Prepare for take off!

Today was the big day!  The day had finally come that we were reunited with daddy!  The kids all woke up in wonderful moods and ready to go to the airport!  If it would have been up to them we would have left at 9am!  We managed to get all our stuff loaded in the car and we were out of the driveway by 11:30....as we planned!  We arrived at that airport and I thought we could do curb check in but that was not the case. We had to go in. We said our goodbyes to pops and nanny and Pinki came in with us along with the baggage guy.  Check in was smooth. All the bags were under 50lbs and we said our goodbyes to Pinki and we were on our way to security. We got through security just fine, stopped for a flat white and some Wendy's and we headed to our gate.  We did not have much time to kill. We boarded the plane and our seats were the very last ones, which worked out very well....we were right at the bathroom.  This was a 2 hour flight and the kids did great. They had their moments, but on the whole Mabel's first flight was a success and Gusley enjoyed his second time flying and Ivy slept again!  

Our connecting flight was in another concourse and we have some baggage and little legs so we did one moving sidewalk then a little golf cart guy picked us up!  The kids were tickled with that!  We made it to our gate with time to spare and had a quick snack and it was time to board. Then we had to wait and wait and wait. The plane was too heavy and they were asking people to give up their seats and such.  Finally an hour after our scheduled departure time we were lifting off. 

That hour of just sitting on the plane was not easy for any of us. But we are currently in the air and all is well!   

We made it through customs and all our bags were on the carousel when we got there and as soon as the kids saw Jake they ran to him just as they had planned! It was super sweet and we are all happy to be reunited!  

Up up and away

In the morning, the kids and I will be boarding a plane headed to Vancouver, BC to meet daddy!  Gusley and Ivy have flown before, but this is Mabel's first flight and she is stoked!  We have 5 large suitcases, 4 backpacks, 3 children and car seats, 2 carry ons, 1 stroller and 1 snack/diaper bag/purse for momma!  We are all super excited for the next adventure, but goodbyes are never easy! I will be back to report on our day of travel! Just wish us luck!  xxL

Dear Easter Bunny,

Gusley's letter to the bunny! I just love it! He left carrot sticks and orange crush! All about orange this Easter! Can't wait to see what the bunny has left the little clan!

Pink Lemonade cake

This is a must if you even remotely like pink lemonade....just sayin'!!

Surviving and thriving

So we have made it through week one and some change! I am just coming up for air from being submerged by three wee ones! It is lots of fun with three of them, but man am I exhausted by the time they are asleep!

Gus has been having a wonderful time. He has seen some old friends and they have gotten to pick up where they left off and he went on a Dino dig with Pinki and several other fun activities! Just hanging out upstairs and visiting the ladies in the hood has been a highlight on his trip! He collects apples and m and m's from one lady and chats with another! It is too cute!

On Tuesday I took the kids with the help of Pinki to a local picture joint to have the kids picture taken! It was SPRING pictures I wanted, but it was snowing here so I had to bundle everyone up and we changed them once we got there! What a fiasco! I did not have the energy or want to fight with any of them over what they were wearing for said pictures so Gus is in sweatpants and his spring shirt and Mabel arrived in her hello kitty nightgown accompanied with yoga pants and she did put on her Easter dress and then refused to take it off so she was quite a scene after pictures! Ivy gave no trouble at all....just as I figured he would! After all was said an done the pictures came out super cute and they did manage to get a good one of each kid as well as a group shot so I guess all our hard work paid off!

To remember this snowy spring....the car and Gus' snowman!

Thy shall do what my little sister asks of me....

Gus is truly a wonderful big brother! I have to give him credit and that he really does try to entertain the wee ones and for the most part he succeeds! Here he is driving Ms. Daisy as she rides in the back pressing all the buttons!

Thank you Gus for being so patient and protective of your siblings! You really are a super big brother! Even when you have a meltdown in the middle of the mall over shoes that were too big and too small! Even when you show Pinki and I this new way to run on your knees during said meltdown and we begin to crack up laughing as people just stare at all of us! It was awesome! I don't care what other people think. I care about you and not spoiling you rotten and not having you trip over your own two feet because your shoes are too big or having horrendous blisters because they are too small. You will thank me later for not taking a picture of this moment in your life, I promise! I love you, Gusley!

Mabel's 1st haircut

She really just got a bang trim and an l around shape up. Which I guess is technically a haircut! Either way she did great and loved looking at herself I the mirror all throughout the day! This is the before picture. I am working on an after picture! She got a certificate, a crown, a lollipop, a picture and a lock of her hair! Such a super big girl...tomorrow's agenda.....EARRINGS! What the hell am I thinking you ask? That it can't be that bad, can it? Tomorrow evening I will let you all know!!

Easter Bunny 2013

Here you have it....Gus was on the rabbits lap before I could ask if he wanted a picture!! Mabel was breaking her arm waving at the rabbit, but as we got closer her waved changed to shaking her hands no as she protested "no thanks"! And Ivy, being the third child, just went with it and looked away from the rabbit to the point that he and Gus had to switch sides! So when Mabel wants to know why isn't she in the picture, I will just let her know that on this day, I did not have the heart to make her sit on the mall rabbit's lap. She will thank me later, I hope!

Together time

Today was a nice day for us. We had no schedule. I was able to sneak in a 3 hour nap with the wee ones! Thank you Pinki for watching after Gus! Momma feels like a new person! Not much else to report on! The kids are enjoying camp Pinki and Pops!! And momma is too!!

Sunday....not a day of rest with 3 wee ones!

It was a rainy windy day up here, but a good day nonetheless! Seems like the entire country is getting crazy, abnormal weather right now. As I watch the news they are predicting snow tomorrow! If this is in fact true, the kids will not be able to contain their excitement!

We woke up to Pinki frying up some yummy bacon, then we baked nanny a cake, got out to get her gift, dyed Easter eggs and had a birthday party! And somewhere in between all this the toilet over flowed and we had to plunge it! Pops wasn't home, so Gus took over and suited up in gloves and got to plunging and I'll be damned if he did not get it working! He keeps saying he wants to be a plumber in his spare time...it's a start! Later in the day we went to visit some dear friends and had dinner with them! Such a good time, just never long enough!! Currently everyone is sleeping and I am watching House Hunters International and want to get passports for me and the kids (Jake has one) and just take flight! The world is so big and beautiful and interesting.....I just want to see and do as much as humanly possible! Until then, I will live in Paris, Sweden, England, etc. vicariously through the television, BUT I am going to make it a family goal!

We are really missing daddy and it takes all I have to hold back the floodgates when Mabel walks around calling for daddy. She sounds so pitiful and in turn it just melts my heart....that bond is so strong!

On the road....

We are currently en route to Tennessee. I am here to say I have nearly survived day 5, but we still have 3 hours and 33 minutes to go.....we shall see!

Our day began with Gus going to school, home to pack and wash sheets (coming home to a clean bed is a rule I have), dropped Mabel off with my sis-in-law while I went to Gus' egg hunt at school (which was moved indoors due to weather), picked up Mabel, got the kids lunch, stopped at Gus' school to get his nap blanket and off to Kenner to get my dad. We were on the road by 1:30!!

So far so good. We have had some squeals and screams but nothing unbearable. Gus has been coloring most of the trip, Ivy has slept and Mabel, well she is a 20 month old that can't understand the concept of being strapped down for 8-9-10 hours! The kid is going to revolt soon, very soon I am afraid as she is currently yelling "out" as she fights her sleep!

Here's to 3 hours and 24 minutes!!

Picture of above mentioned egg hunt! Gus is right dab in the middle near the train table!

Man of the house?

So....I come out of our room with laundry and look down and see this...I love this little boy so much!!

Daily updates

Day 2: All went well today, however, I was greeted by a crying Mabel at my bedside during the night. Scared the bejesus out of me. I did not hear her crying on the monitor. Just when she was on side of my bed. The kids cousins came over for the evening and they all played really well together, but everyone was truly played out so I am thinking that was a factor in mommy sleeping so hard!

Day 3: Gus went to school then we headed over to a play date and had a grand ole time! We came home for supper and the kids were all in bed and asleep by 8pm! One of my bestest pals invited me for daiquiris and crawfish! My in-laws said no problem that the kids would be fine to stay so I boogied out and enjoyed some good laughs and great company!

Day 4: The kids slept till 8am!! Hooray! I managed to get us all packed and loaded us up! This evening the meltdowns were one after the other! Always a good time! Always!

Coming out of the trenches....

So, last time I blogged I was pregnant, living in Wilmington, NC. Fast forward to present day and I have an 8 week old in addition to a 5 year old and 20 month old and we are living in Louisiana!

All the details of bambino #3 will be coming but for now, I am trying to wrap my head around being a film widow and still adjusting to life with 3 children! It is fun, intimidating, exhausting and down right ridiculous at times, but it is what we wanted so I will take it!

