Birthday-Palooza

I think that my new role in life is birthday party companion.  Sam recently attended 5 parties for 8 children (including a set of triplets that he went to preschool with) over the course of 15 days.  Must be nice to be so popular!

I don't usually post a bunch of pictures from other kiddos' parties, but he has been able to try out some really cool things now that they're all getting older.  And even with so many parties in such a short time, not even two were remotely similar to each other.  Excellent, creative planning, Mamas!

Party 1: Bowling.  50's-themed bowling, to be exact.  Sam went in jeans and a white t-shirt because that's all we could think/dig up.  He enjoyed the bowling and reconnecting with a few friends that he hasn't seen regularly since 3-year-old preschool.  I think its awesome that there's a few from that group still maintaining friendships even as they start to spread out all over the city.  He could use some practice in putting force behind the ball, but it gave me hope that this could be a fun family outing in our not-to-distant future!  We split from the party early to attend...

Party 2: Monkey Joe's.  This one was for a buddy from school/soccer, so it was a lot of running and jumping and wild and crazy and sweaty boy-ness.  And he loved it.  A perfect outlet on a rainy Saturday.  And a good chance for me to chat with a few new school moms. 

Party 3: Laser Tag and Video Games.  My friend, mom of the triplets, rented a video game truck that also supplies outdoor laser tag.  The kiddos played some Wii games and Sam and his buddies loved running around the big open field shooting at each other, crouching behind barricades, and thinking themselves strategic.  And again, I enjoyed catching up with a mom from last year's preschool class who's path no longer crosses mine on a regular basis.  Also, a nice social break for him during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Party 4: Dive-In Movie night featuring The Polar Express.  Set up on the driveway, with projector, rows of seats, popcorn, candy, pizza, hot chocolate.  The birthday girl was from Sam's current class and really enjoyed taking candy orders and delivering to each child.  They had clearly been talking about it all week, because upon comparing notes all the mom's discovered that we'd all heard the same story about moving the party into the garage in case of thunderstorm.  Note to self: watch the invite list to avoid hurt feelings, as these social events things are clearly hot topics!

Party 5: Legos.  Thrown at the birthday boy's home, Mom did a great job of moving the all-boy party (our first!) from one activity to the next before they had time to melt down too much.  They built models, colored pictures, scooped bricks into cups, hit the pinata, batted lego balloons, ate lunch, etc.  There were some moments, not surprising given a party full of 5/6 year old boys, but it was creative and fun.

And now, we have moved on to the Christmas portion of the kids' social calendars.  Stay tuned... 

"The Best Night Ever"

The great thing about childhood is that there are so many "best nights ever."  According to Sam we had one last weekend.  And I was reminded again that what my friend said is true, childhood just IS magical, very little Pinteresting required.

It was all Daddy's idea.  He lugged the TV outside so that we could eat our grilled dinner by the fire while watching the Ohio State game.  It was a great game! 

Sam ran back into the house a few times to add more clothing - typical fall evening where the temperatures drop quickly as the sun sets.  Annabelle spent a great deal of time doing this with her dinner.  When questioned she responded, as if we were foolish not to understand, "I painting!"

When he heard of the plans for a fire, Sam insisted that we make s'mores.  He doesn't eat them.  Doesn't even eat roasted marshmallows, only the ones straight out of the bag.  He does enjoy putting them on a stick, holding them over the fire for 20 seconds, and demanding that the grown ups eat yet another s'more.  Let's not count the number I ate.

Annabelle made great strides overcoming her fear of fire.  At first she wanted to eat inside, then she was ok if I sat between her and the fire.  Finally with some coercion, she was willing to help Daddy roast one or two marshmallows herself.  So proud of her!  Hopefully by February she won't be afraid of her own birthday candles, the way she was afraid of Papa's in October!

Day to Day...

I was going to tell you that Annabelle helped me vote this year, but technically it was Annabelle who voted this year!  That BIG RED BUTTON was calling her name.  She could hardly contain herself while I reviewed my choices.  "Time for the button?  I push the button?"  So she pushed the button labeled "cast ballot," and unofficially voted for the first time.

"Mommy, how they do DAT?!"  Oh baby girl, those are the Rockettes.  Aren't they amazing?  Do you want to learn how?  Yes?  I will sign you up as soon as I can!

"Duckie wants to color, too.  We boff have gween.  Here Duckie, I hewp you!" (That is Sam's Duckie.  Sometimes we get in trouble if Duckie moves while he's at school.  Thankfully this time everyone was cool with Duckie's daytime adventures.)

