Playin' some b-ball outside of the school

We finally put George in an organized sport this Spring.   We have been talking about doing soccer forever but could never find the right fit and schedule for our family.   Upward basketball opened up at the gym where he goes to school, so we decided to jump in.   It was great.   George really enjoyed himself and learned a lot.  

 

  It is amazing to watch your kids grow and soar.   I really didn't know how he would do when we signed him up.   Basketball can be an aggressive sport, and I don't see George as an aggressive kid.   But he definitely held his own.   Actually, he more than held his own.   He was rebounding left and right.   Hustling down the court whenever he had the chance.   Shooting basket after basket and making them.   I was so impressed with his determination and focus.   I love this little guy so much and feel more blessed everyday to be his momma.  

Wednesday, Wednesday

In keeping with the theme of "memory keeper," I wanted to write out a play by play of what our days look like right now.   Wednesdays are usually pretty eventful, so I picked today to try to snapshot our moment by moment.   George has a late start on Wednesdays - 9:15 am. So it is the day I take him to school. (Tim has to be at school at 7 on Wednesdays, but every other day they start the same time).   So we all got up at the lovely hour of 7 am. (I just can't get used to the fact that this is wake up time everyday - even though it has been for the last five years.)   I showered, fed and dressed the kids and got us out the door by 8:25am - without taking a single picture!   As we are walking out the door George says he is still hungry. (After the scrambled eggs and sausage he had just scarfed down.)   So I grab apples for both the boys, cause you know Ethan will want one if George has one.
 

First picture of the day.

In typical Bettelli fashion . . . here is George obeying when I say to hold up your apple and smile.

And Ethan covering his face like someone is about to stab him.

After we left George off we were in serious need of gas . . . for the car.

I thought that was a good price, so I pulled into Walmart and put 50 buck in.

This is all I got for it.

A little over half a tank . . . are you kidding me?

Gas alone can make you broke.

Moving on . . . 

I was in major need of a car wash and have seen the $5.00 wash advertised right by the school.

I gave it a try.

And it totally disappointed.

Dirt streaks down the back of my car.

I am sure it had nothing to do with the fact that my car was so dirty you couldn't even tell what color it was supposed to be.

But we will just go with sucky car wash, not sucky person who takes car of car (or doesn't in this case).

I did think it would be a fun experience for Ethan . . . you know, sitting there watching the water and listening to it hit the windows.

He screamed bloody murder the entire time, begging me to hold him cause it was totally freaking him out.

Double failure in one . . . Still dirty car and frightened child.

Just go ahead and give me the award for "Mother of the year" right now.

Since I felt so bad for Ethan, I decided to get him myself a Starbucks with my Tim's gift card that he got from one of his students for Christmas.

Thanks, Babe.

And thanks, Student I don't know.

I really enjoyed it.

Next, we had to hit up the post office to send off some books we sold on Half.com . . . three weeks ago.

Sorry to those buyers!

Think they'll give us a good review?

Then we got to go to the Dollar Tree.

Can you even imagine anything more fun?  Me either.

You may be wondering at this point why I am not taking pictures on the inside of these places.

I had both Lexi and Ethan with me, so the only picture taking opportunities are in the car - with them securely strapped in.

Once we finished that delightful trip (insert sarcasm now), we headed to Chic-Fil-A to grab some lunch to bring to George at school.

We usually try to eat with him on Wednesdays, since we drop him off so late and his lunchtime is at 11.

That sign just screams delicious, doesn't it?

Again, George smiling and Ethan ignoring.  

Are you noticing the trend?

Here is Lexi girl while the boys ate.

After lunch (every single week) George asks us to go on the playground with his class, so I obliged this time.

I actually should do it more often.

It was like I had 15 babysitters to watch Ethan, while I got to just nurse Lexi and sit in the breeze.

Win, win.

Yes, my baby is fat . . . I mean healthy.

After playground time we headed back to the cafeteria to see Daddy.

We stayed for about 2.5 seconds because Ethan was so tired he could barely stand up.

So we headed home to the barn . . . 

The top section is where we live.

The bottom section is where the dogs and horses live.

Now we begin my favorite part of the day . . . 

Naptime . . . which lasted approximately 3 hours.

I do very productive things during naptime . . . 

Like finish watching The Bachelor, for example.

Or eat ice cream.

And yes that is very productive in losing my baby weight, in case you were wondering.

Now onto something seriously productive for my soul . . . 

When we all got up (yes, I usually get to snooze for a good 45 minutes to an hour after I finish whatever it is I have to finish that afternoon), we went outside to play.

Trampoline.

Hard to get that active boy in focus.

He never. stops. moving.

Swings.

Kitty Cats.

I didn't get a picture, but when George and Tim got home George totally ate it while riding a scooter.

It was pretty ugly, and I had to put peroxide on it . . . that always feels so good.

Once we got inside, it was time to make some dinner.

I love nights when I have leftovers from the night before.

Makes my job so much easier.

Taco Chicken Salads for the grown-ups.

Chicken and Rice for the babes.

Done and done.

Once dinner is finished we usually let the boys have some media time . . . they can play on the ipad or computer or watch tv.

Around 7:30 it is bathtime shower-time because that is the only cleaning station we have in this apartment.

They basically yell and scream over who gets to stand in the streaming water for a good 20 minutes until Tim or I washes them and gets them out.

We then pull out the couch bed and all cuddle in front of the tv till around 8:30.

Lights out.

Ethan usually continues to get up for the next couple hours before falling asleep in his crib.

Around 1 or 2 am he gets up again and comes in our bed.

I don't usually notice until 3 when Lexi gets up to eat.

I tell Tim to take him out because I don't want to wake him up with her crying.

So he takes him to the couch bed, and they both end up sleeping there with George until the next morning when the whole cycle starts again.

