Taking back the music

I've finally done it. I've regained control of the music in our car! I realized that the kids had way too much control over what we listened to in the car. It was a sad day when I realized that I was singing along to these kids songs like I would to something I actually enjoyed. I even started listening to their CD when they weren't in the car... really sad! So, I took control! I took out all the kid CD's and my ipod (which is filled with kid music). Now, the kids get to hear my Ray LaMontagne CD (over and over again, because that's the only one I have in the car). It's great to hear them singing along and actually requesting songs on the CD. Yep, they are going to be cool kids now! Sometimes, these kids need boundaries... and music in the car is where I've drawn the line (for now). On the way to school, I've even started putting on the morning news. Now, if I don't Hudson pipes up from the back, "Mom, we need to turn on the radio to see if there are any accidents." Nice... way to stay on top of it Hud.

Sugar Hollow

We had a great weekend with Oma and Opa. Our best day was sunday when we took a picnic to Sugar Hollow and the kids had a little nudey swim in the freezing cold water. Brooke took a nap in the backpack and I think everyone had a great time.

First Steps

Brooke (finally) took her first steps! Guess where I was..... WORK!! I missed this huge milestone... I'm so sad. At least Gregor was there and he got it on video with his phone (and then sent it to me at work just to torture me). I need to figure out how to upload the video from his phone to this blog, but for now you can view it here. Yay Brooke. I guess you aren't "developmentally slow" after all! I'm hoping I can see a few steps for myself once she wakes up from her nap.

This is a picture of Brooke's new favorite face.

The weeks are just flying by right now! We had a fun visit with uncle Lucas and auntie Cassandra (aka Birdie) last weekend. Gregor got in a little brotherly rock climbing and Birdie got to experience how crazy the kids get in good ol' target. We also spent a nice day at the park and even got a babysitter one night (crazy I know!) to go to the local brewery, sit outside and listen to a little music. Good times. We now have Oma and Opa coming into town today for a quick visit. We might be brave enough to take everyone to the local fair this weekend... the Dogwood festival... who knows! Nothing really knew or exciting to report. Brooke still isn't walking, but she's getting a little stronger every day. She will actually try to stand by herself for a few seconds every now and then so that's a good sign. She's pretty good at walking with a finger or two from mom and dad for support. I'm going to predict that she'll be 17.5 months when she starts to walk (just close enough to 18 months for me to be freaking out...but under 18 months nonetheless). Larkin is going through a super defiant stage which is a little difficult... her favorite saying right now is "I'm telling the truth...m-o-m" with an eye roll to go with it. I don't think she even knows that this means. Seriously, she might as well be a teenager with this attitude! As for me, I'm going through this "I want to go back to Santa Cruz" phase. I know I've talked about this before. It hits me every now and then where I just want to pack all our stuff (or sell it) and just move back to that gorgeous place. I can't figure out if I just want to move or if there is something about Santa Cruz that I can't seem to let go of. Rationally, I know that Charlottesville is a great place for us... It's great for the kids, close-ish to family... i have a job in my field at the university... we have great neighbors... good schools... etc etc etc. I've been through all of this before and we always decide to stick it out here. I think it's just that floaty, resistant to dig roots and "settle down" feeling I have. That and I miss the cliffed coast, amazing weather, etc etc etc. I'm getting a little tired of the debate in my own head.

Easter Slideshow!

We had a busy busy Easter weekend. An unsuccessful rainy yard sale on saturday and a crazy fun day Sunday. We dyed easter eggs (and Hudson's hands), made easter popcorn balls (which grace ate), went on a (too long but fun) hike with the kids, made burritos for dinner, and had an easter egg hunt with a few of our neighbors. It was a crazy fun sunday! An exhausting end to a busy spring break week. The kids went back to school today and I think are actually a little excited to get back into their routine (me too!). It's still cruddy weather here. I am so ready for a little warm sunshine! Maybe next week...

Spring Break!!

Spring Break week is finally coming to a close. It's been one heck of a long week, but we've had a lot of fun. He went to short pump, rode the escalators about 25 times and saw the easter bunny. Yesterday we

drove to Natural Bridges, Virginia to the Drive through Safai Park. We had such a great time. The kids were a little scared at first, but after awhile Larkin was hanging out of the window feeding the deer (an animal she has been deathly afraid of in our backyard!). Hudson was a little more scared so he stuck to feeding the babies, but all in all I think it was a success. I put Brooke in larkin's forward facing carseat just for the trip so that I could make sure no animals stuck their heads too far in her face. It was really really fun! So we have a yard sale tomorrow, easter on sunday and back to back visitors for the next two weeks. No rest this spring!! I need a nap as much as the kids do right now!

