Zoo

We’ve been busy this month!  After Logan’s zoo field trip, he mentioned several times that he had wanted to see an elephant but Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago (where we went for his field trip) didn’t have any.  I looked online, and Brookfield Zoo (the other Chicago zoo) didn’t have any elephants either.  The closest zoo with elephants was in Indianapolis.  So, taking advantage of a Friday with both Luke and Logan off for the day, we headed down to Indy Zoo.

Highlights of our trip:

• Emily fed a giraffe.
• The dolphin show.
• The splash pad.

Disappointments of the trip:

• Field trips, field trips, everywhere!
• The penguin feeding (we specifically waited for it, hoping for some diving action or something, but it was just a zookeeper dropping a fish in each penguin’s mouth and marking it on a clip board.)

  

Mommy spa

In honor of Mother’s Day this weekend, I got a spa treatment today.  A full spa treatment, complete with manicure, pedicure, massage, makeup application, and hairstyle.  I bet you’re all jealous.

My technician for the treatments was Logan, and the “spa” was his school gym.  We had 8 stations to cycle through with 6 minutes per station.  Calm and relaxing.  Logan greeted me by handing me a water bottle with my name on it (in his handwriting).  He was excited to see me.  At our first table, the refreshment table, he brought me a slice of shortcake with raspberries.  All the raspberries fell to the floor as he handed me the plate, but said I didn’t care and ate them anyway.  The gym floor is cleaned daily, right?  I didn’t eat much of the shortcake because Logan claimed he was hungry and wanted a bite or two… or most of it.

My mommy makeover went into full swing in the next few stations.  Logan applied my blue eye shadow and pink blush with the great concentration and skillfully mixed three lipstick shades to create the perfect hue.  The pedicure took me a bit by surprise when he applied the blood-red nail polish not only to my toenails but also to my toes themselves and even in between my toes.  I can truly say this was a one-of-a-kind treatment, and the final effect was nothing short of a “I just walked barefoot through shards of glass” appearance.  (And all the while I was biting my tongue since I had just painted my toenails this morning.) 

The manicure was a bit better.  Hot pink was his color of choice, and for the first time I didn’t have to worry about chipping my nails post-manicure since each nail had only a haphazard stripe down the middle giving it the “I’ve had this same nail polish on for weeks” look.  After the polish dried, Logan treated me to a hand massage, but the huge bottle of Lavender-scented lotion (sunblock?) refused to rub into my skin, so I removed most of it with a kleenex (although the scent remained).  At the hair station, Logan lovingly brushed my hair.  All hygiene aside, I could have remained at that station for rest of the afternoon, but then Logan pulled out the aerosol hairspray and started spraying.  In one spot.  He didn’t move the can until I had hairspray dripping down my neck and I gently encouraged him to “move it around a little, honey.”  (He moved it to the other side of my head and created another crunchy section).  A few plastic barrettes and a child-sized blue headband and my mommy makeover was complete.

Logan was so proud of his work.  He was especially proud when we got home and Audrey oohed and aahed over how beautiful I looked.  She couldn’t believe Logan did it all by himself.  And when I tried to take off the too-tight headband that was giving me a headache, they assured me it was necessary to leave it on to show Daddy when he got home.

My favorite moment of the spa treatment, however, was the reading station.  Logan picked out the book You Read to Me, and I'll Read to You: Very Short Mother Goose Tales to Read Together.  We took turns reading the lines back and forth down the pages of the stories.  It was dramatic and funny and enjoyable for both of us. 

We had a great hour of quality time together, creating a memory.  Makeover and all. :)

101

Logan had his 101st day of school today, so his class celebrated by watching 101 Dalmatians and dressing like puppies.  Logan made a dog tag, ate “puppy chow,” and got a puppy patch painted on his eye during school.  Cutest 6-year-old pup I’ve ever seen! 

Spring

We’ve been busy lately, but I wanted to take a minute to update the blog.

We had some pictures taken of the girls last month (Audrey 3 years, Emily 18 months), and I think this one is my favorite. 

