DUN DUN DUN!!!
Girls and made out of sugar and spice and everything nice!
Boys are made out of snakes and snails and puppy dog tails!

After this past week I am not so sure the accuracy of that riddle!

The week did not start off on a good note. Aubrey missed Stunt Camp (due to Andy not checking his emails), Tate was up all Sunday night, and Monday morning Caleb learned how quickly a leaf catches on fire. I was thinking to myself...well, it cant get any worse.Tate is just wonderful. Despite being up all night 3 nights in a row, not taking regular naps, and cutting 4 teeth...he is just a joy!!! I knew something with Tate was off when he wasn't eating... HE LOVES ALL FOOD. Come to find out one big top tooth cut and 3 more are on the way!!! He'll be eating hamburgers by EASTER!!!

Crazy hair night at Cheerleading!!! An hour and a half curling, crimping, and braiding!!! Spraying pink was "MAGICAL!"

Tuesday night we had to choose between Karate or Family Night at Caleb's school....Family night it was!!! They learned about Booster Rooster and watched an egg that wasn't buckled crack! Pizza yum, friend yahoo, and a night around other parents enjoyable!

Tate and Caleb...wrestling! REALLY! I couldn't believe my eyes. They rolled over and over and Tate laughed and laughed!!!

Wednesday night Andy took Aubrey on a date!!! She was so excited!!!!!

And then we start THURSDAY!!!
DUN DUN DUN!!!

Thursday morning: Getting all the kids up, fed, dressed, loaded into the van with homework and snacks so we can make it to speech therapy by 9:00am went smoothly!!! I thought, "Wow!! This is going to be a good day!" Then we get there....
No parking! I had to park in a different parking lot, in the freezing, and wind!
Caleb kept knocking on the window/mirror and I had to drag him out!

On a good note...
Caleb made it to school on time.
Ainsley took a nap and Tate almost crawled.

DUN DUN DUN!!
When I picked Aubrey up from school she AGAIN cried about having her hair long. She wants short hair like Sophia. This has been an ongoing conversation since November. I said nope and she continued to cry (not unusual). I started Dinner right away because I knew everyone was cranky and tired. Andy came home and fed them while I worked out and then....Oh, Tate almost ALMOST almost crawled....

And then....DUN DUN DUN!!!
Sara! Why is there hair all over Aubrey's table.
What?
HAIR!
I walk into Aubrey's room and looked at Ainsley...I ask "Ainsley, what did you do?" Then I move one of the chairs and see long, beautiful, brown hair all over the ground!!!
A mixture of OH NO! Tears! OH NO! Tears!
Aubrey chopped off the right side of her hair...above her chin and in some parts half way up her head!!!
We didn't know what to do. It was too late to take her to get it fixed and it had been a very long and draining day so we put the kids right to bed!
30 minutes later....
DUN DUN DUN!!!

Sceams!!! Ainsley was up on the top bunk playing with Aubrey and fell off the top bunk onto legos. At first we thought it was Nurse Maids Elbow so I called the neighbor and he looked at it and said to take her to Urgent Care for Xrays. After driving to KU midwest they took one look at Ainsley and sent me to Children's Mercy South. After xrays, Ainsley had a broken Elbow! The swelling in her arm was 3x her normal size and her pj top had to be cut off! Poor Ainsley! A splint, a sling, and a slushy later it had really been a rough night!!Friday Ainsley's reality set in. She was in pain, very cranky, and kept falling right on her arm every time she walked! She quickly found Tate's snack but cranky was with her all day!While filling Ainsley pain medication....CHOP.... The hair stylist was unable to salvage the long hair. Tear! I thought I was going to cry!!! Aubrey was so excited!!!

Goodbye long hair. Good bye 4 long years of growth, brushing, and curling. Of course, Aubrey is extremely happy!!! I don't think she has stopped smiling!
Friday night Andy took Aubrey to stay with Grandma, we did a fun play group, and Ainsley was just so sad. She will meet with the Orthopedic Surgeon on Monday...until then keeping her still is the name of the game!

A long week, but we survived! Will I survive 10 days of Spring Break in March??? Its unlikely!!! With all the craziness, crankiness, and changes...at the end of this week I still find myself completely grateful, complete, and happy. I just hope that next week humbling experiences will come in a more mild form.

News:
Happy Birthday Dad!!!
Happy Birthday Elena!!!
Happy late-Birthday MATT!

