Preschool Carpool Ramblings #1

I usually tune out to what the kids are saying in the back seat when I'm driving the preschool carpool, but when I tune in, it's usually pretty amusing. I usually drive Elaina and her two friends, Matthew and Caleb. Today I tuned in because Elaina was distraught and on the verge of tears. I asked her what is wrong. She answered that nobody would play with her. I asked why not, and was told that she wanted to play "Mommy and Daddy" and they wanted to play "a game called shoot the bad guys." We all had a little talk about including everyone and that she might need to be willing to play what the boys are playing if she wants to be included. So, she compromised...and tried to bend the game to go how she wanted it to go. I heard a lot of "pssshh, pssshh" (gun noises) and then, in her high-pitched, girliest voice:

Elaina: "oh no! Save me! I'm the princess and I don't have a shoot gun!"

Caleb & Matthew: "pssshhh, psshhh, bam, bam"

Elaina: "oh no! My gun ran out of batteries. Can you give me some more?"

Caleb, sounding a little annoyed: "Nooo!! We're shooting the bad guys!"

....more gun noises from the boys and more high pitched, helpless cries from Elaina....

Caleb: "oh no! Let's shoot the rabbits!"

Elaina looked a little concerned at this, but still wanted desperately to be apart of the game: "ok, now we've got the rabbits. Let's take them off to jail."

Caleb: N-N-N-N-N-O! We're supposed to SHOOT the rabbits!!

After a long, silent pause in which everyone seemed bothered (each for their own reasons) about how this game was going, Elaina decided to just change the game altogether:

Elaina (on the pretend phone): "hello hello? This is Princess Aurora. Hello? Hello? Someone pick up the phone please. This is Princess Aurora."

Nobody picked up the phone and the boys went back to shooting rabbits and bad guys...and bad rabbits.

Erin Dressed Herself...

Erin spilled water on her pants the other day, and this Little Miss Independent decided to just solve the problem herself. She went to the dryer where she knew there was a load of clean jeans, found a pair, and put them on. There was just one minor problem :)

A Bouquet of Weeds

There is something about being a Mom that makes me so happy when my sweet daughter brings me this:

And now I am proudly displaying them in my windowsill:

And yes, it makes me happy :)

Snow in Texas!!!

It snowed here last week and we were so excited! We're a little limited on the winter clothing :) Erin ironically has 2 pair of winter boots; poor Elaina had to wear her regular tennis shoes, which soaked through. Erin's gloves didn't match; Elaina borrowed mine (which were huge on her!) when hers got soaked. Elaina's coat was pretty light-weight and so she had lots of layers underneath to try and keep her warm.

Getting ready to go out to play!

At first the girls were a little hesitant to go and really play in the snow; they weren't really sure about getting wet and dirty. I told Elaina to "go play" so she jumped in, and then jumped right back out. It was so funny to see them so unfamiliar with snow!

Erin's a little copy cat, so she followed Elaina jumping in....and right back out. It didn't take too long for them to get wet and dirty and have lots of fun. They got drenched! It was so great!

Erin got stuck in this position. She didn't really want to get wet yet, so she just stood there calling for me to help her. I snapped a photo :)

Love this pic!

Elaina, starting our snowman...but then the girls discovered how fun it is to throw a snowball and so we started several snowmen that afternoon

We stayed out as long as we could, but after about an hour and a half they were both pretty drenched and so we came in. I stuck Elaina's shoes, and all the gloves, hats, and sweaters in the dryer so we could go out again after dinner.

Our fabulous snowman! He's brown, and grassy, and covered in leaves, but it is the best snowman I've ever made. Check out the proud faces on those girls. It's the most adorable thing ever!

Random Recent Fun

We went to the Aquarium in Houston with some friends last month. Elaina and Erin were both brave enough to touch the stingray and starfish:

Daddy-daughter time, playing Guitar Hero

We went to a birthday part at a place called Mt. Aggie. It's February and so the fact that we're sledding doesn't seem too ridiculous, right? Right. Except notice the green grass in the background, the short sleeves/no coats. And our friend Aspen at the front of the sled in his bare feet. Yes, we are on a mountain of carpet (which is white to make us feel like we're getting the true effect, but some of us aren't fooled since we still go down barefoot), which is hosed down every couple of hours so that we can slide better. It was a blast! Elaina was a little nervous at first. I went with her several times, and then she found a new friend that she shared a sled with the rest of the time. I did send her down once by herself and it scared her to death! Mt. Aggie is a huge hit - it's on A&M campus - just this white mountain in the middle of nowhere that I had never noticed before.

DiSnEyLaNd!!!

I was so excited to take the kids to Disneyland when we were in California after Christmas. I think they were the perfect ages - Erin was old enough to enjoy the excitement and know who the characters are. She was also old enough to be able to handle a long day. Elaina was young enough that she wasn't trying to figure out if it was the real Mickey Mouse, or just someone dressed up as Mickey. It was magical for all of us. I love Disneyland! I'm glad that all of my brother and sister in laws (who were there) were able to come too. It was such a fun day!

