Mini-Me?

Lance recently accused me of dressing Katie like a "mini-me." I denied it, since I rarely wear polka dots or "pinktails." With Tyler, we are the very grateful recipients of some hand-me-downs from a friend (and they are awesome, cute things), so I don't think I can be solely blamed for dressing him to look like Lance (although this outfit was purchased for him by me). Katie, though, doesn't have a clothes benefactor and when I took note of what they were wearing today to go to school I realized that Lance may have a point...


Turtleneck sweater for Katie, Jeans and fleece for Tyler...

I had the bright idea to let them help me put ornaments on the tree. The three that got put on with their help are the only ones on the tree a week later - that's how long it took me to realize that was a bad idea!

They've already figured out that presents are a great part of the Christmas tradition! They both have items that they are asking Santa for, and Katie in particular likes to take inventory of the presents under the tree and name who she thinks they belong to (not surprisingly Katie is named quite often as the gift recipient).

Debacle!

We decided to take the kids to a Vandy basketball game tonight. The time at the game (just until halftime) wasn't too bad. The kids enjoyed clapping and watching the jumbotron, and just the general atmosphere. However, NOBODY enjoyed the aftermath of staying up way past bedtime. Last night we went to visit some friends and there were lots of children there so the kids had a great time playing with new toys and new friends. They got to stay out later than usual, but they were in pajamas and in bed only about 30 minutes or so later than is typical and I didn't think it would wreak too much havoc. I was wrong - as is usually the case on nights when they stay up later, they were up earlier than usual. We were already operating on a slight sleep deficit - not good for strict sleep schedule kids - and deciding to keep them up for a second night in a row is in hindsight a very bad idea. Katie took a whopping 1 hour nap at school (also typical), and was in a relatively good mood when we set out to go to the game (early season, small crowd, sit where we want, no big deal to leave at halftime). That all changed however on the drive home and especially once they were supposed to be going to bed. Katie yelled (not just cried or whined, but flat out yelling, screaming, pitching a royal fit) for the entire 3o minute trip in the car, and then had to be wrestled to change her diaper and pajamas and after that went ballistic screaming, crying and flopping uncontrollably. We tried to calm her down, leave her to sort it out, and everything in between and she was just having the tantrum of all tantrums combined with being extremely overtired. Just 30 minutes ago she finally went to sleep after leaving her for a while, checking in, rocking, back rubbing, etc. I am sure she will be up at 5 AM and we will pay the price for messing up her sleep routine for a week at least. I definitely think at this point it is not worth it - Tyler seemed to really enjoy the game, but Katie could not stay still, and it was just stressful for us trying to keep up with them and keep them entertained so I think the verdict is debacle for now. We'll probably wait a year to try to take them back to another game, and I still think basketball is a better bet initially since there is no tailgating, the games are shorter, there is more action, and it is indoor! Football games are in our future too, though, of course - I just think for everyone's sanity we need to wait to include the kiddos in our sports fan fun!

Turtle???

The kids are regular little chatterboxes these days and can surprise you with the things they say. On the way home last week we saw someone riding their bicycle. Katie pointed it out and then said I wanna pink bicycle. Tyler of course, said he wanted a pink bicycle too (but he changed it to blue thankfully)! I told them they had to tell Santa (in hopes that this year they will sit on his lap without screaming). They are starting to "get" Santa and they know that Santa says Ho Ho Ho. Since Thanksgiving is coming up (!) I asked them what a turkey says, too. I thought they got it since every time I would randomly ask what a turkey says they would both answer gobble gobble. Well, we were reading books the other night and came across a turtle and when I asked what it was Katie said turtle - gobble gobble. We made up what a turtle "does" (scrunched shoulders like he's going in his shell) to try to help them differientiate. I won't be surprised, though, if on Thanksgiving they think we are eating turtle - gobble gobble! That confusion was a little easier to sort out than the moon debacle. Shortly after the time change we began to be able to see the moon and stars on our way home and the kids thought it was great. Well, we had a few cloudy, rainy evenings when the moon couldn't be seen and the whole 45 minute drive home consisted of questions like Mommy, where moon? No, moon don't sleep (yelled). Or, come out Mr. Moon peeese! It was funny, but they were really getting upset with Mr. Moon and didn't take any of my explanations that he was sleeping, hiding behind the clouds, etc. Luckily, the moon made its appearance in a couple of days and was big and bright and that fascinated them the whole ride home. There are so many fun and cute moments these days - I just wish they weren't so interspersed with such devilish behaviour. Tyler was in a mood yesterday and would look at me, do something he knew he wasn't supposed to, give me a big smile which turned into a whimper when he got reprimanded, and then do it all over again - the rascal. This Holiday season should be fun, troublesome of course, but they are excited about every new thing and it will be great to see Christmas through their eyes this year.

