Sunday, December 9, 2012

Messes with Rosemary

So, if you've wondered why I don't blog much anymore, I can sum it up in one word: Rosemary! Listen to the story of my afternoon and you'll understand even more...

Rosemary has climbed up to the kitchen island and found the box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch left out. Probably not the healthiest snack for her, but these days I'll give her almost anything with calories that she'll agree to eat. So I sprinkle out a small handful on the counter and leave her sitting there, munching happily.
I'm just in the living room, getting the last of our Christmas decoration out. I get a few things out, then come back to check on her and see if she's done with what I gave her. She is- and she's helped herself to more. A LOT more. She has pulled the bag of cereal out of the box, and poured it out on the counter and floor. Thankfully there was only about a bowl and a half left in the bag, but- remember- it's Cinnamon Toast Crunch, so now there is cinnamon sugar covering the counter, chair, floor- and child! I scoop as much cereal off the counter as I can onto the plate Georgia left on the counter after lunch. I set Rosemary in a chair, and the plate in front of her. Then sweep up the rest of the cereal and sugar off the counter, chairs and floor. I give Rosemary a sippy cup of milk to go with her cereal, and move the cereal from the plate to her snack catcher cup, where I assume it will be more safe. She is again munching happily.
Oh yea- she also pulled all the Christmas cards down and had them all over the counter. I try to get most of the cards unbent and back in the card holder. (Sorry if there's now a big crease in your sweet family's face on your card! We DO love you!!)
I go back to the living room and get out a wreath. I untangle it's ribbon and come back to the kitchen for some scissors.
Oh, Rosemary.
She is bathing in her milk. If she holds her sippy cup upside down and shakes it, the milk drips out. She has a nice little puddle going on the counter and in her lap, as she wiggles her legs back and forth. I clean up the milk.
As I go back to the living room I find my water bottle where Rosemary dropped it earlier, after stealing it off the table. It's open and laying on it's side, so there's a nice puddle runnning out of it too, towards the rug. Clean that up, and put the water bottle on higher counter.
Get my wreath straightened out and hear Rosemary chattering and shaking her snack cup around- like a little maraca. How cute- she's making music!
Except I come into the kitchen to see she's NOT making music, but- what else- another mess!
She is shaking her snack cup upside down, so all the darn cinnamon sugar from that darn cereal is shaking out like a sprinkle shaker and the counter, chairs, floor and child are once again covered. To top it off- the milk cup was thrown on the floor, laying upside down, making yet another puddle.
Snack time is officially over! I get the little broom and dust pan yet again, sweep it all up yet again and clean up the puddle. Rosemary is standing on the chair, yelling Ahhhhhh, Ahhhhhhh, Ahhhhhh because I've taken away her cereal so she's not having fun anymore AND she's realized she's covered in sticky cinnamon sugar and she HATES being covered in anything, let alone anything sticky.
SO she gets a bath.
Then straight to naptime.
As I snuggle her in my arms, clean once again, and we sing Nighty Nite together before laying her down, I take a deep breath and let myself fill up again as I look into her big blue eyes. I know she'll lay down and take a good nap, despite a tummy full of cinnamon sugar, and when she wakes up the messes will start all over.
But, in that sweet moment, I know it's all worth it.

More supporting evidence- another mess, another time... goldfish anyone??

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

4th Birthday Celebration

Lincoln definitely seemed to enjoy turning four! We all woke up to him yelling throughout the house- "It's my birthday!!" We had soccer that morning, and he definitely ran fast like a four year old!







Later, after Daddy got home from school, the family came over and helped us celebrate with homemade pizza, cookie cake and some fun presents!











We love you so much- our big FOUR year old!! We are proud of the way you help others, play with and love your sisters, and learn so much all the time. The years are flying by, and you're turning into an awesome boy!! The Lord has blessed us with you!

Lincoln's Field Trip to the Farm

Friday, Nov. 30
I went along with Lincoln's preschool class last week on a field trip to a local farm/petting zoo, HorsePower for Kids. It was very interactive, had a lot of interesting animals to see, pet and meet, and the kids loved it! Lincoln kept calling the trip his "Birthday Party at the farm", and I went along with it, since we got to do his celebration with his class while there! It was a perfect little Birthday treat!

Lincoln walking hand-in-hand with his BFF John Max.
Ms. Brittany's whole class!
Pony rides! 






A little train took them out to see more exotic animals like a fox, wolves, porcupine, tortoise, zebras...


Celebrating with his class! We made yummy chocolate-drizzled Krispie treats to share!


Saturday, December 1, 2012

Happy 4th Birthday, Lincoln!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to YOU!!
Happy 4th Birthday to Lincoln!!!
Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!

Friday, November 30, 2012

Time to see the Animals

During our wedding weekend in Birmingham, we unexpectedly ended up with a free half day, so we voted as a family- and went to the zoo! It was a bit nostalgic for me- the last time I remember being at that zoo was a hot September day, right before we moved, on one last outing with the Phelps. The boys were both in strollers, the little girls not even yet a thought, and all Georgia wanted to see was a cow- which we never found!
This trip was great- the weather was beautiful and cool, and all three of our little Hippos enjoyed running around and seeing the animals. The zoo had done some new things since the last time we were there, which was added fun for us.




We stopped to watch the baby elephant getting fed, and found out this little big guy was from Tampa too! He's on loan from Lowry Park zoo in Tampa- just visiting in Birmingham for a bit!






Lincoln wanted to feed the giraffe.. Georgia wouldn't even get near it! She had a traumatic experience earlier in life where a giraffe tried to bite her little head off! I guess she hasn't forgiven and forgotten yet...

The Lions kept a watchful eye on us as we came by... 
The Tiger was snoozin, of course. Seems a lot of Tigers have been off their game this Fall!
Lincoln most wanted to see the Alligator, which he kept calling a Crocodile...
Georgia most wanted to see the flamingos- because they're PINK of course!!
Georgia's growing into a beautiful giraffe! See past Georgia the Giraffe faces here (2008) and here (2009)