Painting Pumpkins

A few days ago I set both kids down, plates full of paint, and blank pumpkin cutouts. I feel bad for Brandon because we mostly do out painting when he is sleeping because it is much easier. So what that means for poor little Brandon is that he rarely gets to paint...which isn't really very fair. Brooke at this age had done so many more arts and crafts than him :(

Brandon deserves to paint more. I gave him a paint brush this time rather than just his fingers and much to my surprise he is a rather clean painter. Encouragement for me to do this more often!

That's Not Daddy's

A few weeks ago our washer decided to ends its life in our basement/playroom by getting suck on wash, and overflowing until our foam letter mats were floating around on the floor (fun clean up). With that said, we had to spend the money on a new washer and dryer. Always fun making big purchases when they aren't planned!!!

We went for the middle of the road washer and dryer that both happen to be front loaders. We didn't want to go too cheap in case we need to bring these with us when we move...hopefully in the next year. Needless to say, the kids love the front loaders. They can see the clothes spinning, all of the bubbles and everything.

Since they are more interested these days, I have been having them help me switch loads now that they can reach everything. As of late, Brandon has been more of my little helper than Brooke. I usually take one thing out at a time and hand it to him, and then he puts it in the dryer. Lately he has started a game of guessing whose clothes are whose when I hand it to him and he is pretty good at it....most of the time.

The other day I handed him a red shirt, which he announced was Dada's (correct), a pink shirt; "Mama's" (also correct), pink underwear; "Dada's" (hmmm...not correct). No, that's not Daddy's. He promptly redeemed him self by saying Brooke, which was a much better guess than Daddy.

Daddy was not amused by this one, but I sure was :)

Apple Picking

Tis the season for apple picking and apple cider. Today as a family we went to Alstede Farms in Chester for apple picking. The place is awesome. There is a hay pyramid, hay tunnel, pony rides, animals, tractor rides, and pretty much everything else you could think of.

We had the PERFECT day.

The kids were well behaved, I found some fantastic yard sale finds, and we laughed....A LOT.

Eric and I laughed at each other, with each other, with the kids, at the kids. There is really no way to describe how happy of a day today was. There is no feeling like looking at your husband, seeing him smile, as your kids are front of you are laughing with each other. Laughter is really the best medicine.

I don't know if it was the time of year, the nice weather or what, but today was really a day that I will remember for quite some time.

So happy.





Instant Gratification





Loving the Tractor

Freedom

Now that Brooke is in pre-school a few days a week, I have a lot more time one on one with just Brandon and I love it. I never got to do this when Brooke was his age because I was still working. I didn't stop working until she was 2, so I am loving this time with Brandon (one on one) while he is still little.

Sometimes I still feel guilty that I didn't get this time with Brooke, but I had no choice. I HAD to work when she was little and she was in good hands from age 1 to 2. She only spent 5 months in daycare before then and she won't even remember it, even though I won't forget it. So I am trying to put those feelings aside and really enjoy the time I have with Brandon.

been getting to do a lot more things when Brooke isn't around. Normally when I go out with the two of them Brandon always gets put up in the Ergo, because the two of them never want to walk in the same direction, so it is easier that way.

Today when we were wasting time before his gym class, I actually took him out of the car and let him walk! That's a BIG change! He loved it, he loves exploring.

He got to push the button for the elevator to go up and down.

On the first day of school, he got to go to the playground and play with everything he wanted to, on his own time, which included looking at trucks and not much playing.

In the past week and a half alone he has gotten a donut and part of my french toast bagel!

I find it funny because when I have just him I find myself thinking that I don't know how I ever thought one child was hard...it's such a breeze these days!

So along with walking around and pushing buttons...today he pushed the alarm button in the elevator at the pediatricians office. Scared the pants off him. Opps! (It was pretty funny though!) We've got plenty of time to work on that one :)

First Day Of Pre-School

Today was Brooke's first day of pre-school. She will be going 3 days a week, half-days. I had been prepping her for a few weeks now for her first day trying to make sure she was as ready as possible.

