Special Day...at the last minute possible.

When I was little, my Mom would take each kids on a "special day" before school started.  We would go shopping for school clothes and do something fun.  I wanted to do that with my kids.  We were really good and took Molly on her day over a month ago.  We took her shopping and out to eat.  She even got her nails done.  Then time got away from us.  Also, we are very limited on our baby sitter options.  So being able to find the time, money, and energy to take each child out proved to be a bit of a challenge for us!

My mom offered to come out on Sunday to watch the kids so Dan and I could go out.  She is really the only one that is brave enough to offer to watch all of them.  She has no time limits and tells us to take our time.  I know if we wanted to, we could leave them with her all day.  She works long hours and works very hard, but somehow she finds the time to spend with all of her 19 grand kids.   Also...she doesn't charge us to watch the kids!  Now I can't say that she always does what we ask her to do with them or she lets them do what we tell her to not do....but they are safe!  Okay, so anyways, she offered to drive out to Watertuckey to play with them so we thought we would take Sadie, Abbie, and Kenadie out for a bit.  No, they didn't each get their own day...but they will.....one day.....hopefully!

First we headed to Target.  (Oh and I should add...Lanie didn't cry when we left!  There is hope!)  We browsed the clothes, we browsed the school supplies, we browsed the baby stuff...and then we made it to the toys.  The were each allowed to pick out something small....They all picked out Squinkies!  What a waste....but that's what they wanted!  

Then we headed off to Ice Skate.  

 I can't, or should I say, I shouldn't ice skate while being pregnant so I cheered them on from the side.  They were all a bit shaky at first...it has been a few months since we last went.

 Then Kenadie was off.  She amazes me by how independent she is at things!  She would fall and get right back up.  No crying...no complaint...no nothing!  She was just happy to be ice skating.

 Abbie can ice skate....and is pretty good at it too.  She just needs a bit to get her courage up!

 Dan raced with the kids and then they started sliding on the ice.  Kenadie got cold and Sadie got hurt!

 Daddy did some fancy lifts with Sadie.  She really wants to be an ice skater when she grows up!

                                                    Then Abbie gave it a shot too!

Then Dan had the ice to himself.  The ice skater in him came out.  He was jumping, he was doing spins, he was gliding...well, not really!  He did manage to do a one leg glide.  He did this all on his own, people.  I don't have to ask him do this stuff....he just does!

After ice skating we went out to dinner at the Water Street Brewery.  We talked about school and our expectations for them.  They were more worried about their new Squinkies.  I know 3 kids may seem like a lot to some people, but it was sure nice to be with just 3.  I am hoping that we can do this more often to give each of the kids some more focused time.  We just need more time, more energy, and more money....and a live in babysitter!