Eve bakes

Yesterday Eve was browsing through her fairy cookbook and decided to make some cookies. Her first choice, pink pinwheel cookies, didn’t work out because we didn’t have the right ingredients (much to my surprise we were out of powdered sugar!). After much deliberation she finally settled on pink sparkly heart cookies.

mixing

Eve did all of the work on these cookies. Measuring, mixing, etc.

When the cookie dough was chilling in the fridge she went down to the basement and never came back, so she finished them this morning.

rolling

She rolled out the dough and kept say “Oh, this is such hard work!”

cutting

She cut out big hearts and little hearts, then got bored of the rolling/cutting process and started just making shapes with her hands.

topping

The directions said to brush with egg whites then sprinkle with sugar. She thought that process took too long so she asked why you can’t just go from egg white to sugar to cookie. I said “go for it!” She tried one (top left corner) and said, “Oh, they kinda get all messy when you do that.” Then she went back to the original way.

The first step of the recipe said to mix red food coloring with granulated sugar to make it pink. She decided she wanted purple, so she added red and blue food coloring. It ended up being a red/blue/purple combo.

oven

Into the oven they go. Like I said, she did everything!

I was right near by for the “into the oven” process, but a little more involved with the “out of the oven” process so no pics of that. She helped though. She wore oven mitts and held one side of the tray. :)

cookies

Not quite what the picture showed, but all Eve.

eating

Her favorite part! :)

Eight year check-up!

Lex had his well-child visit today. He was pretty excited to miss an hour of school. We dropped Eve off this morning and Lex was skipping through the halls, telling everyone he met that he was going to the doctor’s office. He got some odd looks. :)

All went well at the visit. He participated fully, no fears or concerns. He even seemed to know the answers the doctor was looking for and anticipated her questions. Like he’s been there before! I brought my camera but I didn’t take any photos. I thought about it once or twice, but he just seemed too big for me to be taking his picture in the doctor’s office. Sigh. Not too big for me to post his stats though!

He’s up to 69lbs now (wow!) and 51.5″. He grew 4.5″ since last year’s visit and gained 13lbs! She said he is 86% for weight and 79% for height, which seemed higher than usual to me (I thought he was generally in the 50% area), but she said he is right on his growth curve and doing fine. Always good to hear. :)

And the best part, no shots until his 11yr check-up! Except the annual flu shot, the doctor and I were both clear to point out.

Then we went back to school and he was happy to do that as well. I love the happy days!

Someone turned eight today…

birthday boy

The birthday boy!

Lex was very excited for his big day, of course. He brought cupcakes to school yesterday and was eager for his friend party today.

cupcakes

Cupcakes for school on Friday. They were a big hit!

He woke bright and early, as usual, and got the rest of us up as well for an early morning birthday celebration.

birthday table

I was surprised and pleased that Lex mentioned the birthday morning table last night. He said he couldn’t wait to fall asleep so he could wake up and see the beautiful presents on the table at his place in the morning. I love to hear that my traditions are taking hold in their minds. :)

presents

It’s 6:04am, time to open presents!

me and eve

Me and Eve, when Alan has the camera. :)

twister p1

I got him Twister for a present and we had a GREAT time playing!!

twister p2

It’s fun when big and little people play together.

twister p3

We took turns being the spinner and photographer.

twister p4

Eve is in there somewhere!

twister p5

Lex got creative with the photography.

twister p6

When we were all done and laughing on the floor, Lex suggested a family picture on the Twister mat. What a great idea!!

Then Mema and Grandpa Tom came over with bagels and coffee. After awhile we packed up and headed to the Competition Complex for Lex’s friend party. He had five friends, plus he and Eve, and we had a great time!!

rock wall

First things first, climb that rock wall… all the way to the top!

bull

They have a mechanical bull that the kids all love. I think it’s a little weird looking, especially here with no horns (the kids kept pulling them off). Eve enjoyed her turn.

cake p1

Happy Birthday Lex!! Not only did he endure the birthday song this year, I think he may have even enjoyed it a bit. :)

Blowing out the candles!  (the candles are huge and the cake is small.  funny.)

Blowing out the candles! (the candles are huge and the cake is small. funny.)

party people

Party people

cake smile

Cake smile! :)

It's hard to take good "opening presents" pictures, but I love this one because of Eve in the background.

It’s hard to take good “opening presents” pictures, but I love this one because of Eve in the background.

mini-golf

They played many rounds of mini-golf. This place has tons to do!

blurry golf

This is a blurry picture, but I loved the scene of the boys playing mini-golf while Mema and Grandpa Tom sat on the bench, waiting their turn.

