Super Mom does it again!

YES, I am braggin'; I did it! I travelled 7.5 hours in a car with 2 children; 3.5 years old, 1.5 years old and one 8 year old chocolate labrador retriever Dublin dog. I AM A SUPER MOM!! Saturday, Reece had soccer, lunch, naps and then an Easter egg (candy) collecting activity. I ordered pizza for dinner. Fed & bathed the lil ones and then packed for our journey to Park City, Utah. (PC is how it will be known the rest of my posts!) We would have left on Sat. but there was too much we would have missed. Wait till I scan our picture with the Easter Bunny!

Reece sleeps in my bed when Mo is away so he woke me at the usual 6:30 am wake up call. We started to get ready for our day. Packed the rest of the car and fed the animals, I mean lil ones. I quick showered while they grazed. Out the door by 8:15 am. A few minutes past my goal; but I soon realized I have no schedule, I am on break! Drove through my favorite coffee shop and got the usual, white chocolate peppermint mocha. I also purchased a bite to eat since I forgot to do that before I left! Chocolate chip banana bread YUMMY! Raine enjoyed it also. Reece didn't like it. His loss.

ON THE ROAD!! We said our prayers that the Lord would guide us and keep us safe. Then I sent a text to my friends: drivin' to park city with 2 lil ones-PRAY! I know I gave my girlfriends a great laugh. But their prayers worked! We made it there in 7.5 hours. We stopped for gas and lunch in Cedar City. We hit Walmart for a few necessities and got back on the road. The weather was wicked. It would rain for 20 miles then be clear as day. Then we'd go another 20 miles and it would be snowing! Crazy! Reece and Raine had plenty of snacks, toys, books and movies to keep them busy. Reece selected 5 of his favorite movies for the trip: Lion King, 101 Dalmatians, Cars, Ratatouille, and Mickey's Christmas (not trip to PC is complete without that one).

Raine fell asleep right before we stopped in Cedar City. Reece slept about 5 hours into the trip. They were both excellent. Raine enjoyed playing peek-a-boo and looked at a Big Bird book. Reece watched 3 out of 5 movies and read some books too. We made it to Brian & Kara's house at 5:30pm and the first thing Reece did was climb up to the top of the biggest snowbank on the side of the driveway. He loved it. He didn't care that he wasn't wearing snow pants or boots. He was in the snow! I unpacked the car, fed the kids, played a few games and put them to bed. They were exhausted and so was I. I relaxed in front of the TV. It was so nice to get away and be in the fresh mountain air. More to come tomorrow. Good night ;)

Where we were a year ago...

So I looked back at this time last year and here is what we were doing. http://joellehauguel.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html

I was not into blogging for a few months. Just trying to live life with a 2 1/2 year old and 6 month old. LIFE IS SO MUCH BETTER THIS MARCH!

I am on top of things now. My kids are more self sufficent and so stinkin cute! Next year I hope to be in the same place with a little less debt! Next spring break we are planning a cool family vacation. Not sure where yet, but someplace we haven't been.

Completed BufBloPoFo Class of 2008 with a 4.0; straight blogging for 14 days! Don't be alarmed of you don't see me a few days. But it is SPRING BREAK, so I'll probably have some funny stories to share. I hope to take Reece to see Horton Hears a Who, go to the Shark Reef and the Children's Musuem. I was going to head to Park City, Utah but Bri isn't there and Kara is working plus helping a friend move. Driving 7 hours in a car with a 3 year old and an 18 month isn't my idea of Spring Break either. So maybe we will go when Mo get's back from Mexico, doubt it though. Pray for my sanity while he's away. My son is already being a lil pill!

TV

Boy do I love me some TV, but it sure is a waste of time. I miss my shows but don't mind this writer's strike too much. I can barely keep up with my DVR so when I have real TV to watch life gets stressful. Think I watch too much TV? Yeah, me too.

I am really missing my Grey's, Private Practice, and Desperate Housewives. I love House but Idol has taken over Fox so I won't be seeing that for another 11 weeks. I went back to watching cheesy teenage shows like One Tree Hill cuz nothing else was on. Not the biggest fan of reality TV but Mo and I are enjoying this season of American Idol. Oh and I enjoy Survivor, of which I need to go watch or at least DVR.

