Mother's Day: Preschool Style

On Thursday Jack's class held a special Mother's Day Tea. The moms got tiaras! We also watched our kiddos perform a few songs - which was hilarious! Jack was surprisingly very animated! After the performance, we enjoyed tea and snacks. Of course, it was too much to ask for a good picture...

This is my loot from the celebration! My magic wand took a beating once it got home.

Jack answered a few questions about me. For the record, I believe the "favorite food" and "favorite drink" answers are just HIS favorites. I was shocked I didn't see "oreos" and "wine" as the answers.

I also got a very cute, hand painted flower pot - WITH a real flower...which I will try desperately to keep alive. I have the opposite of a "green thumb."

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms out there!

No Pants, Park Play

On Tuesday Josie and I picked Jack up from school with a surprise - a picnic lunch and a plan to go to a new park. Tyson was home from work and not feeling so great, so I thought we'd give him an extra hour of quiet before we invaded the house.

In true Hoosier fashion, Jack was attracted to the race car and took Jos on a ride.

Here we are enjoying our lunch. What this picture doesn't show: Josie playing in the dirt in between bites of her food, Jack losing it because a dragon fly is flying around us, Josie dismantling her sandwich to pretend like she's eating, Josie stealing grapes from her brother's plate while he's watching for the dragon fly...

Lesson: Lunch outside the house is exhausting.

Here is the dismantled sandwich.I swear it looked appetizing before Josie got her hands on it.

And it's technically NOT an adventure unless someone leaves without an article of clothing. In Josie's case, it was her pants... I'll spare you the details. You've heard it before: same story, different day.

Operation: Rescue the Worms

I have always been an animal lover. It's the Grandma Golda in me {and my brothers}. We just have a soft spot for animals (less of a spot for cats...but still). Ask Tyson, I go bonkers if I see a stray dog or {God forbid} an animal get hit by a car - straight up LOSE MY STUFF...tears. Lots of tears. So I know I will be raising three little animal lovers of my own. Our poor dogs get more "love" from the kids than they'd like...

Last week we had rain. Lots of rain. Mother Nature is not playing fair after what we just went through Nov - March. Anyway, with rain, comes worms. I hate running over worms. So I introduced the kids to Operation: Rescue the Worms. 

 The worms love coming into our garage...which is bad because then they dry up & die. So Josie spent some time rescuing them from despair. She was surprisingly gentle.

Jack wasn't sure about it at first... He squealed when they wriggled in his hand. I gave him the "your sister isn't scared" speech...which changed his attitude REAL quick. By the time we were ready for lunch, they were expert worm finders and amazing rescuers. We probably saved 30+ worms that day. Fun activity outside and a RAOK {if you're a worm}. And yes, germaphobes, we washed our hands.

...and then I got stuck in my boots...because trying to pull knee high rubber boots off your feet with a pregnant belly is dang near impossible. Luckily, Josie was willing to help me out. Won't be making that mistake again...

Josie

Josie is...

• a mama's girl!
• still hanging on to the paci {efforts to end this love affair are in progress...so far, no progress}

•  very independent. She will play by herself, get her own snack, etc. She channel's Beyonce on a daily basis.
• very happy. Josie is happy 95% of the time. She does this thing where she smiles and pretend laughs and makes faces to someone {I'm still trying to decide if it's an imaginary friend or angels, back for a visit} Regardless, it's hilarious. She does it in the car and at night in her crib. 
• artsy. She loves to color and draw. Anytime I know she's looking bored - I offer up crayons, markers, or paint...and she's always game.

• funny! She's discovering her own little personality and it's so fun! She is also discovering my makeup drawer...which is less fun {for me}. Here she is sporting some mascara as lipstick. Probably not the best look.
• sweet with a side of "sauce." Josie is sweet as can be. She is cuddly and loving. As I've mentioned before, she always greets Jack when she wakes up and loves giving hugs. However, she DOES have a "saucy" side. Don't cross her.
• determined. Going along with that sauce - Jos is a very determined little girl. She's stubborn at times and can't be swayed or distracted.
• my best buddy. It's no secret that Jack is attached to his Daddy...and Josie is my little buddy. I thought about sending her to a Mom's Morning Out class next year, but I just can't. {yes, I know I should} But she hates being away from me...and honestly, I really enjoy being with her. Hopefully she isn't too offended when Baby Brother joins our party.

That's our Josie!

Bed

Bedtime is always a little tricky around here. If Jack naps during the day - bedtime is late and frustrating. If he doesn't nap - bedtime is early and frustrating. On one night last week I knew Jack wasn't asleep, but he also wasn't sitting at the top of the stairs - so I ran up to check on him. He was sitting in bed, lights on, "reading" Malcolm Gladwell's book, Blink. My first thought was GO TO BED!!! (but I didn't say anything). My second thought was "THAT is NOT a Just-Right book." (can't take the teacher out of me)

I love checking on the kids before I go to bed. On this night I found Josie sleeping like a pro. She must have been star gazing before she fell asleep.

Bend it like Becker

Saturday was Jack's first soccer practice and game. He's on Team Argentina! Friday night he wasn't sure he wanted to play...despite MONTHS of prepping in the basement (thanks, winter).

We headed off to the fields for his 9am game. It was windy and chilly - but Jack's Fan Club persevered through the weather.

He was actually really good! He scored 3 or 4 goals and even PASSED the ball to a teammate for an assist! WooHoo! (I was actually more exited about the PASS than the goals!)

In the end, Team Argentina was victorious and more importantly - Jack had an AWESOME time! Here he is posing with his buddy Owen. Such clowns.

It was hard to tell who was more pumped - Tyson or Jack. I know we have MANY, MANY, MANY more years of soccer/baseball/sports in our future...but there is nothing like watching a bunch of 4 year olds play a game, give high fives, and walk off the field smiling (win or lose).

