Birthday Extravaganza and Lots of Surprises!

On Tuesday, I turned 38.  I feel old, particularly having a one-year-old.  Especially since my "cut-off age" for having children was 34.  But, there is nothing I can do to stop the passage of time, so I might as well embrace the fact that I am getting older. Fortunately, those around me are also inclined to embrace the aging process and my birthday week was pretty eventful. It started with a dessert get together with some friends on Monday night. I always enjoy quiet, uninterrupted conversation and it was so nice to have time to catch-up with these delightful ladies.

Tuesday, the kids were extra-special-nice-to-me. They actually made it through the whole day without fighting (which is what I always ask for whenever anyone asks what I want for a gift). It was AMAZING! I didn't raise my voice once the entire day. I had no idea how blissful a peaceful house could be. Unfortunately, it took a lot out of them and even though they also commented on how much they enjoyed the calmer atmosphere, the only commitment I could get for the future was from Kara and that was a weak "I'll try". Thomas had to work, but he had prompted the kids well and they were awesome. At one point, they tried to get me to go and take a nap while they "babysat" Luke for me. We went out to dinner and came home to a made-from-scratch strawberry cake that Thomas and the girls had made. It was one of my best birthdays ever!

Thomas' birthday is 2 days after mine, so we typically do something to celebrate on the day in between. This year, he tried to surprise me, but there was a miscommunication with the babysitter, so the element of surprise disappeared. But, that just meant I got to look forward to the day. Anyway, the plan was for a day at Kings Dominion with just the two of us. We go to KD all the time, in fact, we went three days in a row this week, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

So, Wednesday, just the two of us with a plan to ride all of the rides that we typically can't go on together because one of us has to wait behind with the kids. We got there early and did a a few rides before heading into the water park. I was having a great time, but unfortunately, Thomas got a terrible headache. He pushed through without complaint, but I could tell he wasn't having the best time. We did get to try some new things, including one of the big roller coasters. I even got Thomas to go on the giant swings--300 feet up in the air.  He hated it and his hands were cramped from the death grip he kept on the restraints, but at least he tried :)  We left the park shortly after dinner. I know it is cliche, but we really, really, enjoy being together and it was nice to just focus on each other.

Thursday, Thomas turned 40! Having just finished a book about Pope's Creek, he really wanted to go to George Washington's birthplace. We got there around 10 and enjoyed exploring. It was a beautiful day. There were some master gardeners out working and I loved hearing about the garden and the purposes of many of the plants grown in the 1700s. We had a nice picnic lunch and visited the family burial site. Luke fell and narrowly (like no more than an inch) missed hitting his head on one of the stone plots. The girls are convinced that an angel from the Washington family was looking out for him. I am not going to discount the possibility--the angle and the height he fell from would have resulted in major injury if he had hit the stone. I was actually a bit shaken. But, all was well and Luke wasn't even aware how close he was to disaster.

Even though it was Thomas' birthday, we decided to go to KD after GW birthplace. We were already halfway there. The kids had no idea. We had let them bring their Kindles in the car and that kept them so distracted, they didn't even realize we weren't driving home. Kara did at one point look up and wonder where we were, but we just told her it was an alternate route. We approached KD from the back and the kids were super-excited, Kara just kept saying, "can we go, can we go?" Jack and Anna immediately knew that we had planned the surprise, but I think Kara must have thought we were lost or something. It was very cute. And, it wasn't our only surprise of the day.

We had them put on their bathing suits and went straight to White Water Canyon. It's a raft ride (in the main park) that completely soaks you. Thomas and I had previewed it the day before and felt the kids would love it. They did. From there it was onto Soak City. It was around 2 and we thought we would just stay until the water park closed at 8.  The other times we've done the water park, we have felt more hurried, but since we knew we were going to be there for 6 hours, we were much more relaxed. There was no worrying about doing things quickly to try and accomplish both parts of the park. We had a great time. 

Feeling lazy on the lazy river

You may recognize this Luke position from our Nationals game blog. Luke's favorite form of protest.

We were going to leave at 8, but somehow ended up staying until the main park closed. Thomas decided to try the Drop Tower and Jack went with him! I was so nervous for them. But, Jack got off and pronounced it was awesome, so Anna decided to try as well. Kara and I watched nervously. The twins looked so small, I was a bit nervous that they would just fly right out of the restraint! Of course, they didn't and all three of them loved the ride. It was a super fun, very busy, day.

Thumbs up!

From there, we went to surprise #2--a hotel across the street. The kids were definitely confused by this one. They love hotels and were shocked that we were actually staying at one. They couldn't believe we had packed stuff without them noticing. We then told them about that surprise #3, which was they could choose an activity for Friday. The choices were the Richmond Zoo, a Children's Museum, or another day at KD. By a vote of 2-1, they chose the Children's Museum. Everyone went to sleep easily and happily (it was 11pm after all).

