Our visit to Michigan

Early May, I was doing a video chat with my parents and decided I had to go see them. It was unbearable watching my mom sadly looking at my children wishing she could see them. I searched for tickets and the cheapest I could find was mid-May so I booked them. I thought long and hard about how I was going to pull this off by myself. Luckily, my parents have a pack n play and car seats at their house. I only had to bring one extra car seat for Zoey. I knew I couldn't carry/pull more than one suitcase so I packed all of our stuff in one large suitcase. We packed really light. I carried Zoey in a carrier on my front, pushed Paige in the stroller with one hand and pulled our suitcase with my other and Paul walked next to me. I carried a back pack with my laptop and stuff for Zoey on my back. Paul carried his own backpack with the ipad, snacks and activities for him. Paige held her backpack with the same in her lap. The airport went pretty smoothly both on the way there and way back. Both airports had a separate family line for security which was nice. The plane ride on the way there was a little over 4 hours long but with taxing it was about 4 1/2 hours. Paul and Paige watched movies on my laptop and ipad for most of the ride. The rest of the time they had snacks, colored in new coloring books, drew pictures, played with stickers and a couple of small toys. They did pretty well. Zoey was the one I was worried about. Entertaining an active 12-month-old for 4 hours is not an easy task. She only slept for 30 minutes of the 4 hour ride. It was hard to keep her in our row. Luckily, we were in the very last row of the plane next to the bathrooms. Most people wouldn't think of this as lucky but we had a constant flow of people walking down and standing in line to use the bathrooms that entertained Zoey for most of the trip. Snacks and stickers also distracted her for some of the time. She had a couple of moments but did better than I thought she was going to do. Who wants to be the mom with the screaming baby everyone on the plane is cursing in their heads? Let's just say, I was more than happy to get off of the plane! Being in the very last row of the plane meant we were the very last ones off the plane:)   

The other issue I had was having Paige go to the bathroom. I tried potty training her a couple of times in the past and gave up both times. I would sit her on the toilet for a long time and she wouldn't go. As soon as I would get her off she would go to the bathroom on the floor somewhere. I know you are supposed to stay home and not go anywhere until they are potty trained but do I not take my son to school? Plus, with Zoey walking, life got super busy. I quit two times and thought I would give her some more time before I would try again. Well, 2 days before we left on our trip, Paige decided she wanted to go to the bathroom on the potty and she did it herself. For two days, she went to the bathroom in the small potty without having any accidents! When we left for Michigan, I hadn't transitioned her to the big toilet yet. Her first time using the big toilet was at the airport! Awesome. She did okay but it took her a long time. When we got off the plane, we all went to the bathroom and I changed Zoey's diaper. When we finally got down to baggage claim, the belt had stopped and our suitcase was the last one there:) I didn't care because we made it!

There are no words to describe how happy I was to see my parents and for my parents to see their only grandchildren. We spent the week eating good food (prepared by my mom), going to parks, going to the zoo, going to the library and visiting my dad at his store. One of my best friends from home also flew home from Chicago to see us over the weekend. As always, the week flew by. Here are some photos from our week home. 

Park with Grandma

My monkey son loves to climb any and all trees

Zip line 

Grandma and Paige

Duplos at the library

There are these big dirt hills across the street from my parent's house and my kids loved playing on them.

Paul fought this dirt hill with a stick for over an hour straight. I think he won? 

I don't know why but Zoey loved this plant. 

I think she wanted to marry it. 

Grandpa and Paige 

Grandpa and Zoey

This is what Paul looked like when he was finished playing in the dirt.  You can't tell from the picture but he was covered head to toe in dirt. 

Detroit Zoo

The highlight of the trip was the butterfly room. There were butterflies flying all around us. One even landed on Paul's hand. It was awesome. 

There were peacocks walking around everywhere and they were loud! Here are the kids chasing one of them. 

The other highlight was seeing the kangeroos. They seriously hopped around you. It was so cool. 

Zoey enjoying the misters at another park

Paige loved the castle playground

Paul loves to swing with Zoey

A drink in the shade of a tunnel

Having a little snack.

Running down hills. I love how green it is there!

We had some really hot days there in the 80's but with the humidity it feels warmer so we played in the fountains at the park.

They had so much fun.

Even Zoey played

The Dairy Mat with Amanda! One of my favorites growing up.

It's so fun to take my kids to these places. 

It was so fun to hang out with my dear friend!

Paul trying some things on at my dad's store:)

My dad's birthday was a couple days after we left so we celebrated with him while we were there. Kids helping him blow out the candles. 

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Playing in the sprinklers on another hot day.