We got home a little after 4pm and crashed! Lex immediately went to work on his new Lego sets. Eve and Alan settled onto the couch for some TV time. Mema invited us out to dinner but we ended up having dinner in the living room, watching Bill Nye the Science Guy instead. Bath, stories, bed. The usual.

I had the good fortune to be cuddling with Lex at exactly 7:41pm, so we chatted about his actual day of birth for a bit. He said, “I can’t believe I waited eight years and right now I’m finally eight!!” He’s so funny.

I can’t believe he is suddenly eight. I am so fortunate to have been blessed with such a smart, funny, friendly, caring, rambunctious, sometimes obnoxious, always amazing little boy! Not a day goes by that he doesn’t make me smile. I am in awe of the person he has become and so proud to call him my son.

lex0-8

Eve’s missing teeth

A few weeks ago the kids went to the dentist for their regular cleanings. Eve had no missing teeth and no wiggly teeth, but upon looking at her x-ray the dentist said her big teeth are “right there” and ready to come through at any time. We left with instructions to call him if big teeth poked through before little ones fell out.

Well, of course, they did! This past Sunday Eve said she thought maybe a new tooth had come in. Sure enough, she had a big tooth poking through behind her little ones!

I called the dentist and scheduled an appointment to have her four front teeth removed, something we’d discussed at the last appointment. It sounds scary, but I think it makes the most sense to get them out so the big teeth can grow in as straight as possible. Hopefully!

Today was the day. You know it’s urgent when they’re booking routine visits six months out, but manage to find time for you in two short days. Most mornings I’m dragging Eve out of bed at 7:00am and forcing breakfast into her before school. This morning, when she has no school and isn’t allowed breakfast, she’s wide awake at 6:00am! Of course. Alan took Lex to school and Eve and I headed to the dentist.

She was SO BRAVE!! She got shy and quiet when they called her, then stuck to me like glue for a few minutes in the dentist’s room, but she settled quickly and barely flinched when they took out those tiny teeth! She just had nitrous oxide and novicane, not Valium (like Lex had when he lost his first tooth to the dentist as well!) Since she was older and calmer they didn’t think the Valium was necessary. She was a champ through the whole process. Laughing and chatting. When we got in the car at the end, her mouth full of gauze, she started crying again. We cuddled for a few minutes, then headed home and cuddled on the couch for a bit, changing the gauze frequently. An hour later she said she was hungry so we got up and she’s been going ever since! She had pudding and a soft PB&J. We played outside, played a few board games, read some stories. She’s having quiet time now and I keep asking if she’s tired and wants a nap, but “No!” is all I hear.

image

Eve’s new smile! (sort of. the bottom half of her face is still pretty numb here!)

 

image

A mere three hours after dental surgery and this girl is up and at ’em already!

 

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect for recovery. Lex was four and had Valium so he slept a lot of the afternoon after his procedure. I remember sleeping a lot after I had teeth pulled, but I know I had general anaesthesia for that procedure. I guess she didn’t have any drugs that require serious recovery. I’m glad for that! I love seeing her up and grinning so fast. I’ll post a picture later when things are a little more healed up, but there is no way four grown-up teeth are going to fit into the spot that opened up today. She’ll be lucky to get two teeth in that hole! I think both kids inherited my small mouth!

Alan and I were counting our teeth last night (normal couples do that, right?!) and he has 10 more teeth than I do!! Isn’t that funny! Anyway, back to Eve. She’s doing well and eager for the tooth fairy’s visit this evening!

Spring! (and riding with the big kids)

Today was a beautiful day all around. (the kids aren’t in bed yet so there’s still the chance of disaster, but I’m hedging my bets and calling it a great day!) I subbed at school today, in Lex’s class. He was thrilled. They are a busy bunch normally, but I think Monday must be their mellow day. Mellow for them, anyway. Still very busy!

When we got home from school it was sunny and in the 60’s so we had snack then headed outside to blow bubbles and ride bikes. I also swept a dirt road’s worth of dust and dirt out of my garage!

bubbles

Fun with the new bubble blower!

While we were blowing bubbles a group of fifth graders came zipping by on their bikes. It was a group I haven’t seen hanging out in our neighborhood in the past. They ended up hanging out on our street for quite some time. One of the kids is in Lex’s class (his brother was part of the older group) and my two kids were fascinated. I told Lex he could ride with them if he wanted to and he was thrilled! He zoomed right up to them and joined the group. I have no idea what they were talking about or playing (if 5th graders even “play” anymore, I guess mostly they just “hang out”) but he rolled with them for awhile. Most of the time they were at one end of the street or the other so I wasn’t even really able to keep an eye on things. It was a big step for me! Before he joined the group they had been going from our street to another and back again, so I was curious to see what Lex would do if they left. I didn’t think he’d go, but I wasn’t entirely positive. At one point I noticed the group start to disband and a few kids split off one way while the rest went the other. I looked and looked and didn’t see Lex. Feeling a mix of surprise and worry and awe and… suddenly I saw him riding down the driveway at the end of the street, heading home! He didn’t leave our street after all! Whew! I’m not ready for that yet! :)

dinner

Smile!

