Wednesday

It was a cold rainy/snow/sleet mixture kind of day here in the 'boro. But we made the most of it!

To begin with the kids both had school today. Wednesday is my "long" day without the kids. Both are at school until 1:00. I miss them terribly while they are gone, and always seem to have grand plans of what I will do/accomplish only to let myself down. Oh well...on to our morning.

My mom called me while we were rushing to get ready for school. I answered the phone because it is unusual for her to call that early on a school morning. No worries, she just wanted to chat. We ended up talking for longer than expected and before I knew it the kids and I needed to rush to get out the door. The kids asked for a piece of candy and I said, "sure, if you get your teeth brushed and shoes on".

Once in the car they were allowed to have their candy. Drew had mini m&m's. I looked back at one point and it looked like his nose was bleeding. I asked him as much and he said "no". I then said, "Drew, is there an m&m in your nose?" He said, "yes, and I can't get it out!" Well CRAP! I thought we would be going from dropping Izzy at school to the ER. Thankfully I was able to get the m&m out while still in the car and then the hard candy coating remnants out once at school. Darn boy.

After school we came back home and I broke out craft stuff galore! We had the family room covered in pipe cleaners, bendaroos, stickers, coloring books, construction paper, various kinds of scissors, tape, glue, magazines, ...you name it and it was out. We were crafting fools! While crafting our friends Delaney and her sister Mia came to play. Their mom had a doctors appointment and I said to bring them on over.

The three big kids decided to put on play after play after play for me. Izzy is the bossiest director EVER! She tells everyone where they will stand, and what they will say. What I don't get is why they listen to her? Anyway, here are a couple pics of some of the costumes used...many of which are old Halloween costumes and much too small.

This production had to do with pirates...


These girls are going to miss one another something fierce when we move. Delaney was Izzy first friend and one she has known since shortly after we moved here. I think they started playing together at 14 months?






The next production had to do with tinkerbell, a horse (giraffe) and princess. We also had Ragedy Ann and Ragedy Andy as well, but no photos of that one.

Babies Brownies and Bedtimes

What a day we had!

I got to start off my morning watching this chunk of love! His name is Max and he is 4 weeks old and sooooo incredibly yummy.





Then after I picked Izzy up from school we went to buy, drum roll please........THE PERFECT BROWNIE PAN! We have watched the tv commercial for weeks and every time we see it the kids beg for me to buy it. They beg. They plead. ...and since I really wanted it just as much, if not more, ...we bought it. I had noticed it the other day at Target and I thought it was the perfect thing to spend a gift card on. Whenever I get a gift card to Target it usually just goes towards stuff I would be buying anyway. Not this time. Nope. Not today. Today I used a gift card for a fun splurge. We were not disappointed. This brownie pan (and it can be used for much more than just making brownies!) lives up to the hype. We love it and look forward to baking many fun and festive treats!







This brings me to bedtimes part of my title. Oh, sweet sweet bedtimes. Basically at our house the kids go to bed at 7:30-7:45 ish. I am kind of a sleep Nazi. With Pete gone many evenings, I find that I am even more of a stickler for an early/efficient bedtime. When Pete travels Izzy gets to sleep with me and we both love it :-) I love the occasional night kicks that remind me she is in my bed - and I love seeing her big grin when she opens her eyes and says good morning. Drew, sweet snugly Drew still sleeps in his crib. Up until about 2 weeks ago he was perfectly content with his sleeping conditions (though he has no idea Izzy bunks with me). While I know he should be in a "big" bed, since he wasn't asking for one, nor climbing out of his crib, and with the upcoming move...well let's just say I am lazy.

My guilt started to kick in with each passing day of him requesting a new big bed. I did not want to do a room for him, nor did I want to put a bed in what clearly looks like a nursery. Last night I had an epiphany...put the boy in the guest room bed.

When he woke up with morning I asked him what his thoughts were on sleeping in the guest bed and he said okay...and "wiff Izzy". So, both kids were put to bed this evening in the guest bed. I put them down at 7:36. I went up 3-4 times before they were both asleep at 9 :-) I think it is really cute that they actually want to sleep together. I am all for it and hope that it works out. I will give it a 3 day adjustment period and then if they are messing around instead of sleeping...back to their own rooms they will go.





I really hope it works out though. I love the bond that they share and I know that all too soon they will start to have separate interests/friends and no longer think one another is the coolest anymore.

Puppy Love ...round two

Today Izzy had her field trip to sing for the elderly. I had volunteered to drive, as well as transport one other student. In my car was Izzy and Erik. Erik is Carson's best friend (and Carson is the boy who gave Izzy a "love letter" yesterday)! The teacher told me that Izzy picked Erik to ride with us.

Carson's mom also volunteered to drive today. She however only had room for Carson because she has an infant in her car as well. Once we arrived at our destination, Lisa (Carson's mom) told me how upset Carson was. He was mad at his mom because she volunteered to drive. He told her, "If you wouldn't have picked me up then I could have gone in Izzy's car with her!"

