Breaking the Law

It is official, after breaking the law for over a year an a half I have finally changed my drivers license from WI to NE. Note: I had to do it, my WI license was going to expire soon. I am an official resident of NE and I don't have to worry about being summoned for jury duty in WI anymore.

Circus

In celebration of Ellery's birthday we decided to take the kids to the circus. The smell is the same as I remember as a kid, but Rob and I looked at each other and said it seems to have lost the magical luster we remember as kids. The magical luster was for sure their for my children, they both loved the elephants and shed tears when the lady flew out of the loud cannon. Also, the winkie lights have progressed with time. Mason picked out a blue lighted sword like figure while I picked out an elephant head winkie blinkie light for Ellery. I think they brought just as much joy to me as it did for my kids. Mason also loved giving high five to a clown who had a squeaker in his glove. Every time he hit his hand it would squeak and the clown told him it was a mouse and he was hooked. He was also curious to see the mouse, but we had no such luck at sighting the mouse. Ellery didn't cry, but she wasn't going to give any high 5's out.
I wanted to be a trapeze artist as a child and although I don't want to do it for a living now, I still have the urge to try it. Someday I am going to take a trapeze class and fly through the air.
At last, Rob and I thought they were really mean to the tigers. we never noticed as a child that people were standing outside of the cages with big sticks poking the tigers to make them jump down and do their tricks. We want to believe this didn't happen when we were children, and I hope our children didn't notice it either.

Happy Birthday Ellery

I can't believe Ellery is 2! We had a low key day. Mason enjoyed singing her Happy Birthday and when we had a 2nd piece of cake later in the day he requested we sing to her again. They both love cake. We got her a wooden birthday cake that you can decorate with candles and toppings she really enjoys, and we also got her Jessie the cowgirl from Toy Story. It matches Mason's Woody doll and they both love carrying them around together. We could have gotten away with not getting her presents, but I think she enjoyed it more since Mason was her side kick and ready to help her open them. She is growing up so fast. She has already started the dreadful "whys". She asks why with most everything. She is also putting together a lot more 2-3 sentences that aren't just clear to me, but clear to the world. A few weeks ago she started heading down the stairs like a little girl rather than go backwards. I am lucky I have another one on the way or I think I would be much more emotional over her milestones.

My Valentine

Brielle's mom worked the pre school Valentines Party and captured this video, she just sent it to me.
I thought I would have a few more years of being Mason's Valentine, but clearly I was wrong. This is his friend Brielle from pre school. She seems to have been excited to receive a Valentine from Mason and showed him her gratitude with a big hug.

Shoes Shoes Shoes

Ellery got dress up clothes for Christmas and has really taken to the shoes. I am amazed at her determination to play and run around the house in her heels. I have to make her take them off to go up and down stairs. It also doesn't matter if she can only find one to wear around, she just hobbles around lopsided.

Baby Seth's Baby Shower

The main reason we headed up to Sioux Falls was to attend a baby shower for Melissa and TJ. They know they are having a boy and he is due April 23rd and I hope she is late and he is born on the 27th. I really hate to wish a few extra days on her, but how cool would it be to share a birthday with him. We are super excited for them and it brings back fun memories of how we felt having our first baby. It is funny how you can stress and think so much over baby paraphernalia and really think it matters at the time. As if you buy the wrong baby swing your child is doomed. Mason was quite the little helper when it came to opening gifts. He was really good at taking them the next present, but not so good on waiting for them to open it. He was an expert present opener assistant.

Another Trip up North

While Rob worked all weekend Grandma Ellen and I loaded up the kids and headed north to Sioux Falls. Tom and Laurie hadn't seen the kids since they watched them in Sept. Uncle Tom said he was going through some kid withdrawal. We had a fabulous time visiting and everyone enjoyed our company as we did theirs. Well, maybe Carson, the dog, wasn't thrilled with the kids being back, but I do think Carson enjoyed cleaning up the floors after my children sat at the table. He even would sneak up to the table and try to sit with Mason. Carson is Laurie's empty nest pet, we predict Carson is in for a rude awakening when Laurie's first grand baby arrives in April.

I'm the Baby

Ellery got a few baby accessories for her birthday from Nana and Ellery hasn't been using them for her babies, but rather for herself.

Tuckered Out

After looking at the weather we had to spend an extra day in Wichita due to ice and blowing snow in Nebraska. We decided to take the kids swimming the morning before we left to wear them out and it was a successful mission. On our ride home the kids fell fast asleep and slept longer than usual.