Another benefit of fresh air is that Eve requested apples and peanut butter for dinner, helping herself to a cheese stick while waiting, and Lex happily accepted carrots on his plate. He turned the plate into a smiley face then ate the whole thing.

Welcome fresh air and sunshine! Welcome Spring!

Into the BIG pool!

Did I mention that Lex is taking lessons now as part of a free deal for 2nd graders? They bus the kids over after school. They play for an hour, then have a lesson, then have a snack. Not the order I would have done things, but I’m not in charge. Anyway… Eve and I have been going over after school as well and swimming. The first day of lessons I noticed that two of his classmates, boys that he really wants to play hockey with, were having their lesson in the competition pool. I watched for a few minutes and saw that Lex can swim just as well as they can! During the following week I put on some mommy persuasion and encouraged him to try the big pool with his classmates. I reminded him that he can’t play hockey with them because he can’t skate well enough yet, but he certainly can swim as well as either of them! I guess he was feeling brave at his second lesson because he did it! He got right in and swam in the big pool. The staff there is pretty amazing and I had talked to them about it ahead of time. They had tried to take him in that pool a year ago when he was doing lessons last time, but he wasn’t up for it. They are kind and encouraging with him.

He has since done two lessons in the competition pool and seems pretty confident! Another mother told me last week that he was jumping off the start boards! I wasn’t there as Eve and I took the week off to stay home with a recovering Alan. When I asked Lex about it he was all nonchalant, like of course he was jumping off the board, why wouldn’t he?! :) He told me they were comparing splash heights of their cannon ball jumps!

Today we went swimming and I was eager to get pictures of him in the deep pool and jumping off the board. Sadly the lifeguard said you’re not allowed to use the start boards during free swim, so he couldn’t show off that skill, but we did have a great time in the big pool! Lots of jumping in, not a lot of lap swimming. Eventually the lifeguard kicked us out, claiming the lanes were filling up. I think he thought we were bothering the actual lap swimmers. Oh well! We moved back to the kid section and met up with some friends and had fun there too!

I’ll try and get some pictures of him jumping off the board during his lesson this week, but for now… into the big pool!

into the pool

Easy peasy, right into the pool. It wasn’t even super cold today!

swimming

I talked them into doing laps. We made it to the other end and they were done with laps.

eve

Eve

lex

Lex, doing the crawl stroke.

We spent the rest of the time jumping into the pool.  It would have been a fun day to have an underwater camera! :)

We spent the rest of the time jumping into the pool. It would have been a fun day to have an underwater camera! :)

ready

Ready… set…

go

Go!

post swim

We got home and they were drawn to the tv, like moths to the light. I let them watch Colbert with Alan while I made lunch for everyone. I took this picture just because it’s so cute how they’re sitting together.

First day of school – AM Update

I know you are all waiting with baited breath to hear about the first day of school. Here’s the morning update.

I could not have asked for a nicer first day of school morning. Alan and I got up at 6:15 and found the kids cuddled on Lex’s bed chatting with each other. I don’t know what about. It took a little convincing to get them downstairs, not because they were unhappy but because they were so happy together up there. They came down eventually, got dressed, and ate a little breakfast. They gushed over their lunches (“Oh mom, it’s exactly what I wanted!”) and eagerly posed for pictures. Someday Eve may smile in photos again, but for now we just get the silly face.

lunch

Mini blueberry bagels with cream cheese, “cracker snack,” honeydew melon, and pirates booty. Water on the side and a love note taped on top. Eve even requested it “just like Lex always got last year.” I was planning to write them anyway, even before she requested it!

Lex helped me pick photos from the first day of school last year and we printed and framed them for photos this morning. I love the idea of doing this each year. Like the Flotsam book, for you literary type out there.

lex

Lex was eager to pose while we waited for Eve to get her shoes on.

together

Second grade and kindergarten. These babies sure do grow up fast!

lex 2

We took advantage of a break in the rain for a few quick porch shots. Do you think he looks much different from last year?

eve 1

She looks totally insane here! She was eager, but also nervous.

eve 2

They are both so silly I couldn’t decide which was the better picture.

