Beach Getaway

We're back from our annual "Ditchdirt" beach weekend in Port Aransas. We had a fantastic time with all our friends -- stayed at the Sea Parrot this time, which we loved -- this Pisces Momma is counting the days until we can return to the ocean.

Jameson loved the feel of the sand under his toes and took a few good naps listening to the "real deal" ocean soundtrack. (And I lost my sunglasses so I had to borrow this lovely heart-shaped number from Sophie's dress-up box.)

Jameson was sporting a nice beach look, too.
The little girls were fantastic -- due in large part to Maggie's brilliant "team of friends" chart and accompanying treasure chest. Every time the girls were "caught being good" we added a sticker to the poster and after they earned 10 stickers as a team, they all got some booty from the treasure chest. The power of stickers, headbands, and stamps is truly amazing.
The little boys hung out in their Bumbos together and played footsie.
The big boys stayed up late and played Rock Band.

More pics coming soon!

Good Greats

Jameson takes after his great-grandmother...they both like to catch a little nap whenever possible. And Sophie really likes to wake people up to play!

Sophie teaches Mom Allen all about Tigger and Pooh. Mom plays along. Lazy boy. In a La-Z-Boy.
Hey...did you notice? My crazy hair is starting to behave a little better. But don't worry, Mom and Dad got lots of pictures of my "dandelion head" days.

Adios, Big Love

Sophie came home from school last week telling me that she was upset. Why? "Because some of my friends when to Spanish class but I didn't go because my Mom didn't sign me up." Oh.

But Spanish class is extra. And Sophie is only tres años, verdad? Frank and I talked about it, decided it was too much, and then I kinda forgot about it. Until Tuesday, when Sophie got to visit Spanish class (because her friends were heading off to class again and that upset her). When I went to pick her up from school, Miss Rachel told me all about the Spanish instructor being soooo impressed with Sophie...and I quote, "I've got to have this kid in Spanish class! She's picking up everything so quickly!" Perhaps it's a marketing technique to get me to fork over my dinero, but I bought it. Soy un SUCKER, but Sophie really does LOVE Spanish class. I cancelled HBO and I signed her up.

On the way to school today I told Sophie that she was going to Spanish class.
"I'm so excited!," she said. Pause. "I didn't know...I didn't know that." "
You didn't know that you were going to Spanish class?"
"No, I didn't know that we had a LOT of money. DO we have a lot of money?"
"Well, we have more money than some people, but we don't have a lot. We have enough, babe." Then I paused. Hey...who's been talking to my kid about money? Did sweet Miss Rachel tell Sophie she couldn't go to Spanish because her family was po' folk?!
"Who's been talking to you about money, Sophie?"
"Daddy. He said I wasn't going to Spanish because it cost a lot of money. But now we have a LOT of money!!!!!"

Sigh. Somebody record Big Love for me...

This Is How Really Bad Nicknames Start

Sophie (about Jameson): "Can I call him Buddy? "
"Sure. "
"Boobs? "
"No."

He wiggles and giggles now

Here's a movie of Jameson. I'm not sure why I can't embed the movie box like I usually do...but it's after midnight so I'm giving up. Just click HERE to see the live version of Wee Webster, Version 2.0.

And don't be grossed out by the dog kisses. It builds up the immune system (and while we're at it, apply the same logic to the dirty floor you can see in the background).

Ladies and Gemmelem

Ready for the puppet show?

Here's Take 1:
Oops...forgot the puppet.

Take 2 is the UNCENSORED version, in which she says "dummy" and "what the heck" -- both concepts she learned at school that we are trying to get her to UN-learn. But it's still funny:
Click here for Take 2.

Finally, Take 3! The show goes on this time...but "Booty's" song is really shrieky. Put in some earplugs and remove the dogs from the room or they'll start to howl. We present to you, Take 3.

Awwww

Frank just came in to the study and told me this story...

When he leaned over to kiss Sophie goodnight, he whispered, "You're my magic bean." She said, "Awwwww. That's cute. You're my magic bean, too."

You WILL love me

Sophie snuggles with Frank's birthday present.


Just kidding! Frank can't stand cats (they make his eyeballs itch), but Sophie wrangled one in our front yard today. She's not exactly the cat whisperer...

Make a wish!

Happy Birthday, to the best dad in the world!

Don't worry, Jameson...Dad's gonna get that last candle and the wish will come true!