What a lovely cycle it is.

Longest. Post. Ever.

You get a prize if you made it to the end.

Oh, I don't know what prize that would be . . . but you get one, you lucky thing.

A Day with George

Last week I had the opportunity to chaperone George's class trip to the Children's Museum of Naples.   He really wanted me to go when they sent home the permission slip before Christmas, but I told him it was a long-shot.   They weren't allowing younger siblings to come, and I don't really have anyone to watch the two littlest Bettelli's in Fort Myers yet.   A few days before the trip I asked my mom if she would be willing to come down for 24 hours to watch the kids, so I could go.   She did, and George was so happy that he would have me all to himself for an entire day. When we got there they did a little lesson on the solar system. Then we had lunch around 11. After lunch they gave the kids time outside to play on all the playground toys . . . complete with a maze made out of bushes.  

  Once they got out some of their energy, we came back inside to check out the exhibits. George loved the restaurant space.

He had so much fun with all the hands on activities he got to take part in.

Here he is playing the news anchor roll on tv.

Our day was so much fun, and he wanted to know when we could come back as soon as we left.

The museum was really fun, but I enjoyed my day with George alone even more.

I tell my husband all the time that sometimes I feel like I neglect George.

Ethan and Lexi are so labor intensive at 3 months and 2 years old.

George is 5, and he just has such a compliant personality.

I don't ever want him to feel like he gets lost in the shuffle of our crazy life.

He is so important to me, and I want him to always feel that way.

I truly believe that the best gift we can give our kids is siblings, but I also know that as you add kids to your brood things get crazier and busier. It is always a balancing act, and I hope George knows what a priority he is for me. I love that little boy so, so, so much, and it was such a privilege to hang with him.

Birthday Eve

 

 

A Letter to my Lexi on her Birthday Eve:

 

Dearest Lexi,

        I can't believe tomorrow is the day we will get to kiss your sweet face.  I am so excited and anxious at the same time.  What are we going to do with a little girl???  After two boys I feel like I have that covered pretty well, but a girl . . . a baby girl . . . we are entering a whole new world.  And I can't wait to learn all things pink. 

        You were quite the surprise, little one.  Daddy and I had not one conversation about having another baby, but there you were.  It took me a little while to get used to the idea of a third, but now I can't imagine life without you.  And I haven't even truly met you yet.  You have already had that grand of an affect on me and your little family.  George is so excited to see you he can't stand it.  Ethan knows you are in my belly and loves to give you kisses.  I think your daddy is super excited but also nervous about raising a little girl . . . that should be a lot of laughs.

        I want you to know a few things before you come out, so I decided to put them all into this letter that you will one day read about the day before you were born. 

        First, you are so blessed with so much love.  There are so many people who already love you and are praying for your little life.  Always know that your family and friends are supporting you and encouraging you . . . even from within the womb.  This is one of God's greatest blessings, and I am so grateful for the love you have been shown. 

        Second, I want to be your best friend.  From a young age I really want to work on building a strong relationship with you.  I know you will grow to be a confidant and a friend to me, and I hope to be the same for you.  You can always tell me anything, and even though your choices may have consequences that I have to administer, I will always love you and help you in any way I can.

        Third, (this is more of a plea than information) please come out quickly, as painlessly as possible, and healthy.  We want to hold you and kiss you as soon as possible, so obey mommy and get here quick.

        Lexi, you are my little angel.  You (along with your brothers) are our greatest blessing on this earth.  Your father and I love you more than you could ever imagine, and I hope you never doubt that.  You are a precious gift, and I always want to treat you that way.  I don't take for granted the blessing of children that God has given our family.

                                                                         I love you, Lexi Girl,

                                                                                                                                 Mommy 

 

 



 

Saving What Exactly?

So what is up with these time changes? Daylight savings happened over the weekend. We "sprung forward." Why do we need to save the daylight? Save it from what?  

I know all the background of the time changes.

Agriculture and farming and all that.

But this isn't meant to be a history lesson.

Basically, I want to complain about what this whole mess does to my children's sleep patterns.

I wish we could just pick one or the other and stick with it.

In the Spring we lose an hour of sleep (which gets picked back up in the Fall, only 6 months later).

So now my kids aren't tired at 8 because it is really 7.

They go to bed late, and then they get up later which is great on the weekends.  It puts us in a little bind on school days though.

Then in the Fall they are tired by 7 which is really 8.

And they get up at the crack of dawn because 6 is really 7.

It is all so confusing and annoying if you want my opinion.

And I know you do.

Here is the point . . . could someone please write a letter to someone who has power and get this thing sorted out?

We don't need to change the time.

Let's just leave it the way it is for goodness sake.

Moms everywhere will thank you.

 

Strawberry Festival Happenings

I took a little three day break, and I am not sorry for it. I forgot to take any pictures of my cooking last week, so I just decided to skip "recipe Monday" this week. Sue me. Anyways . . . we had a full weekend, and it ended with a little event called The Strawberry Festival. Basically, a town about an hour away from us called Plant City throws a festival every year centered around the strawberry. You can imagine the interesting people that attend this high-class event. I am not judging because you will always see my behind there every. single. year. I am not above a little downhome action for the best strawberry shortcake in the entire world (yes, I have had strawberry shortcake in many other countries, and Plant City wins the prize). 

Yes, this is my children inside a giant strawberry with crowns on their head.

I know, classy.

Another favorite feature of this event is the chicken/rabbit exhibit that you can smell, I mean walk, through.

Always a highlight.

There are no words.

Kettle Corn Buddies

And keeping with the theme of the weekend, my mom bought George this totally ridiculous hat.

And then what is a festival without some sketchy rides . . .

So there you have it.

Our yearly excursion to a place that encompasses everything you could ever want in a festival.