314 Learning to Fly

Yeah ... the kids? they did stuff and things. Sadly it is all the same stuff and things that they do every single week. They are starting to get really repetitive, and I am going to have to start talking about myself soon. You really don't want that to happen. I might have to start issuing warnings at the top of the post if I talk about myself.

..... at least that is what I started to write this morning. Of course, I can never actually finish anything in one sitting. I must jump up and down and bow to the whims of the little ones. In this case it actually worked out pretty well. Katie and Daddy decided it was time to FINALLY take the training wheels off the bike. We had the broken arm setback of 2008, and Katie has seemed content to ride her scooter ... until today. She all the sudden decided that she wanted to ride her bike in the last few days. Not that I am complaining! So, Daddy aired up the tires and took off those training wheels and they headed out. Daddy held onto her shoulders as she tried to keep her balance. For him, he was very patient.
Yes Mom ... I know, get her hair out of her eyes! I've got it covered for the next try :)

And you know Katie's biggest fan was there!

Daddy was even able to let go a few times .... for a few moments.

Yeah, seee that storm drain?? See the direction that Katie is headed? Oh yeah, she did.

And she scared herself a little. She tried a few more times, but she never totally got it. We will try again tomorrow. We would have tried again today but a certain little girl said she wanted to wait (and then of course changed her mind 30 minutes later). Too bad for her Mommy is tired of being at the mercy of a 7 year old. Times they are a changin'! If she can try to ride a bike without training wheels then I can learn to stand my ground. That midget doesn't scare me!

126 Here it comes

Yesterday she charmed me.

Today, she tried me!!

We had to have "the talk"! NO, not that one. The one about Christmas being a time for GIVING - not just receiving. At school they have a "Secret Santa Shop" where the kids can go pick out gifts for their family, friends, and teachers for $2 each. It is supposed to teach them about giving. Last year there was a girl in Katie's class that was sent to the "Secret Santa Shop" with $10 to spend on herself, so this year Katie wants to do the same thing. Nuh-Uh!! Ain't gonna happen. For one, my gift last year was a broken necklace. I understand, $2 is tiny, but the least they could do is make sure the stuff was whole! If I want to spend random money on junk I will let Katie go crazy in Dollar Tree. So, back to the story already in progress. I was trying to explain to her about "giving", but she was having none of it. All she heard was me say "no" to her buying more crap, and she broke down into tears. "YOU ARE MEAN!! You are sooo meee-eee-eeeaan!!" So, I very calmly picked up her list of gifts to buy in the Secret Santa Shop, folded it neatly in half, and put it in the trash can. She came barreling toward me, "I'm gonna get it BACK!" So I shut the baby gate on her. Then she balled up her little fists, slammed them down by her sides and scowled at me! "YOU SCURVY DOG!!" And oh my God, I almost lost it right there!! I wanted to laugh so bad, but she was serious. So instead I picked her up and swatted her on the tush. I can take a lot from that child, but she is not going to think she is in charge. (yeah Mom, I can hear you laughing) Even I reach a point where I know she will pay attention to nothing else. And, due to the rarity of a spanking, it definitely gets her attention. I was thinking that it just inconveniences me to have to take her shopping for gifts, but come on, I would have had to do that anyway. It will end up saving me money. And if it saves me a bit of a headache down the road for her to know she can't call me a "Scurvy Dog", even better. Darn you SpongeBob! She pouted for a bit. I cooked dinner, put her plate in front of her and walked away. Hey, my feelings get hurt too, ya know?! I had to feed Connor, and even try to feed myself. By the time I was done feeding Connor she was over it. She wanted me to come see what she had drawn, and sit in the living room with her. She had drawn "Angry Corn" (it was from a Back at the Barnyard show), so I asked her if he was mad enough to call his Mom a "scurvy dog" ... she did not see the correlation, she just told me he did not have parents because he is corn. Still waiting on my apology ...

Katie had her dentist appointment today. He got her broken tooth all patched up, and we go back next Tuesday to do a crown. It was the first time she had experienced novacaine, and her poor mouth was so numb. I was trying to take a picture of her, and she said "but I can't smile". Poor little thing (her mouth was fine when she started acting up later, thank you).

