The Naptime Special: March 2013

3.26.2013

Happy Birthday

Two.
"I do it."
Blue eyes
Carb loader.
Head of steel.
Spins till dizzy.
Skinny little man.
Loves technology.
Block castle wrecker.
Big brother wanna be.

I love it all.
Happy Birthday Xavier!

While everyone else around here is bemoaning the interminable winter we've had, we are shamelessly enjoying the cold and snow. After 12 years in Texas, my heart goes pitter-pat when the weather forecast calls for snow. In the case of last Sunday, I was ridiculously stoked to shovel the driveway. Like I won the lottery.
Yeah, I know I'm the exception around here. Loves snow and the Rangers. I feel like the people here might send us packing if they knew the truth.

11 inches!!

We were less than prepared, with the boys using gardening trowels

I always fill the feeder as it starts to snow. It attracts cardinals and creates frenzied sparrow-parties.

3.09.2013

Saturday morning

Matthew took the two older ones to Mass and out for a playdate with another dad and his two boys, leaving Mary and Xavier with me.
I had a very helpful (almost) two-year old helping me make applesauce muffins. We had a little misunderstanding when I asked him to get me a mixing bowl. He grabbed the bowl from the countertop that was full of coffee grounds and dumped it all over his head and hair in the process.
I surprised myself by not freaking out. I merely swept up and let the boy continue making muffins with me with a headful of coffee. Isn't it supposed to be good for something skin related?

X helped me stir and lick the mixers before I popped him in the tub. His scalp is now well-exfoliated.

Yuvin his yicks. (Lovin' his licks)

Coffee head

In other news, we have a mother bird building a nest in my winter wreath on our front door. What am I going to DO! I'll have to leave my lovely seasonal wreath up until early summer!! What, o what will the neighbors think?!
I told Matthew about it and his immediate reaction was "We should just move the wreath so she doesn't build it there."
Aside from the small problem of not being able to use the front door, I think it has the potential to be a really fun and unique learning experience for the kids.
I'm amazed at how much work she has already done on this nest by bringing straw after straw and weaving and moving each piece "just so." I hate to move it! Maybe we could relocate the wreath to the window next to the door? I wonder if she would notice the difference?
And then the neighbors would really wonder. A winter wreath on their window in the summer? Who are these people?

3.06.2013

Now we are a "Fun Family"

The most recent issue of Family Fun had a front page teaser "Secrets of Really Fun Families" or something similar. I thought "Yeah, maybe I could be a little bit more of a fun parent. Most of the time I feel like a cranky disciplinarian." While a lot of the tips just wouldn't work for our young kids, there was one that promised to be a keeper... Having a random letter themed party!

We (Matthew and I) picked a movie to frame out the evening and based on the movie name, we planned food and other things around that letter. So a few weeks ago we had "P" night. The kids were soooo excited! We watched Peter Pan, popped popcorn, put on our pajamas, got our pillows, and had a pizza and pepsi picnic. It. was. a. hit.

So we decided to do it every other week, and last weekend we invited some friends over for "C" night. Sophia copied the menu as part of her school-work. In case you can't read it, we had chicken nuggets, corn, cucumbers, carrots, chips, cookies and chocolate milk.

The kids watched "Cinderella" with their friends which was Ah maze ing because it gave us parents a chance to eat our nuggets in peace, wash them down with some wine, and actually have a conversation.