I-Cubby action....

and, now that the weather is getting warmer, the best part of the game for the kiddos was playing in the fountains, of course!!!

But, not before they got a few autographs....

Fountain time!

Checking out the warm-ups....

Oh yeah! 

Peek-A-Boo

This was about as far as this little one would go into the fountain...cutie! (And, due for her 1st haircut!!!)

Ty tried her best to get Tay in a little further....

But it didn't stop her from playing in the water...

View from the fountain area. There seriously is not a bad seat in that stadium...

What's better than watching a baseball game in your swimsuit and blotting your owie with a wet wipe?!?!

FUNGO was a big hit...(And and great idea. We were given a bingo card as we walked into the stadium and then tried to get 5-in-a-row on our cards depending on the line score of the baseball game. For example, we looked for a F-5 on our card and circled it if the batter popped up to the 3rd baseman....)

No game is complete without a pic with Cubby Bear (Tay's still a little too scared)...

and a peek at the Des Moines River....see any fish?!?!

It's always a fun time at Principal Park! 

Our little SIBS weekend...

up in Chicago was a BLAST!

Cory, Calie, and I all hit the road and met up in Chicago to stay with Aaron for a couple days!

It was a fun weekend of hanging out, laughing, trying new things, dancing in the streets, listening to live music, meeting friends, extreme boat riding, walking our butts off, people watching, and enjoying every single second in between....

Started out the visit with my first REAL sushi!!! It was delish!!! Good thing Aaron and Calie knew what to order...Cory and I might have sat there for two hours pondering the menu!!!

Our feast! My favorite was the Sea Monster...followed by a close (I forgot the name but it's up in the top, right corner. White fish something, maybe?!?!)

At the "Do Division" street fest!

All (dry) and ready for our Extreme Sea Dog boat ride....VERY windy, though!!!!

Ready to board....

Before....

After....

Cory & Cal...notice that they ended the adventure just about as dry as they started it. Aaron and I think the captain OBVIOUSLY favored turning and spinning the boat in whatever direction soaked us!!! Ha!

Part of the view from out on the boat. The sun only made a couple appearances this day, but that didn't put a damper on our fun!!!

Hanging out at Big Star (Aaron's favorite) and attempting to wait out the random rain showers!!!

Back at the street fest!!! Shortly after this pic was taken, we met up with Fortman and finished the night laughing even more and playing a few rounds of darts. Let's just say the laughs were way better than my dart throwing. Apparently, I'm out of practice!!!! 

FANTASTIC seeing you three and here's to making this an annual thing!!! 

(And, Zac...you are so joining us next time!!!! Have fun in Spain!!!)

#sibsweekendsROCK

B-Ball Season Celebratin'...

Trey only has one more basketball game left this season and the team has been working so hard and improving so much, that the coaches decided to take the boys to celebrate in place of their normal, weeknight practice....

 

They all met up at a local pizza place and had a BLAST! In fact, Taylen and I couldn't even keep up with them and their game cards, so I was only ended up with a few shots that weren't blurry or unfocused.... little stinkers!

 

 

Basketball Buddies....waiting for some bumper action!!!

 

Grabbing a gold ball and getting ready for a little putt-putt action....

 

 

Don't think there were any hole-in-ones this time, but they definitely sailed through three round of golf in about 15 minutes!!!

 

After about two hours of celebrating the season fun, including about 10 rounds on the bowling lane "battling" each other, Trey helped his little sis and gave her a chance to get her bowl on. What a great helper...and, Miss Tay had a blast feeling like one of the "Big Kids"....after all, she was EXTREMELY patiently waiting in her stroller all night.....

 

 

Big Bro helping her keep her balance as she gets ready to roll that ball down the lane....

 

Watching it slowly knock down a couple of pins....

 

A shot of her "celebrating" her roll....she did this after each and every try. Look at that smile...so excited!!!

 

Trey Man....THANKS for taking time after having fun with your buddies to help your little sis and make her feel special. She definitely had a great time!!! (And, Miss Ty...you were all ready to join us, but had to stay with Grandma all day after coming down with a tummy bug....) You are all better now and ready for the school carnival tonight! Round 2, here we come!

Bath-Tub (not-so) FUN!

So, even though you're as absolutely adorable as you are, I'm thinkin' this is probably going to be the last time you three end up in that tub at the same time...

