Hectic Life

Things have been a little hectic in my life lately, and I have not found much time for blogging or picture taking for that matter. We are going to take it easy this weekend because we will busy with some fun things for the next few weekends.

The weather here has been less than enjoyable the last week or so... on and off rain... just enough to make it too wet to play outside. Rush improvised and asked to play in the "gawage". So, we put the cars in the driveway, and it gives them a nice open space to get some energy out on rainy days. He made a little beach party with our beach toys that he found the other day. It is actually a pretty good plan because they can ride their scooters in there and I can hear them from the kitchen while I am cooking dinner. Everybody is happy!

She can't get enough of this scooter! While Rush LOVES all toys, Frannie has never really been "in" to anything. She loves princesses, but she doesn't play with toys a lot. She seriously loves her scooter, though. I mean loves it.

I was greeted by this Jedi when I came home from a run last weekend. He was wielding a sword and a drill. A multi-talented Jedi for sure! He got two light sabers for Christmas. He and I had a battle last weekend. He turns off all the lights in his room where you can only see the light sabers. He was giving me instructions on how to use my light saber so it would be like the movie. I had to swing it above my head and turn in circles. The rules for the "battle" changed a couple of times as it progressed... usually when I got a jab in. Rush won in the end. I accepted defeat graciously. I am still learning how to play boy stuff, but this was pretty fun. :-)

I was just thinking the other day how much I love four year olds. I think my kids are fun... and funny... and so cute right now. I can admit now that three was possibly not my favorite age. It had its good points. They learn and change so much at three. The fits and sassiness were at a high point for my two, though. For some, I think that phase comes at two, but it was definitely three for us. I feel like we are seeing more of their true personalities now. Are there still fits and meltdowns? Ummm... yes. They are fewer and farther between now, though. I love seeing how these two kiddos are growing up. I was holding Frannie in the kitchen a few nights ago. As her long legs dangled down to my knees. I told her not to grow up too fast. She pulled her head back from my shoulder and smiled at me. "I am, Mama." I know. Just wear that princess gown a little longer, ok?

I need for time to slow down a little. I think the fact that I registered them for Pre-K this past Monday might have me a little nostalgic for the baby days. I just really can't believe it.

2013... Here We come!

Have you had your black eyed peas and greens yet? Thanks to my sweet Mama, I have. I went back for seconds. It was worth it. Phil and I actually made it to midnight last night. It wasn't intentional. We just stayed up to watch a movie, and before we knew it, it was 11:48! It has been a few years since we have made it to the CST New Year. We usually like to celebrate with our Eastern Time Zone neighbors. :-)

Got any resolutions? I am NOT good at keeping resolutions. I am keeping it simple this year. Drink water. This is not as easy as it sounds since I do not like water. I think it will be pretty easy to keep, though, because I am only going to require myself to drink at least a little water every day. Some days, maybe I will turn that into a lot. No pressure.

I also plan to focus on this a little more this year.

I think about this all the time, but sometimes I am so guilty of getting into the daily grind that I find myself going through the motions of everything. I am going to stop and pay attention. I am not going to worry about having the cleanest or cutest house on the block. (Not that I ever really have...) I am not going to worry about making sure everything is just so. I am just going to try to be better at the stuff that matters most.
(I don't know this Mama or the little cutie sitting next to her. For all I know, they may not know each other either. I got the picture from Pinterest.)

I do, however, know these two. :-) Gonna make sure I am making the most of my time with them!

So there you have it. I know for sure that 2013 will be a year of change. All years are in some ways, aren't they? I'll be back soon. I have water to drink and children to cherish. Can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us! Happy 2013!

Christmas 2012 Part 2

I have to say that four might be the perfect age to experience Christmas. Maybe five will be better, but it is hard to imagine that could be the case. Both kids were so excited about Christmas! They loved the Christmas lights, decorations, ornaments, Christmas books, Nativity scenes... you name it... they were all about it.

I have to tell a funny story about Rush. Before he went to bed on Christmas Eve, I talked to him about how important it would be for him to stay in the bed because Santa would only come when he was fast asleep. We also told him to come and wake us up in the morning rather than exploring what was left by the tree on his own. Fast forward to Christmas morning... He came running in our room and said, "Mom!!! Santa came!" At this point, I am thinking he just ran by and saw the toys and came to get us. Then, he continues... "Santa brought me a BAT CAVE! And some swippers(slippers)! They are a little bit too big, though." So much for getting to see Rush experience his first look at his gifts. He had already tried on shoes and played with his Bat Cave. It fit his personality to do that, though. He loves to be by himself and play with toys, so he did just that. We just laughed. What else can you do? We had to wake SF, but she was happy to see what Santa brought, too.

SF's favorite gift is definitely her scooter. It has been rainy and cold, so she has been scooting all over our house. She also loved her lip gloss and camera. She loves her Brave doll and her Princess slippers, too. She was also fond of some purple sparkly peel-off nail polish that peels off remarkably fast after application. :-)

Rush's favorite gift... by far.. was the highly anticipated Bat Cave. His imagination runs wild as he plays since he doesn't actually know much about Batman. It is fun to listen to him play when he doesn't realize you are listening. He has a vivid imagination.

Christmas 2012 Part 1

We are having the kind of Christmas Eve that lets me have my coffee cup beside me all day. I am cherishing this coffee cup because it is from one of my more challenging students this year. As I opened it, he said, "I bought that with my own money that I got for my birthday." :-) Sweetness.

