Today is Rapunzel's Birthday

Zoe is excited about birthdays.  Everyone's birthday.  She knows that Daddy already had his birthday.  And Mommy's birthday is over too.  So she started this morning off with "Is it Wyatt's birthday today?"  She was very excited.  I told her no.  Her face fell a little.  Then, with the brilliance of a three year old stated "Today is Rapunzel's birthday."  For whatever reason she first made this announcement to Kevin who simply asked her what Rapunzel wanted to do for her birthday.

Side note:  Zoe's favorite princess is Rapunzel.  She loves the movie Tangled.  And she won't get her hair cut because she doesn't want it to turn brown.

Zoe responded that Rapunzel would like to go to the mall and play at the play area.  So, we did.  Funny thing:  Belk was having a back-to-school festival.  And there was face painting, balloon animals, a clown, and a fashion show.  Zoe was in awe.  Rapunzel had a pretty cool birthday party.

After the mall, we managed to squeeze in a play date at the park.  Wyatt crashed his ride on toy again.  He really likes to go fast.  Zoe is super fast on her tricycle.  She isn't very sure about her big bike, but she did try it again for about 10 minutes.  Finally Chris and I decided we were done being outside and took the kids to McDonalds where they played for over an hour.  Zoe told me tonight that Rapunzel had a good birthday.  


(This is Zoe's face paint after playing at the park and going to McDonalds.  She is really upset she can't show her princess crown to Nana tomorrow, but she thinks Nana can paint her face again.  We shall see what Nana thinks about that).



I like not having a plan most days.  Or at least being flexible with the plans I have.  Today, the only naps were in the car on the way home from the mall.  We didn't really get anything done around the house (although somehow all of the toys got dumped on the floor).  But that is ok.  Some days aren't about what I get done or don't get done.  Some days are about celebrating a fictional character's birthday because your child declared it.  Zoe didn't ask for much...and the face painting and balloon were a bonus.  But I look and think about what Zoe didn't ask for.  She didn't ask for a new toy, new clothes or a new pair of shoes.  She didn't ask for cupcakes or candy.

She asked to go play with Mommy, Daddy, and Wyatt. 

 Zoe is an ultimate princess.  Kind, loving, giving, and caring.  I know each day she grows up a little more.  I want to celebrate each day.  Take it in and enjoy the little things.  I am thankful that Kevin had the forethought to ask what Rapunzel wanted for her birthday instead of telling Zoe "that's great" or "no" or informing her that she needed to get back to the table to finish breakfast. 

Kevin is Zoe's hero, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

In other news:
We made colored rice for our sensory boxes.  Zoe loved to shake up the bag of rice.  I think they turned out quite nicely.

We have three colors so far.  I think we will make a few more, since we still have 20lbs of rice on the counter.

 Zoe and Wyatt painting with dot paints.  They also used about 100 stickers.  I am still finding the stickers everywhere around the house.

They love the huge rolls of stickers Uncle Josh gave to them when he moved out last year.  I don't think we will even use them all.  It is hard to believe Josh has been gone so long....we all still refer to the guest room as "Uncle Joshie's Room". 

A little time to play dress up.  The Bumblebee is snug on Zoe, but it is one of her favorites.  Wyatt discovered Thomas the Train in the bottom of the box.  Our neighbor, Lisa, generously passed the costume to Wyatt since her kids had outgrown it.  He doesn't look happy...mostly because I wanted him to turn around for the picture.


We took a quick detour after running errands to see a VW car show last weekend.  Some of the cars were awesome.  It was nice to have another unplanned adventure.  No pictures though.  Sometimes it is lunch time and nap time for little kids, so side adventures get less time than we want.


I actually love not being on Facebook.  The only thing I really miss is that one of my friends is due with her first baby any day now, and I know I will miss the pictures of the new one until I log back on.  Although, maybe I will send her a text and bring her a meal when she has the baby.  Somehow I think that might be better than just posting "congrats" on her Facebook wall.

pinterest, facebook, road trips, and school

More of our sensory boxes.  This time we played with Easter grass.  :)  It is so much messy fun. 

Even Kevin got in on the decorator hair fad.  I think the orange and purple hair looks good. 

 

Here is one of three storage stools I made for the kids' room.  They are perfect size seating for kids, plus storage for dress up/costume clothes.  They only took about 10 minutes each to make.  And the cost was minimal (I already had the crates and the fabric).  

 Zoe and Wyatt coloring on the Aquadoodle. 

 Zoe went to the "drive-in" movies.  She loved her car.  She decorated the side herself.  I wrote her name out and she painted it with dot art.  And then added a dot border.

Baking cookies with Zoe's neighborhood friend.

Then we made some fun milk glasses and sat down for a cookie snack...unfortunately it was too dark and the snack pictures didn't turn out.

Our trip to Charleston

There is an alligator on that little island in front of the kids.  We sat there and watched it for a while.  We went to two different parks on our long walk.  (Frank actually asked if we made it back to Spartanburg yet).

