Uncle Dot Comes to School

At C&J's preschool, the month of September was "community helpers" month, during which the kids learned all about different people who help in the community: police officers, doctors, nurses, teachers, and yes, firefighters. We got a note sent home one day letting us know that if any moms or dads were "community helpers" they were welcome to come speak to the 2-year-olds class about their job. I of course had to ask if Uncles counted and were invited to the school as well, and happily I was told YES!

So Uncle Dot donned his firefighter gear and came to talk to the class. He really just explained what he was wearing and the purpose of all his gear. Oh, and he also passed out stickers...of course that was the kiddos' favorite part.

The captive audience...

Only one kid cried when he put on all his gear!

We were told there would be a nurse there as well...little did we know it was our friend Niki!

Jensen was very puzzled as to why Mommy, Grandma, and Uncle Dot were all at school. I think it was all just a bit much for him!

And now for the cutest picture of all time. Ever. In the world.

She loves her Uncle Dot! 

We are so proud of Uncle Dot the firefighter (even though, as I told him the other day, he never gets to do anything cool like put out the flames on Big Tex!). C & J are so lucky to have an Uncle who loves them so much that he will dress up in his firefighter gear on his day off and attempt to entertain a room full of two-year-olds just for them!

Wordless Wednesday {Grandma's Glasses}

Touching Trucks

We went to a fun little even a couple weeks ago called "Touch-A-Truck".  A private school in Fort Worth puts it on as a canned-food drive and they go all out getting all kinds of different cars and trucks to show up for the kiddos to see, touch, drive, etc. The only problem (for us) is that it was from 1 to 4 p.m....naptime! I was determined to take C&J anyways, so I made the executive decision that they'd be fine without their naps and we headed out to touch some trucks.

You will note in the pics below that Charlotte did not agree with my "my kids don't need naps" decision. There are no pics of her because she was in my arms the entire time and I was holding the camera. She not only did not want to touch any trucks, she did not even want to be near any trucks. (There was also a DJ playing music, which Charlotte deemed "too loud", so that was part of her problem too.) She wanted mommy to carry her around the entire time. It was good times. Jensen, however, enjoyed himself and even got behind the wheel of a few of the vehicles.

Driving the big rig. Don't all truck drivers eat suckers while driving?
 

"The doors on the bus go open and shut, open and shut, open and shut..."

And this is what Charlie Bug did on the way home...slept. But she retained her scowl even while asleep, lest we forget she was irritated by all the truck nonsense.

Not too sure what I'm going to do with this girl and her two-year-old attitude!

My Little Country Kids

While Brian and I were away, Charlotte and Jensen were very well taken care of by Brian's parents, my parents, and of course their Auntie Tammy. On Sunday, my parents took the kids out to my Aunt Nancy's house in Red Oak. They have lots of land and even horses to feed! Apparently as soon as Charlotte saw the horses she started yelling, "Grandpa, stop the car!" so she could get out and see them.

(Yes, I know this is a donkey and not a horse. There are horse pics coming.)

Born to ride.

The kiddos has a great time in the country and have been talking about going back. One exception to the good time was Charlotte's unfortunate run-in with fire ants that resulted in this:

Yes, the poor thing stood in an ant bed and paid the price. I keep trying to count the bites but Charlotte loses patience and I lose count...I got up to 37 one time so it's more than that. It has been over a week and they are still red and scabby and gross. Maybe it's just me but it sure seems like fire ants are EVERYWHERE this year and I've been just waiting for the day one of them got bit...and Charlotte did it in a big way! Jensen got one bite on his hand and he has been milking it for all it's worth, bringing me the benadryl cream repeatedly and telling me he needs cream on his bite. In other words, being a total boy!

"The Old Us"

I recently turned the big 3-2 and, to celebrate, Brian and I took a little trip to Mexico. Four days of sleeping in, lounging around, drinking fruity cocktails, being waited on at every meal, and did I mention sleeping in? And lounging around? I read three books (that had nothing to do with raising children) and did not wipe a single snotty nose or change a single diaper. Brian and I had so much fun just relaxing, chatting, and being, as Brian said, "the old us".  Of course, as heavenly as our vacation was, it was also heavenly to get back to our little stinkers. Their smiles when we walked in the door were priceless. We were so ready to get home to them.

Here are some pics of the vaca:

Our little terrace.

Not a bad view.

Brian taking a dip. 

The Grasshopper Martini. Tasted like a mint chocolate chip milkshake. I wish I had one right now!

What I did on my birthday.

Hotel grounds.

Birthday dinner.

On our last morning there. Ready to head home!