Forgetting Brother? Never!

With all the birthday and potty excitement, you might think I am forgetting my wonderful son. Never! He is still my handsome prince defending me from the tirades of our handsome king, Daddy. He is really growing up, and can be an incredibly good big brother.

The Best Birthday Present

It was a busy day of celebration today. The Dress-up Princess Tea was lovely, complete with face in the cake eating (compliments of my beautiful princess). Following a good nap, we met Nanny for some fun at the mall. This was the best birthday present for us all!

After a complete makeover, courtesy of Libby Lou and Nana, Sissy topped off the day with a dance that left us all shrieking. She picked out everything herself, hair, outfit, sunglasses, and sat so still for the entire process. It was great. She was so happy. And, has very appropriate taste. The conservative Cinderella bun and dress just don't fit her personality. This was a birthday memory I will cherish forever. Thanks, Nanny! Click the movie below to see Sissy in action! Future dancer, I'm sure!

Countdown is on

It is the night before Maison's tea party. She is turning two. However, I feel like I am preparing for a sweet sixteen party. Actually, it is nothing elaborate, but every detail takes time and energy, of which I am running short on both. At midnight, before our 10:00 party, I am stained in food coloring from the purple icing, exhausted from cleaning things that I will just have to re-clean tomorrow, and wondering if anyone even cares. I know Maisy doesn't. She just wants to put on her flashy pink princess dress and play with her friends. Carson thinks the whole thing is gross. He is way into the whole "boy/girl" thing right now, and the tea party is too girly. Jeremy thinks I am crazy, and therefore refuses to assist with anything that feeds into my birthday fantasy. So, it's just me. Honestly, it is better that way.

Their birthdays are always hard for me. It puts the passage of time into a much unneeded reality. It goes too fast. Although nothing with Maisy has been easy and I pray that each stage will be smoother than the last, it has gone too fast. She is such a little girl now. Talking so much and opinionated. The doctor called her particular when I said cranky, during our colic phase. And it fits, she is still particular. I worked so hard to get her to take a binky. I had to have bought every kind known to man before she took one. She has one book, that I dread reading, which is her absolute favorite. Nothing else will do. Each night it is a certain blanket that she wants to be covered up with, but it is never the same one. She keeps me on my toes. I just can't believe she is almost two.

Even though I am tired, crabby at times, and our house is cluttered constantly, I would freeze time right now for awhile. Just to be here a little bit longer. To be needed, kissed so hard it hurts, and to hear those little feet race across the floor behind me. I wish I could learn to appreciate each day for what it truly is and not be so caught up in the rat race that I miss things. I will definitely make sure I enjoy every minute of our last weekend with our busy one year old. On Tuesday, she will be two.

Potty-Trained Princess?

Well...we can t.t. in the potty, but apparently would rather poop in our panties or our new princess dress. Wouldn't you know, we buy the dress to celebrate our week long success and she thanks me with a big poop in it. As I type, she is saying, "I poop in it." and pointing at the picture of her in the dress.

She likes to sit by me and "type" on the calculator, which she is doing now. Her attention just turned to Aspen. Maison is open mouth, tongue out panting at her saying, "You do it." I guess she wants Aspen to pant. So funny!
Potty-Trained Princess...to be continued!

Snow Day!

You gotta love that 5:30 in the morning phone call...Snow Day! Although it is bitterly cold, we met Uncle Jeff and the kids for an hour of sledding. Carson loved it! Maisy was cold, but went on a few rides. I think she liked it. The wind, was just a bit much for her sweet cheeks.

I love crisp winter air. It reminds me of the mountains. I can't wait to get out there this year. I think Carson will definitely enjoy skiing. He isn't a dare-devil, by any means, but once he gets the hang of it, he'll do great.

Big News!

Exciting things are happening at our house. Maison is potty training, and has been very successful in her big girl pants. Candy has been a huge motivator, increasing the number of trips to the bathroom. She has been accident-free the last two days at the sitter and is one day away from a princess dress, her reward for a dry week.

Potty time

Carson started preschool this month. He loves it! He is learning so much. I am thrilled with the program and his progress and attitude. I think he is going to like school. He was tested on several basic skills today. He performed well, but there are still some things we need to work on. For example, identifying coins, tying his shoes, drawing a house, and analogies. Their analogy was cow is to milk as chicken is to ______. He said "meat". I think that is a good answer, although not what they were looking for. They were hoping for the more obvious, eggs. At least it wasn't a ridiculous answer.