Entrance to Disneyland. The girls were just in awe. I was so excited to introduce them to Disneyland!

TJ& Erin

Visiting Dale. He was so impressed with Elaina's sparkly shoes, and she was just as excited to show them off :)

Staci and Elaina looking over the bridge at the Disneyland Castle

Visiting Mickey. Erin was excited that he kissed her hand

Visiting Mickey in Toontown

Me & my girls

Visiting Goofy in Toontown

If you've talked to the girls at all in the last 2 months you know that "Goofy turned around in the picture." They tell everyone they ever talk to. Multiple times. They tell strangers in line at the grocery store. They tell random people at church. People have no idea what they're talking about, but Elaina and Erin think it's hilarious. If only Goofy knew how memorable his turning around in the picture would be!

Elaina always wants to help navigate. I have so many pictures of her reading the map at various different places. I think these pictures are so cute!

Elaina at It's a Small World

Elaina, me, and Staci on the boats at It's a Small World...Elaina looks scared, but she wasn't scared - this is her "I-want-to-look-at-other-things-but-Mom's-making-me-smile-for-the-camera" face.

Teacups! Kelli and I volunteered to go on with the kids (Kelli is pregnant; I'm just a wuss - I just can't handle the dizzy rides!), while TJ and Staci went crazy on their own teacup.

While we were waiting for the parade to start Erin got in front of the crowds and started twirling and dancing. People around us thought it was pretty funny, and then other girls started to follow. Then this little girl came out and Erin was in heaven that Snow White came to dance with her. I think there ended up being about 3 little girls that were out there dancing for the crowds.

Mickey & Minnie in the parade

After the parade we went to go visit the princesses. We got in line and realized it was an hour and a half wait. I had told the girls that the princesses lived at Disneyland and that we would be able to see them so there was no way that we were going home without seeing them. So I stood in line while the kids went on other rides with Kelli, TJ & Staci, and they got back just in time to meet the princesses. It worked out great and was SO worth it. I wish you all could have seen their faces when they walked up and saw Belle and Ariel and Jasmine. They acted elegantly, and polite, and very princess-y. It was so cute.

Elaina felt like a real pricess sitting with Belle

Ariel as our favorite - she was so talkative and friendly. She kept talking and asking questions to the girls and was so interested in what the girls told her. She played the part perfectly and we all just loved her

I love this picture of Elaina and Belle - it's like they're having a little conversation and you can see on Elaina's face how special she feels to be visiting with Princess Belle

Jasmine & the girls

Steve, Ashley & Elaina

Erin

Ashley, Elaina & Steve

Erin & Uncle Jonny. He went with us on Pirates of the Caribbean and was sitting next to Elaina and Erin saying "you're going to die!!!!!" They just laughed and thought he was hilarious, and the ride wasn't scary. However, earlier in the day when we were on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (far less scary than Pirates) they were both freaked out and crying - and Kelli and I were trying to calm them down and tell them it was all pretend the whole time!

Trying on princess crowns

Disneyland at night. It was so fun to be there at Christmas. The castle was beautiful. The fireworks were incredible. It was a wonderful day!

Erin Said....

Elaina started begging me for a baby brother today:

Elaina: "Mommy, can I please have a baby brother? Please, please, please?"

Me: I just ignored her; so she started to try to get Erin on her side:

Elaina: "Erin, don't you want a baby brother?"

Erin: "No, I want a baby Jesus"

Me: Almost died laughing.

(and no I am not pregnant...)

California

Elaina, Erin and I were able to visit Mike's family after Christmas for a week. We had such a great time with them! Mike had his prelim exams the second week of January, so felt like he should stay home and study instead. And he passed the test!!

Everyone was able to be there except Mike, Tim (who had to work in Utah that week), and Daniel (who is on his mission). I need to be better at remembering to take pictures! I hardly got any pictures just around the house and with family (I did get lots at Disneyland though!), but we did have a great time, even if I didn't document it with photos very well. I feel so lucky to have such wonderful in-laws and that our kids have so many people on both sides of our family who love them so much.

Elaina, Opa, and Aunt Staci

Erin & Uncle Jonny

I have my own little strategy when I fly with the kids: F-O-O-D! It works great. Whenever they get loud, I bribe them: "If you're quiet, you can have a cracker." Or if Erin wants to escape, and run up and down the aisles: "If you stay in your seat, the pretzels will keep coming." Here's the thing though: kids are smart and over time, they'll get sick of the food you're giving them, so there's an order to the food, and the order is very important: start with the healthy stuff (cut up apples), and gradually work your way up to the junk food: apples...cheese strings...pretzels...animal crackers/goldfish...candy (and a variety of it!). Jelly beans are good because you can give it to them one at a time and so it lasts (and isn't messy!). Chocolate, lolipops, and anything sticky and messy are bad, bad, bad.

This Christmas, Santa left a stocking for the girls in California, and the life-saver gummies were truly a life saver (for me!) on the trip home. I showed the girls how to put them on their fingers, like rings, and it provided a good half hour of entertainment. My other life saver: the portable DVD player: Never fly without one!