.  Livi wasn't a big fan.  She was fine as long as she was sitting on someone's lap, but she was a little tearful :(  Bought some $ store arm floaties just thinking if someone goes crazy, with 2 adults & 3 kids it would maybe buy us an extra second.  The kids liked them.  Even wore them around a little at home.  Not sure they were of any value though.  All in all, a successful trip.  Not much for pictures.  Hard to watch 3 "swimmers" & take pics all at once!

 All smiles OUT of the water
 Toughen up toots!
 Heading home!

She is so freekin' smart!

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So lets start by saying I am addicted to Coke, pop coke that is.  Not even the diet type.  Straight up, Coca-Cola!  Happened post-kids.  Need for caffeine.  Not the healthiest beverage of choice, but it's my little morning pick me up.  The kids are obsessed with the can, why are all kids seemingly obsessed with a shiny can?  From my last grocery trip, still sitting in our entryway is an opened 24 pack of Coke.  Upstairs fridge is full & I just haven't gotten around to taking it down to the basement fridge. 

So what does this have to do with Livi being smart?  Well, today I was baking cookies & the kids were playing in the dining room.  Just in conversation (as much conversation as I can have with them) I said... "oh I'd love a pop.  Liv you should go get mommy a pop."  And just continued to go about my business.

I heard some comotion, banging on the stairs.  So I went to see what the heck was happening.  And up the stairs from the entryway came Livi, can of pop in hand.  Brought it right over to me.  I was SHOCKED!  Amazed.  Sure I know she knows what a pop is (is that bad?) & sure I know she follows directions.  But I never imagined just in that little conversation she would follow through going all the way down the stairs to the entryway, dig into the little opening on top of the box to pull out a can, climb back up stairs can in hand, all to bring me a pop!  Brilliant!  Not even any spare can mess out of the box.  Amazing.

Something that I could get used to!!

Renal US

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Hayden's renal ultrasound results are normal.  Figured it would be, just glad we did it once so we know for sure. 

Slowly Speaking

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A few more random words at our house.  Slowly but surely.

Olivia says "Uh Oh!!"
Hayden says "All done."
Logan says, ok everything Logan says sounds the same but what he means is "Mac-Mac", which is what we call Mac n' Cheese.  Though what he really says is "Ma ma."  Which sounds exactly the same as banana & night-night.  As long as HE knows what he is saying, right?

Just a Few

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Got the CD from our 18 month picture disaster day.  And I am absolutely amazed at what Kristin was able to capture amid the tears & tantrums.  You would never know, had I not told you, how stressful & tearful the hour was!  Here are just a few.  I haven't had time yet to decide on my faves.

 Hayden:  Ham!
 Olivia
 Logan