A late Christmas post

The holidays have come and gone, and boy was it a flurry of activity!!  The kids hit jackpot as usual. This year we even had a phone call and letter from Santa along with a certificate for being on the nice list.  Although there were several times I expected the Nice List Certificate to burst into flames.  We took the North Pole Express to North Pole City even, which was the highlight of Eli's holidays.   Evi kept asking if we were really going to the North Pole.  She said it was too far away.  I asked "if there are fairies and magic, why can't there be a magic train?"  which you saw a light come on after that.  But once we were actually there, she was skeptical when it was still a balmy 80* with mosquitoes.  Oh well!Santa brought a Wii U, because that's just what we needed was another game station, but is has been a HUGE hit.  Along with many other gifts from some very loving family members! Thanks to all for making it such a great Christmas for our kids!

North Pole Express - in shorts

Eli has decided he prefers being a home body and would rather just stay home than go to school, dance, or pretty much anywhere else.  Why bother when you have train tracks spread across the living room and your bedroom, and a wii, kindle fire and 3ds at your disposal? I have created a monster!!!! He was recently reevaluated at school and did MUCH better this time around.  Evidently, all the preschoolers were pretty underrated on the first testing.  Which is good.  I was beginning to worry that I might actually have to figure out how to do homework again for him to even make it through kindergarten.  Good thing Evi knows what's going on, she'll be able to help him!
Evi officially has a front tooth!  The first one in 11 months!  But now she's lost both the small ones around the front ones, so she still has a LARGE gap and still can't enjoy corn on the cob.  The last one she lost without realizing it while eating breakfast.  Guess the tooth fairy might have to find that one in poop her own self!

winter beaching

One of the MANY things Evi received for Xmas was a tether ball set. (thanks Dude)  Had I known what a huge hit it would be, I would have gotten it myself for all the credit!!  We can't hardly get her in the house.  No matter the weather (seriously) that child is out there playing tether ball.  And all the other kids greatly enjoy it too.  Eli has realized that his height has got him at a distinct disadvantage and refuses to have anything to do with it.  It is pretty much his nemesis.  When the other kids are here to play it, they all say "I want to verse so-n-so" which drives Scott nuts.  He tried to get them to say "I want to 'play' so-n-so ", but they pretty much didn't care what he wanted, it's still 'verse'

wave jumping - Venice, FL

One of my goals this year is 'road trips'.  Instead of going to the theme parks all the time in order to get our money's worth out of them, I want to try to do day trips to see what Florida has to offer.  In January we made our first trip to Venice, Fl.  This area is known for shark teeth hunting.  What we didn't find out from ANY of the sites I looked at before we went was that you would need to stop and buy the mesh shovels at a Walmart BEFORE you got to the beach.  So we showed up with nothing, expecting to be able to get it there.  The kids were like scavengers, waiting for people to abandon their piles, then they would raid and come up with shark tooth scraps.  But they loved it, and we came home with some shark teeth.

Eli-isms:
E-venture = adventure
comote = remote

My baby is 8!

Evi turned 8 this week and still has no front teeth! Technically... one has finally begun to break through, but she has gone almost entire year without front teeth and she's so damn cute.  I am not looking forward to the awkward growing stage that we are on the cusp of.  Especially if she has big teeth like her momma!  we let her have a small sleep over party with 5 other girls which according to Gigi did not technically count as a true "slumber party" since I stood in the doorway and made them go to sleep at midnight.  What can I say, I need my beauty rest.  I will tell you that for about 20 minutes those girls laid on their pallet and farted like the band!  It was impressive the sounds that these girls emitted.  Can't wait to see how Eli's first party compares!

Eli is enjoying his dance class. As usual, he is the only boy and pretty much the only one who can sit still and go an hour without a potty break.  He just has a big grin the entire class, but if they don't get to dance around with instruments at the end of class, then really, what was the point?
Evi has been moved up in hip hop, and while that sounds impressive, don't be all wowed just yet.  They started her in the level 1 class which is mostly made up of 5-7 year olds, so she was one of the oldest.  She always tried really hard and was always front and center (suck up) but in the end she was still "white". Seriously white.  I think the teacher just appreciated her effort.  I do however,





take great enjoyment out of watching her attempt hip hop, and am usually the parent having a giggling fit at some point during class.
So over the summer we bribed Evi to start sleeping in her own bed...yet again.  She had to do 30 days and she could have the sleep over and she could...dum, dum, dum...(or dumB, dumB, dumB) she could have a new kitty!!!!  Seeing as the first 7 days really took about 2 weeks I wasn't really afraid of her actually making it. Well meow!  Cause we now have 2 kitties!  Wait, 2 cats? You ask, yes, 2.  While looking at some pictures of available kitties on line Scott made the mistake of asking Eli if he would like to have his own kitty.  Well that was it.  Eli went with me to get the cats while Evi was still at school and he was very adamant that it wouldn't be fair if we only got 1.  So, we came home with 2. And they are so damn cute.  Evi and I named hers Rosie Jackson, and Eli and Scott named his Diamond Sylvester.  And Eli came up with Diamond all on his own.  (his first choice a few months back was Aaron Carter).
For Halloween we carved pumpkins on Sunday and by the time Thursday arrived, Eli's poor pumpkin had collapsed.  He was VERY upset and I kept trying to get him to let us carve a big one and he was responding with, "but I can't carry it!" So we finally got out of him that he thought you were to carry the pumpkin while you trick-or-treated to light the way.  Other than that, Halloween was a success as usual.  Who doesn't love getting lots and lots of candy!


