Spanish Camp

The kids went to Spanish Camp last week. They were scheduled to go 2 mornings, but Will got sick Monday night, and he had to stay home Tuesday. He threw up a couple of times overnight. They have all had some mucousy cough going on, and I think he swallowed phlegm, and ended up puking it out. He was fine otherwise. He woke up threw up, and immediately started talking. He was like, "Oh, Will threw up. Will threw up in mommy and daddy's bed. Is Will sick? Marie threw up downstairs yesterday. Is Will going to school tomorrow? Do mommy and daddy have to clean the sheets now?" OMG! At 2 a.m. I just wasn't ready for the Will interrogation.

We got him calmed down and back to sleep and about an hour later, he vomited again, and the obvious questions and statements resumed. "Did Will throw up again? Is Will sick? Is Will going to feel better soon?"

Back to Spanish Camp. I took Abby and Marie to camp and Will stayed with Michele. I was terrified that drop off was going to be awful since they had not been going to school regularly. I walked them into the school, and when I got to the classroom door to check them in, they ran into the classroom and shouted, "Bye, mama!" That was it. When I picked them up, they were all happy. They came home and told Will all about it, and he vowed he would go to Spanish Camp next time.

BTW-Spanish Camp is an immersion program-the teachers speak all Spanish to the kids and encourage them to respond in Spanish. That's what I want--for them to speak it. They understand it completely, but there are only select words they use regularly in Spanish. The theme of the week was "the beach," and the teachers talked to the kids all about things related to the beach. They played with sand, colored pictures of the beach, made little fish crafts, had sun shines painted on their faces, etc.

On Thursday, they all went to Spanish Camp. When we arrived, Marie turned to Will and said, "Will, I show you where is Spanish Camp" and held his hand to the door. The girls started darting down the hall towards their classroom shouting, "C'mon, Will!" They all marched in, sat down at a table, and started painting. Again, no drama...they barely said good-bye to me. When I picked them up, Will said "I like Spanish Camp. I want to come back here." Good thing because they are signed up for 3 days the next session. :)

Dammit!

A few days ago, Marie asked me to get her water. It started like this, "Mommy, would you please get me my agua." BIG, cute smile! I was folding laundry on the table in our mega den, and I said, "I'll get it as soon as I'm done folding this." Then, Marie's response was to slap the table where I was folding and say, "Give me my agua, dammit!" I was shocked. She was still smiling sweetly at me through it all.

I resisted the urge to die laughing, and calmly stated, "That's a bad word. We don't say that. Where did you hear that word?" Marie answered, "Oh, Daddy say that. Dammit!" What a relief--it wasn't me.

Abby and Will overheard our conversation and had to join in. After they yelled "dammit" at various objects, Winnie, themselves for about 30 minutes, with me ignoring them the whole time, they stopped. I haven't heard it again. I don't think it's going to be the worst thing I hear out of their mouths.

Stormy Night

Last night, we had some storms, and poor Will was scared of the thunder. He was crying in bed, and when I went to check on him he said, "Mommy, I don't like the thunder. Would you please turn it off?" How sweet is that....he thought I could turn it off and on.

I explained that I couldn't turn it off, and he said, "just push the button." I guess he figures that's how all his toys work.

When I tried to explain again that I couldn't do that, he asked, "Where is that thunder's mommy? Tell her come get him." So funny. He thinks thunder is a person that needs to be claimed by his mommy. I love it. The things they come up with sometimes are too much.

Beach Trip 2011

We had a blast in Destin this year again! Every year, it gets a little easier, and the kids have more and more fun! Thanks to everyone who joined us and made it so much fun--Mimi, Bill, my dad, and Maureen. Thank you to Mimi also for being our official photographer!

We stayed in a little house in Crystal Beach this year. The house was about a block away from the water. We had a private pool, which was so much fun. We could play and splash and not worry about disturbing others.

Most days consisted of beach time from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Coming in for lunch and naps and then, either hitting the pool before dinner and eating in or getting ready and heading out for a restaurant. Then, the kids and all adults would pass out around 9 p.m. GLORIOUS!

Here's Marie giving Daddy a kiss. I think she's trying to butter him up so that he'll toss her around the pool. They all would fight over this baby float that they called "tortuga" (turtle in Spanish).

Here's Will flying high on tortuga.

