PEZ

Tonight I was enjoying my favorite Christmas gift aside from Michael buying me a great necklace I LOVE, wireless headphones to watch TV with once the kids go to bed. With our cozy home and light sleeper Cora, it's hard to have 'me time' to get my 'Bachelor' or "Big Brother' or "Parenthood' etc on. Evan veeeerrrrrrry rarely wakes in the night but tonight woke around 11p? and wanted to cuddle. As I said, I was in "me time" so I encouraged him to cuddle with daddy. ;). Once settling him into cuddles with a very willing daddy, I went about tidying a few things before back to my show when I noticed the kids (empty) Snowman Pez dispensers and refill near by propped up on the kitchen counter. (similar to this)

I know how my children love to rummage through the house before we wake up and even though I shouldn't be encouraging it... I did what any self respecting loving parent would, I filled each Pez despenser with 5 pez each for them to find in the morning. Evan's is all white where as CG's face is clear. I wanted to encourage sharing so after doing my 'elfing' I went to Evan in our bedroom to help clarify without giving away my secret plot, who's is who's so they hopefully give eachother their own pez (we'll see!). I asked Evan which pez was his, he seemed confused a bit so I suggested that maybe the all white one was his and the clear faced one was Coras. He agreed and went on to elaborate on the details describing his own as "all white in the face and body and coras is all white body but a 'glass' face."lol. but then he warned me, "they are on the counter top (then wagging his finger back and forth), but don't look in them because you will be surprised that there is nothing in there. There is nothing in there, so don't look at them (still wagging the finger)" Mike and I just always look at each other and laugh, not wanting to slow the free talk for fear we will lose out on a jem like this conversation about pez. I wouldn't be surprised if I got in trouble in the morning when he finds these. He's a rule keeper once he understands them so he may think it's bad to have candy at all much less in the morning. On the other hand, he may eat it and never tell me. ha ha ha.

Fun Times

I took the kids to the mall today to find some various clothes items. After leaving JC Penney, you can't help but stop at an indoor playground they have there so we did. It's one of those soft sided climb on top of everything places with a very cushy floor. The kids were beyond excited, BEYOND. I told Evan he needed to take his shoes off first much to his dismay as he was already to the middle of the play ground. lol. He said he was going to take his socks off too and without looking at him, and starting to send a text to Mike, I told him to leave them on and proptly ignored him. :) I finish the text (we are the only ones there at the moment) and look up to see Evan Streaking across the play ground in underwear only AS happy as anyone could possibly be. He was exploding inside he was so excited as he dashed by me. In shear panic of getting expelled from the entire mall and in mortification that my child was practically naked in public. I yelled to him, "WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHES!?" lol. I was trying not to laugh and cry at the same time!! I found them quickly and he didn't hesitate as he realized this was important to put the shirt and shorts back on and WHEW. no one saw it. I think. A minute later a woman came in with 2 kids and I couldn't help but tell her what happened before calling Mike to share with him. Fun times is an understatement. :)

