A stumble and strangers

The other day on my way home from the library, I crossed the road with all 3 kids in my stroller and was going to go up the 1 inch dip in the curb for strollers/wheelchairs and my stroller instead jammed right into the tiny curb and my stroller collapsed folding up all of my kids into it. I fell on top of the entire pile of collapsed metal and breakable children, my littlest Paxton was on the bottom. For that eternity seeming second, I felt very alone (as my brain did that slow motion "Nooooooo!")...but before I could even stand up straight and check on the kids (who I feared had broken bones and I didn't even want to see what happened to Paxton's poor head likely hitting the pavement) a DOT type truck stopped in the middle of the road, the man was already standing behind me asking me if I was okay. Another lady was at my side, her car pulled over to the curb. She reached her hand out for my arm to comfort me. They both asked if we were okay. I didn't even have time yet to assess the situation. Riley cried said "ouchie" a few times. Cailen was fine but stunned, Paxton was crying which was a good sign I guess. When I picked Pax up he was fine. The man made sure we were all good and left as he kinda was blocking traffic. The lady stayed, assured me *though I didn't know I needed assurance-didn't have time to feel like a failure or feel embarrassed* that things like this happen and that it was okay. She went on to tell me that her daughter is wheelchair bound and their sibling who was relatively small was out walking her one day and some how, the wheelchair flipped forward throwing her daughter on her face with the wheelchair on top of her. The sibling was too small to be able to lift her and the chair back up....NO ONE stopped to help her. THAT is why she stopped to help me. She knew what her children went through as strangers didn't care enough to help and make sure they were okay...Her brown eyes were so fixed on mine and so sweetly comforting as we talked. Little does that woman know or realize I'm sure just exactly what effect she had on my day. It was simple and profound. It was like my soul was hugged for a moment by an angel....My kids were all fine. And I walked away feeling blessed instead of traumatized by the encounter. I will surely stop if I ever see someone in such a predicament in the future.

A Free Cloth Diaper, WHAT!?!? :D

I traded a hat for a diaper recently with Alexis, the maker of Tantrums Cloth Diapers. I love the diaper I got and the gal who makes them is awesome. Please check out her giveaway here! :) This is Pax modeling his lovely blue dipe. :) Super trim, super soft and sleek with a bamboo insert!

Soaking in the last of 2 the first of 3...

Needless to say, my Riley is now 3. Wow. This is a long blog, I apologize for that in advance. But for MYSELF, if no one else. I needed to keep some details...I realize as my second baby is already 3, time is flying...and I want to remember some little things beyond the crazy amount of pictures I take. Bear with me. ;)

Yesterday I spent time planning little things for today in my mind, to celebrate, while her party is still days away. She knew her party would come soon, but she didn't realize her actual b'day would come sooner. So, I didn't tell her right away.

Yesterday was fairly normal by day, the evening brought t-ball for Cailen in the hot muggy weather (I told Riley as we all hopped in the car that her birthday was in the morning, she looked pleased but had to grasp the fact that she wouldn't have a party YET...thoughtfully she reminded me that Cailen had a Tinkerbell party...I reminded her that she WOULD have a party, just not yet...I knew that would confuse her!!) then we skipped the after practice playground routine and headed over to a creek to dip our feet. I don't think the girls had ever gone to a creek to play before so it was a nice thing to do spur of the moment. I looked at my marshmallowy sweet cheeked Riley with her ponytail and her face framed by her Disney princess sun hat, her fuchsia shirt and ruffled denim skirt and soaked in the last fun times of my TWO year old...Flip flops were kicked off on the rocks, toes were dipping in and out with bits of hesitation in the small creek, little girls were testing the feel of the spongy plant growth beneath her water covered feet. She and Cailen picked leaves and watched them float away down the miniwater fall-a bit symbolic of this moment in time that I was trying to hang onto in my mind and yet how quickly I knew it would pass and be flooded by more current memories... Little giggles and smiles abounded. An unpleased squeal from Paxton as I dipped his feet in momentarily filled the air. Our little family was all together sharing a sweet moment in nature. I paced on the rocks, enjoying the creepy spongy plants under foot.

