g is for greta

My kids are growing up. Sometimes I don’t realize how quickly. Tony is out of town this week. Ethan has learned a few new words and tricks, Corinne had her first Parent/Teacher Conference, and Mason was accepted into the preschool we had our hopes set on. He’s not here to experience it with us. It got me thinking about how much I take the day-to-day things for granted.

Mason loves Tony. He was so excited when his dad explained that he would be gone, and Mason would be the man of the house. Mason wants to be big. I loved watching him help Tony cut down a tree on the side of the house this summer. He mimiced everything Tony did.

Then there’s Corinne. She really wanted to go camping this year, but it never worked out. Tony got the idea to set up the tent in the basement for the kids to play in. They slept in it for several nights in a row. Sometimes even alone! Now our basement is no dungeon, but it shocked me that they would willingly sleep down there without . They are brave little cuties!

Now Ethan. While he is growing and changing the fastest, he still takes steps backwards occasionally. His palate is developing nicely. However, this little incident with the sidewalk chalk made my teeth ache.

I love my kids. I’m excited for them to get to see Tony again and tell them all about what they did this week.

-g.

Forget Christmas. It’s not sucking me dry. It’s these blasted birthday parties. Corinne is getting more friends now that she is in kindergarten and Daisy Scouts. We’ve already had 3 different parties, one with twins! Theirs was the coolest. It was at a fitness club. The kids rock climbed and swam in the pool. Then they had pizza and cake. Check out Corinne taking after her Uncle Lance:

Here’s the twins:

The kids were all so entertained even if it wasn’t their turn.

The second party was a cupcake factory party. They decorated their own apron then made a cupcake to eat. Next, they made 4 cupcakes to take home in a cool container. The party this past weekend was at a kids’ gym. Corinne got to climb on stuff and swing on bars. She is having a blast. I just keep watching the ads for good sales.

-g.

Really, I have a good life. No…a GREAT life. I have a wonderful husband and three kids that revolve their lives around me. I am here to give you a glimpse.

My awesome sister-in-law Stephanie introduced me to Jazzercise. Cheesy but wonderful. I go Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to the 6 AM session. Before the time change, I would get home before the kids were awake. Now, they are usually all laying in our bed watching cartoons when I get home. Hopefully they will adjust back to normal. You may ask yourself, “How/Why do you get up so early willingly to dance and jump around for an hour?” This is why:

Look at that unattractive underarm I have going in this picture. Gross.

Also, it has really impacted the kids. They (mostly Corinne–who I am hoping to encourage more than my hyperactive boys) are always wanting me to exercise with them and show them my “moves.”

After my shower, I feed the kids. Bath day? Then we have pancakes or waffles for breakfast. That way I don’t get all freaked out about sticky syrup. Not a bath day? Toast, cereal, oatmeal, etc. This is what I contend with while trying to cook.

The boy wakes up ravenous! He can’t get breakfast fast enough. He has been know to pull on my pants so hard that they come off! Good thing we don’t have company for breakfast that often.

Then the munchkins play. This is the time that I run hectic through the house trying to do laundry, clean the bathrooms, vacuum while no one is napping, check my email, make phone calls, etc. Sounds like I’m fairly productive, but I have to take so many breaks to solve dilemnas like:

Corinne: You’re mean, Mason, and have hurt my feelings!
Mason: Na-na-na-boo-boo!
Corinne: Stop bossing me, MASON!
Mason: Stop bossing me, MASON!

and so on, and so on. Occasionally it goes more like this:

Corinne: Mason, would you like to play a game with me?
Mason: Sure!
Corinne: Okay, let’s go downstairs and play with Barbies!
Mason: Okay, but I get the rockstar one this time.
Corinne: That’s fine. I like sharing my Barbies with you.
Mason: Thanks! I like playing with you, too!

Where is Ethan while all this drama is occurring? Right here:

Late morning, Ethan goes down for a nap that I hope spans multiple hours. I get the kids lunch and Corinne off to school. The afternoons are spent with the boys. Sometimes we read books, play blocks, or go to a playground. I am trying to start quiet time in the afternoon before Corinne gets home from school. Usually neither of them fall asleep (sometimes I do), but I just think we all need a break from each other.

When Corinne gets home from school, it’s time for a snack and movie while I start dinner. I envision Tony rushing home to his family eager to help his wife care for his offspring and to eat a splendidly prepared feast.

