He loves them.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Lots of Photos of Lots of Fun
Disclaimer: I took over 500 photos today. I've narrowed down to 130 of my favorites. You get to see 33 of them. It took some work. ;)
Snow in Austin? What?!!! According to a friend of mine, it's been 20+ years since any snow has accumulated here.
Granted, I'm from IN. Snow in and of itself doesn't impress me too much unless it gets that gorgeous 2-3" coating at a minimum. However, it was fun to watch through my lens from the perspective of my two little ones who never have seen this much snow at home. Up north, yes, but it's more fun at home, I guess.
It was fun to watch it coming down pretty hard on and off all day. Andy loved watching it through the window.
Only about 1-2" actually stuck between bursts of freezing rain that would wash some away. Still, I do hope all my flowers that were enjoying the 70 degree plus weather of last week are forgiving.
Suzy was in awe at 8:00 am when it first began.
Andy wasn't so sure. In his defense, it was really just a mixture of freezing rain and snow. He wasn't so fond of all the cold and wet.
Suzy embraced it like a true Austin native.
Andy headed for the door.
We made a little "ice man".
He was cute with raisin eyes, pretzels, and a shred of carrot from some slaw mix. I used up my last carrot last week and forgot to put it on the list. Everyone around here was so excited. Snow/ice men EVERYWHERE. I seriously wonder if HEB ran out of carrots today.
He wasn't very big. But the dogs thought he was "yummy". Oops.
Suzy was mortified at first, but quickly distracted by the fun of writing with a stick.
After preschool, we joined Ben and Will for some sledding. It was comical to see Austinites without sleds improvising. We saw cookie sheets (great idea, Cheryl), storage bins, laundry baskets, Fed Ex envelopes, and a few sleds from obvious non-natives. ;) Initially, Rob suggested the boogie boards. Suzy's teacher mentioned boxes. I went the box route. It was on top of the recycle bin and easy to reach.
Love, Love, Love this shot.
Not much snow, but enough to slide a little bit. Our neighborhood will be very muddy tomorrow.
When the bottom became soft and wet, we adapted. It actually improved our speed a bit. Suzy wiped some snow on it. She said it would make it faster.
This sequence makes me laugh. Andy's first sleigh ride.
Uh, Oh. A little back heavy, I guess.
Woah!
He LOVED it. Giggled the entire time.
Suzy enjoyed the extra speed as well.
I called Rob and he was able to get off work a little early. Heck, they had already shortened school and many businesses were letting employees off early. As a Hoosier, I thought it was gratefully crazy.
Schools are already delayed for tomorrow. In defense, we don't have snowplows and it really might get icy overnight. We have more (and higher) overpasses here as well.
We made an igloo.
We made snow..... um.... angels? Upside down angels?
And, of course, what is a snow day without Smore's? My personal favorite part of the day.
After dinner, there was a little more snow on the ground so daddy ventured out to help build a better snow/ice man. Andy was hesitant.
Yeah, still not a fan of the cold.
He was happy to watch from afar with his warm weather bubbles.
It started out great. Then Suzy lost interest.
I suggested celery since we had no carrots. Rob said that was "very Austin". So, we went all out and made our snowman all "granola".
I hope you had as great a day as we did. We will forever remember the "big snow" of 2010.
Snow in Austin? What?!!! According to a friend of mine, it's been 20+ years since any snow has accumulated here.
Granted, I'm from IN. Snow in and of itself doesn't impress me too much unless it gets that gorgeous 2-3" coating at a minimum. However, it was fun to watch through my lens from the perspective of my two little ones who never have seen this much snow at home. Up north, yes, but it's more fun at home, I guess.
It was fun to watch it coming down pretty hard on and off all day. Andy loved watching it through the window.
Only about 1-2" actually stuck between bursts of freezing rain that would wash some away. Still, I do hope all my flowers that were enjoying the 70 degree plus weather of last week are forgiving.
Suzy was in awe at 8:00 am when it first began.
Andy wasn't so sure. In his defense, it was really just a mixture of freezing rain and snow. He wasn't so fond of all the cold and wet. 
Suzy embraced it like a true Austin native.
Andy headed for the door.
We made a little "ice man".
He was cute with raisin eyes, pretzels, and a shred of carrot from some slaw mix. I used up my last carrot last week and forgot to put it on the list. Everyone around here was so excited. Snow/ice men EVERYWHERE. I seriously wonder if HEB ran out of carrots today. 
He wasn't very big. But the dogs thought he was "yummy". Oops.
Suzy was mortified at first, but quickly distracted by the fun of writing with a stick.
After preschool, we joined Ben and Will for some sledding. It was comical to see Austinites without sleds improvising. We saw cookie sheets (great idea, Cheryl), storage bins, laundry baskets, Fed Ex envelopes, and a few sleds from obvious non-natives. ;) Initially, Rob suggested the boogie boards. Suzy's teacher mentioned boxes. I went the box route. It was on top of the recycle bin and easy to reach.
