there is always something to be thankful for

After putting the girls to bed, we escaped to dinner out by ourselves. We left Curious George with Nana.

Daddy still doesn't have a job and so life is still a little hard. Our savings is dwindling, we are living in his parents' basement and we still haven't put our house in the market. Sometimes there is nothing else we can control other than our perception of things. So today, it shall be Thankful Tuesday (though technically, it is now Wednesday according to my watch).

Some things I am thankful for:

-the kids are trashing Nana's place instead of my house
-only my left knee bothers me now
-great in-laws (I'm sure I am the envy of many!)
-awesome mother's day present from hubby (he let me talk his ears off for a good 2 hrs!)

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Curious George's Mother's Day Daisies

He picked these out from Nana's garden to give to me because he said he loves me.

going a hundred miles an hour (mind and body)

Curious George has been on the go, go, go. Daddy and I insist that he takes a nap because he becomes a holy terror without it, but it is getting harder and harder to get him to sleep. He doesn't fall asleep until 2:30 even if he goes down at 1pm in a dark room with nothing to do. So Daddy suggested we let him nap for only 45 minutes. Hopefully that is enough of a nap to prevent Mr. Hyde from making an appearance.

On an amusing note, he continues to make life revelation late at night just before falling asleep. The other night he talkedf to me about dying and how he doesn't want me or Daddy to die. And then he asked, "how do people die?" I told him that some people get sick, and others get too old and of course that again lead to the discussion of death. "I don't't want you to become an angel! I want you to stay normal!"

twin separation

About 2 weeks ago, I decided to take Thing 2 with me (mainly to ease Daddy's trouble taking care of 3 little ones). I had to go see the sports medicine specialist. I would be gone 3 days so Daddy and I had to think hard. In the end we decided that it would be an overall positive experience for all. It would allow me one-on-one time with Thing 2 and Curious George could get to know Thing 1 and a relative alone time with Daddy.

Thing 2 did very well on the drive. It had been a month since she had been home but she recognized the house. She inspected her old toys still left in the house and looked around. Though I couldn't leave her in the livingroom to even unload the car. She didn't want to be left alone. For the duration of the stay, she was this way. I had to set up a timer for lawn sprinkler and had to go back and forth to the house to fetch tools. Then I had to walk all over the yard to move and re-move the sprinkler head in search of the perfect spot. The entire time I had to walk from one spot to the next with Thing 2 in hand (it was slow going!).

The most amazing thing though, was the language development that happened. Thing 2 started using real words instead of twin talk. She learned new words and instantly used them correctly. We enjoyed each other a whole lot! I gave in to the fact that I wasn't going to be able to do anything in the house and enjoyed every minute of Thing 2's company. It was awesome! By the time we returned to join the rest of the family, Thing 2 was all about me.

In the meantime, Daddy reported to me that Thing 1 attached herself to Curious George like a leach. They definitely bonded. But just like Thing 2, Thing 1 hated being left alone in a room. Nana also reported Thing 1 calling out "where?" presumably looking for her sister.

The reunion was surprisingly a non-event. They looked at each other and that was it. They went back to the way things were as if they never got separated.

The whole event was positive. I can't wait to be alone now with Thing 1. It made me think of having a 1-on-1 with everyone, not just with me but with Daddy too. When Daddy finds a job and we settle in wherever we end up, I would like each child to have alone time (for a whole day or 2) with a parent 2X a year on rotation. I can't wait!

Easter Egg Hunt

The kids were able to participate in 2 Easter Egg hunts; at their grandparents' church and at Curious George's new school.

Thing 2 finds eggs with the help of a lovely young lady.

Thing 1 drops one of her egg while picking up another! Thankfully the boy handed it back to her.

Curious George was Mr. Speedy Gonzalez and was zipping through the grass gathering eggs.

Thing 1 looks for some more.

Time to count the eggs!

Thing 1 realizes that the eggs open and inspects what's inside. Nothing!?

Curious George wins a blue bunny rabbit for coming in 2nd for the most eggs. Notice his 'boy' construction basket.

Note Curious George's very very short hair. He was using a pair of child's scissors cutting up paper by himself when he calls out to me. "Mommy, I cut my hair!" I see him holding a few strands of hair and thought, phew. That's nothing. I wander through the dining room where he was doing his cutting and notice tons of hair on the floor. Oh my! I check to see his head and right on the top is an almost bald spot! Daddy 'tries' to fix it without a razor and let's just say that after 10 minutes, he had to rush to Walmart and get a clipper.

This is Thing 2 hunting for eggs at Curious George's new school.

Thing 1 hunts for eggs with Mommy while Curious George hunts by himself!

After being off school for a month, Curious George had too much energy and not much to do. While here at their Nana's and Papaw's house, Daddy and I have decided he needed to get back to school. We found a great pre-school by a local Baptist church that Curious George now attends 3 days a week for 3 1/2 hours. It's very different from his old school, but at least he is learning and having social time with new friends.

getting adjusted is a slow process

We have now been living with the hubby's parents for exactly a month tomorrow. I've gone back and forth several times to do some cleaning in our house, Curious George has been back once and Daddy and the girls have not been back at all.

The girls, being young, took only a several days to adjust. I think bringing their cribs helped a whole lot. Though they have been moody while I'm gone. I think that at their age as long as Mommy and Daddy are there, they do fine.

Curious George is a different matter altogether. The first week, he was overtired and over stimulated all the time and he was moody because of it. We've kept up with his nap but he still couldn't get adjusted. Finally after a week, it seems we've found the balance of rest and stimulation only to find out a couple of days later that it wasn't the case. He is always 'engaged'.

Last week he started part-time preschool (MWF half days). It gets him back to organized activity but so far it hasn't settled him down. Last week I had to take him back home to attend one of his best friend's party and while home the change in him was instant. He viewed it as a down-time immediately. He played, watched movies and ran errands with me and rested.

He is still tired and now having trouble napping. He is clearly tired at times but still unable to sleep. Because of this, he has been more than a handful since we've been here. Daddy and I don't normally see him this difficult at home unless he hasn't had enough sleep for several days in a row. And I am afraid people are beginning to think he is always a difficult child. He definitely keeps Daddy and I on our toes and keeps us engaged, but he is not this difficult all thr time. He is pretty happy being with his grandparents and able to interact with cousins, he just can't fully rest. His mind is constantly going one hundred miles an hour.

Daddy is still having difficulty finding a job. I am starting to worry how Curious George would fair here and whenever and wherever it is we would be when Daddy finds a new job.

Curious George's Birthday Party

We need to backtrack a little bit so that I can post pictures and videos from the Curious George's momentous 4th birthday party on March 14th.

Firetruck birthday cake

Eating pizza and chips with friends.

Thing 1 eating her lunch with Nana. Unfortunately, there was nothing she and Thing 2 could eat at the party except chips. Everything else had milk.

Papaw assisting Thing 2 with her lunch.

The party started out with 1 hour 15 minutes of play. And here is a very memorable video of Curious George getting ganged up by 3 girls. I bet he enjoyed it.



After play, it was cake time!