One more day...

Me

What you might not know about me:

• My husband and I are both Geminis. Both my kids are Virgos.
• I played field hockey in college and was even a captain for 2 years.
• I student taught in Ireland and can't wait to go back.
• I have been teaching 11 years and have taught spec ed, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 4th grade & 5th grade.
• I love road trips and vacationing on the east coast with friends and family.
• I stood 8 feet away from Ty Pennington and yelled "MOVE THAT BUS"
• My dream job would be staying home with my kids and going back to teaching when they go to school.
• I wish lived closer to my family on the east coast.
• I rock climb and can't wait to start up again since having kids.
• I don't enjoy soaking in a relaxing bath but love a nice long hot shower.
• I snore because I have the worst allergies.
• I miss playing in the snow, but don't miss driving in it.
• I have great friends who are my west coast family.
• I go to a great church where I met most of those great friends.
• I wore Birkenstocks in my wedding.
• I dislike a lot of seafood and my hubby eats it once a week.
• I love Saturdays when I can stay in my jammies and not have to leave my home.
• I love to swim and enjoy teaching little ones how to do it!
• I am tired and can't think of anything else.

Two more days of required posting...

Questions

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 11: Answer these questions:

1. What is your favorite word? I'm not sure about favorite words, there are a lot of them out there. I'll have to think about that one a little bit more.

What is your least favorite word?
OOOOOO my good friends have a ton of these and I can’t wait to hear their comments on this one. I have a few like the vulgar ones for parts of a woman’s anatomy. Curse words grate on my nerves if used as a adjective in every sentence. My brother Matt does this when he's really annoyed with his ex-wife. Can’t really blame him. I have more problems with my students saying Can I, instead of May I. Does that count?

2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Wow, good question? Days with nothing to do turns me on and allows me to feel free to create, pray or love. Those are few and far between but Spring Break is only 3 days away so hopefully I will be able to create. Mo's cologne ;)

What turns you off? Huh? Stinky smells & exhaustion, I guess?

3. What sound or noise do you love?
My kids voices saying mama. Rain drops gently tapping on my window. Waves crashing on the beach. My hubby whispering, I love you babe. The school bell ringing at 3:25. Birds chirping outside our my bedroom window. The palm trees that line my street behind my house blowing in the breeze. Music-all kinds-especially Dave Matthew Band in concert.

What sound or noise do you hate? Cars screeching and horns beeping. Babies or kids crying. Annoying yippee dogs who never stop barking. We seem to be neighbors with them everywhere we live. Kids talking after I said to be quiet and get to work. Any type of noise after a long week of work, remember I work with 20 students who want to talk rather loud all day long.

4. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Not sure about this one. I would love to be a photographer like my friends. I think I would like to work in anything that deals with creating, design, advertising, scrapbooking. Sometimes I consider teaching at the college level which would be pretty cool. That one is right at my finger tips, I just need my kids to grow up a little more. I would also like to be a Field Hockey coach, but also at the college level. Can’t do that on the west coast though!
A professional skier or surfer would be pretty cool too!

What profession would you not like to do? Anything on that dirtiest job show. Professional wrestling wouldn’t be too much fun either.

5. What is your favorite curse word? One of the worst ones in the book. F * # K! Said with enthusiasm over and over again!

6. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Welcome home! I love you my daughter, with his arms stretched wide open to embrace me with the biggest hug I have ever felt! You have been a good and faithful servant, come see your family. (Typed with tears streaming down my face.) I can’t wait to meet my Lord and Savior. Well, I’d like to wait until I have seen my kids grow into beautiful adults but if I were to die, I am ready.

Cool thoughts I rarely think about. Here are some for you.
If you could live anywhere in the world with money being no object, where would you live?
What is your dream vacation?
What's the best way to spend a lazy Sunday in the spring, summer, fall, & winter?

Random thoughts

No specific question to answer today just random thoughts.

Good ones indeed!