Day 1 - Mabel asking for daddy everytime the door opens leaves me sobbing with a red nose! Gus had a good day and bambino just chills and totally rolls with all of it!! Off to have some chocolate milk and powdered donuts to ease my mind!

Stay tuned....

Mommy and Gusman hit the town

Wednesday is soccer practice. It is at 6pm and is always a struggle. We
made it this week without too many tears! Amanda kept Mabel so that Gus and I could have dinner after. We went to a local Mexican joint to try it out. It was pretty good, but they got our vote with pink lemonade! We were both equally excited when we asked and she said yes!! Cheers to pink lemonade and a much needed mommy and Gusman date night!!

Little helpers

Yesterday...

We had a lovely morning. We went to the park, fed the geese, I got a good walk in and the kids played hard! Came home for a picnic lunch and some down time then it was off to work. We were doing good as far as time. Gus had shoes on, Mabel had just had a diaper change and I had everything gathered and ready to go. I got distracted getting Gus down from climbing on something he should not have been on and shut the door behind me. Immediately I new we were locked out, but I tried the handle anyway. Yep, locked. I asked Gus to see of by some chance the van was unlocked...no dice.

Shit!

At this point I panic a little 1) how am I going to get two kids to school with me when the double stroller is locked in the car and the keys are locked in the house 2) how the hell are we going to get in the house - Jake is in Miami. We have no spare hidden and no windows unlocked that I can shove Gus through to unlock the door (my belly won't allow window climbing!)

The plan:
I get Mabel in the little red push car, Gus holds my other hand and we start walking the 12+ blocks to work. I texted the landlord to see if they could possibly come by and open the house and hope for the best. Off we go.

The walk:
Was not so bad. Mabel cracked up most of the time! Gus complained here and there but then we would just run to deter the complaints! (I'm tired! I have to go to the bathroom!) there was a military funeral beginning and folks were starting to line up with flags so we got to see that and Gus got to push the crosswalk buttons! We made it to school about 30 mins late, but we made it! At 5:30 the landlord texted to say "all set"! Such a glorious sight!! We all slept good last night....our legs were pooped!!

The Lesson:
There really is no lesson...just mommy's brain is just about maxed out right now!! And Gus, no climbing, please!! :-)

Well Visits.....

Perhaps they should be called something else. Maybe something like "momma you won't be well after this visit" or maybe "well hell....how does 7 shots sound?" or "let's see if your babes scream louder than the ones in the room next door visits". Anything but "well visits". I know, I know, the kids have to have these visits and such, but dear sweet 9 pound 8 ounce baby Jesus, what was I thinking taking them both in at the same time?

Oh yeah, that Gus was caught up, so no shots for him and that Mabel just needed her 12month shots. WRONG! I forgot about the flu shot so that puts Gus on the chart for one shot and Mabel was down for 3 for her 12 month boosters then they come back to say that since we are within 7 days if her turning 15 months she can go ahead and get those in addition to her flu shot for a grand total of 6 shots and an oral swab deal just for her.

Gus laid down and complied but he cried and carried on poor guy. I watched the nurse do the injection and my goodness she used force on his little tender leg. He limped out the clinic!

Mabel on the other hand was quite the production poor gal. 2 in each thigh and 2 in the backside of her upper arm. All I can say is that it was awful for her, for me and for Gus. That is all I got.

Oh, and that we picked up Burger King for lunch because I could not even gather my thoughts to put something together for us!

Here is the aftermath....

This sums up the last 117 days.....

More to come on everyone! Soon, very soon!!

Moving day!

We finally made it to moving day! What a feat that was...movers were suppose to be at the house at 10am Thursday, then we were pushed to 3-4pm, then they finally showed up at 6:45pm....we had a 26' truck to fill and a house full of furniture and a final walk through at 3:45pm the next day! Can we say stressed?

At 9pm, I went to put the kids to bed at my parents house. When I got back there wasn't much room left in the truck and still lots of items that needed to get back. I had to face the facts....it wasn't all going to fit. More upsetting, what wasn't going to fit were most of the outside toys including the newly built swingset. This really bummed me out, but what could I do?

Not a whole hell of a lot at 11pm when the movers finished. The next morning dad and I headed over to u-haul to see about renting a small trailer to attach to the truck...the space was not worth the price. We headed down the road to a storage unit, reserved one and headed home to start making loads! We took Gus and mom and Mabel got busy finishing the touch ups inside.