Banana's

Potty Talk

So Evan has been a super champ at potty training. As soon as we put underwear on him, they haven't been off except at first, an occasional nap and bed time but for the past 4 nights, underwear. So proud of him! He loves it and surprisingly doesn't ask for his giant lollipop after pooping anymore. He does however require praise for #2 and he gets it. Even Cora Grace who continues to sit on the little potty (Evan only goes on the big toilet btw and more often now likes to "stand like daddy" to go pee pee. sorry if it's tmi), pretending to go pee pee then stands triumphantly and claps for herself. lol. Anyway, Evan... As excited as we are to have less diapers to change, Evan's need for praise and attention after using the bathroom is wearing me out! He goes by himself but if he poops he calls my name over and over and over till I come "see it", no matter what I'm doing. Oi vey! So this afternoon I was on a conference all with my FSA sisters to discuss details of a class we're teaching at our much anticipated FSA conference (first one in Tennessee!! whoo hoo!!). We are all mothers to young active kids, praying they are napping so we can get some work done only... I hear Evan yelling for me then yelling for me that he pooped. I was dreading that he was in him room, therefore, pooped his pants but never fear, he had quietly gone to the bathroom by himself. Whew! He wanted me to see his poop. Yay! gotta go. I encouraged him, told him to go back to bed and heard Cora still awake (1 hours after putting her down. THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING TO THE TIME CHANGE!! RRRR!) so I went in her room, only to find she'd taken her dry diaper off and thrown it out of the crib. She's recently into 'dress up' but here she takes dressing 'down' to a whole 'nother lever :). Subject to be blogged later. All the while, still listening to the conversation on the phone and trying to participate. I no sooner got back to the call to realize Evan calling me again that he had pooped! YIKES Almighty! Again, he'd at least snuck into the bathroom somehow without me noticing but again, I had to get up to "see, see mommy, I had a 'little' poop". he he he. Again, thumbs up and encouragement while trying to keep composure for the call but I mouthed to him to stay on the toilet till he was finished pushing it all out. Boy was I sorry. Some moments later I received another summons to witness his 'prize', this time he said, "look, I made a banana!". I couldn't even hold my composure this time, it indeed resembled the common fruit, and busted in the phone conversation to relay what had just happened. It was irreverent and inappropriate information to share, especially at that time but I had to. My little FSA sisters were kind to laugh a little. I apologize again. :). Anyway, that's how it's going around here. I've barely been taking pictures or blogging cause I'm just busy and when I have a little down time, I've been trying to spend quality time with Mike or look online at houses for sale. Daydreaming we could get some more space. Mike is nice to humor me and we even looked at a couple. Nothing I loved but it did help me narrow my search for what will be just right for our (possibly growing someday) family. So life is good. We are happy and thankfully healthy and enjoying our uncommonly HOT spring weather. God bless.

Father-Son Date

I'm behind... WAY behind... TOO behind but here we go.

Today was a busy day. It was my day off, normally hallowed ground for family time in my world. Our area had a Regional Relief Society Conference featuring Sister Allred of the General Relief Society Presidency in Madison TN (hour+ drive that felt like 20min in our packed van of fun women). The meeting was really great, the company was equally uplifting and I even got to see a few old friends I wasn't expecting to bump into. But that's not the point so I'll move on. Mike graciously encouraged me to go so I left the babies with him till I got back at 230p. THEN I had to rush home to get Cora Grace ready for a friend, Abigail's 2nd birthday party at 3p. While I would be gone I had encouraged Mike to think about taking Evan somewhere, just the two of them since that NEVER happens that we are apart like that. He reeeeeeaaaallllly wanted to do some 'spring cleaning' he had started this morning but I 'admonished' him to please take an hour break to take Evan to a playground and dinner.

A little back story, we had some terrible storms come through all of Tennessee (and surrounding states) on Friday afternoon and early evening. We needed to run some errands so as soon as we felt safe, we took off, planning to get the kids a burger or something. Evan saw "Old McDonalds" and begged to stop there. When we tried to, they told us they couldn't take orders for 30minutes (assumably from the storms knocking out power? we had no damage in our area thankfully, so I don't know what happened?). So we tried to explain to an expecting "old mcdonalds hamburger" 3 year old, it was 'broken right now' for him to try to understand-hopefully avoiding a melt down. :) Anyway, we left and got a burger for them elsewhere and he was fine. Today however, in Mike's Daddy time and after visiting a couple playgrounds with Evan, this was the continuation of that scenario:

Evan asked Mike, "is Old McDonalds still broken? Is it 'fixed' now?" and "Did somebody charge it?"

Anytime in our home something is 'broken', it means it needs new batteries or we need the cord to charge his beloved Spooka. So I guess he thought, someone might have plugged it in to juice it up. :)

He got to go INSIDE Old McDonalds (maybe his 3rd time, if that), sitting by the window the drive thru people pass (they waved to everybody. cute!), so he was thrilled but the best part was after he ate his kids meal, Daddy got them an Ice Cream sundae to share. :) Mike said he LOVED it so much, he had to ask him to slow down but that at some point, could tell, Evan was getting brain freeze cause he started shivering. Mike asked him if he was cold, Evan said "Yeah... I want to cuddle with you." Awwwwe! I just love that little guy (the big guy too). I'm so thankful Daddy took time to go out with just Evan, I'd like to do that more regularly now that Evan really understands where he wants to go etc. I can't wait for a Mommy-Son Date report. :) The End.

