Trey's favorite things about going to our small group (in order):
Drinking Capri Suns
Eating cookies
Playing with guns
Playing with his friends

Why I am kicking myself right about now: I taped off the hall and laundry room and bought some paint. Why do I do this to myself? I only have 2 hours....actually 1 hour and 40 minutes to finish it before my helpers wake up. Also, why have I spent 20 minutes playing on the computer?

I'm supposed to be preparing dinner...

The kids are playing outside in the bounce house with Kenny and I am supposed to be fixing our Mexican fiesta. We have been reading the book Chicks and Salsa (thank you April) and every time we read it Trey and I get hungry for Mexican food, so tonight we are trying the Wild Hog Nachos. I had sent Kenny a text at work telling him I was at target buying the ingredients and he was VERY disappointed when he heard that there was no wild hog actually in the nachos (in the book the hogs like to eat the nachos, which are meatless). Kenny told me that he thought his dad might have gotten some wild hog and given it to me to prepare....really could anyone see me cooking with wild hog?

Anyways, I just needed to record two things Trey has said to me in the car over the past two days.

Yesterday he announced "I just wish I was older already" these are a few of things he can't wait to do when he gets older: drink coke, use a real phone, go to work (thank goodness), and work out. He used to want to be a mommy but Kenny has hammered into his head that boys become daddies. Really, I was flattered.

Today he announced "You are a nice mommy, even when you are mean to me". I asked him how I was mean and he said something about how I smash his hair on the floor. Maybe he was thinking about something Grace had done to him......funny boy.

Never a Dull Moment

So far this year.....

-Grace is no longer allowed to wear two piece pajamas. The girl is like clockwork, every morning she has a dirty diaper, well she is VERY interested in helping out with diaper changing and is desperately wanting to use the potty so I guess she decided to take on the dirty diaper herself last Monday. My guess is that she had about 30 minutes to be creative.....and then I pretty much had to hold back the vomit while I cleaned up that mess. The worst part about it was cleaning underneath her fingernails.

-After waking up one morning Trey walked out of his room and announced that he had had a nice 40 minute nap.

-We were getting ready for church on Sunday and in a matter of minutes a strand of beads and an entire thing of eye shadow were all over the bathroom floor.

-Grace and her shoe fetish...pictures to follow. She usually changes shoes every hour. She switches from her fur-lined crocs, to her uggs, to her stride-rite pink shoes, to Trey's cowboy boots and every once in awhile she will try out the patent leather mary-janes. She really prefers name brands as well, I had bought her a fake pair of uggs and she would have NOTHING to do with them. She wouldn't even try them on. Gaga and Ken took her to Nordstroms and they picked out some uggs for her and she strutted around in them like she was a baby model.

-Anna Kate was over eating lunch with us and Trey announced that he needed to use the potty so Anna Kate asks "Trey do you need help" Trey says yes and she proceeded to help him use the potty.....I think she gave him the basic potty tutorial.

-Trey wanted to put the toilet paper on the roll so Kenny gave him a roll. He then manually began to roll the paper onto the toilet paper thing attached to the wall.

-While I'm on the topic of using the bathroom....Grace has been watching Trey as he has gone through the potty training process. She now mimics him every time she goes into the bathroom. She sees his little potty then lifts up her shirt and tries to pee standing up.

-Trey was watching the inauguration with me last night and right when I turned the TV on he saw Obama and announced, "Hey, that's Barack Obama". Good work Kenny!

-Anytime Trey sees my phone laying around he will bring it over to me and say "mommy here is your blackberry".

-I drove to the grocery store today and was talking on the phone (this should teach me to not talk on the phone while I am driving). I get there (still on the phone) and can't find my purse...I realize that I must have left it at home. Drive back home and run into the house, unable to find my purse (still on the phone) walk back to the car and realize it is sitting on the seat next to Trey.

The first thing Kenny and I did this year.....

The very happy chef!

The blasted instructions required to put that kitchen together.

I thought it would be a great idea for my parents to get Trey and Grace a kitchen for Christmas. The kitchen I love is the pottery barn kitchen....but really, I think it retails for the same amount as our current kitchen. I also wanted one small enough to put in Gracie's room. I found a cute wooden one at target that I fell in love with. I bought it and stored the box away until we could get a chance to assemble it.

That is the problem with buying gifts for your parents that require assembly.....we ended up getting to put it together. I really don't mind putting things together, I actually like it. However, this was the most labor intensive project we have ever attempted. I usually do these things on my own, but Kenny was off work so he thought it might be a fun activity to do together. 5 and a half hours later we finished. If you ever think of purchasing this kitchen be warned that it is a very difficult project, that might require a few cuss words to make it through to the bitter end, and it really does take at least two people (one to figure out how to read the directions and find the parts and one to screw everything together). I guess it was worth it to see the look on their faces when they saw it the next morning....I guess.

Some things I learned in 2008

So, it is 2009 (happy new year) and Kenny and Amy have informed me that I have been slacking on my blog duties. I am going to figure out how to use the slide option and post all of the Christmas pictures.
For as much as I love the Christmas season I am glad it is over. My kids (like most) need to be on a schedule and the holidays interrupt our regular routine. I feel bad, I didn't make a big deal over Santa and didn't even talk to Trey about Santa coming on Christmas Eve because I wanted him to sleep. Trey was really into opening presents this year....more into opening them than caring what they were. By the end of the Kansas City Christmas he was in full selfish 3 year old mode asking to open every present in sight. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk about how it is better to give than receive.......pretty sure we will have to go over that concept again.

So some things I learned in 2008:

I learned how to text message

I learned that potty training is a very long process for some kids, but rewarding when he tells me that he has to go and makes it to the potty before having an accident. Kenny and I are really enjoying the ongoing conversations we have with Trey about using the potty, very informative and full of too much information.

I learned that I am very thankful for preschool and that I look forward to Wednesdays when they are both well taken care of and I have a chance to be free (not that I think having kids makes me a prisoner....just sort of).

I learned that having a minivan really is practical and wonderful.

I learned that it is important to hang around our house every once in awhile. I do prefer to be on the go, but I know that it is important to show Trey and Grace how to have some down time (another thing that I learned is how overwhelming the list of things I want to teach them is).

I learned that the Chick Fil A play area is a great place to go when you have NOTHING else to do.

I learned that I am already ready to repaint most of the rooms in my house. That is actually part of my birthday present this year. Kenny is going to help me re-paint some hallways/rooms/a bathroom.....he mentioned hiring a painter but what would be the fun in that.

I learned that the idea of organizing my house is a lot more fun that actually doing it.

I learned that once you have 2 kids having only one kid around seems like I have no kids around.

I learned that it is VERY important to go out on dates (with Kenny). Thankfully Kenny's parents are here and have been so nice to watch the kids and we found a great babysitter when they aren't available.

I learned that when you have the chance to go away with your BFF from grade school you should do it. Gracias Amy!

I learned that the second child picks up on how to do naughty things much faster than the first one did.

I learned that a bathroom sink provides at least 45 minutes of entertainment...which has allowed me the opportunity to create this entry, however I just went and checked and realized that they were using part of Trey's little potty to create their "swimming pool" I'm pretty sure that is not sanitary.

I learned two kids can go through a pack of pez in 2 minutes

I learned Grace can down a juice box in one minute and 15 seconds.

I learned that having two kids who can walk and sort of talk is great because they can play and fight with each other.

I learned (will always be learning) that I am grateful for what God has given me a wonderful husband, a happy home, healthy kids, family, and friends.

Happy 2009....I will soon be posting one of the first things Kenny and I learned how to do in 2009. I know, the suspense is killing you.