They Really Do Have Fun.

We are so lucky... they really do love each other.  I hope this phase lasts forever. 

 

Brandy's Fridge

You know how some childhood memories stick with you and often times they are the oddist things? 

 

Well, when I was 10ish, my Mom planned a "fun" trip to D.C. by train (she probably decided that was a bad idea about 10 minutes into the ride).  I have a memory of arriving to D.C., heading to my Mom's friends home, and opening her fridge to only find yogurt.  I remember my Mom blaming the lack of food on the fact that her friend was single and without children.

 

Hmmm... here is the thing... my fridge is always empty.  I am married and have 2 kids. After I finished law school and studying for the Bar, I thought my empty fridge problem would stop.  I headed to the grocery store with a list and stocked my fridge.  However, a week later the food was gone and my pantry was bare.  Things have not improved. In fact, I think they have gotten worse - I actually ran out of yogurt this weekend!

 

The truth is out.  I fail at properly stocking a kitchen!

 

I guess the truth would not be as painful, if I actually did not like to cook.  I do enjoy cooking.  Ignore the fact that I set my stove top on fire last week.  It was not my fault.  I mean, yes, I was cooking on the stove top, but it was improperly installed (thats my story and I am sticking to it).

 

So here's the thing... after the fire, Ellison ran down the street and told every neighbor that "my mom set the kitchen on fire by her cooking."  Once I caught up to Ellison, she was inside playing with her friend, Landon. His Mom was successfully cooking a delicious soup, similar to one that I had just noted on a magazine by folding down the corner (to probably never look at again). 

 

I asked if it was the same recipe?  It wasn't, but in the meantime I gave her an idea of what to add.  What did she do? She opened up her pantry and pulled out the ingredients that I had inspired.  Total pantry envy.

 

So as I stared at my very empty fridge and pantry this weekend, all I could think about was that memory of being 10 and staring at the empty fridge of my Mom's one single friend without kids. I always thought that friend was so cool (still do).   I am not sure if my kids feel the same way about me and my empty fridge....  Oh well, my secret is out.  At least I always have goldfish (and usually yogurt).

Explanation

I love the way Ellison says "number".  After an earlier conversation, where she laid out the steps, "number 1, number 2", I tried my best to re-capture it on video.  She would not cooperate.  However, I did end up with a great video of Ellison explaining a project at school.  Can you believe she is only 4?

Crazy Dylan

Final Destination

The kids voted for Epcot as our final stop on our Disney Year Pass.  I am not really sure why they chose Epcot, but they did.  It's fun to look back at Dylan and how much he has changed in 10 months. 



April 2012... the chipmunks lured him over.  It took several minutes.

2013... he ran right up, hugged them, posed for me... Dylan's got this down!



Last April, Tigger got a big hug.



10 months later, Dylan's blonder, taller, and a lot less sweaty :)

Graham did not want to wait in line for this as Graham stated, "fake character".  However, Duffy was hillarious.  The kids loved him so much... and I did too. 

Sleep

Dylan woke up mid-nap and immediately fell back asleep in my arms.  Ellison asked if she could hold him while he napped.  She did for 1 hour.  Sweet big sis.

Here is the thing... it is really annoying when parents brag about their children sleeping through the night, every night, 7 pm until 7 am, since birth!

First, I think you are full of crap. 

Second, I think your children just don't love you and want to spend time with you as much as mine love me and want to spend time with me.  I mean seriously there is no other possible explanation for your child sleeping through the night. 

Case # 1 Ellison Adele
When Ellison was a baby, she woke up as soon as I got home from school (10:30 pm) and then as soon as I finished studying (2 am).  Like Clockwork.  Why?  She wanted extra time with me... she loves me that much!

Now as a 4 year old, she tries to stay awake as long as possible at night.  Each night attempting to negotiate, argue, kick and scream her way out of a reasonable bed time.  Why?  She loves me.

Case # 2 Dylan Beaman
When Dylan was an infant, he would wake up as soon as I put the book down.  Like Clockwork.  He would wake up again at 5 am.  Like Clockwork.  Why?  He wanted extra time with me... he loves me that much!

As a 2 year old, he now looks for me... each and every night.  The time changes, but one thing always holds the same... every night as soon as I drift off to sleep I hear Dylan saying "Mommy, mommy".  Why?  He loves me.

.....
Let me explain one thing ... I don't care if you agree or disagree with my theory.  It works for me. I need my theory (and 2 extra cups of coffee) to get through the day. 

And, yes, I am always the one that is up at night with the kids.  Why?  Because I love every minute with my sweet children.  I look at their precious sleeping faces and know that I can catch up on sleep later because these moments when they need me at night won't last forever.

What do they say about All Good Things?

We've been spoiled!  Over the last year, we have loved, enjoyed, and used our Annual Disney Passes.  I mean seriously aren't you so over my Disney trip posts?  Well all good things must come to an end, right? Ok, I don't know if I agree with that statement completely.   However, in the case of the Annual Disney Passes, the good time comes to an end in a week. 

 



 

So many smiles, so many giggles, so much fun!

I love Ellison's wardrobe for this trip!  It is hard to see, but she is wearing pink cowgirl boots and flip-up sunglasses.

