Birthday and Snow

Liam's birthday is tomorrow, but we had his party this past Saturday.  He L-O-V-E-S Lightning McQueen (or Queen as he calls him) and Cars, so his party was a "Queen" party of course.  I had a little more help than I needed making and decorating cupcakes, but they were still cute!

Notice all the yellow sprinkles on the one???? About half a jar landed on that one cupcake!

Singing Happy Birthday...When we finished he said, "Again!" So, of course, we obliged him!  His second request for an encore performance was denied, however. 

I love this picture.  It is so him!  A lot happy and a lot ornery!!!!

Opening a package.  See all the ornaments at the bottom of my Christmas tree?  They keep getting moved lower and lower on the tree by my two little elves!!!!

Pueblo doesn't normally get but one or two snowstorms a year that bring more than 6" of snow.  We had one Monday that left 8" at my house.  We had another last night that left another 6" and it's still snowing!!!!
My neighbor is not the friendliest of guys (his wife is a sweetheart, but him, not so much).  You know, one of those that doesn't wave or say hello even when you do first.  He's not mean per se, just not friendly.  He also has a snowblower.  He did his driveway and sidewalk Tuesday morning.  He then walked down my sidewalk to get to the neighbor lady's to do hers.  I was glad he did 'cause she's in her 80s and has had a bit of a rough Fall.  I was re-thinking my earlier thoughts of him not being so friendly.  Until, I watched him do about 10 more sidewalks and driveways.  Why did he skip mine if he was going to do the whole block????  I really don't think I've done anything to make him mad.  I'm choosing to believe it's because he thinks I'm able-bodied.  Either that, or I need to bake him some cookies.  Too bad I didn't resolve this issue before this round of snow hit.  I thought I had time...

Off to shovel I go.  I hear there's a chance for more snow early next week. Maybe cookie or muffin baking should be on today's agenda!!!!

train table and preschool program

My dad built the kids this train table and brought it to them last Saturday.  It has had someone playing at it ever since.  I intend for it to go downstairs, but it's such a hit I asked my dad to make a smaller version for us to have upstairs. 

They love having a table they are allowed to sit on!!!!!!!!

Kyra's preschool had their Christmas program this evening.  I had no idea what to expect as Kyra refused to sing any of the songs to me that they would be performing.  And, I knew last week she got in trouble during practice for talking to another boy....

On stage and ready to go (the kids were from 3 classes, so 2.5 year olds, preschool, and Pre-K).  You'll note Kyra is the only girl in her class not in a dress.  Apparently the other moms got the memo.  Next year....

After taking a HUGE bow....

She hijacked the microphone and she and the boy next to her started singing/talking/making noise and pretty much made it impossible to hear anything but the 2 of them.  It was hilarious!  She's so much braver than I ever was!  She really is the class clown. 

Stubborn little stink

We all had a cold last week (Liam's turned into a sinus infection).  When the kiddos are sick, their favorite place to nap is my bed.  Typically they play until I have to separate them.  On this day though, they actually slept.  Too sweet!

He has figured out how to push a chair from the dining room into the kitchen, then climbs up on the counter to help himself to a snack.  He's got some ingenuity!  (Pay no attention to the mismatched socks!)

On Saturday Liam got in trouble for spitting his medicine (which tastes like an orange dreamsicle, so not bad at all) all over himself and me.  I told him he had to go to "time by himself" until he took his medicine. 

6 hours later, he fell asleep...

