Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

Well, that was the idea but the snow was quite fresh from a small dump yesterday and it's still dry and not sticking quite right.  But the boys were excited to go out and play (I don't usually offer for the record, but I felt like we ought to a few times before we left for DC), and Dagny was about to nap.. so it felt like good timing.

After the eternity of getting the boys both into their snow gear (and Bubba taking off his really hard to put on gloves once before realizing, oh I should keep these on and me learning, boots first then mittens), Dagny kept screaming from her crib that she wanted in on the action.  The boys were so excited, just itching at the door to get out.

As for Dagny... I swear, she is the best napper and sleeper and normally doesn't care if there are people outside, but she has this sixth sense for when we are doing more than just playing in the living room.  She wants IN on the fun stuff and knows when it's happening, so today was no exception.  She refused to nap and so we got her dressed as well.  At first, I put her mitten underneath her snow suit, but then it was so tough to get back into the snowsuit, I put her other mitten over it.  Jordan said she looked like Darth Vadar with one hand only.  HA!

the crew ready for action!

Dagny couldn't figure out how to move in her snowsuit

So we ventured out and probably hung out in the cold frigid weather (despite the sun being out, don't be fooled.. it was about 26 degrees) for about 25 minutes.  The boys loved running around in the snow, finding sticky snow that could be made into snowballs (they seemed to have more luck at this than yours truly), and throwing it at each other.  Dagny, meanwhile, was figuring out exactly what to do in all of this.  She stood for a bit, looking like a miniature snowman, but then she sat and observed her brothers play.

It was at this precise time that Bubba decided throwing snowballs at his little sister would be fun.  Poor Dagny didn't even flinch, she just sat there and looked slightly bewildered, slightly amused, not sure if she was supposed to cry or laugh.  I dusted the snow off her and she continued to watch the boys.  She got quite a quick out of when Jordan threw snowballs.  I imagine she will be quite the sassy snowball thrower when she's physically big enough to get around in snow gear.  

Bubba made some snow angels, ran around throwing snowballs at me, and Jordan went about digging some of the snow and looking for rocks underneath.  He hiked around the snow, threw snowballs at me, Grandma (who came after we started and hung out with us too... perks of living near grandparents!), and Grandma's car.  I suggested getting the sled out but they didn't want it, they simply wanted to play in the snow at their leisure so I happily obliged.  

picture perfect snow statue

after being assaulted by gege 

snow angels, rolling around, snowballs, etc. 

We finally decided the rosy red cheeks indicated it was time to go in.  The boys were not pleased, it took some serious bribing (at one point Jordan said, "Mommy, I don't want to watch a show later, I just want to play in the snow!), and finally ultimatums from Mom.  It was fun though, I'm glad I got outside of my comfort zone and maybe we'll do it again while our snow clothes are still drying on the carpet in the living room.

Who said there aren't perks to living in snowy Salt Lake City?  We got a playground of snow just outside.  But seriously, how many more times do you think we'll make it out again this year?

When Your Husband Can't Stand Being Home

When it snows pretty heavily and the roads are a mess, most people try to stay home.  My husband is not most people.  He loves his weekends with the family and is always itching to go do something. He's definitely not a homebody when it comes to spending time with the kids and is always looking to do something "fun" or as I like to explain, "expensive." 

So of course, this past weekend, we had to do something "fun" on Saturday!  We ended up at the Classic Fun Center which is about 20 minutes away.  I was a bit nervous since it was snowing and the roads weren't great, but he seemed confident that it'd be great.  

So we ventured off to the Classic Fun Center, aka land of feet smell.  It was Dagny's first time and she just wanted to be pushed around on the scooter the entire time.  She went around about 10 times and was anxious for more.  We also watched a magic show which Bubba lost interest but Jordan was absolutely captivated with.  

might be time to get her a scooter for DC!

The boys spent quite a bit of time playing together in the jungle gym, it's amazing what a difference a year or two makes.  I remember the last time we came, I was still pregnant and Bubba was still not quite able to navigate the scooter.  The time before, Jordan was a bit nervous on the jungle gym...even with his cousins with him there.  This time, he was confident and excited to play and Bubba, being the great little brother, just followed him along without fear, and the two had a great time.  My boys are so lucky to have each other, it makes me so happy to see them having a grand time and watching out for each other. 

Dagny had a great time in the baby section sliding down over and over again.  She is walking so much more now and avoids crawling if she can.  I can't wait for her to bigger so she can play with the boys on the big jungle gym too.  

We also went into the bounce houses, one of which had a huge foam pit with a large jump down!  I did the jump once with Bubba, and let me just say, I am a huge wimp.  My heart was beating for about 5 minutes after the jump, talk about an adrenaline rush I do not want!  I kinda hope my girls are as big of wimps as me, maybe that will make them goody two shoes like mom and keep them out of trouble hehe.  I guess I just really need want my kids to have a desire to do good, regardless of whether or not they're wimps, at the same time, when I look back at my own childhood and wonder why I didn't go to the dark side, it's mostly because I was a huge coward! I didn't want to go clubbing at the age of 15 with all the girls.  I didn't want to go raving when everyone was doing it.  I just wanted to read a good book at home.  Maybe I was always destined to become LDS.. ha! 

