School Picture Success

Both kids took A-MAZING school pictures this year!  HOORAY!

 

 

Noah, Age 6

Kindergarten

 

 

Emma, Age 2

Pooh Bear Class

Are You Ready for Some Football?

It all started on a trip to McDonald's.  Happy Meal Toys are kind of a big deal at our house, and sometimes that take a bit of precedence over the whole eating thing.  In fact, I learned pretty quickly, that you don't even have to order food.  Just fork over $1.50.  So, at times our standing order is a large Diet Coke and a happy meal toy.  Don't judge... you probably spend that much at Starbucks for a latte.  So, earlier this month, the toy happened to be an NFL football player.  And, included in the dark blue concealed wrapper was a player with matching football and a paper with a checklist of ALL 32 TEAMS.  Guess who wanted to collect them all.  Yep!  This all started around the week before Thanksgiving.  We headed to Louisiana, and then over to Gulf Shores, AL, and by the time Turkey Day was through, Noah had collected 6 of 32.  The drive back from AL to LA, we passed about 50 McD's, but I know Grammy and PaPa would have none of the constant stopping.  However, on the drive from LA to TX, I decided to indulge my sweet boy, and we drove through the drive-thru of about 6.  We actually bought food at the first, but the rest... "three happy meal toys, please."  I was pleasantly surprised that we got no duplicates until about Beaumont.  As we arrived back in TX, I realized a good bit of time and money was being invested in this project, so I decided to phone my friends.  I sent out this email:

SUBJECT: Did you know that there are 32 NFL teams??

 

Dear Friends with kids who may or may not eat at McDonalds,

 

I've decided to indulge my son and help him collect all 32 NFL players from the happy meal. Let's just say that this crazy momma stopped at about 5 McDs on our drive back from Louisiana yesterday, and we have successfully collected 19 of 32. It wasn't until we started collecting/buying duplicates that I decided I am so over forking over the 1.50/toy. Yes... You don't have to buy food. I will however, totally pay you the $1.50. So, if anyone has collected any and their kiddos don't mind parting with them. We are missing the following: [list of missing teams]

Thank you from the mom who sometimes jump through hoops for her kid!

XO!! Sarah 

The result?  In one week, we went from 20 to 25.  Emma's super sweet Kindermusik teacher, reached out to her entire neighborhood, and these sweet lady's more than happy to ride their homes of one more dragging toy, left these guys on porches in Ziploc bags, and to Noah it was like GOLD!  Every day, he'd come home and line up the players in order from the insert.  We'd talk about which ones were missing.  I knew he was memorizing the order and the characteristics of all.  I could hear him say, "does this one have a helmet?  is this one an animal?"  It also helped that he was recently into the US Map.  He could easily pick out familiar states and cities. 

So, then there were three.  San Diego Chargers.  Miami Dolphins Chicago Bears.  Nora from Daddy's work, who is a card carrying member of the TX Kickboxing Academy actually stepped into a McDonald's, ordered a happy meal, magically pulled out a San Diego Charger, and threw her food away with out eating it.   And then there were two. Andrew from Noah's Kindergarten class had the Miami Dolphins, but in an effort to declutter, his mom tossed it.  Noah was totally ready to head to Galveston and start digging through trash.  By the end of the week, friends were reporting, no more football players at McDonald's... the new toys were Ninja Turtles.  Sigh.  Off to Ebay, where I paid an only slightly overpriced amount for the remaining two.  They arrived tonight, and I left them by his door, sealed in the bags, with our Elf on the Shelf watching over to see how it all plays out. 

The set is complete! Pretty cool.

Show Me Your Smile

Emma had her first trip to the dentist, and let's just say, "she rocked it!" We prepped with the Dora "Show Me Your Smile" book. She listened and even let the dentist use the scraper on her front teeth for a quick plaque removal. Verdict was no cavities and a larger than normal frenulum that may require some creative brushing on the front teeth. She was nabbed a princess sticker and picked a toy from the prize drawer. She did make a special request for a "star sticker just like Dora." Kudos to the dental office staff for scrounging up a shiny red star sticker. 

