SNOWIN' and BLOWIN'...
Baby it was cold outside. Mom had to go to work, but dad and I called it a snow day. I'm not sure how many of those I will have in my Houston lifetime. It was important that we made the most of it. Mom called several times to see if I had taken the time to "stand outside with my mouth open wide," but I had high expectations. A few flakes was not going to impress me. I wanted to see the grass turn white, roll snowballs and build my very own snowman.
My dreams came true about noon time. The fluffy stuff started whirling. Mom wishes she would have run home at lunch to play because by 4:30 the snow day looked more like a water play day. We gathered up as much snow turned ice as we could and carefully constructed our miniature snow man. Mom had to ward off the big boys in the neighborhood who thought it was fun to borrow snow or snow people from other yards and then our snowball fight began. It was more like a ball of ice fight. There was no fluff about it. We found most of the cold stuff piled up on the windshields and trunks of our vehicles. My fingers, make that my hands, we FROZEN and tingling to the point of tears. That and dad chunking a huge ball of ice at me and I had enough. It was time to warm up with a fire and a much deserved mug of cocoa.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
THANKFUL FOR EVEN MORE THANKSGIVING!...
We celebrated Thanksgiving the weekend after. In years past we have stuffed ourselves 3 times in one day and waddled away with regrets. This way, we are able to enjoy the time we spend at each house and with each family.
Uncle Scott and Jessica made cookies and Dot said this one looked like me. I gobbled it right up remembering that lunch would not be of my liking. Remember, I am the relish tray kid.
I don't know how mom neglected to capture pictures of the rest of the family, but they are loved none the less.
THANKS FOR THANKSGIVING!...
Lala is a regular Martha minus the compulsive disorder. Thanksgiving dinner always looks like a fancy feast of new recipes tangled with the tried and true. Her tables are lavish complete with seating cards and every bit of china, silver and crystal is admired upon use. To all the adults in the family these meals are in high demand, sought after, requested and delicious of course. I prefer the relish tray. Fill me up on heaps of fruit salad, a few green beans, 2 rolls and mounds of cranberry sauce. I'm fine with Thanksgiving coming but once a year.
I spent the day taking pictures with my new camera and wishing my cousin was around to run wild with me. I had all the attention but I wished I could have shared it.
EVERYBODY SAY CHEESE!...
A little late for the birthday celebration...I was excited to do it all again; this time Grandpa style. Guess what I unwrapped? MY VERY OWN CAMERA! I am now the official family photog. Forget being in the picture...I want to take the picture! I can do some really fun things with my camera. I've been taking video too. It is no longer a strange to hear me call out "squeeze together, move over, stay there or say cheese." Mom will try to post my art here soon.
We spent the afternoon together at the house just hanging out, taking loads of pictures and playing games. I taught the family how to win at Gobblit. Mom might be the champion, but I swallowed everyones players with the big guys...I'm catching on to this strategy thing.
Evening brought dinner at Uncle Jeff's house--my favorites were on the table. You just can't beat steak and a loaded potato. I ate until my heart was content and my belly was too tight. It was time to let all my sillies out. Be fair now. It had been a busy weekend and it was past bedtime--an hour past. Everyone sing now..."A toody ta, a toody ta, a toody ta ta." Okay, so maybe only me and mom will recognize the song, but you get the gist. Stick your tongue out and sing every now and again...you won't regret the sillies. 
GLOBE CEREMONY...IT'S OFFICIAL!
"The earth goes round the sun, the earth goes round the sun..." and I am a full year older. It was a long walk this year as my teacher read a list of my yearly accomplishments. Mom was teary as my teacher read about each stage in my life. It is hard for her to fathom how quickly the time has passed and how her little monkey man is now such a big guy. 
NAP NO MORE...
I have been distraught for months. I am the youngest of my original crew of buddies from school and the last to surrender my nap mat. Montessori rule--your naps end at 4. Mom was nervous and well, I was stoked! I would have given them up 4 months ago if I had the choice. I didn't care that my body craved them like the very air I breath. I wanted to be in the extended day program with my friends. It is all so mystical until you arrive. So, this is my last day of naps. My last day to fall asleep listening to "teachers talking" and "kids acting silly" and well you get the picture. Apparently school naps are not all they are cracked up to be, but as I will soon find out...either is extended day. There is a whole lot of work going on in there and I am EXHAUSTED! I think I will hold on to this nap mat for awhile...just in case.
