Some Pictures for the Ones I Love

When I stated blogging I thought I would just keep people I didn't see on a regular basis updated on the changes in the kiddos' lives. The Boy was still a baby and The Girl was just starting Kindergarten. Now I am the mother of a VERY ACTIVE 3 year old and a near graduate of Third Grade.

I don't have a lot to say on a daily basis about this because I guess we are just busy living our lives and trying to stay afloat.

However, I also realize that there are those who are near and dear in heart but faaaaar away mile wise who don't get to see this daily fun.

SO here are some pictures for them. We love you!

Old and New

Yes, I realize Christmas was a month ago (so, hey! Only 11 more months 'til next Christmas! Get your shopping on!).

Here's a little visual recap (just 'cause).

Someone really likes Angry Birds...note to self...buy stock in whoever makes that game...

This one was all about the dolphins.

We spent time with Nonna and Papa...and were really missing my Sister and Brother in law. Stupid airline prices.

Of course we hit the annual Christmas Day Cousin Extravaganza...

Then I did something crazy. I decided to do a 5K. I wanted to kick off 2012 with a purpose. I need to get serious about my life and quit acting like I am waiting for the grown-ups to show up and take care of everything. It's kind of sobering to realize I AM the grown-up.

I wasn't last place...but I will take my finish as a motivation to keep going and getting better.

Of course, the only one who stayed up the whole night was the girl. She had to wake me up so we could watch the ball drop.

So that's about it. January has been pretty quiet here.

I need to get back to blogging, there are things I do not want to forget. This year will be a lot of big changes...The girl will hit double digits, Dr. Dad may or may not be entering a new decade (no party, I got it dear) and we WILL get that little boy potty trained because Mama needs him to go to preschool.

It was a great year, and I am hoping for 2012 to be even better.

When Your Laptop Gets Sick

Soooo. I haven't been blogging. Because I don't have a behaving laptop. Which leads to having no pictures to blog.

I realize I could write without pictures, but where is the fun in that?
The laptop is getting better. I have lots to catch up on. Like we got a dog and Christmas is almost here, etc. and so forth.

Once I get my pics worked out I will introduce you to Jaws Millie.

Lighten Up

This past weekend was a long and somber experience. I realized today I am still feeling a little down...so I decided to uplift us all with this picture. I call it "Boy Pinching Toad"

It makes me smile...but I am not sure the Toad is feeling the love.

Howdy

Just checkin' in here.

January is a strange month. Typical for us...post holiday bummer and then the round of family sickness and endless days of weather that can only be described as "grey."

The kids are feeling restless. Calling our house cute things like "The Cottage" and rearranging toys can't hide the fact that it's a pretty small space for spending too much time indoors.

Missing a much anticipated "girls only" trip to Florida with my Mom and sister didn't help things much either (thanks flu).

However. I am trying to adopt an attitude of thanks. Call it puttin' on my big girl pants and dealing with things...or a generous dose of get a grip...I am spending more time being grateful and less time complaining. Or at least trying to.

Life is too short. And my life is too good.

Blimptastic

Last Saturday Dr. Dad suggested we participate in Toys for Tots. Actually, he very excitedly called me and enthusiastically suggested we go because we were going to be able to drive through an air dock and see the Goodyear Blimp up close and personal.

We live in close proximity to two Blimp air docks, the one we drove through is smaller than the main one...but still an impressive building.

We see the Goodyear Blimp all the time, and it is no secret that Dr. Dad very much enjoys seeing them. We have many, many pictures of them.

Like pictures at the beach...

and pictures at the tall ships...

Anyway.

We drove through the entrance to the air dock with great anticipation.

Even I was amazed to see the Blimp this close.

We were so amazed that after we handed our toy to some very (handsome) Marines, we fished around for some cash and went back through a second time!

If they do this again next year, we will definitely be back!

Say what you will about living in the middle of nowhere...sometimes it has its advantages!

Things I Don't Want to Forget

The way you say "I hold you Mommy" when you want me to pick you up.

The way you scrunch up your face when you try and look angry.

The way you sing "Tonight's Gonna be a Good Night" at the top of your lungs.

The way you ask us "You happy?" when you think we might not look so happy.

The way you have to sleep with blue blanket, other blanket, Scout the dog, and a race car in each hand.

The way you say "See you later" when you leave the room.

The way you exclaim "It's Pink!" when we ask you what color something is.

