Our Little Sugarplum Fairy

Tonight Tyler, Allison, and I attended Houston Ballet's The Nutcracker downtown. Her nutcracker came along for the show. She held on tightly to it throughout the entire performance. Aidan broke his sword yesterday, so I was sure to tell her that she was just like Clara when Clara's bratty brother broke her nutcracker.

She loved going. When Tyler asked her what her favorite part of the ballet was she replied, "All of it!"

P.S. Thank you Christina for letting Aidan snooze at your house!

Attempt at a Group Portrait

Isn't this a nice group portrait?

When my parents were getting ready to leave today, I decided to take a picture of them with the kids. It took major efforts with Aidan, and the set of pictures cracked me up so much that I had to share. A few things to notice: Allison has been trained to stare and smile while her brother acts like a wild monkey, and check out her face after the collision in the last picture. You know exactly what is going through her mind.

Thanksgiving

What a great Thanksgiving we just wrapped up! Omie, Papa Fred, and Gigi all came, and we had a great feast. It was somewhat crazy how much food was left sitting on the buffet, but I have absolutely no problem eating Thanksgiving leftovers for a few days.

Allison making pumpkin pie

Daddy and Allison squeezing the oranges for the cranberry sauce

Papa Fred, Allison, and Aidan playing with the train set Thanksgiving morning

Gigi, Allison, and Omie preparing the spinach

Aidan ate all of his food and then some of mine.

Omie, Daddy, and Gigi feeling very full

Flagstone

Dedicated to my dear friend Ashley - because you feel my pain.

Let me start this post by saying that I think flagstone is beautiful, gorgeous, and really does make a yard feel intimate and completely enjoyable. I love to sit upon and among flagstone. It's a little bit of cottage charm inside a metropolitan suburb.

Now, up until the last three days I did not realize just how much flagstone we have. As wonderful as it is, it took three days of pulling weeds, sweeping pine needles and leaves, and intense cleaning to uncover the masses. Round up came to the rescue some, but it was still a ton of work. Luckily the weather, and the kids, have cooperated. They happily played outside for hours at a time so that I could get down and dirty. Allison even helped with some weed pulling and pebble transplants. (Aidan likes to take pebbles from the fountain and throw them all over the yard.)

Yes, the work is now finished, and as I sighed an "ahh" at the beauty of it all, I remembered how much it will need to be maintained. We all know the weather and kids will not always be so cooperative.

It is pretty though, and I am very grateful for the landscaping that was already here. Just keeping it real people.

.

Austin and the kids love the path beside the garage.

.

Freedom!

Aidan's crib has become a toddler bed. He was hoisting himself up over the side of the crib even though we had moved the mattress to the "youth bed" position. I think we have two monkeys in this family. Let's hope this is a smooth transition. I'm not exactly looking forward to the day he figures out he's free. Tonight he just stared at me and wouldn't move. I'm sure it won't take long.

Sitting Pretty

Allison made sure Omie's hair looked just right this past weekend. My parents brought my old vanity up from their house for our guest room. It was my great-grandmother's. I am going to do something wonderful with it staining/painting-wise, but I have not figured out what that is just yet. Regardless, Allison loves it. She loved fixing Omie's hair, and she sits at it whenever she gets the chance.

Movin' On Up, Again

Allison started at Westwood Gymnastics a little over a month ago. We took the summer off, and then after the move we didn't get back into it right away. She found out today she moved up another level after last week's evaluation. She is very proud! Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me today and had to use my phone. It was very cute though. Each child walked up on a make-shift podium and was applauded by the audience of parents. She stood there for so long with her hands up they had to tell her it was time to come down. I was cracking up! This girl loves gymnastics.

These are a few pictures from last week.

Monkey walks - She is definitely a monkey

Sheeeeeeeeze

Translation: "Cheese" in Aidan-lingo. Each time I hold the camera up he gives me a huge "cheese".

Allison's Fall School Picture

A New Friend

Allison has found a new friend in our neighbor two doors down. About a month ago I was outside with Allison in the front yard pushing her on the swing. I ran inside to check on Aidan, who was watching Toy Story for the 100th time, and when I came back outside she and a little girl around the same age were holding hands and laughing. They then ran directly into the house and up the stairs to Allison's room. I went outside to make sure her mother or father knew where she was, and here comes her mom running towards our house. She came in, we met, the girls played, and they have been inseparable since.

Ty is five months older than Allison, so she is in kindergarten this year. They are two peas in a pod. Allison has played over there, gone to the pumpkin patch with them, eaten there, and Ty has played over here quite a bit. They both love to dress up, play make-believe, and are truly kindred spirits. Tyler and I are so glad she's found a neighbor as a friend.

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

This morning the kids had appointments for their second flu shots at the pediatrician's office. Allison has been asking about getting her ears pierced for a few months. I explained to her how they pierce them, and that it will hurt for a second. I was very honest with her, and I told her that when she was ready we would have it done.

This morning when I was fixing her hair I told her we were going to the pediatrician's office, and if she wanted to she could have her ears pierced. She said she was ready. I asked her probably ten more times before we were actually there, and her answer never changed. She chose the ones with the bling, of course, and did not shed a single tear.

East Cliff Fall Festival

Last weekend the kids went to my parents' house and attended East Cliff Elementary's Fall Festival. We took them last year with my parents, and Allison has decided it is something she should get to do every year. She had so much fun.

Rebekah and Allison had their faces painted, and Allison had her hair dyed hot pink.

She went in her first haunted house with Makayla, Rebekah, and a couple of other girls. My father took them. She said it was "too scary, and I'll never do a haunted house again." We shall see!

Aidan thought he would try to hula hoop.

One was just too easy.

The kids also had a visit from their great-grandmother, Memere. She could not believe how much Allison talks. She asked my mother if she always talked so much, and when she said yes Memere replied, "poor Amy!" Ha ha ha.

The Other Spook from Yesterday

Tyler did a little renovation on the 10' prison wall connecting our house to the garage. Yet another example of the previous owners' DIY obsession.

Let's zoom in on that face....

It is now waist-high matching the rest of the neighborhood, and obviously the way the builder intended. It really opens up the backyard and looks so much better.