Summer Fun

Now that Leah is done with Joy School, our weeks are almost entirely open for summertime adventure.  As I mentioned last week, I am trying to pack in as much summer fun as I can before I'm too pregnant, it's too hot, or the baby is here.  I made a short list of things that we want to do this summer.

Me- take a trip to DC with Jason, go on a day trip to Chicago without the kids, another one to Indy, visit the Indy zoo and possibly the Chicago zoo, and take the kids to the children's museum one more time.  I'd also like to visit the local orchard to pick strawberries, blueberries, and peaches (and learn how to preserve them), go camping in the backyard and roast marshmallows over a fire, visit the Purdue fountains, finish my Christmas tree skirt, go swimming as much as possible, and go walking with my old running buddy twice a week.  And of course there's all the getting ready for baby that needs to be done- sorting through baby clothes, buying a few new essentials, putting the carseat, swing, and bassinet together, and stocking up the kitchen big time so I don't have to set foot in a grocery store for as long as possible.

Leah- "Visit the enchanted forest, stay home every day, and go to the zoo (she means the little local one)."

Adam- (roughly interpreted) "Take really long naps every day, preferably from 1:00 to 4:30 without interruption."

My kids are just pretty agreeable.  Since my to-do list is full of want-tos, not have-tos, I'm feeling pretty flexible about what our summer will actually look like.  I was feeling extra motivated last week and created a tentative game plan for what each day will hold.  It includes a craft day, cooking day, adventure day, playdate day, and library day for each week.  I highly doubt that we will actually accomplish half of what's on my mental to-do list, and I'm not interested in sticking to the list enough to require that it gets done on days when I just don't feel like it.

Today we had a craft- it was a fun start to the summer, and reminded me that it takes all of 3 minutes to actually execute an activity around here.  The kids are quite easy to please-I think most times it's me that gets caught up in the busy-ness of every day, when all they want is to, well, be kids.  And thank heaven for that.

So all I really need to do is stock up on craft supplies and squirt guns (Adam discovered one at a friend's house last week and was in heaven!) and we'll be set!

Graduation

Leah graduated from Joy School yesterday.  As with most things Joy School-related, it was very laid back.  I was "in charge" of the graduation, which mostly meant decorating, assigning treats, and printing off the diplomas.  It rains every day here lately, so my visions of a beautiful backyard graduation were foiled by the rain. We all squeezed into the home of one of the families.  Thankfully, the rain cleared up in time for the kids to play outside after the graduation.

Leah has been so excited to graduate.  She wanted to wear a pretty dress for the occasion, and kept her bottom lip tucked into her mouth the whole 10 minutes of the ceremony- a sure sign that she was wasn't quite sure how to act in an unfamiliar situation.

Part of the ceremony was a thank you to all the moms that taught the class.  The dad that gave that speech took the kids outside and gave them a potted flower to give their moms- it was adorable!  I love my petunias!

One great part about being the graduation MC is that I got to hand the diplomas out to each of the cute kids that were in the class.  I feel bad for the other moms that have a giant orange belly in their kid's graduation pictures, but it was a delight for me to hug each child and congratulate them on learning so much this year- Leah included!

Now she is boasting that she's on "summer break", and seems to understand what that means- no school, lots of sunshine, playtime, and swim class.  She knows that after the baby sisters comes, it will be time to go to preschool, and she can't wait!  I have loved Joy School, but I am really excited for her to go to preschool, too. 

Fair Enough

Jason and I used to joke that the only thing we knew how to do in Indiana was leave it.  After a long stretch of staying at home while Jason got his corn planted, we decided to leave town last weekend.  We headed to the nearby dairy farm to check out the cows.  It was so nice to buck our regular routine and spend the day together. 

The kids loved the outdoor play area- our first stop in an effort to beat the rain.

Then we headed over to the birthing barn to check out one of the 80 calves that are born every day at the farm.  It was pretty amazing to watch, and the kids weren't at all grossed out by it.  And thankfully, the process didn't solicit very questions about my upcoming birth of the baby sister.  We named our calf Emmett and checked on him later that day.  What a cutie- I'm just grateful I will never have to give birth to an 80 pound baby with hooves!

Next we boarded the Moo Train to go see the cows in their barns and the milking stations.  I think the best part for the kids was not having to wear buckles on the bus.

Then it was over to the cafe to stuff ourselves with fresh grilled cheese sandwiches, chocolate milk, and ice cream.  We sat right outside the cheese making factory.  The sandwiches were great, but the face of the kid sitting behind Leah was even better!

It was definitely naptime by the time we got our ice cream.  While Jason and I were "discussing" the right way to assist Adam with his ice cream cone, Leah informed us, "Mom! Dad! No one wants to hear you fighting."  She was definitely right.

We took a quick break from the farm to head up to a local gummy bear factory, then finished up the day with a pass through the museum part of the farm.  I never know which kid is going to be affected by what- Leah sobbed through the 4D movie and demanded that I take her out, and Adam was the one that refused to sleep a wink in the car on the way home.  I just never know how the kids will react to new things.

