5 Question Friday, on Saturday!

First thanks for all the good advice.  I appreciate your kind words, too.  The good news is God answers prayers.  I always prayed I would have a child with a lot of personality, not boring and wimpy like I was....Avery is anything but boring and wimpy!!!
Now on to the fun stuff!

1. If you had $1,000 to donate to a charity, which would you choose?

Ummm, that is tough.  I really like CitySquare or Central Dallas Ministries as they used to be called.  It is a great organization truly based in helping homeless and poor with short term needs and then equipping them to get to a better place in life. 
CareCorps our church benevolence ministry is really great, too.  It is simple and straight forward, food for people who are hungry and a little monetary help when we can.
2. Snow days: Do you welcome them happily or are they a pain in your butt?
If I am not working they are fine, but nurses don't get snow days so I tend to find them a little stressful.  Plus I am a warm weather girl all the way, cold is just never super exciting to me. 
3. What talent did you wish you had and why?
I would like to sing.  I know everyone always says that but it is handy.  No one likes to feel like they are punishing the room full of 2 year olds that has to listen to them sing on Sunday mornings, or your own kids on a much more regular basis for that matter.
I also might say acting.  Not really acting, but I am an open book there is no question about how I feel about things.  I am terrible at faking nice when I should it is always so obvious I am faking or embarrassed or whatever emotion I might wish to keep private. It would be nice to be better at just being even keeled when the situation calls.
4. Are you a news, politics or celebrity gossip junkie?
I can't believe I am saying it but I guess news.  I have turned into an NPR dork.  I got tired of never being able to contribute to an adult conversation that wasn't about Brittney or Taylor.  But, I do still love my celebrity news as well.
5. What is your favorite "cocktail"? (Are you a beer person, a kiddie cocktail junkie, or perhaps your more the "Cosmo" kind?! Anything flies...doesn't hafta be alcoholic!)
If it counts as a cocktail I am a margarita girl all the way!
Otherwise, I want Diet Dr Pepper!

Ughh

Sometimes I think I am a great mom, sometimes not so much. 

Yesterday was a not so much day for sure.  Poor Avery had a HORRIBLE day at school.  He was defiant and disobedient all day long, even got sent to the office.  HOLY COW!  I have NEVER been sent to the office in my life.  Little mister definitely missed the memo that we are pleasers at our house.  As his teachers are very sweetly trying to tell my child was heinous I am literally sweating with shame...  He managed a "sad face" as I sent him to hug his teachers and to say he was sorry and would try harder next week.  But, I have to say he didn't seem all that sad.  Good grief!

So, I called my Aunt Susan Jo who has a degree in Early Childhood Education and teaches pre-K for some advice.  Since she also happens to be one of Avery's top 3 favorite people on the planet (no, I am not on that list and I don't care one bit) and the feeling is mutual I knew she could say things in a way I could hear.  After a few tears I pulled it together and she made me feel much better about the fact that he is a normal 2 almost 3 year old boy. 
Aunt Susan Jo also gave me some good points about how to be more consistent and clear in our expectations.  I think I will also head to the bookstore for some good parenting books.  What books do y'all like or not like?  What tips do you have?  HELP!  I love my little prince, and he is usually such a sweet, fun boy.  I want to help him be the best little boy he can be at school for his teachers, his classmates and himself. 

And just in case you weren't sure if I was not winning mother of the year yesterday I also let Hanky fall and get a fat lip, he didn't even make it to a year... 

Thank goodness today is a new day! 

Seriously, tell me what resources you recommend please!!!

Double Edged Milestone

Hanky Panky is growing and changing by leaps and bounds right now.  It seems like he is daily showing us a new trick and I love it!  It is so fun to see the teaching we attempt to do pay off, and I am again amazed at all his little brain just learns.  God made babies so resourceful. 

I have to say that being a super good puller upper is KILLING me though.  While it is precious that he can do it, it is wrecking sleep!   I can't think of another more disruptive milestone.  A time that would usually mean rolling over to find a passy now means standing up in bed to whine and carry on.  Luckily, he has also learned to clap, shake his head no when you ask him if he is a girl and does an excellent fake cough when you ask him how he's feeling.  I also love watching him motor after Avery in a full crawl, no more of that tiny baby army crawl business.  Things are rapidly changing at our house, I LOVE IT, but it is so sad too!  My babies are turning in to big boys. 
Avery is doing his fair share, too.  He is so funny with what he says.  Yesterday we were getting ready for church and he asked me if there was going to be a bounce house, I said no and he said "well, maybe we can work on that mamma."
He also said "Oh dear" like a 72 year old and buried his head in his hands when Michael told him he only had 1 leftover scone for breakfast before school this morning.  I think he is 2 going on 32. 

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

It's Saturday afternoon, and I was watching Julie and Julia while I was folding some laundry.  It motivated me to post this recipe I keep meaning to share.  This is mom's slumber party specialty.  ALL my girlfriends in high school would request it when they came over to spend the night.  It is also a Christmas morning requirement in my opinion.  I am a lunch side of brunch girl all they way, but I LOVE this breakfast.  (Some sausage balls do cut the sweet nicely in my opinion.) 