We went to the Children's Museum of the Low Country.  Unlike the one in Greenville, it is smaller and with a focus more on the younger kids.  Completely manageable with four kids.   All four kids painted.  Zoe missed the paper at one point.  Frank helped Wyatt wash his hands.

This was the Physics Room.  Or as the kids called it, the Golf Ball Room.  

 In the Water Play Room, Zoe and Wyatt enjoyed the chalkboard painting.  Zoe has her smock on. 

I am very thankful for kids who travel well.  We certainly have racked up a lot of miles so far this year.  So far, there is only one big trip left on the calendar...Michigan for Christmas.  I really can't wait to see my Michigan family.  I have not been able to go the last several years as we have sorted out other plans.  This trip has been on the calendar for almost two years now.  Maybe next year we will make a trip back up to New York to see Pauline (or get her to come down this way).  I am also hoping we have another big trip or two next year.

We are all back home now.  Kevin had yet another schedule change.  We are working to adjust to that as a family.  The kids are pretty sure daddy is supposed to be home for story time before bed.  Hopefully, in a few more days they will get used to our new routine. 

Zoe started preschool a few weeks ago.  For now, she goes one day a week.  When Wyatt starts they will go between one and three days a week depending on the schedule Kevin and I have for the week.  Yes, unfortunately, our schedules are such a mess at the moment, that everything changes from one week to the next. 

Wyatt seems to be enjoying speech.  He hasn't made a lot of verbal progress, but the therapist is working on signing (and we are reinforcing it at home).  I still intend to write a separate post about this...and it might happen eventually.

I head back to school the 16th.  Can't believe it is coming up this fast.  I will be full time, so we will see how that works for us as a family.

Kevin is working on his certification class for work right now.  He will finish that course and certification test sometime this fall.  Then we will decide what class or program he would like to start next.

Since we have a new schedule, speech, early intervention, Kevin's class, school starting, and preschool, I have taken a break from Facebook.  I will be gone for a minimum of 30 days while I focus on getting our family adjusted to the new schedule.  If you need to get a hold of me, I would prefer text or a phone call.  And you can always leave a comment on the blog.

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore

Our crazy trip to Kansas City (both MO and KS) and back

15 hours in the car with Elizabeth, Kevin and Wyatt

         Stop in Nashville for t-shirt

         Stop in Metropolis to sleep

         Stop in St. Louis for t-shirt

         Arrive in Kansas City

Zoe and Karen arrive from Utah

BigDog arrives from Atlanta

Trip to the Kansas City Zoo

Dinner at Gates

Visit with Great Grandma Baker

Trip to Lee's Summit to see Lorna and her kids

Great Wolf Lodge

Kevin and BigDog to watch the TBones (minor league baseball)

         Kevin flies home to Greenville

More visits with Great Grandma Baker 

Arthur Bryants (by far the best BBQ....don't let anyone tell you otherwise)

More water park fun

         Move to a new hotel near Crown Center

Sushi for lunch 

Crown Center

Dino Exhibit

         Josh flies in from El Paso

         Earl flies in from Atlanta

         Karen and  Gerald fly home to Atlanta

         Kirsten flies from Shanghai to Chicago and gets stuck

Arthur Bryant's for dinner (did I mention you can just buy meat by the pound)

         Kirsten flies from Chicago to Manhattan, KS where her knight in shining armor picks her up

Back to Great Wolf Lodge

Out for a steak dinner with the boys (my dad, Josh, and Wyatt...and of course me)

          Josh flies back to El Paso

         My parents, my kids and I make the long drive home (from Kansas City to Greenville with a pit stop in Atlanta to drop them off).  

            From Kansas City to St. Louis for lunch/breakfast...the sketchier the diner, the better the food

            St. Louis to Nashville to sleep

           Nashville to Atlanta to drop off my parents

            Atlanta to Home.....

I slept well

 Hard Rock Nashville.  Our first real stop at the beginning of our 15 hour road trip.  With Kevin and I driving, Wyatt watched Snow White while we made our way to Kansas City.  We planned to stop in Nashville for dinner the first night and St. Louis for lunch the second day to collect our t-shirts. 

Most of you know I have been to Nashville a few times, but the rule is that we both must go to the Hard Rock together and eat something in order to add a t-shirt to our collection.

So our super awesome plan of stopping in Padukah, KY for the night was derailed.  No hotel rooms available.  So we drove on.  Getting off at the exit for Metropolis because we thought of Superman and laughed.  After checking into our hotel, we found out that indeed there was a statue of Superman in this town.

Metropolis, IL:  Yes, that is a 15 foot tall Superman statue (with my two supermen in the foreground).  You should totally stop if you are driving through. 

Hard Rock St. Louis.  We have nine shirts now, so I can complete one wall in the guest room.  I will put pictures of the room up when I get the last shirts up.  

 Almost done with our drive.  Wyatt was being a trooper, so he free roamed through our little area. 

Zoe giving Great Grandma Baker a hug.

