My Tupperware order arrived!
Who's having fun here? Sharing is not Eve's strong suit these days.
Shy kids?! Ha!
There's the Tupperware! I love the colander and the cabinet storage containers. We haven't had much use for the bright colored bowls and the salad spinner yet.
Eve took her tea in the box yesterday. She also requested I sit outside the box (on the kitchen floor) and read her stories. I did.
How do kids do it? This is how we found Lex last night. Sound asleep.
Once or twice a month we find them in odd positions like this. Often we laugh and photograph it before moving them :) I can’t remember if I’ve posted such pics before.
This is the funniest thing. This is a video from March 2009 of Lex reading and Eve bopping around on the floor. I posted it on YouTube, as usual, and it has gotten 12,657 views!! That’s twice what my next highest video has gotten. It’s a boring video, unless you know and love my kids, but the funny part is that I get comments on this video all the time! I usually delete them because they are often rude and/or immature, like the one I got yesterday that said, “wut IS THIS!!!!” The comments crack me up. What the heck does it look like?!? And why are you even viewing it?!? Geesh! Some people must have a A LOT of time on their hands, not only to watch these random videos, but then comment on them as well!
We had a super busy, super FUN family weekend!
Yesterday we went down to help Molly celebrate her 3rd birthday! Why do they grow up so fast?! The kids have been excited for weeks (ok, maybe not just the kids!). Molly wanted to go bowling for her birthday, so we all put on snazzy shoes and learned candlepin bowling. For those not familiar, this is a Massachusetts only thing, I think. I have fond memories of conversations in college with Lauren about bowling. That was the first I’d ever heard of candlepin bowling, and the day I first heard the term “big ball bowling” :) Anyway, I digress….
We had a great time bowling. The kids loved it. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Lex (I never am!), especially with the shoe change thing. He did great though. We got one lane with bumpers for the kids and one lane without for the grownups. We all would have done better with bumpers!!
After bowling we had dinner and pink cupcakes at their house. Little gifts were exchanged, the living room was trashed with toys, the kids wore themselves out running up and down the hall while the grownups chatted over a delicious meal… a good time was had by all! :)
The one down side to our day yesterday… I forgot my camera!!! Can you believe it!? I tried taking some pictures with my fancy new camera, but it’s just not fast enough to capture the action shots. Luckily Julie came prepared and posted pictures and videos on her blog.
This morning we relaxed and then Lex and Alan headed out for a playdate with Lex’s classmate. They met at this cool place called The Competition Complex. I’ve heard about this place before but was led to believe that the target audience is a bit older than my kids so I never bothered to go. Lex’s friend wanted to go, so off they went. This turned out to be an annoying situation that ended up very good. Alan and Lex got there (it’s about a half hour away) and shortly after they arrived Lex wet his pants. Blah. So they turned around and came home. By the time they got home Eve was up from her nap and we decided to all go back together. Turns out it was great!!!
There was a ton to do, including mini-golf, rock climbing, bull riding, big giant balls to roll around with, an indoor playground, and even video games. The kids ran and ran and ran, then plopped down and played Lego Harry Potter for awhile. Then off and running again. His friend is a gamer so it’s funny to watch him and Lex play video games together. Lex has no clue. This place also had a Kinect set up. Alan and I had a blast playing soccer and volleyball.
We left around 5pm and stopped at Mickey’s for dinner. Then home for bath, stories, and bed. Lex passed out and Eve laid in her bed singing Jingle Bells for awhile. Perfect.
This time I DID bring the camera!
Rock climbing. Lex on the right, his buddy on the left. (some other kid in the middle)
Mini golf. Lex said this was his favorite activity!
Eve riding the bull
Alan riding the bull
I took a turn too. :) Alan didn’t take a picture though, just a video, and I’m sure no one wants to see that!
Eve on the sit-n-spin, a little more her speed.
This picture made me laugh. While Alan and I played Kinect volleyball, they did this :)
Can you find the new “ornament” Eve made for the tree today? :) Lex is working on a project as well, but it hasn’t made it up yet. I’m hoping to make cinnamon ornaments soon too! We will have one very well decorated tree!
