Time For Me

As I type this, I am taking two hours of "me" time. Boy is it quiet!

The kids have been busy enjoying summer. Playing outdoors, going to the splash pad/wading pool, having playdates and planning to make a "club house". They have four different sets of blueprints drawn, have been creating things to sell to the neighbors to make money to buy the wood and creating the club house "notebook".

We are preparing to start homeschooling on a more regular basis in a few weeks and preparing for Anika's 7th birthday. Can you believe she is going to be 7, I can't.

Orion has decided to crawl MUCH earlier than any of our other children have. He crawls with one leg tucked underneath him and has gotten quite efficient in one week!
Amittai enjoyes watching Orion move around but has not taken the plunge yet. He has found his voice and enjoys blowing raspberries and making funny sounds with his mouth.
They are so fun!

Look for pictures later!

Summer Fun

Rub a Dub Dub, Three Boys in the Tub and More

Well tonight was a big night in the Preisler household, the babies joined Elijah in the big tub for a scrub (and of course a few pictures). Both boys are sitting on their own, Orion cut his first tooth last week and then attempted a fast escape this week (see the pictures). I have known since the beginning I have one mover on my hands but this is quite unbelievable. He is figuring out how to spin around while sitting or plop on the floor and roll. He moves his way to the edge of the blanket when we are outside to play with the grass, he is fascinated by it and would rather be in it then on the blanket. He is alo gaining a reputation for stealing toys from Amittai and taking him to the floor by his hair. He is a very happy boy, always smiling and babbling.
Amittai is continuing to gain rolls and I love it! I am secretly hoping his beautiful blue eyes stay that color forever! He loves to kiss, is enjoying exploring more with his hands and I believe he is getting close to cutting a tooth too. He loves to be talked to and just gazes at you with those blue eyes and smiles.
We have been enjoying going to the local wading pools and parks and even camped with the whole family over the 4th of July.
Check out the pictures!

First Pool Trip of the Summer and More

In a move that some of you would call "crazy" (you know who you are), I took all 5 children strawberry picking yesterday morning (well, kind of) and to a local wading pool yesterday afternoon.
The morning, off to pick strawberries:
It was 7:30 am when we all were up and moving for the morning (late for us). I asked the older 3 if they would like to go strawberry picking and they of course said, "yes". Strawberry picking started at 8:00 about 5 blocks down the road. We rushed to get dressed in grubby clothes as it had rained just a few hours earlier, eat a quick breakfast and get everyone out the door with stroller and water in tote. We pulled in at 8:20 and as I started unloading the van, a lady approached me and said, "before you get your kids unloaded, we are not letting anyone else pick today, we will open again at 8:00 Saturday." So...we loaded back up and headed home with plans to return Saturday.
The afternoon, off to the pool:
Last year we learned of the lovely Park and Rec rule that strollers were not allowed in the fenced pool area, although there is usually plenty of room. This was not an issue last year as Eli was walking and wanting to go in the water anyway. Different story this summer with two babies in tote. So...the babies and I parked under the shade of a tree right outside the fence. We were immediately approached by the lifeguard who asked the ages of the children. She then kindly informed me that they have a rule that any child under age 4 needs a swim diaper to go in the water. Elijah, 2 3/4 years old, took it very well as I explained that I know he does not need it but they have a rule because not all children know where to go potty like he does. After I let my frustration go (and payed her $2 for a swim diaper) the kids jumped in the water and had a blast!!!! The babies hung out with me on the blanket playing and watching the older 3 enjoy the water.
A day of adventure and fun!

Beautiful Sunday Afternoon

Boys and Sticks

Over the last few weeks I spend much of my time upstairs with the babies while watching the older 3 children play outside through the window. I have made an observation that is best described by me sharing with you their activities over a time span of 3 minutes:
Anika and Aubrey: racing down the driveway rolling their hula hoops
Elijah: hitting the basketball hoop pole with a stick
Anika and Aubrey: each playing with a jump rope, one swinging hers on the ground, the other jumping with hers
Elijah: throwing the stick at the basketball hoop pole
Anika and Aubrey: still playing with jump ropes
Elijah: hitting the tree trunk with a stick
Anika and Aubrey: still playing with jump ropes
Elijah: getting hit with the stick as it rebounded back at him after throwing it at the basketball hoop poll
Anika and Aubrey: still playing with jump ropes
Elijah: again hitting the tree trunk with a stick

On another note, being a nursing mom 3 months postpartum with twins, post c-section, clothes fit differently today then they did one year ago. As I worked through my closet this morning to get dressed for church, I chose a denim skirt, dark pink camisole and a pink sweater to wear to fit my new figure. I topped if off with black shoes and while tights. On the way home from church, Shawn turned to me in the car and said, "you look nice today, I am not sure about the Little House in the Prairie look though". Thanks hunny! That is exactly the look I was going for!!!