Three French Men

Last night the four of us drove over to Jamestown to button up our Christmas shopping.  The roads were icy, so on the way home we decided to sing some Christmas carols to keep our minds off the roads (Don't worry; Eric didn't sing).  As we tried out "The Twelve Days of Christmas," Adam sang confidently, "Five gol-den rings, four calling birds, three French men..."

Just tell me when the third day of Christmas is! I'll be watching for it!

Can You Tell Now?

The kids and I went to J-town tonight to meet my dear college roommate Tara and her family for some classic hotel swimming and pizza.  It was so nice to spend time together and admire her little cuties! Abby had the honor of being her flower girl five years ago.

As we were finishing pizza, Adam began hopping around by my side, periodically whispering in my ear his wish to get back into pool.  Tara looked at my sidekick and commented, "He just looks so much like Eric!"

"Does he?" I asked.  "I can't tell.  I'm just too close to him to be able to see it."

We continued our conversation.  Moments later, Adam's voice came to me across the hotel dining room.  He'd backed up into the lobby and was waving and calling to me, back pressed to the check-in desk.  "Can you tell now, Mom?"

My Party Planner

Happy 8th Birthday, Abby!

Abby woke up to find a giant panda from Daddy sitting in her bedroom, keeping guard.  She then received a panda iPod case from Brother and more pandas from aunts & others!  Did I mention her cake was a panda, too?  It was a fun afternoon in Dance Studio 29 topped off with dinner out at Bridges with Nana and Papa and VBS.

I have a very organized little girl in my life!  She loves lists and activities and sorting and dividing and creating.  I love her more than she loves her giant panda!

Goodbye, Preschool!

So I've been pretty clear with everyone I know well that I am not a "little kid person."  I'm afraid that's another way to describe someone who lacks patience, and I know that deep down.  I just don't know how to fix it.

In the last few months, I've fielded quite a few comments about how big Abby and Adam are now. Sometimes these comments are accompanied by a sympathetic tone of voice...how fast time has gone, they insinuate.  100% of the time I have smiled back, unmoved, and replied brightly, "Yes, they are tall.  I'm glad!  Yes, they are old.  I'm glad! Yes, just one drop-off at Jefferson School next year. It will be so nice."

But tonight at preschool graduation the teachers had deviously printed a poem in the program.  In the seven minutes I waited for the program to start, I sat in the bleachers and surprised myself by crying quite out of the blue, swiping at my messy eyes and looking helplessly at Eric.

Oh, here I go again, and this time without public decorum to restrain me.  Eric just asked if the cat died.

Here's to trying to be more of a "little kid person" this summer, one day at a time.

Mother's Day Dance Program

First Dance!

Our local Relay for Life sponsored a Father-Daughter Dance this last weekend.  One very excited little girl got to go with her daddy!  He reported that they sat out very few songs.  Do you see those eyes in the top photo?  That particular look is called Cloud Nine.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hercules Kisses & Separate Bedrooms

I sometimes - okay, most of the time - bring along a little treat from my classroom when I pick up at daycare.  It seems to expedite the getting-the-backpack-boots-hat-gloves-drawings-snowpants and the subsequent transfer of said items into the car.

Today Adam snapped his buckle and inquired about a snack.  I said I had chocolate kisses.  "Oh!" he said.  "I'll have a Hercules kiss!" It seems millions of dollars of advertising money loses out to one very strong and legendary figure.

A few tacos and potato oles later, we moved Abby downstairs!  I was too tired to take pics tonight.  She has her own walls, closet, and leftover carpet pieces from our living room!  She's delighted.

I had some mixed emotions at bedtime - and so did my love bugs.  It was strange to tuck kids in on two levels of the house!  I climbed in bed with each one for awhile and savored not hitting my head on the top bunk of a bunk bed.

Winter Show with Best Bud Katelyn

#1 Lego Fan

How It's Going to Be

I had decided to stop blogging and print this out as a book for both kids.  I guess until that actually happens, though, this serves as a really handy place to journal!

At bedtime, we've been getting into chapter books at our house - The Boxcar Children, The Bailey School Kids, the I Survived series.  It's fun, I must say, to actually look forward to the next chapter!  Pajama Time and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom only satisfy a small slice of one's literary appetite.

Adam has taken a sudden interest in naming letters.  He wishes for me to stop reading so he can painstakingly name each letter in a row of text.  This interruption nearly sends Abby over the top.  She was frantically waving her arms tonight and pantomiming her distress when he paused with his finger on a letter, looked up, and said firmly, "Abby, this - this is 'jes how it's going to be."

State of the Basement