The ultimate boy party

I love having a screened in porch. I can send the kids outside, even if it's raining, and close the door (closing the door is imperative.)

Robert loves the screened-in porch as well. He loves to turn on the twinkle party lights, turn on all the fans, and turn up the music and have a party.

One day, the party took a turn toward all things boy.

The kids were happily playing. I turned and caught a glance of... MUD. Everywhere. Seems that the thing missing from the party was some sort of confetti. And what makes better confetti than mud?! Mud on the ceiling, mud on the floor, mud on the radio. This was one of the few days that I hoped Jeff did not make it home until after dark, just so I wouldn't have to hear the shock in his voice when he saw 'The Mud Party.'

This was one of the few nights when Jeff came home before sunset.

We spent over 3 hours cleaning the back porch. Brooms, shop vac, vacuum, mop (for the ceiling.) My mom mentions, "You can always be glad when they make mistakes now, when you can teach them." I'm hoping the lesson sticks, because I think the party would have been quite different if I had 19 yr old college boys instead of 4 yr old preschool boys. Maybe.

For now though, the back porch is the cleanest room in the house so we might as well enjoy it. Anyone up for cocktails tonight?

All things Angry Birds

Robert proudly displays his Angry Birds.

Perhaps you noticed the newest addition to the Angry Birds, the Fat Red Bird.

This bird entered our family after an entire week of Robert asking Grandma every morning, "Can you make the Fat Red Bird today?!" Grandma called Robert from the fabric store on her lunch one Friday, to ensure she was in fact purchasing the correct supplies (Robert's request.) Then she patterned (just in case she needs to make another) and sewed the bird, much to the delight of Robert, on that Saturday. I think perhaps his he may have dangerously high expectations now.

And this beauty. This is the live Angry Birds game that was assembled in the back yard. I do have video of the glorious game in action, but I'm not sure y'all can handle all that amazing-ness :)

Running with cameras

 And what my camera does while I'm in the shower. :)

I'm most definitely not tired.

I'm not tired at all. I'm just resting right here, on the arm of my couch with my eyes closed and a tiny bit drool on my face. But I really don't need to nap mom, I promise.

Lessons from the Holiday Season

Looking through all those holiday photos reminded me that I did manage to learn a few things last year.

1. If your 4 yr old boy asks for a specific battle boat only found in a magazine, and you go to your local Target and buy a battle boat that you think is MUCH cooler (as well as $10 plus S+H less), he will probably still ask for the other battle boat 2 months later.

2. If your 2 yr old daughter asks for a pink baby doll, and you go to her room and pick out an old baby doll which you then hide for 2 weeks before buying new pink clothes for the baby and wrapping it up for Christmas, your daughter will never know or seem to care.

3. If you're at a party, and your 2 yr old says her throat hurts, you should probably listen. Then if you think she might throw up, and your not sure where to run, outside would probably be best. Then you won't have to clean someone else's floor in the middle of a party. Also, you won't have to roll your eyes when someone else suggests that you should have taken her outside (because you'll wish they had said that EARLIER, and it's not like I want to teach my daughter to puke in the bushes anyway.) AND you should also realize that the really cute dress you got suckered into buying at full price and that got puked on will say hand wash only, but it will have sat on top of the washer all night wrapped in a Target bag and there is no way you're even going to attempt to hand wash it.