Snow and Popsicles

Hot chocolate was a bust today, but the hot bath with a waterfall was a hit. 

Slump cont.

Not sure how my kids are going to get better if they don't catch up on sleep soon. 

The moments leading up to fighting me for nap time are pretty priceless. They are plotting and know how to get out of anything close to closing their eyes. 

.500 are today's results...it was an infield hit and didn't amount to a run or helpful for a win later in the night. 

9:20 and the last one is out. Out if the park? Not likely. I'm sure I'll hear from one if themin a few hours........

Notice the remote on Julia's chest...this is what she fought me for before crashing!  

I'm praying for an end to this slump soon or a way to cope with no naps and crabby kids.

Nap Slump

Have you ever heard if a nap slump? We were going on 3 days straight of failed nap time attempts. So today I changed my mindset and planned our day without nap time! The results...I'm batting .500
instead of .000:) 

Julia is getting over her cold and three nights of awful sleep. As Todd predicted she would need a good long nap. It came today, only I get to hold her for half if it. 

That means Jacob gets to watch a little more tv than normal and is deserving after helping out with the dusting today! 

Bonus Tuesday for me with $1 tacos at Qdoba and the kids helped out with the chores. 

Let's not forget Julia's debut appearance on the Aldi public toilet! 

Family fun night

Did you know that snow eating and sneaking up on mom to drop ice and snow down her shirt is pretty cheap family entertainment?

I'm pretty sure Jacob thought this was better than his new stomp rocket...maybe? 

Blame it on the cold(s)...

Yesterday we had a great morning. We made it to story time at the library and the kiddos were rewarded (bribe) with an additional stop to the candy store (ripoff) on main. 

After our errands were complete I thought for sure they would fall asleep on the way home. Wrong! So we had lunch, read more stories, sang, danced and played. Still no takers on nap time. 

Instead of going nuts (ok I did) I tried to enjoy the moments...but it wasn't until everyone was asleep (10:00) that I could take a deep breath and calm down. 

My day wasn't perfect but it was pretty wonderful. 

I have a lot to be thankful for and shame on me for wanting anything else. 

The following day no takers on naps again, but I captured some pretty cute video and pics of what unsupervised nap time looks like. 

That evening Julia did not sleep so well and needed the comfort of my ear for 75% of the night...we finally got some good sleep around wake up time. Why is that? 

Her need for comforting continued during  her nap... And looks something like this. 

Thank goodness I'm not worried about this weeks lesson plans or staying at work late. The weather is bringing blizzard conditions our way...better get to baking. 

JuLiA's PaRtY!

Your day started with a 7:30 shower where you left me an extra surprise!

An hour later you hopped in the tub with your brother because he had a surprise for me too! 

Next, you played in your room with your baby and sang, You are my sunshine.

The rest of the day was pretty calm, with you going through a couple outfits before it was time for you to refuse putting on your party dress. 

You were so happy with your cakes and being so excited you had two!

This picture shows you loved every bit of the cake and singing to you. Notice your little hands flapping in the picture on the bottom left. 

Pretty cute. That's all I have to say. We loved seeing you have fun at your birthday! 

The following day Jacob asked you when you woke him up was "Julia did you have a good time at your party last night?" 

To which you replied, "yes".

Don't forget

Today everyone seemed crabby. I wasn't talking so nice to the kids, Julia was crying and throwing fits over nothing and Jacob skipped his nap (bad idea). So when Todd came home it was pretty obvious to him that we all needed an early bedtime, which isn't always the case. So, at 7:00 Jacob was ready for his routine with daddy, and I thought for sure I could talk Julia into it. Nope! Julia decided to read books to me (repeating "in the tall, tall grass and through and through). So sweet. Then she proceeded to play with one of her many dolls, which tickled me pink to think that she will be getting her very own doll bed from Pa. 

So, as I hold you (Julia) and listen to your sweet exhales, I just want to inhale the moment and not forget the night you started becoming a little girl. I will miss my little baby, but am excited to see who you will become. 

Sweet dreams Julia, and baby too. 

What 4 year old Jacob likes to do...

Thank goodness you still like to "snuggle". Occasionally you reach for an ear or a "cold" arm. 

You like to teach your sister how to do things, and you are quite good at it.

You are into Johnny Cash song requests. This weeks requests include: I've got stripes, Blues, and Yoda also known as Jimmy Buffet's, One Particular Harbor. 

Practice writing your name...at least for this week anyway

Negotiating amount of TV shows to watch in order to go to bed

***favorites are still Curious George, Daniel Tiger and Bernstein Bears (thank goodness I came up with the no Caillou as a 4 yr old)

Stalling bed time by asking for something to eat "Mom, what can I have to eat?"

Love to hold onto, put in bags, carry around anything new given to you

Has been and still are a great eater. Recent requests include: watermelon, red soft apples by the barrel,sugar snap peas,cantelope and cheese sticks. You can now make your own ppj half sandwich.

BRAVE is the word we use when we go to the Doctor's office. No shots today which was a bonus! 

The day I swore I would never have two appointments at the same time for 2 different kids1/22/12

This time it was much better because the Dr. only had one exam. Julia was on for 5 second delay and showing her age as she cried to get her hands washed while the Dr. was talking to me about you. 

 

Heat Wave!

  

Jacob was really into the snowman making today. He's getting so big and ok playing away from me:( 

 

I'm bummed my pictures of Julia picking up the snowball and saying strong didn't turn out...but overall it was a great weekend.

The kids and I even made it to a basketball game on Saturday without Todd. Jacob is really getting into the whole night instead of concession stand treats.

Julia was brave enough to touch the panther. Our friend Will was putting some pretty "creative" dance moves on

display for Jacob. So we will see if he picked any of them up next game.