Happy Face, Sad Face

Sophie's Birthday: One for the Record (books)

PARTY PICS
Recipe for sugar shock: cupcakes (FIRST...so you can take off the party dress and play on the slip-n-slide), then hot dogs, then snow cones, then piñata candy. Sorry, moms. I tried to stuff whole wheat goldfish crackers and packets of dried fruit into the butterfly piñata, but the hole was only big enough for sticky lollipops that your children will discard, half-eaten, somewhere in your house and candy necklaces that will stain necks and tangle up hair when your daughters refuse to remove the licked-but-not-chewed necklace at naptime.

Sophie had a FANTASTIC third birthday party with all her pals (Laney, Lucy, Caroline, Leah, Josie, and Claire -- she also allowed Baby Jameson and Baby Solomon to attend, but they couldn't have any cupcakes). Once the guests left, we played with her new toys, including a Fisher Price record player from Mommy and Daddy. She flew around the room to the Pops in Space album (featuring The Empire Strikes Back and Superman theme songs) -- she also loves her mambo/samba record and The Muppet Movie soundtrack.

Click HERE to see pictures from Sophie's party!

A Note from School

It's been a tough week for me -- dropping off my tiny baby with people I barely know so I can spend my days with OTHER people's children. (Big, sometimes smelly, often surly children who may or may not want to know more about world literature.) But after one week of "school," Jameson is fine. More than fine -- thriving! Winning the hearts of the masses! Here's his first weekly report card from his teacher:

"Jameson has literally stolen all of our hearts. He is the sweetest little guy and seems to be adjusting really well. He's been giving us some sweet smiles and loves watching our faces while we sing and talk. When I was wearing him the other day, he leaned back to look up at me when I was talking! He seems really content and peaceful and we are quite smitten with him. :) Have a great weekend!"

There are still moments when I want to quit my job and run away from all this "work" business so I can spend my entire waking life staring at my gorgeous children (but we'd be living in a van down by the river). And there are moments, like this one -- knowing that his teachers love him, when I feel a little bit better.

Three IS a magic number

Our sweet baby Sophie -- our "Thing 1," our Snowpea -- turned three yesterday. She picked out her own birthday dinner; we had pepperoni and mushroom pizza and chocolate ice cream. Am I raising a brilliant child or what?

Here's what we've been noticing about Sophie these days:
She has thoughts. And she shares them. As in, "I thought I told you I wanted more corn."

She has an imagination. Lately she's been making up very animated stories about imaginary friends named Kyla and Sully and Soku and Carly. We asked her where she heard some of those names and she answered, "on a commercial." (Only that's part of the fiction since she's never really watched a commercial -- her "shows" are DVR'd episodes of Signing Time and Sesame Street, so no commericals.)

She's makes mental connections and negotiations. Brian and Prasad and I told her she needed to eat her sandwich because protein helps her body. "Why?" Because it makes your muscles grow. She wanted to eat pie instead. We told her that pie doesn't help her body grow. "But pie makes me soooo HAPPY."

She's got manners (in training). We're moving from "I want..." statements to "May I please?" So now she says something along the lines of, "May I please have some juice RIGHT NOW?!?"

She has a sense of humor. Frank kissed her goodnight and said, "Goodnight, Cow." Then he kissed Cowmoo and said, "Goodnight, Sophie." She got a little grin on her face and whispered, "Goodnight, Stacy" to her Dad.

And she has proud, proud parents, too.

Deep Breath

Today was Jameson's first day in daycare. And tomorrow Sophie turns three. And the day after that is her first day in a new school.

I'm still breathing...but just barely.

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names

Great band name. Almost as good as "Optional Illusion" which my friend Tedward coined this week, when he wasn't even trying.

Tonight we went to Parent Orientation at Sophie's new school. A Montessori school. I only stress the Montessori part because I'm trying to figure out this place and the kids' names on the coat-hooks really cracked me up. Oh, we have the expected Aidan, Ayden, and Caiden (one of those is a girl, not sure which one). But check out some of the other characters...er, classmates: Ezra, Soren, Berkely, Beck, Zara, Gerrit, Ellis, Arden, and (drumroll please) SPARTACUS! There's also a Jack and an Annie, thank the Lord.

The collected parents seemed, well, normal. Not too hippified or too South Austiny and certainly not overly preppy or posh. I did spot one Lactivist bumper sticker (the breast is the best!) in the parking lot, but I was the only woman who whipped out a boob (we had Jameson with us...it's not my new handshake). Just creative, I spose. But if the kids tease Sophie about her name, I guess we'll have to nickname her Cruxis or Claudius or Nero or something. Maybe we'll elongate and call her Sophocles.