A weeks end....A new one begins!After a busy week we thought with the week ending it would quiet down a little. Wrong! Friday morning after hustling Aubrey off to school we waited for Alec to arrive so he would spend the morning with us while his parents were at the doctor/school.
So...what happens when it rains, snows, and it yucky outside?? I run out of diapers and milk. Now, milk I can go without...I think I could have distracted the kids long enough but diapers. Nope! So with 4 kids we headed out in the rain.After our shopping trip we came home, ate, laughed and headed to Caleb's school. I had to go early and talk the nurse into letting Caleb go to school from March 1st the March 11th and Tate got his HINI shot! He didn't even cry and the school nurse accepted Calebs 2008 physical until his March 11th one! Sweet! After school started parents were invited to stay and ask questions/observe! I loved it last year with Aubrey and it was so fun to do it again this year! They let parents stay in the room for over 30 minutes! When that was done I had an hour till I had to pick up the kids so we had the younger Nash family over for lunch! After school we had a play group and then we put the kids to bed and had Couples night. It was lots of fun and neat to meet a new couple and spend time with Marinov Family!

Baby finds toy.... what happens when you move the toy out of reach??

He tries to go and get it!

He goes from push up to his knees and starts looking!!!!!

Saturday in the rain I took Ainsley, Caleb, and Aubrey out to run errands! Walmart, Khols (I had to get Ainsley a coat because her winter coat was stolen), and then Chick-fil-a to have lunch with the Nash family! After lunch we went back to Walmart and then home. After being gone for 5 hours the kids were TIRED!!! They slept so good.

Story...I promised Caleb he could get a Bakugan if he was really good. I have recently learned what these are...Do you know? Everyone age 5 and boy loves them, has them, and apparently cant live without them. All of Caleb's friends have them, I think its a cartoon or movie. Not sure. Anyways, we finally get to walmart. He was sooooooooo sooooo good. I saw the toy isle with the Bakugan sign....we get to it and NOTHING! SOLD OUT! The entire section was bare!! Poor Caleb, he has spent the last 2 weeks dreaming, thinking, and talking about these Bakugans! He looked around and then at me and said "Mom, what am I going to do!" I had no idea what to say. I kept thinking, how could these be so popular. It's not even Christmas, what the heck are these things!!! After a deep thinking period (about 45 seconds) Caleb said, "I know MOM! I can get hungry hippo. Dad just would love hungry hippo!"

Sunday morning everyone slept in until 7am! They gathered around Hungry Hippo in yesterdays clothes and ate Sunday morning donuts and fruit!

Tate tested out his new teething snack! I think that made up for me waking him up. He wasn't too happy about that! But routine routine routine!

After watching the kids play he made his way over to play too!

This is going to be a good week!

News:
Congrats to Spencer!!! You got into PT school! WOOT WOOT! Although, I had to find out from Andy who saw on facebook. Not cool!

When a kid can be a kid!

This past week and a half has been a lot of fun. Not much sleep, one half day, 2 trips to Crown Center, A birthday party, Doctors check up, 2 therapies, 1 evaluation, Cheer, Karate, Play Group, Valentines Day, and one day off of school.
As our weeks get busier they become more fun, more clean, and tend to "wipe me out." Its nice to have separate things to break up the day/week.Tate's naps haven't gone according to routine this past week. Everyone loves him too much. Caleb attended Karate and passed off his high kicks and punches!!! He got a yellow stripe on his belt and I got a "talkin' too" about the correct way to put on a white belt!There is no need for pants to make cup cakes!!!After a long night of homework Aubrey was excited to make her Valentines day box!On Friday we headed to Caleb's school for the Family Valentines Day party. While waiting for some friends Ainsley managed to get all dirty!Tate and his thumb!Ainsley and Makia! Those two have been spending alot of time together. They get along for the first 5 minutes and then...my sock or my elmo, or my french fry!! Girl fight!It was fun to see Caleb and his friends!After the parties...candy time!Saturday morning we headed to Chuck-e-Cheese for Malcolms birthday party!! Caleb split up right away to play. He left all his tickets behind!!! Aubrey's favorite was ski ball! We had so much fun at Malcolm's Chuck-e-cheese party!Ainsley after church. Still red puffy eyes....the minute she saw the church she started crying and didn't stop until the pancakes started!On Valentines Day night we had the Marinov Family over for a "heart" pancake feast! On my awesome new griddle that they gave me for my birthday!Always a mess!

