~Ten on Tuesday~

1. As I was willing myself awake this morning, Henry was playing around on our bed. At one point he stood up and said, "I like myself." This is coming on the heels of Henry's declaration that he has 3 best friends, "Mommy, Daddy, & Audrey!" Maybe I'm/we're doing something right after all.

2. In the same morning romp, because I still hadn't gotten up, Audrey climbs up in our bed, too. She and I were cuddling and it was turning into quite the Hallmark moment. Just as the Hallmark Crown and soft music were about to appear, Audrey whacks me in the eye with a Happy Meal toy. Note: No glasses were harmed! I wasn't yet wearing my glasses.

3. Why is it that the most annoying Happy Meal toys have the longest staying power with my children?? Why can't the noisy ones be the ones that get lost and broken? When it was the talking Madagascar toys, I can't tell you how many times I heard, "I'm Alex, the Alex." Now we're on the Penguins of Madagascar and this one is even more annoying than Alex, the Alex. Skipper (Rico, as Henry calls him) has some motion sensor that makes some incessant "wee-oh, wee-oh" noise. It's these menacing toys that even Audrey sleeps with!

4. Jesse and I watched a good, but quite frankly, kind of disturbing movie this weekend-- "Phoebe in Wonderland." After viewing, I wish it had Lisa Kudrow and Smelly Cat, but it was about a little girl (Dakota Fanning's sister....Elle seems to be the better actress) and her fantasy with "Alice in Wonderland." http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809912209/info
Throughout the movie, it shows the girl with OCD-like behavior and some problematic outbursts. Having a daughter, Jesse and I could help but comment, "this is scary." No parent wishes their child to have a mental illness. Not to give it away, but there is a half-way decent resolution at the end.

5. Last night as I was checking my email, Audrey noticed I was not in the living room. It only took her about a minute to realize I wasn't there before she was barreling through the kitchen and at my feet, "UP". She sat on my lap for a bit, then turned around to be held. Five minutes later, she was OUT like a light. Awwww!

6. As we were brushing our teeth, Jesse noticed that I was about 2/3 of the way into the book I was reading. He commented, "whoa, you've been reading! When do you read??" I thought to myself, "Exactly!" (The book is, "True Colors" by Kristin Hannah....trying a different author and haven't quite decided if I like her...she may use too many words for my taste.)

In the arctic tundra that is our backyard-- the tire tracks and foot prints have been covered by even more new snow. Guess it's time for some more sledding! As the snow continued to fall yesterday-- I, on my own volition, decided to try to plow the driveway. (Our 4-wheeler has a plow attachment). Passersby must have been shaking their heads, "what is that chick trying to do....clear the snow or make more of a mess!?!?" The quality of my work may have been questionable, but I did clear somewhat of path for our cars before my fingers were frozen.

(PS- the answer to the riddle: somewhere in the wide expanse is a tan sand box).

10. I was thinking these things up this morning and was sure that I had 10, but now I can't think of the last one. So, I guess #10 is an homage to my failing memory. There are things that locked away like a steal trap, but others just fly right through; from one ear to the other! My mother says, "I take pills for that!" I just might have to start!

Happy Tuesday!

Ten on Tuesday....next time I'll add pictures (I promise!!)

1- Henry was referred to a Pediatric Dentist for not one, not two, not three, but four whopping cavities. I was pretty distraught about as it sort of reflects poorly on our parenting. The pediatric dentist said the cavities are related to how the teeth developed and that, in essence, it wasn't my/our fault. To get them repaired is a different (& costly) story....

2- Hooray, Audrey is now keeping barrettes in her hair longer and longer. I may even try a ponytail soon!

3- Speaking of Audrey....Yesterday while playing another rousing game of "look Ma, I'm runnin', come chase me, " I snatched her up only to get kicked straight in the glasses. Apparently, Audrey's foot made contact with the most fragile part of my 6-week old frames. Off to Lens Crafters we went. Because they didn't have replacement frames, I had to choose new frames! Picking frames is stressful enough...and to do it with two children. No more purple frames....now a brushed bronze!

4- At the start of the year, I decided to start watching what I eat and make better food choices. I don't really log what I eat, but I've cut back calorie-wise and have lost ~10 pounds. Still have a long way to go to meet my (first) goal, but I'm getting there!

5-Sunday, after the kids and I had breakfast with my visiting-from-out-of-town Cousins, we came home to find the toys picked up and the floors vacuumed. Talk about WOW! I love these kinds of surprises-- especially the kinds with me NOT cleaning. Henry and Audrey, of course, made sure to see that change in record time!

6- Our twin niece and nephew are having their 5th birthday party at the Skate Palace. Truth be told, I'm a little excited about it. 1- Because I think it will be cute to see Henners in a tiny pair of skates. (Note to self: please remember to ask about tightening the wheels) 2- Because I used to LOVE roller skating as a child. BC (before children), I used to roller blade all the time and loved it.

7- This cold weather can go away any time now. I won't be sad when Spring finally arrives! I'm definitely a warm weather girl!

8- Why is it that laundry never ends?!?! Our washer was empty for a little over a day last week and I about did a happy dance. There always seems to be a load to wash and 3 or 4 to put away! You'd think our collective wardrobes would be a bit more full given the amount of laundry I do.

9- Anyone know where I can find a good deal on a two-wheeler bike for a certain little boy's 4th birthday in April? In test-driving at the store, looks like he's ready for an 18", but will certainly will need training wheels!

whew! this is hard.....
and finally,

10- hmmmmm...Henry is all about the jumping these days. He's always loved jumping, but lately, it seems he's jumping all.the.time. He jumps over anything he can and down from just about anything he can. Just yesterday, he jumped from the top bunk of his bunk beds over the bottom bunk (they're shaped in an "L") and cleared it by a good foot! Jesse and I were kind of dumbfounded, but were quick to ask him to (carefully) try it again!