Eve and I made gingerbread cookie dough this morning. The holiday season is upon us and I have been craving gingerbread cookies :) This afternoon we went to work…
Cutting out the cookies
I have no interest in frosting these so I scrounged in the cabinet for some decorations. The kids had a blast and didn't even comment on the fact that we were using sunflower seeds, raisins, pecans, unsweetened coconut... and chocolate chunks! :)
We had a dusting of snow earlier this week and Eve was thrilled! She begged to go out. She put on her boots and snow pants and ran outside. She cleared off the car and caught snowflakes on her tongue. She was disappointed that we couldn’t build a snowman, or make a snow angel, or go sledding, or shovel the driveway, but overall I think she had fun. I promised her there would be more snow in the future :)
Eve, playing in the snow.
She insisted on clearing off the car :)
I hear there is a lot more snow in upstate NY. I’m sure it will be headed this way soon enough. :)
I was all set to post some pictures of Eve playing in the snow (our first snowfall, which has already melted and apparently pales in comparison to Upstate NY), but alas technical issues have bested me. Where is my hubby to work his tech magic when I need him?!?! Oh, right, working his tech magic at WORK! Of course.
So, instead, here is a cute picture I’m going to show Eve when she wakes up and a link to a blog post I happened upon while looking for the picture. It ends with “She’s such a joy. How did we get so lucky with her??” That statement still holds true today!!
More than happy – December 6, 2007
Off to make snack and then meet Lex at the bus stop. Eve and I made gingerbread dough this morning… can you guess what we’ll be doing this afternoon? :) Eve helped by licking and sampling everything I would let her. Sugar/butter = yummy; all purpose flour = yummy; spoonful of cloves = not so yummy! :0
The last time Alan and I went on a date we left a screaming Lex behind, in the hands of a pregnant, but very qualified babysitter. He apparently gave her a run for her money! We tried again last month at my parents’ house, but caved to his fussing and brought him, and then Eve, along. That evening resulted in Alan taking Eve home and me having a date with just Lex. Fun for Lex, not so much for Alan.
We decided to try again this weekend and all week I have been talking with Lex about the babysitter coming. I wrote it on his calendar, I talked about the activities they could do, I even put together a craft project box with new things in it. One day last week while Lex and I were walking and talking, he gave me his usual excuse (“but Mom, I love you and I want to be with you too!”) and then he threw in, “Why don’t I ever get alone time with you anymore?” While his statement is not entirely true, it is true that we rarely have time alone together. I have been thinking about that lately and have been trying to make more of an effort for one-on-one time with him. He then asked if he could take me on a date after Alan does :) So we agreed that if he was sweet for the babysitter then we could ask Alan if he would take Eve so Lex and I could have a date night.
Well, the night came (last night) and Lex was on his best behavior! Best! He was excited all day to see her, wrote her a note on the white board, ran to the door when she got there, gave me a hug and kiss and zero fussing when it was time for me to leave. Just perfect. In exchange, he and I will be going on a date tonight. :) Guess what he wants to do? Dinner and shopping! I asked if we should go Christmas shopping and he said, “No, just grocery shopping.” :) He’s so funny! He thought about trying a new restaurant but then decided Panera Bread would be best. I’m letting him call the shots tonight. After the grocery store maybe we’ll do a little Christmas shopping. Or not, we’ll see :)
Alan and Eve will also be going on a date tonight. Last I heard they are going to Applebee’s because Eve wants to see the power go out again. It happened once, at a different Applebee’s, but she is convinced that is part of the Applebee’s experience. :) How insane would it be if it happened again?!!?
Happy date nights to all!
We got our Christmas tree today. It’s BEAUTIFUL!!! Perfectly shaped, fits perfectly, smells delicious… ahhh!
Here is our Christmas tree, horizontal. "Whoa! Daddy is so strong," said Lex.
Isn't it beautiful?! :)
Lex decorating the tree
She wouldn't let me take a picture of the pretty ornaments she was holding, but I got her looking at the camera at least.
Family picture. I love how Lex cooperates for the camera these days. :)
Eve woke up this morning and told me she was sick. She didn't have any symptoms, but she stuck with the story. She definitely was quieter today than usual and didn't want to leave the house at all. When we got done decorating the tree she grabbed the DoodlePro and parked herself in the dress-up box for awhile. Birthday crown on and one pink glove. She cracks me up.
Alan and I went out tonight and the kids behaved very well for the babysitter. Here is a little note that Lex wrote for her. The picture is of her standing next to a Christmas tree.
This makes me :)
I like the tree back in the corner so much more than by the closet door where we had it last year. It's perfect!!! Merry almost Christmas! (hmm... a noticeable hole seems to have appeared in the tree after we decorated it. I'll have to check for heavy ornaments.)