All Banged Up.

Ok, so I made the classic mistake...I cut my daughter's hair...

A little background...A while back, Ruthie busted her head open doing back flips into the pool...my mom shaved just a little bit of her hair to see what the damage was and determine if we needed to make a trip to the ER...we did and she had stitches...so, she has to wear her hair completely back for gym and often times I just fix it that way in the morning before school so we don't have to rush in the afternoon. Well, she had just this one little section falling onto her forehead and I asked her if she wanted some bangs until it was all grown out. It was first thing in the morning...we were trying to get out the door and it was wet!!! I just grabbed the scissors and made the cut...kind of like pulling off a band aid. Hmmmmm...I'll just say that they weren't as short as the girls in Russia, they weren't as straight either...but, rather than try to straighten them (we all know how that ends) I just said, "Ah, very European." She has gotten lots of compliments and it really does look cute but, I have learned my lesson...it isn't just Flip who should stay away from people's heads with the scissors.

My Sweet Boy.

Rusty earns money in class...not real money, just these little laminated pictures of coins. They earn them for turning in homework, having their agenda signed, being on task...etc. It is mostly a personal responsibility reward system his teacher has set up. The kids keep a balance in their check book and they are allowed to shop in the store on Fridays if they have turned in their homework that week.

At the beginning of the year Rusty told me they had Webkinz in the classroom store and he was going to save up for one of them. I thought that was a great idea...I mean really, saving is a very hard thing for one so young. Anyway, he had saved up quite a chunk of money. He needed $11.00 for the small Webkinz. Now, he earns a nickle here, a quarter there so really this is quite an accomplishment! On Friday, he got into the car and he had a plastic grocery sack and huge grin with him! He opened up the sack and do you think he pulled out a Webkinz? No, he pulls out a little bath basket with bath beads, lotion, shower gel and scrubby. The scent was Sweet Pea, one of my favorites...He looks at me and he says, "I decided I didn't need another Webkinz, Mommy. I wanted to buy this for you." Tears! He continues, "I wanted to buy Daddy something too but they didn't have anything I thought he would like." I asked him how much of his money he had to spend...$5.00...that's half of what he has saved...Tears!

Ruthie begins to admire my little basket and smell the lotion...Rusty notices...He says, "there is another one at the store, next week I am going to buy it for you Ruthie...and he did...That is MY sweet boy! He's got my heart all wrapped up and tucked safely into his pocket everyday...

Feelin' Smugg.

Over MLK we went to Smuggler's Notch, Vermont...this has become somewhat of a tradition. It is our fourth annual trip. This year held new adventures for the kids...Ruthie is skiing unbelievably well...she has excellent control in her turns and more importantly, she can control her down-hill speed as well. Rusty is a good skier also but he loves the speed and approaches it all more matter-of-fact...like, yea, I can ski. He sort of heads straight down the mountain with very little side to side motion (which is what the instructors teach them to do to control there speed) and he get down safely and quickly. Flip, however, looks at skiing like he looks at most things in life...it's a race. We only got to ski with Flip for a very little time but each day when we picked him up from the kid's camp, he would inform us which "place" he came in on each of his runs down the mountain. We would then hear a blow by blow of who "wrecked," who "wrecked him," and who had the "pole position." I would repeatedly explain to him that it is not a race and that Miss Naomi who taught him last year and remembered him and Grant was trying to teach him to be safe. He of course replied logically, " I know that's why I wear this helmet!"


This year, My uncle Rick joined us as did my cousin, Cherri and her new little guy Ricky. Each day Cherri and I took her little one and my little one to the day care center they call Treasures. When I walked in the first day, I recognized one of the nannies in Ellie's room and I told her I remembered when she had Flip. She remembered him! How funny. She said, "Who could ever forget Flip?" Who indeed. Ellie really looked forward to going over there each day and took all the cold weather and bundling up in stride. Next year, she will be on skis too.

Other high lights include: Parent/child races in the play zone, tubing (which Ellie didn't like at first but then loved!), getting to know Mogul Mouse and loving him, toe warmers, Jacki's crash into the trees, flight delays and turbulence (which makes me sick to even think about it was so bad!)

It's All About Flip!