We were all awake by 7:30 the next morning (thanks to Luke) and anxious to start the day. We had our free hotel breakfast and checked-out. The museum was only 20 minutes away. It was pretty nice, but smaller than others we have been to. It would not be worth the 2-hour drive on its own. It also got really crowded with daycare groups, so we only stayed about 2-hours. We were really close to monument row, so we decided to drive down that street before lunch.

This was the girls' favorite area

Perhaps Jack is teaching Thomas the correct way to spell blue?

Stock photo of Monument Row, we did drive by this one.

When we got our annual passes to KD, we added a dining plan. It was pricey, but has been very nice and convenient. Since it was still early and on the way, we decided to go to KD for lunch and let each kid chose one ride. Kara had voted for KD because there was something she wanted to try. I think she felt left out because J&A had tried the drop tower and everyone was so proud of them. We did her ride, which was the Flying Aces, first. She liked it and felt brave. We had lunch and then Thomas, Jack and Anna did the Drop Tower. Then, we just kept adding more rides. We walked through the Dinosaur Area and somehow decided to stay.

One of the life-sized dinosaurs

That one was all Thomas. I was tired and so ready to go. But, everyone was having a good time and it just kind of happened. Kara wanted to try another new ride--Ricochet, which has a small roller coaster feel to it. Kara hates roller coasters and anything with "big hills".  I waited in line with her and Jack and Anna. But, Kara decided she had to go to the bathroom and left the line. She was upset and convinced me to try again with her. So, I did. She was nervous, but determined. I was not forcing, or even encouraging her. We got in the car, got buckled in and she freaked out. She just started crying, "I don't want to do it, I don't want to do it." The attendant came and let us out and we did a walk of shame down the ramp. She was upset with herself and still felt like she wanted to try the ride. I told her I was done. 

A bit later, Thomas took pity on her and back to the line they went (time #3 if you are counting). She got on the ride and started crying again, but this time she still wanted to ride. Thomas said the workers were giving him the evil eye and they kept asking her if she wanted to leave. But, she didn't want to leave. He explained that she was scared, but really wanted to try and finally they let the car go. She hated the drop, but enjoyed the rest of the ride. She isn't sure if she would ride it again, but we were glad she tried something new.

Is it waaaaa! or wheeee! ???  No one knows.

Inspired by Thomas and the kids, I tried the Drop Tower.  Never again!

Don't be fooled by my smile.  Hated it.

Even Luke enjoyed the rides. He rode more than he ever has and actually seemed to enjoy the rides. It was fun to see. 

The only bad part of the day is Anna got stung by a bee. She had her hand on a hand rail and must have touched it. I felt terrible for her. She has awful luck with bees and has been stung more than any of us, and always through no fault of her own. She was barely 2 for her first sting--she picked up what she thought was a dead bug and it turned out to be a hornet with a stinger. Another time, one flew up her dress and couldn't get out. Then, she was just standing on our deck and happened to be directly on top of a nest we didn't know existed. The poor kid is understandably terrified of bees now.

This is getting much longer than I like my blogs to be.  So one more highlight was when Anna and Kara sang "Let it Go" on stage at Kings Dominion.  They have a karaoke show and Kara and Anna were feeling brave and signed up for it.  They did a good job and it was really fun for them. Even though we only stopped off at KD to grab lunch, we ended up staying until closing so we could watch the fireworks. Thus, we didn't get home until midnight.  It was a whirlwind three days and I think everyone is pretty much exhausted.  We all slept in until 8:45 this morning (a record) and today we all plan on just relaxing, bringing to end the 2015 edition of the Kori and Thomas Birthday Weekend Extravaganza. 

Luke at 16 Months

Luke is 16 months old today (at least he was on the 17th, when I wrote this he was.  Now, it is the 19th and I am just getting around to pictures).  For me, one of the most amazing things to consider about this milestone is that it marks the age that Jack and Anna were when Kara entered the world.  They seemed so big and yet he seems so small.  It is hard to believe that at one point, we had 3 babies 16 months and younger. Still harder when I think of how I worked full-time and had a minuscule support system; it was just me and Thomas with our closest friends and family hundreds of miles away. It was not easy, but fortunately, we didn't know any better. 

Life with Luke is so much different. In some ways, it is almost like having an only child. During the school year, the kids are obviously gone for many hours. Even in summer, they have camps or activities that take them out of the home. It is nice to focus on one child and experience just one baby. I enjoy being home to witness the changes that occur on a seemingly daily basis. Of course, there are some difficulties. But, today isn't about those. Today is about focusing on our sweet Little Lukey! 