Billy bought them each a kite. That kept them interested for about 5 minutes. I think the adults enjoyed flying them more than the kids.

Will liked to relax on the float. He looks so small on that big float.

The kids were great at motoring around the pool with their little floats on. They learned so much at swim lessons this year.

Will and Abby really liked getting buried in the sand. Abby was especially fond of rubbing sand all over her body. Yuck. Marie was much better in the sand than last year, but she wasn't willing to get buried regularly.

Holding hands, buried.

We visited The Track again this year. The kids enjoyed the rides. Will wanted to ride the go-carts, but he wasn't big enough. The next morning after we went, he woke up and said, "I grew. Can I go ride the cars?" Next year, buddy.

Here they are swinging at The Track.

There was a tree outside the beach house they liked to climb. They called the house, "our little beach house." They would ask when they were coming back to their "Winnie house." I guess they think of our home as a dog house.

Miss Abby in her perfectly coordinated beach attire--she had a Little Mermaid bathing suit, hat, and sunglasses. Mimi outdid herself!

They loved splashing in the surf. It was so cute to watch them run around and giggle and splash. Really great memories.

We stopped at the same gas station on the way there and back. It had big trucks in the parking lot. We just couldn't stay away!

Now, we have the vacation countdown until next year. 365 days is a long time!

April/May Pics

I had a few pictures leftover from April and May that I forgot to share...here it goes.

They had another round of swim lessons. They really made a lot of progress this time around. The picture above was taken as we were leaving for swim practice. Mems make sure they are super-stylish in cover-ups and water shoes to match their bathing suits! They still like to look out the front window, even though there is now a couch there. Even Winnie joins them to see what's happening in the neighborhood.

Will and Marie are constantly getting on each other's nerves, but they always go back for more. Here they are rolling around in the yard in the Easter outfits. Will was obsessed with the tie he wore. He asked for it today and clipped it onto the t-shirt he had on. Very fancy look.

Abby loves to hug and play with Winnie. She was running by Winnie yesterday, and she dropped something that landed on Winnie's paw. Abby dropped to the ground, grabbed Winnie's paw, kissed it, and said, "Winnie. You okay? I so sorry." She's wearing Will's "movie Cars" pajamas above. Anything that has to do with "Cars," they refer to as "movie Cars."

Here's Aunt Alice, giant Baby Jake, and the trio in the swing in dad's backyard at Easter. Jake now wears 24 months/2T clothing. I told Alice he couldn't have any more of Will's hand-me-downs because Will still wears a 2T! He's being lapped by a child who isn't even 1 year old yet.

Abby Bossypants

Abby is the Queen Bee around here. She bosses around the others and us and basically, everyone. She tells Will and Marie when it's their turn to do something and let's us know when she's willing to do something. The other day, I asked her to come to the kitchen to get something, and she hollered back to me, "No, mama. I busy." Really? What are exactly are you so busy doing that you can't do what I'm asking you to do? I can't imagine that anything in the life of an almost 3 year old is so urgent that she can't come to the kitchen. Okay, I would have understood if she was on the toilet, but she wasn't.

Abby is incredibly stubborn. She knows what she wants and won't stop until she gets it. Last night, she wanted to sleep in our bed, and she cried for literally 2 hours. When Billy tried to get her to calm down, she said, "I calm down in mommy and daddy's bed." Then, continued screaming. The instant Billy brought her into our room, she was sweet, cuddly, and went right off to sleep. That little bugger!

She also knows how to manipulate people and how to get her way. She likes to spend the night with the grandparents, and she will start talking about how she's going to Papa Nando's to spend the night beginning the day before we are going to see him. Then, as soon as she sees him, she'll tell him she's going to his house, and she's spending the night, and she starts making all these plans..."Then, we go for walk. Then, I sleep in the big bed. Then, we snuggle." After a little while, she has everyone convinced, including Papa Nando, that she's off to his house.

Abby is probably the most mature out of the bunch. She knows how to focus her attention on a project and not get distracted. She's been the one who always pays attention at the shows we've gone to-Barney, the circus, etc.

Abby is so flexible. It's incredible. She contorts her little body in a million different ways, and it doesn't even faze her. She's very strong too. She was the first to be able to really pedal her bike well and can do it uphill. We start gymnastics on Saturday, and I can't wait to see how good she is at it!