Trains, trains, trains

The kids had so, so much fun today. It was "Whistlestop Weekend" at the Adventure Science Center which meant trains were everywhere (including Thomas, but I don't think we saw him). So-So and Ray-Ray were with us, and the kids enjoyed checking out all the train cities (some interactive even for their age) with their grandparents. The day at the museum was capped off with a performance by Jack the Conductor of the Zinghoppers. The emcee who kicked off the show scared Tyler and so we (me, So-So, and Tyler) sat on the edge of the crowd while Tyler got comfortable. Katie, on the otherhand sat with Ray-Ray front and center and thought it was great! Jack the Conductor does a lot of singing and dancing, and the show is geared toward pre-schoolers and getting them up and moving and having fun. Katie got to show off her superb jumping skills and learned some new moves (move your hips). Tyler started participating eventually and proceeded to jump clumsily across the room. Katie was absolutely exhausted after the 30 minute show (plus, it didn't start until 11:30 which is 30 minutes after their usual lunchtime and the beginning of naptime at school). They got happy meals after the Zinghopper fun, and by the time we got home Katie was a wreck. She fought naptime mightily and fiercely (took some fancy maneuvering by me and Lance to get her diaper changed and get her to stay in her crib), but eventually slept for about an hour and half - a real feat for her these days. Tonight, the kids were jumping around the room singing the Tootie Tot song that he did and trying to do the motions and were having a ball (I am going to have to find that on youtube so we can do it at home since they clearly think it is awesome). Since they were looking at trains most of the time it was tough to get good pictures, and then they were too active during the show but here are a few cute ones!

Before we left - notice that I actually did fix Katie's hair, it just didn't last as long as the drive to get there.

The kids with So-So and Ray - they are almost too heavy to hold like this for too long!

Tyler found some time to get in some driving practice while we were waiting for the show to start.

They had a new gardening/flowers exhibit set up in the toddler area and this was where they could "dig up" vegetables. Tyler like watching the trains just as much!

This isn't today, but I thought it was cute - especially since Katie found the glasses on her own and insisted on wearing them and was having a very involved conversation on the phone!

