Spring break 2015

Things got crazy in 2015 for Spring Break….ha!  Not really.  We didn't go anywhere as a family, as we have a little surprise approaching for the kids soon.  Can't go too much into detail incase Peyton gets on the blog site, which she occasionally does.  So Mike didn't have any time off, so the kids and I got together with some of our friends and took the train to Jeff City.  We did NOTHING except get off the train, walk to the hotel and the kids swam, swam, ate, swam, ate, watched a movie, swam and went to bed.  The next morning they were in the pool by 7:40.  They got out we ate breakfast and headed back to the train.  The kids had a great time, Staci and I did too!

I had never been on the train before (nor had the kids) so it was a fun little getaway.  We learned that you are never suppose to take the train from Jeff City on a Friday because they put inmates on there and ship them to their next destination….kind of weird.  But what do you know, we were indeed traveling from Jeff City on a Friday.  We did catch a glimpse of them at the station while waiting for the train, but they put the families on a separate car, so we never saw them again once we got on the train.

Waiting for the train in Kirkwood

Getting all settled in 

 Stopping for a quick "tourist" picture

Let the FUN begin!

The "adult beverages" that we packed needed a bottle opening….Staci somehow managed with a set of car keys.  We didn't got thirsty.  

The kids LOVED the all glass elevator!!!

Getting ready for a movie and popcorn

Maddie didn't make it through the movie or popcorn….tired baby!!!  

 Mommy and Maddie getting ready for bed….

 Big kids FAST asleep.  Notice my boobie trap on the door.  Peyton and Jack were sleeping in the front room.  Wasn't gonna have no intruder get to them first.  So we barricaded the door as best as we could.  Sad that this is the world we live in….

And the last kiddo goes to sleep.  A little girl in a bid ole bed!

Heading back to the station….good bye Jeff City.  It's been fun!

BUSTER!

Over spring break our friends that have a doodle dog let us dogsit him while they were out of town.  We were hopeful that the dogs would get along well so that we could exchange "services" when each other is out of town.  I think they hit it off!!!  Annie probably has more energy than Buster and wears him out, but they got along GREAT!!  Hopefully Buster had a good spring break at Annie's house.

Peyton LOVED having Buster.  He slept with her every night and she LOVED that!  Jack loved him too….I think because he's such a cuddler….who doesn't love a dog that likes to cuddle?!?!  I think the Friedman kids had a hard time giving him back to his owners.

One of their many play sessions

Peyton and Buster getting ready for bed

Momma gets away...

I hit the airport and got myself down to Florida with some girlfriends a few weeks back.  First time for a true getaway, post kids.  I was nervous about leaving, but it was wonderful once I got there.  Mike would disagree.  Maddie of course got sick and threw up all over the car on day #1 of daddy daycare.  Not a good way to start.  After that he kind of quit communicating with me throughout the weekend…ha!  But everyone survived and I sure did enjoy my 3 days of relaxation!!!

On the airplane, trying some bloody mary's to ease my airplane anxiety!!!!  It worked!

 Day One….poolside, beach side, and bar side (all at the same time…..PERFECT!!)

 Walking looking for shells (Peyton's request was a 'twirly shell').  SCORE.  We found some!

Pool behind me, ocean in front of me……

My sweet, sweet, Maggie!

Boy Scout Boat Race

SOOOO, I'm new to this whole boy scout thing.  But they had some kind of boat race last week.  It  has a formal name, but I'm not sure what it is.  But they build the boats and then they blow them with a straw down and rain gutter and see who wins.  They let siblings participate in this event if they bring a boat, and you know Peyton is all over that!
  So I guess the person with the most hot air and best boat wins???  Guess who went undefeated…..Peyton.  Yep, I think she's got enough hot air to blow them boats down the gutter all night long!  They could race as many times as they'd like and then at the end of each race whichever person won, they got a ticket.  At the end of the night they put their tickets in a drawing and draw for prizes.
Jack's ticket got drawn first, so he got to pick the best prize….he chose a basketball.  Peyton got picked second and she chose a bouncy ball.  Everyone was teasing saying with their luck (being drawn first and second) that we should've stopped for a lottery ticket on the way home.

Jack in one of his races….

 Peyton in one of her races……

 Maddie off to the side, having her own fun!!

SAD or FUNNY!?!??!

Jack's class was learning about the Chinese New Year.  They discussed that they make one wish for a successful year.  The class then made a book about what their wish for the year would be.  Here is Jack's.  I'm not sure if this makes me laugh, because after all they are siblings.  Or if it makes me sad, that sweet, little Jack just wants his sister to be nice to him.

I've got to say, the drawing is pretty funny too.  Jack running and telling mom because Peyton was being mean to him and Peyton laughing in the background. Yep, sounds about right!

Fancy Sunday Dinners

So, we finally loaded up our china from my mom's house from our WEDDING (oh like almost 11 years ago!) and brought it to our house.  I got it out of the boxes and put it in Mikes's favorite blue china cabinet.  Yes, I have a blue china cabinet that I love and Mike HATES it….like wants it outta here!!  

Anyway, we looked at the china thru the pretty blue china cabinet for a few months, then I decided we are gonna start using this stuff.  If it breaks, it breaks….but we are going to use it!  Peyton LOVES eating at Westborough because its "fancy."  She likes the glass goblets and nice dishes.  So, I decided every Sunday the kids are going to help me cook dinner and we will eat at the dining room table with the FANCY dishes.  We've done it for a month now, and I'd say they are still super excited every Sunday to help cook dinner and eat fancy!

Maddie helping toss the salad…...

 Maddie helps with the bread….

 Peyton makes the fruit salad…..

 DINNER!!  and also THE BLUE CHINA CABINET…..see it?!?!

 Clean plates = SUCCESS

Only at the Friedman's do the  dogs get to lick off the china……

Mother-Son Mixer

This year the kids' school added a "mother-son mixer" as an  equivalent to the father-daughter dance.  I think the mommas of all boys were feeling bitter…..as they should!  I helped plan the event a tad bit.  I was in charge of the minute to win it games.  The night started with eating and mingling, then we did some minute to win it games, followed by dancing.  All was don't in black lights with glow sticks, etc.  I think the boys (and moms) had a great time!  It was super cute. Jack's little body didn't stop the entire night.  He was either dancing his little heart out or running around with glow sticks.
After the event I stayed and cleaned up for an hour or so and Jack contented to run around with his friends and play basketball.  We then went to dinner with a bunch of people that had stayed and cleaned up and Jack had a blast at dinner (and mommy drinks) with his friends.  The next day Jack ran a low grade fever and stayed on the couch ALL. DAY!!  I think he had had a little too much fun.  Good thing the mother-son mixer only happens once a year! Jack's gotta build up his tolerance.

I didn't get any pictures of the evening, as I was either on the dance floor with my little buddy or running around helping with things.  This here tho, is what I DID get…..

A quick selfie before we went in to the event

All tuckered out and can't move the next day…..