Day 1359 | Mexico By Numbers

/

I promised a Mexico recap and here it is! You can't complain that I shared too few photos.

Mexico by Numbers

  • Total family members on the trip: 13
  • Minutes waiting in Mexican customs: 0 (first time ever!)
  • Audio [full-length] chapter books read by the boys: 4
  • Chiclets purchased: 52 (some for gifts)
  • Chiclets eaten: 26
  • Sand castles built: 2 (one with a dragon)
  • Giant jugs of water drank: 7
  • Trips to Victor's restaurant: 2
  • Days successfully detached from social media: 7
  • Cheese quesadillas consumed by the boys: 9
  • Encounters with Maria Consuela (the little girl, named by us, who sold us chiclets): 3
  • Poolside family nap attempts: 1
  • Family members who successfully napped: 1 (Robbe)
  • Towel swans left for us by housekeeping: 3
  • 2 for 1 happy hour fruity cocktails + smoothies: too many to count
  • Little boys with heat rash: 2 (but no sunburns!)
  • Crocodiles spotted: 2
  • Iguanas spotted: ~30

And we're ready to go back. Thanks again, Mom + Dad, for an incredibly memorable trip.

Day 1357 | Spring Break

/
blog-freeBigDays.jpg

We're enjoying fun + sun in Mexico and I'm unplugging. I'll be back on Sunday to share all the details. Until then, I realized I never shared the last podcast that Mary Catherine and I recorded. This can keep you company while I'm gone. :)

New Podcast Episode!

Mary Catherine and I say farewell to Season 4 of Starr Struck radio by sharing some of the things that surprised us most about motherhood. Chances are, we'll be back. But until then...

Day 1355 | Vacation Prep

/
IMG_9603.JPG

We've been counting down to tomorrow for a long LONG time. We're heading out for a week-long tropical vacation and the four of us could not be more excited. I've even managed to shed the dread that usually comes along with traveling with the boys. It's hard to say whether I've grown more flexible with age or if it's just that the boys are getting easier (I'm sure it's the latter, actually), but I'm not fixated on how hard the plane ride is going to be, or where the boys will nap, or what they'll be eating, or how they'll sleep at the condo. It feels very freeing. I haven't felt this way before a trip in about six years (!!). 

We've been talking a lot about what Mexico is going to be like. We've been pumping the boys up for lots of beach + pool time, have been trying to explain to them what it'll be like to be in another country, and have been chatting about expectations. To tie a bow on this topic, we brainstormed a list of "Vacation Rules" last night. I'm sure we'll add to the list, but so far, here it is:

Our Family Vacation Rules

  1. Always stay close to family.
  2. Never go anywhere alone.
  3. Don't eat or drink anything without asking an adult.
  4. Be flexible.
  5. Experience new things.
  6. Make sure to be safe around water.
  7. Don't put anything in your mouth (including your hands!)
  8. Be patient.
  9. Have too much fun! 

We're going to take that last one very seriously. 

**Please note, I'll be checking in tomorrow before we board the airplane but after that I'm signing off for the week. Hopefully we'll have lots of good stories + photos to share upon our return.**

Day 1354 | Cleaning Up

/
IMG_9600.JPG

After staring at these toys in our living room for the past two weeks, I finally gave in and put them all away last night. The boys have been on a serious Lego kick so all other toys have been neglected. 

What’s the first thing Robbe did upon getting home from some errands this morning? He took out all the toys I just  put away and then happily played with them for an hour. It’s like he sensed it somehow. Kids are weird. 

Day 1352 | Lego Assembly

/
IMG_9588.JPG

I really like Legos. Sometimes I secretly wish that the boys would tire of putting their sets together so I can step in and save the day. 

One thing I don’t like about Lego assembly? Trying to put a set together after its pieces have been mixed in with all the other assorted pieces in our bin. Having to find one million specific Legos, one by one, in a bin of similarly-sized, but incredibly-different blocks, is arguably the worst task in the history of the world. 

At least I got to sit in sunshine as I searched and searched. That’s something. Oh, and it seems as though the task will continue tomorrow because the set isn’t complete. Oh joy!

Day 1350 | Photography Festival

/
IMG_9582.JPG

Chase participated in his first photography festival today through 4-H. The photograph was entitled: Snow Tree.

