A rainy day

Blake decided to head outside and try out the umbrella in the rain, they love using those. The girls had a different idea on a rainy day, a 2 hour nap. All three kids were asleep for 1 1/2 hours at the same time today! Scheduling Lilli Jane pays off some days! First day Delaney has slept in months without being forced, she doesn't like to nap or have quiet time. I turned on the music today and she loved it and went to sleep on her own. We put a knob on the door so she can't get in Blake's room now so that helps calm nap time too. She loved waking him up!

 

Teaching their sister a passion for art

They had fun on the floor with scissors, markers, stickers, magazines, and glue. Lilli Jane was happy to watch and lend her body to be traced during one of her awake hours today. She did perfect with her schedule, she woke, ate, slept two hours, repeat, repeat, repeat, then off to sleep about 7pm. She was so good today! Very opposite from yesterday!

 

Tear filled day

There were a lot of tears from Lilli Jane today, she didn't sleep well at all, and cried trying to get to sleep. I hate hearing them. I tried rocking, walking, bouncing, leaving her alone, even the passy. She took three 20 min naps for the most part, one being in my arms, which is exactly where I needed to be at that exact moment.

Later that evening I stayed downstairs and cleaned and took some time away from the kids while Kevin hung out with them upstairs. It was a tough day, I needed a break. When I came up to help with bedtime I found their room decorated like they did for the Fourth of July at the beach with granddad. How funny! They sure learn and remember everything!

 

Fun day Monday

All the kids helped me prep the collards for supper.

Then we had nap time on the couches. Two rules: stay on the couch and stay quiet while the movie is on. One of them followed the rules exactly, the other stretched them to the limit of course. Can you tell which one did what? I got about 20-30 min with each of them just cuddling. They beg for time with me all the time and I just don't have it to give one on one like that. They needed that from me today, I didn't realize how much I needed it too. You are supposed to touch your kids 12 times a day. Once they become independent do we really do that? I try and am going to try more, it's something they need to grow strong emotionally though, touch is so powerful!

 

I am not sure what goes through her mind, but as soon as she could get off the couch she ran upstairs to come down dressed like this. Boyo does she love to dress up!

 

1st trip to Carowinds

Williams & Fudge had a family fun day at Carowinds with $25 tickets, so we took advantage of it and went. My parents went with us too, it was sure nice to have the extra hands since Lilli Jane was with us too.

The first ride was the swings, I was a little nervous Blake wouldn't want to ride without us with him. But he went straight on and enjoyed it. This was perfect for Delaney, she loves an adrenalin rush!

Next we rode the balloons, these probably went 35 mph...Blake was a little scared, but having me beside him calmed him pretty quick and he enjoyed it too.

After that they were ready to go alone on the planes, they are so lucky to have a sibling just about their age to do all these things with, I hope they will ride the little rides when Lilli Jane is old enough, but doesn't have a sibling close to her age.

The carousel was Lilli Jane's first every ride on anything. She got to ride with Mama in the seats ahead of our horses.

The speed boats had annoying horns that the kids all loved to blow!

The train was a short ride, but another Lilli Jane joined us on.

Later we went and rode the Boo Blasters thinking she'd be fine to ride with us on those too, but she cried the whole ride, it has black lights, loud screams, gun noises, guess it was over stimulating. She nursed in the nice air-conditioned house in the middle of the kids area, that was a blessing! I was scared I would have to sit on a toilet in the middle of that park, yuck!

Delaney wasn't tall enough for the ships, so daddy and Blake rode these while Delaney and I went to theroller coaster to see about her height. I thought she would ride it again with Blake so I took her on it. She had to stand on her toes just a little, but she was able to ride!

She seemed scared, grasping on the handle the whole time, I kept my arm around her, but at the end she looked up at me and smiled and said, "that was fun!" She told everyone she rode the adult roller coaster.

Blake went later and rode with daddy. He was a bit scared too, as you see in the picture, but he said he loved it. Neither one wanted to ride it again today though, maybe next time.

We watched a peanuts pirate show.

Then the day was over...two tired kids! After dinner at Charandas they both slept well.

 

Happy 39 years daddy!

