the lazy post.

I have to reconfigure how I'm doing this blogging thang.
I can't keep blogging at 8pm and expect to produce something that was written by a sane and rested person.
Today was a good day. All except for the part with Natalie's evil cold. Gosh I really feel bad for her. She doesn't deal well with colds. Heart cath? no problem. But a cold..oh lord (gotta love her).
James didn't seem to be bugged by this cold much when he had it..maybe he just didn't get it as bad. But Natalie is not happy. She's miserable and in full diva mode. And for Rick and I that means pure and complete exhaustion. And no, she definitely doesn't have the flu. She just hates it when she can't breathe out of her nose well (don't we all?) Again, that part doesn't bug James when he's up and about (if it's at night, he'll wake up freaked out and yell for me..not like that's any fun either). But I love cuddling them..and Natalie is no exception. But, sometimes the cuddles and kisses aren't enough for her..and well...I'm drained. I can still hear her screams ringing in my ears.

If you've followed my Facebook status updates you'll already know the good news (it's enough to get me through the week..lol)

I found a seasonal full-time job with a historic candy company. It lasts through the holidays and will definitely make the holidays (and James' birthday) alot more merrier. They're going through some "reworking" of sorts and may or may not need me past December. Honestly, it's a chance being given to me, no matter how temporary, that I am so grateful for. I'll post many more details tomorrow. I start Wednesday so I better get those details out tomorrow. LOL Tuesday will be filled with grocery shopping and laundry..just so the rest of the work week (and Rick's first stint as stay at home dad) will be a little easier.

Oh and before I forget to mention..both kids have had their booster shots for the H1N1 virus and have done so well! James, my brave dude, didn't even cry with it today.
These kids are tougher than I realize. They go in again within the next 3 and 4 weeks to get the second dose and the anxiety in this household will go way down. Even them having had the boosters gives me piece of mind.

things the kids are obsessed with..or at least like to ask about constantly until my ears bleed.

Both Natalie and James are at similar levels of questioning..they may ask differently such as Natalie will say "whadduya doin?" and James will ask, "Mommy, what are you doing right now?" You get the idea though. And lately, they both have been asking so many questions..questions, luckily, I can answer pretty easily. I can't lie, I love this stage.

James is obsessed with asking who's a boy and who's a girl. And to throw him a real curveball, he'll ask about an adult (like his teacher) and ask if she's a girl..and I'll say "yes, sweetie she's a girl, but a grown-up who's called a woman". He scratches his head and looks slightly puzzled. You can tell the wheels are cranking. He'll think about the answer and then continue on with who else we know who's a boy and girl and who's a man and who's a woman.

The other night, when he was out with his daddy having a man's night..James confessed that he wants to be bigger. He doesn't want to be little anymore and wants to hang out with the bigger boys. From what I heard, it was very heartfelt. Lately, he's been asking what will get him to grow faster. So, it's been a little easier getting him to eat his veggies lately. And he races to me when it's vitamin time. Silly kid. But so darn sweet.

Natalie is obsessed with pretending. And this, I have to admit, is what I love even more when they get to this age (2 1/2). We have 2 sets of nesting dolls: a penguin and monkey, and just earlier she took a few different sizes from each set and made them all separate characters. She spaced them all out on top of the bookcase and from the other room (while I folded the laundry), Rick and I smiled and looked at eachother while we heard her name each character..one was "brother", one was the mommy and another was the baby. We heard the mommy say, "okay you kids let's go" and the baby penguin pretended to cry while the bigger sized monkey (the brother I'm guessing) was getting into trouble. Hmmmm...this sounds familiar!!

I love these ages.

James is now learning how to use his charms to get me to do something that he knows I'm probably going to say "no" to. He'll say, "oh, I love you mommy..I give you a kiss".
Schmoozer. And yes, he totally got that extra cookie.

