{B.U.S.Y. Week}

This week...whew!

We've all had runny noses, go figure, perhaps because we've fought constant moisture and rain all week.

We've also worked our hind quarters off...my sister bought a house and we spent last weekend spic and spanning it...then Monday (Memorial Day) I still had the cleaning bug and Mike and I finally rearranged the house.  The girls are sharing a room, Xavier has his own space, and Mike and I have our own room again (until baby 4 moves in!).  

The kids did some mattress sliding while we cleaned and rearranged...

 

After sleeping in our bed/the pack-n-play since moving out of the co-sleeper we finally set up Mia's crib.  She's done AMAZING in it with sissy in her room...

(and it turns out she's quite handy with the allen wrench).

 

 (^her face^)

It was a long couple of days of work.  Props to my hubby for doing so much heavy lifting and really helping me get done what I needed done just so I'd be happy.  

We sold and gave away several toys and some pieces of furniture.  I sometimes get frustrated at our lack of space and then remind myself that people are more important than things.  Fitting our troops in this little house while God has us here is what really matters.  

I also hosted a super fun Usborne Facbook on Monday and LOVED helping Mama's pick out books for their sweet children.

Our strawberries are ripening and the kids are LOVING picking them everyday.  Just enough to eat on daily...

 

Wednesday, Nannie dropped off a belated birthday present for Mia - a sun shade tent.  She loved it and had feelings about me taking it down.

The rain cleared enough for us to catch my nephew's first ballgame of the season.  He's the youngest on the team but definitely held his own!

Friday, Mike drove to pick up my new (to me) van.  Room for all 4 and the ability to load them without standing on my head!

This van was purchased at the expense of our planned trip to NYR.  My husband's sacrifice in this does not go unnoticed by me.  He heard our need and made a decision for our family.  Thank you, Mike, for always taking care of your family first.

Saturday Natalee and I went to watch my sweet niece, Emma, at her yearly dance recital.  She's growing so much each year...

The rest of the week was simply spent trying to keep up.  The big kids have been busy making their rooms just right and I've tried to stay a step ahead, or at least beside, Ameliya.  Her smarts impress me and I'm working daily to train her to use the things she knows for "good."  She can follow one step directives (put the clothes in the hamper, the paper in the trash, the toy away) but is also trying out a few new ornery, exploratory behaviors.  Keeping clothes on her has been impossible lately and she's trying her hand at climbing...

 

 

 

   

She's convinced she's one of the "big kids."

Ah!  So stinking cute!

We are continually working on showing her things she *can* do...every day she increases our patience...

 She *can* help, she *can* play, she *can* be silly...

...and she can be preciously sweet...

 

We're hoping to get in some baseball this week (stay away, rain!), I'm hoping to finish up some school lesson planning, and the kids want to paint (and I'm going to follow through and get it out!).  Another fun week ahead of us but hopefully not *quite* as busy as the last one!!  

Baseball Week 1

We successfully closed out our first week of baseball this week and the kids (as suspected) are having a blast.  

Tuesday was our kick-off game and it was quite cool out.  Thankfully the wind died down before the game and that helped a lot!  Xavier left feeling a little discouraged at needing to use the tee for both of his hits but he was determined to improve and do better next time.  I'm constantly amazed at his "go-getter" attitude...he runs after every ball, every time with limitless energy.

 

Natalee had a little trouble focusing at her first game.  She did well but ran the bases sporadically.  I think other parents might think we're hard on our kids, but when we know they understand a rule/concept/etc. we expect them to carry it out, no matter where we are.  This means Mom is going to correct you if you don't run from 1st to 2nd base without taking pit stops and side bars (wink).

 Her first hit was killer - a pop right from the first pitch - and of course I missed it on video!  Her second hit she had to use the tee but there's not much that gets her down!  She loves the game and loves being outside.

Our 2nd game was tonight - Friday night fun!  Again, Xavier hustled after every ball, and as promised improved his hitting and didn't need the tee at all. 

{our little hustler!}

 He's so skinny.

 

Natalee did well following the rules and concepts she understands (smile - meaning she ran from base to base without sidetracking!), also didn't need the tee, and enjoyed playing pitcher the 2nd inning.

 Look at her be ready!  Yes!

We love these kids and because of that we love this game.

Shoes

She's a shoe girl...

 A co-worker of my mom's blessed Ameliya with a whole sack of girly girl shoes.

 She sorted them and tried them on for well over thirty minutes.

 

Look at her check them out. ^

 She loves shoes.  She *might* be a little bit diva-ish.

 

Her FAVORITES are these light up cowgirl boots.

 

Why wouldn't they be?  :)

 

 

She wears necklaces and bracelets, she loves to have her "hair" brushed, and she enjoys going through her clothes drawer.  Maybe I'm going to have a girly girl yet!