Update--Oh, yes that was me. I was the kid who literally fell asleep in class, head smack down on the table and probably snoring sweetly. And, yes that was me too. It only took me 3 minutes total to crash as mom was driving me home. Still me. I am the one who now falls asleep while mom is reading my books at 6:45. I am EXHAUSTED and ever so proud that I don't take naps anymore. 
Monday, December 07, 2009
ON MY REAL BIRTHDAY...
I know no boundaries. Mom and dad take the day off from work to celebrate each and every part of me and all the things I love. It starts with songs and snuggles and then moves to the kitchen for cooking. I requested all my favorites; "a pancake as big as my head", fruit, eggs with tomatoes of course and chocolate milk. I mean really, could it get any better? Why, yes it could. We had a slow morning of board games and TV time and a million questions as to where our day would end up. I was thinking...I had so many great options; I wanted to make sure I picked the best one and around 10 I finally had it. We dressed for the gorgeous weather and headed to the zoo to ditch our van in lieu of a train ride over to Herman Park. It was a win, win situation. A train/park combination and something we had not done before. In fact, we had the train to ourselves. We spent the entire day picnicking, running (still trying to avoid mud splatters), climbing, and laughing just being together. That is what every day of life should be about. Birthdays are once a year, but the opportunity to spend this time together as a family should be endless. I rolled down hills, swung like superman, climbed like a monkey and hunted snakes in every tree hole I found. I explored being 4 all day and mom and dad just wished they were 4 again too...priceless! The last train back to the zoo was at 4:00 and we had to run to make it. Time flies when your having fun and apparently when you are watching a little guy grow too.
SUPER 4!...
We had a blast jumping from building to building as our favorite super heroes do. It really is FANTASTIC to be FOUR!
SWOLLEN...
So, hate is really a strong word...a word that mom would rather me not learn, hear or use. However, given this situation (the day before my birthday party) mom has just about conceeded and used the ugly word. MOM REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DOES NOT LIKE MOSQUITOES! It is near impossible to protect me from them. Should mom apply spray to my ears and eyelids? Certainly not. So, here I am--SWOLLEN! Once again, I have been devoured by a flock of (make that just one) very sneaky, very hungry and even more DISPISED (that's better, right?) mosquito. No OTC cream, pill or prescription worked...believe me mom tried. It just had to run its course getting worse before it improved. The morning after this picture was taken, I could not even open my eyelid--just a slit was there and FYI--I handled it much better than mom, but you probably already guessed that much.
LANDON IS 4!
My buddy Landon and I share the same birthday and Miss Julia was born just 3 days later. Planning our November birthday bashes is always an interesting affair for our mamas. This year they did great! No one had dual parties. It was nice to enjoy one at time. Landon had a painting party. We went to Arts a Glaze, chose an animal and painted till our hearts were content. I picked a pig and went to town painting and creating his story. I named him "Rainbow Pig" given all of his colors. Rainbow Pig had brown blotches of paint on his belly and down his leg from playing in the mud. It was difficult for me to understand leaving him behind to dry, but I was so excited when Ms. Allison delivered him to my house. Rainbow Pig ate breakfast and dinner with me for a week. 
FUDRUCKERS...
Yes, we really did drive ALL THE WAY across town to eat burgers with the family; and it was SO WORTH IT! Good eats and fun with my cousins too. Our parents would probably not openly admit it, but we really did run laps around the chairs, giggle until we couldn't breath, drink gallons of punch and test our boundaries more than a few times, but it was FUN! The kind of fun strangers want to avoid, parents ignore and kids long to repeat. Are you up for burgers this weekend?
(On a side note...I am proof that you really can smile beautifully with your mouth full of hamburger. Wes was here too. He was enjoying the fries. At first he flat refused to take his picture, but after mom said how cute Makayla and I looked he told Aunt Carley "Aunt Jenn didn't take a picture of me." HA! Mom knew she could sucker him into the photo session; too bad the picture did not turn out. Sorry Wes; we will do it again soon.)
TURBO...
So we don't get real, winter wonderland, wear this hat so your ears don't freeze off weather here often, but mom knew I just had to have it. Who cares that it was 79 degrees and muggy on the day we snapped this picture. I was thrilled to sport flames! If it is a "rough morning" mom just heads to the "tough guy" looks within my closet and instantly I am dressed and ready to go. Yes, mom tends to walk through what a little guy Uncle Scott called "Bugs Bunny in Happy Land" most days, but she understands my need to be big guy too. Bring on the flames! I am ready for Monster Jam!
