Swirling Thoughts

I have not had much mind to blog lately. I've had an unlucky cycle of being sick the last few weeks and have a sinus infection that's put me in a fog the last few days. Lots and lots of thoughts swirling around in my head, but not sure if they are things to share or not. Life has been pretty hectic and seems it will stay that way until June or so. I failed to take any pictures of our family dressed up on Easter, we had planned on doing family pictures last weekend as well with my photographer sister home, but the wind and weather made it impossible. Maybe we can try for a do-over this Sunday. I feel bad for not taking and posting more pictures of the kids since they are growing up so fast. Hopefully I can do better at that the next little while, although the twins make it their personal goal to make it as big of a challenge for me as possible.

Tuesday I celebrated my 31st birthday and while I can't say I was particularly excited to be a year older, I can say that it felt good to know that I like the place that I am at in my life right now. Riley and I had to laugh about just how much effort it takes to spend time together these days. He wanted to take me out to dinner, which meant we had to go pretty early since he had soccer practice at 7:00. So we dropped the kids off at their favorite babysitter's house at 4:30, went to dinner, picked the kids up at 6:00, and then headed back to Pasco so Riley could get his car and change to go to practice. Then I went and took the kids to get something for them to eat for dinner, got the kids fed, homework done, house cleaned up and everyone in their jammies and ready for bed, then Riley's mom came to sit with the kids while they were asleep so we could catch a late show of "Water for Elephants".  Kind of a crazy day, but fun nonetheless. It is hard sometimes to find the time, but it's worth it. We are kind of just hopelessly exhausted these days and we are lucky if we can stay up at night to talk to each other without passing out during American Idol.

Cooper and Kale had a doctor's appointment last Monday and are still right on track with being almost the same size. They are almost 18 months and about 28 pounds, getting taller and thinning out a little. They are already starting to lose some of the chubbiness and roundness in their little faces and that makes me sad. They are still doing everything together, and are both teething again this week. Even though I know they do things like this, it still always gives me a laugh and a sense of wonderment when I look in their mouths and see the same exact tooth trying to come through. I hate to give them labels at this age for fear it will unknowingly brand them for life, but Cooper is definitely the mastermind mischief maker at this point in time, and Kale is still the hugger and the love bug. I always think back to how I carried them when I was pregnant and how Kale was the one that was up higher by my ribs and side of my back like he was trying to be as close to me as possible and didn't want to let go, and Cooper was the first born - head down ready to go and get out and be part of the world.

I think out of everyone, Riley has had the best week. On my birthday he made a BIG sale at work and their high school team also moved into first place in their league. Lots of good stuff happening. We have some fun outdoor projects to get started on soon and lots of softball and soccer to keep us busy this weekend.

Shooting Hoops

Kendle loves to play basketball. She has been getting good use out of our new basketball hoop and I think her smile says it all.  I enjoy the steady thunk, thunk of the ball bouncing and shots hitting the backboard and swishing through the net. It just goes to show, you never know what your kids will love to do until you give them the chance to try it. I'm glad we had her play basketball this year and she was able to discover new skills that have turned into an activity she enjoys. Give your kids a chance to try something new and they just may surprise you!

Just another update post

So, I have been feeling really blah lately. I've been sick for the last week or so and it's pretty much zapped any motivation or extra energy I might have had in reserves. It's pretty much just completely wiped me out. I'm soooo tired and I feel like I'm just dragging and moving in slow motion every where I go. I keep coughing up nasty junk and my ears feel like they are plugged. Today is the most fitting cloudy and overcast/slightly rainy day to match my mood and I felt like mother nature was giving me the silent ok to just bring it down a notch or two and take it easy.

