Today I Am So Proud!

It was such a beautiful day today, I decided to take the kids to the park near Dylans's pre-K after I picked him up. I love situations like this because you get the chance to watch your children interact with others and also to see how other demon children act!!! I am just kidding....a little!

Maryn was climbing on the train and 2 boys came over to her area. They began with the basics of finding out how old they all were. Twice, Maryn asked kids, "How many are you?" She got the same response both times ("you mean how OLD"), this really did not phase her. Turns out these particular boys happened to be 6. At the realization that Maryn was merely 5, one of the boys turned to her and told her that they do not talk to 5 year olds. Only 6 and up, he claimed. Maryn turned to look at me over her shoulder and just shrugged. Undaunted by the statement, she turned to the one that was clearly a little on the kinder side and began to talk about a Spongebob moment that she thought was funny! The boy started to laugh and they began playing together. The demon boy, not willing to give in to his commitment stood there silently. I loved this! I was so proud of her.

Later she heard a bunch of bigger kids who had come into her play area saying words like stupid, and calling other kids dirty diaper pants. She looked at me, shrugged again and said: "God will take care of them, I'm just not going to worry about it!"

I was on a mommy high on the way home! I ran through Chick-fil-A to get them an ice cream because I am cool like that!!! We see a woman in a wheel chair making her way down the sidewalk. I watch Dylan in the mirror watching her. She was using her feet to move her forward and was not making very good time. Dylan is watching her every move. I am waiting to see what he will say: "mom, look at that crazy lady", "mom, she is weird", "mom, what is wrong with that weirdo". He opens his mouth and I am ready to pounce with something from my moral lesson arsenal and what he says stops my heart. He looks at me and says, "Mom, you need to stop right now so I can help that lady" and I realized that the look in his eyes that I was reading as disgust or at the very least basic child curiosity, was in fact concern.

What a blessing my kids are to me and the world!!! God has wonderful things in store for these two!

The Circus was Awesome!!!!

So I have not been to the circus in ages! This was the first time with my kids and I was so excited and anxious to see all the magic through their little eyes! I was curious about what would entertain them the most. It seems some people either love or hate clowns. I don't really have an opinion either way. I can take them or leave them. Neither of my children have a loathing for clowns, but Dylan is clearly a slapstick kid and got the most enjoyment out of their antics. Maryn was enamored by the acts and the swirling girls and the men that were "wearing lady clothes" on the trapeze extravaganza!

It fascinated me to see what got their attention. In one particular moment, a fairly limber lady has her leg wrapped around her neck 4 times and is licking her elbow (a bit of an exaggeration...but whatever!!), I look at Maryn and her eyes are wide and mouth slightly opened and I hear her say: "Mom, look at her shadow on the floor!!!" I am like....shadow....what....check out the lady!!!

Dylan felt like the highlight of our experience at the circus would be the lions. He waited with anticipation for them to come trying to fight off boredom of the less spectacular events. When they finally arrived on stage he watched in awe for about 30 seconds and leaned back in his seat and claimed his need to go home. I said: "Dylan, are you watching...how cool is this??!!" He looked up long enough to see the lions all standing on their hind legs. He leaned back and let out this slow exasperated breath of boredom. He was like, "Big whoop, they can stand"!

There was one thing throughout the circus that I could not, even though I tried and tried, stop thinking about. Through the slew of animals paraded on stage, not one of them pooped. I am wondering how this is even possible. I am talking dogs, goats, horses, lions, and elephants! I am starting to get worried and begin to think I may not even want to know how they accomplish this. I wonder if I should search PETA and then think better of it. I wonder if they are somehow plugged up to spare the viewing audience the horror and stench of various animal terds! I am telling my brain just to focus. Focus on the beauty of what is before you, but the nagging in my brain keeps making me think of the calamity of a plugged elephant and about 3o gallons of rotten peanuts....I mean we are having a peanut thing here in Georgia after all. The lions come out and I have still seen no poop! I really am not obsessed. I watch the lion trainer and now on top of my nagging need for poop, I begin to wonder if I will have to be the witness of the unfortunate decapitation of said lion trainer. It is hard to watch.

Finally the elephants come out to sum up the circus for us. They do several nice maneuvers and stand to bow. They begin to exit, while tiny elephant does a very cute little skip that I could not take my eyes off of. When I finally do, I take in the scene of the empty stage and guess what I see.........POOP!!! Big, putrid mounds of elephant poop! I actually felt much better and could make my way home with an eased mind and thoroughly enjoy singing along with my little ones to Kidz Bop 15!

My loser status was confirmed today!!