PIGTAIL DREAMS & SIBLING SWEETIES

I have been ready to have some fun with Cora Grace's hair finally so for Christmas I bought her a pack of rubber bands in hopes to try out pigtails. Who knows where they are and I've been really wanting them. Not only am I a mom of my first little girl but I'm a hairstylist for goodness sakes so I need to be the one who gets to do her hair. She's been wearing her cute big bow out of necessity. It keeps her bangs out of her eyes while they grow with her hair but her hair is growing so much the bows slip a lot. Hence the wanting of the rubber bands I bought. It wasn't an emergency or anything but I was "side swiped" by her day care before I could resolve the case of the lost accessories and finally do something more with her hair. You see... Mike picked the kids up last week and there she was with pig tails in her hair!? Of course she looked adorable and they all love her so much they probably couldn't stand it to wait any longer for pigtails but I was robbed, I tell you! :) Sigh... oh well, I really was disappointed but I resolved myself to do them better and cuter so here you go. 

I give you... Cora Grace, in Pigtails:

Once the pigtails were in, there was no turning back so I bundled those babies up and forced them to be mamarazzi'ed in the back yard. UGH! They are so precious and beautiful. I'm glad I took the time today to do it. I've been in a funk and this is helping me. Photo therapy if you will. (now if it could help my LACK OF housework!)...

Last but not least. Here is a picture of Cora's new thing. Taking off her shoes (old trick) SO to get to her socks, SO she can take them off and put them on her hands! :D ha ha ha ha ha. She even tries to 'talk' with them like a puppet sometimes. Regardless of the reasons, I'm just glad both kids have exhibited a sock obsession. (Evans was featured on my original blog in November 2009. Don't miss his old videos on that post if you go to it. They grow up so fast!). :)

Funnies

Evan is at the stage of constantly asking questions about: what is that? are you talking to me mommy? where? can i have that? where are you going? can i come too? can i go outside? where is smokey? can i call grandma putsie? is cora asleep? do i have to go to sleep now? etc etc etc.

Desperate times call for desperate measures so, understandably I've resorted to being vague and sarcastic in my answers. That's what you're supposed to do right? ;) Yesterday, he asked me multiple times what my York peppermint patties was that I ate that afternoon. I answered "Your Momma". :) he he he? Anyway as the day turned to night, I found myself snacking again on (one of my very favorite treats) a peppermint pattie and again the questioning started.

"what is that? what is that? what is that?" ( i ignored him. i admit it)
"Mommy, may I please have some of your momma?"
Bah! ha ha ha ha  ha ha ha ha ha! worth it. :)
You know I gave him some btw. You just can't resist that, even though the kid needs no sweets. Especially at bed time. Oh well, he earned it! :)

This isn't 'funny' but, now that we leave Evan's door open, he wakes us up in the mornings by coming to "Here I am! Can I cuddle with you?". That is so sweet. THIS morning he came in after fooling around a little in the family room then was by my bed and he started to sing to me! Is that adorable or what!? He sang me two songs even. One I'm sure was ABC's, the other may have been rock a bye baby or likely, London Bridge (he busted out with that at Target yesterday and put a huge smile on the ear shot shoppers faces... and mine) or something. Either way, he's a heart melter that one is. I'm so lucky to get to finally be a mommy. These are the moments I dreamed about and hoped for the most. Though I couldn't imagine my son singing me awake! :) Blessed to be alive.

Funnies

Lately Evan has been 'a little' contrary. He says "NO" when I ask him to do something.... I just put him to bed since he didn't take a nap today. After not much protest, and reading him a few books, we were set for an uneventful departure from his room. On my way out, I said 

"now, please go right to sleep". He quickly retorted "no, left."

 :)

Earlier tonight we were at Dollar General. I turned down an isle that had a really tall man on it. Evan said, "Whoa, that's a GIANT daddy, mommy. That daddy is Giant." 

I hope if he heard him, he was smirking inside. :)

Sad to report that Evan has tried to or succeeded in, biting 3 people in a weeks time (he's never attempted this before). First at church, then tried to bite me then his new teacher at school. The bookends are brand new for him and I suspect is what got him so riled up and trying something new himself. ANYWAY, we've had lots of talks about it and that it's very naughty. I have stopped play biting both kids (it's killing me). So... after one of our first talks, I told Evan, we do not bite people, it is very naughty. He volunteered:

"we bite food, not people." ha ha ha ha. great.