After dinner, it’s hang out with the family time. We play the Wii or Xbox, play with toys, go for a walk, etc. The much beloved 7 o’clock hour comes. Time for picking up toys and getting ready for bed. The kids go down much easier with the time change. There are still a few “If you come out of your room one more time…” and “That does not count as an emergency now get back in your bed!” warnings, but they wouldn’t be kids if there weren’t.

Now it is my time. I waste it by watching television shows with no value and eating Halloween candy by the fistful. Most nights I think while trying to drift off to sleep that I should have spent my time more wisely. Then I remember that it is MY time, and I like mindless television shows.

-g.

Every September, my small hometown has its annual Apple Festival. The kids really enjoy it. Who am I kidding? So do I! We headed up again this year. Tony’s family has joined in the tradition. They stay in a hotel not too far away (my town has no hotels). The kids enjoyed swimming in their pool and jumping on the beds. Then we were off to ride some rides.

Mason’s favorite was this big blowup snake maze.

The parade was the next big event. We got a 5 gallon bucket full of candy. Too much to eat.

My biggest complaint with parades are the darn sirens. The kids don’t like them either.

Lots of 4 wheelers and some left over sparklers to fill in the down time.

Fun to be had by all!

-g.

The Rice Family begins the festivities by searching out a pumpkin to carve.

We wait until the following Monday to carve them for Family Home Evening. The kids draw their own faces and then we carve it for them.

I thought they turned out great. The kids would eat by jack-o-lantern light often. Mason loved blowing out the candle and watching smoke come out the eyes.

Next came Beggars’ Night. It is held annually the night before Halloween. Here is the family all dressed up and ready to go searching out some candy. Corinne decided to be a witch, Mason was a skeleton for the church party so he wanted to be a cowboy for trick-or-treat, and Ethan wore Superman. I was talked into dressing up by Corinne since I walked around with them.

Lastly was Corinne’s party at school on Halloween. She was Snow White. She was so excited to get to ride the bus dressed up. Mason came along with me to help out at the party.

I LOVE Halloween! It is one of my favorites. I’m already looking forward to next year when Ethan will enjoy it more.

-g.

Not much rain this year in Columbus. However, one of the few days that we actually made it to the zoo this year, there was a torrential downpour. I kid you not. Luckily, we were inside a playhouse that encourages recycling and being good to the earth. There are recycling games and different types of nature scenes to climb in/on. The kids had fun playing in there for awhile but then started getting crazy being couped up. I think they workers were tired of us being in there, too. I got some pictures before we bolted out into the rain.

Corinne and Mason peeking out of the mole hole

Good doggy!

Resting for a moment

The rain did finally stop. We headed to the play place to release some energy and got a picture as frogs near the gates. Then we were outta there.

Zoo memberships are one of God’s gifts to mothers.

-g.

I have heard patients talk about Bunny Hill for years without ever looking into it. BIG mistake! Corinne only had a few days left before school started, and I wanted to go somewhere new. I checked in with someone at the ward to get directions, and we were off! I was told I would know when I was there. Here’s why:

The bunnies are on top of a big hill. Underneath them is a waterfall.

The kids loved playing in the waterfall and the fountains.

After they were waterlogged, they headed into the field next to the water play area to climb on the large rocks.

It was a fun time. I’ll miss sunny days. How many months until spring?

-g.

Sigh. Tonight during Corinne’s prayer she prayed for Santa to find our house safely this year. Guess somebody’s gotta look out for the Big Guy.

-g.

I called Tony this morning to clear up a few things about the day (I know…I’m clingy), and he mentioned that it was snowing where he works. I looked outside, and, sure enough, it was snowing here, too. There were just a few flakes blowing around. That was all the kids needed to see. They shoveled breakfast down and got dressed in full winter garb (snow pants, hats, gloves, boots, winter coats, etc) and went outside. While I was getting them ready, Mason asked if he could make a snowman. Corinne told him no. Probably just a snow angel. By the time they got dressed, there were no more flakes in the air. They played anyway. Ethan was so pitiful crying at the door that I got him dressed, too. He was like Randy and kept falling over. Corinne had to help him up multiple times. Cute kids. Don’t get me wrong. I’m in no hurry for snow accumulation. I’ll take global warming.

-g.

Tony has always had great luck with tomatoes. They seem to grow anywhere and everywhere. This year, however, was something different. We started making our own sauce a couple years ago and prefer its taste. We didn’t get too many cans this year, but it’s more about being together making it. I helped my mom make sauce and juice as a child. It’s fun to see my kids having the same experience.

Corinne’s turn to smash

Mason liked to crank

Look at that deliciousness

A good time for all with a yummy reward.

-g.