One HEK of a time

 Is there a more sure sign of spring then when the street sweepers get to work?  And is there anything more distracting to a toddler than a big machine? Or more exciting then getting to wear thin enough mittens to actually hold on to your handlebars? E has actually been able to do some braking finally and we’re having to start really walking at a good clip to keep up with her. Got to love that bare pavement! Side note: K has suddenly decided she no longer likes riding in the chariot if she is the least little bit awake. Wish us luck🤞

 There’s a few playgrounds in town that I would love to visit with my kids more often. But unfortunately everyone else has the same idea. My advice? Go during breakup season. All the fair weather families are still just getting the idea that is nice enough to be outside while my children are actively shedding mittens and questioning their jackets. things are WAY less crowded. We hadn’t been to this particular place for almost a year so it was fun to see how much more confident and capable H had become since the last time. Plus the up side of going to a playground once in a while is the chance to sit down on a real bench to try and nurse the screaming baby that was supposed to be napping 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

 Sometimes you go to your kids room and remind them very clearly that it’s time for bed and there’s no room for negotiation. Then ten minutes later your husband spots not one but THREE moose in the backyard so you go back in to drag them to the window to watch. Best quotes from the window sill- E after a full minute of single unconnected words and babble because she’s so excited “it eating grass!!!” H “I think that we will have moose in our yard EVERY night because we have lots of grass” E “where baby moose? That baby mama moose!” Me “so are we ever getting to bed tonight?” H (calmly and very matter of fact) “I don’t think so”

 We were supposed to do a sandy, muddy beach day for digging with friends but it turned out we got 4+ new inches of snow. I went back and forth about if it was snowsuit weather or rain suit with layers weather. So we ended up with everything in the car which made for a bit of mess but oh well. It’s just that awkward time of year. Gear not withstanding the kids thoroughly enjoyed playing in the snow and climbing on to the ice chunks. The big hit though was when one of the older kids wandered back to the slope we had descended and started sliding. Pretty soon the entire group was there and had essentially created their own luge run! I was really impressed by how well everyone did taking turns, essentially there were zero crashes and really only the younger toddlers cluelessly kept getting in the way 😅 (I’m talking about you E!) The kids would give it a 10 out of 10 even with getting a little damp. Turns out H’s rain suit is not as waterproof as it once was and E…well she might have ...

 Best bike accessories for a kiddo? A basket! Bells break. Much to the devastation of the child who just got it and “loved that bell!!”. But a basket lets you put all the mittens and layers they want to shed during spring inside instead of carrying them yourself! Now I just need to remember to put the water bottle cages on for the season….

 The point of having multiple children is so you can dress them all matchy matchy correct? 😅 Also our Grovia diapers are still going strong 3 kids in!