SATURDAY FUN

This is exactly why I just love our neighborhood.  We woke up today with zero plans (besides my three daily goals of maternity leave: (1) pump, (2) shower, (3) work out - of which none were accomplished!).  A is away all weekend, so I am challenged by finding something to do that will occupy the big kids AND be feasible with a baby.

We set out on a short walk to see what our neighbors were up to.  Just down the road lives two great families.  One with two girls and the other with three boys.  Our family seems to bridge the gender differences.  Before long, we were running back home to change into swimming suits and pack a picnic lunch. The good ol' Slip and Slide was a hit!

And the babies kept one another entertained!

PICNIC

JP's last day of preschool is next week- but today we celebrated at his End of the Year Picnic.  The event was for siblings too- finally, AA could participate in more than just the preschool pick up and drop off!  After eating lunch together, we watched the ten students show off their sisters, park moves, and soccer skills.  So much energy!

GIRL TIME

Since we could hardly ask our nanny to take a 12 week hiatus while I was on maternity leave, we still have Ms. Jeffre around most days of the week for a few hours.  She deserves an entire post to herself, but, in short, she is wonderful.  Having her around during the week allows me to spend some much needed one on one time with my big kids.  Normally our time is spent at a park or for a bike ride, but today AA and I shared a smoothie at Caribou Coffee and had our hair cut.

This little diva is so much fun to talk with one on one!

BIG BOY

Oh my.  In the blink of any eye my newborn became a baby.  And my baby is becoming a big boy!  Facing out in the Baby Bjorn was such a big deal with JP at eight weeks :

and it was such a big deal  with Baby J today:

SOCCER

Last day of soccer!  Coach Laura (or Whowah, according to AA) is an icon in our family!

MEMORIAL DAY

This Memorial Day weekend was different:

1. The excitement for a 3-day weekend does not mean as much when I have every day off during maternity leave!

2. A was away the entire time.

3. It was HOT.

4. We didn't stuff our car full, get stuck in Friday night traffic on I-94, arrive late with crabby kids to Fergus Falls, watch Grandma K use her blower for hours on end, fight for the upstairs bathroom ten minutes before church, and return home late Monday night five pounds heavier.  

Instead, I took the kids across town each day to visit Grandma K and Grandpa A at their house.  Grandpa T, Uncle J and Aunt K and Baby Ari joined in on the fun.

LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS

Oh my!

One of the greatest gifts my kids have received in awhile was a year membership to the Minnesota Zoo from Grandpa T.  JP and AA are at the perfect age for such an adventure.  Today we brought Baby J for the first time.  We probably all look like monkeys to him!

DANCE

Each night after dance class, I hear AA reciting some of her lessons to her imaginary friends.  But when I ask AA to tell me about what she is learning- or show me some moves- she declines.  Her 30 minute class each Monday is behind closed doors.  Until today, the parents were only able to witness ten tiny ballerinas prance into class behind Miss Tanya with delight.  Occasionally, we can hear the beat of the music behind the walls.  But today, we were allowed to watch their final recital.

I was quite surprised ... well, actually I was not surprised at all ... to watch AA perform each song with such poise and sass.  She sang loudly right on tune and her tiny ballet shoes moved on cue.  I witnessed AA elbowing her way (more than once!) to be at the front of the line.  Oh what fun she is!

MOTHER, DAUGHTER

AA's last dance class is approaching ... I decided to let her try on my first dance outfit.  I can't believe my mom held on to this for all of those years!  AA thought she was special!

SMILE

WINGS

I took my first airplane ride in second grade with my Mom and Cousin M.  We flew to Florida to visit my Aunt J and Uncle V.  I have so many memories from my first flight- the anticipation of taking the trip, the take off, the landing- and even the bloody lip I earned as I did not "take caution when opening the overhead bin as some objects can shift!"  I do not remember where I flew for the second time, and I certainly can't recall the details for many subsequent flights.  That first one was such a big deal.

I'm not so sure my kids will be able to say the same thing!  JP earned his airplane wings at four months, AA at 6 weeks, and baby J at 5 weeks!  Baby J and I flew to Atlanta to witness daddy earn his really big deal Delta wings.  (Grandma S came along too to help out during the celebration dinner).

Traveling with a newborn requires just so much stuff ... a stroller, car seat, plump full diaper bag, multiple changes of clothing for all parties involved ... so having an adult companion (cue Grandma S) makes life a lot easier.  The actual flying is simple.  Baby J slept soundly on both flights and had no problems with take off or landings.  Bravo!