April: A Day in a life

A DAY IN A LIFE: APRIL

I have really enjoyed being a part of this project.  Linking to and being able to read all the other blogs it takes me too.  It really is great to see how everyone else spends their day, how different, and a little the same we are.  April 4th was a kind of a tough day for me.  My aunt had past away earlier in the week and her funeral was on that day.  So, I was kind of thinking about my mom and family on this day.  

As Fridays go though….they are a busy day.  We should call it surviving Friday.

  At night time we kennel our Bulldog Winston.  Some might ask, Why haven't you trained your dog to be good at night?  Ha!  It is not that I think he will have accidents or anything like that.  I am talking full "Turner and Hooch" here.  I am sure he would learn to open the fridge with all that spare time.  Unfortunately Winston is scared to death of storms.  Living in Kansas this is going to be a problem for the spring.  It has also left me without sleep (I do not do well without sleep, emotional and some what insane after 3 nights of storms) since he couldn't be kenneled and I couldn't let him roam it was a long Friday morning.

Thursday night, Friday morning nights hale..

 Since Thursdays are a crazy day for us…library group, Tate went bowling, soccer (in the cold rain), scouts, and mutual  I was super tired from loss of sleep instead of signing everything the night before I waited until Friday morning.  I can never find pens when I need them so markers do just fine.

 By April binders are falling apart, bags are ripping, and school supplies are dwindling (even though Caleb got a new binder in January and most of the kids reloaded on supplies).  I think with some tape they can pull through.  Only a little over a month left!!

 Since Caleb said he had a free homework pass and I saw no evidence of this so (Aubrey laughed…of course) I out rule him and he had to go to school with me, since it was my day to do testing in Kindergarten.  Snooze ya loose!  It was also day 3 of a 8 day spirit week leading up to state testing so they had to wear warm-up clothes!  Lucky because it was cold outside.

 Tate wanted to take this pillow case with a sheet shoved into it for show and tell but with a little redirection he took his new flip flops.  

After Ainsley and Aubrey hopped on the bus.  Caleb had an hour to think about the importance of homework while he went with me to drive Tate to the other side of town for preschool.  He let me know he will do his homework at the beginning of the week from now on.  

 I love helping in kindergarten and since I get to see Ainsley in her element and I can see why the teacher is always praising her.  She is a helper, an over achiever, and a pleaser.  On her weekly progress report it is so fun to see her teacher always say the nicest things about her and on her report card to…but when I ask her to empty her backpack she is an absolute slob!!  She just shoves stuff in there and grabs handfuls and handfuls out!  Its never ending and every pocket has something.  Caleb is the same way!  Thank goodness for Aubrey, at least one paper I sign isn't crumbled before I get it!

Tate "I think it is good not very."  Trying new things right now is not really what he does.  (You can see the piece of hair he chopped out)

 Aubrey is our "special eater".  Since she is allergic to everything and skinny skinny skinny.  Anything she asks for right now we like to give her.  Usually I have to make everything for scratch.  I usually bargain a pediasure and 3 bites here or there because she has to have all the food groups!

 Ainsley took this picture.  Winston is a beast now.  He doesn't like it when you say "Say Cheese Winston."  He fits into our family perfectly and I often wonder if he and Tate knew each other in a different life.  They are way too much alike!  Creepy!
Winston has his lazy spots, he doesn't really ever change, he just rotates from nap spot to nap spot.  He likes to stay by the door in hopes that we feel compassion and let him out without his leash…ending in Caleb chasing and tackling.  I will have to take a picture of Caleb diving to grab Winston.  It is pretty funny! Living so close to the golf course and the farms is like heaven for a dog, a fence will help with the sanity. 

Also, on Friday I got another bid for the fence (4th) and Andy's mom came up so we could go to a friends 40th surprise birthday get together.  That is our 3rd friend who turned 40 this year.  It must be a popular year.  She had made a comment that 40 is the new 30 and 30 is the new 20.  I about vomited!!  I have waited my entire life to be 30, what if I miss it!!! :)  We can't have that! 

As for turning 40, I am not sure what can possibly be so bad about it.  Life is such a precious gift, full of accomplishments, acquaintances, friendships, relationships, family, and obstacles that you have powered through.  It is a celebration!  All 3 of these 40 year olds have raised incredible children, and I looked to them often as examples, and for silent advise.  While I will be at a different place in my life when I am 40, at least I know it will be okay (if the teenage years do not kill me first, having an almost 10 year old is an extremely dramatic thing already..actually having an Ainsley is always dramatic)!  I will just focus on making it to 30, IT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE!!

Follow the circle by going to my sister in-law Clair's blog: http://cgdickson.com.

Snow, Easter, and a tan all in the same week!

Snow, Easter, and a tan all in the same week!

Halfway through April lawn mowing has started, trying to figure out how to take care of the plants/bush from some place evil haunt my dreams, state testing,  and the discovery that over winter your child is now way too tall for her bike and spring clothes.  Her sassy attitude that comes with getting older has grown as well.  April! 

 Ainsley has learned some fun soccer moves and was excited to finally play against another girl.  She isn't afraid to get in there and her coach is really great.  Teacher her cool foot tricks and everything that is involved with soccer.    

