Had too much fun to take many pictures.....

I didn't take very many pictures while Andrea and her kids were here....in fact, I only took pictures while we were at the water spray park. We had a wonderful visit, and I can't wait to be able to head over there for another visit!

Here they all are, hanging out under the tree. It's hard to see Katia, but she's there!

The Party

We had 11 kids plus Kaia come to her party. We held it at the same park she and her class used to go to on Fridays. The picnic tables were in the shade, and there was a nice wind, so as long as I stayed there, I didn't get too hot. The kids ran wild for the first hour or so, then sat down for ice cream cakes in little planters. I put crushed oreos on top with gummi worms and bugs. They all seemed to enjoy them, and ran off again after eating. A few of the other women helped me get them all rinsed and ready for planting, then we sat down to open presents. However, in a repeat performance from last year, Kaia took a brief moment to head out to the field to throw up. With the combination of sugar and excitement, she was just undone. Natasha came to the rescue with homeopathics and aromatherapy face spray, and Kaia, feeling much better, commenced the gift-opening. She got some excellent loot, and is currently playing with her fairy garden, occasionally looking over at her bag of other goodies and grinning.

Not sure when exactly this was taken, but here are three of her friends walking with her up the hill. She is holding the Star Wars card Mike and I got for her. When it's opened, it loudly plays the Star Wars theme song.

Ben had a great time watching everyone, but got tired pretty quickly. It was a lot to take in for such a little man!

We planted flowers in the pots after gift opening. Went pretty fast, really. Not the best craft for a party if you're looking to take up time....but the kids who took part seemed to have fun.

Ben crashed in his daddy's arms and slept for a bit. After he woke up and spent some time playing in the grass, and playing a game called "how many times can I get this stick in my mouth and how many times will my parents pull it out?"

The kids all played on the playground equipment for awhile, then slowly trickled home. Overall, I think everyone had a good time.

After we got home, we were all hot and sweaty, so we got into bathing suits and went to the pool. It made all four of us feel much better. Kaia swam over 5 laps lengthwise!! I don't know where she got the energy! We came home after an hour or so, put Ben to bed, and are now just relaxing a bit.

Two Top Teeth

and now, for the close up! He doesn't usually like to show off his top teeth, so I was happy to get a shot of this smile!

Picnic at the park

My mom's group had a huge picnic today at the park! It was awesome weather, not cold at all, but not glaring down sun. We had a wonderful time hanging out with other families, and Kaia had a blast running all over the place. Ben likes being out and about, so was perfectly behaved. He spent some time on the grass, which he loves, and also in a baby swing, which he also enjoyed quite a bit.

I asked someone to take a picture of all of us, something you rarely see, since I am usually the one with the camera! I also gave it to Mike so that I could be in some, and so I could spend some time with Kaia.

I used to love the swings, but now they make me sick after a few minutes on them....

I think Ben would have been happy for a lot longer in his swing. At one point I let it slow down, then stop, and he kicked his feet like "hey!! push me!!"

He also had fun swinging with Mike and I. We decided we really want to go to a park or somewhere outside every weekend this summer, weather allowing.

Next month we are going to be in a parade, so the kids decorated the banner with their handprints.

sleeping woes, continued

not good. I've set us back a bit in our efforts to help Ben go to sleep at night and at nap times.

First, last night I let him fall asleep on me for about 10 minutes. Before we put him to bed we woke him up and got him into jammies, but the damage was done. He had remembered how nice sleeping on Mama is, so he was FURIOUS when we put him in his crib. He cried for over an hour.

Then in the middle of the night sometime (no idea when, I wasn't coherent, or it wouldn't have even happened) he woke up and instead of letting him go back to sleep in his crib, out of old habit I got him out and fed him. Then he fell back asleep in our bed, so of course woke up a few times and wanted to eat again. At that point I knew it would be hopeless to put him back in his crib, so he spent the rest of the night with us. Which meant he ate a few times at night, instead of waiting until morning.

So now it is naptime again. He isn't pleased that we've gone back to the evils of solitary crib sleeping. I have to be diligent about not letting him sleep on or with me, even though now that it's not ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME it's sweet again. Last night when he fell asleep on me it was just so wonderful to cuddle with him again while he was asleep. I am sure I'll be able to do that again, after he's fully used to sleeping on his own. I really hope so, because the idea of NOT being able to is very sad. I like sleeping with my boyo, just not 24/7.

Right now, however, it's an all or nothing thing, or he gets confused. I can't wait for this transition to be over.

He's learning faster than I'd like

Holy Crap. He's learning how to move things around to help himself. He took Kaia's sink out of her kitchen, then dropped it on the ground. At some point he figured out that if he turned it upside down and stood on it he might be able to reach the things under the sink. He couldn't, quite, but still! He moved it where he needed it and stood on it! I'm in trouble.

haircuts

Yay! Blogger let me post pictures! Here's Kaia's new 'do! She wanted her hair cut like mine, which you will see isn't really possible, but it's close enough to please her.

And Mike, with his basic short-enough-to-be-able-to-ignore-for-a-few-months look.

