The kids spent the morning packing for a safari. I’m not sure what prompted the idea, but they were quite busy and diligent at it for a long time. They had a book that had come with Lex’s safari vest and they were following the guidelines in it. They even packed emergency medical supplies (bandaids and neosporin), batteries, a map of the neigbhorhood, and snacks. They decided to look for birds and rocks, so they packed the binoculars and containers of various sizes to collect rocks.

When they were all packed up they decided that spring weather was too far away and the safari should take place today! Fortunately it really was spring weather around here and the day was sunny and nearly 40°. They asked for permission to explore the neighborhood and we agreed together on the areas they could explore on their own. I offered to go with them (please, pretty please) but they said they were fine on their own.

Once I got past the humor and cuteness of it all, and once they had actually left, I was a nervous wreck! They started next door to invite Parrish along, then went to the cul-de-sac behind the house to invite a few other friends. They ended up as a party of five on safari. I told them they could explore our cul-de-sac or the one right behind our house (that I can see from the kitchen window!) and they had to stay on the road, no woods. Boring mommy, I know. The snowbanks were so high that I could see the tops of their heads when they were walking but as soon as they sat down I lost them.

I also forgot to tell them another safety rule and was nervous about that too. They went to invite one friend and ended up going in for a few minutes while she got her snow clothes on. I’ve met this girl only once or twice and her grandparents as often. I knew the kids were there because I saw them go down the driveway, but then I lost them behind the snowbank and didn’t know if they went in or not. I was kicking myself for forgetting to tell them that rule!

All went just fine, of course, and everyone had fun. The kids anyway. I spent the entire time puttering around the kitchen and looking out the window. Good thing there were plenty of kitchen chores to be done. Somehow I was raised by laid-back hippies and ended up a total nervous wreck! This is the first time they’ve gone exploring on their own, so maybe the nerves were somewhat justified. I also barely know two of the houses they went to, not like they were our best friends or trusted neighbors.

Anyway, all is good and the kids loved it! I’m ready for warm weather so I can open the windows and see without snowbanks blocking the view. I’ll be much more relaxed then! :)

The big day finally arrived! Big day in this house anyway, probably no one else cares. For awhile now I’ve known that I had to move the kids, Lex primarily, out of the 5pt harness car seats and into standard booster seats. The big black seats we have were supposed to convert, but when I tried to use them with the shoulder belt I discovered they were damn near impossible to buckle in. There was no way the kids would be able to do it. So we sprung for new boosters, just like what we have in Alan’s car. The kids are pretty excited. They were getting too big for the 5pt harness, especially with winter coats on. When I pulled out the manual to make sure I converted the big black seats properly, I discovered that I should have switched Lex about 15lbs ago. I thought the 5pt harness was safest, but according to the manual he was too heavy for it. Glad we didn’t have an accident.

Happy riders! They like to put the arm rest down between the seats.

Now they are in boosters in both cars and pretty darn happy about it. We brought a friend home after school and I was able to fit three across in the back seat. Oh, the social opportunities we’ll have now!

This is just a sweet picture from after school today. Unrelated to car seats. :)

This is what they like to do at the end of each school day. Grab a picture book from my 5th grade room and cuddle in the chair and read. Sometimes there is a friend with them. Sometimes the book is an iPad. Always they are cuddly and happy. Today Eve was reading “Boris Ate A Thesaurus” to Lex.

I have been so tired this week. The night before last (Thur/Fri) was a terrible sleep. I kept waking up thinking the alarm was going off. At one point the radio started making a weird static noise and woke us both us. Alan was awake off and on as well, so we both kept disrupting each other’s sleep. It was awful. When the alarm finally did go off, for real, at 5am I dragged myself out of bed. Last night, while putting the kids to bed, I had a little conversation with Lex about sleeping late on Saturday mornings. :) I suggested maybe he could try coming downstairs by himself when he wakes up at 6am. We’ve had this conversation in the past and he always rejects the idea immediately, but this time he said, “sure!” Two key changes here: he’s a bit older, of course, and he had a new computer game he loves to play. I think he thought getting up early without me would equal more computer time! :) This morning he got up at 6:25 (which is sleeping late for him!) and went right downstairs. I wasn’t sleeping well anyway, so I heard him get up, then I heard Eve get up, but I stayed in bed and dozed for awhile longer. I got up at 7:15am and found them both happily playing on the computer. It was worth it! Even the post-computer fuss when I told them it was time to shut down and come have breakfast was worth the extra time in bed! :)