Itty Bitty Witte Family: April 2012

Posterity 2.0

I last posted HERE that the kids each have their own song.

Since then, (2009) we have had added to our crew, and as such, the song list has increased.

Mason's song was hard to figure out because nothing we came up with "fit."

Part of FHE was to make the master list, and off the top of our tongue's we, as a family created Mason's song.

Kind of fitting since everyone, and I mean everyone, wished him to be here on Earth with us.

Here is Mason's:

(tune of twinkle twinkle)

Little Mason is so cute

He is growing into a brute

He was a preemie for so long

now he is growing and so strong

Little Mason is so cute

We are glad he joined our group.

Juliet's song had to be revised because, well...you'll see why.
Here is hers:
"Sung to Father Abraham or Sister Juliette"

Sister Juliet,
had many sisters, but she only had 1 2 brother(s)
Lucas is one of them, and you are not!
So let's dance like ro-bots!

Sister Juliet,
has big blue eyes, and they are so very pretty
she is so funny, and so so cute!
So let's scream out JuJu!

What a random FHE, but now the playlist is complete. Haha.

April Specials

We have done so well with our Pancake Breakfast. This time Lucas and I made Cornmeal Pancakes. They are light, fluffy and sooooo good. Lucas is becoming quite the chef and really enjoys cooking with me.

He told me during our special that he always wants to cook when it's my turn. Daddy only makes box stuff, but Mommy makes real stuff. Haha.

***

I took Scarlett to get a hair cut. She looks oh so cute and really liked just being with me.

We sat in the parking lot and sang her favorite songs while enjoying a lollipop.

She is such a sweet little girl.

***

Juliet and I went on a walk in the backyard, we played catch and then I pretended to chase her.

She thought that was the best thing in the world. I now find her pointing outside from time to time, almost like she is saying "again!"

***

Bridget and I decided to paint a picture.

Just her and I. She dominated the conversation, like always.

I don't know how I got such a girly girl, but I did.

She can go on and on and on about the most random things. :)

***

Mason has been plugging away at physical therapy.

My time with him is spent working on his arm strength.

Every time I have a special with the kids, I realize how special each and every kid is to me.

I really encourage you to give your children an hour of undivided, unshared, attention.

Our relationships are always strengthened and we have become so close to one another, it is wonderful.

In case you were wondering, I LOVE my family, more than ANYTHING.

34th!!

I have never felt more lucky, than this weekend.

Nathan is the best husband anyone could ever ask for.

Nathan got word that he would be working a horrendous shift the weekend of his birthday.

He thought he might be working ALL weekend, and even spending the night at the office.

I thought to myself that we would just do breakfast, and then he would go in and be gone all weekend.

Lucas really would have been upset if we celebrated without him, so we nixed that idea.

I asked Nathan what he wanted for his birthday and he said to sleep in.

What a nerd.

So, I got up and got everyone going and kept everyone quiet and took Lucas to school.

Nathan was able to "sleep in" an hour and a half longer than he normally would.

He had to get on a few calls, so the girls and I cleaned house and then picked up Lucas from school.

We took Nathan to buy some new shoes.

He was surprised and happy about that.

We went out to lunch at Which 'Wich. Not his favorite, but a welcomed "something different" for lunch.

I love this place because you totally customize everything.

Then they put your bag on the line and you can watch them make everything.

The kids loved this.

After that, I had an appointment - so Nathan took the kids to GrandRabbits which is a really cool toy store.

Nathan loves toy stores. :)

Then we parted ways.

It was sad for the kids to say goodbye to their daddy.

I had a long night with the kids, that is putting it mildly.

There was an issue and they went to bed after I yelled at them.

I felt really guilty about losing my cool and knowing that I still had ALL weekend with them (alone)

I was up all night, I went to bed at 1am because I couldn't sleep.

I talked to him a bit, and felt bad for complaining and for yelling at the kids.

I even cleaned out the junk drawer for him. He always teases me that I always say "I just cleaned it" but this time, not only did I clean it, I came up with a more permanent solution. Haha. Velcro!

He worked and worked and worked so hard that he was able to come home early.

He assured me, everyone has times when they lose it. Everyone gets to a breaking point.

Then he asked me what I learned.

I learned that how I reacted was not how I wanted my children to ever react.

When the kids woke up I even told them I was sorry and that it would never happen again.

They cried and apologized for what they had done.

(insert Full House group hug)

(one day my sister will let me tell you the story about when we met Bob Saget HAHAHAHA)

Nathan always is helping me become a better person. I love that about him. :)

We did some yard work, had a typical Saturday and then had Nathan's favorite dinner

(sweet and spicy pulled pork tacos)

I had planned on bringing it to the office, but he was home! Yay!

We also made him a Butterfinger Caramel Cake also known as:

BTS (better than .....saks fifth avenue (sex)) Cake

He assured me, it was good, but not better. Hahahahaha.

Nathan went to bed at 7:30 and I spent the evening reading to the kids.

Nathan is the hardest worker I know. He sacrifices so much for our family and always puts me first.

I really feel more and more, that I married the perfect man for me.

