Whitaker Wednesday

Just like that, Whitaker knows how to swing! We actually went to two playgrounds today where I pushed him on the swing. However, after a few minutes of pushing he explicitly told me to stop so he could attempt to keep it going on his own. He had no such luck. Until…..we got home from swimming and he joined Mae who was swinging and just as quick as I can snap my fingers he was swinging!!! 

I know this is probably not very young but since Mae didn't learn to swing till 5, it seems young considering he is still only 3. I just wish they would both stop growing up so darn fast! 

And in case you wondered if he could do it at "jump" -- he can. Mae insisted there be no cheating when learning how to swing.  

Mae Monday

This morning before heading out to take the kids to school, I was finishing making curried chicken salad.

Mae: EWWW, what is that smell? 
Me: It is curried chicken salad for your father and I for lunches. 
Mae: That smells worse then a zombie's gym bag. 

Car Chat

I might not miss the drive but I am sure going to miss turning around and looking at her. 

We are in the car A LOT! If I haven't written already Mae and Whitaker go to two different preschools. Whitaker's school is close but Mae's school on a good day is 20 minutes away. I am not complaining because I really do love the preschool we send her to but I am over the drive. I also feel that the car doesn't always bring out the best in my kids. There are many days that they are screaming for a certain song or verbally fighting about one thing or another or they are demanding something from me. Then there are the times that we all sing along to a song or that they are quiet. OR the kids have a conversation between each other. Those times I try to just sit back and listen to their cute voices talk about things. Yesterday after going to the playground we had a 20 minute drive home and the kids were in high spirits and started chatting about historical figures. All of a sudden I hear.

Mae: I bet you George Washington knew Jesus. George Washington and Jesus were both special so I bet you they knew each other. And they probably knew Abraham Lincoln. 

I am going to rejoice the day that I don't have to make the drive to Mae's school everyday but I will definitely miss these special moments. Especially since Mae has ALREADY told me that she is going to walk to school with the neighborhood kids WITHOUT me. That conversation went like this.

Mae: I am going to walk with James and John to school next year. 
Me: Well James isn't going to school there. 
Mae: Well then I am going to walk with John. 
Me: Mae if I don't walk with you then I don't really have a job. My job is to walk you to school and I want to do. 
Mae: Ok Mom. I will let you walk me the first day to school then after that I will walk with the neighbors. 
Me: Sigh. [With happiness that she has such confidence and independence for kindergarten next year.]

Getting Back to Our Old Habits

Since my mobility has been rather limited as of late, I have been less then a "fun" mom. Even though I don't know how much fun I would have considered myself before a broken ankle, I was definitely more active. In the last week with my boot officially off and physical therapy, I have gained much more strength and willingness to do the things we used to do, such as going to playgrounds. So today after picking Mae up from school we hit a playground near Blessed Sacrament. The weather was less Spring and more Fall but as I always say "my kids are immune to cold" and they are ALWAYS happy to be outside running around, especially with friends. It is an understatement to say that Mae loves her classmates. 

Have I mentioned how much Mae LOVES to swing. 

Where there is a stage Mae insists on putting on a performance. 

One of Mae's classmates, Will, picking her up. 

A boy, a bike, and a stage. 

Mae and her gal pals, Sofia and Cathleen. 

Mae directing her actors. 

Jumping. 

More jumping. 

Being a monkey on the monkey bars. 

My strong girl! 

Mae hitching a ride from her friend Sofia. 

Best friends. 

April Showers...

...bring May flowers and lots of mud. Last night it rained all night long and then there was a quick afternoon shower, which meant our backyard was a sopping mess. However, when the skies cleared this afternoon the kids ran right out to be in the great outdoors.

Whitaker digging for worms. 

And Mae likes doing the same. 

Whitaker telling Mae to go get her rain boots on. 

Not to be stopped by no pants. 

Spring Break and Easter Snaps

It has been a week and half since Easter and two weeks since Spring Break and I am just getting around to getting the pictures off my camera to my computer. For Spring Break, Heather and I took our 5 kids to Oak Island for 5 days. Since I am still in my boot we all traveled in one car - so yep that was 7 of us rolling down the highway. The trip on the way back took a very LONG 8 hours and took a lot of patience on everyone's part. Heather was a huge trooper for driving the whole time. As always, the beach delivers. In fact so much so that Whitaker asks to go to the beach everyday now. 

We got home on Friday to celebrate Easter on Sunday with the family. My parents' hosted Easter and the Easter Egg Hunt as the usually do. 

On the ferry to the aquarium.