A couple of weeks ago I realized that I still didn't really know any of the other moms from Annabelle's preschool class.  Something about the drop-off/pick-up schedule, the busy moms and the fact that the class is almost entirely second a third kids, we just hadn't all clicked yet.  And it was bothering me, because my girl talks about her friends all the time and I didn't know them!  I just couldn't figure out how to get to know them at school on our limited time and tight schedules.  So I prayed about developing relationships there.  And the next morning I woke with the thought, "Duh, you have ALL their email addresses."  One group email sent, one class playdate scheduled.  I was worried that no one would come, but the response was very positive and the other moms were so glad that I took the initiative to schedule it.  Annabelle talked for days and days about how her friends were going to come over, which made me both excited for her and a little guilty that I hadn't done it sooner.  And Sam complained a bit that he didn't get to have a class party, and I ignored him because he has friends over all the time.  The kids played, the mommies chatted, we ate snacks, colored turkey pictures and made turkey treats out of candy.  And we parted after 2 hours with promises to do it again.  And now these mamas aren't strangers in the hall anymore!

Finally, as not to leave out my boy, below is the picture of his very first Knight Award.  A What?  A Knight Award is given to students who are sitting quietly and patiently in the dismissal line at the end of the school day.  In the walker line they are awarded by Mr. Peterson, in the bus line by the 5th Grade Safety Patrol.  Earlier in the week he had his second "yellow" day of the year, so we had a lengthy discussion about balancing that out with positive behavior.  I wish I had captured the prideful, excited smile as he held up that blue slip of paper at the top of the bus steps the very next day.  It took 50 days of school, but he did it - SAM WAS QUIET!  For the record, he earned one the 51st day as well, but none since.  "There's new safety patrol this week and they're tougher!"

U6 Soccer - The Sharks

Some weeks they were the Bull Sharks, some weeks the Land Sharks, I really think it changed every week.  Regardless, they voted on the name of the Sharks and they were BRIGHT green.  And another season of soccer is in the books for Sam!

The makeup of the team was a bit different this time.  I guess that not too many kids signed up this year cause there was only one other kid from his school on his team!  It made it a bit trickier to bond with the other families, because honestly I was preoccupied with getting settled at the elementary school this fall.  But that didn't bother Sam, he still had a great time.

I am happy to report that the level of skill was heightened across the league this year.  Its amazing the difference that a year can make it ability level!  Not only were the kicks better and the aim more accurate, but the kids were much more aware of "plays" and passing and teamwork and game strategy.  Please don't let me imply that these things were consistently evident on the field, but there were glimpses, and that was fun!

Sam seems to have really improved in this area.  He is able to look across the field and anticipate a bit where the play/ball is headed and react accordingly.  Results vary, but I can see his little brain spinning as he plots his moves.  I think he really enjoys this part of the game, and I believe that's why he developed a strong affinity for defense this season.  More time to analyze the field and plan his moves!  And there was one game where, as defender, he continually booted the ball all the way across the field every time the opponent kicked it past mid-field.  Over and over and over again.  It was kind of impressive, and earned him the "biggest kick" award at the team party.

Soccer was good for him again, but he is once again ready for something new.  We've already signed him up for Basketball in January and he's talking about T-ball and Flag Football (ugh, I was hoping to avoid that, but we are in Katy, TX and so many of his school buddies play!).  Organized sports are good for him.  I wonder which one he'll end up excelling at in the long run?!

Annabelle was a trooper again this season.  Honestly I often felt like I was dragging her along to Sam's thing, but I later realized she was disappointed if she didn't get to go to the game, and she even enjoyed hanging on the blanket and running in the grass at his practices.  What a gift she is as my second child - the scenario would have been a nightmare if our family's birth order were reversed!  Regardless, I'm excited for the day that Sam has to sit through one of her activities...he he he.

First Football Game

Once upon a time my husband went to USF football games almost every week.  Then he moved to Houston.  And although he has been able to take his then-girlfriend once and his wife once (same girl!), it has been a very long time since my husband has seen a USF game in person.  And they just don't get much TV coverage here in Longhorn/Aggie-land.

Another upon a time we had some very dear friends that we saw often more than once per week.  We worshiped together, played together and went to community group together.  Their son is 10 weeks older than Annabelle, and we live about a mile apart.  And then they had the nerve to move to Dallas - something about a good job opportunity and lots of family, blah blah blah.