He waited patiently (more patiently than one of his parents [me], that's for sure). He interacted with the judge better than I would have expected. And he seemed to really enjoy the experience.

Even better, the Festival was a part of a bigger Drama Festival, too, and we stayed to watch some of the 4-H club plays. We thought we'd stay for one or maybe two plays, but the boys were so interested and enthralled that we watched five. Apparently stories in 10 minute increments starring kids is the equation to keeping their interest. Who would have guessed?

Day 1347 | Turning a Corner

/
IMG_9535.JPG

Chase had his first fever-free day since Friday. Whew. It’s been a long five days. I’m running low on sympathy and patience but I’m aware of that...so maybe that makes it ok?!?

I tried to make the most of another sick day. I got quality solo time with Chase (which rarely happens). I got him his first coffee shop hot cocoa (very exciting) and read the Boxcar Children for over an hour straight.

I tried to remind myself of how lucky I am to be able to be the one to care for my sick child and not have to worry about balancing a full time job in addition to being a caregiver. That’s a pretty amazing luxury.  

And we made it. Chase heads back to school tomorrow. Robbe and I will resume our normal existence. This mildly-incovenient sickness will fade into a distant memory and all will be well with the world. Even typing this, I realize how lucky we are. 

Day 1346 | Winter Continues

/
IMG_9419.JPG

Mother Nature decided we needed *a bit* more snow last night. I wouldn't say that I was hoping we were done with the season (I'm not that delusional), but I will say that the sight of the fluffy white stuff is losing some of its pure joy. The 4-5 inches combined with another sick day for our big guy and I'm feeling a little gloomy. 

Instead of playing the victim and dwelling on a less-than-ideal situation, I've decided to look on the bright side. Winter is actually pretty great. It's hard to remember that in the [way too long] spells of bitter cold...or during the last few weeks before Spring finally breaks through, but it is. And so, in case you need a pick-me-up to round out your day (like I did)...

Top Ten Reasons Winter is Pretty Great

  1. The excuse to lay low. When it's crazy cold outside, there's nothing better than snuggling in (preferably by the fire) with a warm beverage and some loved ones. 
  2. Wearing scarves. I really like scarves--especially the infinity variety. My life wouldn't be nearly as happy without a season where I can wear them.
  3. The sound of crunching snow. I've realized this year that this is one of my favorite sounds. Either under foot or under the tires of the van, there's really no other sound quite like it. 
  4. Eating soup. I know some folks eat soup all year, and we do every now and then, I guess, but there's nothing as delicious as a warm bowl of soup, preferably with a toasted slice of yummy bread next to it, on a cold winter night. It really warms the soul.
  5. Our river view. We're one house removed from riverfront property. In the winter, surrounded by naked trees, we actually get a pretty decent view. I never really thought I'd like to live on the water, but catching the glimpse of sun shining off the river does brighten my days.
  6. Pants. I am not a shorts person. I will wear skirts and dresses when it's hot outside, but my preference is to wear pants as many days out of the year as possible. I can't exactly pinpoint why, but part of it is that I don't have to shave my legs as often (I have to do it daily in the summer!). That's a lovely break during the winter months.
  7. Red wine. I'm more of a white wine girl...or maybe a Moscow Mule variation during the warmer months, but in the winter, there's nothing yummier than red wine. I remember more *mature* people telling me they had this preference when I was in college and it didn't make any sense to me. I'm not sure I qualify as any more mature than I did back then, but I totally get the red wine thing now.
  8. Christmas. I realize that this doesn't really help now (since it's long gone), but Christmas is my favorite part of winter. And, I do recognize that Christmas exists regardless of the weather, but having spent at least one Christmas where there wasn't snow, it's just not the same. To me, Christmas needs to be cold and white.
  9. The glistening snow. In the early morning sun, on very specific days, the snow almost looks like it's covered in glitter. It's pretty incredible.
  10. The appreciation of warmer weather. Again, maybe this is a cop-out, but dealing with the bitter cold for months on end makes the interspersed days of sunshine + warmer temps (not to mention spring at some point...) so so much more appreciated. Those first days of 40s and then 50s after a long winter...there's just nothing that makes me happier.

There you go. See? We can all make it through this. Right? Right?!?