Just the other day I told Natalie (who has a small cold right now so was feeling a bit crabby the other day), that she wasn't allowed to do something (I can't remember what but I'm pretty sure it had to do something with Halloween candy)..and once I said "no" she put her hand up to my face and said "aahhh"..like a "talk to the hand" action. I spoke with her how rude that was and about a minute later..I seriously had to head to the bathroom to laugh. Because I know, in essence it's not really funny, but I thought it was hilarious that I can't figure out where she learned that from!! Because Natalie isn't usually bratty like that. But boy oh boy..I am t-e-r-r-i-f-i-e-d of how she's going to be at 13. Both kids are going to give us a run for our money.

But I do love the questions that they have. I want to answer every.single.one of 'em. But sometimes..just sometimes..certain questions drive me insane.

The phone's ringing, the timer for laundry is going off from the microwave, and I'm trying to get a sippy cup filled for the millionth time, along with a snack for each child..and here will come James asking, "Mommy build me a car 'kay??"

I'll get right on that sweetie.
*sigh*

curves are where it's at.

I have to stop waiting to update this blog at around 8 at night. I am beat. So beat. So very beat. Did you catch that the first time? My brain is turning to mush.
We had an early birthday/cookout/playtime with the kids/dry-run for Thanksgiving extravaganza for half the day today. It was so much fun and the weather was gorgeous. No snow left in sight and the temps have gotten into the 70s for quite a few days straight lately.
I drove for at least 2 hours today and the driving, practice driving that is, is going pretty well. Rick yells at me alot but I'm sure it's for my own good. And to calm his anxiety. I mean c'mon it's ME behind the wheel. But he assures me that I'm progressing really well. I feel like I'm doing well. Each time I get behind the wheel I feel a slight confidence boost. Once in a while during the beginning, when I almost hit a parked car or mailbox I get anxious, but I stay focused and keep on truckin'..err..drivin' that minivan. I feel alot more in control of the van and that's important. Now, I'm dealing with the beautiful part of being cut off and people riding their breaks.
I still have to learn how to change lanes and merge off of and onto lanes. If it's a highway I can merge ONTO the lane properly more easily. But if I'm coming from on offramp..phew.. I hate it. Especially since a few of the roads here in Denver were created by potheads. They thought it would be a joke to put an offramp and onramp within a half block radius.
But, I keep on doing it. I like it and I will get that license soon.
My personal favorite with driving (in all seriousness) curvy roads! if you can believe that. LOL

Well, since my brain is all fried-like here are some cute shots of the kids today and a few other ones I managed to nab. I promise to get my act together tomorrow and post something a little more interesting (other than the photos of course)..

Friday night manicures.

Tonight is a special night for James and his daddy..they have a "guy's night out" playing basketball, eating pizza, and hangin with some of James' schoolmates and their dads. Really cute.
So, it's Natalie and I hanging out together, eating Halloween candy, playing, and listening to some music. And of course, get a free manicure by yours truly.

Great job my Natty. Great job. ;)

James and the giant zebra..

James has such a wild imagination. That's been going on for quite a while but each month it gets more vivid and he has begun telling us more and more what's on his mind. For instance, if we ask him, "so James..what did you dream about during your nap today?" he'll tell us, in some detail, what it was about. The other day he had a dream (maybe it really happened but we still don't know) that he was at school playing and someone pushed him onto the sidewalk. And because he's at the age where he can't really decipher between what's real and fantasy, I'm not always sure if it's his imagination. But the other day, this was totally his imagination at play:
he wrote a story about a big zebra, a girl, and about a few other animals like giraffes and snakes mixed in..

