Pablo

After last year's Shrek cake I really wasn't looking to put too much effort into a character again. Being the sucker that I am, though, this year I made Pablo (for all you Backyardigans novices out there, he's a favorite of the 5). Pablo was definitely easier than Shrek, though, and nickjr.com has great instructions if you're looking.

I will say, though, that when asked who this was before blowing out the candles, Mr. A replied rather enthusiastically, "TYRONE!!!"

Worth all the effort, my friends. Every. melted. Starburst.

A Birthday Boy

The birthday boy the morning of his birthday - Cinnamon Rolls and Eggs for breakfast, please!

A very very happy happy happy birthday to my beloved Mr. A. I am much more comfortable today than I was 3 years ago today. However, I am also more full - of love and appreciation and devotion and wonder.

My Mr. A has had a busy day already. By 9:30 am I thought we might be making a trip to the emergency room - he had already fallen backwards and slammed his head on the floor while trying to Curious George-it up the bed, pulled an unsecured door down on top of him, and cut his lip pretty deeply while also trying to turn on "just a little show" while I was trying to earn the piece of his cake that I'd like to eat tomorrow (aka work out).

Alas, we have had no incidents since 9:30 and he is peacefully napping. May your day and year ahead, Mr. A, be full of the most delicious frosting I can make, a yummy yummy Pablo cake that you have been asking for since early December (and hopefully that will suffice since we’re not dressing up as Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, and Uniqua, which you have also asked for many times since early December), many rides in the yard/sidewalk/driveway on your new scooter, many hours spent in the basement playing with your new toys, many days spent wearing your handsome new clothes, and many dances around the kitchen with your "new" music.

You are a pure joy to have in our home, Mr. A. DH and I often look at each other and just laugh at the things you say, the places that your imagination take you, and the vigor with which you live your life. I have often said, and continue to feel, that one of my great challenges in life will be to help develop borders for, and not simply stifle, your passion, your energy, and your adventuresome spirit.

Right now you really love the Backyardigans, horses, jumping in your bouncer, riding around the basement dressed up as your "horsie," any candy, apple juice, water, your baby sis, your "li-lel" blankie, your "Big Brother" book, your "Po" book, taking care of your "Puppy" (that's his name), your teachers at school, your friends (you're known to say "where's my friend, _____, Mom?" when he/she disappears for even a moment), "hairpanes" (you ask me every day if we can go on the airplane tomorrow), Chick-a-lay (Chick-Fil-A), Target, Lola Fely, bath-time with your Spidey-stick, swimming, and jumping in the ocean waves, playing games (Candyland), playing on the " ' puter" (you like to play Backyardigans games on NickJr while telling us that you're "just checking my email"), playing Wii (you could beat the pants off of all of us at golf and bowling) and Guitar Hero (the tuh-tar is what you call it).

Oh, and did I mention just how very much you love your daddy? I think he takes the cake above all of those other things. Not so bad. He's a good one to look up to.

And right now, Mr. A, we REALLY love YOU. Happy 3 Years.

Catching Up

Having 2 children seems to have doomed me to perpetual lateness in life. I have a really hard time being punctual. I know it appears to some that it's because I'm not considerate of their time, but I try.

Really.

Hard.

Most of the time, however, I am just plain tardy. And so it is that I'm even behind on my blog postings - just a smidge. Still working on the December/Christmas/Florida post that will show up dated December 24, but just finished a new one for the rest of New Years.

Please bear with the woman who lives her life on one bar (cell phone and BB constantly going on just one bar of battery).

Shake It

We took this video at the Rose Parade of our very hip Mr. A. He's workin' it...

Your Hair

Let me say a few words about my hair. I'm grateful for all of it. But there is a lot of it (every hair dresser tells me so). It spends much time pulled back in a ponytail or clip or some other form away from my face and the far-reaching hands and mouth of grabby Miss M. And, if it's not pulled back in some form then it is usually done in the style that was fastest for that day - air dry or dried curly. I really do enjoy having it straight but that takes a lot of time - not something I have very often.

And so, now that we're all well-versed in my hair issues, I will share a Mr. A-ism.

The setting: Last Sunday just before we were heading off to church and Mr. A was standing on our bed while I put his clothes on.

Mr. A: "Oooh, Mommy. Your hair SOOO pretty. You need to do this, Mommy" (and pulls it back for me).

Me: "Why, thank you Mr. A! Sometimes I do my hair like this (straight) for nice events - like church."

Fast forward to today when I got back from my hair appointment (my preferred stylist, Megan, lives too far away and I haven't seen her for too long so I had to go elsewhere for today).

As we all know, most men don't typically notice when we cut/color/even wash our hair.

Not my Mr. A, though. The minute I walked in the door he came running up to me, and said "Hold me."

I picked him up. He got in real close to my face and then reached his little toddler hands out to stroke my hair.

Mr. A: "Oooh, Mommy. Your hair SOOO pretty! You do your hair, mommy?!"

Me: "Thank you, Mr. A! Actually, today Patti did my hair. Isn't she so nice?"

Mr. A: "Oh, yes, mommy. I like your hair."

