Back to the Grind

The holidays are finally over, as well as my blogs about it, so we are now back to mundane life.  Of course, I don't mind "mundane" life because I happen to think mine is fantastic.  Although...I could do without the complaining from Calleigh now that school has resumed.  It seemed like we hadn't had much of that over the past month or two but I think the four weeks off from school set us back a bit as far as attitude.  All she has wanted to do this week is play outside and listen to Our Story Hour CD's that she got for Christmas from my parents.  It's tough because when the kids are outside playing so nicely together on a gorgeous day, it's very difficult to make her come in to do book work.  We did work around that a bit though...one of the days we did some of the school work outside with her hanging out in the clubhouse to do her math.  It went surprisingly well so we may do some of that again since this is the time of the year that we can do that kind of thing as far as weather.  Of course, we did have a couple of cold days recently like the rest of the country.  The temperature in the morning was something like 36.  Calleigh opened the door and yelled "It's Massachusetts weather out there!"  She and Aubree ran upstairs and put on their boots, snowpants, and jackets.  Just a BIT overboard but cute nonetheless.

We've been studying the different state birds for Science so it's only fitting to make a birdfeeder.  This was Wednesday.  So far we haven't seen any birds at the feeder although we see them around and hear them chirping.  Hopefully we'll get some activity soon!

Nice day to try and get the boy to use the potty but to no avail.  We would have certainly settled for peeing on a bush.  I mean, who wouldn't have fun doing that??!  Nope!

Since the potty was clean and unused, Colby totted it around so he could take some rest breaks.  

Going back to last week, I had thought maybe I would do some school (we had gotten back from my parents on Sunday 12/28) that week but a cold that was starting on the way home kicked into full force on Monday and I wasn't in any condition to do anything where I had to think too much.  It got progressively worse over the next few days and I finally called my mom for some comfort on Wednesday night only to discover she had the exact same thing.  And it was just the two of us. Somehow the kids didn't get it.  Anyway, instead of school I spent at least a day clearing out a bunch of toys to donate and make room for the new round coming in.  

On Thursday, which was New Year's Day, we went over to Ron and Elaine's in the morning for breakfast and Christmas 2.0.  The kids were only slightly excited that they had more presents. Elaine made a great breakfast, as usual, and we had a leisurely time exchanging gifts.  Calleigh's favorite one was some Lego's which she has really gotten into lately.  She keeps saying how much she loves building things which I'm happy to hear.  Of course, the boys pretty much destroy everything within a day and that's not always a pleasant thing but the joy is in the building, right?!

The other jeep had broken down and this was their reaction.

Brady got some Play Mobile stuff that Calleigh was more than happy to put together.

Brady debuted his new haircut for the new year.  We went to Costco on New Year's Eve (a little crazy) and Duncan got a clipper kit, watched a few YouTube videos, and undertook cutting his first head of hair.  Not sure I would be so brave but I think he did a great job.  Brady was very patient and just sat there as still as can be even though it took maybe 40 minutes.

First the clippers.

Before the top was cut.

On to the scissors.

The finished product.  Once winter is over, I'd like to get back to the spiked hair.

Sunday we went to a birthday party for Jonathan Biri who turned seven.  Brady idolizes Jonathan (who is a really great kid so I can't blame him) so he was thrilled to be invited.  Duncan had a bunch going on so I took the kids.  I had originally planned to leave Colby here but I ended up taking him which was the worst idea ever.  Forget about any sort of a relaxing time.  I spent the whole two hours chasing him all over the place, including, at one point, a baseball field with a game going on.  It was basically torture for me.  Even my brain shut down.  I had gotten the boys these matching shirts and I had said to myself "Make sure you take Colby's off when he eats the pizza so he doesn't get it all stained with sauce."  What do I do?  As I'm getting their lunch, which is difficult while trying to hold Colby, I spot some fruit and give Colby a strawberry to eat to pacify him.  Hello??!!  Yeah, you know what happened.

Brady with the birthday boy.

The matching shirts before the stains.

Colby, Colby, Colby.  I do love that boy despite everything.  It's getting fun because he's starting to say words.  So far, I can decipher the following: bye-bye, hi, Papa, Gigi, mama, dada, dog, car, and I swear he's saying Calleigh.  According to my memory (which gets flimsier each year), he's ahead of Brady with this talking but of course, we aren't in the business of comparing kids.  Ha!

