germ-astics

One of the things high on my to-do list when we're in America was to enroll the girls in some kind of gymnastics/ballet/music/art class and enroll them in swimming lessons. We're going to wait a big on swimming lessons, but after making a few calls I decided to enroll all three girls in a gymnastics class at The Little Gym.

There's a Little Gym right down the street for us, so it's really convenient.

They give your second child a 20% discount.

Your third kid is free.

Does it get better than that?

AND - the kicker - all the girls could attend class on the same day at roughly the same time.

Perfect.

[Plus, they keep calling it germastics...which is reason enough for us to go every week. It makes my heart smile every time.]

We watched some clips from their website the day before class to help the girls get an idea of what they were getting into, and let's just say....they were unbelievably excited.

Emma and Samantha were able to enroll in a class together. They loved being together and watching out for each other. I think having the other around gave them both more confidence and they enjoyed the class much more than they would have on their own.

Abby, however, had to look through the glass the entire time. Longingly. Frustratingly. She kept saying, "Abby! Play? Me? Play? Play? Play?"

We told her she'd get a chance to play later, but that probably didn't compute.

Since this was the first session of a beginner class, they spent some time doing basic physical coordination stuff like running, jumping, playing with balls. For such simple activities, I thought The Little Gym did a great job of making it fun and engaging for the kids.

A few minutes into the big-girls' class, Abby discovered another forlorn little sister who was required to wait outside. Misery loves company.
When they busted out the parachute, I nearly joined the class myself. I LOVED the parachute when I was a kid. I came very close to buying a parachute before we left Asia (since there were so many kids who could use it!) mostly just because I wanted to play with it.
The second part of the class the kids were allowed to freely explore all the equipment while teachers stood nearby to supervise and give little comments. I loved that they had so much freedom to try things out on their own, and if they needed help, people were right there to jump in.



The girls class started at 4:00 and was over by five. We had pizza buffet at a restaurant across the street and then Abby's class started at 6:15. We walked back into The Little Gym and she started her mantra of "Abby! Play? Me? Play?"

I was so happy to say yes! We started playing with bells and following simple instructions together. Did I mention Abby's class was a parent-child class?
I have been a parent now for over five years, and I've developed my own way of doing things and thinking about things. I like the way I do things and I think it's right - otherwise, why would I do things that way?

So when the teacher said, "Your kids should feel free to run off on their own, even if we're all doing a group activity in the circle. Let them go and explore, and if they see you participating in the middle, they'll come right back to you and join in!"....you can't even imagine my skepticism. I would have likely required my child to stay by me and do whatever we were doing.

You CAN learn new things, Rachel! You CAN!

The teachers were totally right. They encouraged the parents to really get into the activities and have a good time, and sure enough - every time Abby would run off to play with something, she'd catch me doing the group activity and run right back. I was shocked, but pleased.

So, here's me "really getting into the activity" and nearly having a baby in the process. There was running, jumping, galloping, and freezing. I was breathing hard by the time it was over. Let's just say...if I actually had a baby at The Little Gym, I wouldn't even get free enrollment for the kid, because you're fourth kid is already free too. Bummer.

I loved how Abby would come back and grab my hand to run around. So sweet!

All the girls had such a fun time trying new things and they can't wait for the next class. I loved that they each had the opportunity to try things out themselves and be independent, even though they were with other people. I was really impressed with The Little Gym, and when you factor in the discounts they give for multiples, it was a great option for our family.

It just doesn't get any better than germastics!

Ack!

So I was laying in bed the other night, belly sticking out every which way, and wouldn't you know...contractions started. We're a little less than two weeks away, and I'd been having some light ones here and there, but certainly not the type that make you even start to assume you're going into labor. These got filed under the "Annoying" heading, because I kept lying there awake wondering if they were going to keep coming or not.

They did. And there were several of such long duration and fairly high intensity that I - in the privacy of my dark room, unbeknownst to my sleeping husband - advanced into panic mode.

Ack! I don't have any diapers for a new baby!

Ack! The new baby clothes haven't been washed yet!

Ack! My house is a mess and my school room is still disorganized and I still haven't gotten current on Abby's shots yet and I still haven't chosen a pediatrician!

Ack! Ack! Ack!

Finally, I fell asleep and stayed asleep - further proof that true labor is still a ways away. But the next morning, I went to the store. Bought diapers. Washed clothes. Checked on a few pediatricians. Thought about organizing the school room.

It's starting to feel a little more real now, with the nightly contractions. Eventually, there's going to be a tiny little baby in my closet. [What's wrong with keeping a baby in a closet? It's a BIG closet!] Eventually that little guy will be wearing those clean "Daddy's MVP" shirts and "Dog-gone Cute" onesies all hung up on the racks. Eventually I can get rid of my maternity clothes once and for all.

And now, at least, I'm ready.

the florence nightingales

"Hurry, come quick!" I shouted at the girls. They were down the hall in the bathroom, washing up after lunch.