It is amazing to see the number of changes that have occurred in just a few months.  He is speaking more words and seems to understand just about everything we say (whether he chooses to comply/acknowledge is a separate issue).  He is also better at communicating his desires.  When he is hungry, he will simply go to the cabinet, pick something out and bring it to me.  If he wants to go outside he will go and get his shoes. He is more of a distinct person now, with clear likes and dislikes and the ability to communicate both effectively.

Likes include typing on the computer...

And, sweeping.

He says mama, dada, all done, Kara, Anna, hi, bye bye, no (and no, no, no with a finger wag), yay, book, ball, good (when you ask him how he's doing) and some other things.Like all of our kids, Luke is a pretty good sleeper.  He doesn't generally complain about going to bed at night or even taking naps. 

He loves to give high fives. But, his biggest like is probably balls. He throws with a good forward motion and loves to play catch. Of course, he can't actually catch anything, except a slowly falling balloon, but he loves to try. After watching Kara do countless cartwheels, he has also (sort of) accomplished a somersault. He will put his hands up in the air, like he is going to do something big, then he puts himself in a downward dog position. Sometimes, that's the end, but every now then he'll roll over and then stand up and put his hands in the air with an immense look of satisfaction.

Down dog Luke

Luke really likes being outside. He recently learned to open doors and has tried to escape more than once. He also hates if anyone tries to help him (he will tolerate Thomas or me holding his hand, but gets mad if the kids try and assist). He wants to do everything himself.  He still really enjoys being out and is great whenever we are someplace with lots to look at. When we are at Kings Dominion, he will routinely forgo his naps for the entire day to make sure he doesn't miss anything--and, he doesn't get cranky!  As long as there is lots to see, Luke is content. He (possibly) knows where his nose is, but will also point at his nose when you ask him all the other body parts.  Thomas was hoping for another lefty, but he shows a definite preference for his right hand.

Sometimes, one cup just isn't enough.

He's not a reader yet. He will bring us a book, let us read a page or two, then flip to the end, clap and say yay, as if we just accomplished some major task.  He still adores his siblings. Today, when we picked the kids up from camp, he was so excited. We got Kara first and he just ran in and gave her a hug, then he found Anna and did the same. When we got Jack, he kept trying to "talk" to Jack, but Jack was trying to talk to me. Luke got louder and louder until Jack finally acknowledged him. He listens intently for the door to open and runs to great whoever has come in with a loud recitation of their name and a wave. He especially loves to greet Thomas.

Swinging with his buddy Kara.

Luke is loud. Very loud. He talks all the way through the grocery store (fresh on my mind, because we were there today) in a way that can only be described as yelling. It has gotten to the point where I don't even notice. The other day, we were getting the oil changed. I had brought a snack for Luke and we were there about 30 minutes. I thought he was really quiet, but before we left a woman came out to see him and comment on how she had enjoyed hearing his chatter...from her office in the back.

He also has a bit of a temper. The other day we were at the library and he went to pick up a baby's pacifier, I told him no and the baby's mom put it in her purse. Luke just looked at her with an angry expression and then hit her. It makes us think that hitting must be an innate reaction, because as far as we know, Luke has never seen anyone hit or be hit. The most he gets from us is a "no, no, Luke! with a finger wag (which he also likes to imitate). Fortunately, there is no force behind his aggression. His mood can go from happy to complete dejection in just minutes. He throws himself on the floor in complete hysteria when he doesn't get his way. It generally lasts just a few seconds. Of course, he is also very sweet and loves to give kisses and hugs. Overall, his temperament is fantastic and I consider him an easy child.

Who could resist this sweet face?

He consistently sleeps through the night and thanks to the kids' summer schedule, has been forced into a single nap routine.  The kids still adore him and let him walk all over them. The other day, he had Kara's hair in a death grip and she just laughed and said, "oh, Lukey, please let go." A few minutes later, Anna brushed by her and she howled in pain and demanded satisfaction for the injury. It's good to be the baby.

Fourth of July & Swim Lessons

To kick off the holiday weekend, we went to Fort Washington on Friday, July 3 (originally, we wanted to go on the 4th, but we weren't sure the weather was going to cooperate). We took a picnic and a frisbee and played on the enormous parade grounds for a while. Unfortunately, the grass was a little long and our kids are whiners, so we didn't get to run around as much as we hoped.  But, it was still fun.  After lunch, we parked in the lower lot by the small lighthouse and explored the lower part of the fort, something we hadn't done before.  I am amazed at the ingenuity and skill of the early settlers.  I really just can't imagine how they built such perfect walls without the tools we have available today.  Of course, the same could be said of medieval castles and pyramids and a host of other wonders.  I would love to go back in time and see the process.

The view looking up

Kara wanted her picture taken in front of the small lighthouse. 