Audrey is 3 and full of life!

And Emily is now 20 months and is just coming into her personality.  She’s coy, cuddly, and sweet but she can also be loud and playful.

Logan is playing tee-ball this spring and seems to like it so far.  He also enjoys going to the driving range with Luke.

As a family, we also enjoy a Family Kindermusik class every Tuesday night.  Here are the kids playing some coffee can drums.

Logan is finishing up his Kindergarten year this month.  I was able to go on his field trip to the zoo last week and loved it that he wanted to sit next to me on the bus on the way home.  I know it’s only a matter of time before he requests that I not come on the field trip with his class!

I had a group of 4 kids from Logan’s class to keep with me for the day.  They kept me running!

See the tiger?  We heard him roar! (Or maybe he was purring, but it was pretty loud.)

The giraffe is behind the kids.  See him between the trees?

All this activity along with a trip to Michigan, a Breuker family reunion, visits from grandparents and great-grandparents, Grandparents’ Day at school, MOPs, a few playdates, an enjoyable dinner date with friends, some family game nights, and a lot of time spent outside, and you have our spring so far. 

Easter Sunday!

 

We had a great Easter Sunday! As Audrey says, “Jesus rosed from the dead!” It was even more special this year because the kids were able to grasp a little more about the explanation of Good Friday and the miracle of Easter. He has risen!

We went to church and then went to my parents’ house for lunch. Then the kids did an Easter egg hunt all around Papa and Nanny’s front yard. Logan wanted to help hide the eggs this year…. but then he also wanted to help find them. Hmmm, I think someone’s a bit smarter that we think! Anyway, we came home with quite the stash of candy.

     

We took a video toward the end of the egg hunt. You can watch it if you want (or maybe you’d rather skip the surprise ending…).

 

Annnnd…. we have the first skinned knees in the Darling household. Somehow I’m not surprised that Audrey would be first.

Audrey’s Birthday Celebration

I’m slowly catching up… :)

We had a fun time celebrating Audrey turning three!  Here’s a glimpse of our time celebrating with her.  It was simple, but she loved it!

The week before her birthday, we brought her to a store she’s been eyeing every day on our way to Logan’s school.  It’s called “Tiny Toes Ribbons and Bows” and has pretty toddler dresses, skirts, and headbands in the window displays.  She was excited to try a few things on.

On her actual birthday, Audrey got to use the “birthday plate” all day, and that made her feel special already at breakfast (waffles and bananas).  Then I put her hair in a ponytail at her request, painted her fingernails pink, and we called a neighbor girl to come over and play for a few hours.

At lunch time, I let her open one present, a sing-a-long DVD with Disney princess songs.  It’s the first time she’s seen these princesses on the screen.

   

Watching Disney with her siblings and sucking her thumb in the living room for the last time (we restricted Lambie and her thumb to the bedroom starting the day after her birthday).

We had a special birthday dinner with her favorite meal: pizza casserole, corn, applesauce, and pink lemonade to drink.  Papa and Nanny came over too.

Gifts… she couldn’t wait to open them!

A personalized beach towel, sunglasses, and flip-flops from Papa and Nanny.

Logan picked out a gift at Dollar Tree for Audrey and wanted to write the gift tag by himself.  This warms my heart on so many levels!

Her new outfit from mom and dad (the one she picked from Tiny Toes Ribbons and Bows).

New rain boots and a new silver backpack!

     

Audrey didn’t want to wear her new outfit at first, so Emily put it on instead. ;)

Then Audrey decided she wanted it back.  :)

The cake.  Audrey LOVES cake.  She requested one with Ariel, flowers, and pink sprinkles.  I think the local bakery did a great job!

Audrey approved.

We sang the birthday song to her twice, because once just isn’t enough.  :)

The second time through, Logan tried to beat her to blowing out the candles, but she was quick to blow as well!

After the party, Audrey gave complimentary “hair cuts” to anyone who would sit on the steps for her.

We love you so much, Audrey Pearl!  You add so much energy, hugs, laughter, drama, and sheer volume to our family.   xoxo