Suddenly SAHM

If you haven't heard yet, I quit my job and am - as of this past Monday - a stay at home mom.  This week doesn't really count though, as I have dubbed it my 'get your shit together week.' It really hasn't worked out that way, but I'm not counting myself as an official SAHM until this coming Monday.  I should have lots of pictures and posts in the coming weeks!  Should.  No promises.

Stella's First Birthday!

Yesterday was Stella's first birthday and we had a little celebration in our backyard/garage.  Stella was in a pretty good mood the entire time (I was worried she wouldn't be because she has had a cold) and was loving all of the commotion going on for her to watch.  When it was time for her to devour her cupcake, she preferred to use it as skin treatment.  She first mashed the cupcake up in her hands, and then she smeared it on her arms.  She had some frosting on her lips, but that was because I tried to force-feed her a bite thinking that once she had a taste she'd want to eat more.  Yes, force feeding my baby junk food.  Eat the damn cupcake!  She did end up taking a few very tiny bites just before we cleaned her up, but she wasn't blown away by the deliciousness.  We're waiting for the DNA results, as this was proof that she can't be our child. 

Soccer!

Shades

Kate

Shades

Kate

Hoop-a-looping

Kate

Friend Opening

A couple of weeks ago, when I was backing out of Sami's daycare driveway, she noticed a sign in the yard that said "Child Care Opening." 

Sami:  "What's that sign say, mommy?"
Me:  "It says 'Child Care Opening'"
Sami: "What does that mean?"
Me:  "John and Janet put that sign out so that when mommys and daddys drive by they will see that John and Janet have room to watch more kids. So if the mommys and daddys have to go to work and can't bring their kids with them, they can bring them to your school (daycare) and you would have more friends to play with at school."
Sami:  "Can we put a sign like that in OUR yard so that friends can come and play with me at my house?"

So, there you have it!

Teacher for Hire

I wish I had a picture to post with this, but I don't. Over the weekend I was told that I need to teach my 12-year-old niece, Camryn, to change a diaper. My family was so proud of my teaching skills that they recommended I hire out my services. Oh, shoot!  They actually said that I should make sure to NEVER hire out my services because my approach was all wrong and apparently shouting "REDO!" to Camryn instead of showing her that there are three snaps on a onesie and not two is not quality teaching.

I suppose that they think I should get in the water with Stella to teach her how to swim, too, instead of the sink-or-swim method I did with Sami when she was a baby.

Happy Easter!

We had a fun Easter day at my dad and Angela's new place in Sioux Falls. Karina, Kelli and I hid treat-filled eggs around the house and along a walking path by the house. This was my first time really hiding eggs for kids over the age of five, so I was very excited to find really good hiding spots. I think that I had more fun than the kiddos.

 The wild animals were released for the hunt and the cheetah (Lauren) wasn't wasting any time while looking for her kill.

 Stella supervised.

 Stella and her godmother, Auntie Leah

 Stella with her godparents, Uncle Nick & Auntie Leah just before we headed home

 My brother, Kyle, left about 15 minutes before us and we caught up with him just a few miles north of Sioux Falls. Joe saw smoke coming out of a car on the side of the road and said "Is that your brother?" Good thing one of us was paying attention.

 Sami and Stella waited patiently in the car while we were stopped on the side of the interstate.

And we got a couple of extra passengers! Kelli and Makayla rode home with us while Kyle stayed back to take care of the car and picked them up later.  Poor Kelli was squeezed between my two divas and I didn't even hear a peep out of Makayla way in the back.  I am SURE that their crisis was much more fun for Sami and I than it was for them (Joe is indifferent). Even though Sami was exhausted and emotional, she LOVED the extra time she got to spend with Makayla.

Chasing Waterfalls

On Saturday we went to Falls Park in Sioux Falls.  It was chilly, but still beautiful to see and listen to.  What was the most beautiful for everyone to listen to was me singing "Don't go chasing waterfalls, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that your used to..." by TLC because I could not get the song out of my head.