 

 

After lots of splashin', dumpin' water on heads, fightin' over the Toy Story washcloths (even though there were THREE), tea party interruptin', hoop shootin', and mermaid kidnapping, it's fair to say that we will stick with the usual "girls in the tub, Trey in the shower" bath night routine!

 

I know you guys had a blast getting all cleaned up, but we definitely don't have big enough bath tubs to keep three from being a crowd!!!

 

Love ya's, you cuties!!!!

 

BUNCHES!

A Happy Mommy Heart....

 

Look simple enough, don't they?!?

These two little hats really tested me the other day, as all three of my children do everyday of this Mommy Journey I'm on.

These hats were made by Miss Tylee Jean at school...one for her and one for Trey.

Can't you just see the effort, creativity, and love pouring from each one of them? I sure can.

They were one of her many fun craft projects and I'm sure they took a while. She carefully, patiently, and thoughtfully took the time to make one for her Big Bro.

I can just see her bellied up to the table at school, with the markers. sequins, and glue in her cute little hand, thinking intensely about which color to put where. She even chose to write his name on his in red because, "..that's his favorite color." They are so Tylee.

Which is why, as I picked her up that day and saw how stinkin' excited she was to give Trey his "special" hat she had made him, I found myself a little scared.

Scared that her big, "I'm in 1st Grade", so cool brother just might not react the way she was expecting him to.

Scared that her HUGE smile might fade a little or her wondrous 4 year-old excitement might dwindle...

As I drove from the girls' school over to grab Trey, listening to her tell Tay all about the hat she made and how much she knew Trey would love it, I honestly contemplated telling him ahead of time and insisting that he react with surprise and not hurt her feelings. I just couldn't bare the thought of her thinking he didn't like it.....

(Please tell me you other Mommies out there have the same thoughts...I mean, after all, it is my job to raise my children with respect.)

On one hand, I wanted Tylee to get the response she had been hoping for and the one she deserved, but on the other hand, I didn't want to tell Trey how to respond, knowing that he's a little too old to still have to be told how to act. Surely I've modeled for him and guided him towards loving behavior....right?!?! I saw this as a possible opportunity to see how Trey would react to his sister's surprise....

Not 100% sure of what I should do...I headed into grab Trey, signed him out, and asked him about his day as we walked back to the car. I did not mention Tylee's hat.....

And, guess what?!?!

The second Trey opened the van door, Tylee yelled, "Surprise, Trey! Look what I made you at school today! It's your own hat...just like mine. I colored it all your favorite colors."

Smiling and holding my breath....the response from Trey was AMAZING....

"Cool. Thanks, Tylee! I love it. The colors are perfect."

As she handed him the hat and he put it on his head with a smile and made his way back to his seat to buckle up, I closed the van door, climbed into the driver's seat with the sweetest, single tear rolling down my cheek.

Their interaction was beautiful and GENUINE.

Which TOTALLY makes my mommy heart HAPPY.

(I know things won't always go down like this...but, for this little moment in time, everything was perfect. And, I did thank Trey later that night, as I tucked him into bed, for being such a great big bro and responding so supportively to her surprise. It meant a lot to his sister and it meant A TON to me.)

Big Time Helpers...

Trey and Tylee are really very good with their little sis. Sure, they like to sometimes get into her personal space, pick her up like a baby doll, and "wrestle" a tad too rough, but overall, they are fabulous at being a big brother and a big sister. Just look at all the AWESOME help they were there to give as Tay was busy mastering her first major big girl steps.....

I seriously cannot tell you just how much those pictures MELT MY HEART!! I mean, I know how fast-paced a 6 year-old and a 3 year-old can be. How much they LOVE to run everywhere and anywhere. How  much they want what they want, when they want it. So, the fact that they each grabbed a hand and walked SLOWLY with their little sis just makes me so proud. And, what about below...as they played ball and were sure to include Tay in whatever they happened to be doing....

Trey and Ty...I am so PROUD of the AWESOME big brother and big sister you are being to Miss Tay. She absolutely adores you both and wants to be right there and involved. Seeing you three all happy, laughing, and having a good time together makes all the little things, like pregnancy stretch marks...LOL, all worth it!!! THANK YOU, you are helping her more than you know!!! I'm excited to see you three go from my little munchkins to my three musketeers!! So. Fun.

XXX's & OOO's

~Mommy