“42 is a lot, mommy”

Amaya started her week pretty in pink. I learned that she knows how to do buttons and she was probably the only person in MI happy to see snow because it meant that she could wear her snow boots.

I came home from work to find Megan and three happy kids ready to present me with this early birthday cookie. “Mommy! It has orange because you love orange!” So, so sweet. Thank you, Megan!

“Hold up the big cookie in the picture, Mommy!”

My birthday, on Wednesday, was perfect. I woke to Steven, Sammy and Amaya so happy to wish me a happy birthday. Steven said it over and over and, when they left for school, told me he’d see me at my birthday party. I wish I could capture it in his sweet little voice.

Jason even had some of my favorites waiting for me as a surprise and, later, a crab dinner and a trading card autographed by Clark Gregg from Agents of SHIELD.

Amaya dressed as she does on, on Wednesday in preparation to come to my office for lunch, she asked me to please wear my matching leggings. When your 4 year old wants to match, you find a way. Even when those are the leggings. 🙂

My final morning surprise was a card waiting for me in my car. <3

My generous colleagues decorated my office and also had a cake, that they planned to serve when SSA were visiting. It was so thoughtful. Amaya loooooooved our CMO, Sean. She gave him hug after hug and told me she wants to have lunch with him. If you know Amaya, you know that she doesn’t offer affection unless she really means it.

Can you see that I put on my leggings? 🙂

“Mommy! I see a picture from when we were at Texas!” (It was a photo of Amaya with Elsa and Tinkerbell.)

Steven fell for Sean, too. When he left he was upset that he didn’t get to give him a hug goodbye. Sean’s a child-whisperer!

My necklaces from the kids. The best! Thank you for orchestrating this, Megan!

A birthday message from Amaya!

This week, Steven’s Hair Salon has been quite busy. He’s got quite the set up, and a very willing customer.

Sammy is getting his own practice in on Barbie.

There has been a lot of talk about puppies in our house, but we have kids who aren’t actually excited about dogs. (And, to be clear, Amaya is NOT on Team Puppy. At all. “Ever,” she says.) To see how they’d do, Megan took the kids to the pet store at the mall for a chance to play with a little puppy. Steven was enthralled. It was an itty bitty little guy and Steven couldn’t have been happier.

Sammy was willing to come down off the bench and pet the puppy as long as he was on Megan’s lap.

Little face.

Amaya was not having it. Poor thing was afraid the dog would eat her.

On Friday night, both boys got it into their head that they needed to sleep with me. For reasons I can’t explain, I agreed. It took a while for Steven and Sammy to understand that I wasn’t going to get into bed right then. I loved this view waiting for me at bedtime, though, and all was well through the night until 3:45am when Amaya decided to join the party. I love sharing a bed with Amaya but it got just a little too crowded at that point. This was a “they’ll only be little for a while” moment for me where it was too hard to pass up the chance. I often think about the days my kids won’t need me or want me in this way and I’m going to maximize it while I can. (But not every night!)

On Saturday we had plans to go to see The Velveteen Rabbit at the children’s theater in Northville – part of SSA’s birthday present from Nana and Papa. The men and ladies split up so Amaya and I could stop at CVS for dance picture supplies. I had to take these photos for two reasons:

I did my trial run of a ballet bun. Not bad!
Amaya is wearing jeans. Never happens!!

We met up with our men right before the show. The boys wanted to dress like daddy in the same type warm-up pants and grey shirts.

The show!

We went out for dinner afterward where the kids were about as difficult as I’ve ever seen them in a restaurant and our patience was tested in all new ways. We survived, though, and you’d never know about the antics from these post-dinner photos when, on the way to the car, Sammy and Amaya made a point to find every “jumpable” surface they could.

Ms. Diaper Hat got cranky again by the ride home. (Found a diaper in the center console for use as a tissue which, instead, was used as a hat.)

Today!! Today were photos for the kids’ dance studio! I debated putting these in the blog because I’m waiting on the professional photos but it was such a big day (for me lol) and I want to have a record of it so I decided to preview their costumes in advance of the big day.

Amaya was so excited to get to wear make-up – pink lipstick, blush, a little purple eye shadow and mascara.

My kids! In dance costumes! It was adorable. I was plotzing.

I just can’t with these costumes. I hope their pictures together are as cute as they looked in person. <3

They were all so interested in the big kids walking around. An older boy came over to talk to Steven and Sammy since the men are definitely outnumbered.

I’m sure the actual recital will be an uncoordinated mess of 4 year olds but everyone is definitely having fun in the process.

After photos, I took Steven and Sammy to my colleague Chris’ house to meet his new dog, Gary. Gary is a 3 month old pomskie and so cute.

Steven was more intimidated than with the little cocker spaniel puppy earlier in the week and neither boy worked up the nerve to pet Gary but they did have a great time playing fetch with him. Gary seemed to learn very quickly that he should bring the toy back to me regardless of who threw it.

When you’re over tired from a big morning, you eat lunch under the kitchen table.

Spring is here!! We’re ready!!

Bedtime stories are a continuing theme. I’m glad I’m know that reading the same books over and over again is actually a good thing. (For them. Not us. Definitely not for us.)