The Best Day Ever!!!

Today is pure bliss.  Shawn didn't have to work and I didn't have any baked goods to make and the kids didn't have soccer games.  We slept in and have hung out all day.  And to top it off ALL three kids are at birthday parties.  So we bought lunch and are watching a PG-13 show and don't have to worry about kids walking in and having to pause it.  Its amazing, like we're on a mini vacation.  We don't have time or money to go on a real vacation so I'll take this any day.  It'll be great to have the kids back but this is NICE!

Back on Track

Remember when I said I joined instagram and didn't want my blog to suffer?  Well its pretty clear that the blog is suffering but its not because of instagram, its because of my baking addiction.  I've kind of started a bakery from my home.  I"m not sure its really a bakery but I've started making cakes for people and its been really fun.  Well mostly fun I had a huge meltdown this weekend when I had to make 60 cookies, 24 eclairs, a carrot cake, and a huge 18x13 in chocolate cake (I think it weighed about 30 lbs).  It was a huge order but I"m glad I did it.  I"m quickly learning what I can double and can't double.  Eclair cream yes.  Doubling the amount of butter to brown, no.  Well you can but it kind of explodes everywhere (not cool).   I'm also learning how much frosting I need for a sheet cake, 3 batches not 2, and I hate, hate, hate working with cream cheese frosting.  I usually take pictures of all my stuff but I was so close to being late dropping the stuff off that I left my kitchen in a huge mess and ran out the door.  All I can say is I'm so glad Shawn was home, he kept me sane and was really helpful.   I"m pretty sure if he had to work our kids would have been emotionally scared for life seeing me so stressed out.  So I'm going to try and do better with the blog and not just post about food, I know it gets a little boring.  But just so this post isn't super boring I'll share a little story about Graham.
Yesterday after volleyball one of my friends was talking to Graham and she asked him if he missed Devin while he was at school.  Graham's response, "No."  He didn't stop to think for a second.  He LOVES being the only child.

And so it begins

We started our sixth season of soccer this weekend.  With Shawn working at least two Saturdays out of the month it may seem like a long season.  Luckily only Caroline had a game today so it was nice to ease into it.  I don't know how its possible but I think Caroline got better by not playing last season.  Her team lost but I thought she did a better job and they played well together.  It was really fun to watch her play, and for her to realize that she's better at multiple positions and not just defense.  Well enough with me going on, here are some cute pictures of her.

Go Caroline!

She is really good at placing the ball when she throws it in.

I know this picture is blurry but I still thought it was cool.  I'll have Shady take better pictures when she comes to visit.  I felt a little bad for her when she lost her shoe after kicking the ball but she did a great job.  I'm excited for next week.  The boys even had fun, that is after they fought over the chair for the first 20 minutes of the game.  Those boys, good grief.

My kind of weekend

This weekend has been blissful.  I haven't felt so relaxed in a really long time.  I usually enjoy the weekend but this one was different.  I think it was the fact we had absolutely nothing that HAD to get done, Shawn didn't work, there was no soccer, no preparing any lesson or talk for church, no birthday parties.  It was magical.  Shawn was on call Friday night but he gets to hang out from home now on so we stayed up and watched movies until midnight and felt like we were newlyweds (well I did).  I really can't remember the last time we willingly stayed up that late.
Then Saturday Shawn found an awesome bake shop that has tons of fun cake needs like gel colors, food coloring pens, fondant. I even bought things people.  I know I actually spent money on things that are not necessities.  I loved it and could really get used to it.  Anyways the rest of the weekend consisted of hanging out and baking.  I even got to roll some fondant out and let the kids color on it with some of the pens I got this weekend.  They loved it and I was not opposed to eating it.
 The bad things didn't even bother me this weekend.  Devin even got sick last night but Shawn was so nice and took care of him and let me sleep.  I think he may have read the last post I wrote. :)  It was still really sweet and I loved not having to clean up after a sick kid.  I'm actually ready for this next week, its a nice change!
And I have to write about what Graham did today at church.  He sat next to me and during the opening prayer I could feel his little face pressed against my arm.  Then I heard him inhaling and going, "Ahh." After the prayer I looked down at him and he said, "You smell so good mommy." He is so weird, I love it!  And apparently I usually stink!

There when it counts

A few nights ago Graham woke up in the middle of the night because he had a bad dream.  I gave him a hug then put him back in bed.  He came back a little later I think this time for a huge but I could be wrong.  Then Caroline woke up from a bad dream too.  It was not the most restful night for me.  And to top it off Shawn wakes me up almost every morning when he gets ready for work, which is WAY to early for me.  He asked me how I slept I told him how the night went and he said, "Wow I'm really not very helpful during the night am I?"  And in my nicest voice I said, "No you're completely useless."  And I"m ok with that because he's been able to somehow keep me sane for the past nine years and that is quite a feat, so I"m ok with him sleeping through the kids, he's there when it counts.

Graham

This year is going to be pretty interesting with just Graham around.  I really need to watch what I say around him because like I said in a previous post he really does think he's the cutest person EVER.  The other day after playing with his friend he looked at me and said, " Mommy I'm cuter than Pierce."  I told him it wasn't nice to talk like that so he said, "Well just a little bit cuter."  Another time when I told Devin he was handsome he said, "But I'm cuter."  He's also asked Shawn to tell him how cute he is.  I really need to stop telling him he's cute, he's already well aware of it.  

Graham has quite the little mouth on him too.  A few days ago I told Devin he needed to do his chores before playing his Lego Star Wars Wii game.  I was also getting onto Graham for not eating his dinner so he looked at me like he should have figured it out sooner and said, "You're mean mom."  I was a little stunned that he had the guts to tell me that but he quickly apologized.  Life is going to be very entertaining this year. 

Back to School

Yes my sweet little kids went back to school today.  And I was fine with it, until I laid down in bed last night and actually thought about leaving Devin at school, then I cried.  It was probably best to get out all my tears before I dropped him off at school, because I was surprisingly composed this morning.  The kids were really great and woke up got dressed and we were ready very quickly.  I even made eggs instead of cereal for breakfast, what can I say it was a big day.

Apparently three eggs wasn't enough for Devin, he also needed a bowl of oatmeal.

Caroline with all her school supplies.

All ready to go.

We walked to school with our good buddies.  They live right behind the school so we just park at their house instead of the front of the school with the rest of the 800 students.

Just my two cuties.

Devin right by his locker.

And at his desk.  I may have gotten a little picture crazy. 

Caroline at her desk.  She was still a tiny bit nervous, just like I used to be.

And of course the most confident three year old around.  He is quite sure he's the cutest human being ever created.  

Devin loved riding the bus.  

The kids had a great first day.  Devin had no problem with me leaving and seemed very happy his teacher had a super hero theme in her room.  He's going to love her.  And school I think.  Today was a half day and he was very sad he didn't have more time at school.  My day wasn't half bad either, I loved having one kid at home.  I went for a run with my good friend and then we went out for bagels.  It was so fun.  She also has one kid at home so we're going to live it up this year.  This year is going to be awesome!