Out With the New & In With the Newer

As many of you know, we have been gritching about our mattress for a long good while now. So after I returned from my girls night away, Bryan informed me that we were going to buy a new mattress. that day. and that day only! So, ten days later, the Penske truck pulled up (very weird, I know!) and delivered our new mattress! They took our old mattress out and let the entire neighborhood see the first mattress that Bryan and I bought together, the first mattress our son pee'd on and the mattress that is less than FOUR years old:
And then proceeded to put together our glorified air mattress:

Bryan is now in love....close to lust....but we'll stick with love for now:

For the record, my sleep number is 50 and Bryan's sleep number is 40!

THIS......Melts My Heart!

This morning after music class we headed over to DaySpring, which is a senior living facility. Caroline recently went with her MDO class to visit and Patty came up with this wonderful idea of having a parade with our kids. PERFECT!!! Since Memorial Day is in a few days we decided to dress up the kids and their wagons in red, white and blue. We ALL had a great time!!!

Everyone getting ready and assuming their positions....

All of the seniors were so excited to see the kids. You could really see their faces light up and they loved talking with the kids. We brought beads, flags and pinwheels to hand out. Parker was all over that!

And this lady was my favorite (I am so glad I got this picture!)....

She was so sweet and gentle. We met and visited with about 60 seniors and ALL of them were so gracious and thankful that we brought the kids to see them. This was truly a JOYFUL experience for all!

Piggies & Paws Playdate

Today was a little crazy! This morning I had an appointment with my rheumatologist and so Bryan worked from home to watch Parker. And then this afternoon we hosted a P&P playdate here, which started at 4pm, which is during Parker's swim lessons. Thankfully Bryan worked from home all day to help me some so it all worked out perfectly!

Piggies & Paws is an in-home art business whereby you use hand and foot prints. I am not sure that sentence makes any sense but you catch my drift. So, you pick out a picture, stamp either your kids hand or foot and then 6-8 weeks later you get some fancy artwork in the mail.

Ellerie (and Christina) getting stamped:
Caroline (and Patty) getting stamped as well:

Patti checking out the sample prints:

And since Bryan was here, hiding out in the office, he and Parker did a print together:

I know it may make some people crazy with kids running around, painting going on, eating dinner in the kitchen floor but for our family.....WE LOVE IT!!!

Say NO to Crime.....

Because this could be you.....

Plano Police Station Tour

To continue the tread (I really did not mean to plan it that way...) we were invited by Officer Barnes to come tour the police station. HQ is in downtown Plano, near Haggard Park. Officer Barnes warned us that there is nothing real exciting about the police station but said that most kids love checking out her police cruiser.

In appreciation of giving us a tour, we donated bears to the Police Teddy Bear Program which is a neat program. Should a child become a victim in any way, a bear is given to them to offer comfort:
BFFs waiting for the police cruiser to show up:

Checking it out:

At the end, Officer Barnes was nice enough to sound all of the horns and sirens. Most of the kids loved that part!

Swim Lessons with Ms. Renee

After a nap, lunch and another small nap, we joined "Pa-tee" and Caroline at our first swim lesson with Ms. Renee. Ms. Renee lives in the same neighborhood as Patty and has been teaching swim lessons for the last 150-years (her words exactly!). Parker is the youngest and Ms. Renee doesn't really like to start lessons this early but she was talked into it by another mom. There are 5 kids and one teacher....she has her hands full! I couldn't believe how the kids took to her so quickly. Us moms "handed over" our kids to Ms. Renee and then hid out in the solarium (hence the reason for the poor quality pictures).
Sadly, Parker was looking for me but once he didn't see me, he went back to the pool.

Ms. Renee showing Parker how to move along the side of the pool.

Caroline had a rough start but by the end, Ms. Renee had her smiling!

We will attend swim lessons every day this week at 4pm except for Friday. We will also attend Tuesday through Friday of next week. Ms. Renee said that by the end of the class Parker will know how to get to the side of the pool should he ever accidentally fall in.

Tour of Fire Station #12

Today we visited and took a tour of the Plano Fire Station #12. All the kids had fun seeing where the firemen eat, sleep, hang out but most importantly, to see the trucks they drive! We started out in the kitchen, we were able to see the rooms where they sleep and the cool room where they are able to unwind.
And then it was time to check out the fire truck and ambulance, which Parker was quick to get to!

Parker LOVED checking the inside of the fire truck out, up close.

Little boy and a "beeg tuk".

And finally, a picture where Parker is looking at the camera (on the ambulance).

And tomorrow we are off the meet a real-life police woman!