if you’re happy and you know it

Monday started as you do. With underwear on our heads. Such wacky kids. They are everything you expect of three year olds.

As soon as Steven is in underwear I’m sure he’ll want them on his head, too.

Steven got the idea that they should “go to the place where we had our party”. Megan was on board so everyone headed over to Tiny Town after breakfast. It cracks me up that the kids are old enough to really set their own agendas like that.

Tuesday was a BIG day for the Sam Man – his first day of swim class! Go Sammy!!

School kicked off with Sammy and Amaya ready with their new backpacks.

Since it was his first week, Megan joined them at swim like Rosie did with Amaya. Megan reported back that Sammy was a little nervous for the first 2 minutes and then warmed right up. He had a great first day!! I’m such a proud mama.

Amaya, on the other hand, was refusing to go in the water. I suggested Megan leave the lesson and sure enough, once she left, Amaya was happy to get in the water and even go to the deep end with the instructor. That’s so Amaya.

I’m so excited that Sammy gets to join Amaya for swim and I will do a huge cheer when Steven is ready, too. <3

The JCC sent home a 3 ingredient cookie recipe (oats, bananas, raisins) so Megan and SSA made the cookies on Wednesday.

On Wednesday I had a long day of work meetings followed by a dinner and, unfortunately, Rosie texted around 9:30 am to say she was sick. Megan graciously said she could stay until Jason got home from work and Mike would pick Taco up from her mom’s house. Well you know how things go with perfectly laid back up plans. You end up needing back up back up plans. The weather was a mess and Mike’s hotel lost power which meant he couldn’t leave on time. Megan’s mom kindly brought Taco to our instead, which turned out to be a ton of fun for Steven, Sammy and Amaya. They love time with Baby Taco!

I’ve watched this video at least 30 times. Turn the volume up. Steven is the sweetest, sweetest Bobesies. So gentle and tender with Taco.

On Thursday, Megan took the kids to the play space at the mall and then Chinese food in the food court. (Cute little story. At bedtime the boys always try to stall with questions for us. “Wait! Wait! I have a question for you.” On Thursday night Steven’s question was an inquiry into what I wanted to eat. I said “chinese food” because Jason and I were having some for dinner. Steven said, “You can’t have Chinese food. I didn’t bring any home from the mall for you.”)

Friday was very special. The JCC had a Purim party for the kids and family members were invited to attend. I am so lucky that I have the opportunity to duck out of work for events like this. When I arrived, the kids were all entering the JCC lobby area. Steven was already seated and Sammy and Amaya were still walking up to their seats. They knew I was coming to their school that day but the looks on their faces when they saw me were priceless. The program consisted of about 30 minutes of Shabbat and Purim songs, a parade through the JCC where the kids collected tchotchke toys and then we went back to their classroom for hamentashen. (Side story – that morning Jason asked SSA if they were going to have hamentashen at school and they said no, they already made hamentashen with nana. 🙂 ) Lots of kids were dressed up, which I hadn’t thought to do! Next year for sure! Though Megan told me the teachers offered to let the kids wear dress-up costumes from the classroom and they declined.

It was such a nice event and I loved getting to share it with my little loves.

Steven kept looking at me with this little light in his eyes.

Sammy was camped on Miss Lena’s lap. He adores her and it’s precious.

When I first arrived Amaya was so happy to see me but it was as if, all of a sudden, she realized that she was too cool to be there with her mom and spent 1/2 the program pretending I wasn’t there, lol. Until I offered up my lap. My feet fell asleep with the weight of all three kids on my legs but there was no way I was going to change a thing.

That said, Amaya didn’t want to sit by me in the classroom while the boys had me sit right between them.

Steven saw that my hamentashen wasn’t on the pink table cloth and that just wouldn’t do.

Lucky, lucky mom. <3

Apparently the Purim party wore these kids out! Steven, Sammy and Amaya were not at all interested in waking up from their naps on Friday afternoon.

Saturdays are wonderful. The start of a family weekend at home and it begins with Playroom Pancakes. This week it also began with mustache whistles, compliments of the Purim party parade.

Jason had to run to the post office and the boys wanted to go so off they all went!

This morning, I woke (early!) to 3 happy kids who were totally unfazed by daylight savings time. We’ve come a long way from the days we moved their schedule in 15 minute increments over the course of a week.

Steven is working so hard to go potty. Jason convinced him to spend the weekend without pants & underwear (but in Jason’s big shirt). On Saturday afternoon he had one success and one accident. Poor guy was totally freaked out in the moment. Today he had two success and no accidents. He was a bit of a mess all day, though. He went long periods at a time when he’d say he had to go potty every 5 minutes but the minute he sat down, he’d say he couldn’t go. It was rough. I’m hoping every day gets a little easier for him.

Someone stole Sammy’s shoes.

Sammy figured out how to play piano when there was no immediate seat waiting for him.

Everyone else followed suit.

Super Sammy!!

This is what morning looks like when the kids wake up to new ball cards from Daddy.

This girl still loves her play doh.

It’s Grandpa Homey’s birthday and Jason made sure everyone had a chance to send our love and birthday wishes via FaceTime!

It was a peaceful weekend, but I hope this guy is in better shape soon. He’s getting it. He’s ready. We all just need to work the process with him.

Steven this week!

So proud of peeing on the potty. I sent him a video back in return. He told Megan, “That was great!” My Bobes.

Brothers!

Sammy this week!

This kid.

Jason left some ball cards out at night. When Jason came down to go to work Sammy couldn’t wait to run to Jason and find out who it was on the card. Sweetest.