Hump day is *the* day

Whereas most of us look forward to Friday, and the end of a busy work week, my little ones look forward to one day...garbage day. Our garbage day is Wednesday, and it's the best day of the week in our house. Sophia loves the garbage man to the point she yells at the top of her lungs when she sees one while we're out and about "Garbage man!!!" Hudson has two Tonka Wheel Pals garbage trucks (one small and one large) and they happen to be the same green as our garbage trucks. Needless to say, the two of them ALWAYS play with the garbage trucks. We weren't so sure about this new obsession, but upon talking to other friends, it seems the love of the garbage man extends to all small children. Good to know, as we were starting to think Sophia already had a career in mind...

Perched on the sofa...anxiously watching the street for the first sighting of the garbage man.

Since we sit up on a bit of a hill, from our front window the kids can watch the garbage man collect from about six houses. Bonus!

They are so focused the entire time this is going on...neither moves at all, except to wiggle their butts back and forth with glee.

Bye, bye garbage man! See ya next week!

Today's activities:

Work
More laundry
Get to UPS to send some returns back (not holding my breath on this one)
Isabelle's soccer practice

Tonight's menu:
I'm stumped!! Not good.

Two Little Monkeys

On a daily basis, it's the little things that make me appreciate being a parent and truly make me love my kids to death. Yes, they run me ragged, and both Todd and I probably look like walking zombies most of the time, but there are moments during the day that just make my heart melt and make me realize why the dark circles under my eyes are totally worth it.

Sophia's new favorite game is to go into her brother's room while he's still sleeping, scale over the side of the crib, and wake the poor child up by jumping all around him. This occurs in the morning, after nap...it really doesn't matter. If she can sneak past me and get in there with him, she's all over it. Fortunately Hudson finds the whole thing just as fun and exciting as she does, so...well, I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Poor Hudson is still trying to wake up here...and Sophia is in full effect.

Sophia gets her full bounce on...travels the length of the crib in one bounce.

I couldn't capture it in a picture, but when Huddy gets real excited he starts head banging.

Yes, they've crashed into each other and bounced off the rails of the bed. And no, neither cares in the least when this happens. They simply both laugh, hop up, and start bouncing again. Siblings...gotta love them!

Today's activities:
Laundry...did three loads, it wasn't nearly enough
Sorted through baby toys that we're keeping and getting rid of...sniff!
Work
Isabelle's soccer practice

Tonight's menu:
Calzones (I used this recipe as my jumping off point...my final product depends on my mood and what I have available to put inside. And I use pizza dough, not white bread dough.)
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Unbelievable-Spinach-Calzones/Detail.aspx

Sophia's swim class

Tuesday night Sophia had her first swimming class ALL BY HERSELF! She's been in the parent-tot class for about a year, and her instructor finally said it was time to move her up, even though the PS1 class technically is not for kids under the age of 3. That being said, Sophia will go under water by herself, knows basic strokes, and had completely outgrown the toddler class. The biggest question with Sophia was whether or not she would get in the water without Todd or I, and if she would go to her teacher or scream the entire time. Check out the pictures and see for yourself...

The PS (preschool) classes stand on tables under the water, which Sophia just loves. She spent the entire class, when she wasn't with the teacher, jumping up and down on the table.

Swimming out to her teacher, Karmina. As you can see, the other kids in the class are significantly bigger than Sophia. The class is for 3-5 year olds.

Here she was doing "reach and pull" with Karmina. She had such a great time!

Such a cute little thing sitting on the side of the pool waiting for her turn to jump in the water.

Her final jump in the water. We were SO proud of our little girl. She did an awesome job!! We have our second class tonight, so we'll see how it goes.

Happy Birthday Master Hudson!

My little boy (sniff) turned a year old on Monday (sniff sniff). It seems like just yesterday he was born, but then that's the case for me with all my kids, even Isabelle and she's turning 7 (gasp!) next month. We celebrated with a party on Saturday with friends and then gifts and more cake on Monday.

Hudson's cake was from Hoffman's Bakery and was delicious. Absolutely adorable with a dumptruck on the front and all vanilla and buttercream. Yummy!

Gifts gifts and more gifts. In the true nature of a little kid, the Huggies diaper box that Isabelle decorated for him with Star Wars stickers was his favorite thing. Shortly after this picture was taken we took it away from him in order to open presents and he promptly had a meltdown.

When you have two older sisters, you have lots of help opening presents. Fortunately Huddy could have cared less, as he prefers to do as little as possible most of the time. Yes, typical man in the making here.

Where we used to only have dolls, Barbies and all things pink...we now get our share of cars, trucks, and camo mixed in. It's awesome!

This was taken just after we all finished cake. Probably the most telling picture ever taken of the kids.

Thanks to everyone for sharing in Hudson's birthday with us...for the gifts, the well-wishes, coming to his party...you all made it a wonderful celebration!

Today's activities:
Work
Isabelle's soccer practice
Planning Isabelle's summer camps
Sorting through the kids' closets...ugh, such a chore

Tonight's menu:
Angel Chicken Pasta http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Angel-Chicken-Pasta/Detail.aspx

Easter with the Maynes

Easter in Seattle is a rainy affair. Always is…probably always will be. I’ve given up on buying my girls frilly dresses, as they will just freeze and end up complaining the entire time they’re wearing them. No, we’re still pretty much in winter dresses…with leggings…and boots. Here the girls pose with the Easter Bunny while at brunch.

Isabelle and Sophia started coloring Easter eggs on Saturday. We only tipped over two bowls (pretty good for us) and only cracked three eggs in the coloring process. Again, very good for our family.

Hudson even got in on the coloring action, though his preference was towards trying to eat the egg, shell and all. He made it through the coloring of one egg, and then was back to playing cars on the floor.

That night the kids put their Easter baskets outside in anticipation of the Easter bunny coming. Only in our house do we wear our Christmas pjs on Easter evening. Classy.

And the next morning the kids delighted in going outside and finding their full baskets. Once again, it was raining, so the poor baskets had to sit clinging to the side of the house until the kids were ready to go out and get them.

For brunch we all took a trip to the top of the Space Needle to enjoy the most spectacular view of Seattle. Though the weather was cloudy and rainy, of course, it was still a view of the city I'd never seen. Isabelle especially loved it and sat glued to the window the entire time.

After brunch we colored more eggs. This time we didn't spill any colored water, and only broke one egg. Crazy improvement!

The day was wrapped up by an Easter egg hunt INSIDE. Booo! The girls got to hunt on two floors, though, and fun was still had by all.

Today's activities:
Wow...where to even begin. We're all exhausted and Todd is looking forward to going back to work in order to rest.

Today's menu:
Cioppinno http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cioppino/Detail.aspx
Rosemary Garlic Bread from Three Girls Bakery
Salad

Summer in April

Is it too early to be excited about the 4th of July? In my mind, never. This year, though, most definitely not. We made reservations today for an incredibly charming beach house for the 4th of July holiday. We will be joined by our dear friends, which means the adults can sit back while all 8 (yes, 8) kids run around and wear each other out. It will be brilliant! Fireworks on the beach on the 4th, BBQS on the deck, playing by the water...we've never planned anything like this for the 4th, but are thrilled to be doing it this year with such wonderful folks. Is it July yet?

Pretty interior pictures can be found here:

http://www.beachcombersnw.com/00429

Today's activities:

Installing a Microhood after our Microwave died

Preparing for Hudson's birthday

Keep the children alive (some days it's the little things that matter most)

Tonight's menu:

Pizza

Salad

...it was a long day today