Before I begin, I must get my latest delicious dessert. 3 thin mint cookies mixed into mint chocolate chip ice cream. I'll also share some of my favorite funny pics of my beautiful kids. ENJOY:)

Finally finished report cards at 4pm today. Printed out each one (4 pgs each x 20) and then each one had some type of typo in the comments section. I guess that's what I get when I PROCRASTINATE!!

Raine is feeling much better and has her appetite back. She has also been enjoying the warm weather. She loved listening to Elmo sing in the car this morning.

Reece & Raine are spoiled lil ones who always seem to walk out of Target with something new in their hands. Today is was a .99 Spider man toothbrush. I tried to hide it in the cart for the Easter basket. No luck when the 3 yr old is sitting in the cart sifting through the goods. He also spotted the Elmo and Spider man Easter eggs. I am hoping to hide them away while he sleeps and maybe he'll forget about em. Doubt it.

Mo is about to go in the bathroom and shave his beard! HALLELUJAH!!! I asked him if he was going to help with the dishes, he said he was going to go do something better! PRAISE THE LORD his face will be smooth again! It's only been 4 months.

I think I'll go cuddle with that clean shavin' man o mine. Yum!

Jesus is Alive

So I'm supposed to tell you all why I love my hometown,-Buffalo, New York but that must wait because the conversation I just had with Reece is 10 x better.

Setting: Kitchen table where I am trying to work on report card comments. Reece comes over sits next to me.

Reece: Mama see what I made in church today.

ME: Wow Reece that is beautiful.

Reece: It says Jesus is Alive! Cuz you know what? We heard the Easter story today and Jesus is ALIVE! (he shouts)

ME: Really, where is he then?

Reece: MAAAMMAA, Jesus is everywhere because he came out of the cave.

ME: What?

Reece: There were bad guys that didn't like Jesus and he died. He was in the cave and they closed the rock. Then an angel came and moved the big rock. And do you know what? Jesus was ALIVE. (he shouted again)

ME: Wow, that's amazing!

Reece: Yep, Jesus is amazing... as he walks away.

No, I'm not making this stuff up. Reece was full of hilarious one liners today. It was one of those days I wished I had a mini tape recorder, like the kind you would use in college (way back in the day).

Wait, as I type Reece & Raine are outside scribbling on the driveway with rocks and I hear Raine whimper and cry. Reece shouts, "I didn't do it! She hurt her finger drawing." I walk out there to see what's going on. My car door is open and I say to Reece what are you doing in my car? I'm just drivin, like this and he moves his arms back and forth like he's steering the car. Get out of my car, this is not a place to play. Aww, come on Mom, I need to go to the store.

Today has been priceless.

Music

What kind of music are you into lately?

Lots of random, like always. I am really enjoying Colbie Caillet, John McLaughlin, & Goo Goo Dolls greatest hits. We always rock out to random kids songs in the morning on my way to the babysitter. Reece is really into the Lion King soundtrack. I just purchased the 101 Dalmations movie and it came with a CD full of dog songs. I can't wait to listen to that soon. The Easter bunny will need to drop that off. I have also been enjoying the musicality my girlfriends have added to their bloggs. I an eagerly awaiting for spring break so I can add some music to mine.

Side note: I had one of the best days with my kids today. Raine and I ran to Sam's Club and Walmart for the necessities. Yes, she is feeling much better. She ate a half banana and a whole bunch of soggy frosted flakes. At 10:15 Raine and I waited for Daddy and Reece at the rec center. They were running late because they went to Men's breakfast at our church. Reece jumped right onto the field and was very excited to play. I was glad Mo stayed to watch because Reece would come and sit down saying he was tired. He had fun but his attention span was a little off. We played on the play ground for a little while and then headed home. Our friends Ashlyn and Kaylee came over while their parents went house hunting. It was a super fun afternoon with four kids under the age of 4 in my home. Just as those friends were leaving our other friend Amaya came over. We left the house an hour later and surprised Amaya's mommy for her 30th b-day! It was a pretty small gathering but still so fun. We need to hang out with the Lucero's more often! Everyone sleeps while I blogg and catch up on my DVR watching. Last night I cleaned off 5, 60 minute shows. I bet I'll only get through one tonight!