Here is what mine looks like when it's down. Not the best look, but I knew that going in. I doubt I will ever have it down, so it doesn't matter. Mostly I'll have it....

....like this, or in pony tails. It's still long enough to put it ALL back in one pony tail, but I don't really like that look. Two pony tails look pretty cute though, if I do say so myself! Having the way it is in the picture above looks pretty nondescript and boring, but it's out of my way, out of Ben's reach, off my neck, and most importantly will STAY THERE without me having to re-do it all day!

Spring Faire!

So this hat didn't last long, as he hates hats, but it stayed on long enough to take a picture. He loves having his picture taken, so will stop whatever he's doing to grin at the camera!

Kaia and several of her friends listening to a story teller. Kaia says the stories were about "a monster one about 2 princess sisters and there was this guy that changed one sister into a heron and one into a bear and the other story had blackberries they were picking and they heard this rattling and suddenly a monster came out of the broom"

Kaia didn't wear this outfit to the Faire, but she did get this garland and wand there, as well as a fairy tea set, several beads, a shell and two gnome stones.

Here is one of the things I bought...this bracelet was woven by women in Africa. The website is www.uhuruafrica.com to learn more, and get something if you like! I fell in love with this one, and thanks to mom was able to snatch it up! as well as....

...this wool roving! it's not the best for felting, but it's perfect for fairy hair! on the far left is black though it's hard to see and it goes all the way to white! I love having such a range to choose from! I'll be giving some of this to my mom for her fairy making endeavors! Thanks again mom!

We had a wonderful time at the Faire. It was REALLY hot, but I'm not going to complain, I love it after the long winter and cold spring. Kaia had a blast too, there was a lot of activities for her to do, from digging in sand for treasure, to fishing for treasure, to making her ribbon wand. The heat got to Mike a bit, and he started out tired, so 5 hours was a bit much for him, but he had fun too. When we got home the kids and I got into a bath, and Mike got into a shower, and that cooled us all off and improved 4 out of 4 moods!

A few pictures for your enjoyment

This one was taken a few days ago, and really shows how much Kaia and Ben love each other. It scares me sometimes knowing how lucky I am....

Here is Ben at the infant play date today! he really loved this toy, I found it online and am seriously considering getting it for him.
(check out the cheeks on the baby to the left...isn't that adorable?!)

And here we gave Ben a bath in the sink (Mike was mildly scandalized). He had a great time, and didn't want to get out!

May Day Festival!

Today at Kaia's school we celebrated May Day! We took in fresh flowers and made garlands for the kids hair, and then went in search of the May Queen!
(If there's a bustle in your hedgerow don't be alarmed now. It's just a spring clean for the May Queen)

Ben seems to know what a camera means...every time he sees one he looks right at it and grins. Maybe he just thinks we look funny.

Here we are searching for the May Queen!

The 6th grade (I think...could have been 5th) played music for another class to dance, then did their own dance, which used dancing sticks and bells on their legs. Was very cool!

Then Kaia's class danced 'round the May Pole! They didn't do any weaving, just all went in one direction, and had a great time! Then the parents took the ribbons and danced around the opposite way to unwrap it.

Looks like I forgot to post pics of the May Queen and the accordion player. He was also very cool, and all the kids had a great time dancing around him.

After the festival, Natasha and her son came over for a few hours. The kids mostly got along, but they were both pretty tired, so there was some grief and sorrow. Ah well, they usually get along pretty well.

I really enjoy Natasha's company. We just click, as she said today, it's as if we've known each other for years, and we are very comfortable with each other. I am glad I have found such a friend. We made some more plans for next week. Oh! oh oh oh!! She's pregnant! So is Maggie! Soon there will be three (THREE!!!) wonderful tiny babies for me to hold and kiss their toes! By the time they are all born, Ben will be a year old and running all over, too busy to come cuddle with his mom.....

Check it out...

Here are some pictures, finally, from John's family visit last week! In no particular order......

Here are the kids at the Experience Music Project.

I didn't go, so can't really talk about the picture.

Here're me and Ben, right before the cruise.

And this is an historic moment....the day I became a Mariner's fan!

Katia in profile. I like this shot. oh...and the Space Needle.

The kids on one of the bronze animals they loved so much.

We saw more of these at the zoo than real animals, so I don't really blame them.

Mike and Kaia. Not sure where, I wasn't there. But aren't they so sweet together!

All the kids on their last day here.
Me and John, embarrassing the kids. Well, Katia at least, and she wasn't so embarrassed she couldn't take our picture.
Ben, discovering grass! He's pretty fond of it.
At the zoo. If you look between me and Katia, you can see a hippo butt. Bronze animals and animal butts. that was the zoo.

March In Review

Here are my sweet ones on Easter! My brother Mick and my dad came up to visit us! Here's Mick with his niece and nephew!
And my dad with his grandson. I got some of him with Kaia too, will post it later.
Here is a wonderful one of Ben enjoying his little food masher thingie.
This should have been up top, but if you move them, you can no longer click on them to make them bigger. Here we are the week before Easter, at an egg hunt.
Also, of course, Ben learned how to sit this month, the video is in the previous post! I don't have any good pictures of him sitting yet.