How to Properly Use a Pinwheel

Valentine's Day

It was Abram's first Valentine's Day this year-where he actually passed out Valentines (sigh). I decided to go for the creative factor and go copy cat style. I was laughing to myself as I helped him with these, thinking about how dramatic and stressful it was to pick out the perfect Valentine to give to each classmate, especially the boys.  You didn't want certain boys to get the wrong idea that you were in love with them, etc. Not knowing the whole time that boys only care about the candy and don't even read the valentine.

 I wanted to find something "boy friendly", so I went HERE and printed them out. And then we decided his friends should get huge bouncy balls and loaded up quarters in our pockets and went to the Old Navy bouncy ball machine. It was at that moment I realized that my kids had never done that before. I remember getting jelly bracelets and charms for my charm necklace out of those things nearly everytime I went to the grocery store-a long, long, time ago. You should have seen their faces-oh the magic a quarter can bring. And there are only 10 kids in his preschool class, which made the deal sweeter. Abram's teachers gave us a print out of the kids names so they could cut out names and tape them on the Valentines, then match them to their bag.

Supplies Needed:

Apparently they were quite the hit with 4 and 5 year olds.

It's a Small, Small World

So I had heard Extreme Home Makeover was coming to Knoxville. Awesome, and I went online to find out who the family was, etc. AND I HAVE MET THE MOTHER!! Picture this, I am at the zoo with the boys and this was a little over a year ago or so. We are at the playground and Abram makes it up to the very top and starts FREAKING OUT and won't come down the slide. Inside I start to panic. Do I go up the slide and leave Reese? So I ask a kid to help him, to the kid's credit, he REALLY tries, but Abram isn't having it. It was funny because the kid's mom yells, "Atley, just grab his hand and go with him down the slide!" The kid yells back, "Mom, I tried! He's too strong!!!" So I look at Reese, and say "Reese, you are going to have to come up that slide with me." And Reese did not agree. I tried to carry him, but then Reese starts screaming and bucking up and down.  There was no way I could make it up with him. I think Reese was barely walking at the time. So I was calculating in my mind, if I strapped him in the stroller and went up as fast as I could, would someone have time to take Reese......Abram was hysterical, Reese was crying, and this lady offered to hold Reese-but one-she was a stranger and two she had her own baby. So I asked her to watch Reese while I went up. I parked the stroller next to the bottom of the slide and as fast as I could I ran/crawled up the slide. Can I just say that the twisty slide was probably a half a mile long at least it seemed that way. I get up there, grab Abram and slide down as fast as I can. I was sweating, embarrassed, and relieved. I thanked the lady and there was some clapping and calling me "Supermom" from the small crowd of mothers that had gathered for real, they were not there when this started. I hung my head, a little humiliated, and told the boys we were leaving. Looks like I trusted the right lady-here she is getting a brand new house. It's a small world afterall. See her here.

Preschool Christmas Program

Did I forget to mention that Abram was refusing to go to music class at preschool? As in, his teacher said he would fold his arms and sit down? I still have no idea what it was all about. We were trying everything we could think of, talking about it, Kris went tried the bribe method, I tried the "Maybe mommy needs to come to music class" method. Nothing worked.  We sat down one night and I tried to have a heart to heart with him about it. It went something like this:

Me: "Honey, I just don't understand. You LOVE to sing. You love to sing at church in Primary."
Abram: "Yah, but these aren't primary songs Mama."
Me: "Well, I know, but I am sure these songs are fun too."
Abram: (enter 14 year old expression of seriousness and dramatics) "Moooooommmm, the songs are ridiculous!"
Me: (biting the inside of my mouth so I don't crack up) "What do you mean?"
Abram: "Well, I mean, I like the Christmas songs and all, but the goldfish song? It's just annoying."
Me: "What does annoying mean?"
Abram: "You know, when you don't like it at all and don't want to do it!"

We talked a little while longer and then I gave up and he went to bed. I mean some songs are annoying and ridiculous-but really? Refusing music? Just about that time his teacher got a new job. It was a sad day, she had been working at his preschool for 12 years, and then entered Ms. Julia. Thankfully Abram has the same assistant teacher so the stability was still there-but I don't think Ms. Julia really made sitting in a chair with his arms folded an option.  I think she is a bit more strict, which Abram needs.  And he never refused to go again.  He does however, dread going??? Bizarre.  Then they had their program....

Kris and I were joking about people thinking he was a dead beat Dad. I always drop off and pick up Abram from school, volunteer at his parties, etc.  So no one there has met Kris. My family came to watch the program and it was so crowded I ended up sitting in the middle which gave Kris the responsibity of taking the pictures.  When Kris went closer to take them Abram started YELLING and POINTING from the stage "GUYS! THERE'S MY DAD!!! RIGHT THERE!! THAT'S MY DAD!  LOOK! HE'S HERE!!!" Kris was waving and got embarassed an said, "Geez, I guess they think I am some dead beat who never sees my kid."  Little did "they" know Abram just thinks his Dad is the coolest ever.

 

This picture cracks me up, it's blurry and the kids have alien eyes-but kid picking his nose during the program=classic. 

And just for the record, Abram may have been right about the "Goldfish song"........

Christmas 2011-Our House

Anybody remember this video from last year? I was hoping for the same reaction this year. However, after the present-palooza at my parents, and Abram waking up not feeling good, this is what I got....

How sad is that? Oh, and Reese woke up in a wet bed, and upon his quick bath/sheet change, he refused to put on pants.

And then the Reesemister sat on my lap, which made picture taking a bit difficult (see my legs under him).

Abram then started to fade and had Kris open his presents for him....


Reese was still going strong....

And Abram laid down on the couch, wouldn't even get up for the Milenium Falcon......

Kris and I kept looking at each other like this was not part of the plan. Kris and Reese went to church while I stayed home with Abram. He recovered though and it has been non stop playtime ever since.

To Nana's House We Go.....Christmas 2011

We headed over to my Mom's for their annual seafood Christmas Eve. We ate, and then it was time to sit down and wait for the presents to be passed out......

Some were excited.....

Some were very excited......

There was present opening.....

Some "ninja" battling......

Some trying to figure out who's jedi fighter was who's....

some more present opening......(note children excited, adults overwhelmed)

Some playing...

and more guessing who's present was who's.....

It was awesome...until the next day when Abram and I were both sick and we all woke up to Reese screaming because he peed the bed (sigh). But that is the next story.....



Christmas at Chillhowee and a Birthday Party

I have wanted to do this for a while.  We went to see the lights at the park by the zoo.  Here's the thing-it's free. And on opening night there is free hot chocolate, pictures with Santa, carriage rides, etc-all free. The only problem is...the whole city knows it's free too.  We waited in line for Santa-the kids did great-but after that the lines looked at least an hour long-so we took out own self guided tour and decided to go to Marble Slab, with no lines...and not free, but delicious.

This picture-although blurry and not the "official" one we got-makes me laugh just because the chaos of it all. There were about a gazillion people in line, so we had to be quick and try to make everyone look happy after waiting in a long line.

My nephew was born the day after Christmas. It's hard to have that birthday because there is SO much going on-my sister decided to have a "friends birthday party" a couple weeks before and have a family dinner on his actual birthday. The kids had a lot of fun.

I feel like I am getting old.  I remember at family reunions rolling my eyes when old people would tell me "You're growing like a weed." or "I knew you when you were this high." and now I find myself biting my lip to not say such things out loud.  It amazes me how fast these kids are growing.  I just want to keep yelling "Slow down! I'm not ready!"