Purse contents

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 7: Open up your wallet/purse/backpack/hobo bag on a stick. What’s the one thing in there that no one else has in their wallet/purse/backpack/hobo bag on a stick? What’s been in there the longest, having never been used?

This should be good! At Christmas I got a new purse, bigger than the last, like a merge between the diaper bag and my hand bag. You can only imagine what is in there now.

An over stuffed wallet, no not overflowing with money just junk. A collection of pens, why? A few hair ties and one barrette for baby Raine. My ipod and it's earphones. A lip gloss, a chap stick and a lipstick. Random discount cards, library card and kid info cards. An envelope of recipes, coupons, & prescriptions. A pocket calendar to write down my daily stuff. A few different lollipops and a couple pieces of candy; smarties, mints & tic tacs. I have 3 of these flatten fruit things from the 2 lil girls that I ate school lunch with on Wednesday. They wanted me to take them home and give them to Reece and Raine. A muffin from breakfast this morning. Gummies. A cork from a bottle wine my hubby and I shared on our 7th anniversary. Change. My school keys. Lotion, tissues, and ... a DIAPER! No, no it's clean.

What's in your bag?

On a side note, please PRAY for my baby Raine. She has some type of flu bug. It started Weds afternoon and it still has her pretty weak and tired. She has only eaten some cheerios, applesauce and 3 teddy grahams. She looks so pale and thin. Raine usually has big rosey cheeks and is running around trying to keep up with her big brother. All she wanted to do yesterday was lay on my chest like when she was a newborn. I love cuddling with my lil ones when they are sick but I feel so bad for her. She just wants to be held by mama.

Reece is going to go to Men's Breakfast with Mo tomorrow morning. Then we will meet the boys at Reece's first soccer class. I think I am more excited than he is. Mo and I used to coach this age group when we first moved to Vegas. I'll share some pics and give you all the details tomorrow.

Toys

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 6: What kind of stuff (toys, books, TV shows) were you into when you were a kid? Do you think that had an effect on what kind of a person you are today??

I was into all things cool, just like the rest of you. I am from Marilla, New York (right around the corner from East Aurora, NY), therefore I played with a lot things Fisher Price.

Some favorites were the phone, the doll house and the farm house. My goodness they don’t make toys like that anymore. I have bought similar toys for my children and they are so stinkin’ cheap. No wood, just cheap plastic painted with lead that I must hide until they stop putting things into their mouth.

Cabbage Patch Dolls, Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake were big favorites of mine! I had a girl, Jolene Emiline, a boy, Fabian Jervis whose name I changed to Brenden Alex, a boy preemie, Miles Silvester, and a girl baby Lori Shirley.

I was so excited this Christmas when I saw Cabbage Patch kids on sale at Walmart. I had to by one for my daughter. She looks just like Raine too; big blue eyes and a little blond curl coming out of her snowsuit.

I am also the oldest of four children so I really enjoyed playing with my brothers Star Wars figures. I was Princess Lea, of course. My brother Matthew had the big Darth Vader head that would hold all of the action figures.

My little sister Jaime and I used to play with our Barbie’s all the time. We even had some of my mom and aunt’s really old ones from the 60’s. It was so fun dressing the dolls in the Brady Bunch dresses!

When my youngest brother Brian was a kid TMNT were in. No, not the scary ones from the movie made in 2007. THE ORIGINALS! Oh, TMNT stands for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for all you youngins. Now I have some hand me down vhs tapes for Reece with the same cartoons I used to watch with Fry Guy. I know my dad has all four original turtles in their boxes somewhere. Whenever he would buy my brother one he would buy himself one, stick it in the closet and say, “These will be worth something someday!” WHERE ARE THEY NOW? I ask. How much would they be worth, EBAY, or a cool toy store?

Needless to say, I think the toys I played with did shape who I am today because those are some of the best moments of my childhood. I am so glad I can go find some of those same toys for my kids. A friend recently told me about a catalog that sells all the old classic toys we played with. It was really hard not buying everything I played with for my 2 lil ones. Mo even had a ball shopping for presents this year. He came home with Lincoln Logs, Transformers and Match Box Cars all because he used to play with them.

THANKS MOM & DAD for always staying with the times and buying us the popular toys. Thank you for also buying them for my children.