First day of preschool

Grandmas and Nannies

A friend from work sent me an email with quotes about Grandmothers. I loved it. I copied some of my favorites below. Some really resonate for me having wonderful grandmothers myself. The others have such meaning when seeing my mom as a grandmother, or Nanny as she is referred to around our house.

The kids went and spent the night with Nana and Pa this weekend. As usual they had a great time. They came back tired, grouchy, and on a sugar high, all the signs of an exciting evening. I know without asking that they had fun. I am so glad that they have the opportunity to spend time alone with their grandparents. I want them to know each other, well. I want my kids to know how great my parents are, and sometimes, more importantly, I want my parents to see how great my kids are. (Not that they need any help with that. They are the only people that might truly believe they are flawless...to a point.) I guess I still need their reassurance that I am going a good job. So sad, that at my age, I still need that. Does that ever go away?

Regardless, I am so happy that Grandmas and Grandpas are so much fun. It takes the pressure off of me, at times. Some of my best memories as a child involve my grandparents. I knew as a kid, even when Mom didn't feel sorry for me or think I was funny, Grandma would. It's just in the way they look at you. I saw it then, when my grandmas looked at me. I see it now, when my mom looks at them. I wonder, someday will I look at a little someone that way? I can't even think about my babies having babies, but when they do, oh how I'll love them. I hope it is just like having my kids all over again, only just the fun parts. However it is, my kids LOVE being with their grandparents. I am so thankful for that.

Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting. ~Author Unknown

What a bargain grandchildren are! I give them my loose change, and they give me a million dollars' worth of pleasure. ~Gene Perret

Grandmothers are just "antique" little girls. ~Author Unknown

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~Welsh Proverb

Grandchildren don't stay young forever, which is good, because Grandfathers have only so many horsey rides in them. ~Gene Perret

When grandparents enter the door, discipline flies out the window.~ Ogden Nash

Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see justyou all day and now the day was complete. ~ Marcy DeMaree

Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old. ~ Mary H. Waldrip

Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love. ~Author Unknown

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. ~Alex Haley

If your baby is "beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses,sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time," you're the grandma. ~Teresa Bloomingdale

Bed of Rocks

There are so many funny, sweet and unbelievable things that happen everyday in a house with children. Ours is no different. Sometimes, I foolishly believe that I live in the only house where the unbelievable happens, like constant complaining, mess or just plain difficult moments. And that I am some Super Mom for surviving it. I do realize all moms deal with it. Sometimes it just makes me feel more entitled to think I am the only one that has dealt with a child that will eat anything or do anything and another that will not stop talking. Our days together are interesting, and I don't want to forget my interesting moment today.

Carson told me over lunch that Ms. Jo's kitty, Hope, "sleeps in a little bed of rocks". "The tiniest rocks you have ever seen." "They are really small, not big, Mom, so they don't hurt her." I was completely confused at first. Then I realized, he was talking about her litterbox. He thought that was her bed! Since Hope is his only cat experience, he didn't understand the idea of the litterbox. After a long conversation about the whole concept. He laughed with me. Maybe you just had to be there, but seeing the look on his face was priceless.

We're back...

After a blogging vacation...we're back!

Not only is blogging a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, it is therapeutic for me. I realize that with all we have going on, there are precious memories being overlooked and eventually forgotten. And, at the end of the day this is a great way for me to to reflect and put things in perspective. I enjoy it.

My purple princess...loves horses, dancing, candy and mommy. She is talking so much. My favorite things she says right now are "You know what" and "O-tay". Her hair recently got long enough for a "real" pony tail. I love holding her and being smothered in her rough kisses. She's a wild one!

Big boy started preschool last week. Loves it! He has turned into such a big kid lately. He loves sports. Football, basketball, baseball, golf, and soccer are his chosen ones, in that order. He wants to learn tennis this summer. Please note the small scratch above his lip, courtesy of his sister. (Too bad you can't see his gash on his cheek or neck from previous encounters. ) He does enjoy tormenting her. He contines to love on his momma, but does assert quite a temper at times.

While my blogs will be less creative and less frequent due to our busy schedule, I will do my best to record the small miracles and tragedies that happen every day in our home. If nothing else, they will give you a good chuckle and help me remember how wonderfully full my life is right now.