3!

Little man got a visit from the birthday fairy today and cupcakes for breakfast.  I still can't believe he is 3! 

Birthday Fairy Offerings

We also had the grandparents, aunt K, and catlady's family over in the afternoon for a "quiet" birthday barbecue.  The kiddos had a great time splashing in the pool/running around the yard and grill master Disco got to cook on his grill. 

Grill Master Disco

Not many more pics from today since we spent most of it outside and our main photographer was on grill duty.  Little man had the best time and told me over and over all day "I'm the birthday boy!"  He even used that line on Disco when daddy asked him if he needed help - being the birthday boy somehow meant little man had special powers today and he was COMPLETELY independent.  Until after his bath when he wanted MOMMY, NOW!  Small meltdown from little man after a long weekend - which meant special cuddle time in the rocking chair.  Not complaining at all that little mr. independent man still needs his mommy every once in a while.  He was very cute rocking and talking about his presents and adventures from today. 

As the day is ending I feel a little sad that our long weekend at home is ending.  We really did have a great weekend as a family just hanging around the house.  And little man is growing up way too fast.  He is such a sweet and awesome boy! 

3 year old Little Man - such a big boy now!

S'mores for Dinner

Little man turns 3 tomorrow.  I can't believe he is already 3!  We had his birthday party at the park with his friends this past Thursday - I'll post pics from that soon.  This weekend the kiddos played in the yard while Disco and I have been cleaning and doing projects around the house.  Since it has been a more relaxed holiday/birthday weekend we decided to treat the kiddos to S'mores tonight.  Disco fired up the chiminea and we taught them how to roast their marshmallows.  Everyone thought it was a special treat!

Little Man and His ABCs

FINALLY!  A video of little man singing his ABCs.  He has been singing them for quite some time but he got camera shy on me for a while.  He is also counting to 20 now and does ok with his colors and shapes.  We have been playing "I spy" with big sis lately and that seems to be helping with his ability to identify colors.  He has been really excited about spelling his first name out loud - he can tell you all the letters and in the correct order.  Little man is also recognizing the letter "R" everywhere since it is the first letter of his name.  In books, on the cereal box, signs, the TV, toys, EVERYWHERE.  In fact he yells "R is for little man" over and over again until you acknowledge his statement.  :)  I can't believe his 3rd birthday is just around the corner . . .

Spring Recital

Big sis was fabulous in her dance recital tonight - a beautiful end to a whirlwind of a week!  This year we didn't have any moms sign up as stage moms.  And I thought "what the heck, surely I can pitch in to help out."  Really, I do this to myself . . .  I know that.  But I thought nothing could top big sis' first performance last spring so being backstage wouldn't be a big deal.  Last year I loved her sweet dress and the beauty of "Rainbow Connection."  The dance mate who cried through the entire performance also made me laugh and cry, especially when the audience erupted in cheers as she did finally make it through one planned move.

Anyway, tonight was all about being a neurotic mom trying to keep 12 young 4-5 year olds entertained until their performance.  Right up my alley.  I was really glad I shared that responsibility with another mom I knew fairly well after two years of dance.  We had plenty of food and activities and not one single tear or potty accident thank you very much.  I was soooo amazed at how great our group was - they were all so well behaved!

The magic was all backstage, though.  I got chill bumps during the first performance and there was so much energy from the girls and moms and teachers back there.  Definitely a controlled chaos, yet our little dozen "peaches" sat patiently and quietly with very little agitation.  When it was time to perform they all placed their hands squarely on their hips and skipped right on out to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."  And when big sis skipped off stage at the end it felt good to be able to give her a big hug, congratulate her on a beautiful performance, and let her know how proud I was because she was so brave.  So even though both of our kiddos ended the evening in a melt down of massive proportions - I will remember the smile big sis had on her face as she made it backstage.  Because she was just as proud as I was!

(For the photogs out there - lighting an issue for the following pics.  But I LOVE the ethereal effect the lighting created in the pics.  Really captured how it felt backstage . . . truly magical!)

Honeysuckle

The scent that reminds me most of my own childhood is honeysuckle.  The sweet aroma immediately makes me think of playing softball at a neighbor's/coach's field (which was surrounded by woods and open fields - somewhere in there honeysuckle grew).  I also remember that the nearby woods had some old civil war headstones . . . isn't it weird how certain scents are connected to memories?

Anyway, I enjoy teaching the kiddos about some of my favorite childhood activities and memories.  On the way home from school last Friday we stopped to check out the honeysuckle along the side of the road.  I love walking big sis home from school on Fridays - even though she isn't as thrilled with it these days.  The honeysuckle vines renewed the walking home adventure for her last week, though.  It is fun to pass along my memories and experiences while watching her discover new ones of her own.

For those that are wondering, yes, big sis has extremely dirty hands after a full day of playing at school.  And no, I don't care about the dirt because it helps to build her immune system ;)

No more pencils, no more books . . .

 . . . no more teachers' dirty looks.  (Graduate) Schools out for summer!  Yesterday I completed my "final" final.  I won't have to take another test, EVER.  I tried to blog about it last night but Blogger was down for maintenance.  The test was OK - I passed everything as an "A" student.

So no more classes!!!!  Just one pass/fail project to do next fall and then I complete the MPH (Masters in Public Health).  I won't wear my "student hat" anymore.  I'm really happy about that!  And I'm ready for a new direction (hopefully with more time with the kiddos).  Woo hoo!  :)

Dancin'

Big sis' reaction to music has been the same since she began walking at 11 months old.  She has to stop what she is doing and shake her booty!

Spring Program 2011

Little man had his first spring program this year - I was soooooo excited about it!  Big sis had at least 2 little programs by this time but the school changed the way they set up classes and the timing of the program so little man was lagging behind. 

His class did Winnie the Pooh and little man was Christopher Robin (light blue shirt and dark blue shorts if you are looking for him in the program).  It cracked me up that he spent the entire program with his arms crossed.  And no one from his class really sang the first song.  But they were too cute!  Proud momma!

The countdown continues...

One week from tomorrow my semester will be OVER! I can't wait!!! :)

Hat Parade

We still haven't had time to post Easter pictures.  I suspect that Disco finally worked on the pictures last week but I have been running at full speed and haven't even asked him about the pictures yet.  And yes, we do live in the same house and sleep in the same bed (when one or both of the kiddos don't kick us out) so it is pretty bad when I can't remember to ask about jpgs....

Anyway, I was able to make some time Friday for some special mother daughter moments with big sis before I left town on a business trip.  I ended up in her bed Thursday night because of storms again.  When she woke up her first words were "Its wake up time!" and she scampered off to the couch so that we could watch the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton in awe together.  It was a moment I will definitely remember - a five year old princess watching a real live princess in the making.  Little man ended up joining us after a while.  Big sis and little man enjoyed waving and blowing kisses at the TV screen as the prince and new princess greeted the crowd from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. 

I was also able to make it to big sis' hat parade at school.  They held a fundraiser for Crohn's Disease and Colitis (random disease choice I thought but I am sure one of the kids or parents at the school must be affected by one or the other condition because that school really rallies around its members).  If you brought a dollar you were able to wear a hat to school all day and they had a parade around the school as an activity in the morning.  Usually I do not have any extra time before I leave for a work trip.  But somehow I got everything done in time to attend - and I am glad I did.  Big sis was a little sad because I was leaving town and she ended up begging me to attend the parade as I dropped her off that morning.  When I returned, she and her friends were all smiles.  Her class of youngsters led the parade around the school.  Again, it was another memory I will cherish.