Our little backyard pool - yes, the pool again...because I have nothing else to blog about - has been a hot hangout spot for the birds recently. We also have scattered birdseed on the ground because, well....birds are very interesting to watch. If you're between the ages of one and five.

A little black bird was swimming around in our pool, making laps and fluttering all about. There had been birds getting close, standing precariously on the rim of the pool for several days, but no one had committed to splashing about yet. I knew the girls would be so excited; I was a little grossed out, but I'd already planned to dump that water before the girls got back in so I tried to mentally block out thoughts of bird germs.

They came running down the hall and smushed their faces up against the glass.

"He sure is swimming slowly, mama," Emma commented. "Can we go look at him?"

I agreed and they all scampered outside to get a closer look at our bathing bird. A quick inspection later and Emma reported to me that she thought he might not be able to get out of the pool. As we looked closer at the little guy, it did seem that he was having some difficulty.

They were under strict orders NOT to touch the bird until I got out there. I seriously don't care how cute he it. He will not be touched by a member of my family, thankyouverymuch. I searched all over for my flip-flops, wondering where Abby had stashed them in one of her bids to be helpful.

Unbeknownst to me, Emma and Samantha had devised a plan about how to get him out while still avoiding physical contact. They scooped him out with a watering pitcher that was nearby and laid him on the ground. The next inspection brought Emma, screaming and nearly hysterical, into the house.

"Mommy! Come quickly! He's dying! He's dying right now! You have to come!"

I was already on my way to the backyard, but Emma would have none of my dawdling. I arrived when the bird just might have been on the brink of death. It's true - he was shivering, chirping some pathetically moan-like chirps, and was opening and shutting his eyelids very slowly. It was a bit creepy.

Emma and Samantha were full of ideas. Put some birdseed in front of him. Get him a towel. Hold him close and snuggle him (an idea that was quickly nixed). Samantha ran to get a towel and we draped it over him. I very awkwardly tried to comfort him - he's a bird, but still...it must be in my maternal genes - and prayed he wouldn't die in my yard. Not only did I not want to deal with the melodrama that would surely ensue from such an event, I didn't want to have to haul a dead bird out of the yard. And since josh is out of town, that job would have falled to me. Yuck.

The doorbell rang, and my mom and sister were showing up to watch the girls while I had a doctors appointment. They got the lowdown on the bird-drama, and we all came inside to let the bird either recover or die in peace. Just as I was about to head out the door, I saw the bird gingerly take a few hops. I heard later that he recovered fine.

Seems like Emma and Samantha might have found a new calling in life.

more summer fun

There's a Barbeque place right across the street from our house.

We can see it from our kitchen.

We drive by it every single day.

We just needed an excuse to try it out.

Barbeque is one of those things you should eat with good company.

I called my friends Alicia and Paul at the last minute one evening to see if they wanted to come over.

Secretly, I wanted to go buy some of that barbeque.

I was not disappointed - by the ribs and brisket or the company.

Alicia has had another baby since I last saw her - leaving her with fewer brain cells, but still a few more than me. =) I got to hold her cute little one while the other kids were splashing about wildly in the backyard pool.

This is her little one, Esther Angela, at about two months old. Even at two months old, she was smaller than any of my kids were when they were born. I loved holding her tiny self. I secretly prayed that our boy would be as tiny as she was - mostly so he could fit into those alligator-driving-the-car onesies. Is that selfish?
Her son looks just like his parents smushed together. He is cautious, careful, and measured in his approach to life and play:
...unlike Abby, who rushes into to things without a care in the world. They could balance each other out nicely. Hmm.....

There was pouring, spraying, squealing, laughing...

Summer nights make the summer days seem worthwhile.

snips and snails, and puppy dog tails

I'm not exaggerating when I say that with each successive child I bear, I lose some extra brain cells. I suppose they might not exactly be lost, but they certainly are otherwise occupied - keeping up with feeding schedules, wiping bums, teaching letter sounds, keeping toys out of the most congested areas of the house, remembering who likes which foods on which days and in which ways...all of that seems to make it hard to remember the exact directions to my favorite dinner, or the specifics of a conversation I had a week ago.

Even in spite of my pathetically-low-after-three-children brain cell count, I try to remember the most important things and do my best to avoid looking like a complete idiot. But it seems that one important task was left undone: I never publicly announced on my blog that we were having a boy. I've heard from several readers (several? I have like, five readers....what am I talking about?) that I casually alluded to the fact a few weeks ago, but never officially came out and said it.

Let me clear it all up and apologize for my oversight: we're having a boy!

A boy! It's true. I initially had conflicting emotions. It went a little like this:

• It's a boy! We're having a boy!!!
• I have no idea what to do with a boy.
• Josh will be able to wrestle and roughhouse and throw balls in the house!!
• I have no idea what to do with a boy.
• The Eggrolls will live on! Josh is having a son!
• I have no idea what to do with a boy.
• What will we name him?
• He's going to be so effeminate after growing up with three sisters.
• What am I going to do with a boy?!