I digress.  So a bunch of Star Wars characters were at the Classic Fun Center when we first arrived, but we weren't really sure if it was for a party or what, so we didn't ask for a photo.  I know now that we could have and should have!  The boys kept asking if we could take a photo (there was Kylo Ren, Chewbaca, Princess Leia, Darth Vadar, and a Storm Trooper!) when I suggested we go take a photo with the Disney villains.  They didn't care for it, but I thought it'd be funny to get a photo with Ursula, who Uncle Ray is still a bit scarred and frightened by to this day (I may have had something to do with this.... ).  We took a photo and sent it to Uncle Ray.  He didn't respond yet.. maybe he wasn't amused.

So it was a good time.  I'm glad I trusted Andy's instinct that we should get out.  Despite the snowy roads, we made it safely there and back and the kids had a great time.  Andy went off to watch a BYU basketball game that started at 8 PM with his parents and aunt, while I put the kids to sleep at home and had some girlfriends over for a crazy girls night out (okay, yeah.. we just chatted and ate hummus with crackers), but boy was it fun for all.  I'm sure the trip to the Classic Fun Center helped set the mood for our weekend.  Sometimes, you just have to agree to your husband's suggestions even if at first you don't think it's the best idea.  

Morning Shenanigans

There's something so beautiful about having three kids who wake up at a decent time and make morning easy.  Lately... I've had the pleasure of a joy filled routine, lots of smiles and happiness, and an overall content me, up until the 10 minutes before we make it into the car to get wherever we have to go (usually Jordan's school which is 2 minutes away...)  Then, for 10 minutes... I am frustrated, annoyed, and constantly repeating myself.  These bozos just can't get their stuff together sometimes!! 

Our routine is simple.  I don't want anyone bugging me until the alarm rings at 7:30.  I normally snooze until 7:45, and on lazy days, I lay in bed until 8 AM.  

My kids are relatively good.  Bubba can wake up anywhere from 6:45 - 7:30, but he's always the first of the bunch.  He likes to make his way into bed in stealth mode and whisper sweetly "it's morning Mommy, time to wake up!'  I politely inform him that the sun is not yet out.  He always says "Ohhhh" like a big epiphany, and then proceeds to play with some toy or book or go looking for Andy if he's still around.  For a while, he was up in time to send Andy off to work, but the realization that Andy was gone before he was up one day sent him in a panic as he roamed the house searching for Daddy.  It was actually quite bittersweet to hear faintly in the background but probably a little traumatizing for the poor boy. 

Jordan has started to wake up around 7:30 not that we've moved his bedtime up (we start bedtime at 7:30 instead of 8:30 now).  

Dagny is my best sleeper thus far, and I hope it lasts!  At her age, Jordan went down for naps and nighttime with a bottle easily too, but if he was tired without a bottle, no nap.  Bubba would never go down easily, he was our "just cry it out a little longer" baby and would only go down nicely with a bottle filled with gatarode.  

Dagny will legitimately acknowledge when she's tired or not tired.  If she's not ready for a nap, she'll shake her head.  FOMO (fear of missing out) is low for her, she knows the fun will always be there when she's awake.  When she is fatigued, she'll just nod when I ask her if she wants a nap.  Her naps are not consistent, but her bedtime can effectively start at 7, we sometimes push it until 7:30, and she will always wake up around 7:45/8 and just chill in her crib.  The only time I've heard her cry for us is when she's wet through her diaper and pjs or when she's pooped.  Third childs are awesome.  

Breakfast is fun and pretty low maintenance with my kids.  Eggs and toast, sometimes cereal too, and when we're feeling fancy on the weekends, we do pancakes, french toast, or if we're feeling REALLY fancy, waffles!  During the week, once I get them all situated, I normally get a bathroom break.  

The other morning, the boys greeted me in their costumes as I made my exit from the bathroom.  Bubba then brought over his old Captain America costume and told me Dagny needed it, which is great because he had been trying to fit into his old costume without much luck and a huge wedgie, and we kept advising him that it was for Dagny now that he had outgrown it.  "No, it my Catan Reca" he would tell me seriously.   Well..I guess he finally got it!

After we drop off Jordan at school, Bubba and Dagny get a chance to play together for a bit.  They're still parallel playing for most of the time, but every now and then, if Bubba misses that I've gone to put Dagny down for a nap, he'll come by wondering where she has gone.  

They're starting to get the hang of each other when Jordan's out of the picture and it melts my heart silly to watch.  I'm reminded to count my blessings when I reflect on the day and think of all the happy moments they've brought into my life.  It helps to counter the times I count sweeping the floor because of their eating skills (or lack thereof).