A Busy Day

You could say that I may have over booked us for the day.

We started by going with my friend Jessie and her kiddos to Bernal Park to see the 4H chickens and bunnies then to Dotties Pond to see the turtles.  We saw so many turtles today, even saw turtles sitting on top of other turtles.  Crazy.  Also saw a cool dragonfly.  I had to take a picture of it because we just read a Winnie the Pooh book about someone seeing a dragonfly and Pooh thought they saw a dragon fly.  Anyway, it was cute.

 

From there we left and went immediately to swim lessons and then left from there and went straight to a play date at the park with some school friends.  At the park the kids got creative with all the dry pine needles.  They made a huge "bird nest", then they put all the pine needles in the slide and slid down pushing them all down the end.  They had so. much. fun.

The kids were so tired when we got home.  Haha!

Play Date with Dorie

Today we headed to the park with one of Payton's friends from school, Dorie.  I love playdates when we parents get to "play" too.  I had such a nice time visiting with Dorie's mom, Sharon.

The kids played really well together.

We found a bunch of sidewalk chalk so they decided to draw.  I LOVE Payton's unicorn.  So cute!  Then Sharon drew a hop scotch board and they played hop scotch.  Great times!



 

We finished the play date at our house with snow cones at our house.  Super yummy!

Rainbow Loom and Water Fun

Lincoln has been dying to use the Rainbow Loom that Payton got for her birthday.  Unfortunately, for him, Payton has been using it almost constantly since she got it. 

This morning we had a little time before Lincoln had to go to school so I decided to pull it out and give him a chance to use it.  He did really well and only got frustrated a couple of times when the bands popped off the loom.  Haha!  I would get frustrated too.  Anyway, instead of keeping his first creation he decided to give it to one of his best buds, Cailin.  So sweet.

After school on Thursdays there is a standing play date at the park behind Payton's school.  We are hardly ever to make it for one reason or another but today we stayed and I am so glad we did.  One of the dads brought some water entertainment.  Buckets for water, cups, funnels, and a rocket launcher used to shoot geysers of water.  The kids LOVED it.

Being Healthy

We had a lot of fun today.  My mom came up to spend the day with us.  We had the intention of talking food storage options and ended up spending the whole day outside.  Whoops!

On Thursdays the parents of the students in Payton's class have a standing play date at the park behind the school.  We haven't been able to go lately because of vacation, illness, weather, etc. but today we decided to go for a little while...or 2 hours.  Haha!  The kids were having a great time, they played on this spinning thing for the majority of the time performing "tricks" for us.  So cute!

As we were leaving the park the kids reminded me that I had told them that we could go on the walking trail near Payton's school with my mom today.  I totally forgot,  so I told them that we could go for a little while.  Two miles later... 

The trail has little stretching/exercise stations along it and the kids had fun looking for each one and trying out the exercises.  Once we got out on the trail about a mile out the kids started complaining about be tired so mom tried to mix it up on the way back to the car by having them walk in different ways including playing leap frog with her.  Haha!

Dinner was an experiment this evening.  I tried out a new recipe, Quinoa Patties.  I was pretty much proud of myself for even trying to make the recipe.  They ended up being little bland.  OK a lot bland.  Haha!  I just need to figure out a way to make them have a little bit of zing.  Tonight I added mustard.  I will have to figure out what to try next time.

Go Healthy Habits Challenge!

Park Day

Today the kids jumped on their scooters and we headed to the park.  I was impressed, this is really the farthest they have ever gone on their scooters.  Should have warned them about the hill.  Hee Hee!

Doesn't it look Lincoln is having a blast?  Ha Ha!  No really I think they had a great time.  We met up with some friends and the kids had fun playing together and I got to hold a tiny newborn.  :o)

I thought this was fun  I got a picture of Payton pushing Austin on the swings and remembered taking a similar picture of her pushing Lincoln when he was little.  In these pictures Lincoln is about 10 months and Austin is 11 months.  I can't believe how big Payton has gotten.  I can't believe how big Lincoln has gotten.  Geez, I need to put bricks on their heads.

Park Day

Today was play group at Cahalan Park.  Payton and Lincoln love this park because there are a bunch of trees with low branches that they can climb in and run under.  Today Payton informed me her and her friends played Star Wars and them Minnie's Play House, I love their imaginations.