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

Little Emma has learned early the fine art of waiting on Noah. I'm hoping this early lesson in patience will serve her well as an adult. She waits in carpool. She waits in therapy rooms. And, on days like today, she waits in the car while Noah has speech therapy. Today we killed time taking a few selfies. 

I Like Big States...

Mom, LOOK!! All my chicken looks like Missouri! 

Except for this one... It looks like Arkansas!

Field Trip - The Cat in the Hat

A fun morning at the Main Street Theater for a performance of The Cat in the Hat. Noah got a bit concerned early on when they went off script. He quickly got into and laughed out load at the cat balancing on the ball. He also got a bit teary when the sadly went away. He even raised his hand to ask a question at the end. Although, he didn't quite get it out. Overall, an excellent outing with the kindergarten class.

It's Like School All Over Again

Kindergarten homework is kicking my butt... Just saying.

The Thing About Carousels

They make me sick. Motion sickness at its finest. And aside from the handful of times I've forced/bribed/made Noah ride on them, we've steered clear. I have a feeling they make Noah sick too. 

Well, last Friday, Dean and Emma had a daddy/daughter day. They went to the mall, ran around, had lunch and ride the carousel... 12 times. Emma loved it.

Today, to get a bit if shopping done before picking up Noah. Emma and I hit the mall. She asked for the carousel, so we did... Twice. And, bleh. Carousels make me sick. 

Car Conversations - Part 2

Emma: "Noah, I had a fun day at school."

Noah: "Oh... You did. What's your best part of your day? Mom, can you play 'Dry Bones' again?"

Emma: "I'm in the Pooh Bear class."

The End.

Emma's MDO Picture Day

Doesn't miss a thing...

"Mom, I need a bib!"
"Mom, what this say?"
And, when I told her it was her initials, "Emma Elizabeth C. She laughed because she thought it was awesome!

Sleeping Beauty

I sure do hate waking up this little bit in the mornings.

Big brother on the other hand has been up since 5:30A. Can I get a happy medium, please?

Car Conversations - Part 1

Noah got in the car today and immediately asked me to turn on the radio. I told he I wanted to talk about his day first, "he leaned over to Emma and said, "How was school today, Emma? Where you a champ today at school?"

Emma replied, "No. I took a rest."

Shopping with Momma

"Momma, can you take my picture by this lady?"

"And, this one too?"

The Infamous Play Castle

After dropping Noah at school this morning, Emma and I were heading to the Apple Store.  I had a faulty sleep switch and AppleCare needed to be put to use.  Once that was complete, Emma and I strolled a bit.  Browsed shoes at Dillards, ran into the LOFT, all to kill some time before we had to pick up Noah from summer school.  There was a lot of "Momma, I want to get out!"  And, "Momma, I don't like shopping," and, Momma chasing Emma out around everywhere.  So, after I came to the realization that shopping with Emma was not as easy or fun as it was with Noah at the same age, I decided to be a good Momma, and take her to the play castle.  Noah would never let me skip the play castle on a trip to the mall, and I can honestly say, that I don't think Emma has ever been in to play.  Well, she LOVED it!  I think it was her first time really roaming around with a large group of other children.  She was a bit apprehensive and extra careful to try to stay out of everyone's way.  At one point, a little boy head bumped right into her.  I was worried she might start crying, but not this tough cookie.  Speaking of cookie, I bribed her with one to leave.  She asked later that afternoon, if we could go back.  Awwh... sure thing, sweet girl!

 

Checking out the castle!

 

Super careful crossing the bridge.

This is kind of fun!

 Sliding.

Books Before Bed

Sunday night. Daddy finishing up a call weekend. Heading to Louisiana in the morning. "Can you keep the kids up?" Noah helps out by reading Emma one of his all-time favorite books.

Going Private

So, five years ago when I started blogging, social media was nothing like it is today.  Was anybody even on the internet?  But, I think the time has come to switch this blog over to a private site.  My kids are getting older, and I've heard too many stories of stolen pictures and well, you just never know, so off to password protected, privacy land.  If you follow (and I love that you do), email me, message me, comment on the blog, and I will add you to the password protected blog.

Although, my posts have been sporadic as of late, I know there are plenty of you who follow me regularly.  Thanks for keeping up with our little family!!  I hope with a new blog and a fresh start, I can get back to making blogging a habit.  Stay tuned to find out...