Easter 2010

We started out the weekend holiday with going to Good Friday service. It was an amazing message as they showed clips from Passion of the Christ. Wow, I think everyone was tearing up watching what He went through for us. They didn't provide childcare for children 3 and up so Jackson was sitting with me, making so many loud noises...."Mommy, I want to go to my classroom", Mommy, I don't want to sit in here, Mommy, I need to go poopy, Mommy, where is the donkey?" Oh my gosh! It was so hard to enjoy the service much less take anything in so we moved our party of two to the atrium. There we encountered every other parent with a crazy 3 year old who refused to sit quietly. Luckily there were several t.v's so the parents could still watch.

Saturday morning we went to soccer practice, then I got a chance to go to a Rough Rider's game with some friends and we dyed easter eggs later that night.

Sunday morning we made it back to Easter service. Luckily we got there earlier than usual as the service overflowed with people. It was a beautiful service. We then made it out to Nina's house for a late lunch and an Easter egg hunt. Lots of good food and candy was consumed. All in all it was a fun Easter. Hope you enjoy the pics!

Kick backs, meltdowns and tatoos

So the second soccer practice went much smoother. We got there quite a bit earlier than everyone else just so Jackson could warm up and ease his way into the large crowd. He immediately got on the field and was kicking the ball around listening to Coach Ian as he asked him to kick all the balls into the goal. He started out really well and was squishing it like a bug and sitting on his ball when told to do so. About the middle of the practice Coach Ian asked all the kids to sit on their ball and Jackson followed directions but the ball came out from under him so he ran to get it. Just as he grabbed it with his hands the coach turned around and said "No hands Jackson" and slapped it out of his hands to the ground. Jackson was pissed! He ignored him the rest of the practice. Uggghhh!!!!! He was the last kid to do anything the coach asked. Sometimes he just stood there like a bump on a log! It was a little embarrassing but Scott knew why he was acting the way he was. I had no idea he was mad at the coach. Like father like son I guess. They learned a new trick though called a kick back. Jackson has mastered the skill already and will perform it on command if asked to do so by anyone and everyone who will watch. Oh, forgot to mention the meltdown. Jackson all of a sudden was not interested in soccer at all and came to sit with us on the sidelines. Scott tried to get him to go back on the field but that didn't seem to work. I attempted it as well with no luck. It immediately turned into a crying meltdown. I immediately grabbed his hand, took him off of the field and we went and had a talk in the bathroom. He finally quit crying and sat on the field and listened. At the end of practice they always get a prize if they listened well. Somehow by the grace of God, Jackson got a cool soccer tattoo. The coach asked him if he was going to do better next time as he placed it on his hand. As we were leaving he ran up to Coach Ian and gave him a hug and a high five. Hopefully this guy doesn't think our kid has issues! Till next week!

Squish it like a bug!

How exciting!!!! Jackson had his first soccer practice yesterday. I have been waiting so long for this moment to arrive. I can picture my little man in his cute soccer outfit, equipped with cleats and shin guards dribbling the soccer ball like a seasoned pro. In the past month or so that we have been practicing with him on the fields he has amazed us with his savvy skills. I couldn't wait to see him at practice showing up all the other kids! ;-) We had an IHOP breakfast early that morning and headed over to the soccer fields. He was so excited.....then we got to the fields. You would think this kid had never even kicked a soccer ball. He was attached to our hips not wanting to line up with the other kids, who by the way were much smaller and less skilled than Jackson. There were probably 20 kids and about 3 including Jackson were either crying, not wanting to leave mom and dad or were totally oblivious to what was going on. At least he wasn't crying is all I can say.

Coach Ian was very comical and the kids seemed to really respond to his silly approach to soccer. We learned to dribble past the volcanos (orange cones) and squish our ball like a bug (stop it with one foot). He lined up all the kids on one side of the field and called their names one by one and they were to dribble past the volcanos and score a goal. After each kid scored everyone (including parents) were clapping and giving praise. Then it was Jackson's turn. He just stood there! It was so embarrassing! Coach Ian finally just picked him up and Jackson was so nervous he just hugged him. The coach then put him down and helped him dribble it down the field. Once practice ended and all the majority of the parents/kids were gone Jackson got back on the field and was doing so well! Coach Ian informed us it's totally normal for some of the kids to be really shy the first couple of times. I hope it gets better. It's so frustrating to know how good he is but his shyness prevents him from really letting go. We'll keep everyone posted as to our progress! Ava on the otherhand hated being on the sidelines! The whole time she was wanting to run on the field to get the balls! Definitely not going to be a little cheerleader! ;-)

What a pretty day

We had a fun weekend taking the kids to the Children's Museum of Dallas. They saw dinosaurs, played on an animal farm and milked a cow, saw dogs doing neat tricks and took in an IMAX movie "Alaska". They were tired by the end of the day but had a great time! The weather Saturday and Sunday was the best! We took the kids to Cristina's and they played outside while we waited to get seated. Here is Ava chillin and posing for the camera.