And this would be my new favorite picture-

I especially like the closed eyes.  Jason has found his calling in life, that's for sure.

Milestone?

Adam does not ever sleep in our bed.  He has no interest in cuddling, snuggling, or snoozing together.  But, thanks to sickness, this past week his sleep has been irregular and restless.  I have been woken up to the sound of a bleating little lamb- "Maaa-maaa, maaa-maaaa" several nights in a row.  One day he started at 4:00 in the morning and didn't let up until I scooped him up and brought him into our bed at 6:00.  I figured he wouldn't go to sleep and we would just have an early start to the day, but he snuggled right down, stretched out all legs and arms, and slept until a gloriously late 8:00.

I just wish I had a picture of his face when he got out of bed and wandered out into the hall all by himself.  He was quite proud.

Teasing

When I say something that Leah doesn't believe, she tells me, "You're just teasing, Mom."

Case in point- today I sneezed five violent sneezes in a row, and (being as pregnant as I am) a little pee squeaked out.  Surprised, I told her such, and she said, "You're just teasing, Mom.  A little green pea didn't squeak out of your nose!"

No wonder she has such a hard time believing me!

 *****

After following the usual bedtime routine of bath, jammies, family scriptures and prayer, two books, one "story about when you were a little kid", a scratch-back, song, and hair-twirl, I asked Leah if we should (finally!) say good night.  She looked confused and asked, "To who?"  Silly little missy.

*****

I'm trying to compile a list of the kids favorite meals for their upcoming visit with Grandma (and Auntie Emily- yay!)  I asked Leah what her favorite dinner is, and she responded (in unison with me), "Rice!  With soy sauce!"  Yep, she loves it.

Cultured

One of the best gifts Jason and I gave ourselves last year was a package of tickets to the local symphony orchestra.  For five months from September to May, we had a date night already scheduled and already paid for.  It would have only been more delightful if the concerts were the same night as our baby-sitting swap, but we have enjoyed getting to know the Young Women in our ward through baby-sitting.

My favorite concert was the All Tschaikovsky night with world-renowned pianist, Vassily Primokov.  Wow- he was incredible.  I never thought I'd be SO impressed by musical talent, but he definitely left an impression.  Jason agrees.  That was his favorite concert, too, with the Big Band Blast an enjoyable second.  We easily picked out which concerts we would love to attend in the 2011-2012 season, but will probably favor quiet nights at home with our new baby girl this time around.  

The view from our seats- only 10 rows from the back of the concert hall, the season package was definitely affordable,but the music was still just as great!)

But I am too excited about once concert to miss it- they have a Lollipop Concert every season that is geared toward kids and gives them the opportunity to learn about the instruments in the symphony.  Next year's concert includes Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf  and Camille Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals- two of our very favorite pieces of music to listen to right now.  Thanks to the charming Tubby the Tuba by George Kleinsinger, Leah is fascinated by the various instruments of the orchestra, and I know she will absolutely love her chance to see them perform.  Of course, the concert isn't until February, so there is no way I am telling her about it anytime soon!

Sick, Sick, Sicko

Without question, one of the greatest blessings our family enjoys is excellent health- or at least few illnesses thus far.  I could probably count on one hand the number of times I have had to take either of my kids to the doctor for something other than a well-child checkup.... Leah had a broken arm and lost her voice to croup once, Adam... well, nothing until today. 

The kids both had a nasty bout of pinkeye two weeks ago, and I took them in to get eye drops to clear it up.  Leah recovered quickly, and while Adam's eyes cleared up, his accompanying cough and congestion have been getting worse and worse.  After he fell asleep in the middle of stake conference yesterday and spent the rest of the day with a high fever, I decided he needed to go back to the doctor. 

Leah had a dentist appointment this morning, and we had just enough time to kill before Adam's appointment that we went to the local zoo and park.  I knew it was getting bad when, instead of watching the dancing porcupine (whom we had affectionately named Mr. Pricklepants), Adam did this-

I'm not sure there are many thing things that have made me feel like a worse mother than dragging my sick child around the zoo, especially after the nurse informed me that his temperature was 103.7. 

She asked me when his fever started and what the highest temperature I'd recorded was.  Bumbling over my words, I responded "Well... I haven't been taking it... he just felt.... hot..."

The down side to having generally healthy babies (if there is one) is that I really stink at knowing when to take temperatures, how soon to call the doctor, when a fever is worth calling in about... But at least we were at the doctor's office!  That counts for something, right!?  Lest  sound like a complete idiot to you (it's too late for convincing the nurse), I should mention that Adam was perking right up when he got Tylenol, slept a peaceful 13 hours last night, and has been eating, drinking, and peeing like normal.  So I knew things weren't that bad, just more uncomfortable than we'd like.

It turns out he's got the beginnings of an upper respiratory infection, and we were sent to the pharmacy to fill our first prescription of amoxicillan (yum! I lived on that stuff growing up, thanks to an endless childhood of ear infections).  We also stocked up on popsicles and pudding- sick bed staples- and now we're just praying that Mr. Man will be back to normal in no time. And that I can continue to keep this blessed ignorance about sicknesses, embarrassing as it might be.