Day 50...Splish, Splash

I worked the last two nights until 3:30 am.  Both the boys woke up at 7 am the next morning...both days.   Needless to say, I'm a zombie going on 6 hours of sleep in two days.  But somewhere in my delirious state I promised the kids to take them swimming today, so I had to make good on it.  We packed up and headed to our free water park...aka Papa and Nanny's.  It was our first dip of the season, and while today was a little cooler than the past couple of days...we still had fun!

Rhys didn't swim, it was a little too chilly, but he sunbathed...or rolled around in the grass.

Once Papa came home, he got himself a cuddle buddy.

Day 49...Need for speed!

Thanks to my Mom and Dad, we have clocked several hours in the front yard "driving".  Our grass may never be the same.  It is safe to say that the kids LOVE their new power wheels.

Bodie is a natural born driver.  However, he has a need for speed.  He is going to be dangerous as a teenager.  All I can say is he better have a good job to pay for our car insurance hike!

Rhys was the MRP (Most Requested Passenger).  Bodie was so bummed that I wouldn't let Rhys ride with him.  "I'll hold on good to him", he insisted.  Trying to avoid a baby concussion, I had to put the kibosh to this.

McCall thought that Rhys might be better suited in the Jeep because of the seat-belts.  I think that would be wiser, also considering the fact that she doesn't drive, but only sits in it to listen to the radio.  However, she quickly got bored with Rhys and brought in her other friends.

The other great thing about this gift. I was able to hold it ransom to bribe Bodie to give up his binky.  "Babies can't ride the 4-wheeler..and babies have binkies", I told him.  He promptly handed me his binky and hasn't looked back!  Thanks a million for that Papa and Nanny...I owe you!

Day 48...Now it is HOT!

I knew this would happen.  Complain about the rainy, cold weather enough and what happens?  101 degree days is what happens! 

Bodie began his morning having stickers applied to his forehead, via McCall.  She was pretending they were band-aids. 

He just went right along with it. 

After we carefully removed the very sticky stickers, we they decided that they wanted to take a dip in the pool.  So out we went...

Bodie's "wobble goggles" were hurting his head.  I think that may be due to the fact that they are kid size goggles on a larger than life head!

McCall had a hard time deciding on what swimming suit to wear today.  It was bad.  It took more than a half hour, but she figured it out, looked adorable and struck a pose!

Rhys was loving the fresh air and happy as could be on the blanket.  He enjoyed the periodic splash from his swimming siblings!

When is it going to snow?  I'm ready.

Day 47...Swimming

The kids had a nice relaxing day, while I worked.  Daddy got out the big swimming pool and they soaked up the rays.

When I got home and went outside, they were done swimming and were snugly wrapped up in their towels.  They looked so cute. 

McCall has her new earrings and necklace on, she loves to accessorize!

Day 46...Thing 1 and Thing 2

This is it, the day of the Dr.Seuss joint birthday party has arrived.  I really had so much fun planning this, despite all the complaining I might have done.  This theme was really fun and the kids enjoyed it.  After all was said and done, Bodie came up to me and said, "Thanks for our party Mama, I love you."  That made it worth it.

Well, I started with the menu.  It was a lot of fun to pull together.  We had:

• Pink Yink Ink Drink (pink lemonade)
• Green Eggs with Ham (deviled eggs topped with prosciutto ham)
• Yertle's Turtles (candy carmel turtles)
• Roast Beast Tray (meat tray)
• Who Cakes (cupcakes)
• Diffendoofer Fruit salad
• Poodles with Noodles (pasta salad)

We also had red fish, blue fish candy...and more.  I tell you what, you could go nuts with the menu if you wanted!

We had a great time with friends and family in the backyard.  It as beautiful weather and we are so glad that we could share their birthdays with everyone.

Bodie LOVED his cards!

We played with friends...

After the other kids were gone, Bodie and McCall got their presents from Papa and Nanny.  OMG!  (Insert laughter and bewilderment here, I myself can't believe that I just used that abbreviation, but it seemed fitting.)

McCall got a Barbie Jeep, Bodie a Kawasaki 4-wheeler.  They have a max speed of 5mph and Bodie pushes it to the max.  McCall on the other had is more interested in her radio...yes it has a working one!

They drove and played for what seemed like hours.  Bodie looked like he was going to fall asleep driving.  He later had a full blown melt-down, during the time I was trying to get a picture of the kids.  (The only way we could get him off the 4-wheeler was to tell him the battery died, I love that trick.)  So the picture isn't the best, but you get the picture.  (Literally.)

