Party Like a Rock Star!

So we had Peanut's party this weekend.  After going around about where to have it, we finally decided to have it her childcare center.  They have an enclosed playground a lots of room for kids to run around and have a good time.  The playground isn't heated, but it still wasn't too bad given that it hadn't been above freezing in 3 days.  (seriously, this shouldn't happen in the south)

The cake was kind of boring to eat, but the inside was a RAINBOW.  It went over well, although, I would like to have a bit more flavor in the cake.  Maybe one from scratch next time?  Who knows.

We had hair paint for the kids to spray in their hair.  It didn't really go over too well, at least not as much as I thought it would.  We had echo microphones, tatoos (which didn't work), and back stage passes to hand out.  Because of the cold, I went ahead and brought out a bunch of play-do, which went over really well.  I think Peanut spent a good sum of her party in the 'cake' room playing with play-do.

There was a little bit of dancing going on, but not too much.  The music was turned down, so I don't know if someone was offended by it or what.  I guess I should have turned it back up.

I was really happy with how everything turned out.  We had a good turn out, and the kids got along really well.  The two boys that were at each other the most are always at each other.  Peanut's best boyfriend was there, so that made her feel good.  (seriously, she said "so so can sit next to me because he is my best boyfriend".  someone asked "who?" and the little boy said "me", so I guess it is all worked out who is who's best boyfriend.)

The only downside is that I forgot to take out the trash and the person from the center forgot to put up the bouncing castle.  The trash was the only thing we were asked to do, and I didn't do it.  BUT, I think we did a great job cleaning up other than that.  AND, I will take out the trash after Peanut's appointment on Monday.  Thanks to everyone that came.  We had a really great time.

Hey Hey It is a Snow Day

We got a little extra vacation with the kids last week.  It was great!  There wasn't much snow on the ground, but it was enough to cancel school.  The kids went out and played in the snow.  There wasn't enough to make a snow man, but peanut made a 'snow cake'.  We rounded out the morning with a trip to the gym before BabyP hit his nap, and peanut started to be really close to me.  (She is a very cuddly girl.  When she gets tired, she needs to be about a foot away from me at all times.)

The afternoon was spent going to mommy's work and doing our regular nightly routine.  Not too bad of a day!

Love Letter to a Four Year old

Dear Sweet Peanut,
Your birthday has come and passed.  I was going through some toys you received for you birthday and came across a toy for a 4 year old.  I was a little confused and thought about how it must be way too old for you, but I was wrong.  Four seems so big to me.  I can't quite get my fingers around it.

You can write your name.  You can add.  You can hear a song one time and sing the medley to it two months later.  Your outgoing and a little pixie by nature.  You don't walk; you run.  Your always on the move, but you are always willing to stop to help someone or hand out kisses and hugs.

Today in the grocery store, a man stopped us to ask you how your birthday went. We were both a little confused at first, but then we realized you told him on Wednesday that your birthday was going to be the next day.  He remembered you because you personality fills up any room you walk into.  You have never met a stranger. In fact, if you are feeling shy around someone you tell them.  "I am shy".  Your funny and rowdy and can't be easily forgotten.

You are still taking ballet; although, I don't know how interested you are in it.  You like wearing a tutu and dancing, but I think you need something a little more exciting.  I see you more as in tap or jazz then in ballet.  You would really do best in an interpretive movement class because what you really love to do is run and shake your rump.  When you do ballet, you always look a little bored.

You have an active imagination and a tendency toward art.  You have a great eye for color.  You don't always want to draw.  You will sometimes just make scribbles on a page and look at me to tell you it is good.  It is a hard situation for me, because I KNOW you can draw some really great stuff.  If we talk about what is in the picture, you start to add more realistic pictures to your original drawing.

You have a memory that is freaky good, but unfortunately, you have inherited my ability to pronounce words and song lyrics.  You like watching the Spanish videos, but you get the words all mixed up in the songs.  You still think the Hannah Montana theme says 'takanapa slow'  instead of 'chillin' out take it slow'.

I think the thing that strikes me the most about you is your over whelming kindness.  You are sensitive to what other people are doing or saying.  When kids at the park aren't nice to you, it really bothers you.  When someone is distraught, you really have the need to comfort them.  It is hard for you to have a little brother who is so crazy about you.  He really does look to you like you are another mother to him, but you handle him with such grace and love that it makes my heart swell with pride.  You aren't a saint.  He makes you mad, but you do try to involve him and forgive him when he messes up.  It doesn't stop with your brother, you try to include other kids on the playground.  When someone is sad at school, you try to cheer them up.  When I am sad, you give me a hug and do something silly and make me feel loved.

I have been told on more than one occasion that you are an old soul.  I truly believe it.  I think you have a clarity that defies your years, but you are also very carefree and loving.  I don't know how you could be better, and I wouldn't change you if I could.

I love you dearly,

your mum

Almost 4

If you ask peanut how old she is she says "IT IS ALMOST MY BIRTHDAY.  IN 2 DAYS I WILL BE THIS MANY."  She then proceeds to show 4 fingers, which kind of drives me crazy.  Why doesn't she just say it!

The kids are doing really well.  BabyP is talking up a storm.  He pretty frequently puts two word sentences together.  The only verb he uses is nurse, but as far as nouns, he is really good at them.  He is in the middle of cutting teach which has meant he is clingy and grumpy, but luckily(?) only with me. He has also been waking up a lot to nurse.  His cry sounds like a tea kettle going off and can not be ignored.  shooo. I am ready for him cut these teeth almost as much as he is.