When it is cold outside I always know where to find the kids. Huddled around the vent. Cozy!Tate just goes with the flow. Happy Tater!!
At 6 months he weighs 20 pounds and is 28 inches long!We made to trip to Crown Center's "Fairy Tale" exhibit! Once on the half day and the other on Presidents day. The kids played for hours!
Tate in "Mama Bear's" chair and Ainsley in "Baby Bear's" chair!
Aubrey had a blast and made a couple friends too!Tate loved the colors, noises, and craziness!
After a busy afternoon at the mall we headed home to take a nice, long, wonderful nap!After a great nap we joined the Watts family at Chuck-e-Cheese for FHE! Tate wasn't sure what to make of the roller coaster ride!Ainsley....slept from 7pm to 9:45am. NEVER had she EVER slept that long, NEVER! It was a sign of a bad, long, awful, cranky Ainsley day. She cried, she screamed, and she cried all day! Until finally she could cry no more! On this day the van battery died (again) and the upstairs toilet overflowed. Don't you love those days?
Tate is using his large 90% frame to do push ups! I guess since most of his weight is bumb and legs it might just be muscle pushing up that body! He is a wonderful baby and loves to play peek-a-boo, stare at sesame street, and grab his toes. He has 2 teeth and it looks like his brown hair is here to stay.

Lots of fun and lots done! Andy and I even managed to go out on a date. It was fun to go out and the kids had fun playing play-doh and memory cards with Grandpa and Grandma Griner. Aubrey had 2 speech therapy classes at CMHS and a 2 1/2 hour evaluation. We are so proud of her. She has loved her new class and loves cheerleading!
Also,
A big BIG thanks to Paul and Marlene for watching the kids and to Marlene for making an extra trip to watch the kids while I took Aubrey to her evaluation! Happy Anniversary!
Congrats to Aunt Jackie and Uncle Greg...we cant wait to meet a new HYDE baby!
On a weird note....I haven't talked to my parents all week....I hope they are having fun on their kidless vacation!!!!

I can be a cool mom too!

What a crazy week! I feel like I say that with a big sigh every Sunday morning. Grateful that I survived and the house is still standing! I had high hopes for this past week though. I thought, I'm 25 now! I have been a mom for almost 6 years! I got this under complete and total control! I can do this! BAH HA HA!!!**why did I speak so soon?!!!Monday Tate was up all morning crying and sad from teething....and then comes the throw up. Monday night Andy made it home just in time for Aubrey to go to Cheer! She loves Cheer! Andy finally caved and bought her the $20 pom poms!

Since Aubreys coat got stolen Andy picked out a new coat for her. BRIGHT, BLUE, AND PUFFY!

Tuesday morning.. I caved and cut Calebs hair! Well, I took him to get it cut.

Tuesday morning after we got back from the store Ainsley threw up. I said...oh no. Oh no! We are not doing this again. I loaded the kids back into the car and into Caleb's school where everyone got the H1N1 shot. That is the only shot we haven't had....please let the sickness of winter pass! WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!

Caleb got his Karate Uniform!! He loves Karate and can tell you all about it if you call!

Tate was so sick all day and for the past 2 days....his 2nd tooth is coming! He was so happy to play peak-a-boo though!

Thursday Aubrey and Caleb were playing after school. After a scream and lots of crying Aubrey revealed a bloody arm. She had a big long deap gash...
Oh, a happy note. I had Parent Teacher Conference with Aubrey's teacher, reading therapist, and speech therapist Thursday morning at 7:30. It went really well. Also, on Thursday Aubrey started her first session of Speech Therapy at Children's Mercy Hospital!!! She did great! We got to watch her through a window/mirror. It was a neat experience to get to watch her...I just wish the room was bigger then 8x8. It was cramped with my 3 kids, 2 other moms, and another child for an entire hour. But way to GO AUBREY!!

Friday morning...not a happy camper! She did show off her cut before being dragged to the car! After dropping Aubrey off at school and stopping by the store I drove Andy to the airport. There was a debate on how to get home. Andy told me to take 29N. We said goodbye, Ainsley cried, and the snow started coming down thicker and faster! I took 29N and ended up in St. Joseph, in my pj's, no shoes, and so lost!!! An hour and a half later we finally made it home and I unloaded everyone out of the car only to hear air leaking for my back tire! I got dress, dress the kids, and headed back out but the tire was flat! I do not know how to change a tire. Did not know where the spare was. Didn't have any of those tool things. And the snow was coming down like crazy. Luckily my neighbor had just gotten home from Florida and he pumped my tire back up so I could make it to Walmart. We'll when I got to walmart my tire was completely flat! They told me it was going to be a 3 hour wait. 3 HOURS WITH CALEB, AINSLEY, AND A SICK TATE! After a plea, a pretty please, and a hyper Caleb they said they would see what they could do but could make no promises. 30 minutes later I was on my way home, new tire, and oh so happy!!! THANK YOU TIRE GUYS! So, as you might be able to tell....this was not a good start to my weekend alone.