Taz

While we were visiting Grandma Ellen we were able to spend some time with Rob's old cat Taz. One might be asking why this cat isn't living with us and why Ellen has it. The only ultimatum I have given Rob is "the cat or me". I refused to live in the same house as this cat after we got married due to legitimate reasons. To be honest I asked my brother to be a hit man and get rid of this cat during the weekend of our wedding. Since he didn't fulfill the job Ellen took the cat in, but if anyone knows someone who knows someone who can "take care" of Taz please let me know. The cat might look nice and cuddly, but rest assured looks can be deceiving. People have thrown grape fruits at the cat, ended up on antibiotics because he scratched them so deeply, and with scars from bite marks, etc. The list goes on and on. When we arrived at Grandma Ellen's Taz didn't take to his usual tactics to run and hide and attack for no reason at any given moment. Instead he buttered up my kids pretending to be nice and lured them in and once he had them fooled......he hissed and attacked. Our sensitive Mason lost control of his emotions for a bit while Ellery looked horrified and ran for her life. No one was hurt, but if Taz blocked the walkway my kids would find alternate routes over or around furniture and squeeze through small spaces just to avoid the cat (he ended up getting locked up in a room). This just proves I made a good sound decision by not bringing this cat into our home.

Lincoln Logs

Happy Presidents Day. We might not have played with the Lincoln Logs on the actual day, but we did build a nice big fort before anyone had the urge to knock it down.

Swim Little Fishies

We took the kids over to Grandma Ellen's pool and let them swim. I expected Ellery to cling to me more or watch from the edge of the pool, but she wanted to jump in and swim just as much as Mason. They both love the water, what a surprise. I am not sure what the 3rd kid will get, but when Mason was a baby we took him to swim classes. We haven't taken Ellery to any classes so I guess it can't get worse for the 3rd. It did make me realize I need to get Mason into swimming lessons before summer hits.

Happy Valentines Day

Although I am away from my true Valentine today, I do get to enjoy my teenie Valentines with Nana and Grandma Ellen. I am not a supporter of the day, I agree it is a card holiday, but I don't feel very special going out when everyone else is out nor do I appreciate getting flowers along with everyone else.
We are however enjoying the Olympics this year. I have no idea why I say Olympics 2007, I meant to say 2010, I blame that on my fetal brain drain. It was after 7pm and I was thinking it is past our bedtime and we need to start getting ready for bed? That is the only excuse I can come up with. Anyways, it was hilarious watching them "ice skate" in the Grandma Ellen's living room. I didn't catch it on video, but they would lift up their legs and everything. I did catch Ellery doing some sort of a lunge. It has been a lot of fun watching the Olympics with the kids. I am not sure I could be so supportive if they decide they want to learn a winter sport of flying through the air on skis or seeing how fast they can go down and hey lets add some bumps for giggles. Not to mention sledding at outrageous miles per hour on a slick surface or hey let me hold you above my head with one arm on ice and twirl. I could go on and on, but they are miraculous dedicated athletes doing these sports that I find ridiculously dangerous. At least mine are doing it in a living room I can monitor, sure they are by a glass coffee table that they almost whacked their heads on the edges more times than I can count, but they didn't. Plus Grandma Ellen and I moved it out of the way!

Come on in

While we were at Nana's my kids became fascinated with the dogie door. They would throw toys through it for Toto and encourage him to go in and out while they watched. Mason had the idea that he wanted to go through it, but once he got down on that level and realized he would have to wiggle to get through he lost interest. As he lost interest Ellery's interest peaked and in she came. She liked it so much she would sign more after each time. My kids might have a problem, we have caught Mason eating his macorronni off his plate like a dog and Ellery likes using a doggie door rather than the real door, hmmmmmmmm.

Grandparents Birthday Party

While we were back we had a grandparents get together to celebrate Ellery's 2nd birthday. We all met at McDonald's Play Place so the kids could run wild while we all attempted to have adult conversation over screaming/crying kids. I don't know if it was harder on Papaw Jim or Papa George, I think they both were counting down the time. We had a great time and appreciate everyone taking time to come and see us and help Ellery enjoy her special day. Nana brought cup cakes and we put two candles on it and let Ellery blow them out and I think she really enjoyed her cup cake.


The Brave Participants!

Visit to Nana's

Mason had a few days off from pre school so we packed up and headed south to Nana's. I didn't think heading 5 hours south would be that different, but it was a wonderful sight not to see snow covering everything. Plus it was an added bonus we had a few days of high 30 deg weather, it was so nice not having to zip up coats. The things this cold weather has me thinking and the things I didn't take time to enjoy before this long winter set in are miserable thoughts. I have to remember the weather we are enjoying now will soon be our weather in Omaha, I just wish it sooner rather than later. We also had a great visit with Nana and Papa George. The kids got spoiled, for instance instead of just getting one cupcake she would give them two. She also hid a Buzz Lightyear space gun in with her toys for Mason to find and he was really excited to find it. Ellery came home with more bows, I know shocking, custom ones made for outfits Nana picked out for her. Nana has a gift and we defiantly don't need more bows, but I want them because they are so adorable and made with love. I really shouldn't make fun of my child, but sometimes when Mason smiles he looks like a ventriloquist doll. The picture of him and Papa George is no exception and we had Papa George put his arm behind his neck for fun and ham it up himself. Ohhh, the joys and horrors of visiting grandparents.