So ready for summer

This weather here lately is making me crazy! We get teased with a nice warm day and the next couple of days are rainy and dreary. We found a really neat playground right down the street, coincidentally the same place Jackson is to start soccer. We haven't visited in a while. I'm tired of wearing big bulky jackets and scarves and ready for some shorts and flip flops. I've been eyeing the cutest spring/summer clothes for the kids. I just don't see them in our near future! So back to soccer. I signed up Jackson for a soccer league lasting 8 long weeks! I'm so excited! I'm definitely going to be the embarrassing mom running up and down the fields yelling at him! Hopefully he'll actually pay attention. Scott and I took him out to the soccer fields to see what he could do. May I say we have a soccer player on our hands. He has such raw talent! He was kicking that ball around like he had been doing it for years! It baffled me! I just hope he does that in front of strangers. For some reason he always clams up infront of people/kids he doesn't know.

Ava is doing really well with her potty training. She will sometimes tell us she needs to go but will always do something right after she wakes from a nap. She is in such "mommy mode" here lately. Anything that resembles a doll she is wrapping up in a blankie, paper towel, tissue paper, etc, etc....She will carry it around like a baby. It really is so sweet. I think I finally have her rash under control. I changed her wipes to sensitive and also bought the very expensive Huggies Naturals. $20 for a pack of 40 when I was used to paying $7 for the Target brand. I'm pretty sure it's the change in wipes but the organic diapers probably help the issue as well. Poor baby has the driest skin. I really don't know where she gets this from as I know of no one in our family who has excema.

Miss Peabody

My little sugar girl is only 19 months old and she went potty for the first time today!!! Her daycare called me this morning and told me she asked to go potty and actually went! She went #1 and #2! She wore one diaper all day! I am so amazed! She is so little but acts like such a big girl. Here are some pictures of my big girl!

Birthday celebration

Creepy Santa

I have to tell the story about this scary little santa decoration that we have. I think my mom gave it to me a couple of years ago and I didn't think much of it (it's kinda creepy looking). Well, Ava has found a liking to it and makes it do very creepy things! For some reason, she will close the bathroom door and put it right up against it every morning! Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and seeing this creepy thing!

Happy 3rd Birthday Jackson!

To my Son on your 3rd Birthday,

Today you turn 3. Where has the time gone! I still can remember the day, so vividly in my mind, December 16, 2006. Our first child, our only boy, was born. Life has changed so much since you have come into our lives. You are getting so big, so independent, and not needing mommy as much....sniff, sniff. Since you have started daycare you have learned so much. I am so proud of you! Everyday I pick you up from school you amaze me with what you have learned. Even in the times that you make me want to pull my hair out I wouldn't trade you for the world! You are such a wonderful big brother (most of the time). I love watching you play with Ava. She looks up to you so much and wants to do everything you do.

Your favorite things are "chups" or chips, dinosaurs, Mickey Mouse, anything having to do with cars, playing with your cousins, singing Christmas songs, going on adventure walks, riding the carosel at the mall, wrestling with Dad and Ava, cuddling on the couch with Mom or Dad, putting on your own shoes, among many other big boy things!

You have learned to go potty all by yourself! Sometimes we wish you would tell us you went though! ;-) You watch out for your little sister and you two are best buds (for now at least).

I cherish every second with you. I can never get enough of all your hugs and sugars! I love you so much.

Happy Birthday Sugarplum!

Love,

Mom

Look at those piggies!

So I finally tried putting pig tails in Ava's hair today. Why on earth did I not try this sooner? Her hair is way long enough! She looked like a totally different little girl, a much BIGGER girl at that! She seemed to love them too as she posed and smiled for the camera. Check out her piggies. Way cute!

Halleluja!

I am confident to say my son is now pottytrained! After SEVERAL months of I'm guessing "not being ready" he has gone a whole week with only two accidents! He now comes and tells us everytime he has to go "tee tee or poopy"! He has even learned to stand up and tee tee! Yay! After learning this it is much easier for him to go by himself. It's like a light came on in his little head! :-) What a relief! No more diapers (with the exception of naps and bedtime). That's the next step!

Bows, Shoes, Purses....OH MY!

So now we are obsessed with purses? What? How is this girl becoming so Girlie Girl? I must admit I started the whole bow thing. We probably have a bow for every outfit. Whenever a bow falls out of her hair I will ask her to go and find her bow. She will hunt for the thing and bring it back to me to put in her hair. It is too funny! Then the shoe obsession started. Will not let me take the things off her feet! She would probably sleep in them if I let her! Now purses? She walked around the house all morning with this one over her arm. Oh my!

Our First Tooth!

After a not so fun weekend of fever, a snotty nose, constant whining and crying, night wakings and not interested in eating we FINALLY have a tooth popping through! You can feel a rough patch on her bottom gums. Yay!!! What a big girl she is! I was beginning to think we were never going to get one!

Water Babies

We let the kids play in the sprinklers today so we didn't have to make a trip to the pool. They both love the water, so we knew they would enjoy it just the same. The water table was also a hit, although Ava did think it was a pool as you can see! I managed to get some really great shots of them. Hope you enjoy!