In the last 5 minutes at the park Lincoln decided to throw tanbark at one of his friends because he got upset.  I called him over and had him sit in timeout.  He got upset and started yelling, "Mommy, I don't like you!"  What do you say to that?  I told him that we don't say mean things and that it isn't nice but he said it a few more times so I just ignored him.  I asked a friend of mine where they learn things like and what you do about it.  She chuckled a little and then said she didn't know.  Then she followed it with a compliment saying that I am always so calm with my kids and that when she gets upset with her kids she tells herself to stay calm like Kimberly does.  Haha!  Boy I have the wool pulled over her eyes.  What's more is that I always she her as an example because she is always so calm with her kids.  Anyway, felt good to hear.

Payton came home with a handout from school saying that November is National Picture Book Month and that they were aiming to read 6,000 picture books in the month of November.  If each child reads at least 20 picture books they will exceed their goal.  Last night we started reading.  Payton and Lincoln each get to pick one book and we sit down and read them.  Even Austin joins in on the fun.  Haha!

It has been fun.  I love snuggling up with all of them.

McDonald's Milkshakes

Today we spent the afternoon at the park with some friends.  We are trying to soak up all the nice weather before it decides to turn cold for good.

The kids had a great time at the park.  When we got to the park Payton and Lincoln's friends Sadie and Lathan were there with there cousins.  I noticed Payton off playing by herself and thought that was a little odd, usually she is right in the middle of things or trying to get everyone to do what she wants to do.  Haha!  Anyway, when she walked past me I asked her if she knew that the kids playing with Sadie and Lathan were their cousins just like Caeden and Maddix were her cousins.  She then said, "I don't know their names."  Then I said, "Oh, well you know how to introduce yourself and ask other people their names.  You do that at school all the time." To which she said, "But I only know how to do that at school."  Oh geez.  Before long she was over playing with them, I guess she just needed some time.

Lincoln made friends with a random little boy and his daddy.  They were chasing each other all over the park.  At one point I looked up to see Lincoln and this little boy chasing the dad and then Lincoln catching up to him and punching him in the bum.  Oops!  At least they were all having a good time.

At some point during our stay at the park Payton heard another mom bribing her daughter with a milkshake to go home.  Payton didn't realize the little girl thinks milkshakes are pediasure drinks.  Haha!  Anyway, she came running over to me asking if we could get milkshakes on our way home.  I don't know why, but usually my first reaction to most things is to say, "No."  Boo!  I don't sound like much fun, do I?  Anyway, today I thought, "Why not?" and said, "Sure."  I had two very happy kiddos.

Park Play Date

We tried out a new park for play group.  Payton and Lincoln loved it!  They played and played.  Ran around in the sun with their friends for over three hours. 

By the time I got home I figured it was too late for them to take a nap so I gave them a bath and put in a movie.  I walked into the room about 15 minutes after the movie started and this is what I found.  So cute!

Hand Soap

We have motion sensored hand soap dispensers in our bathrooms.  Payton calls them magic soap makers...  Anyway, Lincoln and his little friend Cailin discovered they could reach the dispenser early in the day while I was babysitting.  Ha! Ha!  Lincoln ended up with soap in his eye and Cailin put some in her hair.  Fun times!  Later on this evening, after Payton and Lincoln had taken their baths, I walked past the bathroom and heard Lincoln saying, "Wash hair?"  I stopped, took a few steps back, and peeked into the bathroom.  This is when I discovered Lincoln had taken a handful of magic soap and rubbed it into his hair.  Yikes!  That was fun to clean up.  :o)

It was such a beautiful day so Jessie, Tess, and I decided to go to Happy Hollow for the afternoon.  So much fun!  This is such a great place to take the kiddos and with the season pass I really don't feel bad if we are only there for a couple of hours.  Hey, at least I am using the pass.  :o)

One of Payton and Lincoln's favorite parts of the park is this huge play ground/structure area.  They could stay in this area all day.  I love this picture of Lincoln.  He is talking to Cailin through a little hole in the log he is sitting in.  So cute!

The kids were boths exhausted when we left and fell asleep in the car on the way home.  I love it when they play themselves into exhaustion.

Park Play Date

I am so tired!  Crafty Ladies Night was so fun but going to bed at 12:30 am and then getting up at 6:30 this morning...I am getting old.  Ha!  Ha!

My friend Debbie is in town visiting and joined us for our weekly park play date.  It has been great getting to visit with her and see our kids play together.  Sometimes park play dates can be difficult for visiting with friends...for the mommies anyway.  :o)  Payton and Lincoln always seem to go in opposite directions or play on things that I need to be close by and/or helping.  Debbie and I seemed to spend the mojority of the play date on opposite sides of the park.  Oh well, at least the kids have a good time.

Payton and Riley

Lincoln doing what he does best, running.  :o)