Choke points....

So how to families of more than one get through choke points....  

My kids are awesome.  

ONE AT A TIME.  

Put them together and its CHAOS.   

So what's a choke point?  when we are ALL trying to get some where or accomplish something at the SAME time.  I should just avoid them - as most days its not worth trying...  

So here is an every day scenario....  lets go outside and play.  Seems easy enough.  

Everyone put on your shoes and jacket - once that is done, I will help you open the garage door and get your toys out.

Nick - I cannot put on my jacket (because last time he took OFF his jacket he opted to pull the sleeves thought making it IMPOSSIBLE to put back on without re-threading the sleeves.  We have this discussion EVERY TIME)

Shane - you would think by the law of averages 50% of the time he would get his shoes on the right feet - WRONG.  Not even close to figuring out the jacket zipper.  Tries every time though - gotta give him credit...

Drew - well we are just lucking is he can find his shoes - in frustration he just irritates his brothers.

So today - a favorite choke point of mind is the after school unwind.  On beautiful days we have the wonderful pleasure of playing with LOTS of kids - right off the bus.  Its wonderful.  So we do that for 1-3 hours.  Literally.  Today - it was windy - so 1 hour.  

We come inside and now its time for homework.  I come in, help said brain children take off and put away shoes and clothes (yes, hooks and baskets designated for little kid ease...)  

I put drew outside to play in 8' walled back yard  while I head upstairs to set nick up on reflex math and Shane on a puzzle book.  less than 5 minutes later I come back downstairs to this........

EVERY pile of poop (only 5 because I cleaned it up the other day THANKFULLY) was stepped on REPEATEDLY, by the 2 feet tall brainless wonder...  He was also knocking at the door to come in - Hmmm - no, you can stay out there...

Hey Winter - your drunk - just go home.....

Yup - Sunday night and what is in our forecast - snow - lots of it - 3-6 inches and I would say we got 8".  Sunday afternoon you could feel it in the air and by 4 pm you could see it in the air.  By 6PM all schools were closed (yup, Wayde doesn't even give the plows a chance anymore...)

Monday morning

So as I glanced at my handsome husband I came to the realization....  Its time for the winter man to go...

Yup, its the beard - take it away...

Its spring time!

And he looks 10 years younger again, just like that!

He went off to work too - leaving me with this St. patty's day crew...

I love snow, I love snow, I love snow...  I had to keep saying that as i put the kids clothes on for the upteenth millionth time this winter....  We have purchased new boots for Nick (he grew out of the hold ones) new gloves for Shane and Nick (holes - and they were on sale...)

I love when snow comes in the house... I love when snow comes in the house.....

Dawn and I obligatorily took the kids outside for an hour - the look on both of our faces was.... this AGAIN.  Both husbands at work - all kids at home (tired of each other) we almost offered a swap as the kids needed something different....  Nope - the last eating of the snow - drag everyone back inside, take the wet stuff off, put it by the first place UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!  I am BEGGING YOU

My kids have it GOOD....

Seriously, they have a great life - Here is just a typical Thursday morning.....  Yup, those are new 'roads' along our floor.  Sadly that little trick didn't occupy them as long as I had hoped...

Next up - Pool!  they LOVED it and I have to admit, Golds has an AWESOME pool for Shane and Drew.  Now I just have to get drew swimming (I say this as Shane was doing countless back flips underwater...  he really does have gills.)

Best part of Golds Gym - no age limit that I could find on the hot pool!  So Shane LOVED it and soaked it in for a good 5 minutes!

Taco bell on the way home...  Seriously, that is the life!

Exhausted

Saturday morning - March 15 - big day - got even bigger with a howling ear infection Friday night.  

No, the ears weren't howling, but Shane's voice was as the poor little guy was in some serious pain.  Advil, benedryl and a hot compress later he finally fell asleep....  So right before our spin class i zipped him into our clinic - YUP Big time ear infection and both sides (he said he couldn't hear us very well....) first one of the season.

What a trooper - he continued on with heading with us to the gym (excited about being allowed to just veg with the gym movie....) at 10:30 for my Irish cycling class and to golds at 12:15 to finally complete and submit my body flow video.  I had 8 awesome buddies come support me (most importantly my ever supportive husband).  We recorded the video.  Than Shane and I came home and did this.....

And than this.... (starbucks... hot chocolate and coffee)

Had to show you my new legs are part of the fitness note - the hot pants of 2014! 

Thanks Chris, Megan, Dawn, Natalie, Teresa, Kate - and her brother and Carrie.  It feels so good to have your support and encouragement - now lets see what Les Mills has to say. 

Van Gogh or no....

A preschool art show!

The teachers are so very creative in having the kids made artwork and put it on display.  Shane is conveniently standing right IN FRONT of his - but they are great!

I took photos this morning as my buddy Dawn wasn't able to attend said 'art show' so instead of allowing her to 'mommy guilt' herself into attending - i offered to take photos instead - its a 2 for 1 - we won't have had photos and now we do....

Drew just HAD to be part of it all.

Donuts holes?!?  Van Gogh, was that your recommended nutrition??  why of course right

Ah, my birthday (and day 2)

Knowing this crazy snow storm was coming, my previous 'penciled' in date with Sherry in downtown DC became the greatest getway idea of the year.  Thank you sherry for being ever patient in my wildly changing schedules based of the needs of those other than me.  Chris and I toyed with going to DC as a family for the day - but than opted out and sent me solo - wonderful and wildy capable husnabdn.