I relayed this entire story to Pete via text and he said to cancel Directv because this whole Melrose Place: Preschool edition is more entertaining :-)

Here is a really poor quality picture of Izzy, her best school friend Sarah, and both her boys.

Puppy Love

Some may recall that Izzy wanted to have an "all girl" birthday party, ...except for two boys from her class and Drew. Well, one of those boys happens to be sweet on my Izzy :-)

Last week after dropping Izzy off at school one morning, a mother of one of the boys told me her son made Izzy's valentine first. I told this to Izzy and she got quiet, blushed, and looked down. She told me that she liked this boy too. All I could think was "Oh, poor Pete!" I think it is cute, but even at age 5 I don't think Pete feels the same way.

Well today we pulled into the parking lot right next to Carson's car (that is the boy). As soon as Izzy got out of the car, Carson handed her a folded note. This is what it said:



As if this alone isn't cute enough, well tomorrow Izzy's class is going to go sing for the elderly. I will be a big bowl of mush watching the cute little 4/5 year olds sing for the 80-90 year olds. The room will be filled melting hearts and smiling kids!

Drew Love

When putting Drew to bed at night he likes me to hug him "willy willy hard!". Tonight as I hugged him he said to me, "Momma, you are my greatest gift ever." ...awwwww, so sweet, right?

It took me back to November 2008 and this exchange. ...which still gets me teary eyed when I watch it. There is just something about them boys!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Izzy's Birthday Day

Last Monday, February 1st was Izzy girl's 5th birthday. Pete had arranged to be home that day, and with school cancelled due to snow we were able to open presents bright and early! ...and still in pj's.



Izzy wanted to open the present that Drew bought her first. Look at that smile, and Drew looking on...


Izzy had suggested that Drew get her a Barbie. Drew chose this one because it came with a puppy (and Izzy loves dogs) and it was pink (and Izzy loves pink).


Pete and I got Izzy this "boombox" and it is her favorite gift when asked (unless Drew is in the room in which case she says it is the Barbie) as we knew it would be. Pete made her a cd for of princess songs. I thought that was super sweet...just the type of thing a daddy does for his little princess :-) I think we are both dreading the day she asks for a cd from a real artist.


Our afternoon was spent playing with birthday toys, and having RC over to "show them off to".

Izzy chose filet for her birthday dinner and got to eat if off the special plate.


Instead of cake for dessert, Izzy wanted to make sundaes.


Taste test...


Delish...


The boys got in on the action...






Izzy surprised us by bringing out this cake after we had our sundaes. She had made it earlier in the day and hidden it until dinner time.


I like the look she is giving Drew in this picture.


And his look for her in this one...


But this was one of the best looks of the night. Can't you just see her making this face 10 years from now when she is a teen and asked to pose for a birthday picture with her daddy...


But for now, I just like to see this pretty little innocent 5 year old face.

Guess What She Can Do?

You see this pretty little thing?




Guess what she can do?


READ! ...well, not really...but kind of ;-) In the last 48 hours (basically since she turned 5) she has had an inner drive to learn to read. With school out this week we have worked on lots of sounds/word combinations. I broke out "Hop on Pop" which was the first book that I read and read it to her once. We went over some "basics" of reading and she is doing fantastic. Heck, for all I know she memorized it (hard to believe since I only read it to her once and it is kind of long) but she is SUPER DUPER proud of herself...and so am I! Even sweet Drew gets in on the action by saying, "Great job Izzy! You are reading it Izzy. You"re reading it!"

She will then teach Drew a couple words and let him read a page and then praise him with just as much excitement as he does her.

Can you feel the love?

We have been out of school ALL week due to snow/ice. I am happy to report that tomorrow is a 2 hour delay. Izzy will go to school (Drew is off) and take her birthday treat. She is also going to tell her teachers she can now read - hope they don't actually ask her to do so.

I am blogging from our "tv" which isn't as easy for me to do as it would be on my laptop. Therefore you get a quick post and only a single picture.

Later :-)

Stinkin Update :-(

So, how awful is this...I got a virus. By "me" I mean my computer. I have had a computer for oh, let's say 20 years and have never gotten one. Til now. There is never a good time to be without a computer, but this seems to be an awful time! My goal was to have our Disney trip wrapped up by last night so that I could blog all about Izzy's 5th birthday today. Instead I have no computer PLUS we are covered in snow here in the 'boro and the kids probably won't have school before Thursday! THEN we are getting more snow Friday night!!! Chances are Izzy won't have her party on Saturday. The poor girl missed her school party/leader day today and will now probably have to reschedule her actual party for who knows when?

I did snap some outdoor snow shots and Izzy birthday pictures with my new camera today. Hopefully I will have time to sneak to the basement to use the computer "way down there" and do a blog or two.

...but don't hold me to that.

The good news:
Izzy had a FANTASTIC 5th birthday at home today!

Drew has been enrolled in preschool in Charleston for next year. It isn't the best days/times (afternoons) but at least he is at a school I am comfortable with.