The Well Rounded Mama

MERRY CHRISTMAS (In July!)

We celebrated our second annual CHRISTMAS IN JULY on July 25.  It's a great way to spice up the summer and a great way to spend a fun day together as a family.

Last year, we did it as a complete surprise for the kids.  My favorite part of the day was Caleb waking up, seeing the tree, and saying, "I'm SO glad it's Christmas!"  This year, we decided to let the kids know it was happening.  That way, they got to be a part of it.  They helped get out a few decorations and decorate the little tree.  They loved it!  It was a lot simpler than even last year, but we've had such a busy summer that I didn't want to take the fun out of it by making it a big ordeal that I had to plan for days.  A few stocking stuffers, a few small gifts, some yummy food...CHRISTMAS IN JULY.

 

Katie really wanted to help hang the ornaments.  Apparently, she thought they ALL should go on the same branch!

Our little tree, all decorated and waiting for little people to be ready to open gifts!

I wasn't feeling well so Jason, bless his heart, wrapped the gifts for me.  He was quite pleased with the "Christmas Tree" stacking toy that he wrapped for Katie.

Stockings...haven't found a place to hang them in the new house yet!

Before stocking and presents were opened, we feasted on our now-traditional Christmas in July breakfast: red and green Thai sticky rice.

 

Alaina and Caleb with their stockings

Miss Katelynn...

Caleb...who told us at least 100 times that he loved ALL his presents (all two of them!) and all his stocking stuffers.  Easy to please!

The littles with their stockings

Katie breaks into her tree

Levi with his new animal puzzle...this kid could do puzzles ALL. DAY. LONG.

Apparently Katie likes her puzzle too!

She's a pro...

Levi opens yet another set of plastic animals.  He just LOVES them.  They live in his nightstand drawer and they are his #1 go-to toy on airplanes.  He just sets them up and plays with them for hours!

Now, this may seem like the oddest gift for a six year old EVER, but for Caleb, it was the perfect gift!  What is it, you ask? A TAPE DISPENSER! He was so excited to add it to his growing selection of office supplies on his desk.  He absolutely ADORES organizing and setting up his desk...everything having a place.  With a new bulletin board and a new tape dispenser, he informs me that all he needs now is new paper and glue.

So from our house to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS (in July!)
 

"Me Do It!"

The phrase, "ME DO IT!" comes out of Katie's mouth all day long.  She strives for independence in all things (whether she is capable or not.)  She refuses all offers for help and works tirelessly to accomplish things on her own. It is both endearing and aggravating...all depending on my mood and whether we need to be somewhere or do something in the next, oh I don't know...hour.  Take one of yesterday's finer "Me do it" moments.

         

 

When I pointed out to Katelynn the fact that her shirt was on backward and that I was willing to help her fix it, she responded with her second favorite phrase: "No no, fine!"

A Tree House Breakfast

It's a long weekend for us here (though I can promise you it isn't because it is Memorial Day in the States).  A long weekend means extra family time!  Friday morning, after talking with Grandma on the computer, we had a nice breakfast in the tree house. Simple pleasures.

A gorgeous morning at the house we love so much

Caleb wore his superhero cape

We ate Yummy Cinnamon Baked French Toast

Even scary crazy doll had to come in her {not so}high chair

And Levi brought his baby too, of course

Alaina wanted to make silly faces at the camera

Naturally Maggie wouldn't let herself be left out of the festivities

We chatted and ate and drank coffee

And Katie was puffing up her chest to say something

A wonderful breakfast with wonderful people.  Man, I love my life.

A Long Few Weeks

The past few weeks have been a little crazy, but I think the end is here.  I finished up my last big project today.  Note to self: don't let your computer crash...EVER.  And if you do, make sure you have EVERYTHING backed up.  Thankfully, in the end, not much was lost.  I had all my photos backed up (I am pretty good with those) but many of my files were not.  The Apple guys were able to restore most of it.  The only files that weren't recoverable were things that were actually lost before my computer crashed...not sure if that was due to some foreshadowing of a hard drive failure or if my two year old was playing in my office again. Anyhow, its all over now and I will be even better about backing up my files. Because that was NOT FUN.

Jason's work year is also winding down.  His last big event of the year was last Thursday (for which I made almost 300 cookies and packaged up 120 cute little cookie packs!)  Now that the craziness is over we can start thinking about SUMMER. Oh, blissful summer.  Three more weeks...I can't wait!  It will go fast though because there is a LOT to cram in the next few weeks.  Good stuff, though.  Good stuff.

This past weekend was great.  Jason took Friday off of work and so we enjoyed a three day weekend together.  It was great.  The kids have a new favorite activity: baseball.  Jason cut them a bamboo bat (how appropriate for Indonesia) and the kids have had a blast playing.  Maggie has also had a great time retrieving!

 

Have you ever seen such a cute self-dressed fielder??

 

 

And do you see little Levi making little catcher gestures??!?!
     

Reason # 8 billion and 23 Why My Hubby is the Best Dad Ever

He lets his kids do this to him. 

