School Valentine party

Kate had her school Valentine's party today.  (It was today wasn't it? )  Hmmm.   They made cute little flowerpots with paper flowers and suckers and hurried through decorating rice crispy treats and chomping on chocolate covered pretzels.  I wised up this time and didn't repeat my Halloween class party experience and toted Aidan in in his stroller.  As I told one of the other Moms he would tear this place up faster then the whole class of Kindergartners combined.  He tolerated watching the kids and only fussed to get out right at the end.  

Kate working on her flowerpot she made for her Mom.  Shh it's a surprise!

I tried to bribe good behavior out of him with lots of toys, books, snacks, and a little juice.

Aidan looking unimpressed while Kate and one of her classmates pose away.

Since I like to fancy myself a card designer,  I made her personalized little Valentine's cards to hand out to her class.  Aren't they cute?

front

back

I know it's a little wrong but I couldn't help myself

Continuing to dress my little boy up in things some might say or better suited to little girls, I present you with my little fairy.  Yes I know he's going to get me back for this one day.  But he is wearing a shirt that has a bull on it and says "Little Bully."  That's sure to macho things up a bit.  He's so cute I could eat him up!

Childhood revisited

As a child growing up in Oklahoma we were lucky if we had 1 or 2 good snows a year.  Then you were super lucky if that snow was significant enough to actually play in or build a snowman.  My parents somewhere found or likely ordered us a sled for the rare occasions when we could slowly but surely make it down the ever so slightly sloped back yard.  But hey we didn't complain.  It was Oklahoma after all.  No one we knew owned a sled so we felt pretty cool.  In Oklahoma you slide down "hills" on giant tupperware lids or cardboard boxes but never a sled!  We never went skiing or to anywhere with a really big hill so we didn't think we were missing out on anything.  So this past weekend ( yea it's Feb. 2 right?) Kate and I slapped on the snow gear and headed outside to enjoy the snow before it started to melt.  It made me realize that I'm getting older and don't have the same energy I once did but I can make a snow princess with the best of them!

Then we did a mini photo shoot out in the snow before returning inside smelling like wet puppy dogs!

Overheard

Daniel: (while watching the cartoon Phineas and Ferb... "Is it wrong that the other day I came downstairs and watched Phineas and Ferb when Kate wasn't even down here?"

Me: "Was it on when you turned the TV on or did you change the channel to watch it?

Daniel: "I changed the channel.   But there was really nothing on.  It was either this or an episode of Dirty Jobs I didn't really like."

Me: "Yes.  It's wrong."

Snow Day

Last night I was in bed watching TV and the caller ID on the TV popped up with Name Unavailable at 9:45.  I do love that feature since the phone was on the other side and ringer was turned off.  My immediate irritation turned softer when I found out it was our high tech school with an automated call informing everyone that school was out for today.  Remember the days when you'd huddle around the radio hoping and praying they'd say the name of your school so you could go back to bed and then later wake up and play in the snow?   Yippee.  Sleeping late, playing in the snow, hot chocolate!  Right?

I still got up at 7:00 with Aidan.  Kate didn't sleep past 7:15, Daniel went to work anyway so I can't play out in the snow with Kate since Aidan doesn't have a snow suit and I have yet to have hot chocolate.  Now I'm sitting here in my PJ's watching my over- achiever but super nice neighbors already out shoveling their driveways.  In the words of Alicia Silverstone in the movie Clueless, "As if!"  But Kate had fun for a while and it's still coming down.  Too bad we live in too flat Kansas and there's absolutely NO WHERE to go sledding.  That and the minor problem of not owning a sled.    

One for the future wife to see

When my brother was little we dressed him up in much worse.  It's only fair the tradition continues.  He does seem to be enjoying himself.  

Family Reunion

The weekend before last we made the trek down to Oklahoma to my parent's house to see my brother and his wife who were visiting from Seattle.  The visit was short but it was nice to have everyone together.  Before we left we went over by a pond in their neighborhood to get a few pictures since for some reason when we're all together we never take any pictures.  So here we all are are enjoying a warmish day in January.

Kate outside my Mom & Dad's house

The whole gang

Our little family.  My husband refused to smile anymore due to the sun in his eyes.  Poor sport.

Mom and Dad

Mimi and Dude and finally a smile from Aidan

Susan and Jonathan

Here they are again

Aunt Susan with Aidan

One more of my parents