g is for greta

…BUCKEYE FEVER, that is!!!! Tony and I took Corinne and Mason to their first OSU football game on Saturday. It was the Spring Game where two captains pick teams and play each other. The weather was summerlike (by that I mean full sunscreen and lots of whining due to heat). The tickets were only $5 for adults and the kids were free. How can you pass that up? You CAN’T! We headed out to meet up with a pal of Tony’s from work and her other half.

It was a long walk from the Battelle parking lot to the beloved stadium for the munchkins. Mason livened up the trip by pointing out every “daffodil” (aka dandelion) and “wishing flower” (dandelion in the seed stage). Corinne was more into why there were planes flying overhead with advertisements. It was like a commercial in the sky according to her. So clever!

We all needed a drink when we finally got to our seats. The kids chugged theirs.

(Sidenote: I was trying to get a picture of both of them drinking, but Corinne stopped right when I got the camera. A few seconds later she picked up her bottle and put it to her mouth. After I took the picture, she says, “I didn’t really take a drink, Mom. I just knew you wanted a picture with both of us drinking at the same time.” Ha!)

About 5 minutes after settling in, I hear Mason say, “I’m done with this.” I assume he means his drink. He says, “No, not my drink. THIS!” and waves his hand around. I knew we were in for it then. Blasted sun. I had to perk them up so I pulled out some props.

The kids had been painting the morning of the game. This is what Corinne came up with all on her own:

Tony was SO proud! She said she knew that OSU wasn’t playing Michigan but that Michigan could be the team you want to lose. In this case, gray. The girls wore red and cheered for Scarlet while the gentlemen wore gray and cheered accordingly. She is too much sometimes!

Once we found some empty seats in the shade, the kids (and adults) were all smiles. The kids loved getting into the cheers during punts and the O-H-I-O around the stadium. I gave a brief tutorial on spelling out O-H-I-O with our arms.

O-H-H-O. Good thing I’m not a teacher. It was a good time had by all. Mason was declaring it the best day of his life by the time we left. By the time we got to the car, however, they were ready to get a Frosty and move on with the day. Deep down, I think we converted them to Buckeye Football. Their lives will never be the same.

-g.

As some of you know, Tony is assigned to a job this year that has him traveling away from home often. I have been praying for something to keep the kids entertained and me sane. Friday was the day that it all worked out. After dinner, we had the kids go look out the front window. This is what they saw:

Papa Tom and Abuelita were able to get this AWESOME playset from a builder in Cleveland for pennies on the dollar. They were nice enough to take it apart, drive it to Columbus at a snail’s pace, and then put it all back together again. Do they love my kids or what?!

It took 6 men and removing a portion of our fence to get it to the back. I think it was in about 3 locations before it came to rest in its final spot.

The kids were all over it for HOURS until we drug them inside for a quick bath. The rest of the post will be pictures showing what bliss looks like.

I thought that perhaps since this prayer was answered, I might also get my desire to have my kids sleep in late the next morning due to playing so hard. No dice. My luck had run out. They were up EARLY the next morning sitting in front of the window talking about their playset. Mason still checks every morning to make sure it is still there.

Thanks, Papa Tom and Abuelita!

-g.

I struggle often with new things for the family to do while stuck indoors. The weather keeps teasing us that it is warming up, but then we go right back into rainy days.

Here’s what I like to do:

Is that not totally disgusting? I am not in love with my 1980s kitchen flooring. I would say our relationship is not even on good terms. However, I do not like filth. Eventually my clean-freak self manifests and I scrub the floor. This time I experimented with my carpet scrubber. I was amazed at the difference! It looked so clean…until the kids ate lunch.

The kids like to play in Ethan’s bed. I let them do this for weeks before getting a picture:

Something about their activity being fun enough for a picture flipped a switch in their brains. They started jumping on the mattress and playing rougher. No more playing in the crib. It’s a bummer, too, because it kept them busy for a LONG time!

Corinne is very girly + Mason looks up to his sister = DISASTER! I was painting Corinne’s nails when Mason hunted us down. I have painted his nails in the past, and Tony was not thrilled. Mason loved it, though, and went off to beg Tony to let him do it again. Daddy is such a softy! I turned it up a notch by letting them paint their nails themselves.

Then I let them each paint one of my feet. Corinne is the one on the left; Mason on the right:

Much to my chagrin, Mason was better at it! Ugh! I’ve got to take him outside and throw a football or something. I’ll be back later.

-g.

Tacky title. I know. I just couldn’t help myself.

We have church at 9 o’clock so the kids got all dolled up for a picture. Too bad their silly faces wouldn’t cooperate with me.

I love Mason’s far off look. I told him that the Easter Bunny doesn’t come until after kids go to church. Maybe he’s daydreaming about the candy to come. Then there is Miss Corinne. I hope that there is still Price Is Right when Corinne gets older. I think she has a real chance at being a “Barker Beauty.” (What do they call them now that it’s Drew Carey? Carey’s Cuties?) Ethan is just adorable. The end.

After church, we found the first clue to the Easter Basket Scavenger Hunt on the kitchen table. The kids started the hunt immediately.

Clue after clue…

…until finally…

JACKPOT!

The kids weren’t allowed to have their gifts until they had their bunny ears on and took a picture. Mothers can be so cruel when trying to secure pictures for posterity.

After lunch, we had an Easter Egg Hunt and the eating of the candy began. We haven’t stopped yet.

Thank you Easter Bunny, bak bak!

-g.

Mason is VERY into the Wii. Especially when it comes to Mario games. He loves to play MarioKart. His favorite part is when he becomes Bullet Bill and speeds past everyone. Thus, his cake:

We stuck the candles across the back to look like flames. Mason was tickled!

This kid doesn’t really get into the whole present thing. I know I should be thrilled that he isn’t into material items, but it’s hard to know what to get him. His Uncle Shane and family took the prize this year. Check out his loot just from them:

His new favorite shirt

A Bullet Bill toy

A card from Roman with drawings of Mario characters inside

Corinne got Mason a swimming mask (that he uses in the tub).

A flashlight that is fun at bedtime

Tony’s family and my family were able to be there for the fun. It was great to have such a big group. The Woolfs got him a HUGE container of gumballs to refill the machine. The Rices restocked his church clothes. The boy is a picky dresser when it comes to Sundays. The Bettses pitched in with Tony and I to get him a new bike. I thought I had a picture but, alas.

Mason is a sweet boy who still likes to cuddle with me. He gets so excited sometimes that the veins pop out of his neck! I love my little man.

-g.

The kids love to “help” me throughout the day. Sometimes it is indeed helpful.

Corinne is trying to teach Ethan to read and treat books nicely. Good luck with that!

Mason lets Ethan watch him play on the laptop while I cook dinner. He’s nice as long as Ethan’s head doesn’t block the screen. Then we have WWIII.

Ethan, however, is still trying to figure out how to be helpful. I found these in the silverware drawer one day and smiled to myself before getting the camera. Adorable!

When it comes to meals, Ethan wants to give Tony and I the chance to enjoy our dinner so he has decided he will now feed himself. No helping allowed.

Such good helpers!

-g.