What I love about right now..

Little brudder loves watching the kids walk to the bus stop.

Especially his sister.

I think Tate may enjoy our morning tradish also...

Does it get any sweeter?

Dancin Dancin

On Monday night I had the devastatingly emotional pleasure of attending my

little Tater Skater's first ever dance recital.

(well, not the VERY first, but ages 1-3 can hardly be considered dancing.  

no matter what angle you look at it.)

We just got her back into dancing at Showcase USA this past August.

She is doing so well!  

They teach confidence, singing, dancing, self assurance, friendship, hard work, dedication and anythingelsepositiveyoucanthinkof.  

We love it!  It is very great.

Please with these cheekbones Tatum!

Please!

Stop getting so old and beautiful.

But, while we are on the subject.

You are welcome.

i kid, i kid.

Come on though.  Knock out.

I wish I could blame my emotional messness on postpartum hormones and such.

But the truth of the matter is, I quit nursing 5 months ago, and so one can assume I am normal?

BUT

 I'm not entirely sure why I cried my eyes out:

on the opening number

on the Silent Night number

on the little (non dancing) baby girl numbers

on the sign language number

when they gave the dance company owner and her husband a present

AANNNNDD...

 when on the last dance, the pretty senior girl did a solo because it was her last Christmas performance with  The Showcase USA, and after she finished the rest of the big girls dog piled her.

Now

Why would that make me cry?

I don't know that pretty senior girl.

But anyhow,

It was a magical night.

I love the spirit of Christmas.  

It seems like everything has just a little glimmer of magic in it. Ya?

 I was so so proud of my lovely little babe.

She did a great job.

She is really coming along nicely.

And after a mommy/baby ice cream date

we were so thrilled to come home and find Cinnamon waiting for us.

  I am also thrilled to not know how to work my camera.

But, are you as pleased as I am as to how clearly the ornaments on my tree turned out for this pic?

Beiber/Beaver Fever

At our house

We have Beiber Fever!

And I'm not afraid to admit it.

In fact, last night Ryan and I were watching the Grammy nominations 

and discussing which singer we would want to be if we could.

I chose T Swift.

(Ryan wanted me to choose Beyonce)

And Ryan choose the Beibster.

(don't tell him I told you that)

So, Beiber Fever is thick around here.

This is Tatum's door to her bedroom.

We have cd's, t shirts, and a toothbrush sporting the Beibs.

We think he is swell. 

Now Jack... 

Jack on the other hand, has BEAVER fever.

I'm not really sure what to do about it.  

I much prefer the Beiber fever.

No doubt.

 Caught in the act.

 These little toofer scrapes are all the way around his crib.

 What. In. The. He*$!?

 I told ya his teeth trip him out.

He just doesn't know what to do with em.

So

 he just does whatever.

Grinds em all day, bites his mom, makes weird faces,

eats his crib.

Whatever.

But really..

How can I be anything but thrilled with this funny little quirk.

Kids.

I tell ya.

So, but, should I be worried? 

9 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS

Holy cow.

Somebody rein me in.

I absolutely cannot get enough of picnik.

I should get paid for sayin that so much eh?

I feel like im doing myself an injustice if I don't create a little somethin somethin on there everyday.

Kind of like if I don't watch Regis and Kelly every day, i feel a little offish.. 

Same with playing on picky.

Also.. I am devastated about the Regis departure.

I love him. I hope Andy Cohen is his replacement  I love him a bushel as well.

That paragraph went in an unexpected direction.

Lets see what we have going on here..

My little skater bug.

 Tatum Kay is wise beyond her little years.  

She is way to mature, and truly freaks me out on a daily basis.

Coming home singing nicki minaj.

(I cant believe I just wrote that.  Look people, I cant help what other kids bring on the bus)

(Unfortunately she didn't end up on Ellen for it)

AND

 Giving her opinion about Mitt Romney, and President Obama, and the war on Iraq.

Really.  

One of these days, I'm going to lose vision in one of my eyes from the things this little gal spits at me.

However, last night I overheard Tatum and her long time bestie Ryllie having this conversation.

Ryllie:

"Tatum, you would really love Millie.  She is just like us.  She's crazy, she LOVES kid history, 

AND she LOOVVVEESS noodles!"

Tatum:

"Huh.. We do like noodles quite a bit.  I guess you're right.  I probably would like her."

Haha

 That might not seem like much to you, but coming from a little girl that would rather chew off her own arm than wear something unfashionable, or be a mute than sound uneducated in conversation,

give validation to a schoolmate for liking noodles.. It was just.. just.. I don't know.

It was just refreshing.. To remember, that she is indeed a 9 year old little girl.

And that these moments are fleeting, and almost gone...

It makes my throat lumpy.

Real lumpy.

I am, however,  increasing grateful that it is being replaced by a strong bond of respect and friendship.

If I have to let go of a baby, I am so glad to gain a friend.

I know we are entering some tough years (believe me, I've had a lil peek, and it is terrifying)

But I do believe we are paving a good path.

I hope and pray that I am not being naive.  

Either way, I CANT stop time, I CANT make the days longer, and, I CANT turn back the clock.

 I CAN enjoy each day, one at a time, 

and thoroughly live in each moment.

Even if those moments include gently explaining what "whotheeffIis" is not something that we say.
Or sing.
Im gonna embrace it all RIGHT NOW.
And process it later.. MUCH later.

Now, lets see what 9 MONTHS looks like.

All I have to say here is, 

I DO NOT CALL HIM SLOTH OR MATER.

I call him perfect, 

and then I lick his face.

Some things you need to know.

Things change around here every single day.

I hear having a baby does that.

(Sarcasm there.  All of the change over the last year have almost put me in my grave)

But. I'm all better now.  Don't worry.

Onward.

 JackJack gave purees the ol boot.

He  gags if the spoon even comes toward his mouth.
And slaps the spoon.
And you.

Serious.

So.. deli ham, and annies cheese crackers are the new sweet potatoes and corn.

I cant say I blame him.

 He has started snuggling with certain people.

I am not one of them unfortunately.

Sad.

 One thing that hasn't (and hopefully wont) changed..

Is that JackJack loves his sister more than anything.

Above is the first time he had seen her since she was at her dads for the weekend.

He just wants to eat her face off.

And tries to.

Hard.

 Last night we sat at our kitchen table.

We never ever do that.

It makes Tate mad.

It is usually decoratively set.

We eat at our bar.

Or in the living room..In front of the TV.

I know, I know.

Bad Mommy.

Cute house though?

Anyways.. Tatum set the table all by herself.  It looked great, and she was super proud!

On most blogs you will find pictures of delicious food.

On mine, you will find goolosh, and refridgerated Pilsbury's rolls.

Although I must say, that piknic made it look much more appetizing than the orig pic.

Thanks again Picnik!

A few more things..

JackJack has a bajillion toys. And he plays with the q-tip box all day.

And tries tirelessly to catch an open laptop.

Also..

Ryan sucks at diapering a wiggly baby.

Oh.. And after a quick once over of this post.. I guess I don't require my kid to wear clothes very often.

Sorry.