Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Christmas with the kiddos




I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! All five of us had a blast. Christmas made us very tired but all the prep work was worth it. A big thank you to my sister in law Shandra for having us all at her house. Here is a quick recount of the Christmas events.
1. Dinner with Aunt Susan and the family. Abby got a princess dress and Will got the biggest remote controlled car ever. Abby and Will ate three bites of macaroni and four handfuls of peanut m&ms for dinner.
2. Matt got done with work at 8pm. We all got in the car and headed to Greensboro. Will and Abby ate a few cookies and a two packs of fruit snacks before they passed out in the back seat.
3. Arrive at Thomas and Shandra's house at midnight. The kids were wired but they MUST go to sleep so that we can put out the Santa items and then fall into bed.
4. 2:30am. Abby wakes us all up throwing up in her bed...on Will's cover, the sheets, and her new princess dress that she insisted in wearing to bed. Was it something she ate? The throw up was immediately followed by diarrhea.
5. Repeat number 4 at 3:30am, 4:30am and 5:30am. Harper's pacifier seemed to fall out at 3am, 4am and then 5am.
6. 7am is Christmas time! Will and Abby got a Wii with a few games. So that the present piles would look even, Will got the games and Abby got the remote recharger. Lucky little girl.
The kids had a blast playing with the family and running around. I think my family had a good time too.




Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Happy Birthday To Mommy

For my birthday this year, Matt got me a babysitter so we could go out to dinner. It was great! Here I am getting ready to go celebrate my 29th birthday in style.
1. Please note the glass of white wine in the picture. I have recently switched over because red gives me a headache and I can't be a good mommy the next morning.
2. The second picture is of me and Abby both getting ready together. She wanted to put on makeup with me. We had a great time. Please note the hair clip in this picture. I was wearing a purple butterfly to keep my bangs out of my face. Abby was gracious enough to let me borrow it. She immediately wanted it back when she saw it in my hair. She has a hot chocolate beard still left over from the afternoon.
3. Finally, here is a great picture of Abby, who was also getting ready with me. Please note her "go-go" shoes and bracelet. She told me that she looked so pretty and she was READY to GO!


Sunday, December 20, 2009

Snow Day-December 2009

Its snowed! Not only did it snow, it snowed over a foot of snow in Richmond. We played a lot in the garage because the wind didn't get the kids so bad. The best toys for the snow? A shovel and a broom.
When I was a kid, I remember that we would play in the snow for hours. Now as a mom, I see that kids really just play in the snow for about 20 minutes and then come inside and drink hot chocolate. Here are a few pictures from our snow day.









Saturday, December 19, 2009

Questions I don't know the answers to.


Will asked me today "Mommy, what is a gang?" So I was muddling through the answer on that one.
I sald: "A gang is a group of people. Some gangs are good and some are bad."
Will asked: "Does Scooby Doo belong to a good gang or a bad gang?" I said: "A good gang. They solve mysteries."
Will said: "What would turn Scobby's gang bad?"
What is he getting at? I really don't know.

Abby is also coming into her own on the question side. Her main question today was "Mommy, can I have a fruit bar?" Fruit bars are made out of fruit sort of... and they are a lot like fruit leather.
After three fruit bars, I decided that she was done with the fruit bars.
Abby then said: "Mommy, I want another fruit bar please."
I said: No, you have had too many.
Abby said: Why?
Dang! I really don't know again.

I think I need to call my mom and ask her.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

A quick trip to Washington DC

We only live about an hour and a half away from Washington DC so we went up to visit Matt's college roommates who came to DC for conferences. What the hay, let's pack up all three kids and take a road trip!
We left at 8:45 (with the plans to leave at 8am) but we were in high spirits. We stopped at McDonald's for a fast food breakfast. Because the kids were going to eat in the cars, the kids got pancakes but were not allowed syrup. We could handle the pancake mess in my car and Ben's car (I don't know if he knew what he was getting into) but not the syrup.
After we got the food, the trip was going great. I had Harper in my car and she was napping so I was having a great time. Will and Abby were with Ben and Matt in the car in front of me. I got the most memorable phone call of my life. Matt call and said:
"Hey we have to stop. Abby misses you and Will has to poop."
We made it to DC with no more stops. We went to three different museums and the Washington Monument. In every place, we saw each bathroom at least once and every single escalator that was available. I asked the kids what they liked about the museums. Will responded back: I got to ride the escalator by myself! Hopefully some of Air and Space sunk in around the escalator rides.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Notes from Last night

The fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down. Now as a mom of three, I don't feel bad about getting into the bed at 8:15 and being asleep by 9pm. Actually, I have been doing this for years (even before I had children) but now I can get away with it without people thinking I am weird.
Here are some stories from the late evening/early morning hours of our household.
1. Harper is a good sleeper. She is sleeping from about 10pm to 6pm. I am not gloating...I am just so happy that she is the ONLY one in the house not waking me up between those hours.
2. Will does not want to go to sleep. He doesn't want to miss anything fun. Our rule is that you are allowed to stay awake, you just have to stay in your room. I often go in and find William slumped over his toys or coloring books on his floor, his little four year old hand still holding a truck or a crayon.
3. Abby must have two paci's to go to sleep. If she loses one, she DEMANDS to go to target right then. She wanted to go the other night at midnight when she woke up without one (She woke me up to tell me about it). It is hard to explain store hours to a two year old.
4. At bedtime, Matt has started playing one or two games of "Simon Says" with the kids. Abby screams "I WIN! I WIN" after every game but rarely does actually she win. I don't think she fully gets the game.
My favorite part of the game is that when Matt says "Simon says to put your hands on your hips" we also say "dip, you dip, we dip" and do a little dance. The kids shake their hips and say "you dip, we dip, I dip" and it is awesome. I will try to catch it on video.
Even if I go to sleep early, the party girl in me is not dead.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Thanksgiving 2009

We had a great Thanksgiving at our house this year. The kids had a blast with lots of family around them to play with them. There were a few overly long games of hide and seek, but other than that I had a great time too.
Harper got a new blanket from Aunt Shandra.


Will is getting better about not interupting. I caught him mid-sentence here.

Abby was very serious about her art.



Everyone's favorite person is uncle Thomas. I think Will took this picture.


Here is a daddy pile-on. You can see that Matt has his arm up to protect baby Harper from Will and Abby.



Sunday, November 22, 2009

The most wonderful time of the year

Yes, it is that time of year again. Time for a Christmas card photo. Now we are trying to get three smiles instead of two. No worries, I am ready to tackle this head on.
Sunday morning before church seems like the perfect time to try to get a good picture. It makes sense right? Everyone is clean. Everyone is dressed. Nana has just sent cute Christmas clothes. It is go time.
After 20 minutes of saying "just one more picture," I got a few shots that will work. Here are the good, the bad and the really bad.

Matt got into this picture. Harper looks a bit terrified.






Harper's clothes are basically coming off. Good smiles Abby!
This was a fun idea and the pose kept their hair out of their faces.



Harper is offically over it...
...because you can see I am standing over her as I got my feet in this shot.

Monday, November 16, 2009

A week with only one




Will and Abby helped me ease back into work by going and spending a week with Shay-Shay and Papa Tim in Wilmington. As much as I missed them, getting out the door with just one was very easy. I didn't have to raise my voice to tell baby Harper to put on her shoes so we could get to school on time. Even though somethings were easier, I was shocked at the quiet evenings....and my boredom. I missed those little buggers a lot!
Matt and I did use the time wisely. We went out to dinner twice. We re-lived our younger days and ate only chips for dinner. We watched movies....without animated action heros in them.
This week we are all here together and I survived. We actually thrived. Three is just like two only louder.








Sunday, November 8, 2009

My Ode to Maternity Leave

On my last day of maternity leave, I felt like going out--with a poem.