Eli's weewee kept coming out of his underwear one day when he wasn't wearing any shorts (yes, I know this would have solved the problem!)
Me: Are your underwear getting too small?
Eli:  NO, MY WEEWEE IS GETTING TOO BIG...LIKE YOUR'S DADDY

Summer days...

We spent 10 days of July in Colorado with Scott's family and had a great time, as always!  Eli just had to do the train ride, again.  That's all the boy talked about after we landed until we actually did it.  Then he got a nintendo 3DS for a birthday present, and bam, we don't hear a peep out of him at all...or his sister, which is always quiet nice,  I mean quite nice.  But we do not bring them into restaurants now.  No electronics at the table anymore when it's just us as a family.  I feel they are now old enough to be a part of it all, dinner, conversation, constant nagging to quit whining, it's all very enjoyable. 

We are now truly Floridians...we have a pool!!!   While the construction of it was long and torturous (mostly for Scott) we are so happy to finally have one of our own.  Even if the kids only had 1 week of summer enjoy it!  The first weekend, I thought I'd let the kids just swim as long as they wanted...they were outside for 10 hours!!!  At 10 hours, I finally made them come in!  I made them take a snack and sunblock break every couple of hours but I obviously didn't monitor their fluid intake (not counting the pool water!) and Eli woke up very dehydrated the next morning!  And I mean severely. He has always been good about drinking when thirsty I didn't think about it.  So now my mother of the year award has been stripped!!!  Lesson learned!




Since turning 4, Eli has become very vocal.  Scott says he's found his voice.  All of a sudden he is very boy.  Making noises, saying silly things.  A trip to the potty is entertaining to watch from a distance.  He is making noises and talking the whole time. 
 

He is over being told how cute he is and how people love his curls.  The curls have become a very sensitive subject.  After trimming Scott's hair the other day, we jokingly told him it was his turn, thinking he would get nowhere near the clippers.  He fooled me! He jumped right up on the stool, ready to have "flat" hair like his daddy.  I almost cried and he was very disappointed when I wouldn't cut his hair.
Evi wakes and wants to swim.  She is so excited to finally have her own pool and no longer has to look at our neighbors with puppydog eyes while they enjoy their pools.  I told her the first time she complains of boredom I'm throwing her in fully clothed! 


The humid Florida weather is finally affecting Eli and his "avocados" as we call them.  One day while outside, I noticed he couldn't seem to leave his 'stuff' alone so after a potty inquisition I asked if his avocados were sticking to his leg.  He was impressed with my assessment and said "YES!"  Scott asked him to come up stairs to take care of his weewee problem and he asked, " you going to cut if off?"
Now the boy is love with baby powder.  Evidently it tickles...

our view out the back door

The Big 4!!!!!

Evi-rina

Eli is now the big 4!  And I swear he has changed!  He now has attitude, and I don't mean positive!  He's developed a little fear all of a sudden too.  Which in some aspects is a good thing.  While as of December he could swim, he has since decided some pools have "sinking water" and has taken to always swimming in a life jacket.  But he is so damn cute, and still super sweet.  He is a rule follower and looses it if I even look at him sternly.  But I know he will make us pay for his sweetness 10+ years from now.  I'm no fool!

We have gone kayaking twice now at Weeki Wachi, a river about 30 minutes north of us where the manatee can be found in the winter.  Luckily this last trip, we saw 5 manatee! It was pretty neat to watch these big shadows glide under us.  We almost missed the first one, but Evi spotted it while being my kayak's figurehead and watching over the front of the kayak.  We can't wait to go back in the winter and see more!  This last time we went with one of my very close girlfriend's family when they came to visit.  Their son and Evi are the same age, so we broke the news to them that we have already decided on an arranged marriage.  They took it well.

The future couple Evi & Liam

Floating the current

We have started the process of burying our retirement in our back yard in the form of a pool.  Just kidding! But we are getting a pool.  It truly is a must while living in Florida.  We just finally got tired of watching our neighbors enjoy theirs!  Plus we wanted to get it while the kids will still enjoy it! I can predict that I will come home to find Scott floating like a big raisin in the near future.
Eli thoroughly enjoyed watching all the construction.  The digger, bobcat and dump truck were a real treat.  He pulled up a seat to the back door and just enjoyed the view. 

Capt. Eli

Eli & Mila Monster Danger Tolle

Post father's day we met with the Dude and Marni & Mila to go out on the Dude's boat.  Eli was perfectly happy playing in the boat while it was parked in the driveway, but absolutely loved getting to drive it once we were out on the water.  A little rain shower spoiled some of the day but not before the kids had a great time on the tube!