Dad hit the road at 3:30 and mom and Mabel went home for baths while Gus and I did the walk through and one more load to storage. We got to moms got showered and ha some supper them we hit the road long about 7:30pm. We made it to the east side of Knoxville and called it a night. The time change had caught up to us as well as everything else! We got up and had breakfast at the hotel then hit the road to Asheville for gas and lunch! We missed a turn and got set back a bit, but it was beautiful and it gave Jake and dad and some of Jake's awesome friends from work time to unload the moving truck without kids under their feet!

We finally drove up to our new home at 9:43pm. It was surreal! Gus immediately jumped in Jake's arms. Mabel was a little unsure, but she warmed up by the next day! It felt good to be home, together, under the same roof!

Mom and dad, thank y'all so much for everything, from cooking, cleaning, sanding ABC's off the back deck, chasing kids, bathing kids, having us invade y'all house for 5-6 weeks, washing our cloths and the list goes on! I am so grateful for all of it and I am not really sure that I can ever re-pay y'all, but I will try like hell!! I love y'all!

Nanny, Judi and Krista, thank y'all do much for arranging and attending the packing parties!! Great times and lots of memories! I really appreciate all of y'all help during those last few weeks!! It means a lot when you don't have to ask and people just show up to help you because they know what a task moving can be. Especially having just moved 4 months prior! Thank you!

Swimming lessons - week 2

We survived swimming!! By the end of the lessons Gus was jumping in, holding his breath and swimming a short distance to the teacher without floaties!! Lots of progress! Now that we are leaving so close to the beach, i think we will enroll him in another set of lessons just to make sure!

Holiday World ~ 2012

The Saturday before we moved a good friend and I took Gus and her daughter to Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN! We all had a blast! What is not to love about FREE Pepsi products all day long? And watersides? And glorified amusement park rides? Not to much, my friends, not to much!!

The kids were troopers and we went all day with no meltdowns!! Lots of smiles!

This year Gus was tall enough for a few more rides and slides...42" to be exact! He rode his very first water coaster! When we got off he told me it was just a little bit scary! I am so proud of him for even trying it out! Here are a few pics of our day!

Swimming Lessons - day 4

At the end of class, Gus exclaimed, "I did every fing!". And that he did! He cupped his hands and pulled the water away from him, he kicked his feet really hard and he went under several times! I really can't wait to see what next week will bring! Until then, we will be at the pool practicing what we learned!

Swimming Lessons ~ days 1-3

Monday Gus started swimming lessons! He was a little apprehensive and brought his floatie, bit his instructor had him out of it in no time!!

Day one was getting acclimated to the water without floaties and just showing the teacher what he knew. It is just he and a little girl in the class so it is perfect! After class we asked him if he was glad he went and. He told mom and I that he was very proud of himself and very happy that he decided to go!!

Day two Ms. Lindsey had them go under by the end of class!! Little mister came up smiling and said how fun swimming lessons were! They also learned to cup their hands like "mogillas" (gorillas) and kick their feet in a "splish splash" pattern!

Day three Mabel came to the lesson and she got antsy so we had to walk away and did not get to see everything, but Ms. Lindsey assured us that he did great again today and went under again!!

Swimming lessons are very important to me and even more so now with our upcoming move to the beach! Looking forward to what the remaining 5 days of lessons will bring!!

Love is pure and simple!

Treehouses

These were amazing! More pictures to come from my point and shoot.....as soon as I can fine my USB cable! There were 7 total and we liked all of them and have big plans for daddy to build us one with lots of perks. We love you, daddy and know that you would happily make just about whatever we want!!

Rainbow Fish

What a fantastic day we had! This was incredible...a rainbow fish treehouse! Gus was amazed and could have spent most of his day and all night in here just hanging out enjoying the great outdoors!!

Packing progress {part 2}

Here is what we have been up to.....

Friday fun

Today the temperature was waaaay below normal....like never got over 65 degrees below normal! It was splendid! We went to dollar tree to get a kite and got some bubbles and glow sticks as well!! Those things always make Friday fun!!

Mabel is starting to take more than one step at a time! I am hoping that she will hold out on full blown walking until we move and Jake can see her wobbling!

Gus has been giving some pretty funny excuses as to why he should stay at Pinki's! The other day it was that it was just too dusty here at the house with all that packing and stuff! where he comes up with this I will never know!

Tomorrow is our yard sale! Hoping to make a few extra bucks and get rid of some extra junk!!

Sweet dreams

Something so cute about this, but my question to them is where do I fit?! Goodnight everyone!