The Gymnastics Party

The kids had a fun-filled birthday party at the place where they take gymnastics last Saturday. We had a huge turnout--20+ kids! They all had fun tumbling or just running or crawling around.
Three birthday cakes, compliments of Mimi. She took each child out to pick out their respective cakes. Abby selected a princess themed cake. Marie went with Minnie Mouse, and Will wanted "movie Cars" cake.

Here are Will and Marie in the midst of the tumbling action. These two are always together. When I ask Marie a question, she wants to know Will's answer. Examples: Me: Marie, would you like to wear shorts or a skirt? Marie: What's Will wearing? Me: What would you like to eat for dinner? Marie: What's Will eating? These two are so funny.

Here's Abby showing off her cuteness. She does her own thing. I think she thinks she's too mature for them. Now, she prefers to sleep in Will's room alone. If the other two try to wander in to play with her, she promptly calls me and asks me to lock them out of her room. She'll say, "Will and Marie are bothering me."

Notice the super cute shirts that match their cakes?! I bought them on Etsy for the occasion. I had everything so well coordinated!

The kids could not keep their mouths and fingers out of the cake. A couple of times, they just bent over the table and chomped on them! I guess they were claiming their own pieces.

We had a great time. I think the kids all went home tired and well fed. I'm glad we only have to do birthday parties once a year. It's a lot of work! How will I top that next year?

Spanish Camp Numero Dos

They spent another few days learning espanol at Spanish camp. This time around, Marie had developed some separation anxiety so she was not quite as excited about attending camp. She's been clingy with me and has refused to spend the night out for a few weeks. She's missed her rotation at Mimi's house and at Pop-pop Bill's place. I guess it's just a phase, and I'll stick close while it lasts. It has been nice to get some one-on-one time with her when the other two decide to take off for weekend visiting.

Marie looks like she's been crying. Will and Abby are perfectly content.

Marie looks puffy again. Will is thinking, "Seriously? Is she crying again. Geesh."

Will is trying to make eye contact with this young lady. She's getting the stare down. I'm stalking you....

It was "cooking week" at camp so they made different food every day. I think they made Rice Crispy treats this particular day.

Playing with play-dough is always a good past time.

Happy Bday to my Trio!

My sweet babies are 3! Where does the time go? We had a little family celebration on the 10th at our house, and they have their big party this weekend. They are super confused about what day is their birthday since we've been celebrating for a week.

We had leftover birthday cake, and they have blown out candles and sung every night since Sunday. When the cake is eaten, they are going to be very disappointed!!!

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!