Finger Painting

 

Today was yucky outside so we were doing all inside activities. I thought of finger painting and wondered if Mae would like it. She felt average about it, but Thomas always loves it! She actually enjoyed playing with the paint bottles much more than actually painting!

Letter Pages

Thomas has been uninterested in letters or crafts. He just wants to MOVE!! Well recently he has shown a renewed interest in letters, so I have been trying to think of ways that he can be active AND we can work on letters. So, sometimes simple is best! I took pieces of paper and wrote a letter on each peice. I called out a letter and Thomas jumped on it (As long as he could find it. Mae had a tendancy to move them around.)! It was a hit and we've done it since!

 

 

 

 

In the Yard

We've had our share of cold weather, but we did have a few days in between cold snaps that was warm and sunny. We spent basically the whole afternoon out in our front yard. Both kids had a great time. Thomas loves to do somersaults and he also played baseball, rode his bike and did hopscotch.

 

 

 

 

Mae had the BEST time in the yard. She explored everything, lost a shoe and didn't care, ate dirt (when I wasn't looking) and definitly did not want to go in when we were finished.

 

 

Baby Crib

When we were in Arkansas for Christmas we got the doll crib that I had when I was growing up. I wanted to wait to put pictures of Mae in it (because why would you actually use it for the doll?) until I found pictures of me with (actually in) it also. These pictures are from the Christmas when I got the crib. Seated behind me are my Grandpa Richard and Grandma Lu who built and painted the crib themselves. I'm disappointed I didn't get any pictures of them with Mae and the crib, but I'm so glad they got to be there the Christmas that she got it too!

 

 

Reading to Mae

Mae is finally letting us read a few books to her. From the first time I felt her move, she has been WAY more wiggly than Thomas. She's hasn't want to sit long enough to hear any book. But now she'll let us do a few, and these are her favorites. Two are ones that she can touch the different textures (which she loved and Thomas never cared anything about-having two kids is so different!), and the other only has one word on each page. Her absolute favorite is That's Not My Fairy, and will bring it back for us to read over and over and over!

Resolution

One of my New Year's resolutions was to make a dress and pants set like this for Mae. Normally I'm a procrastinator, but the other day I got the sewing bug and decided to get started.

I used http://images.patternreview.com/sewing/patterns/newlook/6578/6578.jpg pattern for the dress, and this blog which showed me how to make it reversible.

Then, I couldn't find a pattern for both the dress and the pants (although there is surely one out there!), so I used this pattern for the pants, because I also thought the pajamas were ADORABLE! Please note that both patterns say "easy" and they really were! It only took me a few days!

 

 

Eight Years

Today is the anniversary of the day, eight years ago that Brax and I became a couple. (I don't know why I know that, but I do.) We didn't go out for dinner, but we had some brie in the fridge, so I tried a new dessert. It was REALLY good, so I decided to pass on the recipe.

 

12 Slices Baguette
1/3 Cup butter (softened)- I used spray butter.
1/3 Cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp. Ground cinnamon
12 oz. Brie cheese
4-5 Cups sliced strawberries - I probably only had one cup and I cut it up in the food processor.
1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 Cup sliced almonds

Spread 1 side of each bread slice with butter (arrange butter side up on baking sheet). In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup brown sugar, and 2 tsp. cinnamon. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon over each slice of bread. Save remaining mixture.

Toast bread at 375 for 5 minutes. Top each slice with 1 slice of Brie cheese. Place back in oven for 4-6 minutes. Meanwhile, toss strawberries, vanilla and remaining sugar/cinnamon mixture in large bowl. Spoon strawberry mixture over each slice. Sprinkle with toasted almonds.

Not A Resolution

 

Since 2010 started Brax and I have done something twice that we've never done in our marriage to this point. Puzzles. Apparently Brax really likes puzzles, and so we've started doing them. It's been fun and that's good since we bought a box with ten puzzles in it.

 

Funnies

 

(Thomas and Brax watching one of Brax's favorites-Davy Crockett)

Thomas to me, unasked: Mom, I only flushed part of one my carrots down the toilet.

When we left Sam's yesterday Thomas asked the man to draw a smiley face on our receipt. He drew a face with the tongue sticking out. I was all ready to talk to Thomas about when that is appropriate when we had this conversation:
Kim: Wow, what a face!
Thomas: Yeah!
Kim: What is he doing?
Thomas: Catching snowflakes!
*Sweet innocent boy!

Brax (as he got home from work): How was your day?
Thomas: Well, I struggled a little, but I was pretty obedient...

Birthday Party

 

Thomas was invited to his first real birthday party last week. His friend Allison turned 5 and had a party at the Early Works Museum. Thomas was so excited, and asked about it for the days leading up to it. We had to talk beforehand because Thomas really wanted to help Allison open her presents. I had to explain that that wasn't what happened at parties. He did a great job, and had a really fun time at the museum (which is convenient because Brax's parents got our family a membership for Christmas)!

2009 National Chapmionship

Thursday was the football National Championship game. The whole day felt like a holiday. It had snowed and iced here, which is a big deal, and Thomas got to play in it! Brax was working from home because of the weather, which of course made everyone excited! Mae got to wear new red shoes, which she loved and if you asked her, "Where are your red shoes?" she would point to them. Alabama went on to beat Texas 37-21! Roll Tide!

 

Fort

Thomas and Mae decided to ring in the new year with a fort. Mae loved it just as much or more than Thomas.

 

 

 

Christmas in Arkansas

We had planned to drive to Arkansas on Christmas Eve, but threat of incliment weather made us nervous, so we went on the 23rd instead. Brax got of work at 3, and the kids and I picked him up at his office and were on our way. Even though we got in late we were glad to have an extra day with Carlos, Sally and Joaquin! Mae and Joaquin had so much fun handing toys back and forth to each other and following each other around. And Uncle Joel does such a good job with his neice and nephews! We played lots of games of Sequence and watched many episodes of Foyle's War. Brax and I even got to go on a date for a whole day!

 

 

 

We got to enjoy Pops' hard work on the fire pit and have a couple of bonfires! Lulu and GG Richard came in for a couple of visits and we had a great time with them. Thomas and Mae had so much fun with Gram and Pops, and of course we enjoyed a WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!