And then Chris realized that USF was playing SMU in Dallas on a Saturday night that we had no plans, followed by a Sunday morning holding no responsibilities at church.  And with a few quick emails only a week before the event, we had a plan.

After Sam's last soccer game of the season we drove up to Dallas.  Here's were our freak perspective on road trips comes into play - Chris and I didn't even really consider it a road trip because it was less than 4 hours.  We ended up in the car with absolutely nothing for the kids to do.  Good think they both napped - oh wait, that was just Sam. 

We said our hellos, took our cars to their parents' house and got a ride that dropped us right at the gate.  We made it through half the game before heading home to put the kids to bed, the grown ups sitting up to chat until we were falling asleep.

We woke in the morning to play and eat donuts, and were out the door around 9:15am.  16 hours in Dallas.  Totally worth the drive.

There is a special kind of comfort that comes with seeing old friends after a break of time.  Its good to talk to people who know you and your history.  Its good to hang with people who care for you.  Its wonderful when your children play well together and are excited to see each other.  It awesome when you are comfortable in your PJs in their home.  I am thankful to have these friends, and thankful that my husband made these spur of the moment (for us, at least) plans so that we could see them again.

And our kids saw their first football game.  This is no small thing, folks, especially for Sam.  He was beside himself with excitement from the moment we told him the plan.  Y'all, he pays attention when he watches football, especially if its a team he cares about.  Everything about the night was exciting to him - the stadium (which he kept thinking he was seeing on the drive up - anything with lights he had to ask about), the players, the scoreboard, the stadium food, the fireworks...

Annabelle DID NOT appreciate the fireworks.  But she recovered quickly, and the SMU mustang they ran across the field kind of made up for it.  She'll tell you all about the Red Fire if you ask her though, and how it made her cry.

We almost went online to buy the kids new USF shirts but quickly realized there was no need.  Of course there would be a serious cold snap.  Of course it would be misting the whole game.  40ish and wet - so pleasant.  Please note that I DID put a bow in my hair that was appropriate team colors, but that too had to go in favor of a hat, and a hood.  They were troopers, though.  It was not until the end of the half that Sam mentioned he was cold.  Half credit goes towards his excitement and fear we'd make him leave if he said he was cold, half credit to me for dressing him well (no long underwear?  Jammie pants under your jeans.  No ski socks?  Soccer socks will work).  Annabelle, who remember did not nap in the car, was less enthusiastic once the skittles were gone.  It was way past bedtime, and we later found out that her faux fur-lined boots were a bit too tight and her little feet were ice when we got home.  Poor girl!  But she paid attention and was generally happy to be there.

We should all get credit, really, because the stadium was at most 20% full.  Apparently not too many "fans" for an 0-8 team when its 40ish and wet.

It really was a great mini-trip.  I'm thankful for our hosts and thankful for a memorable experience for our kiddos.  It never stops getting old, watching your kids experience things for the first time.  Now I CANNOT wait to get them to an OSU game - cause that's a whole 'nother thing entirely!

Grossology

The night before Halloween the elementary school hosted a school-wide science night entitled "Grossology."  The teachers of each grade worked as teams to present 6 different "gross" experiments.  There was "make your own glitter slime" with the kindergarten teachers, blowing up balloons with baking soda reactions with the third grade teachers.

One grade had everyone reach their hands into mystery boxes to determine which "gross body part" you might be touching.  My kids refused to reach their hands in, so mommy ended up touching the applesauce/cottage cheese mixture, slimy noodles, and whatever that blood-like concoction was.  Thanks, guys.

The fifth grade did a magic show, which proved to be fun.  One of Sam's buddies from soccer got to assist with an experiment.  Sam wouldn't volunteer, he said maybe when he's older.

There was also a section for Parent Presenters.  We received a flyer a few weeks beforehand requesting volunteers, and I immediately handed it to Chris.  I have noting to contribute to Science Night.  To my happy surprise, Chris immediately jumped on board, excited to relive his days as Science Museum Employee.  He practiced his experiments on the kids at home, purchased himself a lab coat so he'd look the part.

And we had to wait until the very end of the night to get to Daddy's table (unfortunate luck with the rotation schedule).  By the time we got to him, Chris had almost no voice left, as it was pretty loud in there and he did his dry ice experiments over and over and over for about an hour and a half!  I think my scientist was a hit!  And Sam and I are proud to have en enthusiastically-involved Daddy!