I miss BINKY

I'm seriously losing my freakin' mind! Larkin is not napping and is taking forever to go to sleep at night. I feel like I'm spending every single day struggling over Larkin's sleep right now. She's tired and crabby all afternoon without a nap and is then so over tired she can't sleep at night! I'm supposed to work during nap time.. which I can't do with Larkin coming out of her room every 5 minutes... she's waking up Brooke from her nap... grrrrrrrr..... How do I keep my patience under control??? BINKY... I MISS YOU (probably even more than Larkins does!)

Switching the ROOMS!

We finally did it! We have spent the last two weekends moving Hudson into the former playroom and moving Brooke into Hud's old room. I honestly can't believe we didn't do this sooner! The rooms still need a little love (and PAINT!... especially Brooke's room... she has nothing on her walls at all... everything in the picture has been moved to Hudson's room), but I think it's going to work out really well! The kids love having their own spaces, and I think they actually play with their toys a little more because they are spread out. The playroom must have been a little bit overwhelming with toys... too many so they played with nothing. Now (after a big sort through), they each have a few things in their own rooms. It's funny, Brooke likes to sit in this one corner of her room by the closet and play with her little bus. Whenever I can't find her... there she is in that corner! She also LOVEs her bookshelf and looking out of her window. As a side note, she has developed a supreme love for her blanket... she wants to take it everywhere!! So much for not having a lovey... I'm starting to regret already my desire for her to have a security lovey... it's really not all that fun to cart this big blanket around everywhere... but she is SO cute with it, how do I say no?!? Hudson's room feels like a big cave with great lighting. There is something about the slanted ceilings and the windows... it just feels really cozy. We still need to get the couch out out of there as well as a few bigger items, but overall, I think everyone loves it. I'm still trying to find places for all the random toys they they won't let me throw out, but slowly everything is finding a new home. Now, seriously, I am obsessed with what colors I'm going to paint the walls!




Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

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Weekend Camping

Hudson and Gregor had a fun camping trip this past weekend. They went car camping at a nearby lake. Hudson learned how to make a fire and apparently burned quite a few sticks. Larkin, Brooke and I had girls night while the boys were away... painting fingernails, eating pizza, playing at the park and watching movies in bed. Larkin even got to sleep in my bed! It was such a great weekend! I'm ready for the nice weather to stick around.

the Dentist :(

the DENTIST...
I dread the dentist days. Every 6 months, I have to somehow convince the kids to let the dentist into their mouths to polish and check out their teeth. Hudson had a bad first dentist experience years ago. On his first visit, he had 2 cavities that had to be filled. He remembers the filling part. Being held down, the drill... it really is scary. So for the last 6 visits or so since then, he has gotten a "D" for attitude... yes, they grade them!! He has these weird panic attacks and seriously freaks out. Last time they told me to pick up a xanax pill before this visit... I forgot of course. Anyhow, last time, Larkin had to have her first check up. She saw Hudson freak out so she freaked out. This time, we tried to be prepared. We practiced opening mouths in the car and really prepared. Gregor met us at there so we could divide and conquer. Thank goodness he did.. Hud had to have x-rays... I was really proud of him this time. He was very brave. He had a minor panic attack and got really really hot, so he took his x-rays and got is teeth cleaned shirtless, but overall, he got a B+... yay Hud! Larkin on the other hand didn't do so hot. She had to lay on top of gregor in the chair to get her teeth cleaned. We also learned that poor buck tooth larkin's bones in her mouth are actually forming around her binky... not good. The dentist told us to get rid of the binky immediately (last time they told me that binkys were fine until around 4 years old... but apparently she sucks really hard on hers and that is not good!). She is going to have to have head gear when she's older to fix the damage that's already been done... so getting rid of the binky today may mean she doesn't have to wear head gear as long! I have this image of Larkin with her 2 front teeth sticking way out of her mouth at 13 years old with the head gear and braces.. how sad is that! So we are day 2 into no-binky world. Larkin packed up all her binkys and sent them to the easter bunny and that's that. BUT... she hasn't napped since the binkys went away and she is so upset at night... crying and just really pitiful and sad. She's trying to be strong, but the tears are just streaming out of her eyes. It's is so sad! I don't think she knows how to go to sleep without her binky. I miss the binky. I wonder how many more days of no sleeping I have to endure... poor Larks.