Now the conflict of emotions is over and we are all so anxious to welcome baby brother to our family. Plus, I've had lots of time to think about it and I've come up with a few reasons why I think this boy-thing might not be so bad:

• I'm ready for the drama factor in the household to decrease a little. Let's just face it: girls are high-drama. And I mean, HIGH drama.
• Boy swimsuits are so cute.
• I won't have to braid a fourth head of hair.

I know that list is very short and shallow, but those are the things that stick out to me. And even though I think that boy-clothes aren't nearly as cute as girl-clothes, I bought this the other day after nearly swooning:

Alligator? Dinosaur? I'm not sure. But seriously - I swooned. Ask Josh; he was there with me. [I just hope he's born less than 9 pounds! The only size they had left was "newborn: up to 9 pounds".] I love the little exhaust coming from the back of the car, the fact that he's driving a car, the green and brown....

Then, a few days after alligator-in-the-car purchase, we went over to Josh's parents house for dinner and playing. They have three young boys still in the house, so there's plenty to observe over there.

Gigi dug out some of the toys the boys played with when they were little, and the swooning returned.

Construction workers? Yes. I love it.
The cute little battery-powered wrecking ball? I'm in.
The hard hats? The tow truck? I love it all.

Bring the boy on. Even if I don't know what I'm going to do with a boy, we'll figure it out.

While we were at Pappy and Gigi's house, Abby got some instruction on how to use the remote-control fan. To say she was amazed would be an understatement:

She also got to ride a bucking bronco - and yes, she fell off...but only once. =)
Samantha stuck with traditional girl toys - the Barbie convertible and My Little Pony:
After pizza and playing, we cut open a huge watermelon - such a classic summer treat!
I know lots of you guys have boys and have helped (or are currently helping) shape them into strong, Godly men - I'm totally interested in comments, tricks of the trade, helpful suggestions, etc. Let me know your thoughts!

Bowling with Daddy...for Free!

One reason I love blogging (not that you would think I actually loved it since I post so erratically!) is because I love reading other people's blogs. I especially enjoy reading blogs of friends, but I've discovered several great new friends just by reading their blogs.

One particular friend, who just so happens to be named Rachel, recently posted about something fun she did with her daughter. This post really resonated with me because I'm constantly saying things like, "I wish I could think of something different to take the girls to do..." and then (in Asia) we'd end up at an indoor playpark, or in Oklahoma we'd just end up at the library - which, by the way, is a fabulous place to end up at.

The point of all of this is to say: we went bowling! For free! (Well, for almost free. We still had to rent shoes; but the actual price of the girls' bowling games were free. Here's the blow-by-blow:)

Check out this website to find out if there are any bowling alleys near you participating in the Kids Bowl Free! summer program. As luck would have it, there was one directly across from our house. For their opening at 11am, we left the house at 10:58. That's about as close as you can get!

We registered our girls online and then printed out their free bowling vouchers. They'd never been bowling before, but they knew that Daddy went bowling sometimes for guys' night back in Asia, so they were looking forward to this new adventure.

At first they thought the shoes were dorky, but I convinced them that they were very cool - "vintage" is a hard concept to describe to a four-year-old, but I think I did ok.

There's just something so unusual about bowling shoes that I can't help but keep looking at them. I mean, I'd never wear them around town, but they have such a bold look that I'd like to think I might.
We had a quick intro to what exactly the purpose of this game was:
...and of course, we had a great example from Mr. Eggroll. He was happy to give a little tutorial!
The bowling alley would give you a little ramp if you asked for one; that comes in handy for little ones who haven't yet built up their arm strength to roll strikes and spares each frame. But Emma opted out - she wanted to try it the "real" way.
She did a great job! (Of course, it helps when the gutters are taken out of the equation!)
Samantha wasn't embarrassed at all to use the ramp, and it eventually showed up in the final score. I think she bowled 3 strikes or spares!
I spent most of the morning chasing Abby around and learned a great lesson: bowling will be for josh and the big girls, not for me and Abby!
Thanks Rachel, for the great idea! We had a fun morning with Josh before he had to leave on a long trip, and we'll definitely be going back...as soon as Josh returns!

finding ways to beat the heat

It's hot. No big surprise there, since we are in Oklahoma...and even though there's air-conditioning everywhere, it's still hot!

Josh and the girls went out a few days ago to buy a little plastic pool to use in our backyard. It's not very deep, but so far everyone has loved using it to cool off.

We do have a few new baptisms to report every time we use the pool, though - that's always a big pooltime hit! =)

Our big backyard is almost always covered by a large and beautiful shade tree, so even though it's hot outside, the girls can still play in the pool and not get sunburned.

This is classic Abby - walking on her tiptoes everywhere she goes!
I tried to get a parting shot of all the girls, but had no luck.
This week is supposed to bring 100-degree temps every day, so if you stop by our place, look in the backyard - that's probably where you'll find these three girls!