Halloween Happenings

Although neither of my kids' schools officially recognized Halloween, which I think it lame, both concocted a way to allow the kids to wear a costume to school.  Our district only allows 2 class parties per year, but Sam's school wrapped up Red Ribbon Week with Super Hero Day on Friday, so he was allowed to wear his Ironman costume to school.  Annabelle, who's school is private but hosted at a church that doesn't celebrate the holiday, participated in the Noah's Ark Parade.  All animals, all the time.  Fortunately last year's cat costume still fit well enough for the 20 minutes she needed to wear it.

Mommy got a special Halloween treat, too.  Frankenstein Frapachino, anyone?

On the big day a friend, who's son is in Sam's class, invited us to an early dinner at Jimmy Changa's (play place, outdoor seating and Tex-Mex!) right after school.  PERFECT.  Something fun to do to kill some time before the big event, and a cheap way to feed my kids.  I love all the kids-eat-free promotions they run in my neck of the woods!  After dinner we scooted home to costume up, all full of excitement and cooperation.  What bliss!  I put mascara, lipstick and blush on my daughter, managed to get her hair into a bun and then pulled my own very first ballet recital costume onto her.  Be still my heart.

(side note: she will be old enough for ballet in the fall, and I already knew I'd be signing her up.  And then they started running commercials for the Nutcracker this week, and she literally stopped running around in circles to stare at the TV and ask, "Mommy what they doing?!"  And she continues to watch every single time she sees one, with equal fascination.  Its innate...or inherited.)

We gathered at a house around the corner for a little trick-or-treat pre-party.  Adults snacking, kids running around, general neighborhood merriment.  And I was only asked 137 times when it was time to start trick-or-treating.

I have expressed this notion before but I'll say it again (and probably several more times over the next few months: We are in the "magic years" here in this house.  Our kids are 2.5 and 5.5.  That is old enough to understand, anticipate, believe and live in the moment, but not so old that any of those things might be tainted by the big kid notions of too-cool, its not real or it doesn't really matter.  There are moments when being in the magic years feels like a lot of pressure - like I have to make it magical for them - but a dear friend pointed out to me that childhood is magical all on its own, Pinterest not required.  And Halloween night was proof of that.


I hope that I can always picture in my head the sweetness that was Annabelle while she was trick-or-treating this year.  I don't think she ever realized that she was often at least 10 yards behind the "big kids," regardless of how many times I call to her to "follow the Elsa's!"  She was happy to take several shorter rides on the hay wagon, while the big kids only bothered when we were changing streets, but as soon as we lifted her over the rail and her little feet hit the ground she was running.  And she was repeating the phrases she was hearing around her.  "I see a wight at dis one, guys!  Ok, wets go da next house!  Let's go, guys!"  So much enthusiasm, so much pure joy. 

We did score a pretty sweet deal by joining some friends on their Ranger/Hay Ride.  It took Annabelle about 2 seconds to figure out how to climb onto it herself, and was pleased as punch when the Elsa's (there were 2 in our group) were distracted long enough that she could score the primo hay bale at the back of the wagon.  Sam preferred to ride up front in the Ranger, but really as long as he was close to his buddy, he was cool.

Well, mostly cool.  As is the case with any highly-anticipated event in Hunniford House (and this was HIGHLY anticipated - he started counting down days on Monday mornings, and after having to wake him each day for school, he bounded out of bed on Friday announcing "TONIGHT IS TRICK-OR-TREAT!"), there were a few meltdowns.  Once because he'd forgotten his shell (Daddy was already returning from the house with said shell, we realized before he did), once because his knee pad ripped (this is what happens when you and your buddy play spies in the bushes in full costume), once because he didn't get his desired seat, and probably at least one more.  I will give him credit for recovering quickly from each meltdown - as he gets older he is actually getting a bit easier to reason with and I am seeing some growth in understanding that fits don't solve problems.  Hard to break life-long habits, though.

But he had a great time overall.  He was poised to be the leader of the pack, although that position shifted throughout the group (if that kid can harness his powers for good instead of evil, he might just run the world - although I'm not sure he's interested in Democracy), always with the Ballerina and Olaf bringing up the rear.  Olaf is Annabelle's age, and he loves her.  We're talking all kinds of unwanted physical advances ranging from poking to hugs.  She greats each with a stern "Don't Touch Me!"  It sound rude coming from a 2-year-old, but we'll be proud of the same phrase when she's 16.  Well it turns out the costume one him some points because the next day she told me "Only Walker is a Honey!"  Oh, and Walkers mom taught him to great people with "I Like Warm Hugs!"  Adorable.

