Chicken Coup and a Jeep for 3!!!!!!

The three girls finally found a way to all ride!

We have really been enjoying the break from the heat.  The girls decided it was time to clean up the jeep and take it for a spin.  They love driving to far off lands (in the North this time????) in search of a better "home" for their family.  Gabriella is usually the ring leader and they decided this time to take their "kids" with them.  I had to break out some bungee cords and get all "raised with all boys" on the jeep to keep them all on.  

Found a way to keep them all on!

They also decided to have a chicken coup to help feed their family.  Anything that is a bird, including Wheezy from Toy Story, got to "lay" some eggs.  Gabi kept going out and checking the box throughout the day to collect the eggs.  They made me some yummy egg soup and boiled eggs . . . . . delicious!  Guess who got to clean out the chicken coup?  Yes, that was my job!

The chicken coup, complete with a talking toucan!

I love having children with such a healthy imagination.  They are always entertaining and it helps them learn to play together nicely.  I am always wondering what will happen next.  Will we be on a safari and riding lions or will we be getting ready for the next Royal Ball?  I guess only time will tell.

 

A package from "Brown"

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Who knew a little package from our friends at the Postal Service could bring so many smiles and giggles (most of them from me).  We finally got our tickets for vacation coming up next month.  I love Disney and vacationed there even before I had kids.  I think Michael and I will be the parents dragging their teenagers to Disney Parks when they would rather be sitting on the beach!

The girls and I made a vacation count down chain over a month ago.  I am trying to help them realize why Mommy is making her famous lists and dragging out suitcases.  It takes a long time to pack for a family of 5 and not forget necessary items.  It helps them to see how close it is getting and keeps them from asking me so often.  They take turns tearing off a chain each day and see it getting shorter and shorter.

Gabi helping with the chain and practicing her name!

We have a very exciting and quite possibly crazy plan for our trip.  We fly out to CA and meet up with our vacation buddy, Uncle Eric.  He is probably the only family member or friend we have brave enough to travel with our clan for an extended period of time. . . . . . . voluntarily!  The girls love him and he loves them so it is a win, win situation.

We will be staying at the Disneyland Hotel for 10 days!  I am terribly excited to not have to cook or clean.  I am so looking forward to enjoying my kiddos and husband.  We plan to spend about five days at the Disneyland and California Adventure Parks.  The other days will be spent driving to San Diego for Sea World, Legoland, the beach and possibly even the zoo.  Squeeze in a trip to see grandparents a time or two and we should be just about CRAZY!  I know the kids will have a blast and I can't wait for Gabi to show her little sisters all the sites.  I hope we sleep some during the trip and look forward to many hours of looking at photos and watching videos!

A Very Merry Unbirthday to Gabriella!!!!!

Our oldest daughter, Gabriella, will be SIX this month and what a rough age that is.  Well, rough for me.  It is hard to see her baby teeth go and big kid teeth come in.  It is hard to hear her talk like a big kid and not be able to shop in the toddler section anymore at Gap.  How will I ever make the three girls dress alike????  She has really come out of her shelf the past two years and still amazes me with the things she says and does.  I love watching what she is becoming even if it is a little hard.  Love you Gabsie!

The Queen of Hearts ready to "chop off their heads" for painting her roses red!

This past Saturday we had her "Very Merry Unbirthday" party.  We had a fantastic time and we managed to pull it off with lots of help from grandparents.  We had the Queen of Hearts with her Card Men painting the roses, complete with flamingos ready for a game of croquet.

Gabi being silly and kissing the flamingo!

The caterpillar puffing out his smoke letters.

Along the other fence was the Caterpillar and Singing Flowers.  I think everyone felt like they were in Wonderland with all of the decorations.  In between these two sets was the Mad Hatter's Tea Party (kids table) with lovely lamps and tons of tea pots.  Covered by a canopy to try and beat the August heat.

  The Cheshire Cat made an appearance in the form of a game, pin the mouth on the Cheshire Cat.  The kids thought this was so much fun and it gave the parents a chance to eat and visit.  

You can barely see the Cheshire Cat behind all of the mouths.

The other game we played was toss the bean bag in the tea cup.  I was surprised how well all of the kids did.  Mom and Caitlin made bean bags with the card suites on them and we let the kids toss them from about four feet out.

We had yummy food, all (well almost all) selected by the birthday girl.  A huge pile of Chick-Fil-A nuggets, chips, fruit and veggie trays filled up everyone's tummy. 

Gabriella wanted cupcakes this year with whipped topping.  We used the cutest picks for them, courtesy of Paper & Cake from Etsy.  My mother also made a pocket watch cake with the label, "I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!"  I can't seem to find a photo of it.  I will add one later.

All the kids left with a slice of the favor cake.  Each one was packed with toys and yummy treats.  We also had bubbles with coordinating tags that read, "thanks for coming."

As everyone left they passed back through the rabbit hole to leave Wonderland.  We even had little white rabbit tracks leading up to the hole and signs which read, "up," "this way," etc.  

Gabriella had a magical time which makes it worth all the hard work.  I can't wait to see what we will come up with next year.  I am still wanting to skip down the yellow brick road but there is already talk of flying on magic carpets again?  

Thanks to everyone who came and shared Gabriella's 6th birthday with us!

Finished With Diapers . . . . . .maybe??????

Diaper pail out by the curb!

The day after snapping this photo, I clean up pee off the floor twice???  What????  I guess I was a little presumptuous with my celebration.  We have been "working" on potty training for what seems like a year and I thought we were done.  I must say we are half done with Carmella now sleeping in panties.  Isabella, however, has had a relapse and seems to want her diapers and pull-ups.  I think we may never finish supporting diaper manufacturers.  I keep thinking of ways I would spend the money when diapers are no longer needed.  I also want so bad to not pack diapers when we go on vacation next month and look at these cute, little bottoms!!!!!

Carmella playing shy with her Princess panties.

Isabella more than happy to show her bum!

Okay, since it has taken me a week to finish this post, here is the update.  Carmella, fine.  Isabella, back to wearing panties (other than to sleep) and not peeing in the floor!  Small victory and I will still keep pull-ups on hand but making progress.  With Gabriella, she potty trained herself around age two and never looked back.  One small gift she gave her Momma.  These girls, I am convinced, would wear pull-ups for ever without a little nudge from Mom.  Oh well, if parenthood were not filled with highs and lows, how boring it would be.