Day 1345 | Budding Photographer

/
IMG_9531.JPG

Chase has had a camera since we moved to Wisconsin (we found an old one when we were packing that miraculously started working again) and his photographs are actually really impressive. We decided that we better start Robbe on his photographic journey young as well.

For his birthday, we gave him a *new-to-him* point and shoot camera (donated by my mom...thanks, mom!) and he's been snapping photos constantly ever since. He's up to 430 images since we gave him the camera on Friday night. Ha! 

The shots above are his. He's been honing his selfie skills and has been capturing some good moments around the house, too (since we haven't really left due to Chase's fever). Now if only I had the time + energy to download and organize all these photos that they're taking. That's a problem for future Sara to worry about.

Day 1344 | Another Round

/
IMG_9521.JPG

Chase is still sick. A full three days of a high fever is not anyone’s idea of fun. Luckily, ibuprofen and tylenol have been kind to him so he’s been getting some breaks from feeling terrible.  

I realized this weekend that the boys have been sick or on some sort of antibiotic since mid-January. Seriously. I thought we were on a pretty good trajectory this winter but not anymore. We’re ready for a break. Here’s hoping there’s one on the horizon.  

Day 1343 | Our [Four Year Old] Birthday Boy

/
TurningFour.jpg

Today was a different birthday celebration for our little guy than we expected. We did manage to get to Strum for our annual (it's annual now!) birthday breakfast, but our plans to go to the Children's Museum and to attend a Winter Festival at Chase's school got side-tracked because Chase came home from school with a fever. Ugh.

Luckily, Robbe was happy to play with his new toys (SO. MANY. NEW. TOYS.) and lay low watching a movie (what's there to be sad about?). And, we got to have a birthday dinner with both sets of grandparents (for the first time ever). So, even though it wasn't the day that was planned, it was still Robbe's "best day ever" according to him. We'll call it a success. 

In birthday tradition (2016 + 2017)...

TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY [OR MAY NOT] KNOW ABOUT MY FAVORITE FOUR YEAR OLD:

  1. He loves Heart Bear. Robbe got a random stuffed bear from his Sunday School teachers for Christmas and he's borderline obsessed with it. He's never been attached to any stuffed animal so this is weird. But also adorable.
  2. He's into drinking tea. Robbe's favorite "special treat" its a good cup of tea. I think it's amazing.
  3. Playmobil and Legos are his current favorite. This is definitely the way to his heart. 
  4. He's a puzzle master. I don't think you could find a better puzzler out there in his age group. He doesn't have any specific strategy (from what I can tell), but man, does he knock it out. 
  5. Photo albums make him happy. I'm old school and still print out hard copy photos and put them in albums that live on a bookshelf in our living room. Robbe loves pulling them down and flipping through the memories. It's really lovely.
  6. He's still feisty about bedtime. It's not nearly as bad as he used to be. I'd say we're 95% back to a peaceful routine, but he still gets *a bit* grumpy and whiney when it's time to turn out the lights. Not great, but knowing where we've come from...I'll take it.
  7. He loves to ham it up. This guy is hysterical. He's got a lot to say and most of the time it's super funny. 
  8. He could live on french toast and pasta pillows (ravioli). Robbe eats just about everything but he definitely prefers these two entrees. 
  9. The scooter is still his favorite mode of transportation. Some things will never change. It's reassuring, really.
  10. Perseverance is his middle name. This year has been a big (HUGE) year for our little man. He quit sucking his thumb at night cold turkey...perseverance. His determination and drive toward verbal communication has been nothing but inspiring...perseverance.

Three year old Robbe was the best. The truest version of him really came out. Before this year, he couldn't express himself. That makes life really hard. This year that changed. Now his thoughts can be verbalized. His jokes can be made. His stories can be told. What a transformation.

I can't wait to see what four year old Robbe has in store for us.

Day 1341 | Let the Festivities Begin

/
IMG_9481.JPG

This little guy got to start the birthday celebrations early: his first school birthday treat! He picked strawberry aliens to continue his brother’s tradition. Luckily, I only had to make 15 this time.

Can you tell he’s *a little* excited? 

**Photo credit to his amazing teacher, Ms. Megan. She even captured a natural smile. That's hard to do with this one (as I'm sure you've noticed). Thanks!