The Polar Express

Saturday we went on a "Polar Express" train ride! Here are the kids beforehand in their matching Christmas jammies. Please excuse Deacon's bed-head. He had just woken up.

Lola, Dean and Deacon with the conductor!

They play a recorded version of The Polar Express on the train, serve cookies, and sing carols. You ride out to the "North Pole" and Santa gets on the train and rides back with you. Lola had a great time, and Deacon would have too if he had known what was going on. Why does he always try and look so angelic in pictures with the kids?

We all know better....

These next 2 are my favorite pics from the night.

Isn't that sweet?

I have a lot more posting to do and will try to get to it ASAP.

Enjoy the pics!

A Day of Firsts!

Deacon has done several new things the last 2 days! First off, he has been feeding himself in his high-chair. In addition to his pureed vegetables, he eats green beans, peas, and puffs. He is getting really good at picking up small pieces and putting them in his mouth. Last night I gave him a sippy cup with water and he did okay with that too.

Then, as I was straightening up the kitchen, he was scooting around the living room floor with Lola. When I walked back in there, this is what I found:

He had pulled himself up onto the step stool!

He drools about like this all day. He is a teething machine!

One more thing: this morning he dropped his pacifier onto the floor, and I heard what sounded like a first word come out of his mouth: "Uh-uh." (Uh-oh.) Which was Lola's first word too, besides "Daaadddeeeee." I will try to catch video of him saying it next time.

I could find other things to say, but I must take my nocturnal self to bed now. Goodnight!

Election Day - Scrapblogging!

I recently came across scrapblog.com, a free online scrapbooking site. You can create as many pages as you want, print them, or save them to your computer.
So, here is my first scrapblog page, about the election.
Enjoy!

PS-Sorry if anyone took offense to my post about play-doh. It was a really bad day. I really do love my kids.

I HATE Play-Doh!

This is the mess that has been left for me alone to clean up, and it is ALL OVER my kitchen. After a particularly long few days with little sleep, I am not happy about this.
Most of it would be easy to clean without all the little pieces of dried play-doh.

And wet play-doh.

PLEASE DON'T EVER BUY MY KIDS PLAY-DOH!!!! The evil thing about little kids is that they act really sweet and wonderful for other people, and like little devils for their parents. Even if Lola plays nice and cleans up after herself at your house, SHE DOESN'T AT MINE! Even with toys and priveledges taken away, this is a daily battle for us. It is probably the one thing in my life that I absolutely CANNOT stand.

SO, I will ask again, please never ever ever buy my kids play-doh. Or markers for that matter. You will run the risk of me snatching it out of their little hands at after they have opened it and throwing it in the trash, most likely causing them to cry. You don't want my kids to cry, do you?

Then don't buy them play-doh.

Seven Months Old!

Deacon turned 7 Months yesterday, November 1st. He is still the sweetest little boy in the world! He loves his family - he smiles when he sees any one of us and has started reaching for Dean and me. He recently started crawling - almost. It's still more like a scoot, but he can definately move himeself around now. His top two front teeth also broke through a little over a week ago. Everything goes in his mouth!

Here he is practicing his scoot

Today I took him outside to play and take a few pictures. He loves going outside.

"Sweet, I get to play in the grass??!!!!"
Watching the leaves fall...
Everything into the mouth!!!

This is my new favorite picture of him.

He is just absolutely adorable.

This was so funny....Lola was dressing him up in her costume. She even had him hold her wand. He didn't seem to mind. Poor kid needs a brother!

C'est L'halloween

Our Halloween festivities began last Wednesday, when Lola and I made cupcakes for her class.
On Thursday, she wore her costume to school and they had trick or treating to all of the classrooms.
Friday we spent the morning waiting for my mom and Rich to get here, and I listened to the following: "OOhhh mommy they are never going to get here! When is Nana coming??? AAArrrggghhh I wish they would hurry up....." etc, etc, etc..... Excuse me, am I parenting a 3 1/2 year old or a 14 year old?
Anyways, Friday afternoon we cleaned house and got the kids ready for trick or treating. I took Lola to Dean's work in her costume, and then we came back home and got Deacon ready.

Lola as Abby Cadabby

Deacon as Superman
Say Cheese!

I guess you could say Nana was our "subject"- I painted her face, sprayed her hair purple, and gave her a witch hat. Lola made her wear a pair of wings!

A great time was had by all trick or treating until Lola had a melt-down and we came home.

Later that night.............

We went to a party with Dean and Kyle's work friends.

Dean and I were Shaggy & Velma from Scooby Doo.

Funny Story: Dean went and bought me the actual "Velma" costume with the wig outfit, and glasses. I was so flattered that he thought I could fit into it that I didn't even get mad at him for buying something I could never wear!

We had a great time.

Joyeaux l'halloween!

Bath Time!!!!!

Deacon's baby tub has gotten too small for him. So, we got the little bath seat out and tried him in it last night. I asked Lola if she wanted to take a bath with her brother, and she was SO excited. Then, when we got into the bathroom and I was putting Deacon in the tub, she said, "mom, make sure he doesn't go potty in the bath."

Ok Lola, I'll get right on that. :)

In case you are wondering what all that grunge is in between the tiles, it's BATH CRAYON - beware, it's not really that washable!

Hope you enjoy the video.