When we came inside, Bodie didn't want to eat and he didn't want to drink anything.  He said, "Mama I want to go lay down in your bed, and I want you to come with me."  So in less than 30 seconds I was left with this...

Happy Birthday Thing 1 and Thing 2...we love you!

P.S.  Bodie came in to our room at 1:30 am and asked me if his battery was charged!  If I hadn't been so tired, I would have laughed really, really hard.

Day 46...Yeah!!!

My brother and sister are on their way home.  No more crazy Mommy trying to entertain me all day, now I have Bodie back for that!

That was my guest blogger Rhys.  If you can't tell, we are super excited to get our other kids home.  The Vian house is way too quiet without them.

We have had such a busy day getting ready for the big Dr. Seuss birthday party tomorrow.  I'm exhausted and now I'm off to work!  Everyone is invited, it will be a blast...hope to see you at 2! 

Day 44...Youth Ranch here we come!

When the kids are away, Mom and Dad will clean the garage and give away toys.  Last time we did this we gave away all of the baby things and then next month...surprise your pregnant!  So this time we played it safe and only gave away toys the kids didn't use anymore. 

Hopefully Rhys will keep it to himself so the kids don't flip out.  I think my secret is safe...

Day 43...Rhys loves to sleep...Just kidding!

We got up early to go do some birthday shopping for Bodie, and then enjoyed a delicious sushi lunch sans 2 older children.  The kids are having fun, but I miss them terribly.  Today when I was talking to Bodie, Rob got mad at me because I said "I miss you" too much.  Then I remarked that Bodie sounded sad.  "Duh" was Rob's reply.  So mental note...I will keep my emotions to myself on the next phone call.

Anyways.  Rhys got a little spoiled this morning.  He got to come in to bed with Mommy and Daddy and by the sound of his snores, I think he liked it!  If only he slept so soundly in his own bed!

Day 42...Move over Martha Stewart

I have got so much done this morning, in the absence of McCall and Bodie.  I worked until 3am last night, so Rhys and I were even lazy this morning.

I decided that I needed to get started making decorations for the kids birthday party, so out to the garage I headed.  I found tissue paper and wire and then I went to work.  (I was part Macgyver, part Martha Stewart.)  I folded the tissue...

Cut the ends to a point...

And fluffed until I could fluff no more.  I even did a couple shakes, but I felt like a cheerleader so I forced myself to stop.  Then I fluffed some more.  And this is what I got.

Aren't these cute?  I think they will be cute little Dr. Seuss like decorations. 
Thank you dollar store.  And thank you Rhys Vian for letting Mommy get her craft on, while patiently playing...

or eating...I can't tell...

Day 41...It is quiet

Very quiet in our house this morning.  Except for the laughing of Rhys at 5:15a.m.  He is the world's cutest rooster!  The kids "skype'd" us this morning (called by the webcam on the computer).  They detoured to Papa Bob and Sue Sue's house in Klamath Falls for one reason or another (don't ask me) and got there about 10:30 PST.  The kids did real well driving they said.  McCall told me they watched 5 movies!  They were taking off today towards Astoria, but when we talked to them at 5, they were planning on staying in Florence.  Papa Bob and Sue Sue change plans like McCall changes clothes...often.  I am just glad I'm  not doing all that driving!

We were lazy around the house this morning and then we had to run a couple errands.  I only had to nag one person to stop playing (video) games and get dressed today...Rob!  We got our things done and enjoyed a DELICIOUS hamburger at SmashBurger, (I suggest trying it if you haven't already) and then back home.  Rhys finally fell asleep on the way home and he looked so peaceful so I attempted a picture.  But when I came back with the camera, this what I found...

Then he laughed at me...

And showed off his cute toes!

Day 40...Happy Father's Day

I am so lucky to be surrounded by some of the best Father's I could imagine.  And believe it or not we were lucky enough to get to spend the day with all of them. 

The kids woke up early, and then we went to a nice breakfast at IHOP with Rob's parents.  After that we went to my parent's to enjoy a nice BBQ and dessert.  Nanny and Miss chopped us up some veggies.

Then McCall, I mean Strawberry Shortcake, sampled the strawberries.

All the while, Bodie napped.

Papa and Grandma Rene  settled in with their youngest great-grandsons., Rhys and Connor.

Dad, Grandpa Don, Papa Burt, Grandpa Bob...we love you all so much and are so grateful to have you as the Father's in our lives.

Babe, thanks for our beautiful children and for how much you love us. I cannot imagine doing this crazy parenting thing with anyone other than you!  I love you.  We love you!