I arrived at Sherry's at 5, we hopped an 'Uber car' and headed to the Adams Morgan area to watch the Michigan Basketball game (we won against Minnesota) in an Alumni bar with other Michigan alums...  So very fabulous.

It was cool just sitting at a table to fun Michigan folks that we had never met before - but because of this crazy common bond we could chat about south U, Chrystler, Fab 5, football and life on campus.  So easy and fun.  Meanwhile, I was the only one at the table with kids - 3 others worked on the 'hill' (I had to ask them to be more specific).  One of the girls Sherry met while standing in line at the dulles airport hearing her flight to MI for Christmas was cancelled.  Sherry called her parents telling them she would just drive, this lady over heard the conversation and asked if she could join her.  How cool is that?  Something about that just screams Midwest, Michigan, great people and another reason why I would pack our house today and move to the midwest, anything, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin - Please take us!....

Alright, back to the super cool bar and beer tasting...

So that my friends was my birthday - we went to a few other spots, ordered nachos (TWICE) and took an 'Uber car' home.  Spent the night at Sherry's getting up lazily and headed home.

This is my actual BIRTHDAY.  Yup, no matter what, on your birthday - you just feel special.  Yes, it was Tuesday and snow day #2.  But I love snow and this kind - so its mother nature's treat.  Plus, last night my wonderful husband ran through a body flow workout with me by our fireplace so I felt super awesome.

Its also SUPER cold.  This was how the boys wanted to get to the gym.  Why not right?  We have all day, lets make it fun.   

everyone had a run bike 

I opted to let them wear hats ILO helmets just this once... 

I am certain everyone that drove by us wondered where our car was - but honestly the kids loved it.  There were so many kids at the gym kids club they opted to have them play in the basketball courts (which is WONDERFUL considering my dudes LOVE to glue themselves to the movie that is normally on...)  i didn't have tons of motivation but noticed a favorite teacher of mine was knocking out body step - need a better resason to join up?  Nope - it was a great class and way better than the crappy cardio I had inteneded....

Alright - home for lunch and naps - 

Next up, another afternoon of sledding - BTW - remind me - we NEED sleds next year.  Ours are CRAP!  We are always borrowing, asking etc...  These boys need sleds.

Here is the 3 man bobsled - (not our sled...)

Here is my birthday dinner with all my boys - to include the most important one taking the photo!  My cake was AWESOME.  And memorable when Nick asked me what kind of cake I backed for myself...  hmm... none...  Its a girl scout cookie cake!!

I even got to stay up late as our trusty Loudoun county issued a 2 hour delay for Wednesday morning - I tell you - we just watch it melt around here....  I do love snow - but really??

o.k - happy birthday to me!  Thanks for all the FB love too - I enjoyed thinking of each one of you as the messages came through.  Always a special day and thanks for the great family and friends that made it feel that way.

Before and After

Here is Sunday in Brambleton.....  Drew and I were out walking Pauli and puddle jumping....

Here is Monday.  Seriously.  The wind blew in and with it a huge snow sotrm.  I bet we got 8" by the time it was done Monday at 2PM.  It was SNOWing all day and beautiful.  Chris was able to work from home which was wonderful (minus the whole 'work part')  this was me getting the kids outside for a bit so he could 'work'

We ended up doing a bit of sledding that day.  Chris was very excited an ambitious taking the family to a HUGE hill at the base of Creighton and Belmont ridge (I need to take a photo of this later...).  

The hill was HUGE and a little scary I must admit.  at 4:45 when we arrived there is was windy and COLD.  The kids were dressed well (which, I swear, having the right stuff makes ALL the difference) funny I should say that as we had to drive by my wonderful friend Megan's house to borrow the 'right sleds'.  

Thankfully we did as our 'once fabulous' blow up tubes, now had a hole and were quickly shrinking in the cold temps.  Chris and I were trying to revive them at the top of Mt. Super chilly with NO LUCK...  Ah, well - so a HUGE shout out to Megan and a bit note on our birthday lists for 2014 =)!

We lasted until almost 6pm!  Go boys.  They LOVED it and went down the hill in every direction.

We came home and crushed the hot cocoa!

Crazy thing is, we got to do this 2 more days...  Yup, like I said, NOVA likes to watch it melt...

The kid loves basketball

Nick had a BLAST playing basketball.  He isn't the tallest on the team - or the most talented - but he learned quickly, made some baskets and most importantly LOVE it.

Of the sports we have tried - this so far is my favorite.  Seems to get a good amount of kids involved (not just the best ones) and it is so active - The hoop was down just a bit (don't ask me how much)  they didn't make it every time by any means - I love them all watching here.

Check out Nick with a dribble face off.

Nice pass (his passes are normally all to Lucas his best buddy, but lucky number 7 gets this one.

The games were always on Saturdays with a bonus one this Sunday.  The parents and grandparents enjoyed sitting in the school bleachers and cheering on their favorite team.  No score keepers yet - But LOTS of fun and good old exercise.

Chocolate?

Chocolate covered strawberries - watch out!!  Its a feeding frenzy =)

Yup, that is a cute face and with chocolate - very kissable