Why we're thankful for you

Another self indulgent journal entry from mommy. There are of course many thankful moments but this happened tonight. After a long day at 'school', you and your sister came home with daddy, made time to turn the front room into a tornado in 2 seconds flat - including you stripping your clothes off before jumping into pajamas while daddy made you yummy yummy spaghetti-o's. You and poor snotty nosed cg were enjoying apple sauce by the time I walked in the door and both cheerfully greeted me. Ahhh :). You both got baths and first put Cora down. I hadn't realized the time and was distracted with putting Cora down and daddy making he and I some dinner when I came back to the front room to you "buzzing". You have been making the craziest noise recently, kind of like a horse baying or something. Anyway, you do it a lot (and have taught your sister to do it when you're acting up or bored in the car) and when you do, it's over and over... and over. I didn't even look to see if it was 8 yet because I knew your 'tell', it was time for bed regardless. You were sitting on the couch after having wrapped yourself in "mommy's big blankie" and sucking on your finger, intermittently you were bleating. lol. I told you it was time for bed and when you put the blankie down from your face, you had 4 baby spoons in your hand that you have recently become attached to. lol. After I laughed, I told you to take them with you to bed (to avoid the eminent argument if I took them away) with a stern warning that I would take them away if  you talk or sing after you get into bed. You repeated what I said and committed to follow the instructions and... you did it! You fell immediately asleep :(. As your mom, I'm secretly sad you didn't talk or sing before bed but it keeps you up soooooo late and you need your sleep. I admit, I hoped you would disobey and sing "head shoulders knees and toes or London bridge" or talk to yourself out loud about your day. You are very precious. Since I missed an opportunity to come in to scold you, (lol) I instead snuck in your room in hopes to find you still holding your spoons. I brought my camera just in case and although you weren't holding them in your hand anymore, I found 3 of them near your feet. Your cute little feet and your sweet little toes that daddy played 'little piggies' with yesterday to entertain you and your sister while I got diagnosed with strep throat :(. I love you, We love you. Keep being such a precious growing boy. xoxoxoxox - Mommy (and Daddy)

Our Day

We had a great day and it had everything to do with our favorite play daters in the USA! :) My friend Liz needed to borrow a bandanna this morning and when she stopped by to pick it up, even though I was putting a toy box together (and watching Green Lantern, I thought it was a good movie actually), I was so happy to see her and even happier to find that she had nothing planned for the day. I convinced her to get her boys out of the car and let them run around the back yard with my kids. It was basically awesome. :) Her little "L" and CG are very similar in size (for now) even though he is older than her. They both have very blond hair and are the sweetest on their own. Something about them together sometimes is not so sweet. lol. I think Liz and I are both surprised every time one or the other pushes or 'hit's' the other. Anyway, if I had my camera, I would have got some so cute buddy shots of them today, including when they worked together in trying to pull their big brothers in the wagon. lol. After naps, we continued on our date with H and L to a playground where Cora Grace showed her true wild woman colors. The girl was a maniac with a slide! I actually enjoyed chasing her everywhere cause I didn't know where she might go next or what she would want to try. Thank you Liz and family for always coming through for us on play dates and friendship, we had so much fun spending our day with you. AND I finished putting Evan's new Toy Box together. Whoo hoo. The day was also productive than :). 

I put the windows down on the way home and it was a funny blind (i was obviously driving so just took blind pics of the kids) shot, especially of Cora Grace as she just giggles and squirms when the windows are down. :) There is video of this I will attempt to add.

Mike went to a Predators Game tonight with his brother so I felt it was a good excuse to have fast food. McDonald's is the only one near our house and a I wasn't willing to go further. Thankfully, my kids don't know what McDonald's is (personal victory) so when I mentioned to Evan, "I want to take you to McDonalds if you're hungry. Are you hungry?" He says back, "Yeah, I want to go to Old McDonalds!" lol and he said it multiple times and every time I wanted to choke I was laughing so hard.

