Proud

Today is a very important day. Today, Paul is currently at WORK! A real job, with a salary, and benefits. His first job ever of that kind. I am grinning with excitement and can hardly wait to hear how it was. So far it is orientation only, and will be for the remainder of the week, but I think it counts. :) He will also be getting his LONG white coat this week, maybe today. Crazy! We are so proud of this guy I can't even tell you. He is amazing.  He left early this morning so he could ride his bike so I didn't get any pictures of him before he left. But I made him promise to take pictures there and you bet I will be taking more when he gets home. :)  In the mean time, here are some more pictures of the fortress going up... He is such a hard worker! These are in order, but happen over a couple different days.

phone

I have downloaded 2 games onto my new phone for the kiddies to play on occasion. I don't love them using my fancy phone a lot, partly because replacing it will be costly, and partly because I would rather them interact with living people most of the time and not a machine.  But I have to say, I am SUPER impressed with how quickly they have picked up how to use and manipulate and play on the phone.

Any good (and preferably FREE) games for preschool age kids that you love? Tell me your favorites!

rain

For as humid as it is here in Texas, it hasn't rained as much as I would have imagined. And when it does rain, it is only for short spurts. Living in Dominica, and then in Miami, I am ready for tons of rain... The kids are not scared of thunder or lightning either, and apparently like to watch it rain too.

We stayed inside for the 10 minutes it rained and then we went on with the rest of our day. In fact, later we went swimming. It was perfect weather. I think we're going to like it here.

Matix

Matix man is growing up. The things he helps me with are actually helpful now, the things he talks about are so much more meaningful now, the things he builds and draws and creates are so much more detailed.  Here is his latest Lego creation. He stood in the kitchen telling me about it for almost 15 minutes, before he took a breath long enough for me to say something.

I cannot believe in a couple months this big guy will be 5 years old! 5! A whole hand! How crazy fast this all has gone.

splash pad

We went to the splash pad in Memorial Hermann Park (right next to Paul's hospital) on a very HOT and splash pad worthy day with the playgroup.  The kids all loved it and cried when we had to leave. Poor things. Parking was a nightmare and we had to walk a half a mile in the heat to get there, and then back again when they were exhausted. It felt like I was in Dominica again, except I had two extra little people whining. :) Dragging them on fun adventures and then regretting it until I saw the pictures and remembered how much fun it was. 

There was a fun playground next to the splash park and we played there for a while too. Now I know where we were supposed to park, and then you get to ride the FREE TRAIN back to your car afterward. Why didn't anyone include that little tidbit in the playgroup email? Oh well, next time we will ride the train.

she's trouble

Our sweetest baby girl is such a doll. She gives hugs and kisses and always wants to know where everyone is. She is very inclusive. She is happy and sweet most of the time, BUT, she is trouble. Really. She gets into EVERYTHING... The other day, I was unpacking in the living room. She was in the kitchen eating a granola bar (I thought). It got particularly quiet, so I checked on her just in time to see her peppering the kitchen table, chairs, ground, and herself. She was not happy that I caught her. Can you tell?

Other times that I catch her in trouble, she could care less. She will smile and pose for the camera even if I just scolded her. Like this time. Caught in the act pulling all the tissues out of the box. Naughty naughty naughty...

That's one of her favorite new words too "Naughty." But she usually uses it only when blaming others for something. If she trips she will stand up, point to the nearest person (whether they were the cause of the trip or not) and say, "NAUGHTY!" Stinker.

the fortress

Paul has been working to get the fortress built in our backyard again. The kids are SO excited about this. They "help" sometimes by handing Paul screws when he needs them and of course play around Paul the whole time, making things tons harder, but Paul always says he doesn't mind. Sweetest daddy. Here are some pictures from the first day.

There's always time to be silly. Always.

The kids found some snails on the underneath side of one of the boards, a highlight of this experience...