This wasn't his ordinary "scribble and toss" work..wanna know how I learned that the hard way? Well, when he was finished with his bath, he asked me where his story was. I usually clean up and get their night clothes out and all of that while Rick washes them.. well.. I threw this tiny pile of papers away. When he asked me, "mommy, did you read my story?" I had no idea that he was scribbling on those papers with such thought and creativity.
So this was first time I had heard that James wrote a cool story. And I threw it in the trash. I definitely had my decent mom prize taken away that day. But, to redeem myself, and because I really really wanted him to read his story to me and he worked so hard, I dug it out from the top of the trashcan, unwrinkled it, and handed it back to him. Oh the look on this sweet kid's face. He was so pleased.
He then handed it back to me and enthusiastically says, "Mommy! you read it!".

Uh oh.

So, I made up a story the best way I could (I'm not a very good story teller but I gave it my best shot) so.. I made up a story about a girl named Mary who loved zebras so much that she wore a zebra shirt and had a zebra backpack... she went school and the teacher read her a story about zebras..then they went to the zoo and she fed a zebra and this was her first time seeing a real life zebra..oh and it went on and on. His big brown eyes, sitting there, was listening very carefully to each word. He smiled big went I spoke about the stuffed zebra that her teacher gave her and how happy she was.
This kid, I tell you, melts my heart.
He's been in a huge drawing mood lately. And he loves longer and more detailed stories from his favorite big books. He will sit for a while and with such interest, a full-length Disney movie and love it..the colors, the characters, you name it.
I can't wait to share more of what his imagination is full of.

I love that little guy.

Wordless Wednesday (little actress edition)

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

the post in which I pretend to be talented..

I don't own a sewing machine.
If I did, I would love to take the time to learn how to use it. Hand-sewing kind of sucks, it's worth it, but it kind of sucks. Now a machine to do most of my work? now we're talking. I fantasize about all of the things I could make.. curtains, embroidered stuff..and dare I even say?...clothing. Before I sound like I'm trying to become the next pretend "Project Runway" design winner, I have had plenty of time to dream about this. Since I was a kid I wanted to learn, but just never did. I always thought that making my own things..some of your own hand-made things, is truly, the coolest self-sufficient thing.
Last week was so cold. So cold and snowy. And it was alright in and of itself, but when 2 little kids want to "PUUULAAAY" outside (imagine the screaming in that quote) well, what's a mom to do? I had everything they needed except for some decent gloves. I should backtrack, James had some decent gloves, but Natalie's were fine but not for touching alot of snow. And I love mittens. MITTENS! They are beyond cute and keep the hands alot more tasty (typo..haha) toasty, compared to gloves. Right now, I'm on the lookout for some knitted, warm mittens for Natalie's tiny hands.
For James, well, we had an issue where you know when you're playing in the snow and the snow turns to ice and surrounds your wrists from digging and digging in it? well, his poor wrists, without me realizing until it was almost too late, turned to a bright white color last week. This was around Wednesday, I think, and it really freaked me out. I thought for sure he had frostbite. But luckily, he didn't..we let him rest, warm up, and kept watching it. I was on the lookout of his wrists like white on rice.
He was fine. But cold. And today, it finally hit me- he needs some super long mittens/gloves to protect his wrists! Surprisingly, there aren't many cheaper options under $20 out there for kids..everything I saw happened to be for adults. I really really love these:

But they don't sell them for kids. And $80??? seriously??
I first started asking a few people if they could knit. And I know that there are some beautiful ones on etsy.com but I can't shell out even $30 bucks. I wish I could. Plus, these are kids' mittens we're talkin' about. They usually get lost.
So, I dug deeper in my tired brain and realized that I could just make my own.. modified of course:

I like keeping my toe socks in my drawer and neglect them..have for years..I don't like socks that hang high on the calf..plus, I didn't really like having my toes separated. I'm strange. So, why not cut 'em up and use them for something?
I do sloppy hand-sewing but this still worked. I let James try the completed mitten on and he loved it. I was a bit afraid that he would see what I had done to his mitten and would get upset..but he didn't. I can't wait until more snow falls so we really try them out. By the time we have more snow, both James and Natalie will get to break them in.
Until then, I have alot more sewing to do.