On the Fourth of July, we went to the Sotterly Farmer's Market and bought some vegetables and meat, including corn, steak, and ground beef that we hoped to use in our barbecue.  They were offering free wagon rides around the property, which we took full advantage of.  Thomas had just finished reading a book about the history of the plantation, so he was particularly interested in seeing it through his new, knowledgeable eyes.  The wagon ride took about 20 minutes and we really enjoyed it.  

For dinner, we went to Sonic and then on a drive.  We drove through one of the neighborhoods we had considered buying a home in--thank goodness we didn't!  We were getting close to home when a serious downpour began.  Fortunately, it was gone in time for us to go see the fireworks.  Last year we discovered a spot close to our house that offers a good view and easy in/out access. Unfortunately, the fireworks didn't start until 9:45, which felt pretty late for the kids.  Luke stayed awake the whole time and seemed to enjoy the display.  

The kids have been wanting to eat these light-up lollypops for a while.  They were pretty fun (unfortunately, the flash washes out the light up part).

Sunday was a quiet day.  We finally had our barbecue and enjoyed the fresh food from the farmer's market.  It was a good weekend.

On Monday, the kids began their swimming lessons.  I signed Kara up for level 1, Anna for level 2, and Jack for level 3. Jack's lessons went well. He greatly improved his freestyle. Unfortunately, he has trouble floating on his back, which made the backstroke very difficult. The funniest thing was watching him try to dive. He has a mental block and steps off with his feet every time. He sets himself up, hands together, facing the water, with his head all tucked and ready and then he does an awkward little step with his feet. I wish I had taken a video. Poor kid tried so hard, but just never got it.  But, as I said, he greatly improved his freestyle and swims much better and faster now than he did when he first started.

The girls also showed a lot of improvement, on the first day they moved Kara (and several other kids) up to level 2, which I wasn't thrilled with--I feel like she and Anna do better when they aren't together.  Also, she was kind of scared of any pool containing water over her head.  But, she did great.  During the first week, the instructor had to pull her kickboard along, she was so slow compared to the other kids. By the last days, she was fighting for the lead. Both she and Anna have gained a lot of confidence.  On the first day, Anna needed to the instructor to catch her when she jumped off the diving board (and Kara refused to even jump off the side of the 12 foot pool).  Now, Anna does it repeatedly on her own, complete with a good freestyle to the ladder, and Kara is promising that today (the last day) she is going to jump off unassisted--she did it with her coach catching her yesterday.  In fact, they have gained a bit too much confidence for my liking.  It is getting hard to keep an eye on 3 kids, all of whom think they swim a bit better than they really do, particularly when I am toting poor Luke, who has his own ideas about where he wants to go, along. 

Speaking of Luke, we had a terrifying moment at the pool on Tuesday.  I was watching Luke and another little girl, while her mom watched my other 3 and 2 of hers jump off the diving board. Luke was walking around in ankle deep water when the little girl wandered out of the pool (she wanted to go to a different area).  Instead of taking Luke with me (which is what any reasonably intelligent person would know to do), I reasoned he would be okay for the time it took me to retrieve her, after all, there were plenty of people around.  I kept on eye on him while I walked over to get her, but then he walked out of my line of sight.  I am not sure how long it took me to get her, maybe 20 more seconds, but when I ran back to Luke, he was floating on his stomach, kicking his little feet in obvious distress.

Ugh, it makes me sick just thinking about it.  I pulled him out and he immediately started crying and clinging to me.  There was a woman not 4 feet from him and a lifeguard supposedly supervising the pool.  Again, I know this is my fault, I am not blaming them, just pointing out that you absolutely can't rely on other people.  In fact, the week before I walked by a little girl who was going under the water in the manner you see on all those "what drowning really looks like" videos on Facebook.  Her mother was not even 2 feet from her, but had her back to her.  There was a lifeguard, but the little girl was facing away.  They were in a shallow part of the pool (3 feet), but it was over the girls head.  I alerted the mom, who immediately grabbed her and all was well.  My point is that that water is scary, you can't rely on lifeguards and I will be so relieved when Luke learns to swim!  After Luke's incident, I was terrified of delayed drowning and wouldn't let the poor kid take a nap.  Thankfully, he is fine, but it was utterly awful! 

Tomorrow will be another King's Dominion day.  The kids want to go to the waterpark, which I am nervous about.  I think everyone will be wearing a lifejacket (which they hate and will protest).  I think the worrying is what I dislike most about being a parent.  Those panicky moments when all is not well--like Jack wandering off at Kings Dominion and Luke in the water. Sometimes I think I should be more of a helicopter parent, but it's just not my nature (yes, I know the pool was just bad parenting, period).  I hope I am not doing my kids a disservice. Frankly, it's like the parents who leave kids in hot cars. People judge and say it could never be them. And, it never is them. Until the one day it is. I hate knowing that everything can change in an instant.

Hmm, this blog is taking a dark turn.  So, I will end with a cute picture of my healthy, happy Luke.