Zoey got sprayed in the face and she didn't like it!

Paul fighting the water. Not sure who won this round.

Another trip to the Dairy Mat with my parents

I got Zoey this baby cone and I think she liked it. 

Fun Swing at the park

Us girls on the swing

Paige loved having Grandma push her on this swing

She also loved having Grandma help her go across the monkey bars

Zoey also loved the monkey bars. This strong little girl was able to hold herself up!

She walked up and down this ramp about 100 times. 

Grandpa and Zoey

Paige took this picture of Zoey when she was crying. I thought it was funny. 

We had such a great week. It was so nice to spend some time with my parents. I could tell they loved having us there even though my kids broke things and destroyed their house every day. My mom is the best cook and made amazing food for us every day. I loved it and my kids loved it too. I wish I could eat her food every day for the rest of my life. It is all healthy too. The lady has no butter or white sugar in her house! The only hard thing about going home is having to say goodbye. My mom starts looking sad the day before we leave and cries at the airport when we have to say goodbye. It physically hurts my heart. This time was no different. However, something really sweet happened at the airport. Zoey is super attached to me and cries when she doesn't see me or if someone else tries to hold her. She didn't even like her dad holding her until a few months ago. My parents spent the whole week trying to get Zoey to let them hold her. At first she just cried but as the week went on she started to warm up a little. She wold be okay for a few minutes if she couldn't see me. As soon as she heard my voice or saw me, she would cry and reach out for me. At the airport, my mom got Zoey out of the car and was holding her while I was getting my stuff together. I was standing right there next to them and Zoey was content being with my mom. We stood there for awhile and she didn't cry or reach for me once. It was super sweet and I think it made my mom really happy. It was so sad saying goodbye because we wont be back again until Christmas. Hopefully, they will be able to come out to see us before then.

The plane ride back home was 5 hours long. Again, Zoey slept for about 30 minutes is all. It was harder to contain her this time and she spent a lot of time struggling to get out of our row. She walked the aisle of the plane up and down. When I went to get her, she threw herself back to get down again. It was an awesome game of cat and mouse. Paul and Paige didn't do as well on this plane ride either. They got bored and I think they were both tired. They were fighting about little things and were just cranky. I have to admit traveling alone with 3 kids was hard but was it worth it? It was well worth the visit I had with my parents. I would do again in a heartbeat.

My 31st and Mother's Day

I thought I just turned 30 but I guess another year has gone by leaving me at 31. A year ago, I spent my birthday getting to know my 2-day-old infant who is now a year old! It is unfair that the first year with each new baby goes by faster and faster. The first year seemed to go by so slowly with Paul. I remember looking out the window starting at 4 pm just done with the day hoping my husband would get home early and relieve me of my motherhood duties. Maybe it was because he was a fussy baby and I had no idea what I was doing. Either way, it doesn't seem possible that I've had 367 days with my Zoey. 

I remember thinking as a teenager that people in their 30's were so old but now that I am in my 30's I feel like people in their 30's are still so young. I wonder if teenagers look at me and think, "wow she is old." It is funny how perspectives change as we hit different points in our lives. I know I don't look like I am in my teens anymore but I still feel young and hope that the next 15 years of my life doesn't fly by like the last 15 has. 

Before my husband started school, he used to take work off on our birthdays and we would spend the day together doing something fun. Because of school, he has very little days to take off and had to work on all of our birthdays this year:( If Paul doesn't take the day off, it's kind of just a normal day around here. I watched my friends kids in the morning, Little Paul had school in the afternoon and then his best friend from school had a birthday party at Chuckie Cheese that we couldn't miss out on. After school, the whole family went and played at Chuckie Cheese! Paul got a sitter for us when we got back and we got to go have a quiet dinner and dessert together. It was nice to get away since it is rare these days. When we got home, he rented The Vow (romantic comedy) and actually stayed awake and watched it with me. If that's not love I don't know what is. It was dark but I think I even saw some tears coming out of his eyes a couple of times during the movie. 

