2017

It was a pretty quiet week as we started into 2017. I’m absolutely dumbfounded that we’re nearing Steven, Sammy and Amaya’s 3rd birthday. Three! It feels like we had itty bitty babies a full lifetime ago and, at the same time, it feels like they were just born. If I pause in a quiet space, I can almost feel them moving inside me again. What I would give to have another day pregnant and another day with newborns, knowing what I know today.

Monday we were all home together, with Rosie, and all feeling well. Hooray! In another milestone moment, we removed most of the child locks from our kitchen cabinets. SSA were eager to help.

Keeping with a crafting weekend, we tried some painting with these cook painting sheets that have a strip of water color paint with each picture. Definitely a winning craft. They love having their own cups of water to wash off their brushes.

I don’t remember what I asked Sammy to lead to this face but he and Amaya have the most expressive eyebrows. 🙂

Wrapping up a day at home with story time.

Tuesday was back to school after a 2 week break! Rosie reported that the kids were more clingy than usual but she was able to leave without tears. Oddly, on Thursday Amaya was hysterical at drop off. Even in the beginning, she was the one who ran right in. Hopefully that’s not an issue for her this week.

The kids are big into making magnatile pizzas. Sammy usually has pepperoni and hot peppers. Amaya likes pepperoni mushrooms. Steven does not want pepperoni.

Saturday morning we had a fun game of “why is my toddler crying?”

Steven was crying because I ate a pancake during Playroom Pancakes. “Pancakes are not for you and Daddy. They’re for us!”

Sammy lost it when Steven came over with a spoon and took some imaginary butter out of his butter container and then refused to give it back. The hardest fights to break up are the ones over imaginary food, lol.

Jason got me some Apple gift cards for Hanukkah and my phone is a mess. (Such a mess. It randomly called Jason during work the other day while it was plugged in and nowhere near me.) Steven was my buddy for the trip. Since it was single digits outside, we took a stroller and a blanket to be sure my Bobes stayed warm.

Looking at the phones with me. “It has an apple on the back just like your phone!”

Little dude.

Steven asked if we could go to the play area at the mall which was an easy yes. He had a blast running around. It’s fun to see the kids get more comfortable in the space as they get bigger and more confident.

The kids decided that the playroom was an outside garden. Everyone needed their winter clothes (and mine!) on to stay warm.

Bedtime has been interesting lately. Sammy is over whatever issue was keeping him up crying for us at bedtime and in the middle of the night. After my stomach virus, though, Steven suddenly started crying for me at bedtime. Not a whining cry but a really upset cry that we couldn’t ignore. What’s helped, besides checking on him a few times, is a small portable light that we set up to light a photo of me with the kids. I hope they all do ok when I travel for work this week. I know they’ll be okay long term but I don’t want to undo any of our progress.

Even Baby Jenna needed a pillow, a blanket and a friend to sleep with.

Today Grandma Sunshine and Aunt Annette came by for a belated holiday celebration. The kids were very excited about more presents!

A new workbench!!

While Daddy put it together, the kids opened their gift from Aunt Annette – Lincoln Logs!

Amaya’s expressive eyebrows…

We wrapped up our weekend with new homemade play doh from grandpa homey and grandma betsy and my three souz chefs helped make grilled cheese!

Steven this week!

Late last week, Jason was talking to Steven at bedtime and Steven wanted me instead. This was a while after they went to bed and Jason thought Amaya was sleeping.

Steven: I want a lady!
Amaya: (Out of the darkness) I’m a lady!
Steven: No, a big lady!

Here he is sharing his pancake with Mickey.

Very proud of the train he built!

We made him a track.

Steven is very into matching right now. He wanted all of the yellow triangles to make this design. Earlier today he told me that his blue bib matched Sammy’s blue big. He knows that I always wear an infinity symbol necklaces and regularly asks to match it to the “stamp” on my arm.

Chef Bobes!

Sammy this week!

Sammy and his daddy. The sweetest.

He wanted gel in his hair and was deeply contemplating the cover to his yogurt which he insisted on removing himself.

Sammysaurus!

Amaya this week!

She’s such a KID here.

Working on Mr. Potato Head. Amaya can actually put it together pretty well. I had no idea! I only had to help push in the arms and one ear but she knew exactly where she wanted them.