What a wonderful man...a great Saturday to celebrate a birthday! We went out to celebrate at The Fig Tree in Charlotte, so Kevin slept in a little while we wrapped up his presents. The kids helped so it was fresh on his mind what was inside. Delaney handed him one and said , "Here daddy, open the golf balls first." What a surprise now! Then while he was opening the next he said "I hope this is a green blow up pump." ( he hinted what he wanted). She said, "it's a blue one" before he even opened it. We have to work on her surprising methods. They were so happy to watch him open the gifts they went to pick out themselves. They were so proud of them. We went to iHop where he got red velvet pancakes with a big glass of milk, then he took the kids to the riverwalk, Lowes, and the museum so i could rest after a long night up with the baby. After a short nap time we went to celebrate his birthday with friends.

 

Sunday School Social

We had a Sunday School Social today at David and Pam's house with a big blow up slide for the kids. They loved it!

Delaney was so funny going down, she flew! Blake went down at least 50 times. They enjoy all those kids, we are blessed to have such a wonderful group to worship with and play with.

Aunt Pam enjoyed some Lilli Jane time.

We sand to Kevin for his birthday, I made his favorite, Red Velvet Cake. I have to say, it turned out quite tasty.

 

Discovery Place

 

 

Nanny and Kaitlyn came up last night to visit with the kids while I went to bunco without any kids!!! They stayed the night and everyone except me and Lilli Jane went to discovery place. They love going here, especially when they ride the train there. Delaney knocked on the window of the conductors space, but she wasn't too happy when she opened the window and said, "what?!", come on, it's just a curious little girl.

 

A froggy morning

Nothing like two cuddly girls in frog pjs! I love these sisters!

 

Dance camp

 

It was so sweet watching Delaney's excitement about dance camp this week.m it was fairy camp so she got a crown and wand at the end. She loved it! Nanny and I went to watch her dance for 5 min at the end of class today, she did great, was one of the only ones actually dancing. I was so proud of her.

 

Storm

Blake has been frightened lately by monsters, noises, and other things. He comes out of his room 2-3 times before going to sleep at night for ridicules questions. Tonight there was a big storm with loud thunder. I can't blame him. Kevin ended up putting him in our bed until we went to sleep. When we went in we saw him all buried in, was so sweet. Kevin moved him upstairs and he was fine for the rest of the night, he is a sound sleeper once asleep.

 

Morning story

A morning story with daddy before he leaves for work. They love their bye bye kisses each morning during breakfast from him. He leaves about 7:15am and returns around 5:40pm during the summer, but he is off on Fridays! We love having him home, but wish that he wasn't gone so long Mon-Thurs.

 

At the end of the day

At the end of the day I talk about the day we had with whichever child I am with one on one. Tonight it was Delaney. I told her, "you had an awesome day today's it's so many fun things, art camp, chick fli a, gymnastics, and dance camp. What was your most favorite thing you did all day today?" She has been looking forward to dance camp and art camp for months so I knew it'd be a tough decision. She look at me and said, "coming home", I asked why and she sweetly said, "to be with you mommy", then quickly moved on to something else. God speaks through my children. A couple weeks ago I had a few emotional days questioning my mothering skills and Lilli Jane giggled at me and hasn't done it since. Then hearing this tonight from her mouth after struggling the past 4-5 days just melted my heart and made all the struggles today worth it 100%! I love you Delaney, thank you for that!

 

The little things...

...are easy to forget. I want to remember the feelings of just peeking inside the carrier and seeing this sweet sleeping hand.

 

Playing in the rain

Playing in the rain with daddy in the back yard. The kids look forward to rain days when they get to wear their rain coats and/or use their own umbrellas. They are both better about thunder and lightening now too, unless its at bedtime. They say its from God so it's okay and it won't hurt us.

 

Playdate

We had a much needed play date with the Dixons today. The big kids all had fun running around playing. Joy and I had great conversation while feeding our babies. Annie is just 4 weeks old, and so tiny. I forgot how tiny a baby could be. Lilli Jane did great while there and I got to hold her sleeping in my arms, which I don't get to do much anymore. So sweet!

 

QCP birthdays

We celebrated Chris, Kevin, Tracy, and David's summer birthdays tonight with all the kids together at our house. The Cason's had to leave erly to take advantage of a baby-sitter for the night and a much needed, I'm sure, night out to celebrate David's birthday. I love our times together with our best friends. It may not always be calm, but it's always rejuvenating being with these precious families.