As a reward for their goodness at McD's they got to share a cupcake. Cora Grace kept signing 'more' and 'eat'. Evan begged for more. Didn't happen, instead, they got baths. ;)

The other night....

Monday, Evan was sitting precariously on a big person chair and fell off on his face and shoulder. I was surprised to watch it unfold and then genuinely concerned that he may have really hurt himself before he got up. I was uncharacteristically compassionate towards his plight (normally I'm a 'brush it off' kind of mean mommy) and gave him lots of TLC and only a little lecturing about why that happened in the first place. He was really crying and mildly unconsoled but he had a plan... He said, through tears and sniffles, "I... want... Daddy's ... bed". WHAT?! lol. He's never asked for such a thing so I didn't know what he was talking about. I asked if he wants to go sit in Daddy's bed and watch T.V.? He blubbered yes and here you have the picture of him still devastated. He got to talk to daddy on the phone and it made him much happier and came out of the room with me to make dinner. :) Yay!

{Leonard, I hope this will tide you over while you suffer through our boring month long Q&A. ;) he he he}

Toddler Prayers and other such things

Evan has taken the initiative to say our family prayers lately. When we have our family prayers at night Mike is usually still at work so he hears my prayers all the time. I admit, I can be repetitive in my prayer beginnings but I promise, I really mean it so I say it every time almost, then the body of the prayer changes to new things I'm thankful for and blessing's I'm seeking. Evan will begin with the same 2 sentences now. :) I wish I had a better memory and gave myself more time to document the other things he's prayed for lately but here was tonight's bed time prayer (he also blessed our food this afternoon naming the carrots, corn, 'dip it'/ketsup and macaroni. he wasn't too thankful for the other veggies or his fish sticks I guess, ha ha ha):
I got him started with "Dear Heavenly Father"....

Evan: "Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day. Thank you for our blessing... Thank you for Pizza and Ranch Dressing. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

We did not have pizza today or in the last week or two, unless Mike gave them some Saturday but that was the last time he would have had it. It is very curious what goes on in these little minds.

Right now, when Evan gets punished in Time Out, he has to tell me why he was in T.O. after he is freed from doing his time. It totally cracks us up that when he comes over, you say "Why were you in Time Out" but he is mimicking you AS you say it. Next, he cannot remember WHY he's in t.o., hilarious in itself but then, he says, "Because...." (waiting for you to give him a hint, he searches your eyes very innocently until you help him out. which he continues to mimic your every word...)... "you, hit Cora Grace... and that is very naughty. Tell me you are sorry, 'I'm sorry' (hugs and kisses me) and tell Cora Grace you are sorry and give her a hug." EVERY word of the parentheses section is repeated right after you say it. It is beyond hilarious. I've tried videoing it before but he just gets distracted by the phone filming him. :/ bummer!

Yesterday I was trying to decide if I should have a birthday party for him this year or just have cake etc with our family. I asked him if he had a party, who would he want to have over. Not surprised, he said, "Hayden! and Logen, and Liz.... and Daddy Hayden." lol he doesn't remember H's daddy's name and last time he talked about him, he just called him "Daddy" so "Daddy H" is an improvement. :)

Today we spent a little time at our friend Stacey's. While at her house, Evan pointed out that her pie shaped coffee table was "a piece of pizza". :) We both laughed.

In an effort to avoid Nap Time on Monday, Evan begged to call Daddy so we did. It back fired on him cause Daddy backed me up and told Evan it was nap time. Well, in another of Evan's new 'things' Daddy turning him down from obeying Nap time didn't deter him from trying to avoid his bed prison time so he next begged to talk to Grandma Putsie. (testing authority around him till he gets his way) She is in California, 2 hours behind in time zones but she has talked to him on the phone before and he apparently thinks she will be allies with him. Again, disappointment when she wasn't there but he did get to leave 2 messages so maybe he thinks he got his way. I got nothing, he didn't sleep. No one won that day. :/.

