A Team Week 85b: Mother's Day Fun

When the weekend of A Team Week 85 arrived it was one of my favorite times of year...Mother's Day Weekend.  I have always been so thankful to have an amazing mom, but now this weekend means even more to me as I get to celebrate the blessing of being a mom myself.  My little A Team makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world, and when this time approaches every year I can think of no better way to spend the weekend than by having wonderful fun with them and making more memories together.

Thus, on Saturday morning the boys and I enjoyed a quick breakfast together and then we all got ready and headed to Milwaukee for a fun morning at the Betty Brinn Children's Museum downtown.  We had so much fun playing and pretending together as a family and then headed to the Cheesecake Factory for a tasty lunch!

**Warning LOTS of Pictures to Follow**

Walking to the Museum

Harley Davidson Dealership

Eric teaching Asher how to ride a Harley.

Avery going along for a ride.

Daddy joins in on the fun.   (In true Wisconsin fashion, none of them have helmets on!)

Hot Dog Vendor

Grilling up some hot dogs.

Sendik's Food Market:  Both of the boys had a great time picking out goods at the Market, running them through the checkout and then putting them all away again!

Grocery shopping.

Eric manning the Sendik's Bakery.

Avery answering the phone at the Deli.

Time Warner Cable Studio:  Everyone had fun playing in front of the green screen and watching themselves on the TV.  Eric's made the boys' bodies disappear right before their eyes!

Avery and I manning the control room.

Waterstone Bank: The boys had fun getting money from the drive-up ATM as Eric played casher on the other side.

Brady Corporation, Jr.: Eric and Avery had fun moving boxes around as Asher worked on getting some shipments out.

Under Construction - Go Green: Asher had a blast driving the construction truck, laying concrete and putting down flooring, while Avery loved working on the plumbing!

Water Works: Avery, Asher and I worked to clean the water at the water treatment facility.

Let's Play Railway: The boys had fun playing on the train, and working on the farm (milking the cow, grooming the horse and picking corn).

Avery playing peek-a-boo with another mom at the museum.

Velocity:  Avery was especially thrilled as this exhibit gave him the opportunity to play with "ba"s, but he wasn't thrilled that he didn't get to keep them.

The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head: Asher and Avery had fun exploring the land of Mr. Potato Head (a temporary exhibit) as they went down the slide, crawled through the caves and panned for gold.

World Headquarters: The boys and I enjoyed putting on a puppet show for Daddy, building gigantic tinker toys, sorting tiles in the production center, and working on some artwork signs for their bedroom doors.

My attempt at a picture from the other side of the puppet show.

Asher the fire fighter/clown.

At the audio book listening area, I found "Bread and Jam for Frances".  This was one of my favorite books as a kid and I had tried to describe it to my mom a while back, not remembering the title.  She had no idea what I was talking about, but here it is!!

Giant Tinker Toys!

Asher at the art center.

Daddy helping Avery with his sign.

Kohl's Healthy Kids: It's Your Move: At our final destination, the boys enjoyed climbing around on the playset, I tried out my dancing skills (which are terrible) and Avery drove the ambulance.

When our fun at the children's museum was over, we headed back to the car and then to the Cheesecake Factory for a tasty lunch.

This picture isn't exactly flattering, but I had to include it as it makes me laugh.  You see, I kind of have a knack for dropping my phone and our camera.  It's somewhat shocking that they both still work.  When we arrived at the Cheesecake Factory, we were getting out of the car when the camera (which had been sitting on the seat next to me) got it's strap somehow stuck on my jacket or something and went flying out of the car.  As it did so though, it somehow managed to capture a picture of Eric.  The look says it all!  ;)   ...seriously...again!?...sigh...

Asher ordered a pizza off the kid's meal and I was VERY happy that we hadn't ordered anything for Avery.  This is the pizza he got!!  He was thrilled at its enormous size, and surprisingly the two of them ate almost the whole thing in addition to squeezies, bread and some of my and Eric's meals!!

When our lunch was over and I had packaged up my leftovers along with not one but TWO pieces of cheesecake (yes two...I couldn't decided between my favorite: the Chocolate Mouse Cheesecake and the Dutch Apple Caramel Cheesecake), Avery and I walked across the street to Old Navy while Eric took Asher to the potty so that I could try to use up a gift card that I've had in my wallet for quite some time.  Avery was happy to shop with me and did a great job following me around, but every time he found a hat in the store he had to model it for me!  :)

I picked out my purchases (which show how lame I actually am as I got two tank tops that are the same but different "colors" (aka gray & black) and two sweaters that are also the same but different colors (tan & most exciting: teal!).  Then, after checking out, we were ready to head home.  We thought the boys would quickly fall asleep in the car, but Asher was kind of jacked up and Avery was WAY overtired and ticked to be in his carseat.  He cried for almost the entire 45 minute drive home.  On the plus side though, since the kids didn't sleep on the drive home, that meant that we ALL got to go to bed when we got home and enjoy Family Nap Time!!  Happy Mother's Day to me!!

**Side Story: As I was trying to figure out what to purchase, Asher walked up to me and simply said, "I love you mommy".  The lady standing next to me responds: "Awwww".  :)

When nap time was over, we went for our first bike ride of the year.  Eric pulled Asher and Avery in the trailer and I trailed behind as we headed to a nearby school to play on their new playground.  The boys had fun playing together and also playing with a little girl that was there who instantly began to Mommy Avery, leading him by the hand to the playground and telling him what he should and should not be doing.  My job was done.  Eric said we should call her up in a few years to babysit, but since she is only in first grade, I'm not sure the age gap would be quite enough!

Sunday was actually Mother's Day, but rather than doing any big celebratory things, we spent the day just relaxing at home and resting up.  In the morning, Eric took the boys out so I could get a little extra rest.  When I woke up, I found a wonderful surprise from Eric and the boys on my Facebook feed: A Mother's Day post by Eric.  Then, when the boys returned, we enjoyed our Sunday morning donuts and they surprised me with more gifts: A Chutes and Ladders game for me to play with the boys (well Asher for now), some hanging baskets of flowers for our backyard, cards, a UofM license plate cover (because I was jealous of Eric's) and flowers in cups that Asher and Avery had planted for me at daycare.  They were all great treats, but the best treat of all is just being able to spend the day with my awesome family!

**Side Story: Earlier in the week, while I was driving the boys home from daycare, Asher excitedly told me that they planted flowers for their mommies that day!  Then, after we got home, he told me about them again.  That night at the dinner table, Eric said to Asher, "Buddy, do you know what this weekend is?  This weekend is Mother's Day, when we get to celebrate our Mommies!"  Asher happily responded, "yay!  Then we can give Mommy our flowers!"  Eric, not quite hearing him asked what he had said and at that moment Asher (quite obviously was reminded that the flowers were supposed to be a secret) quickly responded, "Nevermind!"  ;)

Avery enjoying his donut

Asher enjoying his.

Asher & I playing Chutes & Ladders on the back porch.

Eric & Avery walking to church.

Avery walking home from church...insisting on going it alone.

Video: Brothers Swinging

Mother's Day shot with my boys.

After a fun morning and lunch, Avery was ready for a nap and laid his head down on my lap.

After nap time, we brought some flowers to our favorite neighbor and honorary street grandmother and visited with her.  Then, after a bit more lazy time/play time/productivity time it was time for the weekend to end.  When the kiddos were in bed, I finished off my Mother's Day celebration the best way possible...with a slice of Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake...Just.For.Me!! :)

My Mother's Day flowers planted by the boys at daycare: