Ibis Park and musings on time spent

Trying to take time with the girls a bit more.  I'm so, so busy and feel overwhelmed, but I need to concentrate on them a bit more and that, I'm hoping, will make me happier, which will lead to feeling less whelmed.  :) 

Yesterday, we left the littles in their "school" and we went to the mall.  We bought some earrings at Claire's and a cover for Audrey's iTouch that she bought with saved birthday/babysitting money.  They seemed really happy.

This morning, my little night terror, Claire, had goopy eyes and sounded like Lauren Baccall so I kept her home and we went to the doctor.  Luckily she sounded clear, but the doctor gave me eyedrops.  She then sent us to get her tonsils x-rayed to rule out needing to get a tonsilectomy.  They looked fine so we're in the clear! Whew!

After Claire's nap, I took her to mail something at FedEx and then we popped into my favorite boutique, Bella Garden, to get a friend's 40th birthday present.  I was so pleasantly surprised and pleased by Claire's behavior there.  She whispered (way quieter for way longer than I've ever seen, I guess that would be heard, her), she pointed (didn't touch), she saw me trying on sunglasses so she picked out a pair and then wanted me to look in the mirror like I was doing before.  It was just the most precious thing.  I told her what a wonderful shopping companion she was and gave her a hug and then it struck me that this sweet little girl really never gets any time alone with her Mama.  I will keep the littles in school and do something with the bigger ones once in a while, but when Claire's here, we're all here.  It was one of those AHA! moments.  It's really hard to give alone time to each girl when you have four and especially when one is a baby, but I'm going to try harder. 

Anyway......where was I?  Oh, so we went to our favorite park in the neighborhood, Ibis Park, tonight.  Mick was having dinner with his replacement and so we got our $2 Happy Meals (Hooray for Tuesdays and Thursdays!) and headed over to the park. 

There was a family there getting their pictures taken professionally and they were wearing white shirts and jeans.  Where did I see that before?  

I didn't have my wonderful camera, but still wanted to try and capture the moment so I shot away with my cell phone. 

Olivia was climbing the huge awesome tree that grows and grows, straight out.  Such fun to climb!

And then I looked over and Casey and Audrey were climbing a different beautiful tree. 

Claire was so very proud of herself for being able to climb up the chain ladder.  Where did my baby go?  The last time we were at Ibis, I was stationed by it, lifting her up each time.  

And then here's Claire coming at me and Gigi (who was in the sling), wanting me to take a picture of Gigi.  She's a lot of motion but I love her smile!  

I had one final picture of Olivia climbing the tree. 

So shopping yesterday and today along with the Park today.  What will we do tomorrow?