PROCRASTINATE

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 5: Everyone has an opinion on the correct way to hang toilet paper. What do you think too many people do wrong? Well, here’s your soapbox, participants. Take a stand and teach society something.

I can tell you a million things I do wrong that probably drive society crazy.

Turn around and deal with my 2 lil ones in the backseat while I am at a stoplight. Yes, I guess while I drive too.

Forget to use my blinker and sometimes wait in the right hand lane so I can zoom past the rest of the slow drivers. Yes, I feel bad when someone behind me is waiting to turn right and I am just sitting there.

Talk on my cell phone while driving. Who doesn’t?

Make my students use good manners by answering them “I don’t know, Can you go to the bathroom?”

Ask the Mormon missionaries if they would like to come in my home and hear about why I believe in Jesus Christ. They give me a really strange look, like I’m nuts and then they leave.

I could go on and on, but the biggest thing that I do to drive myself and those who try and work with me crazy is …. Drum roll please

PROCRASTINATE and boy does it make me anxious. If only I would start things when I say I’m going to life would be a lot less stressful!

Now, onto those report cards, hopefully :)

Who would play me in a movie?

WOW, the topic for today's post is: Who would play you & your family in a movie?
I know who would play Mo, that hotty Matthew McConaughey. But as for who would play me, no clue. So I asked my spouse. Mo thinks Jodi Foster or Helen Hunt should play me. WHAT? I guess cuz they are plain Janes, I dunno. I said what about Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston? "Oh Yeah, Yeah" he said. Last time I ask for his opinion!

Good Stuff

The challenge for today's blogg post was to talk about what good things happened to you today. Prepare yourselves my list is long...

Meaningful Part:

My son climbed in our bed at 5 am to snuggle and I was happy to have him.

Jessica Mass came to babysit on a minutes notice when I had 30 minutes until I needed to leave the house for work.

I was able to use the fast copier and get tons of stuff prepared for the week, just in case I am without a sitter again.

Jessica Mass took the kids to the park to play and didn't feel limited to staying in our home.

Jessie picked up my kiddos, took them to lunch and then her house to rest for the afternoon.

Jessie sent me a cute pic of Raine eating lemons.

Teaching went really well, the kids were awesome and we got a lot accomplished for a Monday.

Got to the dentist early enough to enjoy some peaceful magazine reading.

Glad to have such strong teeth that the dentist had a challenge filling my cavity:(

Thankful that it's only my second one. I haven't had to have one filled since I was a freshman in college.

Spoke with mom & dad in Florida, have been wanting to do that for awhile.

Bought a new sticky mat for my pilates class and some great books on clearance for the kids Easter baskets or our summer road trip.

Came home to hear my family talking, laughing and getting ready for a bath.

Got to snuggle with my sweet, clean smelling daughter because she refused to go to bed. We rocked for a few minutes and I thanked the Lord for moments like those.

Stretched my body at pilates class and realized I can do that more at my house now that I know what it involves.

Researched the medco prescription stuff I have been avoiding.

Watched October Road with the hubby and confirmed life is priceless; so find all of the good things that happen to you and don't waste time worrying about the other stuff!

Super Sunday

Not as awesome as my friend Esther's cuz I didn't get to build a snowman family but I did get to spend some quality time with the ladies at church, the spouse and the Castillo family.

JIBBERISH PART:
I woke to my lil man laying next to me telling me how much he loved me. It was so sweet but after a little while I felt like the cream filling of an oreo cookie; smoooooshed between my two favorite guys. I had to get out of bed!

Raine was awake in her crib calling out to mama & dada, whomever would come rescue her. I did and she didn't want me she kept asking for dada; like she does every morning I get her out of her crib. No problem I like dada a whole lot too. I got her ready for church and then proceeded to bribe the child who can dress himself to get ready. He would only do it if he could have a gumball. No prob, I gave him the gum then his plate of waffles with syrup and sprinkles. He handed me back a piece of ABC gum and started to eat his food. Once the kids were strapped in their chairs feeding themselves, I headed for the shower. First I reminded the man, who was still in bed, that we need to be at church in 30 mins.