Discovery

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and that Christmas isn't that much farther away. With the kid's behavior lately, switches and coal may be all they are getting :)! Katie, in particular, is in a real independent/testing stage. I am learning to get thicker skin since she is bound and determined to humiliate me in public. Hitting (me, dad, and Tyler), flailing on the ground, refusing to sit in her carseat or hold my hand - those are all bad enough. But the worst is that Katie has learned to be loud and verbal and will yell "No mama, and mama no hurt Katie" everytime I have to inevitably pick her up after long minutes of her refusing to come when I tell her to (like when we are getting in the car to leave school). Tyler isn't as demonstrative, but he is testing too. He flat-out refuses to have his diaper changed these days, or put pajamas on and it is a two-person job with one having to grab his kicking legs and the other of us trying to find a way to put the pjs on. Most of his resistance revolves around him wanting to"sit on the potty," all the time (and usually with a book in hand - what is it with boys and bathrooms), which is great, but neverending and usually with no result. I would say that they are both in a stage of discovery. Katie is discovering what control she has (and we are hoping to teach her that it isn't much) and what she can get away with. She has a pouty face (where she literally turns her lips down in a sad look), and has started throwing herself down when we say no or she doesn't get her way - and really seems to be starting to understand emotions and feelings. The plus side of that is that she has started saying "I love you" more deliberately and is all about hugs and kisses - the downside is obvious, she is learning to express her emotions, which for a toddler means lots of the world is coming to an end type of meltdowns. My dad said that I need to call Super Nanny for her - I just might have to. Tyler's stage of discovery is much more fun. He is doing really well with his colors and has started pointing out shapes on signs as we drive. He also really seems to have started to grasp the concept of "reading" and will sit down and go through a book reading it in his own way. They are both learning lots of new songs and we have singing time every day on the way home. I have some cute pictures that I haven't had a chance to upload (the one below is from their Thanksgiving lunch at school yesterday where Lance got roped into reading while the kids were trying to avoid naptime - it doesn't really show the kids but I thought it was cute to see "teacher" Lance), but I wanted to post while I was thinking about it regarding wish lists. It can't be said enough that we definitely don't expect anything from anybody for these two, but I have had a lot of questions about what the kids would like for Christmas so I started a wish list on Amazon as I come across things that I think they would enjoy - here is the link!
http://amzn.com/w/31MTSRB4PTVRA

Potty Party

I know that the majority of you don't want to hear about the toilet exploits of the kids, but we had a very exciting day today! Katie used the potty at school today for the first time (#2) and she was absolutely giddy and so proud - so we have been celebrating potty time all night. Unfortunately, she is a bit grumpy because she is still not napping (I and school have about given up). The teacher noticed that she went at about the same time everyday (when she was supposed to be napping). So, today she put her on the potty at 12:30 (supposed to be asleep for an hour by that point) and she sat for about 15 minutes and then got so excited at what she produced that she almost woke up all of the other children. Apparently the teacher says that she is happy if she gets a half hour nap out of Katie and can count on a hand and a half the number of times that she has even done that. She does better on weekends, but doesn't get to sleep until about 2:00 and wakes up around 3:30 which isn't possible on school days. We have also started separating them for naptime at home which at least means that Tyler is able to get some zzzzz's. They are growing up so fast - toddler beds (the plan is this weekend when the time changes), big kid potties and their oh so cute Yo Gabba Gabba underwear soon, and now giving up naps. Next thing I know I'll be posting about their first day at Kindergarten - kind of sad!

Happy Halloween!

We went to So-So and Ray-Ray's neighborhood to trick or treat since our neighborhood is so small and devoid of festivities (not a single trick or treater according to Lance). We went over pretty early (halftime of the Titans game) and the kids were decked out anxiously awaiting dark (when we told them they could trick-or-treat). Ray-Ray went with us while So-So stayed at the house to hand out candy to all of the other trick-or-treaters. The kids thought it was a lot of fun, and really got the hang of it fast - Katie started approaching every door with her hand out and every time Tyler would pick up one piece of candy to inspect it, then put it down and settle on another. They still haven't tasted any of the candy so the packaging was what was most important (I hope that holds true for Christmas). They really just enjoyed "hold Ray-Ray hand" and seeing all of the pumpkins and decorations and getting to walk around like the big kids, not to mention Katie loved everyone telling her she was cute :)! We had a great Halloween!!! Now, unfortunately Katie has a cold. Plus, my grandfather passed this weekend and I am on jury duty so it was great to see the kids having fun in the midst of some definitely not fun things. Some pictures!!!

Patiently waiting for it to get dark.

A pre-trick or treat hug. They both wanted to hold Ray-Ray's hand when they found out they had to hold somebody's hand.

They loved the pumpkin addition to the porch with the "hot fire," and they were both checking them out when I said they were yucky and had to go bye bye.

Checking out their loot!