Hairs Cut

I had a friend who would always correct me and say I got my hairs cut rather than a hair cut. He would make me visualize going into the hair dresser and getting one hair strand cut. Anyways, Ellery got her first hair cut yesterday. I thought she was going to scream and cry through it, but she sat in her chair as if it were her thrown. She didn't take much off, but did trim up the back and gave her some bangs. I of course haven't taken an after picture and Rob took the camera to work today, but she is cute in her new do. After Ellery was finished Mason crawled up in the chair and said he needed a trim as well. Collette was a good sport and fixed him up as well. After we were done Collette gave them suckers and the kids were really excited. The funny thing is that Mason woke up last night crying and came into our room and when I asked if he had a bad dream he said yes "Ellery stole my sucker." Ellery torments him day and night, poor Mason.

Happy Valentines Day Cards

Mason has his Valentines Party at school this Wed. so we have been working on our Valentines. I cut out his picture and he glued the eyes on himself. I also drew hearts on a square piece of paper and had Mason cut them out. He can cut a straight line, but a curved line is still a challenge. He also is really struggling with writing an S, but I realize all in due time. The funny thing is that he can write a C and I tell him to write a C and then add on a backwards C, but it isn't clicking for him. It was a fun project, I just hope they stay together until he passes them out at school.

Angry Eyes

The title Angry Eyes makes me think of a song title, but I found Mason looking at me and when I asked him what face he was making he said "these are my angry eyes." Once I grabbed the camera it changed to sad, but you get to see how he puts on his sad, happy, and angry eyes for the finale. I feel like I have posted lots of video lately, but my kids keep doing things that I find hysterical. We have no idea where he came up with angry eyes and why he has to wipe them on and off, but I hope this gives you a chuckle like it did me.

More Snow

We have had snow on the ground since Dec. We are not talking a dusting of snow we are talking mounds of snow. We woke up to a few more inches today and I am grateful it wasn't 6-12 inches, but is still makes for a mess of roads, driveways, etc....The good news is that is isn't so cold we can't enjoy playing in it. We have had to look at all this snow the past couple of weeks without actually being able to enjoy it. Rob was of course was gone in the morning so I had the pleasure of shoveling, I also had the pleasure of Mason's company. He gets up before 7 so at 7am we were out shoveling and playing in the snow. Later in the day when Rob was home he took the kids out sledding along with good ol fashion snow angels. Last month Ellery would stand back and watch everyone play in the snow, but now she is knee deep attempting to throw snow balls along with any other mischief she can get herself into with her brother.

I Have Some News

We had Mason call a lot of our family and deliver the news. He would tell them he had some news and the news was that mommy has a baby in her belly. We are super excited for the new addition to arrive in early Aug. The actual due date is Aug. 4th, but I think this one will come on Mason's original due date of July 26th. We aren't going to find out what we are having this time. It was so much fun being surprised with Mason and we think this one will complete the family that we will hold out for one last surprise. The only people it really will affect is Mason and Ellery on which sex gets to dominate the household. Mason and I are rooting for a boy while Rob and Ellery are hoping for another girl. I am 14 weeks and let me tell you it has been a long 14 weeks. I didn't have an inkling of sickness with the first two and this one brought me evening sickness. Not a fun experience, but it is over and gone just have the normal exhaustion pregnancy brings. This is and was my excuse on why I haven't blogged as much or as often.

One More Minute

From reading one of our many parenting books, we got the idea to give the kids choices. Do you want to go to bed now or one more minute. Pick up the toys now or in 3 more minutes, etc.... The kids always say 1 more minute and it does make it easier to get them moving along. Ellery has been informing us she needs one more minute for months, we just never got the camera. My wonderful husband went and got the camera for me and captured her persuasive ways. Yes, she is wearing blue pj's with sports balls, they are Mason's hand me downs.

Food Fun

I always see something fun and neat to do with food for kids, but then life takes me other directions and I never seem to get it completed or tried. I decided to try an idea and I either saw it on the internet or in Family Fun magazine. My prediction on who would actually eat it and try it and who would play with it was correct. Mason likes playing with it and tearing off the spaghetti from the hot dog while Ellery immediately took a bite of it and examined as she went. She ate half of it, but left most of the spaghetti where Mason refused to take a bite as he informed me he doesn't like that, but ate the rest of the normal hot dog on his plate. My verdict is that is was easy enough to make that I might try it again. All you do is stick raw spaghetti through cut up hot dog chunks and then boil for 10-12 min. Bon Appetite.