Abby is also very clumsy. She tends to fall a lot. She's always got a band-aid or 10 on. We kid that she has a magnet in her head because whenever she falls, it seems to be head-first! However, she does love wearing a helmet so maybe she's aware of this little defect and likes to protect her noggin.

Arie's Multiple Personalities

When you ask Marie what her name is, she says, "Arie, M-A-R-I-E." She doesn't say the M, but she always spells it. She also knows how to spell Abby and Will. She's a smart little cookie.

Marie can be sweet one minute, and then, something will set her off, and she'll explode into a temper tantrum. You never know when it's coming, but when it comes, hold on to your effing hat, because the girl freaks her shit out. We are talking screaming at the top of her lungs, drooling excessively, throwing herself on the ground, looking at you like you are the biggest bitch in the world, etc. I never know what to do. I try to hold her, and she won't let me. Then, she'll put her arms out to me, but when I get close, she pushes me away. Typically, I just let her get it out of her system. After a few minutes, she'll say, "I all better now."

Marie never walks where she's going. She always has a spring her step. She runs, skips, hops, or scoots around. It's so cute!

We think Marie might have a touch of OCD. She has some strange little things she does. Like if she drips a little water, milk, or juice, she'll ask for a paper towel and wipe it off the table, but it's like excessive. She'll keep wiping, even when there's nothing there.

Marie is also so affectionate. She gives big hugs, and lately, she's been so kissy. When I put her done to sleep at night, she gives me kisses on my face, my hands, my arms. I love it. She's also affectionate and loving with her brother and sister. The other day, Abby woke up from her nap in a very bad mood. I brought her down to the couch and Marie was stroking her back and saying, "Shhh. Calm down. All better now." It was so adorable. Of course, Abby kept shrieking, but Marie did not give up.

Will: King of the Obvious Questions

I've been blogging about all 3 collectively too much lately and not giving each one their own little posts to update their differences. I'll start with Will.

I'd have to say that contrary to what "they" always say about boys, he's our most vocal child. He NEVER stops talking. I don't think he's capable of silence. I mean he talks to himself until he falls asleep at night and wakes up talking and singing. The other day, he woke up from his nap, threw open the door, and announced, "Will had a good nap. Will feels better. Will is ready to play. Did Abby and Marie sleep? Where are Abby and Marie? Is Will a good boy?" I was exhausted, and he had only been awake for 1 minute.

He is also very inquisitive and is known for asking obvious questions and/or asking the same question is several different ways

Example one: Our neighbor, Howie, was heading out for a run the other day. We were playing in the yard and Will asked me what Mr. Howie was doing. I said, "He's getting ready to run." Will yells to Howie, "Mr. Howie, your getting ready to run now?" Howie tells him yes and starts jogging out of his driveway. Will shouts, "Mr. Howie, are you running now?" Howie says yes. Will then asks, this is the kicker, "Mr. Howie, do you have a penis?" Really? Why does this child insist on embarrassing me like this? Howie just chuckled. He has kids too. He knows what it's like.

Of course, then the girls join in yelling, "Bye-bye Mr. Howie penis!" "Bye-bye, magina." Magina is how they say vagina. The penis and magina talk is never ending. Then, they correct each other and say, "No more penis talk. Mimi doesn't like it."

Example two: We had some friends over last week, and one of the kids (Ben) was sick and couldn't make it. When Ben's dad, John, came in, Will asked, "Where's Ben?" John explained that Ben was sick and resting and couldn't make it. Will then asked, "Is Ben sick?" John told him yes. Will asks, "Is Ben resting?" John told him yes. Will asks, "Does Ben not feel good?" John told him yes. Will asks, "Is he going to feel better soon?" I told John just to walk away. Will was not going to stop interrogating him.

Will has a very short attention span. He will ask to play with something or watch something on television, but he can only handle it for a few minutes. After that, he has to go wrestle with Marie for a while. Marie and Will seem to be the most playful with each other. Abby tends to be the most mature out of the bunch.

Will is an incredible flirt. He's always checking chicks out and making eyes at them. He knows just how to work it with the ladies. How could you not love his enormous brown eyes?

Will is also so snuggly and sweet. He loves to hug and kiss. Sometimes his affections border on violence, but he just can't help it...he gets carried away with his love. :)