Love, Love, Love this shot.
Not much snow, but enough to slide a little bit. Our neighborhood will be very muddy tomorrow.
When the bottom became soft and wet, we adapted. It actually improved our speed a bit. Suzy wiped some snow on it. She said it would make it faster. 
This sequence makes me laugh. Andy's first sleigh ride.
Uh, Oh. A little back heavy, I guess.
Woah!
He LOVED it. Giggled the entire time.
Suzy enjoyed the extra speed as well.
I called Rob and he was able to get off work a little early. Heck, they had already shortened school and many businesses were letting employees off early. As a Hoosier, I thought it was gratefully crazy. 
Schools are already delayed for tomorrow. In defense, we don't have snowplows and it really might get icy overnight. We have more (and higher) overpasses here as well.We made an igloo.
We made snow..... um.... angels? Upside down angels?
And, of course, what is a snow day without Smore's? My personal favorite part of the day.
After dinner, there was a little more snow on the ground so daddy ventured out to help build a better snow/ice man. Andy was hesitant.
Yeah, still not a fan of the cold.
He was happy to watch from afar with his warm weather bubbles.
It started out great. Then Suzy lost interest.
I suggested celery since we had no carrots. Rob said that was "very Austin". So, we went all out and made our snowman all "granola".
I hope you had as great a day as we did. We will forever remember the "big snow" of 2010.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Rice Play
We had a play date at Diana's the other day and Suzy had a great time in her home made rice bucket. We used to do these all the time in the schools where I worked. I just hadn't thought about doing one at home yet. We chose blue and green initially and then Suzy requested orange and purple later. I really like the blue and green. So calm, so serene. I can understand where we had to add some spice (orange and purple) for my little spice girl. Just put some rice in a bag, add LOTS of food coloring, shake it around and... voila!
I copied the spice cans right from Diana. It was a favorite for Suzy. The domino is for Andy.
Andy loves pouring things and scooping.
He will dig a bit and bury his hand slightly. This is normal.
Suzy, however, attempts to bury her entire body. This, my non-OT friends, is a big ol' hint that I need to be more faithful with her brushing program. ;) Can you see a Tactile Sensory Seeker?
If you can't go head first...
Use your feet! This is why I place the bucket on a big ol' sheet. We all love this activity. So many concepts can be incorporated. Sorting, counting, taking turns, mixing, measuring, pouring, stereognosis, tactile stimulation, etc. I highly recommend it to other mommies, especially on these cold and rainy days.
I copied the spice cans right from Diana. It was a favorite for Suzy. The domino is for Andy.
Andy loves pouring things and scooping.
He will dig a bit and bury his hand slightly. This is normal.
Suzy, however, attempts to bury her entire body. This, my non-OT friends, is a big ol' hint that I need to be more faithful with her brushing program. ;) Can you see a Tactile Sensory Seeker?
If you can't go head first...
Use your feet! This is why I place the bucket on a big ol' sheet. We all love this activity. So many concepts can be incorporated. Sorting, counting, taking turns, mixing, measuring, pouring, stereognosis, tactile stimulation, etc. I highly recommend it to other mommies, especially on these cold and rainy days.
Sweet Suzarooni
Suzy had her four year well check last week. I'm guessing she is pretty average since I never did get her stats. I may weigh and measure her tomorrow, just for fun.
We've been having lots of fun lately. This is thanks in part to a book recommended by Tsh , called Your Four Year Old, that I will write more on later. She loves watching Curious George and doing anything silly. She no longer naps, so we are in bed early and up early at our house.
Her favorite color is pink and she has a heart of gold. She loves counting the money in her piggy bank and when you ask her what she will buy, she will tell you "things for you, and Andy, and Daddy!" I honestly think she really would. She continues to amaze me with her sensitivity to other's needs. She offers drinks, band aides, lovies, and snacks often. She is pretty independent with all of her own care. When she sees an emergency vehicle, her first response is to see what kind it is followed by a request to pray for those involved. She likes to "balance" as pictured below and she likes crafts as long as there is no expectation. what. so ever. of the outcome.
Her latest obsession is impromptu Mad Lib stories involving Curious George and a little girl named Suzy. Her outfits can often be comical. We are currently in another pajama phase that she likes to dress up with necklaces and hats. Notice the lack of shoes. Apparently, they are no longer needed.
We both adore this sweet hat from Mamaw. I'd love to find her a few more of these that are a little more "Springy". I just think Suzy looks so cute in hats.
I love this photo. I love it because the dress is way too short but she insisted upon wearing it. I love it because she made up a game of sitting on the Yoga blocks. I love it because she was determined that she was going to sit on ALL the blocks, even though there was a large risk they would topple. I love it because it shows her little scratched up, banged up, bruised little legs that are a result of many previous balancing attempts that did not turn out so well.