Every time I tell him how lucky I feel, or how much I love him, he ALWAYS insists that HE is the lucky one.

He is a great father and friend.

*swoon*

Flashback Friday: Leafy Good Time

After Ethan and Ali had moved for the 3rd time, Nathan's work schedule went from normal to ridiculous. He would work 7-4 and then be on call and have to go in to the hospitals at 2am and get home at 5 or 6 in the morning and still have to be at the office at 7am. It was really frustrating and hard with a new baby. I was not very supportive because when is the man supposed to sleep?

But, it was a job. It was the only job he could find after moving to Colorado (because of me) from Oklahoma. He had a really great job in Oklahoma, but I was unwilling to move from my job and awesome apartment and everything else...oh and the huge bugs, ick.

Did I mention that I used to be a brat? Because I was. I own it. I am much better now. Haha.

Anyway. Back to the flashback.

This was October 28th, 2006 Lucas almost 4 months.

Sometimes, the stars would align and Nathan would be able to leave work at 2 or 3. Instead of coming home and taking a nap, I would beg him to come see me and the kids. (see brat explanation above)

Because Nathan is an awesome guy, he would always come and see us.

He would rake the leaves for Kandi and Jamie (E&A's parents)

He would wrestle and play with the kids, and most importantly, be with me.

We put Lucas in one of the huge leaf piles...

Oh no! Where's Lucas?

Lucas would always sport a serious face. He wasn't mad or angry, just stern.

Catching a smile was hard sometimes.

This my friends is why I was never into baby wearing. Nathan's mom found this snugli for us, and we tried it, but it was never the right fit. We would use it only when we HAD to, but it was horribly uncomfortable.

It wasn't until recently that my eyes were opened into the world of baby carriers.

Oh well. Lucas would have never wanted to be in a carrier anyway. And Bridget, well....she was too big for one. (that was putting it nicely)

Lucas was a great baby, until 5pm.

For some reason every day at 5pm he would cry, for an hour.

We called it the bewitching hour.

He wasn't tired or hungry, just over stimulated.

It was just part of life.

My girls were never that way, and Mason has a similar "fuss period" around 4:30.

These flashbacks make me so nostalgic about our life with just one kid.

Sometimes it seems like a dream. Haha.

Princess and the Pea

When I was 7, I got to see my very first play. It was at Cal Poly Tech and it was the Princess and the Pea. It was excellent. I remember that I got dressed up, I got to have a special dessert and when I came home that night, I knew I wanted to be in a play someday. I remember bragging to my sister all about this play.

Lucas's School, read: The Cool Music Teacher, Mrs. Stout

put on this very same play this year!

Lucas was able to see it during the day and then they put on a performance tonight.

One of the main reasons we went, was to see Sarah.

Or if you ask Scarlett, it was to see Emma. (Sarah's sister)

Sarah is in my class at church, and of course Emma would be there.

I took the older 3 because it was raining, and the younger 2 wouldn't have been very quiet.

Bridget, Lucas and Mrs. Stout.

Sarah is in the striped dress in the back on the right side.

Lucas and Bridget were enthralled.

Hey look! An Emma!

Scarlett was happy.

We came home, talked Nathan's ear off, and of course, like her mother, Bridget decided she is going to be in a play someday. Although, she told us she would use more expression than the 4th graders. :)

A fun evening with my kids, and brownies when we got home!

Happy Go Lucky

It has been so nice out lately, so we met up at the park with a friend the other day.

It was windier than I thought it would be, but the kids had a great time.

Juliet had the best time, I think.

She is seriously the happiest kid you will ever meet.

No - that is not chocolate. It is dirt. I tried to wipe her off so many times, but she just loved playing in it. The sand too. The best thing about park days is when we can just let the kids go and play.

Ugh, so filthy.

The kids all enjoyed a picnic lunch.

Mason just sat there. He is getting so fat. Hahahaha.

The kids played nicely together, Lucas and Eva went on a mini adventure.

After every playdate he tells me how much he wishes one of his sisters were more like Eva.

Meaning...listen to him, and be interested in what HE is doing/saying.

It was so windy. Check out their pigtails!

I had mentioned how I wished I had brought chalk, and what do you know? Dawn brought some! SCORE!

These two pics crack me up.

Sophie is such a sweet and charming little girl.

And then there is Juliet...

Haha.

Dawn said she had Jack Nicholson eyebrows.

Now, that is all I see.

"You can't handle the truth!"

LOL

(She actually has Grandpa Plum eyebrows - or eyebrowns, as my girls call them.)

Living in the moment

Mondays for us are one of our busiest days, much like everyone else.

We have to get Lucas to school, pick him up, feed the kids, take Bridget to school, come home, nap, wake everyone up, pick up Bridget, come home, have snack, play and clean up, make dinner, eat dinner, FHE, bath, stories, scrips, and bed.

Today, I decided to scrap everything after pick up Bridget and enjoy the afternoon. No planned snack like usual, no activity, just play.

It all started with my favorite game of "Scared or Happy?" It is a picture game I started just today, starring Mason! I send a picture to friends or family (today was family) and they have to guess what he is.

Here (cell phone pics):