What Spring Break?

Spring Break 2016.
With both girls home 24/7 and Daniel working (and going out of town) for 16 days straight, there was really not much of a "break" for Mama.
But we all survived (even despite some sickness), and here are some pictures to prove it...

It started off low-key.
All day jammies. Non-educational app overload on the tablet.
Basically it was a full of day "lazin'" as Aubrey calls it. (Lazy + Relaxin' = Lazin')

And then came the junk food...

It wasn't all screen time and Happy Meals though -- Aubrey was super psyched that AR tests (Accelerated Reader) for her school were available 24/7 over the break. She devoured 17 chapters books! Go girl!

One day we drove a little out of town to eat lunch at the girls' favorite place...Patti's 1880's Settlement! 

We burned some energy at the jump park...

And at the park...

Then one day we drove to Union City, TN to the Discovery Park of America.

It's a science / history museum, which is Miss Aubrey's ultimate love. 

Unfortunately, about 12 minutes after we arrived, Mina had a horrific accident. There was a military helicopter that was open for kids (and adults) to go in and explore. Well, Mina-bug fell from the cockpit down the steel ladder and landed on her chin -- busting it right open.

Oh how I wish I could wrap this child up in bubble wrap. 

Thankfully no stitches were needed, just a good cleaning and butterfly bandage. When Mina sadly realized that the "butterfly bandage" didn't actually have butterflies on it -- Big Sis came to the rescue!

By mid-week, I needed a date night out. 

It was on this particular evening that I witnessed a man consume more sushi than I thought humanly possible. Oh Daniel-san. Your talents are truly endless. 

On the final stretch of Spring Break, Aubrey -- out of nowhere -- started feeling yuck.
Fever and stomach pains that turned into a nasty stomach virus that lasted 4-5 days.
I kept telling myself (and Aubrey), "At least we're not at the beach, and you're stuck inside with this yuckiness!" But we both had a good cry over the pitifulness of it all.

Meanwhile, Daniel was on a guy trip in NYC while I was home washing sheets and Clorox-ing everything in our house.

I had several pity-parties for myself at the end, but when Daniel finally got home (with a canister of Garrett's popcorn from his layover in Chicago) all was well. Health and happiness was restored.

But next year, I think we deserve a full family vacation! :)

Mina's Popsicle Party

Sweet little Mina's 4th Birthday party was all the way back in July.

When asked what she'd like to do for her special day, she said without hesitation, "Play with my friends at the park and eat popsicles!"

So, that's what we did! We invited all the girls from her preschool class for a morning at the park and unlimited popsicles! 

The day before her party, she thought it would be fun to jump off a bed holding an umbrella. It resulted in a bloodied busted lip, which turned into what looked like a fever blister by the day of her party. However, not even a bum lip can make this girl look any less adorable. 

Since our girl isn't a big fan of cake (what?!), I made a fake cake out of popsicle sticks.

We had other "popsicle" type goodies too!

Push-pops filled with her favorite "gummies" and jelly beans.

For every birthday, I always make sure there is one "white" element in honor of her birthmom. I had this white heart at the front of the picnic shelter over the party. I always have this tangible sense of her birthmom, especially on big milestone days. 

I had one of the picnic tables set-up with popsicle stick frames for the kids to decorate with stickers. I sent a photo of each sweet guest at the party with the thank-you card for them to put in their frame.

And because making Mina smile is one of our most favorite hobbies, we secretly booked Barnyard Buddies to come and give pony / horse rides. She LOVED it!

As did Big Sis... :)

Happiest Birthday to the girl who makes us all melt!

________________________________

Mina's Birthday Questionnaire...

Favorite color?  Pink!
Favorite toy?  Shifu (stuffed red panda from St. Louis Zoo)

Favorite drink? Coke (She tries to sneak sips from us all the time!)

Favorite food?  Gummies (fruit snacks, gummy worms, anything gummy)
Favorite tv show?  Mulan

Favorite movie? HomeFavorite outfit? Striped cotton dress 
Favorite game?  Candyland
Favorite animal?  Baby Pandas
Favorite song?  Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Favorite book?  Fancy Nancy
Best friend?  Tamera (from preschool)
Favorite thing to do outside?  Ride my scooter
Favorite holiday?  Holiday World (haha!)
What’s one thing you don’t like to do: I do not like to wait for Aubrey to get off the bus.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor. 
Anything else you'd like to add? Something I like to do! JUGGLE, pick fruit from trees, and see my little Hanky-poo (cousin Henrik). :)

Stats:

Weight: 33 lbs. (30%ile)

Height 3 ft. 3 in. (30%ile)

Terrific Tuesday | The Dream Day

Tuesday was so unexpectedly perfect, I'm still a little weirded out by it.

I went to bed that night waiting for a child (or myself) to wake up sick or something because no-one has the day we had this side of Heaven without something going wrong.

But I'm here, days later, to report that it was -- in fact -- perfect.

It started out like any other day...
I woke up (reluctantly) to my phone alarm.
Trudged upstairs to wake the munchkins.

And then -- out of nowhere -- the whole day was perfect.

The girls were angels.
I don't think they fought once.
I never yelled raised my voice.
Teeth brushing was done willingly.
Bottoms were wiped without my assistance. (Praise Jesus, Hallelujah!)
Mina took a lovely afternoon nap.
I cleaned out my closet, the girls' closet, and organized it all.
Homework was finished without prodding.
Baths were taken with giggles and singing.
Bedtime was full of books, songs, prayers, snuggles, smoochies, and g'nite!

At one point Aubrey asked, "Is today a dream?"
I answered, "It might be..."

We even had a dinner picnic at the park, played on the playground, fed the ducks/geese, and had ice cream cones for dessert on the back porch ON A SCHOOL NIGHT.

I mean, what life were we living?!

Tuesday made me realize how rare "perfect" days are, and how crazy it is for me to expect that every day. I usually let one sibling argument, one messy playroom, or one plate of food get picked at by a whining child asking, "How many more bites until I can get dessert..." send me over the edge. I end up feeling defeated and chalking the whole day up to one big fat failure. 

I really need to stop doing that.

Because if our dream day taught me anything, it's that every day has its fair share of perfect.

And some days, you might just get an extra scoop.

A Double Scoop of Bittersweet

It's hard to prepare a 4-year-old for a 1,052 mile / cross-country move.

Especially when she LOVES her friends, her school, her whole entire life!

We've read books, incorporated her in packing up boxes, let her choose toys/clothes to donate, and talked about moving for awhile; but I knew we needed something concrete. 

A way to give her closure on saying good-bye.

A last Hurrah!, if you will.

So, with all the luxurious free-time we have before the big move (major sarcasm), I invited all her friends (playgroup and school) to an Ice Cream / Park Farewell Party.

We hired Roxy's Ice Cream Social and stamped FREE! on an ice cream notepad to hand out to our guests. We brought lots of sand toys, ice cream bubbles, ice cream cone sidewalk chalk, and lots of bottled waters.

It was the perfect, low-key way for Aubrey to see and play with each friend one last time.

{Maddox, Owen, Edie, Milan, Scout, Lauren, Evie, Sydney, Graham, John, Claire, Logan, Landry, Jack, Jake, Ellie, Nicholas, Andrew, and Gracie.}

The kids all had a great time.
And the ice cream was seriously delicious...even mixed with a few tears.

It was a memorable, bittersweet day.