A little behind...

ARRGGGGHHH!

Eli & Carter

So I have created a monster!  Once, when Eli hugged me and he was naked I called it a "naked hug" and said, "oooo, I love naked hugs!"  Now it has become an obsession, if the boy is naked on the top half, the bottom half or both he wants "a naked hug."  And recently he added a new element by saying, "my weewee is touchin' you, and it's big!"  Yes, I am waiting for a visit from child services after he tells his teacher this!
He is almost to my favorite age of Evi's, 4.  She was so stinkin' cute at 4.  They say the greatest things and are just so damn sweet, I can't wait!

Evi & Bella

 I am not leaving Evi out of this post on purpose, I just don't have any good stories.  She has been her regular emotional Evi self and it has just been school, dance and gymnastics.  Although, we have decided to drop gymnastics for a year.  It was a hard choice because she is good at it and she loves it.  But at the same time, she hates all the conditioning they do, and they want a lot of dedication on our part that we are not ready for at 7.  It takes a little of the fun out of it for her.  So, we are having a break, and we will reevaluate next summer as to what she wants to do then.  Now she thinks she wants to take piano, violin, horseback riding lessons, hip hop, tap and art, not necessarily in that order...

mother's day tea

She had her recital recently, which was incredibly cute.  I couldn't stop crying watching her.  She is so deliberate in her moves and takes it all very seriously.  

Eli's first pre-school class

Eli-isms:
Eli noticed a lovebug and said,
"hey, there's 2 of them.  It's coming out his hynie!"
(did I mention he was trying to kill it prior to these observations?)
 Eli's jam: Poppin' Tags  &  I Don't Care

snow bound

  We had a great time at the Nease Family Circus Vacation at Lake Tahoe, NV.  Evi is a professional skier...well almost.  She really enjoyed it and was once again brave enough to try jumps.  She also asked me to get off the bunny slopes, which is where I prefer to be if I have to ski.  As soon as we got off the lift and I saw the way down, I was petrified!  I did the one run and told Evi and Scott they were on their own.  I'd like to claim that most of my fears are based on the fact that I'm the bread winner at the moment and we'd be a little screwed if I got hurt!  Yea, that's the ticket! :-)

Eli took lessons with Mila one afternoon, which was totally hilarious! They were like marshmallow puffs and would fall over with the slightest provocation.  Let's just say that they didn't learn much, but we sure enjoyed the show!  Eli did ski with Scott on the bunny slopes a few times and totally loved it.  He would giggle the whole way down but never quite got it enough to be let loose completely.  Next time I know he'll be right behind Evi and not missing a beat.
Now the sledding, that's where the fun was at!  The kids LOVED it. And the adults enjoyed themselves maybe just a little bit too much too!
Eli has learned so much at school already.  First off, with a class full of boys, he is making up for all his girly tendencies from always being around girls.  (except the painting of the nails, if Evi's getting her nails painted, he's in line and won't take no for an answer...I at least use blue and green for his nails) He's learning to play fight, shoot guns and of course all potty talk is hilarious and he tries to say the word poop as many times in one day as he can.  Thanks boys.
He has also learned his alphabet (or his version of it), to count to 10 and the pledge of allegiance. The pledge is highly entertaining and so cute.  The last line goes like this " and justin for all". HAHAHA!!
He has learned to write his name.  At first every time he wrote it, he would shake his hand the whole time he was writing it and we couldn't understand why.  UNTIL we realized Ms. Flo (who is a lovely OLDER white haired assistant in his class) was helping him and you know how old people sometimes shake when they write...;-)





!

School Boy

this is how we nap

1st day of school!

My baby boy has started school!  And he LOVES it! He had the complete opposite reaction as his sister, who cried for a year at drop off.  His first day, Eli walked in and had no problem when Scott said he was leaving. He just looked at Scott like, leave already Dad.  There are days we still have issues with Evi!  His teacher is Miss Brenda, and his class is all boys.  And he has become so much more a "boy" since starting.  He has also become a master at Super Mario Bros on the Wii and his sister's DS.  It's ridiculous how quickly this boy catches on to games on the electronics.  And shameful to his mother that he plays them better than she does.
His sister is going through another emotional phase.  But what's new?!?!  I don't even know where to begin with her.  I only hope that her sensitivity, her ridiculous amount of sensitivity will benefit her in her future...somehow.

I wish I had more to share, but it has been life as usual...school, dance, gymnastics, and drama.  We should have our own reality series.
 

Convos with the kids...

Gaspirilla - Pirate Parade

One evening we were playing in Eli's room, which is pirate themed.  He was at his steering wheel directing Scott and I onboard, and from the bathroom we hear Evi call out "I'm on the poop deck!". It was a riot!

Eli's big thing right now is responding with a thumbs up when he likes something or when something is good (shocking I know). So one morning Scott asked Eli if he slept (thumbs up), Eli said, "no, I slept (folded his hands like a prayer against his cheek and closed his eyes).