Video phone with Monica

Monica got her video phone up and running, so we are able to chat with her now. The kids often stand too close, but are always entertaining!

Happy Mother's Day

Yes, Yes, I know. I am WAY behind on my blogging. I have lots to post and not much time! With the great weather we just seem to go, go, go!

Anyway, Mother's Day...

We spent the weekend with Grandma Margaret. We are still trying to figure out the best time to travel, when to visit, and how much everyone can handle in one weekend. We enjoy seeing her and she loves it when we are there. We see her on the video phone about twice a week and go there once a month. She seems to be doing better at settling in.

That weekend was a little cooler than I packed for, but that didn't stop us from enjoying a large outdoor McDonalds's Play Land!

We went to a deaf church on Sunday morning and were able to stay for the Mother's Day Tea Party back at the nursing home. Grace had Teddy Grahams in her tea cup!

What a photogenic family....well, at least we try! :)

They had a juggler who made balloon animals for the kids!

Three Words

If you have never seen GMA's Three Word segments, check some out here. Viewers send in video using only three written words. They then put them into a music montage. Some of them have been quite moving.

While I don't take a lot of video, I often have ideas of ways to sum up my day is just three words. I think my first idea was with Grace standing on the coffee table with a sign that would have read, "Learned to climb."

This is my latest one:

Some days, it is all I say.

(And I would have loved a picture of one or both of them in time out with the sign, but decided to draw the line here - you don't mess with the time out!)

Garage Sale

The first weekend in May we had our town rummage sale and I had a small sale in my garage, by myself! I've never done one by myself and it was wonderful! Now, I do love doing them with my family (in fact there is one this weekend that I have stuff in), but only marking prices without my initials, setting up and marking in my own garage, and not having to keep the stickers was GREAT! I was alone, but with some awesome help from David, Joseph, and Aunt Mandi, Grace and Cooper were well entertained and cared for while I wheeled and dealed away my "treasures"! I did pretty well, making over $60, I think! (I didn't keep exact track because I didn't have to!)

They were pretty messy after the chalk activity, but Aunt Mandi got them cleaned up just fine and fed for me. (At one point Grace used the blue chalk as chap stick...) Thanks Aunt Mandi!!

My Birthday

My birthday was way back on Easter, and with all that we do, there was certainly no time to celebrate it then! I got lots of birthday wishes from friends and family and am very ok with waiting for my dinner and gifts, as I have always believed "why celebrate on just one day when you can spread it out over many!" (Usually when I have missed a birthday or am late with a gift!) So, a few weeks ago, Tim and I finally had an afternoon where we could get away for dinner and some shopping. A big thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for watching the kids for us! We headed for Thai food, but they were closed on Mondays, so we settled for Mexican. It was WONDERFUL! Tim even let me wander around Target for about an hour!

Here is the card they made me just before we recycled it.

I had requested some back seat organizers for the kids, but didn't like them after I got them, so I exchanged them for these great side pockets for their car seats! We all love them!

MOPS

Our MOPS meetings have come to an end for the year. We were sad to have missed the last one because we were feeling under the weather. But, the meeting before that we had talked about gardening and planted some seeds in egg shells. Mine actually were growing two days later!!! Grace likes to help me water them. Of the dozen I planted, about 6-8 of them grew, one was destroyed by a one year old "climber", and I got nothing from the others. Now, I just need to get the ones that did grow into a pot, soon!!

A 2 Hour Nap Does the Mommy Good!

Cooper is starting to take longer naps and is often very happy after them!

Here he is enjoying his snack after a great nap!

And then Grace wanted in on the fun, too!

"What are you doing, Grace?"

"Nothing, but he is up there."

"What does that mean, 'Up There?' "

He climbed up the couch!

As you can see, Cooper is doing just fine! His newest lab work indicated that we could reduce his meds a bit. We love that he does not need as much medicine as before, but now worry that maybe he was over medicated for a while. We will have more tests again in June and see the doctor in July.

Gymnastics in the new YMCA!

The new YMCA is open and we now have our class there. It is a great facility and we've already put our membership to good use!

Miss Sarah flipped the girls (feet up and over) for the first time on the bar. The other girls were a little surprised and freaked out by it at first, but Grace thought it was hilarious!

Just one sticker for a job well done!

With our membership we have two hours of child watch every day and they have a family swimming pool. Tim and I love having a place and time to exercise, the kids are "getting used" to being in the nursery there, and we all love the pool! Once we get our routines streamlined (I forgot my swim suit yesterday!) I'll be sure and get some pictures!

Morning Photo Shoot

A natural in front of the camera...

Things started to get a little silly...

And this is what Grace gave me...

"Could you please take the sticker off?"

Getting out in the GREAT weather!

I think I have blogged before about how I love the changing seasons and seeing arms and legs again on my children! Cooper is so cute in his boy outfits and Grace looks cute in capri pants. (Even though she doesn't like them - or any clothes, for that matter. The nudest gene must be from the Drake side.)

Last Saturday we headed to the Tulip Festival to see Aunt Margaret (Or "Aunt Grandma Margaret sometimes when Grace gets confused!) It was windy at first, but then warmed up enough for us to enjoy the day.

They had a game area for the kids. After Cooper figured out how to stand up in the wind, he really got into corn hole. And Grace loved getting candy!

We had a nice lunch with Aunt Margaret and listened to a group from Friends Church sing. We also walked to the park to run off some energy before we headed home. Good time!