 Tate is always away from the ball.  Every once in a while he will get in there (with the bribe of going to the sand park after) but for the most part when he is playing the poor "Red Fire Sharks" play 2 vs 3.  

We did go to the park after and then the weather was so nice we went back after lunch.  All 5 of us enjoyed the bright sun and ended up with funky tan lines!

Then the snow came.  Winston got out and I spent 40 minutes looking for him.  I was worried he was chasing balls on the golf course but we went EAST instead and hung out at the farm.  I was not a happy personal, I was scared that he was hurt, and it was snowing like crazy while I was looking for him.  WINSTON!!

 Easter, our decision was to take Winston to Windsor with us.  We had a full load.  Everyone travelled well but Winston wasn't able to take his usual naps because of all the NOISE and excitement.  We had a good time with the Clinton Ward and then we went to Andy's parents for the day.

I couldn't get everyone to wear pink but I did get everyone to wear blue.  It was a monument day really.  The kids haven't all matched since they were little.  I just hid all their other clothes except for a pink outfit and blue outfit.  That really helped them decide to match, either match or be naked but as long as it was THEIR choice there were no tears or complains. 

 By huddling in a ball Tate thought I couldn't see him sneaking food early.  Can you see him?  

From this day I learned a lot .  I forget how little Tate is.  His excitement over his Easter basket "This is what I always dreamed of wanting" or "I love this" over the simplest of dollar store items.  After spending a week going over the real meaning of EASTER and since Caleb doesn't believe in it I spend $15 tops on each basket.  I didn't want anything to be taken aways for the day and they loved there baskets just as much.  *Note:  Not pictured is the look on my face when Caleb woke up and saw me filling the baskets.  He doesn't believe in that stuff anymore (thanks to a bunch of big mouth kids) but I was so sad when he saw me.  

 Tate has been struggling with ear infections and allergies for the past week BUT cranky hit a whole new level right after church.  I often wonder how a cute sleeper can turn into an uncooperative mess in just hours.  He didn't want to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt either.

 Grass stains, egg hunt, yummy dinner & deserts.  Perfect weather made the day awesome!

 All Tate needs is his Grandma!

*Ainsley has grown into a GIANT.  She has become very tall either over night or I was paying close attention.  Her church dresses are too short, her rear fills her shorts, and her pants look like she is waiting for a flood.  During the summer since she lives in her swimsuit we need it to get here fast!!  I hate buying new clothes at the end of the year, only for them to destroy during the summer!! Her bike is to small as well!

Spring, Maybe?

Spring, Maybe

Yes, No, Maybe So?

I put down the grass seed.  This is a yearly thing, BUT it is freezing outside. 

This kids have pretty much grown out of their pants, BUT it is freezing outside.

I should cut the shrubs and put down wood chips, BUT it is freezing outside.

I really don't do cold, or mud, or fog.

I feel like I have been pretty tolerable considering.

Coat, no coat.  Shoes, flips flops.  

My feet just want to go barefoot.  I really hope it is warm tomorrow.  Please?

 Every Thursday after Library group Tate and his buddy Coltin hang out.  Bowling is always a big hit!

 Coltin is 1.5 years younger but Tate has no boys in his class on Sunday and Coltin really gives him a run for his money!!  They are a great team, they both like dirt (his mom is not a big fan of the dirt but if I provide a set a clothes for him I hope she can warm up to it), digging, and rocks.  I might have been like that with Caleb but slowly gave up.  Maybe she is just a better mom then me.  I just figure God made dirt and dirt don't hurt.  During the summer my kids are cleaner due to our time at the pool!  Luckily, they all learned how to swim at an early age!!

 Soccer!  Having Ainsley and Tate on the same team has been fun.  I lucked into this picture of Tate kicking the ball.  I told him to get in there and steel the ball.  That is about it.  He likes to diddle-daddle.  Then he will pick up speed like he is running but not moving.  It is an interesting sight!

 Ainsley is a lot of fun.  She is the tallest on the team and usually the only girl on the field.  She is great and blocking and stealing the ball.  She is not afraid to get in there and get it!!  

 This is kind of what Tate looks like the entire time.  He likes that there are cows across the street.  That is "amazing" and he is never really in the game until its too late.  He does improve little by little.  He only made the deadline by one day so it is a learning year.  Also, it is freezing cold out on the field.  Burrrr! 

 General Conference.   The kids watched all 4 hours on Saturday and they watched the 2 hours in between.  They have their favorite talks and they loved hearing about the Ukraine temple.  As if, they weren't already big enough couch potatoes and because I have the worst sinus infection and strep throat and didn't want to get off the couch I let them try out the Harry Potter movie.  I have never read the books.  The kids have been asking about them, it came on tv, so we gave it a go.  They were hooked!  I personally wondered when it was going to end, it is extremely long for a children's movie but it kept their attention.  

(not pictured is Aubrey…she is to the right.  Ainsley is wearing her Ingear swimsuit off amazon.com.  I ordered an $8 swimsuit which I thought was an extremely good price and they didn't have it anymore or the size I wanted to they sent me 2 for $8 and Ainsley might be in heaven for rest of her life) 

We watched Sunday too, dressed and showered nice for that one.  Blueberry muffins like always.

Even Winston watched conference.  He just wants to be part of the family!!