The roads were bad and I figured with no 4Wheel Drive my poor little van had been through enough so I wasn't able to take Caleb to school. I hid their shoes so they wouldn't go outside...no worries. They just borrowed mine and Andys.

10 minutes later I got upset and hid all the shoes...or so I thought. They found Andy's shoes outside under the Gazeebo! Ainsley decided she didn't need shoes! They lasted 2 seconds. Because of the snow our play group and "mom's movie" night was canceled! The kids were so sad so we had a gator golf tournament, played hide and seek, and ate taco's. It was a nice night. It is nice to be the "cool awesome mom" every once in a while! No homework, No green beans, and No "did you do that?" just love, laughing, and tickling!

Wiped out from loving mom too much!!!

Silence at night is rare but wonderful!

Shhhhh! With the kids sound asleep by 6:15 I held Tate and watched Love Happens. Bawled the entire time! Literally Bawled!

Saturday Morning 5:30am! Morning crashers...I really wanted to sleep in!

Saturday morning at 9:30 we headed to Home Depot for the Monthly kid club! Of course, I had to turn around half way there because I had forgotten to bring the CLUB aprons! Once inside Ainsley, got right to it!

Caleb geared and ready!

Aubrey was so excited that Marcello was there that she didn't want to make a car display.

Ainsley loved loved loved it!

Marcello, Aubrey, Malcolm, Makia, and Caleb...Ainsley had had enough and didn't want to take a picture. We were so happy to have the Nash family join us!

After home depot The Nash family joined us back at the house for lunch and playing!

Yes, that is a frozen pizza and a pancake/sausage on a stick. I am the cool mom this weekend remember?!! I did make Ainsley take a nap until the Watts family showed up. We had a fun play group and then....... dun dun dun............. ALEC'S party! We took Caleb's friend Max with us so his parents could go to the Saturday night Fireside. Max, Caleb, and Alec love hanging out and it is fun to see them pretend and rough house!

This party has been talked about for weeks. Non-stop, everyday, and all day! The kids love playing with Alec and love swimming. After pizza, the Happy Birthday song in English and Russian, cake, and strawberries we went swimming!!! Ainsley pointed to the deep end, I said no, and then she jumped in!!!! After that, she was pretty scared and just walked along the outskirts of the kids play pool!

Max, Caleb, Malcolm, and Sean!

Tate loved it too! It was a fun party and the kids were tired when we got home. Well, Caleb wasn't but what's new right?!!! After singing Caleb and Max a bed time jingle we all fell asleep until Max's mom came to pick him up around 10. It was a busy and fun weekend but we missed having Andy around!

Ainsley on Sunday morning....Covered in cake, reading Elmo, and waiting for dad to come home! He made it home around 5pm. We are so glad to have him back and I am glad that the house was still standing!!!

Important things to remember:
1.Caleb never comes home from school with his shirt on right. It is always backwards?! Weird boy!
2.Ainsley eats non-stop. I think she eats more then my brother Spencer right after a weightlifting meet!
3. The buddy system is in full affect. Every 5 minutes I yell for Caleb and ask what he is doing. If he says "Nothing" I need to RUN FAST and locate him. Because he is always doing something and when he says "Nothing" its always something HE knows he shouldn't be doing.

Something oh so funny:
While at Walmart my kids always head strait to the big $45 Valentines day Bears. Caleb grabbed one and I said, "Put that honkin' bear back!"
He looked really confused and asked, "Mom. How does the bear honk? The bear honks!!!!"
Everyone around laughed, including me. Poor choice of words.Pictured above: Matt, Jack, Ella, and Andy!
Congrats to Nate and Lia!!!

**A big super thanks to MY Grandma for the awesome valentines day/birthday package!!! I love having a cute watch and all the other items for me and the kids!!
**a BIG congrats to my mom on her 2 new callings!!!!! YAHOO!