Cabela's, here we come!

We've talked and talked and talked about going, but have never quite made the time...  Until THIS WEEK!  With just one month until this little girl arrives and changes our lives forever, we decided we better whoop it up as a family of five while we still can!

At 7:30am I came downstairs and said, "Let's go to Cabela's" and at 8am we were on the road.  First stop:  McDonald's.  5 sausage McMuffins, $5 and 3 happy kids.

Next stop:  Starbucks.  2 coffees + 2 pastries = 2 happy parents!

From there it was straight down to the BIG show... Cabela's!  Tyler was not happy with me for taking my camera in, I think he was embarrassed.  But come on... it's CABELA'S!  I wanted to stick them all in a stroller or cart, but Tyler thought the boys should roam free...  YEESH!  They had a GREAT time, checking out all the gear and climbing on anything that wouldn't likely tip over.

 This truck/boat combo is on Weston's birthday list!

 Tree hugger!!!

 After an hour and a half (seriously - they should charge admission!) we made a pit stop at Wal-Mart.  I needed a few things, and Tyler had decided that he was going to buy each boy a new Lego set.  Off they went, with a budget, to the toy isle.  They each picked their favorite, and after naps back at home, he helped each of them put theirs together....  they LOVE their Dad!!!

Brother Bonding

We were waiting for Wayne's bus to come, come, and since I had a little time, I was cleaning up the kitchen a bit. When I came back into the family room, I found Wayne and Weston, buddied up on the chair watching a show.  When I asked what they were doing, they told me "Brother Bonding."  When I asked why Wyatt wasn't with them, they told me, "We don't want to bond with him."  Where do they come up with these things?  :-)  Oh well, at least they weren't fighting!

Wyatt knows the rules.  1) No fighting and 2) Be nice!

Wayne's last Kindergarten field trip (sniff-sniff)

Wayne's last Kindergarten field trip was last week Thursday to Berthusen Park for a nature walk... in the rain.  They have been studying wood and nature in their science unit, so this was the grand culmination.  There have been so many things at school, and with work and not moving so great the past few weeks, I just couldn't do this trip.  No bother to Wayne though....  after I told him I couldn't go, the very next time he saw Grandma, all on his own, he asked if she could come with him!  How does a Grandma turn that down?  :-)  So, rain or shine, she was there...  and it was RAIN!  Bless her sweet heart, she led Wayne's group, and apparently by the end of the hike several other groups had joined there's, and the other kids wanted to know, "Who's mom is that?"  :-) 

 After school, Wayne was all abuzz with the trip, and Grandma, and all that they had done and talked about.  He is in AWE of his Grandma, that is FOR SURE! 

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work he goes!

When I was growing up, one of my jobs was doing the dishes, which meant unloading the dishwasher.  In a family of 6, that means about 2 loads a day, and I remember spending that time thinking "someday I am going to have kids so they can do MY dishes!" 

25 years later....  I am LIVING THE DREAM!  :-)

With baby girl Silves deciding she was more comfortable using me as a hammock these past few weeks, a lot of things have been pretty darn uncomfortable for me to do.  With her being "transverse breech" there was no concern because of my scheduled c-section, until she decided to lay up against the incision where her three brothers so gracefully entered this world.  Let's just say....  OUCH!

Never fear... Wayne was here!  This 6 year old boy has been absolutely amazing.  The depth of his compassion and empathy is downright dumbfounding for his age.  Most of the time I don't even have to ask for his help, he just pitches in.  If something falls on the ground, he picks it up.  If I finish a glass of water, he brings it to the kitchen for a refill.  He has also started doing regular chores, not only without complaint, but with a cheerful heart.  What chores does a 6 year old do?  For starters.... laundry.  He gathers it from upstairs and brings it to the laundry room, where he sorts it and puts the first load in the washer with the soap.  He then keeps checking back to see if it's done, so that he can move it to the dryer, and then to a basket.  When all of his baskets are done, he tells me, and he hauls them all to the living room where I am told "it's your turn to work!"  :-)  After I fold and hang the laundry, he brings it all away.  AMAZING.  But that's not all folks!  He unloads the dishes 1-2 times a day, he cleans his room, and sometimes he cleans Weston's room.  Not because he made the mess, but because he knows he is helping me out.  He vacuums, and he uses Windex to clean the TV's and appliances.  He makes his bed, and my bed.

On top of all that.. he is madly in love with his baby sister.  He talks to her in my belly, and she kicks and wiggles when he does.  He's already got her a present to bring to the hospital, hand-picked because he knows what she's going to need.   By God's grace he is growing into an amazing boy, and I am so blessed to be his mom!!!

Summer Movie Express

Regal Theatres (at our local Bellis Fair Mall) is offering their Summer Movie Express again.  On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10am, they will be showing G and PG movies, and only charging $1 for admission.  Here's the schedule!

6/26-6/27 (10am)

JOURNEY 2

KIT KITTREDGE: AMER GIRL 

 

7/3-7/4 (10am)

DOLPHIN TALE

HAPPY FEET TWO 

 

7/10-7/11 (10am)

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS

YOGI BEAR 

 

7/17-7/18 (10am)

CATS & DOGS: REVENGE

HUGO 

 

7/24-7/25 (10am)

ADVENTURES OF TIN TIN

PUSS IN BOOTS 

 

7/31-8/1 (10am)

KUNG FU PANDA 2

RANGO 

 

8/7-8/8 (10am)

RIO

SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME 

 

8/14-8/15 (10am)

CHIMPANZEE

HOODWINKED TOO 

 

8/21-8/22 (10am)

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

SMURFS

Outside and Flying HIGH - Memorial Day 2012

After hinting (not to subtly) that we NEEDED a gathering to attend on Memorial Day, we finally got an invite to the Bajema's.  Woo-hoo!  After a day of laying low and doing projects, we were more than ready to head out and do some relaxing around the campfire.  It was a little stormy when we got there, but after retreating to the house for an hour, we ventured back out to have smores and play on the swings.   And yes, I said SWINGS.  My dear brother-in-law has a "thing" for swings, and is quite creative in his construction!  The Silves boys were very appreciative of his efforts! :-)

Poor Taylin was not so appreciative of Wyatt's efforts to take care of "the baby" though.

 Weston and Wyatt are frequently "buddies" where I make them hold hands and walk together.  It's good for them both!

 Wyatt had a hard time tromping through the woods, so he stuck closer to the food and the fire.  Even so, he managed to biff it at least 12 times over the course of an hour or so.

 Now this is the life!  Way better than building a chicken coop.

 Swing #2... a WILD ride indeed! 

 The kids snuck off and spent most of the night in the "secret camp" they created behind the pile of dead branches. 

 Oh phew....  Taylin recovered from her Wyatt attack with the help of her binkie!

 Whoops!  It helps to have your chair open BEFORE you sit in it!

 Silves couldn't miss out on swing #2, but Ryan REALLY had to push hard!

 Swing #1 was much more Wyatt's style.

Thanks for the FABULOUS evening!

a BIG day - riding a trike and pooping in the pot!

Last Saturday, May 26th was a BIG day for our Wyatt man.... he learned to REALLY ride his trike (like a wild man) and he pooped on the pot for the first time, all by himself.  I think this is a WAY better trick than changing his own poopie diaper, don't you?  :-)

 "Mommy WOW!  I'm a big kid now!"