Meet Zoe...our new pet.

This past weekend, Meredith came running into the house after spending the morning outside with her dad telling me to come meet her new pet Zoe.  I had no idea what she was talking about because Josh had put the kibosh on any more living things under our roof some time ago.  So I went out and was shocked to see she was talking about a caterpillar....And holding it.  I don't like bugs, birds, caterpillars or any other creature that lives outside unless it is domesticated or at the zoo.  

I admired this new pet from a distance and re-iterated that she was to live in her home outside.

Here is the habitat that Meredith constructed herself with a little help from her dear old Dad.

She put the flowers in to make it pretty. And we researched what we needed to put in her condo with her to keep her belly full.

Everyday she ran home to check on Zoe and hold her and "play" with her.  She swung on the swing with her and would take her afternoon snack outside to share with her too.  In fact she was the one that noticed the bite marks on the leaves, It was really neat to see how much she ate each day.

Meredith grew very attached to her new friend Zoe and I was shocked by how well she took care of her.  She checked on her every morning, after school and before bed.  So you can imagine the horror after about a week when she came home from school and rushed to see Zoe after forgetting to check on her one morning and saw this...

She knew that Zoe was in the process of becoming a beautiful moth/butterfly, but it still didn't ease the pain of losing her caterpillar.  Zoe is still in a cocoon in her box on the back porch.  We still check on her everyday.  No moth yet, and Meredith is still sad.  I was picking up around the house one day when I found this...

This is the end 

of you Zoe

I'm going to miss 

you too

(her and Zoe)

I miss you

Hopefully we can update you all soon on Zoe's transformation.

The makings of a cheerleader party!

I'm all about birthday parties!  I mean it isn't everyday you have a birthday and hell at 31 I still want my party and my cake, so why wouldn't my tikes!  A week ago we celebrated Meredith's 4th birthday on her actual birthday, she wanted a cheerleader party.  And I was happy I could make that happen, with a little help from Carrie!  Thanks Carrie and to the USM cheerleaders!

First is the cheerleader invitation!

Then  the black and gold favor bucket!

With the tags I spent all night working on....that probably went unnoticed

Then you need a cheerleader

With her little football player brother....cheering him on!

You also need some cheerleaders and lots of little girls in cheerleader outfits...

And the opportunity to do a few cheers...

Best friends at a party never hurt either....

With a few cute boys as well....she calls him "my Connor!"

And more best friends...

It doesn't hurt to have trampolines and slides either!

and more trampolines!

You also need cake!

and candles to blow out!

Pizza and Cheetos are pretty good for parties too!

 Little brothers and cousins are really good for parties too!

(In this picture Noah was just telling me that his cousin Connor was his fwin!)

And presents are a must!

And at the end of the day if there is a smile on your 4 year old cheerleaders face, then it must have been a pretty good party!

Happy Birthday Meredith!  I hope you loved your cheerleader party!

What I like to dub the..."The I'm going to disney world and you're not!" snack day

Today was Meredith's first snack day of the year.  It also happens to be 3 days before we leave for our 2nd trip to Disney World.  I don't know who is more excited me or the tikes.  This year on snack day the kids also get to bring a small toy for show and tell.  The only show and tell brought that day is by the snack helper/line leader.  And to 3 year olds that is a VERY big deal.

Meredith was one of the last kids in the class to bring snack this month.  So we have been patiently waiting our turn to bring the snack and show and tell for what seems like an eternity.  This gave us plenty of time to think about what we were bringing.

Last week Meredith decided what she was bringing to show and tell all on her own.  She picked her small toy airplane and her small minnie and mickey doll.  That way she could show the kids what she would be flying on to get to Disney World and the Mickey and Minnie to show them what she would be seeing there.  She truly thought of this all on her own.  Then I took it one step further and made rice krispie treats shaped like mickey mouse's head with chocolate dipped ears. 

This morning Meredith decided to take it one step further and wear her Minnie Mouse dress and Minnie Mouse hat we got from Disney last year.  So as you can see we had a themed snack day/line leader day.  The theme I am sure seemed to be "I'm going to Disney World and you're not"  especially to the other three year olds.  It was not my intention for that.  I was a little worried though, especially since her little friend in the class really wants to go to.

However those were just silly fears, because her teacher sent me a lovely letter home today saying how much the kids loved Meredith's snack and show and tell, and how fun the snack day was.  I think it was a big hit!