Peanut is doing well.  She is not taking naps these days, so we have moved her bedtime up to 7:30.  I would like to move BabyP's bedtime to 7:30, but around 7:15 he ignores his books and just lays there looking ready for bed.

She did something so great the other day.  Her friend was crying at day school.  Peanut grabbed her new plush toy from her cubbie and handed it to her.  She told her to cuddle it because it would make her feel a lot better.  Her teacher was touched by how nice that act was.  She really is a sweet little girl.  And in two days she will be four.

I love my kids.

It is nice to come home after a long day to see my kids.  They really recharge me.

A decade in review

I am totally stealing this from a friend of mine, but it seemed like such a good idea.  This is the first decade in my life that I was an adult for the whole thing.

2000 came in with me camping in Newton County with this really cute boy.  We had been dating for almost a year, so I was pretty sure he was going to be 'the one'.  I was working in Lonoke as an agricultural engineer.  He was working at UAMS, finishing a master's degree, and remodeling a craftsman style house.  I was climbing and riding bikes.  I was starting to learn to swim.  He took me snowboarding for the first time.

We ended 2000 with a trip to Sydney to 'meet the folks'.  It was the first big flight that I had ever taken and was really excited.  We flew to Tokyo, Malaysia, and Taiwan.  We brought in the New Year in the summer heat of Sydney watching the fireworks explode over the Harbor Bridge.  When we got home, Mr. T. asked me to marry him.  No ring, but just an agreement that yes, we should do this.  What we have is really good.

Later that summer of 2001, it became official with a ring and I moved in with him.  I was doing more triathlons and climbing less.  9/11 happened and our hopes of going to Turkey on a honeymoon were dashed.  I changed jobs to my current organization.   We spent Christmas at my parents.  I think it may have been a white Christmas.

In 2002 I got married!  We went to Mexico on our honeymoon.  I took the Professional Engineering (PE) Exam and failed it.  I went to Nicaragua to work for 2 weeks and missed my fiance something awful.  I smashed my bike, putting me in the emergency room.  I also cut my hand opening cheese, which landed me back in the emergency room.  I started graduate school.  I took the PE again.  My brother died which opened up a whole new dark and scary world to me where loved ones are not with you forever.  I learned what real heartache was.  We went to Australia and Fiji.  I spent my birthday on a Fijian island snorkeling and drinking wine.  I found out I passed the PE.

In 2003, I recovered from my brother's death.  I also did my first half iron man in Florida, which gave me a sunburn with marks that would last for two years.  I did it in just over 7 hours.  I did two other ones that year knocking an 30 minutes off of my time by September.  I was in school and started traveling a lot for work.  I was going to all sorts of army installations.

In 2004, more travel with the same job.  We started looking for a new house and actually made an offer on a house that fell through.  We went to Hawaii and enjoyed it beyond belief.  I did two more half iron man's improving my time by an hour from the year before.

In 2005, I did a bike trip with Meghan to Northern California.  I was 12  weeks pregnant with Peanut.  She was due at the end of the year, but that tax break was never realized.  Most of the year was spent prepping for her arrival and trying to get out of traveling so much for work.

In 2006, New BABY on January 7th!  I spent the first 3 months of the year on maternity leave.  I can totally understand why professors take sabbatical or why some countries offer long service leave.  It is really refreshing to not work for a while.  We spent the month of March in Australia.  It was probably the most peaceful trip I will ever go on with children in tow.  I went back to work part time.  I also switched jobs to my current position. 

In 2007, I got pregnant with baby number two.  I went back to work full time in preparation for BabyP's arrival.  We also were finally able to find a house that we liked enough to buy.  Buying was really difficult, but in the end, I think we are really happy with the house we chose.  Mr. T's aunt came to visit which prompted Mr. T.'s mother to visit as well.  I think from here on out we can expect a yearly visit from grandma.

2008 saw one more baby and another half marathon to celebrate never getting pregnant again.  The baby arrived shortly after my countertops arrives.  That may sound like an odd thing to say, but the kitchen was completely gutted and hardly workable up until the end.  Only on my maternity leave did we tile the floor.  This was also the year of the tornado and hurricane which downed two trees in our yard causing us to spend 8,000 dollars to remove trees.  The pines were pretty, but Mr. T. would move us to the basement every time the wind blew.  We also essentially moved house again while adding completely new flooring to the upstairs.  We moved the washer and dryer as well.  Hurray for projects.  I went to Portland for work which made us realize how much we really loved the Pacific Northwest.  I graduated with my Masters Degree in Engineering from Colorado State University.  GO RAMS!

2009 came and went in a twinkle.  We spent most of the year saving up our leave.  Mr. T. took some time to go to Portland and Seattle with me and the kids when I went for work.  A little painting was done on the house, but nothing like what needed to get done.  We did get new windows, which pretty much ruled the school of cool!  I spent most of 2009 trying to figure out what I was going to do next.  I want to figure out where I think I would like to be in the next couple of years.  How is my life going to be different?

Learning about my Camera

I was able to take a bit of time over the break and just play with my camera a bit.  It also helps, that I received some super awesome things for Christmas to help me play with it. 

I think my camera, for the most part, takes better pictures without the flash.  It has this really good processer in it that can add more light to the pictures.  The color, just looks a lot better than you would think it would look.  I am sure there is a fancy word for this, and I don't know what it is.  I guess I will learn more about it come next week when I finally take my first camera class.

I bought a defuser for my flast, to see if that helps a little.  I think there is also a way that I can set it up so that the flash goes off just before camera takes the picture.  I hope to learn how to do that.

I think I have also been ruining a lot of my pictures by running them through batch processing.  They look more gray than they need to.  I am going to quit doing that.