Today everybody (except Wade) traveled. Ben and Kaitlyn flew to Memphis with Granny and Pop. The big boys and I started our drive to KY. I loaded the back of the car and got ready to hop in the driver’s seat only to find someone had left me an Easter egg treat (Ben). Along the way, I taught Alex a new life skill – pumping gas. (It was brought on by the unseasonably cold temperatures.) The biggest surprise of our trip was driving through four hours of heavy snow in Ohio. Mother Nature likes to keep us on our toes!
Month: April 2022
Easter Sunday!
(Ben and I didn’t actually attend church today – also why I am not dressed up and in the picture. Ben woke up screaming this morning and talking about his ear. Since he has to get on a plane tomorrow, I decided we should get it checked out.)
The morning starting extra early for Ben and I. He woke up at 5:30 saying his ear hurt. A cup of water seemed to help and he thankfully went back to sleep. Then the morning started a second time with two tired big boys and two excited little kids. We let everyone explore their Easter baskets for as long as we could before we started the mad dash to get ready for church.
As I put Ben in the shower, he started crying again and complaining about his ear. At this point, Wade and I readjusted our morning plans. He would meet his parents at church with three kids. I would find a Ready-care open and make sure Ben and his ears were ready to fly with Wade’s parents tomorrow to Memphis.
It took 4 ready-care facilities (that all had “open” listed on their websites) before I finally found one. The doctor was awesome. Ben had a the beginnings of an ear infection and left with a prescription. We headed home to cook Easter lunch.
After lunch we finally let the kids gather up the eggs in the yard. It rained most of last night and we had been waiting for everything to dry off and for it to warm up!
The kids always like to play games with Granny and Pop but even more so this time. There were games of checkers, Sorry, Candyland, Jenga, and more on repeat. For the most part everybody was really good about playing together or taking turns. Ben might have snuck some Legos in there too.
Pop took Alex to lacrosse practice and stayed to watch. Did I mention how old Alex is looking to me?!?
The kids couldn’t believe Granny had never played Sorry before. They loved teaching her all the rules.
All of my kids love both their grandparents, but they definitely have that grandparent they would choose to spend all of their time with. Teague would spend every minute with Pop if he could. Tonight they got to talking and Teague would happily have skipped dinner if I would have let him continue his private conversation with Pop.
Kaitlyn recently got this space copter and it has been the coveted toy ever since. Everybody constantly wants a turn. Today Alex snuck outside with it before Kaitlyn realized what had happened. Then she caught on and wasn’t too happy.
Games. Games. Games. Granny has a lot of patience to try to play with all three at once.
I took Alex for his yearly checkup today and was shocked to find that he is only 5’4.173″. Since I know he is taller than I am (by more than a teeny tiny bit). I must not be the solid 5’4″ I thought I was.
KitKat was hanging out in my office today when Ben decided to give her some love. KitKat must have enjoyed it because every time I turned around she was arching into his pets. Then Ben wanted to share his favorite lovey with her and she seemed content with that too.
Granny and Pop are here. Let the games begin.
I had offered my big kids extra iPad time for doing some extra chores. Then Kaitlyn and Ben wanted in on it so I had to scrounge up more chores. After all those chores were done, Kaitlyn asked if she could wash my car. I definitely wasn’t going to say no to that. She even got Teague to vacuum the inside. The funniest part of this is she when they were all done and Kaitlyn came inside she didn’t even want to use the iPad time she had earned…
Alex was in charge of all of our boot trays. They needed all the salt and yuck scrubbed away.
Teague was in charge of scrubbing my car mats – with all of their winter grime.
One of Kaitlyn’s chores was sweeping off all of the porches.
I offered everyone extra chores today for extra iPad time. I didn’t initially think to include Ben when I was thinking of chores, but he quickly let me know he wanted chores too. One of his was setting the table. A new chore for him, but one he did fabulously.
I mentioned taking Kaitlyn and Alex shopping the other day. Kaitlyn was really excited to wear some of her new t-shirts and asked to do so also immediately when we came home. When she came downstairs in one of her new shirts, I had a sinking feeling. I hesitantly said, “Kaitlyn, that shirt looks too small.” She gets a relieved look on her face and says “I think so too. I had a lot of trouble getting it over my head.” I had her try one on in the store and it had looked fine so I was a little confused. I checked the tag and sure enough, it was size 2-3 instead of a 6-7. (Granted we had bought multiple colors/patterns, but I definitely messed up.) I have no idea how she got it on or how it doesn’t look even more tiny on her. The crazy part is she actually wanted to wear it for the rest of the day…
The Burch Boys worked in some extra playing time with their Pop today. (If you look closely, you can see Pop on in the Alexa in the background.)