Hair still soaking wet we headed out the door. We made it to church with time to chitchat before my retreat meeting. Reece went right into his class but then came back so excited telling me that he was going to learn about Easter. We were discussing it on the way into church. Raine went into the nursery without a tear as well. I peeked in on her and she was just standing there, staring around with her thumb in her mouth & blanket on her arm. I'm sure she had a ball ...

MEANINGFUL PART:
Prayer is astounding! We are organizing our 20th annual woman's retreat at our church and it is amazing to see what God has planned. I sat in a room with some of the most incredible ladies. We discussed teachings, skits, hospitality and leadership. Dates of when and what is going on were also given out. Lastly, was the time of prayer. It was such an enormous blessing to stand with those Godly woman. I have learned so much from them already, that I can't wait to see what else I can absorb. The holy spirit was among us and I felt such a sense of peace when I left.

MORE JIBBERISH
Mo and I had a meeting to go to at 11:30 so we threw our kids on Auntie Wendie's truck and said good luck! She watched them for a few hours while we learned about our timeshare stuff. We brought them some dinner and then got to hang out and chill! We always say we need to do hang out with them more so we did. Reece loved playing with Timmy & Cross! He was so sad when we arrived with dinner. He thought he had to go home. When I told him we were going to hang out for a lil while, he ran away screaming hurray!

Mo and I came home, each put a child to bed and then spent the night discussing our summer travel plans. We can't wait for the summer now. We figured out when we will be dropping in on all of our friends; so get ready for the Hauguel's to be knocking on your door!

Past my bedtime so I will finish this post with a question posed by The Royal Toybox. What is the best gift you ever received? FAMILY~ My husband, then my 2 precious kiddos.

Goodnight & God Bless

BufBloPoFo...

A new challenge: To blogg once a day until the ides of March. Can you do it? Will it be meaningful or just jibberish. Mine is a bit of both. I have been thinking about all the things I should be blogging and will catch up on them as I try and complete this challenge.

Meaningful part: I will go to bed in 10 minutes to stick to my other goal but before I do I will give God's book a quick glance. When is the last time you've read the good book?

Jibberish: Raine is now 18 mos and saying some more words. Some only we can tell you what she is saying but she's trying! Reece is my knight in shinning armor, wait till you hear more about that...

Leap Year

Wanted to post on leap year, but didn't get to so I am back dating so I can see Feb. 29 2008 on my blogg. I am sick as a dog and will probably need to edit this and re post it because of typos and spelling errors. Trav can you be my official editor.

A student Violet noticed at the beginning of February that we were missing number 29 on our class calendar. She reminded me again today that is was leap year and we still didn't have a heart with the number 29 on our calendar. I guess that is a priority to her huh? I really meant to make one but never took a minute to do it. :(

It was a fun leap year for the kids they got to start the day with a dance assembly, relax and read poetry for a while afterward, take a couple tests and then eat lunch outside. Is has been beautiful here. High 70's and very little wind. After lunch we finished up some work, house cleaning and then tried to get to fun Friday. Too bad they were just a bit too chatty this week to have much time for that. They made wants and needs posters instead. Interesting to see who starts with which column and what they cut out of the magazine to glue onto it.

Picked up the kids from my pinch hitting babysitters. Sadly, my son, who has been keeping his big boy undies dry during naps for the past three weeks had an accident today:( I'm going to blame it on Leap Year. I felt more sad for him than he did. Really, I felt horrible for Deidre and Melissa who had to wash sheets and deal with that mess.

My kidlets were hungry, tired and out of routine so it was very hard to get dinner ready and not just run in my room and hide. I was starting to feel a sore throat coming on and exhausted from a long week as I am every Friday. I pushed through though; disciplined the naughty behavior, got my family fed and put to bed. I proceeded to lay on the couch the rest of the night with the remote in hand. I never get the remote and always run away to the bedroom to watch TV because I can't stand the way Mo watches TV. Do all men watch bits and pieces of a million shows? Tonight I was starting to feel sick and achy so I refused. I deserve to watch the big flat screen too!

At 10 pm I started to watch yet another show and realized it was past my bedtime. I have been breaking my feel great in 08 rule of going to bed at 10 pm and now my body is suffering. Hence feeling like a sick as a dog. What does that mean anyway?

