Spring Break Madness!

Spring Break started off slow but it quickly picked up speed as we headed to Houston mid week. The kids love going and spending time with their grandparents and cousins. Bryce and Jordyn

Graham and Jacob

Hunter, Graham and Haley getting ready to rock climb.

Graham reaching the top of the the rock wall.

All 6 Doffing grandchildren playing together!

Bryce riding a Dora trike! She loves Dora!

Layne concentrating on blowing a big bubble.

Baby Abby joining in on all the fun!

Graham and Haley climbing trees.Bryce and Layne

This boy will be 5 in 2 days!!!

Bryce smiling for the camera!

Sweet Layne!

Graham Bryce and Layne playing in the tent before we headed home on Sunday.

But the biggest news of the break is that Graham learned how to ride his bike without his training wheels. I was shocked at how easy he picked it up. He did it on the first try. He still has some practicing to do but he definitely is riding a bike on his own!

Where my babies at?

When did all my children start taking care of themselves?

Graham will be 5 in eleven days. He is on the countdown! Tonight as I was leaving his room he asked me if I was happy that he was turning 5. Of course I said, YES! But inside my head I screamed NOOOOOOO!

Most days, I pray for their independence from me. I want them to be able to do things for themselves and for each other. The majority of the time I am still a huge part of the necessary day to day things ie...getting drinks of water, brushing their teeth, changing clothes, and so on. I always wonder when they will be able to do for themselves. I look forward to the day when Mommy does not have to do EVERYTHING.

But then tonight, I caught a glimpse of their independence. My heart swelled with pride knowing that they can take care of themselves and each other. But then I realized I was on the sideline just watching and wondering where my babies at?

I had to leave the room to assist Layne in the bathroom and returned to Graham reading Bryce her bedtime story while she gave herself her own breathing treatment.

*Note to self...don't give breathing treatment right before bed. It makes her giddy and can't fall asleep. Which in turn means 2 sisters stay up late talking to each other.
Layne wanted privacy in the the bathroom and wanted me out. I guess my assistance really was not needed. Of course I could not resist going back in and taking a picture of her getting ready for bed with her sunglasses on. Who does that? A ROCK STAR 2 year old that is who!

Basically, what I learned from this small glimpse of independence is that the time will come when they won't need mommy for everything, so I better savor ALL the mommy moments now.

The zoo ~ Spidey Style

The weather has been so unpredictable this winter. One day we are having ice and the next it is 70 degrees. We celebrated a 70 degree day at the zoo on Wednesday. The kids really enjoyed the Children's section of the zoo. It was not very crowded so they got some good playtime in before we headed home.

Here are the girls with their friend, Ella, pretending to be baby birds in a nest.

I heart you

Goodnight Daddy

Are you happy now?

When did my baby become an almost 5 year old boy! Bryce Layne

All the kids are attached to something when they sleep. It is amazing how they can all be so different.

Graham has been sleeping with "big blankie" that would be the checked blanket since he was a baby. Bryce loves all her waffle blankets and her Dora doll! She was swaddled for so long in those blankets as an infant that she has to sleep with all of them now. She likes to hold one by her face when she sleeps.
Look how happy Layne is with her Boo Bunny!

Really, they are different.

She has 3 of these bunnies that are the exact same to the general viewing public.

Really, the bunnies are different according to Layne.

Just ask Layne.

You can't trick her.

You can't switch them out because she knows.

Believe me I.HAVE.TRIED.

So, when Boo Bunny went missing, I thought she would never survive. But she did. Luckily, I was in Singapore when it happened so I did not have to deal with the immediate response. Grandma did!

Grandma said Layne did fine.

So I thought wow Layne is adaptable and will love on another one of her bunnies. She has 3 remember.

And she did for awhile.

Layne called her Rabbit.

She also compensated for not having Boo Bunny by putting just about everyone of her stuffed animals in bed with her. She barley had space for herself. Naps and night time were not a problem. She was able to get along just fine without Boo Bunny at those times.

But when she got REALLY upset she wanted Boo Bunny.

Rabbit would not cut it.

So I looked ALL OVER the house for days.

Boo Bunny was gone.

Disappeared into thin air.

Nowhere to be found.

But I still had hope that one day Boo Bunny would return.

And that day came.

I saw Boo Bunny peeking out of the folded up stroller in the garage. Grandma must have put it in there when they were out strolling around the neighborhood and forgot about it.

When I brought Boo Bunny in the house the look on Layne's face was p.r.i.c.e.l.e.s.s!

I only wish I had a picture of that!

Once Layne and Boo Bunny were reunited, Rabbit and the other stuffed animals were shoved to the end of the bed.

Her true love was back.

Boo Bunny got her name because of that little piece of pink thread by her eye. Layne said it was a Boo Boo! Hence the name Boo Bunny. For a long time we thought she was saying Blue Bunny...maybe she just did not know her colors yet!