Kaitlyn has recently become fascinated with snakes. She got a book from the library and enjoyed it so much that she has decided to copy all the facts word for word before she has to return it.
(Thankfully she hasn’t asked for one as a pet – yet.)
All my kids love their dentist office. Can you blame them?
(Good thing they like it. We are there multiple times a month with two in braces and everybody else prepping for ortho.)
Bedtime routines.
Teague likes to pretend to be asleep to delay my putting in his eye ointment.
A little electronics just before bed.
Bedtime routines.
Lately KitKat joins Ben and I during the reading of books before nap time and then she sleeps with Ben all during nap time. I commented today during our books that KitKat must have other things to do since she didn’t join us. Imagine my surprise when I later turned on the monitor and saw that KitKat had joined Ben for the sleeping part of the nap.
Our weekends have been taken over by sports. We have two lacrosse practices on Saturday mornings (one each for Alex and Kaitlyn) and then three games on Sunday (two lacrosse and a soccer). Wade and I trade off who goes where, but it’s a busy day. I was in charge of Kaitlyn’s games today and the lacrosse game was an hour away. Thankfully it’s a fun team to watch.
With thirty minutes of down time, we were off to soccer!
Notice that Alex is still wearing his headphones – even while jumping.
These kids were so excited to have the trampoline back up after going all winter without it.
This weekend I pulled out the bins and bins of summer clothes in our house. Alex has no hand-me-downs so we knew he needed new shorts. Teague rarely chooses the same kinds of clothes that Alex wore, but thankfully he can wear most of the same clothes he wore last summer. Kaitlyn also appears to be in the same size she was last summer, but she has changed her taste drastically. She has some hand-me-downs from my nieces that she likes, but she does need some new clothes. Ben has more clothes than he knows what to do with. Alex and Kaitlyn agreed to a shopping trip so they came to the outlets with me. We came out of the first store to find it pouring rain!
Saturday morning cartoons.
These hair spirals are once again popular as bracelets. Kaitlyn couldn’t wait to smuggle a couple to school to share with her besties.
We had a family game of frisbee before venturing out to Applebee’s. (It’s always a little bit of an adventure when we take the entire family into a restaurant.)
Kaitlyn planned her entire outfit around the jean jacket. She wanted to wear it so badly she even wore a dress! (I can’t believe last year she would only wear dresses.)
Ben and Little Ben evidently have a morning of activities planned while I get everyone ready for school.
Ben and I ended up with a free afternoon so we decided to make cookies. Ben requested cookies with M&Ms so we found a recipe and got to work. I was feeling in the baking spirit so after we made the cookies, I decided to use up the banana in my freezer and made a triple batch of chocolate chip banana bread (I freeze loaves for future use) and also a batch of chocolate chip pumpkin bread. The big kids were quite happy to come home from school today!
Tonight was leftover night – at Alex’s request. In our house that now means that Mom puts a plate together for Ben, Kaitlyn, and herself. Everyone else makes their own plate and then we all sit down together. I love having big kids.
Teague wasn’t into pictures today. This is actually a picture of him running out of the room as I was trying to take his picture.
Morning snuggles with KitKat.
Ben and I made cookies today. He got a little frustrated with the cookie scoop at the end and decided one big cookie might be the way to go.
Ben brings home lots of papers from preschool – which I love. His teachers are awesome and often write a description of his drawing for me. This drawing of Ben and Mickey is one of my recent favorites. When he got home, Ben informed me that they were sharing blueberries. The second picture is the first time I have seen Ben try to write “Burch.”
The last thing he does before walking out the door every morning is to put on his watch…
Teague has been been riding his bike to school all week and decided not to let the rain stop him today.
Kaitlyn introduced Ben to directed drawings today and his mind was blown.
Thank you art-hub.
Ben and I decided to spend this glorious day hiking. We tried out a new place – Callahan State Park – and had a wonderful morning exploring.
Out the door to school.
Another day. Another nap.
Soccer in the front yard with a friend.
This goofball loves my giraffe socks and was very proud of how he chose to wear them today.
Kaitlyn took over the kitchen yesterday and cooked all afternoon. She made a Funfetti cake, chicken club sandwiches, and a caesar dip with veggies. The rule in our house is you try everything. They were all new recipes and some we liked more than others, but Kaitlyn did an awesome job!