Kendle had her first softball practice last night and she said it was fun. Her coach seems like a good guy and really enthusiastic so I'm taking this all as a good sign. The practices are right during dinner time however, so our meals will become even more erratic than they already are. Between that and Riley not getting home until 9:30 or so most nights I usually wonder why I bother. This is the time of year when easy quick meals are a regular thing. I love softball season though, and I love it even more when it's actually warm outside. Kendle asked me last night if she could start going running before school. At first I was like, are you really my daughter? Ha. Then I thought, hmmm...maybe that would be good for us to go do it together and I could get my runs out of the way in the morning. I don't know though, my warm bed feels pretty comfortable to me in the mornings. They've been working on passing their times tables at school and she was so glad when she passed her "All's" which is a big worksheet of 100 multiplication problems of all the different numbers. Now they are moving on to fractions and I'm kind of not really fond of fractions, so we'll see how much help I can actually be to her.

Morgan rotates through movies and has a new favorite every week. This week it has been "Ratatouille".  I'm not sure why all of a sudden he likes it because I had been trying for a while to get him to watch it, but it's now in permanent rotation. Morgan got to travel with Riley to Seattle last weekend for soccer and got totally spoiled with tons of attention from all the girls on the team, swimming in the pool, tons of yummy treats and snacks, and the whole back of the car and the DVD player to himself. He is still a momma's boy when he wants to be, but is getting pretty independent as well and likes to keep a pretty precise day-to-day schedule just like he has since he was a baby. He is getting more particular about how he likes things however and we have been having some tantrums and meltdowns the last few weeks. In his mind no doesn't mean no, it means keep bugging mom until she eventually can't stand listening to me anymore and gives in just to get me off her back. I have to remember to really just stop and listen to him sometimes, because that's all he really wants is for someone to hear what he is saying and give him a response back. He is still loving preschool and can say the whole Pledge of Allegiance and it sounds so cute.

Cooper and Kale are growing up so fast. They run, jump, climb, push, shove, fight, throw, and get into anything they can. They are 17 months now. Some days I feel like I can't take a step forwards or backwards without stepping on them because they tag team me like shadows and are always right where I am. Sometimes it is really frustrating, and other times it just makes me laugh. I try to make sure and get down on their level to play at least once or twice during the day so they can look into my face without craning their necks. They love to act like they are going to give me a big hug or kiss and then reach up and pinch my nose at the last second. Their eyes literally gleam with mischief. Cooper can have some major attitude when he's mad at me and actually stomped to his room backwards (looking at me the whole way) and slammed the door the other day. I got some good chuckles out of that and every time I think about it. He has learned to give a great high five though.  Kale is still the more sensitive of the two and loves to come try and brush or comb my hair. He also likes to run up and give hugs. They may still look a lot alike, but their personalities are very distinct and different. Such fun boys they are though, I just wish they liked to play with regular toys instead of plug ins and chords and the computer.

Riley is still the busiest guy I know. I hardly see him these days between all that he has going on. It will be such a relief to us when his club season is over and we can have one less thing on our plate. His sales job with Sprague has been really demanding and busy the last month or so and while that is a great thing, it also means a crazy amount of traveling or going back into work after or between soccer practices to stay caught up.

This month is a busy one with birthdays, games, Easter, and school activities. Lot's to do and stay caught up with.

Spring Break So Far......

We are on day 2 of our lovely windy and cold spring break. I don't know about anyone else, but spring break makes me tired. Riley has soccer and also couldn't take time off of work all week so we are stuck in Pasco for spring break. I decided yesterday that the only way to keep some of my sanity was to assign the kids jobs and make the morning our "work" time and then have the afternoon be our "fun time" if we get our work done. I just couldn't take the idea of the kids complaining all week that they were bored and there was nothing to do, so I figured this was one way to keep some balance. Yesterday was a great day, so I'm hoping today is just as good. We got the bedrooms cleaned and organized, I went through Cooper and Kale's clothes and sorted out the ones that are too small, and now have another ginormous pile to store in the garage. We went out for some ice cream after the twins woke up from their naps, the kids played with their friends from next door, and my friends Brian and Natallie helped us score a sweet deal on a basketball hoop. Kendle can't wait for Riley to put it together and go shoot some hoops. I was really hoping for some nicer weather so the twins could play outside more. Last Friday was the most gorgeous beautiful day and we had a great time out in the sun. I guess that was the ultimate April Fool's joke though. No more nice weather after that.

Hopefully we can squeeze some more fun things into this week -- some bowling, movies, and park days if there's no wind!