This rainy day just calls for staying inside and having one more cup of coffee. We have no plans today. We had Christmas with my family yesterday, and Phil's family always comes over in the evening on Christmas Day. So, today, we wait for Santa. We have been baking and lounging around. At first I thought it was going to be strange, but it has turned out to be a very nice day so far. We are planning to drive around in our Christmas PJs tonight to help pass the time until Santa comes. I have two REALLY exicted four-year-olds on my hands!

We have been baking cookies for Santa!

Can you tell I had some little helpers?


We had Christmas with my family yesterday at Mama and Daddy's house. It was lots of fun! We ate too much, and the kids had so much fun opening presents! We also go together with my uncle, aunt, and cousin to celebrate. We enjoyed some time with them.

We squeezed in a trip to see Santa.

Duncan, the elf, has been causing quite the stir around here as well. One morning, Duncan was found in front of the Christmas tree riding with a Barbie in Frannie's Barbie car. She rarely plays with it, so the whole "can't touch Duncan" thing seemed like it would be no big deal. WRONG! She immediately burst into tears when she saw him and commenced with wailing and 'carrying on'. It was quite a show. I assured her that I would tell Duncan to only play with Rush's toys from now on. And... that sent Rush into a fit of screaming about how much he loved his toys. The conversation went like this:

Me to SF: I will just tell him to play with Rush's toys from now on. He won't bother your things again.
Rush: NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Duncan can't play with my toys either.
Me to Rush: Well, maybe just some of the ones that aren't your favorites.
Rush: They are all my favorites.
Me to both: That seems a little selfish to me. You won't even share your toys with one of Santa's elves. I bet Santa will be so sad when Duncan tells him how you acted about sharing toys.
SF: Mama, I changed my mind. Duncan can play with any of my stuff. Anything. I changed my mind.
Me to Rush: Did you change your mind, too?
Rush: No.
Me to Rush: You don't want to change your mind about sharing your toys with Duncan?
Rush: Nope.

So apparently, not even Santa and his elves can get Rush to share his beloved toys. Under any circumstances. Ever. Period.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Duncan the Elf and other December Fun!

I have been a little behind with my Christmas posting. Our elf, Duncan, was fashionably late as usual this year, but he has arrived. While other elves often arrive around Thanksgiving Day, Duncan is one of Santa's special helpers. He often has to stay at the North Pole a bit later than the other elves to do some special jobs.

He made his first appearance a little over a week ago. You can probably tell that Fran was less than pleased with the place he decided to settle on his first day with us. She couldn't see his feet. It just made her angry. She pouted. I told her Duncan was watching and would tell Santa. Is that mean? I might as well use that little guy to my advantage when needed.

Duncan definitely loves sweets. He brought candy canes because he knew Rush dropped his in the driveway at Gigi's and cried. He also sat in the napkin holder on the kitchen table and opened up some fruit snacks for a little treat. At least he is neat and clean. He doesn't make messes like some other elves I know. Today, he is lounging on the fireplace mantle.

In other news, my high school made it to the state playoffs last week, and my best friend came into town to go to the game with me! Fun times!! She just happened to find her old band jacket before she made the trip down, and she decided to bring it with her. I just happened to have mine hanging in my closet since I was a band nerd for Halloween. Ivy was on her way to my house, so Michelle and I decided to put them on to surprise her. As soon as Ivy opened the door, she screamed, "I KNEW y'all would do something like this to embarrass me!!" Do you think we drove her crazy in high school or what? Hahahaha!! Class of 1993 Flutes Rule!! :-)

Sister and me at the game... we lost BIG TIME, but it was still a fun night.

That same weekend, we went to the Victorian Porch Walking Tour. I think it was
little lost on the kids. The porches are beautiful, but they were more interested in the hand bell choirs and singing. It was fun, though!

We also went to the park to take some Christmas pictures of my favorite niece, Kate. Could she be more beautiful?

Love her to pieces!

We are getting ready for Santa to arrive! The excitement is building!

I know I don't usually post about current events, but what happened in that Connecticut elementary school on Friday morning is one of my worst nightmares. As a parent and as a teacher.I just can't get it out of my head. My thoughts aren't clear. Sentences aren't complete. It is one of those things that makes me cringe and my eyes well up with tears every time I think about it. I can't stand thinking of how frightened those little people must have felt in the moments it was all taking place. I can't stand thinking of how desperate the teachers in those rooms must have felt. I can't stand thinking of how the parents of those twenty children must have felt in those hours that passed as they waited. How they will be haunted by it always. Can't stand it. And the teachers. And the principal. They could not have imagined anything worse happening in their school. You can have the best "safety plan" in the world, but in the end, evil exists in the world. And sometimes it finds its way in. You just don't think it finds its way into elementary schools where there are babies away from their parents. Where their parents thought they would be safe. I am sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that we will hear many stories of heroism from those teachers and staff in the coming days. I will focus on that. The goodness in those people and not the evil in that crazy man. I will pray for those families that lost someone... a child, a mother, a sister, a friend. They were all somebody's most important someone.

So today, I will snuggle these two a little tighter. Let them stay up a little later. Let them have one more cookie. In the end, having them here with me is the most important thing of all.

Christmas Card Outtakes 2012

Taking Christmas card pictures is always an adventure. I am afraid by the time it becomes a little easier to get both to smile, they will be surly teenagers that are staring at me like I am a crazy lady trying to get them to participate in a Christmas ritual in which they have absolutely no interest. Oh well. We manage to get at least one good one every year. I only took 168 pictures with my camera to get "the one". Of course, I am not going to post that one. Just some on the path that lead us there... it always makes me sweat.

And one for the real photo album...