Bless him. Mr. A is one of a kind. He noticed.

Family, Friends, Bicycles & Guitars

Can you tell they're 3? I asked them to all smile for me...

Happy New Year! (are we bad parents to be feeding our child Skittles at 9:30 pm?)

Slip and Slide! This child has no fear

Miss M and her Nana

The New Year's Pinata

The remainder of our time in CA was spent with many members of DH's extended and immediate family. There were 67 family members ringing in the New Year (East Coast time so we could all go home and get a few hours of sleep before the parade) at DH's Uncle Bob's and 67 of us scarfing down pizza and watching football at DH's Aunt Judy's on New Year's Day. That's a lot of people. I often wondered where my Mr. A was. To find him, however, I typically looked for his cousins his age and he wasn't too far away. They all had so much fun together.

I got to see my longest and dearest friend, Darcy. We have now been friends for 27+ years. We were too busy playing, though, to take a picture apparently.

We rented bikes in Santa Monica and rode down to Venice Beach and back. We were our own trail of little bikes, big pink beach cruisers, kiddie trailers, and baby-wearing riders. It was so gorgeous, though, and we then let the kids romp around in the sand and surf - their happy places.

DH's sister, K, was kind enough to let 12 people (actually 4 adults and 8 EXTRA kids) crash her house for the week. We tried to earn our keep by learning about Rockband and cracking the codes to get Alannis, Bon Jovi, and some other favorites into the PacknPriv tour. DH was a natural on the bass (or so he thought - really, he was good) and I graced everyone with my very awesome (hint: sarcasm) rendition of Livin' on a Prayer - a very favorite of mine.

Our kids were great travelers and adapted really well to the time zone change, the airport waits, the seemingly endless airplane rides, and being away from their own beds and schedules. Well worth it, though, to spend all that time with cousins, grandparents, family, friends, the sun and the beach - our happy places.

Coming Up Roses

This is how you open the silly string...
Those band members sure are playing cool music!

The flowers are unreal - especially the roses

Mr. A & his Papa - can you tell the donut was good?

"The future's so bright"...gotta wear the only kid's shades around - thanks, Aunt Kel!

We spent a most glorious New Year's week in sunny California. And, given the current low state of our thermometers here right now, we should have stayed longer.

I enjoy a good parade. But, I've got nothing on DH's family. They have a longstanding tradition of attending the Rose Parade - the granddaddy of them all. And, this isn't just attendance of the "show up, buy a ticket in the grandstand, and watch the parade go by" kind. This is serious business - make a friend that lives on the parade route, bring him a box of See's candy each year, go to his house the day before the parade and set up 30-40 chairs from the sidewalk to the curb in front of his house, prepare and bring a fresh batch of homemade hot chocolate, pickup donuts at Parade of Donuts (or something like that), and then play for a few hours until the parade makes its way to your street. Once the parade arrives, watch with a front row seat the gorgeous roses and all-natural floats go by, enjoy all of the floral scents, laugh while your son shakes his bootie in the front row as all of the bands go marching by, and cheer when Elmo, Big Bird, and the Sesame Street gang motor by in their float. It is an event of the first-class kind - and one that we hope we can make at least a semi-annual affair.

Oh, Deer

I'm glad that you're still alive.

I'm glad that I'm still alive.

I'm glad I was obeying the speed limit (a rarity unfortunately).

I'm glad that my car still drives.

I'm glad the person behind me didn't hit me when I stopped short to try not to hit you.

I'm sad that you leapt from the left side so swiftly that I didn't see you until you were in front of my car grill.

Is it bad that I'm even more sad, however, that the front bumper is now hanging off my car with a little tuft of your fur wedged into it?

I think my car is cursed. DH thinks it's an operator issue. Of course.

Ding Dong

Mr. A was going through his bedtime routine a few nights ago when he realized that the book he wanted to read was still in our room.

Mr. A - "I go get it in your room, Mom. You stay here."
Me - "Ok."

He flings open the door, shuts it behind him, pitter patters his little feet and legs down the hallway, gets the book and I hear the pitter patter come back and abruptly stop.

The door is still closed (I'm inside the bedroom).

Mr. A: "Ding Dong"

Me: (Laughing) "Uhh, come in!"

Mr. A: "Ok! Hi, Mom!"

I have absolutely no idea who taught him to first claim "ding dong" before entering a room or opening a door, but I thank them for the chuckle.

All is Calm. All is Bright.

We are home from our holiday travels. The house is quiet. Our minds have been burned bright with great memories and time with family and friends. Now, if only the weather here would be as nice as those sunny So. Cal. and No. Flo. ones. I guess that's why we vacation to warmer climes (and, it is nice to have children sleep until 10:30 am because they think it's really 7:30 am).

And so tomorrow begins the "Superfine in '09" mantra in our house. Nothing too drastic, just some good ol' fashioned eating right, consistent workouts, and some activities to motivate us (a triathlon commitment, a bathing suit season with no post-pregnancy excuses allowed, and whatever else works).

We are looking forward to a 2009 full of relative calm and much brightness. May you enjoy the same. Happy New Year.