Art & Movie Time

 

On Saturday, I took the kids to the library for an afternoon of art & craft and also to watch a movie. It was perfect that they had their usual Saturday program, as it was convenient to get out of the house for a few hours, as Chris went back to the dreaded night shift on Friday night, and needed to sleep during the day. It's not easy to get back into the routine, not for him, not for me and not for the kids. They are loud, running, screaming, laughing, giggling, chasing eachother, playing, crying...pretty much like any other 3 year olds I would say. That there is two of them, that argue about the same toys, and anything there possibly is to argue about, cry about, whine about...doesn't make it easy as they would wake Chris up all the time. It's tiresome for them and for me, to try to keep them somewhat quiet and entertain them all the time so that they don't get into arguments and to keep them occupied with all kind of games and things to do.

To get a break and get out, was nice. The library had set up an art and craft room, and they were painting, drawing, gluing, making sunflowers, stamps and lots of other things. Fun, and I love that they are into all this, being creative, it is nice to see them practice patience!!

Isabella was so proud of her sunflower!

And so was Benjamin!

In the end, all kids received a wooden stick, a little cup with chocolate sprinklers and  a marshmallow. A home made lollipop! Put the stick into the marshmallow, lick it and dip it into the sprinklers...Do I need to say that they thought this was a great ending!?!

Isabella was drawing lots of lines in all kind of colors 

and I made a hand print next to her stamp of a zebra.

Benjamin was drawing a lot, but stamping on the same papers and then in the end spilled the water over it, so no drawing to keep this time. I did his hand prints too, plus a pirate ship and a turtle.

During this time, Cassie had been watching the movie "Wreck it Ralph" and when we came to pick her up the movie wasn't quite done yet. The little ones thought that this was fun too, and joined her for the last half an hour.

So when we came home, it was just in time for Chris to wake up and get to work. Not much time in the afternoons together, as he needs to leave pretty much right after waking up, but at least he got to sleep undisturbed. It will be easier for him when he gets used to this shift again, now in the beginning it's difficult.

Later in the afternoon, we emptied the pool and cleaned up outside, so that we could fill it up and enjoy the pool outside on Sunday, as our pool then is closed. I had really felt good the last couple of days, but all the running around and all the extra work that I haven't been doing lately, surely paid off, I'm now back with pretty bad pain in my back and hips. Especially hips actually. I know, I should still take it easy, but as I don't want the kids to miss out of fun due to my backpains, I try as much as I can anyway, and some days are pretty OK, and others I can hardly walk straight. I really hope that this will soon have an end, but I do think that the latest treatment at the Physical Therapist is working, I just have to be patient.

Neon Lights

The kids have been playing all weekend with the toys that I got them on Friday night. It came to a point where I had to take them away, as my eyes hurt from  having these blinking lights flickering non stop. Lets just leave it with this, I wasn't the most popular mommy there for awhile... 

Family Fun Down Town

When we were looking around to see what there was to do, we all of a sudden got greeted by Snow White! Isabella got so shy, and didn't really dare to go up to her, but with Cassie on her side, she went to say hi. Benjamin didn't want to at all, he kept holding on to my leg, as there was a guy dressed up as some Hawk costume. I don't know from what story he was. There was also a girl dressed up as Super Woman. Isabella kept looking in case Ariel would come along, but no, these where the only three characters that had dressed up for the face painting. As the kids were going to get wet, we said that we would get back to the face painting later.

The kids were happy to find the jumping towers and I almost had to drag them out of there, as it was very hot, and they got so hot and sweaty. Lot of water to drink and lots of small breaks were really needed!

After a  while of jumping, we were looking around to get something to eat, but as I mentioned in my earlier post, most of the vendors only had spicy food that my kids wouldn't eat, so we skipped that, and headed for the area where the firetruck was standing. The kids quickly changed over in clothes that could get wet (Cassie realized that I had forgotten her swim shirt so she kept the shirt on) and went out there, and did they have fun! The water was freezing Cassie said, so she got cold after a while, even if it was really hot outside, but the little ones kept going out there into the mist to get sprayed down. I had to be careful and watch out so I wouldn't get sprayed down, as the firefighter had some fun with the hose to surprise all the parents that were standing on the sides waiting, so most of them got wet too...Not that it wouldn't have been nice, but I sure didn't want the camera and everything else wet, so I kept moving up so I was almost along side the firetruck.

Ready and excited to GO!

Cassie did an outstanding job keeping the kids close to her, as they sometimes were jumping around, looking down not to get water in their eyes, and with lots of other kids running around, they could have tripped, but they did all good and had lots of fun.

Time to get out the towels!!!

The water is just a little bit cold mommy!

Are you coming Cassie??

Love this one how Ben is really getting into it!

City of Yuma Fire Department

Exploring a little bit on his own...

Ben really got a shower here!  Bella in the background, turning her back to the water.

The firefighters were pretty good looking - but nothing beats this handsome little guy!

"The best Ben ever!".

... and "The best Bella ever!"

That is something that we say here at home, the kids started saying "You are the best mommy!" "You are the best mommy/daddy/Cassie ever!" So now when they say that, I always answer with, and you are the best Ben/Bella or Cassie. I didn't want to say, you are the best boy ever, as I couldn't say that to Bella, as I have two girls here at home, so saying their names worked the best.

The playing got an abrupt ending, as the firetruck got a call and had to load up and go right away. They said that they were coming back in case it wouldn't get too late. The kids weren't very happy with this as you can imagine..

But, as they were a bit chilly anyway, we changed them over, and I had promised them one thing from the vendor, and Ben found a blue lightening sword and Isabella found a "Bibedibobedi" wand, as she calls them. Cassie found herself a mustache mood ring, that she really liked.

Walking back to the car with happy kids. even if we were all hungry and pretty tired, we had a good time!