I got a couple of gifts this year. The first was a week trip to Michigan to visit my parents. I'm so excited to see my parents. The only catch is that I have to fly there by myself with 3 kids. I don't know how much of a gift that part is. I leave early tomorrow morning so I'm going to need lots of prayers that we make the flight without everyone on the plane hating us. The second gift was the nicest email sent to me from my husband. I went to dinner with some girlfriends the night before my birthday. My husband wrote the email while I was out and sent it to me late that night so I would read it first thing birthday morning. It was better than getting any material gift (except for maybe diamonds). He will probably get mad I am blogging about this but here is a part of the letter I really like:

"I feel like your sarcastic humor has grown since we have been together.  I don't remember it as much early on, but certainly you developed a unique blend of being funny and frankly, putting me in my place.  When we went up to Coit Tower a year or so ago and the guy in the elevator looked at you shocked when you dryly said something about him hitting one of our kids on accident I knew you were being funny but I felt like I needed to step in and let the guy know as he squirmed in discomfort.  After he described you as spunky or something to that effect and said to me, "Good for you!"  I completely agree, good for me!  I love your humor and love that you have an opinion and that you are bright and that you complain (sometimes).  My whole life I wanted a "real" life and a "real" relationship and "real" love.  I have all of this.

It really boils down to this:  I can't imagine having any other life partner and eventual eternal companion than you.  You are the love of my life, the mother of our children, my personality flaw moderator, my single biggest source of happiness, and my reason for living."

Now onto Mother's Day. Whoever came up with Mother's Day is the smartest person alive or dead. It is nice to have a day to get spoiled and use as an excuse to get your spouse and kids to do things for you. For example, "Paul, will you please go upstairs and bring me my phone. Don't forget it's Mother's Day." Yep, works every time. It is also awesome to have your kids sing you songs and make you all kinds of crafts including self portraits. At Paul's school the other day, the kids did a fashion show and dessert for all the moms. How awesome is that? It was so cute. 

Well, I woke up and did a little workout in my room undisturbed. Then I took a shower and walked down to heart-shaped pancakes, strawberries, a blueberry bagel with cream cheese and a cup of raspberry Emergen-C. Now is the time to be jealous. 

After Church, we had a picnic dinner outside in the backyard and then had some birthday cake. Couldn't have asked for a better day!

I can't express how excited I am to see my own mother tomorrow. She is one of the hardest working and most giving mamas I know. She lives for her children and I hope I am half the mother she was and continues to be to me.

Thank you to all the other mothers in my life that have shaped me into the wonderful person I am today;)

My baby is 1!

 It had been a little while since we took a trip to the beach so last weekend we took a trip to Rio Del Mar Beach with some friends. It was 73 degrees and sunny at the beach. The water was freezing but all the little people didn't seem to mind. I had forgotten how difficult the beach is with a walking baby. Zoey loved it but she was covered in sand the whole time we were there. I tried dusting off her face and hands every so often but gave up after a couple of hours. She ate a lot of sand. I mean a lot. 

Paige loves to play in the sand

Zoey loved hanging out in this little tent a friend brought. Notice the sandy face. 

My little beach boy spent the day running back and forth in the ocean

Notice the face and hand in this one

Mom and Zoey

Paul lost his body in the sand

Zoey loved knocking down anything the others built

My baby turned 1 today! Today I wished I could keep her a baby forever. I don't think it will come true but you can't blame a mother for trying. 

Everyone knows Zoey as "the walking baby" because she started walking at 8-months-old and is now practically running. She is on the move all the time. She loves to climb up and down the stairs, climb on top of our train table, pull out everything from the cabinets under the sink, pull out all the play toys from the play kitchen, empty any drawer she can open, put her hands in the toilet, unroll the toilet paper, jump on the beds, ride around in our toy cars, clap her hands, wave good-bye, dance and sing. As you can see from the above list, she keeps me very busy. She loves her older brother and squeals in delight when he is around. She loves her older sister as well but screams when she is around:) Paige smothers her with love and it is too much for Zoey to handle;) 

We didn't do anything fancy for her birthday. We just had a little family party for her at home. It was nice. She didn't know it was her birthday. She doesn't know what a birthday is. She doesn't know how to open presents. She doesn't get that the presents are hers. She joined the sugar club today. She likes sugar. Welcome to the club Zoey! We love you! 

Good morning! 

We got her a shopping cart and she loved pushing around the box. I almost didn't want to open it she was having so much fun. 

She liked the shopping cart as well even though it's almost as tall as she is. 

She loved sitting in this inflatable pool. I just left it out all day and she kept getting in and out. 

So happy to be 1!

Loving her new kicks. Thanks Auntie!

Zoe with her cake.

She had to dive in. With 3 kids, there were lots of fingers in the frosting and lots of retouching. 

Vanilla cake with strawberries since Zoey loves strawberries so much. I did the flowers with candy melts. We had lots of cake left over and shared with our neighbors.  

Sugar is so good!

I love holding Zoey while she sleeps. I know it won't be long before she no longer will fall asleep in my arms so being the creepy mom that I am I've been watching her sleep. I've also been snapping some photos. Please don't judge me. I just love it and I know I will miss it.