The way you laugh hysterically at the dog, even if she is just sleeping.

The way you love dinosaurs, trains, cars, planes, and, for whatever reason, Tinkerbell.

The way you get excited about everything, especially when your Daddy comes home from work.

The way you scream "CHICKEL FRIZES" each and every time we pass a fast food establishment.

The way you walk like a duck while saying "quack, quack."

Here's What You've Missed

So. I guess I haven't been updating very often this year.

I realized (in August) that I stopped monthly blogging about Baby Boy's progress in the growing up department. I think after 2 years the fact that he is still eating/sleeping/walking/talking is pretty much a given and you probably aren't missing the monthly play-by-play.

Of course, I am also not blogging about other things, like, say, Baby Girl turning 8 (!) or going apple picking or dressing my kids up like pirates and taking them to Chick-fil-a.

Therefore, I am going to break it down. Starting with the pirates. Because I can.

Some Pirates are Tough

Some Pirates are Hungry

But Most of All: Some Pirates are Just Cute

The View From Here

Never a dull moment in our yard.

Hair Today...Gone Tomorrow

It all started when some of her classmates began donating their long hair to Locks of Love.

She declared she would be next.

So yesterday was the big day.


Prepping her ponytails.


Of course, not to be left out, Mr. Man decided to get his hair cut as well.


The first cut!


So happy!


Look at all that hair!


We are so proud of our Big Girl.

Storms a Brewin'

These next few weeks are going to test my over organizing/anxiety prone/OCD brain.

It mostly feels like this inside my head right now:

(Yes I took that picture. This is what a storm rolling in at sunset looks like...freaked me out.)

Thankfully I live with superheroes. Didn't you know?

Don't let those smiles fool you. They are here to kick some serious bad mood behind.

Ode to a KitchenAid Mixer

O, dear KitchenAid Mixer

How did I ever live without you?



You turn the toils of cooking

Into a joyous event!

So shiny and red

You complete my kitchen.



Thank you, dear KitchenAid Mixer

For making me (almost) like baking again!



(An additional Ode of Thanks is due to my in laws, who,

in their infinite wisdom, purchased this for us.)

This Post is Chock Full of Goodness

So much has been going on that I am almost at a loss as to how best to describe the whirlwind this last week has been for us. Several times in the past few days I have thought "I should just do a quick post about that" and then I collapsed in a heap in my bed.

Let's see.

We participated in Relay for Life. The theme was Birthdays and let's just say Baby Boy was very, very happy to celebrate. I could have included the hundreds of pictures we have of him celebrating by eating Doritos, climbing a rock wall, or trying to dismantle the birthday candles my friend painstakingly made for our campsite. But I don't think this post can hold that many jpegs.

Then is was Field Day and Baby Girl's last day of school. Here she is with her awesome First Grade teacher.

I can't believe we are the parents of a Second Grader.

Also...did you know "Field Day" is not what it used to be? I remember our Field Day was basically a bunch of races and maybe a Popsicle after we sat in the hot High School stadium all afternoon (oh jeez...now I am probably going to start saying "in my day we did things differently" gah). Baby Girl had what I like to think of as a carnival. Bouncy houses! Face painting! Snow cones! A DJ spinning all your favorite Justin Bieber songs, for crying out loud! She loved it.

Then we were on to the annual dance recital extravaganza. Monday night staging rehearsal. Wednesday night dress rehearsal. Friday and Saturday night performances that got us home at eleven at night.

Do you see her there as that pretty pink flower? Yessir I spent the requisite 20 hours complaining about the money/time/schedule thing. Then I watched her on that stage and you bet I signed us up for another year.

Her brother even enjoyed himself. Or, he enjoyed spending the second half of the show in the hallway with his Papa kicking an empty plastic water bottle around and trying to escape up the stairs.

Dr. Dad spent part of the week at a conference and then topped it off with a Bat Survey. How many wives get to say that?

"So, where's your husband?"

"Oh, he's off looking for bats."

"Bats?"

"Yes. He's like Batman, only more environmentally friendly."

We thought we were going to see him off to the Gulf for a few weeks due to that awful, awful oil spill. But it looks like that has been put on hold.

So. Today is Monday again. I feel like I am just catching my breath. But there is always the annual garage sale I am organizing with my Mom this weekend, and then, a trip to LA to see my fabulous sister.

Holy cow. I want to collapse in my bed just thinking about it.