Painting TOGETHER

H-Dub, now that I am working and don't have as much time to devote to crafts and art projects, is loving painting. Here are some pics of he and sister sitting together nicely sharing their watercolor paints.

4th Birthday Party

Syd's party went off without a hitch! She had a great time and her little guests seemed to, too! We painted their nails, put makeup on them and they got their hair did. They then played kiss the frog, had some cake and hurried home. Ron took all the pics and he did a great job!

Here are some pics:

Before:


After:


Getting her nails did.


H-Dub was in rare form this day. He loved all over a friend of Syd's big sister. ALL OVER. Held her hand, threw himself into her arms, fake laughed loudly.


He also loved Savannah's grandmother. Doesn't this look natural and comfortable for her?




Playin kiss the frog.

Work

I am enjoying my time at work! I thought my last school was the best thing since sliced bread, but where I am now is just as enjoyable a place to work, if you can believe it. Every school has it's strengths and weaknesses, but I really like a laid back campus and this campus definitely is. I know it is different when it is "your" school and you have that committment to it, but this makes me feel like I could definitely go back. Of course, when I do I feel sure my kids will have to be in an all day preschool from 9 to 4ish, I will work for longer than 5 weeks straight without a break, and I will be some school's TAKS coordinator. But I can handle it.

There are a couple of negatives about working. Number one, I only have about 3 to 3.5 "quality" hours with my kids afterschool, and I kinda stress out making them really count. Maybe that gets easier, I don't know. Number two, I am rushing around like a friggin' chicken with my head cut off, packing lunches, feeding and bathing, doing laundry etc. Number three, due to the busyness that comes from being away from home all day I am not able to keep up with my reading habit that I love so much. I used to be able to read a bit while they napped, at night, while Syd was in dance class, etc. Now it is right before I go to sleep and I am so tired I don't get but about 20 minutes in. Something has to give and my sleep is most important, but I feel sure it is going to take me forever to get through my current nonfiction choices that really need to be read. The Wonder of Boys and Boys and Girls Learn Differently! . I would also love to read The Minds of Boys:Saving Our Sons from Falling Behind in School and Life, but at this time it is not available at paperbackswap.com or at the sub-par public library. It may be July by the time I finish the two I have at the rate I am going, anyway. My 20 minutes obviously goes towards the fiction or "escape" books I so love.

Syd's 4th Birthday Bash

Is coming up! And it should be a doozy. I will post pics after the fact. Here is a picture of the invite. Syd is looking so grown up! We can't believe she is turning 4. The last four years have past at lightening speed. I do feel so very blessed to have such a smart, beautiful, funny daughter. I love that she loves books as much as I do, even though she can't read! I love her little lisp that Brokeback and I think is the cutest thing ever. We will be so sad if she ever outgrows it. I love that she is now starting to tell knock knock jokes, even though I am not sure she gets them. I love her never ending dressing up, and how she is terribly outgoing with a few people but gets shy around a crowd. I love her elephant memory, which while I have a decent memory, too,she gets the real deal from her Gigi. You would not believe the random stuff she brings up from what I swear was 2 years ago. I love that she is at the age where she gets a little scared, and wants to sleep with us every night, so she can "read with you" and "snuggle". Happy Birthday to Daddy's little snuggle rabbit. Anyway, here is her invite.

More Manly Dress Up

H-Dubya really is thrilled to have some manly dress up options. As I have said before, he is not attracted to any girly dresses, jewelry, etc. He will use a wand and that is all. I have NO IDEA why he wouldn't just take an if you can't beat 'em join 'em attitude and wear a dress or heels. You might think that Brokeback disapproved and sent off vibes but he didn't. He has a sister himself and knows how it is. Now that Hayden has these manly options, he wants to dress up as a pirate daily. We dressed Syd up as a princess for her birthday invitation picture. Well he saw her, did some tongue clucking to himself and ran to the dress up tub. Dragged out a pirate hat and Syd's old Thanksgiving Indian vest with a sword. I was impressed with his modification since he didn't see his full-on pirate outfit on top.

