Staycation

Sydney didn't have school yesterday or today because of some Catholic Teacher training event.  Had I taken a close look at her school calendar when she started this year and noticed this 4-day weekend, I would have planned a vacation for us, but in my baby haze I did not look closely at the calendar, so we are having a bit of a staycation.  I love that word - who came up with that?  Yesterday was lots of fun, mainly because I didn't have to drive anyone anywhere!  Here's what we were up to:

A quick visit to a local pumpkin patch yielded several hours of fun.  We spent $20 on these beauties and came home to paint them.  The kids had a blast and the weather was perfect for sitting on the back porch and making a mess with paint.  I let the kids just do whatever they wanted with their pumpkins instead of trying to direct them to some cute finished product.  It was pretty stress-free this way and everyone was happy!  Pierce added layer after layer of color to his pumpkin and his last and final layer being gray meant that he ended up with a solid gray pumpkin.  But I kind of like it that way!

We made strawberry tarts for snack and had an impromptu tea party to properly enjoy those cute little tarts.  They were so cute: why didn't I snap a picture?  Here's our secret to making them: buy pre-made tarts, spread strawberry jam on them, bake for 5 minutes at any temperature and serve!  Next we hit the neighborhood park for some soccer fun. Then we made home-made pizza for dinner.  I let the kids have a "toppings bar" and put what they wanted on their pizzas.  Sydney chose mushrooms and olives, Pierce heaped on olives and sausage (both of which he later declared he did not like and picked off, the olives being to "sour").  But what a yummy and easy dinner for a laid back night with no strict bedtimes.  We usually don't have dessert during the week, but since we were technically on "staycation," I served chocolate ice cream, with copious amounts of sprinkles for the kids, none for me.  What is it with those sprinkles?  Yuck!

While I cleaned up the pizza bar mess, the kids decided to make cards for daddy (who was coming back from New York last night).  Cute idea, but major mess.  Major messes are the story of my life at this point.  I feel that I am in a constant battle with clutter and disorder, and that I am generally losing that battle.  But I got some help with little resistance from the kids to clean it up and all was well.

It's so nice to have lazy days like these.  Makes you realize how hectic our normal daily lives are.

Grant Michael

Our precious Grant Michael arrived three days later and two pounds heavier than expected on June 20, 2012, weighing 9 lbs 10.5 ounces.  He was born at 10:50 am, one year and one minute after his adorable cousin Addison.  Maybe the clock was fast and he was actually born at the exact same time?  It’s funny because we thought he’d come on Father’s Day (his due date), and he didn’t, but he still managed to pick a special day to share with Addison.  Sydney chose her birthday to share with Aunt Susan.  And Pierce decided to come on Mother’s Day.  Funny how all that works out.

According to those surveyed thus far (including family, friends, preschool teachers, grocery store cashiers, and random strangers), Grant looks just like Pierce.  Well, he’s a little chunkier, but otherwise, they must strongly resemble each other.  A friend of mine saw him for the first time recently and said, “Claire, you’ve created the same child twice!”  Ha!

Grant is a sweet and relatively happy baby (unless you catch him hungry or tired!), and we are so happy he decided to join our little family.  What a blessing he's been!  His favorite activities include: practicing his vowel and consonant sounds, cooing, grabbing his left foot, eating, sleeping and snoring.  His siblings adore him and are so good to him, giving him kisses, holding him, helping him with his pacifier and blankets.  They are very attentive!

It’s a shame it’s taken me 3 months to get some pictures and a quick post up about him, but I’ve been busy, as you can imagine.  My daily to-do list is long, and blogging is way down around number 89, right after #88 - flossing my teeth (checked that one off today!) and just before # 90 - cleaning out the guest bedroom closets.  Maybe I can get back on here more regularly soon.  We are still not sleeping through the night (that seems to be everyone’s favorite question to ask me!), so I can’t say I’m all that rested.  But, when I catch a spare moment or two, and the bills are paid, laundry is folded and teeth are flossed, I’ll post again!