So remember how I said he was so terrible at night while we were gone?  Yeah, it was all a big scam. He has slept perfectly EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT since we've been back.  What a bugger.  This despite the fact that I noticed he has his first molars (teeth # 7 & 8) coming in on the top.  The nap situation is in flux.  I'm trying to do one nap a day.  I'm sure he'd take a long nap at 11:00 if I let him but that makes for an exceedingly long afternoon for a tired mother who needs a break in the afternoon.  So I'm trying to hold him off until the afternoon which isn't so easy when we go somewhere and he tries to fall asleep in the car.  In fact, we stopped at CVS after gymnastics on Monday and he fell asleep in the Bjorn in the store.  When we got to the car, I basically I had to (lightly) shake him and even put him upside down while yelling his name to get him to wake up.  I was getting some strange looks but this is the desperation of a lady who is imagining herself sitting on the couch sipping a Skinny Cow iced coffee she got for $0.25 a bottle at Target while the baby is sleeping soundly in his crib.

A great deal and quite delicious!

 It was an exciting Thursday in the Grodack household yesterday.  When we got home from gymnastics last night, Duncan had a new bike for Aubree waiting for her.  Her old one had a flat tire and really wasn't that great so Duncan cashed in on some gift cards for LL Bean and got a nice bike that is unisex and can be passed on to the boys eventually.  Of course, Calleigh took this opportunity to remind Aubree that after this, she would be getting Calleigh's old bike each time whereas "I will be getting a NEW bike every time because I'm the OLDEST."  Calleigh is finally listening to me...whenever she complains that she's the oldest and has to do the most stuff, etc. I always remind her that there are some major perks with being the oldest.

We also got a new piano.  We've been wanting Aubree to start piano lessons which means she would obviously need one to play.  Duncan researched all the options and it seemed like it would be very difficult to get a piano up the stairs and into the movie room so we decided to go with an electric piano which is much lighter (and cheaper!).  It sounds virtually the same as a "regular" piano but it has the added perk of being able to plug headphones into it which I'm guessing will be nice. Interestingly, Aubree is under the impression that it's her piano since she's the one who will be taking lessons. Brady has taken a great interest in it though too and when Aubree made some comment to him about touching her piano, Brady asked me "Can you get me a piano too?"  As if you can pick it up at Target for $6.99 after coupons or something.  

The box has arrived.

Over the last few months I've been looking into lessons for her and also lessons for Calleigh on the violin.  Ideally, I wanted someone to come here to the house because it would be so much easier for obvious reasons.  But, of course, we live a little "out there" which may make it hard to find someone. So far nothing was panning out so I finally decided to just call a music place about 10 minutes away. At least if the girls could take lessons at the same time, that would be a help.  But alas, the only slots available for violin were on Saturdays.  Fail.  I finally followed up on a referral I had on the piano lessons and told the guy I was in Ocoee and maybe it was too far for him to come but thought I'd ask. And then, it was like a miracle.  He is moving to a house about three minutes away from us and not only that but he teaches violin too!  Ever have that sublime feeling when things just come together and work out perfectly?  That is how I felt.  He's not moving until the end of the month so we have to wait a little bit but that's okay.

I think that catches us up.  A few more pictures before I sign off...

The gift from Shawn and Camille.  

Movie night on Saturday night watching an American Girl movie they got for Christmas.  I love how Brady fell asleep sitting up perfectly.

Anybody need these?  Publix paid me to buy them but I don't need them.

Excited about getting back to gymnastics.

Made these fruit cups from a new recipe book from Papa & Gigi

Get 'em Colby!

Awww, he's growing up.  He finally let me put this on him for a few seconds.

Playing statue after gymnastics.

Another day, another picture of Brady falling asleep.

Love my crew.

We are reading "Farmer Boy" and in the book Almanzo notes that you can fill a glass with milk and another glass with popcorn and then put all the popcorn into the glass with milk and it won't overflow.  So we had to try it!  And it's true.

Aubree decided she wanted to taste the milk.

And then amazingly, so did Brady.

It's a no!

I have a passcode on my new phone that I haven't told the girls but Calleigh figured out that she could still take pictures without having to put in the code so unbeknownst to me, she went on a self portrait taking spree. 

Happy Sabbath!