This shot is from the clinic. She actually got up that morning, put on some cute clothes, and then decided to change into this garage sale night gown right before we left the house. My OT peers are way cooler in the fashion world than I am. Suzy helped me drive that point home this morning. She even took the barretts out of her hair for that shag look. ;)
We've been having lots of fun lately. This is thanks in part to a book recommended by Tsh , called Your Four Year Old, that I will write more on later. She loves watching Curious George and doing anything silly. She no longer naps, so we are in bed early and up early at our house.
Her favorite color is pink and she has a heart of gold. She loves counting the money in her piggy bank and when you ask her what she will buy, she will tell you "things for you, and Andy, and Daddy!" I honestly think she really would. She continues to amaze me with her sensitivity to other's needs. She offers drinks, band aides, lovies, and snacks often. She is pretty independent with all of her own care. When she sees an emergency vehicle, her first response is to see what kind it is followed by a request to pray for those involved. She likes to "balance" as pictured below and she likes crafts as long as there is no expectation. what. so ever. of the outcome.
Her latest obsession is impromptu Mad Lib stories involving Curious George and a little girl named Suzy. Her outfits can often be comical. We are currently in another pajama phase that she likes to dress up with necklaces and hats. Notice the lack of shoes. Apparently, they are no longer needed.
We both adore this sweet hat from Mamaw. I'd love to find her a few more of these that are a little more "Springy". I just think Suzy looks so cute in hats.
I love this photo. I love it because the dress is way too short but she insisted upon wearing it. I love it because she made up a game of sitting on the Yoga blocks. I love it because she was determined that she was going to sit on ALL the blocks, even though there was a large risk they would topple. I love it because it shows her little scratched up, banged up, bruised little legs that are a result of many previous balancing attempts that did not turn out so well. 
This shot is from the clinic. She actually got up that morning, put on some cute clothes, and then decided to change into this garage sale night gown right before we left the house. My OT peers are way cooler in the fashion world than I am. Suzy helped me drive that point home this morning. She even took the barretts out of her hair for that shag look. ;)
My Little Man
Andy had his 18 month check up last week. He is pretty "average". His head is a bit big at 75% to hold that ever expanding little brain of his. His weight is 26 lbs at 50%, and his height is 49 inches at 50%. He looks a little short due to his stubby little legs from me, but his long torso from his daddy makes up for it. A basketball player he will not be. But he would make a great sprinter or gymnast! :)
He's INTO EVERYTHING. I took the kids to the clinic last week for fun and he was all over the stereo. Booger now knows how to change channels, adjust volume, and change a CD. Crazy.
How you like this station, Ma?
He's a mess. He loves anything artsy. Contrary to the photo's suggestion, he didn't actually eat the paint brush. I'm the mom that lets him eat cheerios whilst his hands are covered in (non-toxic) paint. I love how all the markers were stuck in the paint cup. I tell ya, I turn my back for one second....
Did I mention he got a little paint on his hands while he was eating?
The blue hair makes this shot even funnier in my opinion.
I am embracing the fact that I will have even more wrinkles and look much worse in five years - at which point, I will cherish this photo Debbie took of me and my little buddy at the park last night.
I invited Debbie out to the park super last minute to embrace some awesome light. We all jumped in the van and I realized I had left my camera at home. Glad she had hers!
I let my kids drive short trips within our section of the neighborhood. Illegal, yes. Am I concerned? No. I was probably doing much worse at their ages. Plus, it's literally just up a little hill. We usually just walk. It's a fun little treat.
Andy's ready for his license. I'd be fine with it.... as long as he only drives to the park and the mailbox like we practice. Maybe to Ben and Will's house. But not Molly's. He's not allowed to drive to a girl's house.... ever. ;)
He's INTO EVERYTHING. I took the kids to the clinic last week for fun and he was all over the stereo. Booger now knows how to change channels, adjust volume, and change a CD. Crazy.
How you like this station, Ma?
He's a mess. He loves anything artsy. Contrary to the photo's suggestion, he didn't actually eat the paint brush. I'm the mom that lets him eat cheerios whilst his hands are covered in (non-toxic) paint. I love how all the markers were stuck in the paint cup. I tell ya, I turn my back for one second....
Did I mention he got a little paint on his hands while he was eating?
The blue hair makes this shot even funnier in my opinion.
I am embracing the fact that I will have even more wrinkles and look much worse in five years - at which point, I will cherish this photo Debbie took of me and my little buddy at the park last night.
I invited Debbie out to the park super last minute to embrace some awesome light. We all jumped in the van and I realized I had left my camera at home. Glad she had hers!
I let my kids drive short trips within our section of the neighborhood. Illegal, yes. Am I concerned? No. I was probably doing much worse at their ages. Plus, it's literally just up a little hill. We usually just walk. It's a fun little treat.
Andy's ready for his license. I'd be fine with it.... as long as he only drives to the park and the mailbox like we practice. Maybe to Ben and Will's house. But not Molly's. He's not allowed to drive to a girl's house.... ever. ;)
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