We got home in time for some ice pops in the yard and then Cailen, Paxton and I prepared to drive off on a "secret" excursion to buy Ri a b'day present. We told Riley we were going, to prepare for her b'day tomorrow. I gave Ri the standard "hugs and kissies" and "goodbye I love you's" and I told Cailen to do the same...normally she just gives me or daddy the standard routine...but she realized she was leaving Ri (they normally don't spend much time apart) so she took an awkward double take and leaned into the hugs and kissies as Ri threw her arms around her. Riley was pretty excited though we were leaving, because she knew...we were up to something GOOD...for HER. She told me she wanted to follow us to the kitchen, Cailen reminded her she couldn't come. Riley threw her arms around Cailen again in the kitchen seemingly as a hint ("pick out a good present!" *wink wink nudge nudge*)

So Cailen and I discussed gift options in the car...before we got to the store I knew what Cailen would have tunnel vision for: "Princess Celestia" or as they call her "Princess Ayestia" of My Little Pony tv show. The commercials have been fascinating them for months. We detoured to the kids cloths, bought Ri a hat to lessen sun exposure on her face without needing sun screen, a green dress since she absolutely LOVES green (and seems to like girly dresses/skirts lately)...and...of course...we bought Princess "Ayestia." NOT a cheap pony! Sheesh! We bought goodies for breakfast and dinner and desert. Cailen suggested that Ri would like raviolis, some veggies and of course cake for her dinner.

Ben came over to visit with Kris for an NBA game while he was in town, arrived shortly after we got back from the store. 9:30pm? The girls hung out, Cailen kept her gift secret well. I decided to give them a bath as they would be visiting with Ben's kids in the morning at McD's play place. I wanted fresh hair for pictures (knowing full well they'd be dirty from the playplace-oh. well.) We did the bath thing, combed out their hair, they got inspired to tackle Ben and throw blankets on his head and we were off to bed...just before midnight. Yikes. Poor Ri had been woken up for t-ball and only got a very short nap. Now, she was overtired and doing pretty well...we went to bed...They hid on me behind the bed room door. Cailen gave Ri a subtle hint about her gift "It has wings and it lights up!"...I reminded her to keep her secret. Silly girl. Ri had a meltdown out of the blue, irrational overtired-ness took over. They fell asleep. Eventually. I snuck off into the night to get my fancy breakfast made up. Bagels that looked nice enough to be cupcakes!

Just as I finished Ri woke up screaming as she did just before falling asleep. Overtired adrenaline soaking her weary brain. She made no sense in her constant wailings of "I wanted...." No matter what we did, she wanted something other than what she told us she just wanted....I remembered that this was the last night she would be my two year old. I tried to get her to calm down. It was tough. Of course it was the first night I had their bedroom window open and I was wondering what on earth the neighbors must think of her screaming...I tried to keep cool, I didn't HAVE to get up to exercise i the morning...that was optional *siiigh*.... Kris ended up helping get her back to bed and sleep. I laid down in bed at 1:31am. My gosh.

The L family was coming at 8am! Had to wake Ri up before that...she was TIRED! So, I gave her her first present the green birthday dress.

She wore that out. Seemed to like it in her bleary eyed gazing. I handed out my fancy b'day bagels and got the kids ready. They we were off, the girls all held hands on the way.
And then they played. For a few hours I think? They had fun.

Ri opened her hat and pony. Then we came home, hung out with our friends, had ice pops, played toys, compared baby sizes, watched a Tinkerbell movie to wind down...

since everyone was seeming exhausted....Time to go eventually approached. Reluctant hugs were given to friends going back to their new far away home. My girls winded down on the computer with some games. Ri wrapped herself in a down throw to warm up from the A/C....then, when Cailen left the room, Ri fell asleep at the computer table (as she often does). Cailen was dying to play with Princess "Ayestia" but Riley had told her she had to wait until her "berttay" to get her own. So Cailen happily played with Princess Ayestia while Ri slept (at the table).