Tervis - the way to our hearts

We got back to Michigan on Wednesday last week and we had a package waiting for us from Uncle Jon. He knows the way to our hearts - Tervis Tumblers! Jack got a Ninja Turtle Tervis...

And Josie got a Minnie Mouse Tervis. They were SO excited to have cups of their own. Tyson and I aren't good about sharing our Tervis's.

Visit to Warsaw

We spent some time in Warsaw after Easter and it was so great to see my family. We hadn't seen Joe, Gina, and the kiddos since Christmas! Too long! Jack discovered the awesomeness of dominoes. He loved setting them up and watching them fall.

Sunday afternoon all the kiddos did an Egg Hunt in my parents' yard. Jack, Amelia, and Josie had fun searching.

Emma discovered there was chocolate inside...and she was just interested in eating everything she could before her parents caught onto her.

People think I'm kidding when I tell them Josie wants NOTHING to do with babies or her mommy having a baby. This is proof. She was playing on the golf course with her cousins when she spied me holding Walker. I heard shrieks of "NOOOO, MAMA!" And the next thing I know, she's bawling and trying to push Walker off my lap. We have a very jealous little girl.

On Monday, everyone was working...so the kids and I spent some time at Winona Lake Park. Then we had lunch with Grandpa, napped, and spent some time with Katie (Beehler) Maile and her two boys. She just had baby #2 - Beckett Matthew. Surprisingly, Josie handled me holding him much better than expected.

 Fearless Jack.

Jack re-discovered golf and LOVED it! He convinced Grandpa to give him some lessons. I'm not going to call him a Tiger Woods type prodigy - but I will say that he can hit it! Perhaps Grandma & Grandpa would be interested in hosting Jack this summer for Golf Camp!?!?

On Tuesday Gina & I teamed up for a fun morning of play. Five kiddos, 4 and under...(with #6 on the way). We might be crazy. It was so fun to see all of them play together. Jack and Millie are a match made in heaven...while Josie & Emma proved (in typical middle child fashion) they are happy entertaining themselves. Walker was just happy.

So fun to see so many people we love! We hope people will come visit us in Michigan this summer! It's really a great place - when we don't have perpetual snow on the ground!

23 Weeks - Busy Baby & RAOK reminder

I had my 23 week appointment yesterday and I made the mistake of dragging both kids along with me. Never again. Josie waited until I was securely fastened into the blood pressure cuff before she bolted down the hallway - laughing the entire time. Hilarious? No. Then Jack announced that he was "bored" while I chatted with the midwife. Thank you, Dear Children. Your manners are impeccable.

In other news - the midwife tried to find a heartbeat for our little guy...but every time she found it, he moved or kicked. Finally she said, "okay, he's in there...things sound good, but I'm not going to chase him around." Seriously. I looked over at my "bored" four year old and thought "HERE WE GO AGAIN." Check out THIS POST from my 23 week appointment with Jack {October 2009} - I kid you not...SAME THING! Freaky! Anyone who knew Tyson as a child and knows Jack now...knows the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Silver Lining: Baby Brother will have Jack to keep him busy and Josie to keep him in line {unless she runs away}.

Finally, today would have been Christian's 3rd birthday...and it's a great day to make someone smile! Do a RAOK in his memory! 

Busy Bunnies

 

We were back in Fort Wayne for Easter Weekend. It was a gorgeous weekend and we had a great time with family & friends. On Friday I got to swing by Whispering Meadows (my old school) to see teachers and my {now} first graders. The kiddos gave me some interesting looks when they saw my belly. One of the first grade teachers joked that she would tell them "Mrs. Becker has really been hitting the Ho-Ho's hard lately..." Would love to hear what they tell their parents.

Saturday morning we stopped by for a play visit with Greta. She, like Josie, is preparing for a new role as BIG SISTER...in June! It was fun to watch these two play together.

Saturday was supposed to be a baby shower for cousin Billy's wife - Mallory. Unfortunately, the stars did not align and poor Mallory is on bed rest for a while. Baby Lynch was trying to make an early debut...and we can't have that...we're Becker's. Becker's are late...or at least RIGHT on time.

We went over to Aunt Linda & Uncle Bill's to eat the shower food {and cake}. Josie and Kinley got to go out for an Easter Egg Hunt. It was Josie's first of three.

The best way to describe Josie on an Egg Hunt is this: Imagine Nancy Becker at a HUGE Vera Bradley blowout sale. If you see a woman on a mission...who refuses to let ANYONE or ANYTHING get in her way - well, that was Josie, hunting eggs. Woman on a mission.

Kinley was looking for the pink eggs and was really thoughtful about sharing with Josie. They both had a fun time! It's so awesome that they're 2 weeks apart. Lots of fun ahead for these two!

Sunday morning we did Egg Hunt #2 {for Josie} and #1 for Jack.

This time - older brother proved to be stiff competition for Jos! But she still managed to get her fair share. I guess with two brothers in her life - I'm happy to know she will fend for herself just fine.

Sunday afternoon we joined the Becker Crew at Pine Valley for a brunch. We'll pretend that everyone was looking at the camera for the picture above...

Once again, both of my kids proved they are still OBSESSED with the creepy Easter Bunny. Jack was kissing it and yelling "I WUV YOU!" from all areas of the clubhouse. Embarrassing. Luckily, Nancy & Denny took over Bunny Duty - so Tyson and I could eat.

Jos and Kinley got to "play" together after lunch. Bubbles and running around on a golf course are the perfect combo for two busy girls!

Of course, the King of Busy was all about running! He found a hill to run up and down. Aside from a few grass stains - it was time well spent {mainly because he wasn't harassing the Easter Bunny}.

More pics to come from our visit to Warsaw!