I did feed him and give him drink while he was there.  Changed his diaper twice.  So, don't think I'm an overly cruel mother.  Everytime he was offered something I knew he'd like or want the conversation went like this.  Me: Do you want a fruit snack? Liam: Uh-huh! Me: Take your medicine and you can have one. Liam: NO!  Me: Do you want to take a bath (he loves baths and showers)? Liam: Uh-Huh! Me: Take your medicine and you can take one. Liam: NO!  Me: Do you want to take a shower? Liam: Uh-Huh! Me: Take your medicine and you can take one.  Liam: NO!  Me: Do you want to go to the birthday party with Kyra?  Liam: Uh-Huh! Me: Take your medicine and we can go. Liam: NO!  (Kyra got to go to the party 'cause granny picked her up and took her...The boy and I stayed home).  And on, and on, and on, and on, the day went.  I thought surely Kyra leaving without him would do it, but alas, he was not to give in.  Eventually he fell asleep, and the battle ended (he is sick after all and I wanted him to get a good nap so I put him in his bed and when he woke-up I didn't put him back in "the chair" because it was too close to the next dose of meds).  It was a battle of wills.  I guess it ended in a draw.  After dinner that night we went to Walgreens and got a syringe.  Now he doesn't have much of a choice in the matter.  But, this level of stubborness and resolve in a not even 2 year-old....I'm scared!

a bit of randomness

She snuck the iPad in for naptime...guess it didn't really cause her to miss much sleep!

We all had a cold this past week.  He seemed to feel the yuckiest and wanted to sleep with me in my bed for a few nights/naps (he never does this except when sick)...Looks so sweet and peaceful though!

Being silly with her cowgirl hat!

We made banana muffins last week.  Kyra did a fantastic job with all the stirring, breaking eggs, and mashing bananas. Liam did a fantastic job wearing the "wet" ingredients all over his face!!

Dinner tonight....

Kyra set the table....

This was the fork she got for me :)

Since we moved in I wanted to do my guest bedroom in "Dick and Jane."  Finding old books to frame/display has been really hard!  My friend Vicki texted me at work one day and told me to get down to a local antique shop ASAP.  I quickly left (it was lunch time anyway!) and lo and behold she had found these for me.  They're the size a teacher would put on an easel and they are awesome!!!  I'm so excited to have them!!!!

A close-up of one...Too Cute!!!!

Life, Halloween, special visitor

Reality= 2 kids climbing all over me; unable (unwilling?) to get rid of mimi's (pacifiers); and lots of fun :)

Playing in Mommo and PopPop's sandbox.  Kyra found that "hat" at Walmart and it somehow made it's way home with us.  It didn't come off her head for over 48 hours...

In July Kyra said she wanted to be a shark and a volcano for Halloween.  Her mind was not to be changed. So, she was a shark and a volcano for Halloween.  It's hard to get a good picture of those two things.  Liam was a monkey.  Every picture I have is blurry because he doesn't stop moving. Ever. I'll put him in his costume and try again.  He was super cute!

My dear friend Taty came from Brazil to visit us this last week.  It was wonderful to have her here.  She left this morning and Kyra has been asking for her non-stop.  She wants her to come back, but this time to bring her kids.  Or, she would very much like to go to Brazil and visit her.  Someday my girl, someday!

Slightly out of order picture....I wore my Minnie Mouse ears, Taty was Red Riding Hood, and Kyra had taken her volcano off at this point.  Not the best pic of me, but....

The past week has been a bit rough around here, so it was especially good to have Taty here.  Long story short, I had to let my babysitter go that we've had for almost a year and have really loved.  In turn, I lost my job because I no longer have childcare.  So, it's on to the next step.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet.  I would very much like to find something that allows me to be home with the kids.  The cost of childcare makes working outside the home pretty difficult.  Plus, I like being with my kids. So, I'll probably try to find some work-from-home gig and maybe do some before or after school childcare...If you know of anything or have any ideas, I'm all ears!!! :)

Day Out With Thomas

A few weeks ago Mommo and I took the kids up to Golden to ride on Thomas, like we did last year.  We all had a very good time, once again!

Watching the model trains go round the yard...

Kyra got a Rosie tattoo (just like last year)

Liam got a Diesel 10 tattoo...Diesel 10 is devious....A fitting tattoo for my boy! :)

Thomas

No trip to the railroad museum is complete without climbing on some old trains

sweet boy with his new haircut