I baked a cake, exercised and eventually all three kids took nice long summer naps...Signs of a great day with friends... My evening continued with making the Cailen suggested dinner menu for Ri.

Sadly, I attempted to write a "3" in her salad dressing... Then, I whipped up a strawberry shortcake. I overheard Cailen ask Riley which princesses she wanted on her cake...I thought we'd go for a simple tasty cake tonight, but it turned into a bit more of a toy adorned princess cake to make her 3 year old self feel special. Three princesses of course.

It tasted good. They were happy.

Soon we were done with the festivities. Riley randomly sang "Happy birthday to Me..." after we ate cake....and they spent the night playing my little ponies. :) When I asked Riley if she had a fun special day she whispered "yes" twice... and smiled sheepishly. After such long naps and a late bed time last night, I sit and wonder what tonight will bring! EEK! :) Happy birthday Riley. You have blessed this family more than you will ever know. We love you so much and are so thankful to call you our daughter.

"Mommy, I was 2 a minute ago..." -Riley

Stay tuned for the Dora party!

Paxton is here!

For months he was known as "Lem" the baby that was once reported to my facebook friends as the size of a lemon...his name, like all of our children's was kept under wraps until he was able to hear it for himself. Even when a hair dresser or the midwife or the nurse asked (just a couple hours before his birth), I had to decline telling them his name as odd as if felt.

It's tradition for us and in this internet/microwave mentality world, I think it's good to wait for a bit of special information once in a while. I was dying to tell people his name, but I also loved keeping a surprise. People constantly us asking "is it this ___? or this___?" was fun, but now that he's here, he transitioned from a loved yet mysterious "Lem" to Paxton. His name means "from a town of peace" and Pax alone means "peace."

Brought into a world, in a country where we have been at war for 10 years, I found the name to have some sense of hope in it. Ryan (named after "his goofy uncle" as Kris likes to tell people) means "little king." I jokingly tell people to keep his name on their radar as he will be a future peace time president, but really even if he lives up to his name in smaller ways, being peaceful and being a leader, being a Godly man someday....what more could we ask?

This is not his birth story, (though I have started to write it down and considered blogging that too), but it's a quick blurb on the name of the small sweet man that was just born into this joyful family on 2-21-2011 weighing in at 8lbs 8 oz. He has been such an easy baby thus far. His homecoming was very delightful and a smooth transition for the girls.

We love him so much and can't wait to see him grow through all those sweet little milestones (sitting, laughing, hugging, crawling, etc) I don't want him to grow too fast as my kids always seem to, but I will embrace those inevitable marks of passing time that help us love the growth despite the bittersweetness of our babies becoming big people all too quickly. He is sweet, he's such a blessing and I can't wait for you to meet him!

The Pumpkin Patch

(Sorry this is late...)My tradition for fall is do as much picking as possible...(AND measure to see if the girls are taller than daddy yet) well, that mostly entails apples and the pumpkin patch but I love, love, love the fall. So, here's our almost too late in the season outing to the pumpkin patch. Good times. :)

When we first got there, Cailen was excited, but just didn't know what to do with her reserved little self.

But soon enough, she was visiting with and feeding goats and looked much more content with this outing.

Ri points out the goats, probably climbing their bridge. Riley wasted no time in learning how to drive a tractor

or making friends with a calf and fake cow.

The hay ride was fun and muddy as usual but the kids thoroughly enjoyed the ride to the corn/pumpkin field.

We picked some ornamental corn.

We picked some baby pumpkins and since the hay ride had no time to spare, we hopped back on pretty quickly!

The next stop was apple cider donuts for snack. Yum!

And then the silliness ensued! LOVE IT!