Connor has been adorable today. Even when he is technically being a bad boy. His badness just does not compare!! He likes to walk down the hallway which has the litter box to the half-bath, and he is of course not supposed to do that. But he looks so cute peaking around the door that I let him get about halfway before I call him back.

He is not technically doing anything wrong here, but he is in the tub because he was "stirring" my coffee while Katie was in the bath. It was cold, and he was doing a good job ... until he decided to pick it up. I had to strip him down anyway, so I stuck him in the tub with Katie. He loves splashing with his Sissy. This is how he looks at Katie, ALL THE TIME! Like she is the best thing ever invented. I know it is blurry, but I had to share the look on his face!

And in case you missed it, here is a really crappy picture of the Moon, Venus and Jupiter. I did not get a cool picture yesterday when they were closer together, but its better than nothing. Kinda ...

Although it is pretty close to nothing.

124 triteness is underrated

WOW! Just one more month to go until we hit another year! How in the world does time move so quickly?? You would think I would have had a better way to judge the passing of time with a tiny helpless baby turning into a destructive mobile little man, but I honestly have no idea where it all went. One day he was unable to roll over and now he can run! This year we have grown a little person, healed broken bones, and managed to stay afloat. Next year, hmmm ... not sure what we have headed our way, but I am hoping the majority of it will be fun.
Sorry, just had to make that trite little observation about "time flying" and such. It really hit me today when I looked at the calendar. That, and when Mom called from Toys'R'Us doing Christmas shopping. I know, I know, it is just around the corner. I have never been one to jump the gun. I am perfectly okay with waiting until the last minute. We are not going to this year though, but mainly because we are going to make an actual list of what to get the kids, and get it. We won't be adding to it all along, ending up spending too much and getting too much. Katie's room already looks like Toy'R'Us exploded in it, and Connor is completely set up for a while with toys. Katie had a tendency to ask for boy toys when she had already gotten all the girl stuff she wanted. Heck, we potty-trained her by rewarding her with Matchbox cars. One of the big gifts she wanted a few Christmases back was a tool bench. Connor needs stuff to open, but at some point you just have to stop adding to the stuff??!!
I read the other day that there was a letter writing campaign to toy companies, asking them to gear their advertisements toward the parents instead of the kids. Parents writing and asking the toy companies to stop tempting their kids, making them beg for toys the parents can't afford. I am in that same boat. I can't buy everything she wants. HECK SHE WANTS EVERYTHING SHE SEES ON TELEVISION!! But seriously, the toy companies are just receiving the affirmation that their ad money is working. Sure, as a favor to the consumer they are going to stop appealing to the kids. It is a great idea, but it ain't gonna happen! They might take the advice of also running ads that explain in tiny little words to the parents why their toy is better than the competitors, but isn't that what you read reviews for??!! First rule of advertising, don't give free time to the competition. Even mentioning their name to say you are better than them is publicity. Katie is spoiled. She has received way more junk than she ever should have. But that is our fault. We did not say no, and now she has this idea that she should get whatever her little heart desires. I can't blame the toy companies for it. Until we can totally remove commercials from our kids tv viewing then we have to deal with it.
I just wish kids got excited over clothes!! I have seen so many cute things lately. If you have never heard of Boden, you need to look over their website ... request a catalog, they are yummy!! They have adult clothes and kid clothes. They have adorable ADORABLE girls clothes. I especially love their skirts. They just make you want to spin around and dance! And the cutest tights! Katie even loved this one!! And they even have some cute boy clothes. I LOVE this t-shirt! The women's clothing is gorgeous, and I wish I had the money to buy it all .. or any of it! But seriously, request a catalog. You can also send catalogs to other people, maybe a grandparent :)
I have spent a lot of time the past several days surfing around the computer. Okay, I have not strayed too far from my normal haunts, but even at those I found some new and beautiful content. At Shutter Sisters they are selling a gorgeous necklace. It is based on an old flashbulb. I can't say that I really need it. I have worn the same necklace almost non-stop for the past 5.5 years. I would feel naked without my James Avery, Mother's Love necklace. But, if I had to ever change it out, this is what would follow. Also, in a link off Shutter Sisters I found a beautiful blog. SweetSalty by Kate Inglis. If you have ever lost a baby I would highly recommend you stop by and read her heartfelt beautiful words, she also takes gorgeous pictures. She expresses things I never could.
Mostly I have been enjoying watching the kiddos. (Ignore the horrible lighting in all pictures!!)Connor adores Katie, and I know I have said that before ... but I think he has become even more smitten with his big sister. Well, that and he has discovered how to give hugs. He will toddle over to her and wrap his arms around her head if she is sitting in the floor. And his voice saying "Katie" is the absolute sweetest thing I have ever heard! It comes out more like "Kay-ee" but in this tone of adoration. They interact so well with each other. If I could just stop Katie from getting too effusive in her play time. She gets carried away and forgets that he is still a baby. She will run up to him (and I mean RUN) and sometimes he gets so tickled that he flops over, sometimes smacking into walls or furniture. In the tub tonight they were splashing by smacking their hands on the water, and then Katie picked up two handfuls of water and threw it in his face. Sure, there was enough water hitting him already, but she does not understand the difference between the "splash" of water and the deluge of water. Mainly she is a wonderful and loving sister. Nothing she does can get him upset for too long. He thinks it is the greatest thing ever, everything she does. He loved the water in his face, he enjoys her pushing on his tummy when she tickles him, and he doesn't even mind smacking into a wall every now and again as long as she is paying attention to him. I have just had some wonderful, perfectly contented moments lately watching them. I hope I can always remember the way they are now. Even with Connor learning to feed himself!! He did much better with the bites of chicken and cooked carrots, but he is REALLY good at chocolate chip cookies!
I have especially had those moments with Katie where I want to snatch them up and keep them safe. Laying in bed reading bedtime stories, or her crawling in my lap for a snuggle. All the times she says "I love you Mommy!" Those moments locked up safe and tight for when she is a teenager. I am in mortal fear that she will be a horrible teenager, like I was. I AM SO SORRY MOM!! I know it is only fair that I get repayed in kind, but I hope so much that we can keep as much of this closeness as possible!! I think she also might turn into a little shutterbug. Tonight while Connor was eating I asked her to grab my camera. She came back with the strap looped around her neck, and she was the one that took pictures of her brother. I was SO proud. My little photog!!
Happy December all!! Try not too stress too much!!