She was a little worried about going because there was going to be "no mommy" at school. When we got there she was clinging on to me and kept telling me that she didn't want me to go. It was breaking my heart, because I didn't want to leave her either. She was just about on the verge of tears when her awesome teacher came to the rescue and scooped her right up. It was exactly what she needed. It gave me the chance to leave without any tears from my little one! I called two times (9am and 10:30am) and was relieved to find out that she was having a great day and didn't cry at all. I'm happy to say that I didn't cry either! I was about to on the way out, but I recovered and was able to spend the morning alone with my little man.

Overall she had a great day, besides the dissapoinment that her teacher didn't teach her to read on her first day. I think we have a little over achiever on our hands. This whole day gave me a bunch of mixed emotions about my little girl getting so big but that is for another post. Here are the obligatory first day pictures.

In Love

This picture says it all.

Love this one too!

I am always behind the camera so its nice to get a good shot with the kids :)

Growing Up

What I would really like to know is when my little man got so big!!!!

Innocent Little Girl

Randomly today the ice cream truck drove by our house. I've never seen him all summer, so I guess it was an end of the summer drive by. Anyway, of course we went out side and waited for him to drive down to our house.

The sweetest thing was when Brooke turned to me and said, "Mommy he is such a nice guy to drive around and give out ice cream to kids!" She was sincerely so happy when she said it to me. It was so cute, if only it was that easy!

Football Season

Football season 2010 is upon us. This year the kids are a year older and a year wiser. Or you could say, a year older so....more attentive than ever before.

Within the first five minutes of Eric watching his beloved Mountaineers, he yells FUMBLE at the TV. Of course Brooke shouted right back, then shouted "HELLO, HELLO, why aren't they answering me?" so...

Not only is it a new season of football, it is a new season of new rules.

New Rule #1 (I will be adding to this throughout the football season)
-We don't shout at the TV (whether you are 3 or 35)

-----3 hours later-----

As I was writing this, football was turned on again, and as soon as Brooke saw it she yelled, "HELLO, HELLO". I reminded her of the rule but it is hard for her to understand seeing how Daddy yelled too. So I will be working with both kids (3yr old and 35yr old) on this new rule.

After the fumble Eric was describing to Brooke what happened and who got the ball. As soon as the replay came on Eric said, "Look Brooke, the fat white guy got it."....

Instant cringe by me and Eric, of course she repeated it, lovely adjective and all.....Eric just looked at me and said, "Maybe we just shouldn't watch football together."....

The jury is still out.

Sussex County Farm and Horse Show

Not much description needed here. Dirty farm animals, trucks, the usual farm stuff.

The only cute things is when we went to see the pigs, Brooke asked why they weren't in mud. So cute. (They were penned up with some hay) It is so interesting to see what they pay attention too sometimes.

HUGE NEWS!!!

I don't normally post about anything but my kids on here, but there is news, so big, not involving my kids, that needs its own post.

There is huge news in the family that is now officially public! So excited for my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. To see what the big news is, watch this video! You have to copy the link and then paste it into a new window.

http://picasaweb.google.com/krisxlee/Videos?authkey=Gv1sRgCMvLu6HIsf_46wE#5511917123001409362

Things I Love

I love how Brooke says "shrink" when she means "sink", like today when she asked me if "acorns shrink when you put them in the pool".

When she asked to "sit next to by me" instead of "next to me".

When she points out things to Brandon that she knows he loves, like trucks, birds, bugs, or dogs. She can be so sweet to him sometime!

How Brandon likes to close all the doors for me or turn the lights off or on when we go in rooms.

How Brandon gets his blanket and runs at me, holding onto it, for a big snuggle.

Hearing the two of them laugh together when they are playing or riding in the car.

The "crashing" (tackle) game they play with their daddy.

How Brooke calls the basketball a "Baaasketball" with a strong A.

When Brooke reads stories to me (because she memorized them) but is so proud of herself for reading like a big girl.

Their innocence, their smiles, their bright blue eyes, the way they look in their sleep, the way they need me.

I LOVE my two children.