George family adventures: Life at home (and not on bedrest)

Oh my. How glad am I to be back to how I was?! I am back to my regular activity level and playing with my kids and cooking and enjoying life. Being on "bedrest" after surgery sure was a bummer. Last week, after returning from Mexico, I decided to reach epic mom levels. Like, the kind of levels only discussed in movies. One night when B was out of town, I took the kids to El Pollo Loco for take out and we had a picnic at the beach and looked for seashells. The next day, I had 8 kids at my house! The day after - park playdate! We are having so much fun being back in our regular routine. Guess what else? When we are out having fun 1.) My kids don't fight as much and 2.) my house stays cleaner. This is just better all around for everyone. Oh - there's also a #3! I don't eat a ton of snacks and neither do my kids. Look - it's even good for our waistlines.

My pictures loaded backwards, so I will tell you now about....tea! Oh my gosh. I have been SO excited to go to tea with Megan and Katie since.....well, since Aspen was born. We planned it in February to "celebrate Katie's birthday" but it was really an excuse to have tea with Megan. Oh the girls were precious, the place was perfect and we had a blast. It was Maisy and Katie's first tea, so it was extra special.

The way home - all 3 were tuckered out! We considered it to be a great success.

Oh and after tea, we got the boys and went to a friend's house for a playdate. She decided to get out the fingerprint, so my girls are naked. Please disregard.

I remembered to bring a bag for each kid to collect his/her shells. The goal or idea is to make a shell wreath, but I need to go to Michael's and get the foam wreath.

This. These brothers. SO cute.

Little girls - big dreams. Both are terribly afraid of the ocean. Aspen actually did decide to get wet the last time we went (Monday) and I was so proud of her for facing her fears. Of course, if Aspen does it then Maisy wants to do it....

This kid has such a cool vibe about him. I just adore him.

El Pollo Loco take out picnic

Sharing a bag to collect shells - Sisters!

Hunter is our enthusiastic, energetic, life-loving kid. I have so much respect for the true curiosity and enthusiasm that he brings to everything he does. I cannot wait to homeschool him!

The goal has been to spend more time at the beach. We live a mile from it, so we might as well spend time there!

I love when they spontaneously do things like this -Aspen and Hunter are helping Maisy along. Landon is doing his own thing. This just about summarizes these 4.

8 kids! The girls and I made cookies, the boys played ball in the backyard. We all had a blast.

These girls. Seriously. I just adore them.

Sidewalk chalk!

We are back to volunteering with the cats - which makes Landon ecstatic.

And she is back at dance. And the boys are back at golf. Everyone is happy to be back in their routines.

And when did she get so big? She is learning how to actually ride this thing. Peddling not included. (Yet).

I can do anything you can do.....

For someone who doesn't like meat, she picked a funny place to start! She loves "meatmalls!"

I started at a gym. I love it. It's my new love. I can't wait to see what it does to my body. My goal, since finding out about my diagnosis, has been to make my body strong and fit and healthy. This gym is the final step in my process! Besides, I get to work out with Brian and that's pretty fun too.

On Sunday we went to PV on a hike. It was really fun and the kids were mostly good. Except for the whining by 1. We won't name that whiner.

Anarchist.

I'm there. Who else would be taking photos? I'm never IN the photos, but I'm there. I swear.

Is there a better way to fall asleep? Hot and tired after hiking and eating a chocolate chip cookie? I don't think so.

I lift weights. I'm so tough.

Beach "bum"

We were not dressed for the beach and I was not prepared for them to go in the water. I left the beach with 4 naked, salty, happy kiddos.

Toesies.

I wonder what Aspen will eventually think when she looks at all these photos and she always has her arm protecting Maisy. She is such an incredible protector and such a great big sister. Maisy doesn't always want or appreciate it, but Aspen has her back.