Our door-to-door adventures lasted about an hour and a half, which I think is a pretty long time for this crew!  We quit when Sam's candy bucket was literally overflowing, and Annabelle had begun handing hers to Daddy because it was too heavy.  Please note that she still went to doors to collect candy, she just couldn't be bothered to carry it.  When we made it back to the house the kids had a few pieces of candy and went to bed - very easily.  We had left our candy bowl out with the neighbors but heard the crowds on our cul-de-sac were small.  We received a few more stragglers before turning out the light and eating far more candy ourselves than we ever would have allowed the kids to consume.

 The next day was the candy sorting.  Sam rocked it, and rearranged it a couple of times throughout the day.  He traded a few unwanted items with me and has been negotiating extra pieces of candy for random "accomplishments" all week.  Annabelle has become incredibly possessive of her bucket, ready to fight off any and all who threaten to take a piece from her.  My kids will won't touch ice cream and can walk away from cake all day.  But candy...that's their love language.

We really had a fantastic day filled with friends, neighbors and family.  It makes me excited for all the magic to come...

His and Hers Fall Fun

Well, this season of fun, fall festivities has turned out to be a little less "family fun" and a little more "date with Mommy" than I anticipated.  But they both have had a turn to do something festive, so I guess that's what really matters.

A few weeks ago some friends and I took our little two-year-old girls to Zoo Boo.  The three of them were born within 7 weeks of each other and have been in the same class at church their whole lives (and the mommies were friends long before they were born), so it was a very fun group.  But the morning did tug at my heart strings a bit, because I didn't get to take Sam.  I took his for the first time when he was two, with one of his life-long buddies, a tradition we repeated three years in a row.  But this year they're both in school 5 days a week.  And ALL the mommies were in agreement that Zoo Boo isn't quite enough fun to justify the Saturday crowds.  I did my best to side-step Sam's questions about our plans for the day, and I'm proud that I DID NOT lie about anything.  But really, he is handling like the champ the fact that Annabelle and I lead a life while he is at school.  He doesn't complain when we do fun things, which I think is a sign that he enjoys his time at school. 

Anywho...  Annabelle and I did have a lovely morning with friends.  She gets the concept of Trick-or-Treating and thinks any and all animals are cute, regardless of how gross they actually are.  "Awww!"  And unlike her brother, who at that age was still putting one swipe of crayon on a sheet of paper and declaring it "all done," this girl had to be pried away from the "paint a tiny pumpkin" station. 

We had some "family homework" sent home from the elementary school...decorate a pumpkin to look like a character from a book you've read from the school library.  Two things: 1. I'm not really going to let my 2 year old help with this "family homework" and 2. My options are SO LIMITED when my 5 year old has literally only checked out Star Wars books so far from the school library.  But, I think the few hours that Mommy, Daddy and Sam put into our R2D2 pumpkin produced excellent results. 

This past weekend was supposed to be a full day of family fun, but when Annabelle woke up with dried vomit all over her bed, our plans changed a bit (poor girl, she'd never thrown up before and didn't know what had happened.  It happened once more shortly after she woke up and she told us "my mouth spilled").  Family Fun Outing to the Horse Farm/Pumpkin Patch turned into a Mommy/Sam date.  Again, my heart was sad because I know Annabelle would have loved all of the animals.  Sam thought it was ok, but next year he'll probably have more fun at the over-commercialized Dewberry Farm.  Ugh, I miss this Midwest in October!

This picture is from the "haunted trail."  He was all smiles until some woman in a funny breathing mask wouldn't get the clue that he was too scared and she needed to back off.  I turned my crying child around and left the way we came in.  Fortunately we were able to trade in Annabelle's groupon-purchased admission prices for a few large pumpkins - which I lugged by myself back to the car.  My arms were shaking when we got there - guess I need to do some weight training.

That night I stayed home with the by-then-probably-fine-but-still-in-the-24-hour-window "sick" child while Sam and Chris headed to a Halloween party.  I consoled the left out girl with the promise of a Princess Movie and Toenail Polish, and a dinner of toast and apple sauce.  She accepted.

NOW we did make it to ONE fall event as a family: The Neighborhood Fall Festival.  We took a hay ride, played on the playground, ate some cookies, chatted/ran wild with friends and Annabelle received her requested Rainbow Butterfly.  Which was a smeared mess by the time bath time rolled around that night.  Here's hoping we can all make it out together on Friday night, too!