Meredith got in the car with a smile beaming from ear to ear saying "all da kids LOVED my snack and dey thought dey was mickey mouse poppa-sickles, but really mom, dey were just krispie treats on a stick!  Isn't dat funny mom!  And mom EVERYBODY loved my hat!  And dey thought I was Minnie Mouse!"

Apparently Meredith's approval rating just soared in her preschool 3 class!

Here she is ready for snack day!

With her basket of snacks, and her show and tell.

Close up for the show and tell.

And because he is so handsome and wants to go to school with his sister so bad, here is my man with his show and tell too!

The cheerleaders and the hunk!

This past weekend we took the kids to the USM game.  It was Noah's first game, since his previous games were when he was in my belly!  It was also Meredith's "first" game, since she didn't remember ever going before.  It was also her first time to bring a friend somewhere, I have to say that is a pretty big girl move!

Here they are all dressed up in the USM garb, making funny faces!  Look at the happiness in those smiles.  To be young and innocent again!

The girls trying to get Noah to sit by them....he was too cool for that!

Gearing up to go!  Eagles to the TOP!

Best friends!

Pre-game we tailgated with the masses at USM.  We watched the bands, the cheerleaders and dance team and the kids were very interested in people watching.

The game was alot of fun.  We didn't have the typical game experience though, we watched it in a catered suite that Josh's office owns.  Talk about style.  The kids loved that.  They were right in the end zone with only glass between them and the field and several hundred feet of course, since we were on the third floor!

The girls played, cheered and had a ball.  Noah watched the game intensely, clapped, cheered, flirted with the girls both big and small.  Overall we all had a great time, it will be hard to go back to watching the games in the stands.  At one point during the night, Noah tried to crowd surf in the stands.  He had 5 adults up and out of their seats trying to catch him, someone did, I guess the boy knew what he was doing.  He also tried to climb over the glass railing the entire night.  Finally he took his shoes off and stacked them against the glass to get some height, he then climbed on his shoes and tried to boost himself over the edge....he came close.

At half time we headed out to get the three tikes home and in bed.  It was a great game.

Most common complaint about being a stay at home mom

I often hear from other moms that the most common complaint about our job is boredom. Being home with one or two toddlers, no adult interaction, the same books, puzzles, toys, the same routine day in and day out. While most of that is true, I can't say that I am bored. No losing my mind is definitely more like it, take today for example.

My house is in the beginning of a renovation. It is now torn up to the point of not being livable, and no where near being complete. I have some workers here, who do a lot of standing around and waiting on the another guy, a lot of banging and some who just hang visquine everywhere.

I have a 17 month old who wants to get his tools and go help, hell he would love to bang on some stuff, but his mom is always saying "No, No Noah!" He just can't help himself and stay out the room. I am actually allowing the banging and he is dying to partake.

I have a great friend who is moving today and I offered to keep her 3 year old and bring her to gymnastics, lunch, dance and dinner, since she graciously kept my two all day and did the same thing when I went to my grandmother's funeral.

I also have my own three year old who is thrilled that her friend is here for the day, let's just say if I could bottle their energy and excitement and sell it I would be a rich woman.

After our trip to gymnastics and the eatery with a germ infested play structure McDonald's, I came home with high hopes that the children hyped up on caramel dipping sauce would nap. That was a no go. The girls laid down watching Little Mermaid while I took Bubs up for his nap. I laid him down and started on laundry.

After 45 minutes he was still standing, the workers were still banging and the girls were still giggling. I attributed the noise to his lack of napping and the girls well who isn't happy when their friend is over. I then looked very closely into his video monitor and noticed he was playing in his crib sans diaper. I rushed up to put a new one on before he made a huge mess.

Yes, I was too late. There was, for lack of a better word, shit everywhere. His hair, his pillow, the sheets, his blankets, his crib. Everywhere. When I walked in he pointed to a large clump in the middle of his bed and said "uh-oh." Yes, little man --- uh-oh is right or oh shit - whichever is age appropriate, just feel free to use it.

I scooped him out, ran a bath, cleaned him, bathed him, and dressed him. I then began to tackle the bed when I heard two loud piercing screams coming from my room. I had left the girls in my room with Ariel and told them if anyone walked in to scream and come get mommy. So I grab Noah and rushed downstairs almost killing myself to get there. I run to my room and open the door and their sit two little girls with big grins on their faces.