He enjoys gazing at himself in the mirror in this outfit almost as much as the Buzz outfit. He likes to admire his righteous bod. His manly physique. When I tried to go into the bathroom to get something, you know it is MY bathroom and I was just minding my own business, he squealed in a disapproving way and slammed the door in my face. You would think he is a temperamental teenager! I managed to catch the slam a second time on film.

Stamping it Up

On a Sunday morning about a week ago Syd wanted to do something artsy. I had no desire. So I offered up the stamps. Of course, this was a day when H-Dub decided he really wanted to participate. And I was so proud of him, but it is strange that on one of the few days when I didn't want to supervise art, he was in the mood. This was after no less than 15 minutes of him leafing through the Lillian Vernon Spring Holiday catalog. I am not kidding.

Finger Painting in the Shower

This is a new favorite pastime. And one that is now requested EVERY week when they take a bath. Kidding of course. But it is requested everytime they are getting into the bath. And it isn't tough to set up or clean up after. You can squeeze paint directly onto the side or floor of the tub or on the wall, and let them smear away. I take a dish rag with me and get it soaking wet then wash the wall down afterward. And the kids plop on down and enjoy a bath.

You can see how much H-Dub enjoys this. He doesn't give up the smiles for nothing. He makes you work for it. And yes, I did get a new flash for my camera. And no, it wasn't on when I decided I wanted to take pictures.

There will be no more updates......

regarding H-Dub's big boy bed progress. Every time I write one things go badly. He was up last night from 12:45 to 4:30 on and off, this was after going straight to bed with no issues at 8:30. He also gave Brokeback fits during naptime two days ago, getting up like 5 times. Sigh.

I am starting a sub job at a middle school in town tomorrow and it will last 5 weeks. The money will come in very handy after Christmas. Brokeback will be the big man in charge, taking the kids to school two days and possibly sending them to the babysitter if needed and if she has any room. We have meal planned for him and we are going to work on a schedule this afternoon? His request. We have had to do a bit of adjustment, but things have worked out fairly well. For example, tomorrow is watch day at dance so my sweet next door neighbor Kristie is going watch H-Dubya during that hour and a half or so. If you know Syd's teacher Mrs. K at all you know she wouldn't take kindly to H-Dub's screaming mimi ways and his tendency to run around rooms.

Pray for me, send me happy thoughts for tomorrow. I know the job will be find but I am having nervous feelings about something and I assume that is it!

Big Boy Bed Update

H-Dub has had a fabulous few days in the big boy bed. He hasn't been getting up much at all at nap time, and only gets up at couple times at night. Just walks out and looks around. Or walks around in his room and gets a toy to put in bed with him. I am fine with that.

Thought I would update since I have had questions about his progress.

Fun with Friends

Some of our favorite lifetime (my lifetime at least) family friends of my parents were in town over the holidays and we all got together at my parent's house. We ordered Dion's pizza (so good) and chatted. The kids got presents which the were happy about, I am sure they wonder when Christmas is officially over. Here are some pictures of all of the young couples and the old couples, too.


Hayden giving Chris a tickle tickle? Gotta love that smile.


Dianne, Chris, and the kids. This was a tough picture to get. Hayden was all over the place and I couldn't get Chris' face.


Syd eating a lime. Why she does it when that is the face that she makes I have no idea.


Pam and Donna.


Pam and Donna Jr.


The Newlyweds Lindsey and Eric. So cute.


The young people!

Christmas

I am aware that most are ready to put Christmas behind us, (I am myself) but I realized I didn't post many Christmas pictures other than Hayden in his suit.

We had a fab Christmas this year. My grandparents came, and we always love having them. My Uncle Brandon also brought his family, and we haven't spent Christmas with them in many years so we enjoyed that. Nicole and her fam also participated in Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us, which was a huge deal and so much fun. We loved having another child around.

Syd and H got many gifts, needless to say. Syd's absolute fave gift was her Barbie Diamond Castle movie. She has watched it once daily since the day she got it. She got alot of dolls for someone who doesn't play with dolls all that much.

I didn't take many pictures, which is shameful. I was too busy hostessing and cooking on Christmas Eve and I don't know what my issue was Christmas Day. Thankfully Brandon took some with my camera.