They both got in the car happily and got out again at school! A big improvement from last year! All morning he kept saying, “I can’t believe I’m in second grade! I just can’t believe it.”

When we got to Eve’s classroom it was crowded with parents but she snuck through, hung up her hat and backpack, declared the “sign in” process to be very easy (they have to find their name on a card and put the card in the bucket), and then went to play. I had to ask for a hug goodbye!! I could tell she was a bit nervous though because she was very quiet and actively chewing her nails. She found her friend, picked an activity table, and started playing. Lex too had to request a goodbye hug. :)

goodbye

Saying goodbye in Eve’s classroom.

Then down the hall to his classroom. He almost cried, but after a few sniffles he talked himself out of it. He found his cubby, studied them for awhile because they have first names on them but are arranged by last name so he had to figure that out, then found his desk. They have desks in 2nd grade instead of tables. They are currently pushed together into groups so they’re similar to tables. He found his desk and was excited to see a bookmark on it. He likes bookmarks. :)

He gave me a few goodbye hugs and that was that.

lex at school

I didn’t take too many pictures in his classroom because I think he’s getting a little too old to have his mommy following him around taking pictures… in front of his friends anyway! No restrictions at home though! :)

Then I did a little paparazzi move and snuck a picture of Eve on my way back down the hall. She had moved on to a new activity table and was happily playing with her friend still. I think it helps a lot that her friend is in the class.

eve at school

Goodbye sweet Eve. Have fun on your first day of kindergarten!

Then I left. All by myself. I managed to not cry, which makes it a no-tears morning all around! It did take some effort though! Now I’m going to attempt a run (most likely a walk ’cause it’s been awhile!) and then have lunch with my friend. I’m sure the bus will be here before I know it!

Lex’s To-Do List

with dad

Mowing the lawn, with a little help from dad.

all alone

This picture makes it look like he took off on his own! Really it lasted for about 20 seconds. He helped Alan do maybe a quarter of that side yard. Then Alan did the rest. You gotta start somewhere though, right? He was eager to learn, but tired out quickly. It’s a hard job for a little guy!

piano

After dinner piano practice, explaining 8va and slurs to Alan.

list

Not bad for a Sunday!

Into the deep pool

When I picked the kids up from swim camp today Lex was super excited to tell me that he went in the big pool today! The big pool is the competition pool that he has so far completely and totally resisted even being near. His teacher said he wore a life jacket, but he didn’t mention that part to me ;) She said it only took a little bit of encouragement and he had a great time. He says he’ll be jumping in again tomorrow! I love that boy!

Sadly I was not there to take pictures :(

Sewing

sewing collage

I’m super excited about our afternoon activities. I’m actually ridiculously tired and ready for bed at 7:30pm, but first, a blog post!

I have been thinking about teaching the kids to sew this summer. Ever since Eve separated the petals from an entire bouquet of flower, into her hat, telling me all the while about how she’s going to sew them into a flower petal quilt as soon as we get home. This was two months ago! I’ve been thinking about it, googling “how to sew with kids,” bugging my poor over worked friend Anna who sews her own kids’ clothes, and I’ve probably mentioned it once or twice to the kids. As it usually goes around here, I think about something until the kids push me into actually doing it. Anna showed me an adorable skirt project that I thought Eve would love to do with me. Eve, however, came down from quiet time with her own plan in mind – to sew a quilt for her doggy! I tried to talk her into the skirt, but no deal. I tried to get her to do an introductory project (sewing on a paper plate) but no way. She was focused on a quilt! So we dug out the fabric scraps I have and she went to work. I had to encourage her to draw it out first (a few scribbles on a scrap of paper) and then lay it out on the floor. Meanwhile I cut out the “pattern” (ie: large rectangle) for the skirt I want to make for her and Lex joined the party and happily started the paper plate project. He wrote his name in block letters and then we/he poked holes around it, then he stitched with the holes. Once I had him on a roll and gave up on trying to convince Eve to work with me on the skirt project, I agreed to let her start sewing. I did not agree to the sewing machine though! I thought hand stitching would be a better way to start. :) I held the fabric pieces together and she stitched. It went really, really well. She got three pieces together, he got one and a half letters done, and I felt really relaxed and happy.

Then we moved to the kitchen so I could get dinner ready. Of course by “get dinner ready” I mean cook a few bowls of oatmeal for them and reheat some soup for me. At that point they just lost it. They are super tired these days from Splash Camp. Eve started crying about everything, Lex went a little spastic, and I got a major headache. Oh well. The good afternoon was worth it. We skipped bath and they were both in bed my 7pm! I’m next! :)

PS. I was too lazy to put up all the individual pictures in full size, but it you click on the collage above it will get bigger and you can see more details.