Swinging - On.Their.Own!

Henry and Hannah have been playing together SO well lately.  It has been really nice, giving us more time to focus and bond with baby Luke.  This weekend Hannah gave us a great treat when we came outside after cleaning up after dinner and found her pumping on the swing!!  We knew it wouldn't take her long, but didn't think it would be just a few weeks after Henry figured it out.  Those second kids pick up so fast it is amazing!  So the past three nights Andy and I have been able to sit on the deck, with Luke in our laps, and watch the kids swing and play in the backyard for at least a good hour.  Usually we would flip a coin for who has to stand in the backyard and push the kids, so now that they can both pump on the swings, it is quite a different experience for us.  Another big milestone in our house.  These kids are growing up so fast! 

The kids swinging last night.  

 

And here is the video from the night Henry learned how to swing on his own.  Both kids did it on their own, when we weren't out there.  Keep your eye on Hannah about half way in this video.  She watches Henry so closely and then tries to pump on her own, which is hilarious!  Didn't take her long!

It is bittersweet that the kids are becoming so independent.  Sad that they don't need us as much anymore.  But it is also pretty glorious that Andy and I actually get some 'us' time.  And it is so nice that they have each other to play and grow with through the years.  Hopefully they will let Luke join in on the fun once he gets big enough to run around with them! 

It's a....

As you can tell by this video Henry is SO happy to share the news that he was right and mommy has a baby BROTHER in her tummy!  Hannah on the other hand was not so thrilled at first, which is just adorable.  In the three days that have passed since we broke the news, she has definitely warmed up to the idea of having a brother, and one day she will look back on this and realize how really lucky she is.  Yesterday when we picked her up from school the teacher told us that Hannah had been telling everyone about her baby brother all day, so I think it has set in.  It will be so great to add another boy to the mix of all the girls.  

So yes - we have baby boy Schmidt on the way and we couldn't be happier!  I had to share another video of the kids arguing over whether is was a baby brother or sister, and then the video of us asking them the day before we found out what they thought baby was.  These will be fun to look back at one day when all the kids are older!  Time to start planning for baby boy and cleaning out all of our girl baby stuff - good thing we know some people having girls in the next few months!

Lucky Charms

Check out our little lucky charms this morning. 

Henry knew this year about wearing green and told us on Wednesday 'Mommy, I've got to wear green or I will get pinched!'.  Hannah wasn't too thrilled at first. 

Our BIG boy who has been so good in the mornings getting ready!

Hannah finally smiling after some help from daddy.

Yes - outfit is a little crazy, but I thought it was adorable!

And check out this pic from last year on St. Patty's day!  My kids don't grow very fast as they are still in the same shirts as last year - this is actually the 3rd year in a row Henry has worn the same shirt!!  Sure got my money out of that one!  Hannah's hair has grown so much!  I can't believe they were in flip flops and shorts already - hope the nice weather comes our way soon!! 

First Schmidt Family Trip

Last weekend we took the kids to a water park resort about 90 miles southeast of Des Moines.  Andy actually came up with the idea a few weeks ago, and sent me a link to Honey Creek Resort.  They have a winter wonderland special for a 2 night stay, and I also saw there was an annual Kids at the Creek event the weekend we picked to go.  This was the first time that just our little family has gone on a trip just the four of us.  We are so lucky to have our family live so close to us that we typically go on vacations  trips with our families.  Inside joke, but Andy only allows us to call it a vacation if the kids aren't along! 

The kids were super excited to go on 'cation'.  I was a little nervous about sleeping all 4 of us in the same room, and the first night was pretty rough since I made the bad decision on sleeping in the same bed with Hannah.  That girl does not stop moving and always has to be sleeping ON me.  So the second night I slept in the other bed with Andy and all 4 of us slept all night, and didn't wake up until after 7am!  We brought along our little kid blow up mattress for Henry which worked perfectly (except for it makes loud noises when they move, so when he starts to stir around 6:30am you hear every time he shifts).  Not sure how we will make it work with a 3rd - I guess pack n play in the corner??  Even cozier!

One thing to remember is to definitely pack a big cooler with breakfast items like milk, go gurt, snacks, etc.  They only have a little snack shop onsite, and then a really nice restaurant.  There is nothing else close by as this place is out in the boonies.  So we saved some bucks by eating breakfast in the room both mornings.

Eating and watching the sunrise.

First we hit up the Kids at the Creek event.  It was $3 per person to get in, and there was a small room with inflatables, a room where you could learn about different animals and make a footprint in clay, and then a room set up with different games where you get tickets and pick out a prize at the end.  All perfect stuff for kids their age.

Trying to knock the cup over (this one was impossible).  The ladies running the tickets loved our kids, so gave them a ton of tickets for the prizes even when they didn't win the games.  Very nice of them.

Hannah lovin the inflatables.  Henry had to push her bottom up over the first hill, but she could do the rest of it after that.  Usually she says 'Mommy do it!' but this trip it was 'Henry brother do it!'. 

We went back to the room for snack, and then got ready for water park time.  As you can see, the kids were pumped. 

Hannah all ready to swim.  Henry jumps right in and starts swimming like a little fish, but it took Hannah a little bit longer to warm up.  By the second time we went down there that night after dinner, she was much more comfortable and would go down the slide all by herself.

The kids climbed up on this fish and kept falling off and laughing for a good 15 minutes.

Going down the pirate ship slide.

See that blob under the water - that is our little fish Henry.  He is so good in the water!  2 more inches taller and we wouldn't have had to go in with him in the 3' pool area. 

Great trip overall.  I highly recommend this to anyone in the area that is looking for a quick, affordable getaway.  The kids had so much fun, the food at the restaurant is actually really good.  We hit up the pool first thing in the morning on Sunday, checked out right at check out time, and had an awesome brunch at the hotel restaurant before we hit the road at nap time.  Kids were exhausted and slept the entire way back. I definitely see us coming back again next year.   

Baths These Days

Part of our nightly routine has always been baths every night.  It calms the kids down, makes sure they are clean, and gives Andy and me 10 to 20 minutes to hang out while they have fun splashing around.  Henry doesn't mind water in his face at all, but Hannah HATES it.  She has to have her mommy do it, she has to stand up and look at the ceiling, and it has to be the same little blue cup that is used every night to wash her shampoo out of her hair.  If any water gets in her eyes or ears she freaks.  I have the pattern down, but nights that Andy does it causes for a little stress, but she deals, and as soon as the two kids are wrapped up in their towels they lay on our bed next to each other and do this:

It's these moments that I just love!!