If you remember Alaina's birthday, you'll remember that as part of her baking party, she and her friends threw whipped cream at Jason.  Ever since then, Caleb has begged to throw whipped cream at dad when it was his birthday.  Well, his birthday is still a week away but since we weren't having a big party for the boys (whose birthdays are two weeks apart), we instead had some friends over for brunch (yummy cinnamon rolls and hashbrown oven omelet) and enjoyed being together.  After a few hours, when we mentioned getting the whipped cream out, I think they were a little scared and left.  I doubt blame them.  My kids + whipped cream + crazy dad = big mess. No worries...our kids had a fabulous time and Jason was dad of the year once again.

Jason dishes up his own demise

Waiting patiently for the festivities to begin

Levi doesn't quite have the aim

No problem...Caleb will show him how it is done

That's better

Alaina takes a shot while Caleb has a snack and gears himself up for another go

One from behind

Really smoosh it in there!

Miss Katelynn wants a turn

Tag teaming

Alaina gets her turn.  Don't be concerned...Jason had her permission.  He has lived with girls long enough to know that you NEVER do something like this to a girl without asking first.

It's a good look for her, don't you think?

The littlest diva wouldn't want to miss her beauty treatment

And then the whipped cream and children (and hubby) ended up all over the porch for an hour+ slip and slide party.  I'd post more photos, but there are way too many n.a.k.e.d. children and p.a.n.t.i.e.s. showing to keep it appropriate.  So I'll just leave you with this last one...don't you wish he were YOUR dad?  My kids are so lucky.

Me and My Boys

It's hard to believe that there was a time in my life that I really didn't want to have boys.  I didn't understand them, gravitate towards them, or have any desire to parent them. 

And then I had two boys. And being a mom to them is one of the best things in the entire world.  My boys totally rock my world. From Caleb's crazy sword-wielding antics to Levi's cuddles and kisses and love for animals, each day is filled with more laughter and love than I ever could have dreamed. They may not be as fun to shop for or dress, they are a whole lot more fun to wrestle and bear hug with.

The Difference Between...

The difference between a first-born daughter and a fourth-born daughter (with two older brothers) is that the first born is a clothing obsessed cutie with pink toenails and the fourth born (with two older brothers) is a clothing obsessed cutie with pink toenails who sticks her silverware in her pants to use as a sword during breakfast. "Arrrghhh..."

Easter -- A Week Late

We have never been afraid to celebrate holidays on days other than the actual holiday. In fact, I think last year was the first year we actually ever celebrated Christmas on Christmas. When you have little kids, it really doesn't matter what the calendar says.  So, we have always been happy to move things around if it fit the schedule better.  This year, it meant that Easter was celebrated a week late.

For the "real" Easter, we were in Malaysia for spring break.  Although we had done a lot of Easter stuff in school and we had decorated eggs before we left, we didn't do anything else. Easter Sunday in Malaysia was spent visiting our old church and enjoying a yummy Subway lunch (we don't have Subway here so it was a real treat!)  And although the day was nice, we missed the traditional Easter baskets and egg hunt.  So, we made up for it with an Easter Day...a week late.  Does it really matter?  There were still eggs, there was candy, there was hunt, and there was a wonderful Sunday roast.  It was the perfect day!

My sweet seven year old who is starting to look so grown up. 

My almost-four-year-old goofball who couldn't take a normal picture if he tried (not that he would ever want to try!)  

The oh-so-sweet two year old.  Oh, and can I say just how great Crocs look with a pretty little dress...um...NO.  What I wouldn't give to walk into a Target and buy a pretty little pair of white leather sandals! I have yet to find a pair here that don't have some random words or cartoon characters ALL OVER THEM.

A quick shot of all four of them. Sometimes I look at them and am totally amazed that *I* am a mom to these wonderful kids.

When I bought these Easter bags in 2008 I had no idea how wonderful they would be! They are perfect for moving and storing.  Plus, they are super cute!

Digging in!

And the hunt is on!

 

I am SO bummed that Maggie walked into this shot! I just think this is the sweetest little scene!

And is there ANYTHING cuter than little blond curls???

He's Almost Four...

...and he is a total goofball.  I can't believe that it has been almost four years since little Levi came into our lives.  I had no idea how much he would change my world.  He has been one of the biggest blessings in my life.  We have not gone through even ONE stage of his life where he was "hard."  He has always been the happiest, funniest, and sweetest little guy a mama could ask for.  He lives to make himself (and others!) laugh.  He gives the best hugs and kisses and his facial expressions and word choices leave me laughing for a good part of the day. I really, really, really wish that I could bottle him up and save my three year old boy forever.  But he insists that he has to "grow big and change numbers."  As my consolation prize, he assures me that he will still love me when he is bigger.

Is there a big Levi store where I can gather up about six more of him?  Because I would take them.  In a heartbeat.

"Those Irish People"

At dinner tonight, Alaina prayed something to the tune of, "Please help those Irish People."  At least a little of our lesson about St. Patty's Day wasn't lost on her.  Or perhaps she was referring to our very own little leprechaun who is very mischievous...caught green-fingered dipping into the frosting while mommy wasn't looking.

 

If you're in a pinch and don't have any clover/shamrock cookie cutters for today, just recycle those valentine cookie cutters...four hearts and you are good to go!