This morning I have been called out! It started when we woke up. Maryn really wanted to make daddy breakfast in bed this weekend. This is normally a birthday tradition. Each person in the house gets the breakfast of their choosing in bed on their birthday. Well at least we do this for the kids. Last year the kids and I got up and made pancakes in Rex's favorite color, and red milk! It didn't actually make it to his bed, but we had fun nonetheless. Maryn really wanted to do this again and I told her maybe we would this weekend. Now, let me preface by saying I am NOT and early riser on the weekends!!!

Maryn came to the side of our bed around 9:30. Rex and I were already awake and just hanging out, loving not having to jump out of bed to go anywhere. Maryn whispered in my ear about breakfast in bed for daddy and I told her it was too late and we would TRY to do it the next day. Rex by now is making feel like a total loser....but only because he wanted to stay in bed!!! :) Maryn got really upset and started to whine and cry...so I told her to go to her room....but only because I wanted to stay in bed!!!! While Maryn was in bed, she got out her etch-a-sketch and drew a picture of mommy in bed being mad at her. Rex proceeded to make me feel like a big loser. I got up and made breakfast!!!

The morning continued with Maryn coming downstairs and finding her baby book and continuing to point out to Dylan that she just didn't see his. Now, don't get me wrong, he does HAVE a baby book I just never made it past the first couple pages and it has very few pictures. He kept watching Maryn look through her picture book with this look of second-born neglect that I am sure will follow him through the years. We have plenty of pictures of Dylan, they have just never made it into a book. Rex and I vowed to go through our CD's and make a book just for him! Will this ease the wounds of neglect? I can only hope!

Hiatus....

Since our return from the Christmas holiday, my computer has been kaput. Thankfully, I can now use my computer, but am still missing the old hard drive and a lot of information which has left us in the hands of those who claim to possess the secrets needed to bring it all back. I can only sit idle and hope so.

I have just now been able to upload pics from Christmas. We had a wonderful holiday! It is kind of interesting looking at pics so long after the fact. Generally, when it comes to Christmas photos you look at them and all their glowing happiness. The excitement of it all is still there. Now when I look at them I, of course, get the happiness and the glowy warm feelings. But while I am looking at the smiling faces of my children so excited about the gifts they have received, I have the present knowledge that most of it has already (at the end of January) lost its dazzle. The things that have made a permanent place in our lives are the Leapsters and Legos. The things long forgotten are the Pixos and Bendaroos a certain little girl thought she could not live without; the remote control vehicles we thought Dylan would just love. I could keep going I assure you, but instead I will share some of the glowing memories of our Christmas holiday and some of Dylan's Holiday show with his classmates.

Dylan was so happy and excited to be on stage this year!

Granny says: "Stop licking the spoon!"

Santa Claus did not go hungry!

These were a big hit.....literally!

The hanger came in a close second!

A Poem About Boogers by Mom

Boogers

Boogers, Boogers everywhere,
probably some in my hair.
Oh, how I love to flick it,
that's why I always pick it.

If one falls while I run down the hall,
I just smear it on the wall!

Tucked in bed, tissues above my head,
but their so hard to reach,
so I'll sneak them in my sheets!

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Aurora and Batman say Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween started out with a shin-dig at Dylan's school.

Maryn wanted nothing to do with.

Dylan wishes he could be batman everyday!

Here she is in the one and only time you will see her in full costume!

We made our annual trip to Papa's house to show off costumes and get enough candy to eliminate the need for trick or treating altogether....but you know how that goes.

Cutie Batman!

Batman has nothing on these abs!!!

Come on, Aurora....go to sleep...I will wake you with my magic kiss!

Some pre-treating lego time.

We are so ready!!!

So this was the first year Dylan went trick or treating. Last year, he was too scared and spent most of the night on the sofa diving under a blanket every time the door bell rang. This year, he was ready. The kids took turns ringing door bells and Dylan's first turn at the bell met him with this scary looking guy! He cowared and cried, but did not get so scared that he forgot to hold out his bucket. Poor little thing!

Thankfully, this did not ruin Dylan's Halloween experience. But, he did spend the rest of the night sending his sister and friend ahead to make sure the coast was clear.

Maryn has not only lost her wig (too itchy), but has now given up on the shoes!

Halloween Rocks!!!!

The Desolate Pumpkin Patch!

Here we are......were them punkins at!!!!

Found one!!! Who knew it would be one of the few!

Jackpot baby!!

Beautiful Sweetness!

Our Precious! Just look at that face!

Look mom....I found them! This is not an exaggeration!

Maybe they will look bigger close up?!

Dylan, sit on the pumpkin so I can take your picture. Look at me! Stop being a goof and look at me!

You guys get together and let me just take ONE picture!

Seriously!!!

Dylan, get on that pumpkin!!!

I don't want to smile!!! So sad!

Whatever!!!

Do you think I can pick this up?

Check out these muscles!

Uh-oh!

Mom, look what Dylan did!!!

AWESOME!!!!!

We are done here!!!