Dylan was super excited to see Goofy and Donald.  Over the last few months, he has really become smitten with Mickey Mouse and friends.

Hillarities to Remember

As I went to bed last night, I thought to myself that I better blog on a few hillarities from past two days before I forget.  You have to understand, if I don't blog on my life immediately, it will be forgotten by day 3. My head is pretty much at capacity. So here are a few hillarities (may be a word I made up) from the past 2 days:

#1
As we were getting into the car, Ellison explains why she would be more inclined to cooperate with me.  Her explanation is as follows:

"I would probably do that more, if you would stop wearing so much black and grey. Ugh."

#2
Yesterday, Dylan walks into my room, throws himself onto my bed, and while lounging back with feet crossed and hands behind back, says with a smirk:

"Momma's a man."  

I replied, "Nooo, I'm a woman"

 (with giggles) "No, Momma's a man"

I respond, "Well what is Dylan"

"I'm a car." 

He thinks he's hillarious.  He went on to repeat that he was a car and eventually told me that Ellison was a Barbie.  I stated that I want to be a barbie... he just laughed. 

#3
On the drive to school yesterday, Ellison asked Dylan if he had a girlfriend.

Dylan: "Yes, my Momma"

Ellison: "No, Momma is a girl and friend and your Mommy, but not girlfriend."

Dylan: "No."

Ellison: "Remember when I helped Uncle Drew and Mallory walk down?  Remember? Well you marry your girlfriend.  And then a few days later you have a baby."  

Me: "Is that how it works?"

#4
On our car ride home from school, Ellison says:

"I have another boyfriend. This is not good. I now have 3 boys that are in love with me and want to marry me.  Mom, they are in love with me. I am not in love with them. No way! I am not going to marry them. No way! This is so bad."

A boy in Ellison's class told her that he loved her yesterday.  Love = marriage according to Ellison.  And although Ellison has boys that she is in love with, she also has 3 different boys that are in love with her. Oh the trials and tribulations of being Ellison!

Lure, Appeal, Enticement

It's a monthly conversation and it goes something like this:

 

Graham: "You tricked me into moving to Orlando and now we are never going to leave."

Me: "That's not true" (okay, may be partially true)

Graham: "I miss St. Pete."

Me: "We can go there anytime to visit. When do you want to go?" (possibly eye rolling may also be involved, but only because the conversation gets so old)

 

The truth is that we love where we are.  It would be really tough to move anywhere.  However, I must say that we always have a blast visiting St. Pete.  This weekend was no exception.  And as always, our friends tried their best to lure us there. 



 



Ellison enjoying a playdate with Nana's neighbor.
We can check climbing trees of her list of "To-Do before I Grow Up".

Of course Dylan had to do what Ellison was doing.

Time with Great Grandma Ruthie (and lots of candy canes).

Graham and Aunt Linda

When did this happen?

When did my babies turn into kids?  It happens so fast.  They both talk, walk, talk back, say "no", tell jokes, constantly crack up over the word "poop"... ha! There have been so many hillarious exchanges between these two lately.  I have to say that as Ellison and Dylan grow further away from the baby stage, I am not missing it.  They are pretty fun as kids.  

 

Last Day of Winter Break

Today is the last day of Winter Break. We have been enjoying our time at home...

Dylan's first tea party.

Super Heroes ... off to save Santa!

Breakfast in bed.

Monkey Joes!

Explorers on a search for bugs.

Beauty Parlor.

Scooter Princess.

Hair Salon. (The doll head got a lot of action)

Happy 2013!

What to say about 2012... it was pretty darn good! Of course, there were ups and downs, good and bad, but overall I can not complain (at all). 

 

As we welcomed 2013 today, I prayed that I would be able to stand up on ice skates, help pull up Ellison if she fell, not give Graham hillarious blooper videos, and that both, Ellison and I, would leave the ice skating rink unscathed. 

 

Prayers answered and one fun afternoon later, I can honestly say that I look forward to an amazing 2013!  I can not wait to see what is in store for my family and friends. 

 

Ice skates on... still on the sidelines.

It took us one hour to go around the rink... once.

Don't let the pictures fool you, Ellison was much improved by our 4th trip around the rink.

Olivia came to cheer us on and joined us for a trip to Park Avenue afterwards.

Dylan slept through the humiliation (actually, I did fine - sarcasm), but woke up in time for ice cream.

Future Newswoman

Ellison is a performer... when she wants to be!  The second part of my last sentence is the part that should be emphasized.  Ellison will dance, sing, model, gab... if its her choice and it meets her conditions.  The below video was supposed to be a Happy Birthday video for my Mom.  Instead, she surprised me with a blurb on her baby elephant.  I especially love the send off.

Finally Old!

Uncle Drew has always seemed so young in comparison to Graham and I.  It helps his cause that he is actually younger and married to an even younger lady (early 20s).  As Uncle Drew graced hit 30 on December 30th, I finally feel like he is old... like us. Happy Birthday Uncle Drew! 

Fabulous and 60!

My Mom celebrated her 60th Birthday on December 29th!  I really can not accurately describe how lucky I am to have such an amazing woman in my life.  She has been a source of encouragement and strength.  She has taught me how to be a mother. She has told me that if I want something, I can achieve it.  I am forever grateful.  I love you Mom!  Happy 60th - you are fabulous!