1 c butter or margarine

1 c sugar

3 eggs
3 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sour cream

1 12 oz package chocolate chips (semi sweet morsels)
1/2 c brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

You also need one super cute assistant.  I hope my little prince always loves cooking with his mamma, it is one of my favorite ways to spend special time with him!

1. Cream butter (this will be easier if it is softened) then gradually add sugar.  Then add eggs one at a time beating after each egg.  If you have a kitchen aid it is worth getting it out, it makes this recipe much easier!

2.  Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. 

3.  Alternately add flour mixture and sour cream to butter/sugar/eggs in mixer.  Begin and end with flour mixture.  My mom says you do have to do it this way or it won't work right. 
I do 1/3 of flour mix, 1/2 of sour cream, 1/3 of flour mix, the other half of the sour cream and then the rest of the flour mix. 

 When you are done your batter will be pretty thick.

4.  Combine chocolate chips, cinnamon and brown sugar in a bowl.  

5.  Put half of the batter in a greased 9x13 pan.  

6.  Put half of the chocolate chip mixture on top of the batter.   

7.  Layer the other half of the batter on top and the put the rest of the chocolate chip mixture on the very top.  (Sometimes I add a few more chocolate chips because they make it great!)

 8.  Bake in a 350 oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. 

 ENJOY!!!

Eight is Going to be GREAT!

Michael and I celebrated our 8th anniversary over the Christmas break.  We always cheat our anniversary because it is just a few days after Christmas and things are hectic.  This year we did get to go on a dinner and movie date and it was great.  Sometimes I forget how fun it is to go on a date, I am going to try to remember to make that happen more this year. 
I also decided I couldn't resist taking this picture in the church we got married just 2 days before we celebrated our 8th anniversary.  My how things have changed in 8 years.  I wouldn't change a minute.  I feel so blessed by the last 8 years of marriage with Michael.  He is an amazing husband and father, and my very best friend.  It was so much fun to worship with him and our families in the church where we met when we were just 15.  We love our church family in Tyler and it will always be a piece of home to us.  I am always a little hesitant to say how God does or doesn't work in our lives, even though I fully believe He is always at work in them.  However, I love giving Him credit for leading my family move to Tyler and allowing me to meet Michael!!!  I can't wait to see what this year holds for us and our family. 

Snow Day

Sunday we had a SNOWY day. 
Avery thought it was SO great. 

I thought it was SO cold.

We made SNOW balls like the big kids.

We made SNOW angels, I didn't even prompt him.

We had SO much fun.

Thank GOODNESS it was almost all gone Monday morning and preschool resumed as scheduled. 

Avery had a BLAST with his friends and even got to play after school for a minute with the tiniest bit of SNOW that was left on the school ground with his bestie Reese.

I am glad to say that I missed him while he was gone, and had some super fun alone time with Hank. 

Avery WARMED my heart when we got home, while I was unbuckling his car seat he said "I love you mamma, I am glad you are here!"

I think a healthy balance has been restored.

Handsome Hank

Handsome Hank has gone and done it...
He is now 10 months old!
I can't believe my baby boy is growing up before my very eyes.  I can barely stand it!

 I am amazed at how easy it is to get great pictures with the help of Michael and Avery.

I love this one because those sweet little eyes are looking up at Daddy.  After a good stretch of ma ma only, Hank decided to quit torturing Michael and throw out a da da here and there, too.

And this big giant laugh is for big brother Avery. 

Hanky Panky continues to be a wonderful littler prince!  This month he got a lovely snaggly top tooth.  He is hard at work on it's neighbor, too.  Hank currently has his first ear infection.  He is a trooper, I have taken him to the doctor twice in the last week and they first found he had the ear infection (I was worried about wheezing )and then today when we went for the recheck we found out the infection was worse in one ear.  Hanky has never pulled at his ear or fussed about it once, what a guy. 

I feel like the littler prince has changed a lot this month.  His hair seems to be getting lighter and his crawl is super fast.  I can't turn my back on him for one minute or he has motored to somewhere or something he is not supposed to have.  Hank is getting more and more chatty and wanting to be more independent as he eats.  He is also loving pulling up and no longer wants to just sit in your lap when he could be standing on your lap!  It does crack me up that once he has pulled up on something he can't figure out how to get back down, so he plays happily for a few minutes and then starts to whimper because he is stuck. 

We love our Hanky Panky!  I can't believe he will be 1 year old in 2 months, I am gonna need a tranquilizer!

Confessions

Confession #1-I am so far behind on the things I want to remember via this blog I may never get caught up, so get comfy this might will get long...

Confession #2-My how our lunch dates have changed.  When Amie, Melanie and I first started having play dates I think Brady was the only child and he was a perfect angel.  We had a quiet, calm lunch at Maggiano's to celebrate the Christmas season.

This year it was a free for all involving story time with Santa, the trains and the food court.  It was a ton of fun, but in a totally different way.  But, Melanie and I also got to shop at H&M, which wasn't here all those play dates ago!

