A little taste of my own medicine...Skipper!)

After our indoor swimming session Lyv refused to take off her swimming suit. She loves it - the only way I could get her to put a diaper on was to allow her to wear her other dry swimming suit. Now those of my family will be laughing right now... because as a child I too was OBSESSED with wearing my swimming suits. I wore them everywhere, and if necessary underneath everything including my dresses at church. I got a nickname from this: Skipper. So I guess I deserve this torture a little bit right?

HOWEVER, and yes CAPITAL letters are NECESSARY for this.... I don't know what I did to deserve the sassy little misses that Lyv can be on occassion. The other morning as we are scrambling to get Sam to the bus on time (which in and of itself is a feat) she decided that the clothes I picked her weren't quite right! Seriously, she knows what shirt goes with what pants. Once I got the outfit right, through screams and crocodile tears, I'm attempting to read her mind as to which shoes work with the outfit she's allowed me to put on her. I guessed wrong! BIG mistake! I begin to just grab her and go, but she's now crying so hard that she throws up! Nice huh? So not only don't we make the bus on time, but I have to change her clothes again, clean up the floor, and throw a load of laundry in the washer, and still attempt to get Sam to school on time! Aye,Yie, Yie! The boys never have had the crying vomit - so I'm checking this off as an OMG - Oh My Girl!

Our Indoor Swimming Pool

Between cold temperatures, snow-rain storms, and battling colds the kids and I had hit a wall. We'd played every board game, built all the lego-Lincoln Log-train tracks we could, read and re-read books, cared for babies and whipped up several gourmet delights in the kids' kitchen: but we're out of things to do!) So the only solution that I could think of last second was a quick day at the beach.

I filled up the big tub with nice warm water, the Jack and Lyv donned their swimming suits and got their swim on! The kids loved the idea and I loved that we weren't resorting to TV or the Wii; at least not yet!

Snow....

Look at the pure squeeling delight in Jack's face as he coasted down the hill behind our house! I am not a fan of cold, but I do love a fresh snow that allows for shoveling, sledding, and snowmen-snowballs-snowforts- okay you get the idea. We got our first real snow of the winter season, and the kids were thrilled to be outside in it. Even Lyv seemed to enjoy it. While Shawn and I shoveled our incredibly long driveway (not such a fan of that); the kids played. After the second day of snow our kind neighbors came to our back aching rescue and plowed us out with their plow!) I can say how cute Lyv looks in her Moo-Moo's.

Sam was too busy to ever get a real good picture, but he is by far the biggest snow lover - he can play all day out there.Finally after coming inside, I was picking up the house and tried to find Lyv. I couldn't see her anywhere to I called out her name, and still couldn't find her. Suddenly I hear a little chatter coming from inside the bathroom, but she is no where to be found - I listen more and finally realize that the noise is coming from inside the cupboard. I swing open the door, to her delight, because she thinks she's playing a clever game of hide and seek - and she's found a new favorite spot: Just Lyvie size!

Weekend with Mom... as in Me

As much as I would have loved to have a weekend with my mom or mother in law - it was just me! Shawn took off to Texas this past weekend to help out with new resident interviews, so that left me and the three kiddos solo for four glorious days. Honestly I was kind of dreading it, because the kids and I rely so much on the break in the day when Shawn swoops in and makes us laughs, wrestles, and allows me to have adult conversation. But to my pleasant and happy surprise we had a great weekend. We stayed up late every night, watched movies, played games, ate kid friendly and mom friendly food, and I got to sleep by the two most handsome boys in the world. I loved waking up with the two of them and chatting a little before we rolled out of bed in search of breakfast and morning cartoons. Church wasn't even the usual circus that it normally is, and I was so thankful to Samantha for having us over for dinner Sunday night.

Because it was Martin Luther King Day - Sam had the day off, and we headed up to Albany to the New York State Museum. It was packed full of interesting exhibits including a very impressive display of September 11th. I was again awe struck at the horrific nature of that day and how it forever changed us all. Even the kids seemed to notice a difference in the atmosphere in that part of the museum. We topped it off with a ride on an 112 year old carousel. Lyv loved this so much she was crying hysterically as I attempted to pry her little fingers from the bar.

I forgot my camera - so this is best I got on Jack's little camera from Christmas. Speaking of forgetful....We (my friend Samantha and her girls came with us) also hit up the mall there, which offers a little more variety than the mall here in Kingston. My sole purpose in going to the mall was to exchange something, but of course I forgot it at home! Seriously I'm losing my mind - I made a trip today to get an ink cartridge and bought the wrong one! I do this ALL of the TIME! It's so frustrating.... This morning we woke up to snow, our first official snowfall of the winter - which I'm okay with it being our last. Jack did enjoy a little romp outside. Notice the newest of scars on Jack's head - this from falling off his scooter and magically landing on his head directly on the bar. But he's still smiling:) Lyv is more of a fair weather gal, and this is about as "outside" as she was willing to get! Don't you just love those yellow boots (wrong feet) - thanks Grandma Julie, they are to die for. Lyv also got a special little package in the mail from Grandma Great - Lyv's name sake, my Grandma Jeanne. She sent Lyv a super cute cupcake necklace, just because. Lyv opened it and squeeled "Pretty!" She loves it.

Kindergarten is Kool

I've been pretty pathetic in my postings of Sam's kindergarten experience! He has been loving school, and his teacher has been wonderful. Sam is a great student, which is no surprise since he loves learning. He is the ideal - soak up all the knowledge sponge-like student....probably because he likes to know more than everyone else around him (this may or maynot be a Hill family genetic trait!) I've been able to go into his class a few times to see him in action, and it has been a delight. His classmates are such cute kids, and it is fun to see the face that goes with the names I hear about at home. Sam got to bring home Corduroy today and he was so excited to have him here! Each day he comes home with new things to tell, and new projects completed and I'm amazed at all the fun things he gets to do. Say what you will about public education, but it is such a gift to live in a nation that believes EVERYONE should be educated. I am a HUGE advocate of anything that will benefit the improvement and enhancement of public education - and I am grateful for the teachers who give so much of their time, talents, and money to provide exceptional educational experiences to their students.

No Joke, the never ending hysterics of Jack

Jack came running out of the bathroom the other night with this little piece of wonderful trailing behind him!

Seriously doesn't this only happen in the movies? Not in our house, this is something that could only be Jacked!

Girl Girl Girl

Our little lady is such a girl! I mean aside from the obvious female attributes, she dances, sings, prances, twirls, hugs, kisses, and bustles around the house cleaning up, bossing the boys, and sassy in the same moment smiling at me! Lyv has been talking so much lately and literally speaks in full sentences, especially when she is talking to the boys. She yells, "Jack, it's ready!" at every meal; and she asks me "How come?" mimicking Jack. One of my favorite expressions is her "Yeah!" She usually says it through hiccuping tears, and manages to say it with so much gusto its hard not to giggle at her. A few weeks ago I came downstairs after getting ready and had earrings in (a little bling!) and she said "Mommy pretty!" She adds so much to our house - sometime too much..... One minute she is happy and giggling and in the same heartbeat she'll break down into tears. It is no mistakes that a little girl wraps everyone around them around their little puggy fingers.

Here she is sobbing because Shawn was leaving to go to Scouts! She doesn't like to be left behind.