Good-bye shower free days and easy hours reading a mystery,
These care-free eight weeks are now maternity leave history.
I enjoyed my time, cooking dinner every night
Even though the big kids never tried even one bite.
We lived through a round of the chicken pox and swine flu,
I am still hoping that Harper won’t get sick too.

Early on Monday morning the rush will start again,
With shoes, car seats and a long lost computer log-in.
I am looking forward to getting back to my seat,
Which will cut down on the left over halloween candy that I eat.
While I have loved every minute of maternity leave,
I am full of excitement on this return-to- work- eve.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Halloween...Perryman Style

Halloween was ON at the Perryman house. This year, we had a very cute cheerleader, a cool Star Wars clone trooper, and the biggest Tigger in the neighborhood. I had a lady-bug costume for Harper but it was too hot for fleecy bunting. There was a neighborhood parade before we went out for some hard core trick-or-treating.


Will loves to do this pose. He's part storm trooper all cool guy.

She is the cutiest cheerleader I know. The bangs are banging.




Yes, that is a beer in my hand.







Abby was most excited about the candy. Matt made me wear that hat.






Friday, October 30, 2009

Why did I hate these as a kid?



When Becca and I were little, my mother tried to dress us in matching outfits. I have very vivid memories of crying and screaming that I did not want to dress like Becca.
When I learned that we were going to have a second little girl, I was so thrilled that Abigail and Harper would have each others as sisters. Yes, I am in for years of bickering and arguing if they are anything like me and Becca were, however they will be happy to have each other...by the time they go to college.
Until then, I have matching outfits! Harper is now seven weeks old and the girls now they have their first matching outfits. They will hate me later for this later but I am going have them wear these outfits in as much as possible.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Is she making fun of me?


I was getting a little work done the other day while Harper was sleeping and the kids were playing. I stepped outside to check on Will and when I came back in, Abigail had taken my place in front of my computer.

I asked her, "Abby, are you working?"
She said "I'm Mommy. I like coffee."
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Good Baby Harper




I can't believe I am even writing this down. We try not to talk about it so we won't jinx ourselves. Now she is six weeks old so I think I am in the clear. Harper is a really good baby. I mean really good. She only gets up once a night. She will sit in her chair and not cry. She doesn't freak out when Will and Abby get in her face.
I was really worried about having a third. What would it be like with three? How would I handle the screaming and the craziness? On the first night home, Harper let me sleep for three hours. My mouth fell open when I looked at the clock. Three hours?!? The clock must be wrong. I knew something was up that first day. I just couldn't talk about the goodness in case it didn't last. But it did last. Right now as I am typing this she is sitting sweetly on my lap making cute baby sounds.
I think I got this good baby so I could handle the craziness. The noise and the crying and the fighting from the other two can make me batty. I know that in a few years that Harper will be so wild that I will have to eat my words, but right now I have a good baby Harper.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Gasp! We have the Swine Flu.

On Sunday, Will hurt his finger while playing with his friend. We didn't think it was serious, so we didn't take him to the doctor...until Tuesday when he was still not using his left hand and holding his pinky finger out all the time. Turns out, his finger was not broken, but he did have the swine flu. I feel like this puts me and Matt in the running for parents of the year...again.
Abby got a fever at school on Wednesday so now she has it. On Thursday Matt woke up feeling awful so now he has it too. So far, Harper and I are clean but I am not holding my breath. We are all home together, washing our hands constantly. Here are a few shots from our 'sick' day home.

I am still concerned about the swine flu, but we are doing just fine. We are watching lots of Dora and drinking lots of apple juice.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

I said what?


Sometimes I find myself saying the strangest things. They make complete sense at the time, but don't make me repeat myself.

1. Sit on the stairs until you don't feel like hitting your sister any more.
2. I need a pull up right now.
3. You can have fizzy water and special raisins after you take your helmet off.
4. Only kiss baby Harper's feet or knees.
5. If Elvis scratches you, I am going to take his side.
6. Quiet time means no talking to me or Abby.
7. You can't have a band-aid for that.
8. This is a mommy show because it has kissing and fighting. No you can't watch it.