121 I have learned ...

a) I visit my blog WAY more than anyone else
b) not all stomach bugs last 24 hours
c) don't get your heart set on anything that requires another person
d) I really, really hate cleaning and sanitizing
e) I play with pictures way too much!
f) John and Marlena are getting the ax ...

-So, I put in the Live Tracker thingy, and I see that of 10 visits, most were from me. To be fair I do use my blog to link to other blogs I read frequently. I can glance down the sidebar and see which ones have updated. Easy Peasy.
-Connor threw up again tonight. So, if anyone is keeping up with that ... Once Tuesday morning, once Thursday morning, and once Friday night. And, add on top of that the massive amounts of butt-splats ... I am TIRED of cleaning and changing diapers! Poor little guy. He really has been good considering he must feel like a pile of poo. He wants his mommy, but as long as he has me he is pretty content.
-I will not be doing a wedding shoot. It was going to be "too complicated" and weird with multiple places and shoots. Wedding one place, stop at another to shoot formals (which happens to be a cemetery), and the reception. I am a little relieved since Connor is sick, but if I do decide to start shooting weddings I can't exactly take off because my kiddos get sick. I don't think any bride out there would be understanding about the fact there are no pics of her wedding because my kid had butt-splats. Ya think ... I was totally prepared to go. The in-laws were coming to babysit. I am a bit heartbroken. I wanted to give this a try, but looks like it will have to wait now. We are going to try, it just won't be tomorrow.
-Did I mention how TIRED I am of cleaning and sanitizing!! Okay, so I am doing a massive sanitizing effort. Above and beyond the call of Mom-duty. I can't let my baby get all pukey again!!
-I played around with some new effects in Elements, so darn cool! It is hard to stop playing with digital photos. There are so many things you can do to them!