Yes, indeed, he is FIVE! We had a whirlwind weekend starting on Thursday when Flip and I hopped in the car and drove to Disney World for his "free" day at The Magic Kingdom. We wandered the park and started at a ride I had never done before...the astro orbiter that sits on top of the Lunch Pad. It is no big deal but it always has a long line and it moves very slowly!!! On the way Flip informed me that Daddy had told him it was his birthday and he could do whatever he wants..."and I want to ride the race cars...LOTS!" We did....4 times to be exact. We even sat at some tables overlooking the race track while we ate our lunch that we brought from home. If you haven't been, this ride leaves a little to be desired for most adults. The line is usually considerable, the fumes are disgusting and the ride is none too exhilarating...but to a newly turned five year old it is the equivalent of Daytona.

Other highlights of the day include the tea cups which he was fearless on and loved being spun as fast as I could possibly get them to go. We rode Space mountain but skipped Big Thunder...we're saving that for our Feb trip! His constant chatter was endearing to me on this day where as usually I am just beside myself answering his constant questions and following his sometimes confusing string of conversation. He was taking it all in, never getting tired and embarrassed to ride in the stroller I brought, just in case. "Mommy, do you see ANY big kids riding in strollers around here?" No, Flip...none as BIG as you!

We were late getting to the night parade...enjoying one last ride before closing down the park and I had to hold him on my shoulders for the entire 30 minutes of lighted Disney Magic. I have a new respect for my husband who usually does this dastardly deed...I thought I was going to expire right there...or blow out my back at the very least!

Although the crowd through out the day was considerable, we didn't have to wait longer than 20 minutes to ride anything! We finished off the night with the fire works and as many times as I have seen this particular light display, it still amazes me...Disney sure can close down in style!

So that was Thursday...Friday I kept him home to let him sleep...he was snoozin' soundly before I hit the interstate. On Saturday, we went to the circus...one of my mom's gifts to us every Christmas...This year it was Ellie's first time and although she loved the sights, she was more fascinated by the snacks. Our pediatrician has us a bit worried about her growth and so, I have made every effort to make sure all her calories are good ones that will encourage her to gain weight and grow big...as a result, she doesn't get to fill up on things like cotton candy, pop corn and snow cones...but what is the circus with out all of those yummy things? By the end of intermission she had eaten herself into a coma and missed most of the second act!

On Sunday, we had "Flip's Fall back into Fall Fun-time Birthday Bash!" Back in October Flip looked at me and in all seriousness told me he wanted to have a Halloween party for his birthday...in January? So, right after Halloween, I went out and bought up a bunch of fall decorations and we decided to make it a fall carnival theme...the kids dressed up and we had activities like bobbing for apples, a scarecrow craft, potato sack races and they all made caramel apples topped with chocolate chips, marshmallows and other wonderful treats. My mom made these really cute cardboard cutouts for the kids to pose behind. Adam and I dressed up with all of the kids...we finished the party off with an old fashioned game of musical chairs and a good time was had by all! Happy birthday little Man! Good grief, I love that kid!

The whole crew.

Our gang: Incognito

Rangers, Power UP!

For Meagen...she knows why!

Can we get back to the fun stuff?

Cheater, cheater, apple eater!

FIVE!









Just another lady-bug nibbling on an apple.

What party is complete without a melt-down?

2009!

Whew! We made it! The holidays are over and I can say that all of my Christmas stuff is PUT AWAY! Yes, it was all packed up and put away on Sunday, a full 3 months ahead of schedule:0) If you know me, you know that I usually run a little behind getting this done...you know, you get busy, you think, tomorrow I am going to put all that away and then you don't and before you know it, it's March...no? Well, me neither although I did make it that long once, the year Flip was born. My grandmother was over one day and she said, "Where are your tubs? This is getting done today!" So, she and I did it while the little man rested in his swing. Now, I put the deed on the calender. (who likes to put it all away?) This way I can't use busy-ness as an excuse. Of course, it all went back into the attic and then I noticed that one piece was forgotten...this year it is our little counter that counts down to Christmas...still sitting right there by the TV. I guess I will have to stash it somewhere until next year...

We spent the new year as we have in the past with our friends, the McKinleys, Stofers, and Forzaglias. We went to dinner at Roy's. I enjoyed the meal and I think I got the vote for picking the best dishes for each course (except desert, I picked a cheese sampler...who knew there were so many disgusting cheeses?). After dinner, we went back to Mike and Marie's house to watch the ball drop. Adam and I had had some late nights so we cut out right after midnight...woke up leisurely, and then joined our kids over at my mom's house for a New Year's meal, some Wii, and some fire works! 2009, Yahoo!

2009! 2009! 2009! Really? 2009? I just can't believe it is 2009!