How was your leap year?

he's so funny

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." Angela Schwindt

I found this quote today while I was scrap lifting page ideas off the internet. I think that this quote says it all. I work so hard and making sure my son is kind and uses manners that I forget that he is 3. He is so full of life that I miss out on all the quirky things he says because I tend to over correct him. I will now try to limit that to only the really necessary things and enjoy his 3 yr old isms.

For instance: A few days ago while Reece was taking bath; he was making ballcanos with a cup and the bubbles. Then he asked if we could go to Hawaii and see them this next day. He is still learning about when tomorrow is and the day after tomorrow.

At the dinner table Mo was drinking water from a SLIPPERY ROCK pint class. Reece spelled out R-O-C-K and then said dad what’s that say? Mo said Rock. Reece replied with, “Oh like don’t throw rocks Reece.” We just started laughing.

A few days later I was wearing a SLIPPERY ROCK sweatshirt and Reece read the letters R-O-C-K again. Mama that spells rock, what does S-L-I-P-P-E-R-Y spell? I said Slippery. He asked did you slip. I started cracking up again.

He is so inquisitive and smart. Yes, I know I am biased, but he is!

Elmo Obsession is back

Raine is obsessed with that furry red friend from everyone's favorite street. I love it, but last night when she was playing with the bath tub Elmo (he wears swim trunks and arm floaties) she didn't understand why he couldn't come in her crib with her. No way the soaking red guy was getting in the bed with the temper tantrum throwing 17 mos old.

It all started about a week ago. She found him laying on the bottom of the bathtub. She was screaming Melmo so many times that I had to run and see what she needed. Raine was trying to climb in the tub to get him. It was the funniest thing ever. I got Elmo out and handed him to the screaming child. You would of thought I just gave her a cookie. She hugged him so hard saying Melmo over and over again.

For the past week she has been dragging that little bath tub Elmo all over the house. Raine couldn't fathum not taking him in her crib after their bath last night. Luckly, the potty training Elmo stays in the crib and was there waiting for her when I layed her down. She was so excited to see him. She screamed Melmo so loud! I finally got her to go night night and she was out like a light in a matter of minutes.

On Saturday, Raine found her favorite book. It's an Elmo Pop Up book from her Uncle Travis and Aunt Amber. She was so cute laying onher belly reading it. Reece has the same book but he tore most of the pop up pieces out. Raine tried that once and hasn't done it again. The kids will sit and sing/read their two books side by side. I need to snap a photo of that.

At dinner last night, Mo got her to eat all of her meal because Elmo was on the spoon. Tonight she refused to eat, so I found the Elmo spoon and said, "Show Elmo how to take a bite." She was so excited about that spoon that she ate her whole bowl of food; half of it all by herself, poking the pasta with Elmo! It was so great.

It looks like Elmo will be a big part of our home for the next few months. Yay for the furry red puppet with the annoying voice coming back around. ;P

Good Times!

I was playing with the camera and took some video of the kids on Saturday. Not sure why it is rotated this way. Feel free to fastforward or even stop because it is a bit hard to watch. I wouldn't keep this on my blogg but it took almost an hour to upload so here it stays. All of you on the east coast better take a look! Enjoy!

Reading Emails

Tonight I can home from a really fun night of First Friday Art Shows and BINGO!! I have never played bingo and can appreciate fine artwork but tonight my nieve lil mind was exposed to art that wasn't so fine. I did however buy a print of an artist named Jennifer Main. It will make the perfect Valentine's Day gift for my hubby! I can't wait to give it to him. I am also making him a homemade card that an awesome scrapbooker Ali Edwards created and posted on her blogg. I found the kiddos some $10.00 movies at Target and these awesome nap pads for $6.99 from Disney.com. I am almost all set for Love Day!

I got off topic, the reason I was writing was because I read this email from a parenting site:

Top Story How to:• be more loving• slow down and really listen• plan fun outings more often• watch TV less• encourage your child's spirituality• nurture yourselfand, be a better dad

Huh? I am a mom reading this email, not a dad. What about becoming a better mom? HA that's cuz we don't have to become better. Right?