More pictures to come on the developments since this day, but it's still not all the way done. It turns out, it's hard to study 12 hours a day AND play a little with your kids AND get prepared for a new job AND eat AND sleep AND maybe sneak in some alone time with the wifey... AND build a playset. :)

potato bug

Oh, how I love to see what entertains the kiddies. I spent yet another day unpacking, pulling out "new" toys that have been in storage forever and although they are excited for each of those, finding this potato bug was, by far, the happiest part of the day. Silly kids!

Also, I am seeing the light at the end of this loooong unpacking tunnel. Things in the garage are getting put away and I have a place to put most of everything.  I still need another trip to the Container Store... My favorite place in the world.... Once Paul gets a paycheck. :)

Father's Day 2013

In the past, we have made Paul videos (here and here) for Father's Day. The boys have colored pictures and put them on the wall. The kids have hugged and kissed Paul until he is dripping in loves.  These kids sure love their dad, and he loves them.

I couldn't have asked for a better father for my children. He is hands on and always makes time for them. He makes them each feel special and loved. He always volunteers to hold the babies and fix the ouchies and read the stories.  He is what every father should be. Every kid deserves to be as lucky as mine are.

I asked the kids what they wanted to do for Paul for Father's Day. Matix wanted to make him a love note. Hawken wanted to hang a picture up on the wall. Lulli just smiled and repeated, "Daddy! Daddy!" one of her favorite things to say... The boys also wanted to make Paul dinner. Father's Day nachos and root beer floats may become a tradition. :) They were so excited. Pictures to come.

This year, I also found this video. I didn't make it, but I love it. There are quite a few things in it that remind me of stories Paul has told me about his childhood with his dad, and quite a few things remind me of my own childhood with my dad.  Most of all, I can just imagine Paul being that dad. That amazing, take no credit for it, but is amazing none the less, DAD. Happy Father's Day to our amazing dads and to Paul.

scooter rides with DADDY!

Every day when I put the kids down for naps, they each have special things and routines they like. Lullaby must go to sleep first. If she is second or third she is too wired up from all the kisses and will get out of her bed. I lay her down, read a book with her, give her a kiss and then I kiss all her babies (per her request) and cover her with her special yellow blankie.  Then I "make her room sleepy" by pulling the blinds and closing the curtains. I turn on the fan and tell her I love her. She is SO good about the big girl bed thing, as long as I stick to the routine.  Hawken and Matix then both go to the bathroom, use the toilet and then get a sip of water. They both go to their rooms. Matix and Hawken both like to sleep next to a toy. It is supposed to be in the small toy bin next to their beds, but EVERY day, Matix tries to sneak his into his bed with him. I check under his pillow and pull the toy out and talk about the rule, again. I close his curtains and give him an eskimo kiss, and a regular kiss, and then he gives me a big bear squeeze. He asks me (every time) if he is getting stronger. I say, "Yes, of course you are!" and then he rolls over ready for bed. I turn on his fan and he says some version of "I love you", or "You're the best mommy" which he knows I eat up.  Hawken likes to turn on his own fan, while I close his curtains. Then I have to ask him what he will dream about. If I forget to ask, he reminds me. :) He tells me a long list of things. Today, he said he will dream about the new baby, and me getting married to daddy, and scooter rides. Adorable.  They really love being awake when Paul comes home from studying, to see daddy, and of course ride on his scooter! One day we had a late nap so dinner time came and went and I said they could stay up for Paul to give them a scooter ride when he got home.  As you can see, they LOVED it. Paul is such a good daddy!

Lulli didn't want a ride at first, and just liked waving and showing me her ouchies while we waited for each boy to come back. She is such a tough little girl with getting hurt.

I love their windblown hair! They took turns and talked the whole time they waited about how fast they went and how they are going to get their own scooter when they grow up.

Finally Lullaby was brave enough to try it with me driving. We only went around the cul de sac, and she was very tense. Not her favorite. She posed nicely for the picture though. Silly girl.

Paul comes back late tonight. Dale is picking him up from the airport, since we will already be sleeping and he is flying into the airport that is farther away from us and closer to Dale and Vanessa.  He'll sleep there tonight and then we are heading up there first thing in the morning to get him and start the Father's Day festivities that the kids planned. Should be fun. We can hardly wait to get our hands on this guy. We love him SO much.