March 2015

Here are some random pictures from March:

One of our families favorite things to do is go on a bike ride.  The snow had finally melted so we busted out our bikes for a nice ride just in time for another snow storm to hit! But WOW… I bike ride in March… never thought that would happen in Minnesota! We were stoked! (Reece was mad about the picture because he had to stop riding his bike for 4 seconds…).

Benson and Dad playing with balloons

 Tanner holding Kate while I "take a picture mom".

 Selfie for Grandpa Dunkley's 93rd Birthday

 Putting Tanner to bed is quite the process.  You have to either read two books or put together two puzzles from his Cars puzzle book.  Then you sing him two songs, keep the door open, and say good night.

 One of mine and Spencer's favorite things to do is go on breakfast or lunch dates while the kids are in school.  We don't have to pay for babysitters and we get to eat out when it's not as busy.  We went to a new restaurant for this particular lunch date-- it was after he had worked 6 nights shifts in a row.  It was time for a date!  All Tanner wants when he joins us is a "soda pop" which he tells the waiter in a loud funny voice.  I'm sure they think we are exceptional parents treating our 3 year old son with soda pop and crackers (only because he won't eat anything on their menu so we have to bring crackers for him to eat).

I LOVE listening to my children practice the piano.  There are so many great lessons learned from the piano.  One: things are hard at first-- but if you practice they become easier, Two: it takes hard work to accomplish great things, Three: it's easier to finish what you started then trying to do multiple things at once (it takes half the time to practice if you sit and do it instead of getting off the bench every two seconds--- this is a daily struggle for some). I LOVE music and I hope my children will gain a respect and love music as well.

Tanner and Kate are my shopping buddies.  If we go to the mall Tanner gets "bones" for his prize for being a patient shopper.

These three girls are so darn cute! Sadie and Abby Allen live across the street from us and LOVE Kate.    Abby doesn't like Kate covered up while I'm nursing so she'll try and pull the blanket off, and Sadie always wants to hold her.  They are such precious girls!

Oh, why do I think that sleeping babies are so beautiful.  Look how peaceful she looks. I'm in LOVE!

Our family goose! Don't you just love him! Here he is dressed up as a leprechaun for St. Patrick's Day. I kind of failed as a Mother this year-- I dressed my goose up but forgot to send my kids in Green to school.  I'm pretty sure that is the most important part of the whole day.  But we did have a scavenger hunt after school and we dyed our pancakes green for dinner-- with a green smoothie using our new Vitamix! It ended up being a great day.  Benson got a guitar for his birthday from my parents which came today so that was also very exciting! Him and Reece start guitar lessons next week! They are thrilled.

Oh gosh, don't you just love her outfits.  She is precious. Look at that darling grin of hers.

Tanner is hilarious.  He goes to the bathroom without being asked, then comes running out with his pants down stark naked, and then climbs up on the stool to get his prize.  He counts with his fingers, "1,2,3,4" and then gets 4 of whatever treats he can find.  Cute little stinker.

Benson was a super awesome champion this week.  Every three months he has to get his A1C checked which involves a blood draw.  The last time he had a blood draw it was a total disaster.  I was 2 weeks post-pardum with Kate and had Tanner and Benson with me.  We were on the 16th floor at the Mayo building and Benson decided he was NOT going to get his blood test done.  I was literally chasing him around the pediatric floor when I gave up and had Spencer come down from the 17th floor to help me.  We had to corner him so Spencer could grab him and carry him to the blood draw.  Of course EVERYONE and their DOG was watching us-- we provided some serious entertainment--Mom that can hardly walk from just having a baby and Dr. Dad chasing his son around.  I'm sure we were the talk of many peoples dinner conversations that night.  Spencer then carried him down the hall with him screaming and they had to shut two doors to keep Benson's scream from traveling to far….So this time we had to make a change.

I dropped Kate and Tanner off at Ashley's house and took Benson to the NW clinic which is much smaller with hardly anyone there.  I told him that if he sat still without screaming then he could get 1 hour of electronic time and a trip to Flappdoodles Ice Cream.  Benson didn't think he could do it-- but I kept telling him that he could! We walked into the lab and he sat on my lap with my phone and the game plants vs. zombies.  He gave them his arm and kept looking at the phone he entire time.  I told him if he concentrated on the phone and didn't look at what they were doing then he could do it without kicking and screaming.  He did AN AMAZING job and didn't even flinch when they poked him.  I had no idea they had even drawn the blood because I was watching the phone with Benson.  He did such a great job-- even the technicians were impressed.  I gave him an extra 30 minutes for his awesome behavior and then we ran over to Flapdoodles for some yummy ice cream before we returned to school.

I have to say that I am impressed with everything Benson deals with.  He takes great care of his diabetes and is really tolerant of all the difficult things that come with having diabetes.  He is a true champion and a very tough kid! Love ya buddy-- I'm proud of you!

Last Saturday I may have had a "mommy gone crazy moment".  I'm not sure why I was so stressed and upset-- but I literally told the kids and Spencer that Kate and I had to escape or I was going to make everyones morning miserable.  So I took Kate and we went and got a pedicure.  I couldn't believe how refreshing and relaxing it was.  I came home a totally different person.  I was refreshed and full of patience which was the complete opposite of how I felt when I left.  I guess sometimes us Mommies need a little pampering to help set us straight!