Sunday night Evan would NOT go to sleep. Even though he went to bed at 8pm and seemed extremely sleepy, he was still up and full on talking at 1030pm. I went in to punish him but he was Johnny on the spot, asking if he could come out and "sit with you for a minute on the couch?" How do you say no to that? I know I should and could but I didn't say no, I told him he could sit on the couch by me for 5 minutes. When that time was nearing an end, he asked if he could get down and play, I said, "no you may not, it's time for bed again." Looking now at Mike without skipping a beat, he said "Daddy, can I get down and play for a minute?" (everything's for 'a minute'. mommy says that a lot). DENIED! but very entertaining.

Lastly, sometime in the last few 7 days/week, we have let Evan start sleeping with a flashlight. We loved it because for 2 nights he went immediately asleep for the excitement to play with the flashlight. We went in to check on him and the flashlight was still on, being hugged by a toddler and lighting up the wall behind his head. Well... on this one night (maybe even Sunday), I had threatened him that if he wasn't quiet, I would take his flashlight as a punishment. He started talking again so I went in and took it. He was quiet a little while before you heard some soft pleading that "I'll be good, can I have my flashlight... pleeeeeaaase?" Ok, I gave in (again!) and told him I'd give him another try and gave it back, said goodnight and shut the door. Mike and I were watching a show together and maybe 30min of near silence had passed when all the sudden, Evan was yelling like a banshee, top of his lungs and then we heard his fists hit the door multiple times. It took a minute for the shock to wear off so I could pay attention to what he was yelling at us. "Give me my flashlight! You took my flashlight! Gimme it!" Apparently he maybe fell asleep for a minute and forgot we gave it back and was now accusing his innocent parents of stealing. I cleared it all up and found his flashlight of which he apologized and repeated verbatim what I said to him. :)

Funnies

Today we had to take CG to the doctor to see what some bumps she has on her knees are (contact dermatitis? from letting her - who has eczema - play on an elementary school jungle gym on Saturday). Annnnyway, Evan had was very excited to see Dr. Coleman as well, even asking her "can I stay here with you?" She is such a good sport and invited him to partake of a sticker instead.

Dr. Coleman: "Evan, do you want a sticker?"
Evan: "Yes!"
Dr. Coleman: "Ok, which one, here is a Hot Wheels one..."
Evan: "(inaudible)"
Dr. Coleman: "Do you want a Hot Wheels sticker?"
Evan: "No, I want Cold Wheels one."

ha ha ha hah ah a hah ha hah ah ahahhaha ha ha hah ah ... That made my day.

Sibling "Sweet"ness

Oh these babies, how do I love them... let me show the ways... :)

Nothing better than Christmas PJ's in August right?

Last week, we met a friend at Miller's Grocery (it's a quaint small town diner that is delicious!). Armed with only my phone camera (and thanks to Picnik.com and its editing genius), I had to sieze the moment outside. :)

"Cheese"! xo!

Here's a story for you. This is where we do 'time out' for Evan and Cora. Mostly Evan at this point but Cora Grace is wearing her own space in T.O. Anyway, what is happening here, and in most cases is... EVERY time in the last week that Evan is sent to time out, CG goes over and plops down next to him! lol. I will try to get a video of this. :) Michael took and sent this picture to me on Saturday. He said, when Evan got put in t.o. CG went over to him, bent down and gave him a kiss. swoon swoon swoon swoon!

I could NOT help buying them matching pj's. 1. Evan loves Thomas 2. cg looks AMAZING in blue/turquise type blues to be spacific 3. they were $3.00 on clearance at walmart... WINNING! :)

Two Sundays ago I made cupcakes for my SS class. I made a box frosting (it was wierd and marshmallowy - opps) so of course the babies got the beaters, just like a good parent would right?! ;)

It is next to impossible to keep anything on Cora's head. I have never put these hats on either child but it was real hot and sunny this day and I thought I'd try. You see how this worked out for our wagon walk.

I distracted her by letting her wrap her chubby fingers around mommies phone, instead of pulling her hat off. ;) I'm sneaky.

Obviously, my studly son has no problems with head gear. ;) I love that he's wanting to wear hats again. :)

:)

Oh my gosh. Here's Cora Grace doing YOGA's 'downward dog' to entertain Evan during his sentence of two and a half minutes in Time Out. She's so thoughtful.

Please be as happy as me that Evan is totally smiling at her through her legs. :D

Now WE are all smiling at her through her legs. :) xoxoxoxoxo!