Confession #3 I HATE skinny jeans, I know they are the cool thing to wear and so I feel like I need to be stylish and not turn into a frumpy boy mom.  But, I think they are ugly and not flattering on anyone.  However, I do think leggings, jeggings and skinny jeans are comfy with a big shirt and sweater.  I am just impossible to please. 

Confession #4 We do a terrible job taking advantage of all that this area has to offer. 

But one Saturday in December we actually had a great family day.  We ate breakfast at The Original Pancake House, yummy!  And went to the Children's Museum, or musy-eum as Avery calls it.  We had a great time.  It wasn't as amazing as the one in North Carolina but it was a great way to spend a Saturday.  One of my goals for this year is to do a better job finding and actually doing these things!

Confession #5 This was the best Christmas ever, but it wore me out! 

It might be because the joker on the right decided to have a party from 2:45 to 6:15 and the joker on the right woke up at 7:45.  I know 7:45 isn't that early unless you have only been asleep since 6:15 and they usually sleep later than that.  But it was still the best Christmas EVER because we got to have all our family with us, and Michael and I didn't fight AT ALL about what to do for Christmas (a true Christmas Miracle)!!! 

Confession #6 I am terrible at documenting family in pictures, I tried so hard and still didn't end up with a picture of Blake from Christmas morning.

Confession #7 I love that mom gets us Christmas jammies every year.  Every year she says she is going to quit doing it, but I hope she never does. 

Confession #8 I am a terrible nurse at home.  Michael had some pretty serious dental work done this week.  I am supposed to be all sympathetic and sweet, but instead I made pudding and jello and encouraged him to take his pain medicine. 

Confession #9 I should make a resolution to be more healthy this year.  But, I really don't want to, I HATE to exercise and I LOVE to eat crap.  Right now I can get away with murder because I feed another little person, but that is about to over and it is going to be very sad from a calorie count stand point. 

Confession #10 I want to be one of those really funny, popular bloggers, but I never blog and when I do it is just pictures of my kids.  But now you know the truth!

Confession #11 Hank is my favorite today.  Not because he is 10 months old, that makes me mad at him he is growing too fast.  He is my favorite because he can't talk and tell me sassy things like "I want to eat candy, THAT IS MY CHOICE!" 

Confession #12 Avery will be my favorite tomorrow because he can talk and say hilarious things like "mamma are you singing hallelujah with Hanky?  Is it time to go to Bible class yet?" while sitting on the potty on a Thursday afternoon!

Confession#13 I really don't have a favorite child.  I love being a mother, but I will always work hard to make sure that Michael is my favorite.  I got to chose him and I will still be married to him when my babies have grown up and chosen the person they want to spend their lives with.  But, I DO LOVE MY BOYS TO PIECES BOTH OF THEM PERFECTLY EQUAL AND AS INDIVIDUALS(that was for you mom)!

Confession #14 I can't decide what to do about preschool for Avery next year.  I think he would love going another day a week because he loves school so much.  Also, I have wanted to kill him every day this week and been counting down the hours until he goes back to school next week.  This is because I am terrible at providing enough structure and activities to keep that little 2 year old boundary testing mind busy.  But, the thought of not getting to be with him 3 days a week makes me really sad, too. 

Confession #15 This blog has been way too long and self indulgent and if you are still reading you deserve a prize!

Happy Saturday







Rose and Thorn

I keep intending to sit down and tell you all about our Christmas, but haven't managed to slow down for that yet.  So, I will go with a supper game I have always like call high/low, good thing/bad thing or most recently I heard that the Obamas call it rose and thorn.  While that's probably a little flowery for my East Texas family I like it. 

ROSE-We had a wonderful Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve.  It was SO great to have our immediate family with us to celebrate.  Avery and Hank got to celebrate with Honey and Pop, Uncle Blake and Aunt Courtney, Papa and LouLou and Aunt Linde and Uncle Jeff.  I am incredibly thankful that everyone went out of their way to be there for us and the boys, especially a day early.  Avery LOVED it and Hank gladly sat in many a lap during all the craziness.  When you ask Avery what the best part of Christmas was he says "giving presents to my family."  I kind of doubt that is true but I am glad that my brain washing paid off at least in theory.

THORN-Well, until last Thursday I would have said working Christmas day.  Which being an NICU nurse is really not the end of the world, it is part of the job.  I expect it, it's not the most fun but we make it work and that would have been a very reasonable thorn for the year.  BUT the new thorn is A KIDNEY STONE!  HOLY COW!  I have always heard women need to retell their birth story (labor and delivery) for validation.  I need to tell my kidney stone story.  It was NOT fun.  I traumatized some poor pharmacy tech at the CVS drive through and totally wasted 48 hours of our family's time together for the holiday break.  All I can say is thank goodness for Toradol and a great husband.  

We are now rocking through our New Year.  Avery is coming down off the Christmas high.  He said it best Sunday when Michael took him to get a drink of water during church Sunday morning.  They got to the lobby and he looked at Michael and said "what are you gonna do to me daddy?"  Ironically he wasn't in trouble then, but nearly lost his life on numerous occasions yesterday...