Kevin and I started talking in April about planning a trip out to Kansas City to see Great Grandma Baker this summer.  Somehow the trip morphed into ten days involving most of Kevin's family and most of my family as well.  The kids had two visits with Great Grandma Baker.  Kevin got to spend several mornings with his grandma.  We also enjoyed two separate trips to Great Wolf Lodge...one with Kevin's parents and one with my parents and my brother.

The Polar Bear at the Kansas City Zoo.  I was so excited.  Not only did they take our Greenville Zoo passes so we could get 50% off, they gave everyone in our group the 50% off rate even though it is just our family of four on the membership.  

 We got to see all sorts of animals in Kansas City Zoo.  They had polar bears, rhinos, and hippos.  The kids love the zoo.

The polar bear according to Zoe, "He used his paws to push off the wall and swim swim.  Let's go back tomorrow."  Umm...mommy thinks 15 hours one way is a long drive to visit the polar bears at the zoo. 

It is now on our must stop list for visiting Kansas City.

Had a good visit with my friend Lorna and her kids.  Zoe and Wyatt were amazed by all of the toys.  Their newly refinished basement was amazing.  It was nice to be able to spend time with friends while I was in town.

 With all the kids moving around I didn't get any good pictures of all six kids together. 

Wyatt at Arthur Bryants. 

 Half of my beef brisket sandwich....so amazing.  I ate there more than once.

Zoe at Story Time at Great Wolf.  They read How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnight.  One of our favorite books.

Violet the wolf.  Zoe loved her (not so much the other costumed characters).   Zoe:  "Violet has purple shoes and I have pink shoes"

BigDog, Wyatt, Zoe, and Great Grandma Baker.

Zoe reflects on this picture.  "That is my Grandma Baker and my Papa and they love each other."

Zoe digging for dinosaur bones.  Miss Safety has on her vest and safety goggles.

Crown Center had a dinosaur exhibit on loan from the Minnesota Children's Museum.  It was fabulous.  It had a pit to "dig" for dinosaur bones, a bridge that represented a bog (uneven and squishy).

Just so you don't think I am making up what Zoe says..."Mommy, my ears look beautiful in this picture"  At least I have raised a girl with some confidence, even if it shows in random ways.

Wyatt opted for glasses only.  

 Both kids went back to this exhibit several times. 

Why just dig up bones when you can sit on a dinosaur?

Fritz's Restaurant at Crown Center.  The kids thought it was the coolest with the engineer hats, the trains on display and the train that delivered our food.  (Josh and I thought it was pretty cool too.)

 The food was good.  I don't think the UrbanSpoon reviews were fair.  It was greasy, but the onion rings were totally worth it.

The KC Rail Experience at Union Station.  Maybe I forgot to mention it, but Wyatt LOVES trains.  And this exhibit is awesome.

We enjoyed the fabulous architecture (well the adults did).  











My mom flew into Kansas City to surprise us.  Unfortunately, it took longer than planned (delays, no plane, missed connections, and lost luggage), but she eventually arrived.  Josh and I had been telling Zoe that a special friend was coming to see her.  So we chilled at McDonalds while my dad drove her in from the airport.  Zoe was in the play area and she turned around to see my mom.  She covered her mouth with two hands, shocked and surprised.  "It's you, Grandma.  You are my surprise."  She was so happy.  It was amazing.  (for any pictures after my mom arrived, you would need to pester Josh or my mom on Facebook...I have none).


We treated mom to a massage and a few well deserved naps.

Josh playing with the kids at a train table.

Josh and the Lego statue. 
Legoland will have to wait for another trip.  Wyatt is happy to wait until it is more fun for him.













Zoe went on the slides at Great Wolf Lodge.  "It went faster and faster." (while twirling her hands around)

 "What else happened?"

"I went again.  It only got water on my bathing suit.  I can't ride on the blue slide it was too scary, because I wanted to ride on the yellow slide, I think.  It started off really fast...the blue slide was too faster.  We were going up the stairs before we are going wwwweeeeewooooo.  I was very very busy.  I was taking care of my mom and my uncle joshie on the slide. (Kevin and I start to giggle)  Don't laugh at me."

"How many stairs did you climb up?" - Kevin

Zoe:
"2

It takes me a long a bit a time to get up the stairs."

"Who carried you up the stairs?" - Elizabeth

"You did.  And Josh.  But I am big enough to climb up. 

All the peoples have to get up in front of us.

I still like the big ole slides but I don't like the buckets of water....just the little buckets.

And I play in the baby pools when I was standing up and then I swim swimmed in the big pool to my mommy and then up up the stairs."


The End of the Longest Post Ever!

End of June

 Zoe's first day of camp

Wyatt and Mommy went on a date to the dollar movie.  Yogi Bear was a hit.  And Wyatt LOVED the popcorn.

Second Date:  McDonalds.  

Putt-Putt celebrating Kevin's birthday and the twins birthday.

Zoe in a go-kart at Frankies.  She won both races.  

We found a broken skee-ball machine, so the kids could throw the balls as much as they wanted to (most of the time, the balls came back down without reaching their destination anyway.

Wyatt loved to play skee-ball.

Wyatt at Piasanos.