I explain that they only scream in an emergency and if someone comes in mommy's room while I am upstairs. They nod in understanding and back up I go to finish the stripping of the bed. I get it done and lay Noah back down where he is still saying "dadadadadada."

I am off to fetch some snacks for the girls and perhaps sit on my butt for a minute while they eat them. Who said staying home with your kids was boring? If you think so feel free to bring your tikes over and help me.

What she says.....News to me....reported from a friend

Today Meredith spent the day with her friend, Grace. She was absolutely thrilled to spend the day with Grace, although she was a little bummed that Noah had to tag along. Julia graciously watched our kids so Josh and I could head to Foley, Alabama for my Grandmother's funeral. It was a long trip and all day in the car, so I am very grateful that they were able to stay home and play instead.

While at Julia's, Grace and Meredith had a lot of conversations, Josh and I caught tidbits from Julia and Meredith. I am pretty sure Julia's stories were more reliable while Meredith's stories involved a whole lot more imagination. Like the story of how Baby Marion flew out of the Grace's room today. I'm pretty sure Marion isn't flying yet, I will have to ask Julia to make sure.

Anyway Julia did tell me about this lovely conversation between the girls.....like I said news to me....

"Grace I'm going to Disney World"

"You are....I'm gonna miss you"

"You can come with me"

"I can!"

"Sure!"

Yeah, Julia asked me tonight if we were going back to Disney. I told her eventually before Noah was 3. In fact we promised Meredith a trip when she got rid of her pacifier. However a trip is not planned in the immediate future. I guess Meredith has her own trip planned and she is taking Grace apparently.

Do you need the keys?

Today me and my tikes met Katey and her tikes for lunch. We didn't do your ordinary Chick-fil-a or McDonald's. No, we went for sushi. I picked the place and even though I was craving it and we all know how sushi cravings are.....irresistable.....it wasn't really a place to bring 4 children all under the age of 4. Yes, we obviously smoke crack on the weekends, that is the only really viable excuse for torturing ourselves like this. Seriously they were very good. Noah and Burke chowed down, they ate anything that didn't eat them first. Meredith and Adalyn ate a little, but mainly picked. Meredith decided to eat all the snow crab out of my rolls, which really made them less appetizing to me, but whatever I didn't let her eat at chick-fil-a, so I guess that's fair.

While we were waiting Meredith and Adalyn were practicing with their chopsticks. They actually did pretty good with them. Then all of a sudden their two heads were together making a plan. Meredith then piped up....

"Mom, me and Adalyn are going to Chick-fil-a.....okay"

Katey and I just looked at one another and then she offered for them to drive her car there. No problem at all. They are only 2 and 3, what are we going to do with them when they are 15 & 16?

Just a typical Thursday snow ball fight

Sure it is just a typical Thursday morning here in the burg! Snow ball fights, cardboard sled riding, snow angels, and pizza. Yes, a typical Thursday morning in deed. When we woke up this morning and saw the snow, visions of being cramped up in the house all day crossed through my head. Josh had to work and I couldn't let Noah crawl around in the snow while we were outside playing and so I thought this could be a very long day. Then Katey called and off we went to play in the snow. After all I went and visited Katey the last time it snowed so it only seemed natural to spend our snow day with them. Mimi came with us so she could stay inside to watch Noah. They sat inside with Mee maw and Burke. Then us girls headed out to play!

Here are the girls all bundled up and ready to head out.

Noah is completely jealous he can't go out to play.

Trying to get the door open!
Adalyn and Meredith getting ready for a snowball fight.This morning when Katey called she invited us to go sledding. I have to say she is such a fun mom. Here she is pushing the girls on our first attempt....the cardboard sled.And here she is pushing them again on the top of a rubbermaid container sled....she is a genius!And our third and final sled, the water skiing sled. She called Pee paw who happened to have one and filled it with air and ran it over. Here they are getting ready to go down the hill.....Whee! They only tumbled out once. Then Jeff got home and brought pizza. After a quick break to eat and dry off our clothes, we headed back out for more fun. He helped the girls build a great big snowman. Poor Josh was still stuck at work.

Here is the snow man with the finishing touches....See his earmuffs, eyes, nose and mouth!

Then before we headed in we made snow angels.
They were soaked, but had so much fun!
Then Mr. Jeff pulled them home!

Thanks Katey for having us over to play! It was a blast, Meredith came home exhausted and can't wait to do it all again tomorrow! I guess she will be quite disappointed when she wakes up and all the snow is gone!